Alex's POV:
It was early in the morning, too early to rise and Haneul was already doing a live concert by singing at the top of her lungs a song I have never heard before, thank god the rooms in the hotel were sound proof. Otherwise we will be kicked out.
It's been quite a while
You've really kept me wanting you
You've got some style, so unique
You're beautiful, so warm, so deep
Stay with me tonight
Let me know the kind o' love
that will remain forever be
A dream that you had made reality
Lovin' you, whoa
Is such an easy thing to do
No, you never know
It's drivin' me crazy
Cause it grows and grows
But I won't let it stop,
No I'm not givin' up
Lovin' you, lovin' you
Just a bit too much
She sang as I hear some clanking of tablewear. I felt sore from last night. Briefly reminding me of what we've done. I was still naked underneath the sheets, a stark reminder of the hot night we shared. I rose from bed and found that my clothes were neatly piled at the foot of the bed. I got into my clothes and freshened myself up as she continued to sing an unknown song on loop.
It's been quite a while
I never felt so easily
Wonder how you broke my style
You're close to me I need you now
Stay with me tonight
It's got to be just too much love
I could remain and forever be
A dream that had become reality
Lovin' you, whoa
Is such an easy thing to do
No, you never know
It's drivin' me crazy
Cause it grows and grows
But I won't let it stop,
No I'm not givin' up
Lovin' you, lovin' you
Oh, lovin' you just a bit too much
Her vocals mimicked a masculine voice, Haneul was great with mimicking how a singer sounds while singing a song. She was good at it and would always sing obscure songs that none of us knew. Be it in English, Italian, Tagalog or Korean. She had a variety of songs for every situation. This morning sounded she was at an all time high, like she was so in love with me that she sings such a love song. She even does a saxophone sound as she continues preparing something. Judging by the clanking at the Kitchen of our hotel room, it sounds like she's cooking. I eventually got out of our shared room and into the Kitchen. I found her still belting the song.
Woh, lovin' you, whoa
Is such an easy thing to do
No, you never know
It's drivin' me crazy
Cause it grows and grows
But I won't let it stop,
No I'm not givin' up
Lovin' you, woh oh lovin you
Oh, lovin' you just a bit too much
Lovin' you, whoa
Is such an easy thing to do
No, you never know
It's drivin' me crazy
Cause it grows and grows
But I won't let it stop,
No I'm not givin' up
Lovin' you, lovin you
Oh, lovin you just a bit too much
She looks up to me and smiles before restarting the song again as she plates breakfast.
"What song are you singing?" I asked her.
"It's from the 80s. Ric Segreto was the singer. He died in 1998. Loving You is the title of the song. I can't get it out of my head because of this Jollibee Commercials." She told me as she made another Saxophone sound.
She then puts on the commercial, a young couple of college students must be. The nerd looking guy seemed to be shy and quiet. He was always in the shadows, pining for a hot girl. She exuded vibrancy and soft endearing smile towards the nerd. Over the course of the commercial, it was then revealed that the two of them ended up together and the guy even helped her put up prom decorations. It was a romantic Commercial, with the song playing in the background. Sort of recollecting the past and then the girl actually breaks up with her boyfriend and hands the nerdy guy a sandwich with a note. Then they transitioned to the present, where they are now married and had grandkids.
"Mi Tesoro, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, have kids and grand kids with you, love them the same way I have loved you." She replied dreamily.
"Darling, your dreams are beautiful but not so fast. I have so many plans, one of them is debuting and finding my Mom's birth family." I replied to her.
"And I will always help you, support you and I will search for her birth family too." She replied smiling.
It wasn't me or Haneul who will find Eomma. It was Kwangbae who will reunite Eomma with her birth family. Some three years after our death. I would forever be grateful to Kwangbae, the kid was resilient and because she was a Chaebol Heiress to Kang Hotels, it was easier for her to find the lost and forgotten. I will meet Oehaelmoni, five years after her reunion with Eomma. She died of old age, she was a caring and a pleasant woman. She took care of Eomma and her brother up until her last breath. Eomma was happy and she treated Kwangbae as if she was her sonneo, Kwangbae was our First Honorary Child and Chaeyeon. The two were like Brothers and like any Brothers there were clashes between them. But despite that, she would quietly support Chaeyeon, through hell and back and through everything and despite everything, she cared for Chaeyeon and Minjoo. Kwangbae who had a big heart, who loved Eunbi and then realizes she loves Minjoo all along. The sparks were there, Haneul made a bet with me that the two would end up together. We weren't blind, we saw how she cares for Minjoo, the two would always hang out together, taking photos, eating out and going to museums, aquariums and petting zoos. They like to go on these trips every weekend just the two of them. Even after our death, they would often go to Gangnam and meet my parents, every birthday likewise they would go and celebrate with Mom and Dad.
"Less talk, Haneul." I replied to her.
She grabbed her phone and opened her YouTube Music App, she searches for a song. Came on the song that she was singing on loop. I listened to the song. If this was how we would spend each morning for the rest of our lives, I was in, I want to hear her sing and discover songs from her favorite genres. Like this song was very romantic, the 80s really had those good and lyrically sarisfying songs, even in the U.S. songs from earlier times like the 50s to 90s are all meaningful and lyrically satisfying. My favorite song was Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls and Songbird by Fleetwood Mac. Two old songs one from the 90s and the other from the 70s. She served our breakfast eventually, today we are having fried rice, eggs and corned beef. She also had another meat which was Tocino, a sweet cured meat and a few dried fishes called Tinapa. She carefully removed the fishbones and gave me slices of dried fish with fresh tomatoes on the side. I wasn't particularly fond of fish, I loved Red Meat like a typical American. But since we also had this in Korea, I learned to love it. She always cooked it for breakfast and I have learned to tolerate it and its stinky smell in the morning. Kwangbae and Minjoo loved to eat dried fish, both especially liked to eat it barehand like Haneul does. She influenced both kids to love Filipino Cuisine. Haneul doesn't like Milkfish though but during our stay in Pampanga, she ate her Grandma's meals she prepared one of them Daing na Bangus for lunch, A variant of Dried fish made out of Milkfish. She doesn't complain and eats heartily all of her Grandmother's cooking, even those she doesn't like, example was the Milkfish, Bitter Gourd and Squash. Her Grandma makes the most delicious Pinakbet I have ever had, it's a dish abundant of Bitter Gourd, Squash, Eggplant, Okra and String Beans. She likes the rest of the vegetables and would typically take out the Squash and Bitter Gourd. Same with the Shrimp dish which had coconut milk, string beans and squash. Her Grandma cooked so much of the time we stayed in Pampanga. Often the day starts at 3 am, she would be up by then receiving Fresh Produce and the Day's Catch, which means all Seafood and Meat are delivered fresh to her doorstep. She would start cooking the afternoon snacks first, because those are tedious to make and requires a lot of time for a rice cake to be ready. Then after the afternoon snacks are rolling she proceeds to cook breakfast for the brood. She eats breakfast first and drinks tea. Before resuming lunch preparations. Her life was a constant meal preparation for the brood. Constantly cooking and preparing food for them. Nourishing them and fueling them for the day. It seemed like the order of business in the family, the patriarchy was always busy earning for the family and it was the job of the women to actually stay at home and be useful by preparing meals.
"I know, less talk and more actions." She replied to me.
She steals a kiss from me, slow and sure. Unhurried, the sexiest kiss she could muster to give me. I smiled into the kiss, she was giving me.
"Sobra ka na, Haneul ah." I replied into the kiss.
Which meant she's being too much.
"Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko, ang ganda kase ng girlfriend ko, sexy pa. Pati mga mata, mapungay." She replied to me.
She described my eyes as having a bright eye, she thinks I am beautiful despite my intimidating make-up and fashion.
"Really good with your words huh? What are your plans for today?" I asked her as I pulled myself away from her kiss.
"I plan to take you to the beach, Boracay is nearby. It's not the main beach though, but it would do for our day trip, unless you wanted to go somewhere else? Petting Zoo perhaps or see historical sites? Take your pick. We can also visit other islands." She replied and ate bites of her breakfast.
I wanted to go to a beach and swim and have fun, create some more memories with this sweet woman who is always considerate of what I wanted to do, what I wanted to eat and experience. Even when we made love last night, she gave me free reign over how to get myself satisfied. I would love her always for opening my heart to creating and sharing memories with her, that there was nothing bad with sharing memories and creating memories. Photographs especially that helps you remember your milestones. I wish this time with her would never end, but as we forge through life, seasons will change and inevitably so does one's mindset. I don't blame Haneul for wanting to become a journalist, but I blame the cruel world for ruining her life and for taking her away from us and my kids.
"Beach sounds nice, we can swim, walk, sit by the shore, take lots of photos. Create wonderful memories, I wouldn't have it any other way, Haneul." I replied to her.
"Then it's sold! We'll go to the beach and enjoy! We'll create wonderful memories together." She replied and smiled at me.
Eomma and Appa were very generous to Welcome Haneul into our lives, she met them when I came home before the trip, both parents were warm and welcoming, my parents are wonderful people and truly supportive of their eldest child's wants in life, so much so that they packed their lives and went to Korea for me and to support me. It was something I would always be grateful for. My lucky stars have aligned, finally. I have the most loving partner in Haneul, my family filled with warmth and love for us. A girl couldn't possibly need more in life as long as her family supports her and accepts her.
A/N:
Hi and thank you for reading this chapter! Always spread light and love!
- Sky