Chapter 37 — Alex Bay

My hometown hasn’t changed at all for as long as I can remember. The scenery, the houses, the roads. They have all remained the same, as if I never truly left, save for the unfamiliar faces and new homes that we went past. Nevertheless, the whole feeling of being back was a little bit too surreal. I never thought or dreamed of coming back here unless Mom allowed me to. But here I am.

“I’m sure your grandmother is very excited to see you. Kept on asking what time you’ll be arriving. She’s probably in the kitchen making kimchi right now.” Dad rambled ecstatically as the car continued down the road before making a soft turn to the left. And there it was, the same old house I used to visit when I was a child. The same old house that was quite vivid in my childhood memories since this was the place I was last in before me and my mother left for America.

“She still knows me?” I blinked, surprised that my grandmother was still alive and well. Not to mention, she still remembers me despite the little time we spent together. Mother and grandma weren’t on the best of terms after the divorce. “It’s been years…”

Father instantly faced me with an expression of disbelief. “Of course! Of course, she still remembers you. Who would forget about their only grandchild? Honestly, I should tell Bernadette that you should be allowed to come here every year. Mama isn’t getting any younger.” The forlorn eyes and the sigh he emitted afterward was a sign that the years are definitely going by faster than he wanted them to be. Grandmother could die any time soon, so making the rest of her years memorable and meaningful was up to him. Having no one else to count on.

“Dad, um, after dinner tonight… can I talk to you?”

“Sure, no problem with that. I don’t have any work until next week.” He responded, before focusing on parking the car.

Turning to Aurelius, who was silent the entire trip, I patted his shoulder. He looked up from his phone and smiled. “Have we arrived, Alex?”

“Yes, but don’t worry, I’ll make sure to accompany you to the hotel. You made reservations, correct?”

“Mhmm, but I do want to be next to you at all times. I want to spend more time with you, especially now that your father is here. I also want to make a good impression while I’m at it.” He grinned innocently, unaware of the effect he made at that mere statement. Giggling softly, I lightly slapped his shoulder and shook my head.

“Stop it, you’re making me cringe so badly!” I laughed, making attempts to hide my heated cheeks. “But I appreciate it. Just… don’t go overboard, okay?”

“Right.”

“All right, I’ll help you guys with the bag,” Dad stated as he took out the keys from the ignition. Aurelius looked at me, confused as to what was happening as I quickly declined.

“Oh, Dad, that won’t be necessary.” I hurriedly got out and went straight to his side. “I’ll take my bags, they’re a bit heavy. And Aurelius won’t be staying here. He has booked a hotel—”

“Nonsense, there’s no need to book a hotel. Didn’t I say that earlier?” He directed his gaze to Aurelius, who got out of the car. “Young man, is it true that you booked a room at a hotel?” Aurelius glanced at me, unable to answer right away. I merely shrugged.

“Uh, yes. I figured that it would be a bit too awkward since this is the first time we meet—”

“Don’t be shy, boy.” Dad patted his shoulder, gesturing to the house. “And I’m sure Mama won’t let you go after this. Our home is better than any hotel out there, I guarantee you that.” Taking one of my bags, Dad led the way. Nothing could have prepared me, neither Aurelius, on what was going to happen once we entered the house.

“Geudeul-eun yeogi issseubnikka?”

The voice of a woman around the age of eighty greeted us followed by the person herself, who appeared from the corner. In clothes that were as simple as they come, gray hair bundled up into a bun, and eyes staring intently at the newcomers, Grandma was barely recognizable to me.

She… wasn’t this old when I left.

“Mama, it’s Han Seo-Yoon, your only granddaughter!” Taking my hand, he pulled me forward to stand in front of her. “Remember her? She was this small when she left with Bernadette all those years ago. Look how tall she is now, all grown up!”

Holding her frail hands, I bent down slightly to smile at her. “Halmeoni, it’s me your sonnyeo, Seo-Yoon. Sorry, it took so long for me to come back to see you. How are you?” Her eyes continued to stare at me until they were focused on someone behind me. I didn’t have to turn around to know who she was gazing at.

“Seo-Yoon, I’m so happy to see you again. Bogo sip-eoss-eo... ” She then lifted her hand and gestured at Aurelius. “Who is this dashing young man? Is he with you?”

“Eh, yeah… Grandma, this is Aurelius Clarke, he’s my… um…” Explaining it to my dad was already hard enough, I didn’t really think I would have to explain it to my grandmother. “He’s actually Elise’s husband’s best friend! Yeah…”

“Ah, Mama…” Dad grinned proudly. Just seeing such an expression is making me fear what is going to come out of his mouth. “This man here is Seo-Yoon’s boyfriend.”

“Appa!”

“Seo-Yoon’s…. namja chingu?”

Grandma’s line of sight shifted between me and Aurelius. I continued to smile, although it was faltering every second that passed in awful silence. The next thing I knew, the slipper that used to be on her left foot was now on her hands. The sole hitting my butt a few seconds later, eliciting a shriek that was mixed with confusion and pain.

“Shit!” Screaming without hesitation, I furrowed my eyebrows at the old lady frowning back at me. “That was painful! Why on earth did you do that?!”

“I haven’t seen you in years and when you finally decided to come home, you brought a man with you? Are you shameless? What has that Bernadette done to you?” She rambled without stopping for a breath. She pointed at Dad, still seething. “See? This is what I told you! You shouldn’t have let your daughter fly to the states!”

» — ✣ — «

This is the worst.

Secretly glancing at my grandmother, I couldn’t help but make an ugly face at how she has been smiling and making Aurelius feel at home. Earlier she was ranting in Korean so Aurelius didn’t understand a single thing. Much to my surprise, she’s really treating the British man in such a gentle manner. I was expecting her to kick us out due to how ‘shameless’ I have become, but so far she hasn’t said a single thing. Instead…

“Boy, sorry, I don’t speak good English.” She chuckled, patting Aurelius on the back before going back to peeling the oranges she brought out for him to eat. “How was your flight? Good?”

“It was good, Ma’am. And don’t worry, I can understand you perfectly fine!” Aurelius responded, beaming brightly. “I’m glad I get to see you. You did take care of Alex back then.”

“Ah, yes, I took care of Seo-Yoon. She was so tiny and naughty. Like a wild dog!”

Dog?! Me?

“Is that so?” Aurelius gushed, cheeks a bit red as he sighed in obvious fondness of the image presented to him. Honestly, he scares me sometimes. “She must’ve been so cute. You raised her really well, Grandmother.”

“You are so nice! I’m also very happy to meet you.” Blushing like a lovesick teenager, Grandma pointed to his cup. “ More tea?”

“Yes, please…”

Oh god…

“Seo-Yoon!” Lifting my gaze from my own cup of tea, I was met with the sharp eyes of a hawk. Funny how she immediately changes her demeanor when addressing me. It seems like Aurelius is her grandchild instead of me. “Don’t be lazy and fetch more tea from the kitchen. Is this what your mother has been teaching you? To sit down and do nothing all day? Really, what do they teach you in America?”

“Yes, yes, I’m on my way.” With gritted teeth, I took the teapot from her hands and stomped my way to the kitchen. “Seriously, is this how she’s gonna treat me during the rest of my stay here?”

“Seo-Yoon…”

Looking up, my eyes widened upon seeing my father gesturing for me to come close with his other hand signaling me to be quiet. Giving my grandmother and Aurelius one last glance out of worry, I joined my father.

Well, it’s about time for me to go and ask him all the questions I wanted to be answered all these years.

“I’m sorry about your grandma, she’s just shocked that you’re all grown up now.” Dad laughed, pouring water into the kettle to prepare more tea. “I hope you won’t take it against her.”

“Don’t worry, if my daughter were to do the same thing, I’d probably be as petty as her,” I grumbled, crossing my arms across my chest with a pout. “She didn’t have to hog Aurelius though. The guy’s gonna be tired before he could even get to his hotel room.”

“Is it really okay with him? Staying all alone? It would be best if he stays here.”

“And you’re fine with that?”

“Yeah… he seems like a nice man.”

“Oh…” I drawled, finding my fingernails more interesting than the floor. “Dad, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”

“Shoot.”

“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Almost spilling the contents of the kettle, Dad sputtered. “W-what? Where did you hear that? What gave you that idea? Me? An old man? No woman would be interested in an old geezer like me, especially an old geezer who has an ex-wife and kid. They’d think it would be much of a hassle…”

“So… no girlfriend?”

The corner of Dad’s lips curved slightly.

“No. No girlfriend.”