(FREYA'S POV).
I couldn't take my eyes off Theo. A face that I hadn't seen in so long that sometimes I forgot what he looks like. But now he was in front of me. It still felt like a dream. I remembered how I visited him in prison after I returned from Korea because of my studies. I cried the whole time I visited him.
"You ... how are you?"
It was the first sentence he said after we sat down. And I was still trying to stop my crying. Every once in a while he'd give me a tissue to wipe my tears with.
"I'm doing well. How about you?" I didn't know what to ask.
"As you can see." He smiled, trying to put me at ease. "They give me three times meals a day. But I need to adjust to the menu and the taste of the food."
"It must be hard for you." I bit my lower lip, trying to be strong in front of him, but it was hard.
"I'm good. I got through it and now I'm free. I can live my life again. I promised before I got out of prison that I would change. You are the only reason I still have the spirit of life, Fey."
"You don't know how my life is...." I swallowed my saliva with difficulty. My chest felt tight, and my vision blurred by my tears, "Mom and I had an accident. No one could help us, and ... I lost her ... I should have died that night. I should have been..." My hands were shaking violently. My tears spilled out as I recalled how that tragic event happened to me and my mom. The night we had just returned from visiting Theo in prison. Someone crashed into our car, my mom slammed the steering wheel and we hit an electric pole until our car was destroyed. And I was the only one who survived the accident.
I couldn't do anything. I was in a coma for three days and when I woke up, I found out that my mom was dead. My world shattered in one night. I was like the jinx in my own family. I still blame myself for that incident. If I could ask God, I wish it was me who died, not my mom.
"Shush ... Hey, hey, Fey, my sweetie... It wasn't all your fault. It's my fault for leaving you two. I should have taken the place of our dad to take care of you, but instead, I acted stupidly and made a mistake. I'm sorry..."
My body trembled as he sat beside me, embracing my body with his burly arms. I cried hysterically. The memory of the night the accident happened, I'll never forget it. It was a rainy night. Everything went dark and my life was ruined.
"I will never leave you again. I promise. I will atone for all my sins both for you and for everyone..." He released my embrace, forcing me to look at him. And he smiled, making me hurt even more. "Let's visit Mom and Dad's graves. They must be happy to see us coming to visit them."
I nodded, still sobbing. Theo helped me wipe away my tears with his warm fingers. Gently, and still forcing myself to smile while I knew he was suffering far more than me.
"I'm married now," I told him in a hoarse voice, still sobbing. I showed him the ring on my ring finger.
"Married?" He was surprised. "Which man is lucky enough to get my sister??"
"His name is Devan."
"Devan?" He frowned. "I feel like I've heard his name before."
I stared at him, but then he smiled back and dropped his gaze to me. With the tenderness of an older brother to his younger brother. I really missed how he treated me so well.
"How long have you been married? Do you have any children?" he asked enthusiastically.
"We got married not too long ago."
"Are you happy?"
I gasped. Instantly silenced by his spear-like question. I crumpled my clothes with a crushing feeling. What would he do if he knew my marriage was so horrible? Even my husband didn't love me at all.
"Yes." I smiled bitterly. "I'm happy."
He smiled. Rubbing my head with a proud look.
"If you're happy, I'm happy too, Fey."
I nodded. Forcing myself to smile as if my marriage was happy. Lying to him with all the stories I'd concocted so perfectly. I didn't want to worry him or get him into trouble. He'd just gotten out of prison and I hoped he could live his life well. Start from scratch.
"I'll be very happy if you are too," I replied.
"I will. I promise. You are my top priority, Fey. I don't want to disappoint you again. Not after you've lived your happy life," he said hoarsely, "and I promise not to create any problems in your life. You have my word."
"No." I shook my head. "We're still family. We can still depend on each other. That's what Mom and Dad always taught us. Isn't it?"
He looked at me silently. It was as if he was deeply worried.
"Theo?"
He let out a long breath. "Actually, besides meeting you. I also need help."
"Tell me. I will try to help you."
But he was silent. Staring at me with doubt in his eyes.
"Theo, please … let me help you."
"I need a place to stay. And some money," he told me, then quickly spoke again, "but I won't force you if you don't have it. I'll tryー"
"You can still live in our old house. That house has already changed its ownership name to mine. And I'll give you money, but there's not much I can give."
"I promise I'll return the money you give me. I got an offer to work at a restaurant owned by my friend's family. We were in the same cell and he helped me."
I smiled. Relieved and happy to know he had a friend. At least he wasn't alone.
"Um, Fighting, Theo," I said.
He smiled and stroked my hair. "I didn't know that my once sweet little sister is now a beautiful grown woman. I'm so proud of you, but I also regret not being able to see you grow up."
"You can make up for it now," I said.
And he smiled happily. "I will."
We talked so much that I lost track of time until late at night, we had dinner together. We promised to meet again to visit our parents' graves together.
"Then where are you going to sleep tonight?" I asked when I had paid for my meal at the cashier and he was waiting for me quietly at the entrance of the restaurant.
"My friend. The one I told you about. He lives in a small apartment. He asked me to stay with him until I get a place to live."
"I should personally thank him for helping you," I said with a smile.
"I'll introduce him to you next time." He rubbed my head again. It's a habit that hasn't even left him yet. And I always enjoyed it when he did it.
I nodded.
"Where's your husband? You didn't call him to pick you up? It's late."
"Oh, he's on a business trip to Japan," I replied. I stared outside the restaurant. "I'll call a taxi home. Do you want to come with me?"
"No, I don't. I don't want to inconvenience you. I'll take the bus. Make sure you get home safely."
"Um."
I waved my hand as Theo walked away. And I kept looking at him until his shadow disappeared. Just as I was about to walk to the sidewalk, my phone buzzed. I widened my eyes as I read the message that had just come in.
[Looks like you enjoyed your dinner with another man.]