34.
A/N: This is my last update before I disappear for a week due to exams. I will update regularly after that 💕
We drove through the thick fields of the country side as we made way to where my father or the angel named SeokJin lived. He resided a couple of hours away from Seoul and hence we had no choice but to ask Taehyung to take us.
I was still angry at him but the guilty look on his face was killing me - making me want to forgive him.
I sat in the front seat beside Taehyung while Hoseok slept in the rear of the expensive SUV. Taehyung had his eyes on the road while I looked at the fields outside.
I turned my head to take a glance at him and he met my eyes. We stared at each other for a moment before he looked away. I thought I had given him enough silent treatment so I took his spare hand and intertwined my fingers with his before resting it on my leg.
Taehyung was taken aback by this action but a small smile formed on his face as he tightened his fingers around hers.
"This doesn't mean I am talking to you. I just feel really anxious and nervous so I am doing this. I haven't forgiven you"
Taehyung's smile dropped as he loosened his hand on the steering wheel slightly. "I am sorry Nana. I am sorry I didn't mean to hurt Hoseok like this. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. And I feel absolutely terrible for my actions. I cannot even muster the courage to say sorry to him. Please just.."
"Its okay", I cut him off, my face softening a little. "Just apologize to him when he wakes up"
Taehyung nodded as he tried to take his hand away. I glared at him and pulled it back and held his hand again. "What do you think you are doing?"
Taehyung smiled to himself before taking their hands and kissing the top of Nana's hand. I smiled as I felt his lips leave a moist imprint on the back of my hand. With that he went to looking ahead and I closed my eyes as I decided to sleep.
I had no idea how much time had passed until someone tapped on my shoulder. "Nana". I opened my eyes slowly to see Taehyung looking at me. "We are here"
I sat up straight, gulping as I saw the estate in front of me. "Let's go", Hoseok said from behind me and I nodded. I got out of the car as I looked around. We were in the middle of a huge nectarine field. Rows and rows of the fruit trees grew everywhere.
"It will be okay", Taehyung's deep voice said behind me. I looked at him and he understood I was feeling very nervous as I bit my lip. He extended his hand for me and I took it as we walked with Hoseok following closely behind.
Hoseok pushed the gates and we went in to be greeted by a huge Hanok - a Korean traditional house.
I was surprised to see the structure because just like Taehyung ,I imagined him to be staying in a luxurious modern mansion. But this Hanok was huge as well as it spanned the entire estate, the coffee colored buildings covering its breadth.
We made our way to the main door. I stood on the ground beside Taehyung, my heart beating rapidly against my chest as Hoseok pressed the door bell. My lips were dry so I ran my tongue over it. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead and I didn't even know why I was getting so nervous.
Taehyung noticed as he tightened his hand around mine before gently nudging my shoulder. "I don't like your father but I assure you that he is a good man"
I nodded as we heard the footsteps near. The door opened as slowly the body of a man came into view. My breath was stuck in my throat as I bent a little to get a view.
There stood a man as he looked at us. I gaped at him without a word as I took in the fact that this young man was my father. I was frozen in place as I looked at him while his eyes were fixated on me, a tear rolling down his cheeks. No wonder he was an angel. He looked so ethereal — like being a human couldn't do justice to his aura and looks. That is why he was fit to be an angel.
I studied his face for a second and a wave of Nostalgia came my way. My mouth opened slightly and closed as my eyes widened and a word left my mouth.
"Jinie"
11 years ago
Grandfather usually came to pick me up from school. I would sit by the stairs and wait for him to come and get me. But today he didn't come. I kept glancing at the watch every now and then. It was an hour since school ended. Where was he?
I gulped as I saw the office boy close the doors of the school. Not wanting him to see me, I stood up and decided to wait outside the gates of the campus.
I must have waited another 20 minutes until I could no longer take it and decided to walk. Grandfather had a cell phone but I couldn't remember the number. I had been a little slow as a child. Even when he made me write it a million times, I still couldn't remember it.
I walked towards the train station. Maybe I could figure out how to get home myself. I remembered bits and parts of the way from our house and the other directions I would take from people around me.
I reached the train station. Using whatever bits of coins I had, I managed to buy myself a one swipe pass. Watching the adults do it, I put it into the slot. The gate opened, allowing me to step into the station.
After looking around the numerous trains that kept coming and going, I finally decided to board one which looked familiar.
I stood in a corner as the train moved, trying to read the map which didn't make any sense at all. I saw a familiar neighborhood which the car would stop at after 8 halts and hence I decided to get off there.
The train stopped at the next station and a wave of passengers came in, pushing past each other as they fought to get on the train. The relatively empty train was now filled with tired and smelly passengers and I sighed in disappointment.
I circled my arm around a pole in the middle to support myself. A relatively large Ahjussi came and stood right behind me. I felt myself get crushed between the pole and his body but I held on tight. He glanced at me and gave me a weird smile so I instantly looked away. Despite not being that old, I realized how creepy he was.
The train took a sudden stop and all the passengers were flung a little ahead. The man came onto me, in the process also managed to grab my behind. I let out a small gasp and pushed him away but his hand found the hem of my uniform skirt once again as he tried to put his hand underneath it.
I tried fighting tears as I wriggled out away from him but there was absolutely no space for me to go.
Just when I felt his hand under my skirt once again, he was pulled away from me and landed with a thud to the ground. I looked up to see a young man glancing at him angrily and then at me. His eyes softened as he bent slightly to talk to me. "Are you okay child?"
I nodded and he grabbed my hand. "Come on, don't stand. Sit on the chair", with that he directed me to an empty spot between two women as he stood in front of me protectively.
"What is your name?", he asked and I looked down. "Grandpa says not to tell things to strangers", I said honestly.
He smiled and nodded his head. "What is your name?", the curiosity in me sparked.
His grin grew wider. "Well my mother told me not to tell things to strangers as well"
I was dumbfounded because I was played by my own trick. He noticed it and burst into a laugh. "Well you can call me Jinie", he said.
That was a weird name, more like a nickname. Did his parents really name him Jinie? The speaker announced for the station and I stood up.
"Are you going to get off here?", I asked him as he picked his bag. He nodded and I narrowed my eyes.
"Oh kid", he scoffed. "I am not following you"
Without paying any attention to him, I stood by the door. Just as the doors slid open, I was pushed forward by the load of passengers behind me. The next moment I was being pushed back in by the huge number of passengers waiting outside.
I struggled among the huge number of people until I felt a hand pull me out. Tumbling on my legs, I was out of the train. I looked up to See Jinie smirking at me. "Not so big Kid, are we?", he asked and let go of my hand.
I looked on embarrassed. "You look like you don't know where you are going", he commented.
"I know where I am going. I am going to Mapo district", I said confidently.
He looked at me stunned before his lips formed a big smile. "Child, Mapo is on the other side of where we are"
"WHAT", I yelled. "But I took the train with green stripes and I thought I would come to Mapo"
He burst into a laugh. "All trains have green stripes", he pointed to a new train that just came up. I looked aghast as tears formed in my eyes. Maybe I should have just stayed at the school. This adulting thing wasn't a very good idea.
Jinie bent down as he wiped my cheeks with a handkerchief. "I will take you home", he said. Seeing my doubtful expression he spoke "I know you probably wouldn't trust a stranger and you shouldn't even trust me. But I cannot let you be here by yourself. This is not a good place"
I nodded. He put his hand forward and I took it. "Shall we go home now?"
With that we walked back into the station. "Nana", I said softly and he looked at me. "Nana, that is my name". He smiled at me and I swear I heard him say 'I know' under his breath. But maybe he said something else, I mean how could he know my name.
We took the train back to Mapo. Just as we got off the station, things became more clear as I saw the familiar area. "Where do you live?"
"There is a restaurant here called the Kang Cafe. I need to go there. My grandfather runs it"
He nodded and we walked there. Just a few steps in front of the restaurant, he stopped. "I will leave now", he said to me.
"No, please come to our restaurant. You must meet my grandfather and eat our special rice cakes", I insisted.
He bent down as he looked at me. "I would love to but I cannot. Its getting dark now, go in. And don't ever go places by yourself, okay?"
I nodded and he smiled at me. He was still holding my hand and he squeezed it lightly. "It was nice meeting you Nana"
"You too Jinie", I replied. "Thank you for bringing me back home"
He nodded and stood up. "Get going now, your grandfather must be worried"
With that I walked towards the restaurant until I stopped. "You know where to find me, will I see you again?", I asked.
The man smiled at me and nodded. "You will see me again when the time is right"
With that he left as I looked at him walk away. Guess the stories Miss Lim told us in class about guiding angels were true after all.
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