CHAPTER 19 : Photograph

CAMERA-MAN : You are such a beautiful family! (-smiles-) Some pictures came out really nice, would you like to check'em?

He started swiping the photographs to them before Jae Ra could gather herself from his comment and utter something.

JAE RA : (-in English-) I am sorry, we don't need them. We aren't fami-

TH : (-in Korean-) Jae Ra-ssi, wait a moment. (-taking the man's camera to view closely-)

She was absolutely baffled seeing his reactions to the clicks that shouldn't have been taken. The faint smile in his face strangely paced her panicking heart as he thoroughly studied every picture.

JAE RA : (-to Taehyung-) I am really sorry, I didn't pay attention. I will get these deleted and you can get new ones with your family. (-to the camera-man-) Can you click some other photogra-

TH : (-cutting me off-) I like these. I want these, infact. (-finally looking up from the camera-)

JAE RA : Yeh? (-eyes wide and confused-)

TH : What? Can't I have my own pictures?

JAE RA : Of course you can. But Ji hae-ssi-

TH : It's okay. I look handsome here so I want to have these out. (-smiles-)

Jae Ra was at a loss trying to decide if she should question his cockiness or debate furthermore. But, he was ahead of her and already speaking to the man in basic terms.

TH : (-in English-) How much? Money?

CAMERA-MAN : You want'em? (-bright smile-)

With a silent defeated sigh, she spoke up to provide her client, the required convenience they hired her for.

JAE RA : (-in English-) Yes, we would like to have these out please.

CAMERA-MAN : Sure! Just give me 10 minutes. I'll be back with the pictures. (-taking the camera from Taehyung-ssi's hands-)

JAE HYUNG : (-pulling his dad's coat-) I wanted to see too~

JAE RA : Onh, you will see once the ajeosshi is back. (-smiles-)

JAEHYUNG : (-not fully convinced-) Really?

TH : (-chuckles-) Of course, champ. (-pointing at the man-) See, he is going to the studio to get them like we have our photos stuck on the wall of your room. Remember?

He, now receiving a familiar reference, smiled as he looked at the man walking away with excitement visible in his round eyes.

They were only looking at the man vanishing to some nearby studio, when Ji hae-ssi snapped them back.

Ji hae, who earlier left with a call, was edging her patience with JaeRa's constant effortless intrution in every family moment.
She, while feeding on her wronged and ailing heart, fancied on being nice towards the other regardless as she excused herself to recieve the call from Taehyung's father.
Apparently, he was the only one in the Kim Mansion who cared and treated her like a respectable member of the family.
Mrs. Kim and Taehyung were too busy nannying Jaehyung to care about her much.

*Over the call*

JI HAE : Yes dad?

Mr.KIM : Onh, Ji hae-ya. How is it going? Are you having a good time there?

JI HAE : I don't know. (-sounding upset-)

Mr.KIM : Why, did he treat you bad again?

JI HAE : When was he good anyway?

Mr.KIM : Oh my. I really owe you one for keeping up with my ungrateful son. (-sighs-)

JI HAE : Please, dad. It isn't your fault. (-cheering herself up-) How is everything at home?

Mr. KIM : Onh, we are good here. Just hope you are not too much irked by Taehyung. (-slight pause-) Speaking of which, did he get any tourist guide or something?

JI HAE : (-retaining her sulk-) Yeah, she brought us to the 'Statue of Liberty' now~

Her words trailed off watching JaeRa and Taehyung converse with ease at the distance she left them.

Mr.KIM : (-over the call-) Ah, really? What is her name? (-nervously-)

JI HAE : (-glaring at the duo and answers spontaneously-) 'Kim Jae Ra', that's what she said. (-gets back to his words-) But, why do you ask?

Mr.KIM : Onh? No, nothing.

JI HAE : (-turns around to avoid their sight-) Oppa acts differently around her. By any chance, is she Oppa's late wife, "Jae Ra"?

Mr.KIM : What nonsense is that? (-forces a laugh-) How can a dead come back to life, out of nowhere? There's no chance that it's her.

JI HAE : (-smiles-) I guess, I am thinking too absurd. Sorry dad, for bringing up the past.

Mr.KIM : Ania~ It's okay. I will end the call now. Don't be sad, and enjoy your vacation. Hmm?

JI HAE : Neh~ (-hung up-)

She stared at her cell for a while and took a deep breath rebooting her mind afresh. With determination that she must act highly and with modesty maintaining her status- the principles she was brought up with- she turned around walking to them.

JAE HYUNG : Mom! We clicked family photos.

Jaehyung shared his excitement with his mother trying his best to sustain good relationships with her- young soul he might be but was aware of his family circumstances.

Ji hae, without showing much affection towards him, only listened to his words. She helplessly couldn't feel or share his zeal despite her repeated and earnest tries from the very beginning.

JAE RA : (-interrupting her thoughts nervously-) Uh-...I am really sorry, I wasn't paying much attention while those were taken. It won't happen again. I will have him get some with you as a complete family.

Hearing her call them a family was solely a treat to Ji hae's heart, although she was aware that Taehyung would never agree to be in the same frame as her.

JI HAE : It's okay. (-slight smile-)

Jae Ra, wanting to complete her apology, attempted to speak but was interrupted by the man's return with an envelope.

CAMERA-MAN : Here are the pictures.

Ji hae, intrigued by them, took the envelope only to find the same sight she earlier avoided to look at, taken from a side angle.
They were a series of continuous shots that played her the scene she never wanted to know- Taehyung's attention from his camera slowly diverting to JaeRa who held Jaehyung firmly in her embrace.
Her grips under them tightened as Jaehyung's words replayed in her mind while she stared on the clicks.

Paranoia taking the best of her, she didn't have the conscious of her own conduct.

JI HAE : Who asked to get these out? (-coldly glaring at Jae Ra-)

TH : (-snatching the envelope from her hands-) I did. Do you have a problem with that?

JI HAE : (-with hurt-) But, why is Jae Ra-ssi in it instead of me?

JAE RA : It was a mistake. (-bowing-) I am extremely sorry about my carelessness.

TH : Stop it, Jae Ra-ssi. It wasn't anything you could stop before it was already done. So, end with the sorrys.

Taehyung's insensitive comments worsened Ji hae's already bruised heart. It had poked right on her pride and self-esteem for having an outsider witness the bitter side of their relationship, perhaps the only side she ever had with him.

JAE RA : (-whisper shouts-) Taehyung-ssi!

JI HAE : (-smiles with moistened eyes-) It's okay, Jae Ra-ssi. That's only a photograph afterall. Excuse me. (-leaves avoiding eyes-)

Ji hae, feeling it impossible to resist her tears further, walked away glistening her cheeks with their flow.

Taehyung, without a bother, paid for the pictures and once again busied himself with his photography.

On the other hand, guilt gripped Jae Ra as she noticed Ji hae's teary eyes earlier but was at no place to console her or rebel against Taehyung.

She tried diverting her mind only for it to shift to Jaehyung who was quietly watching the birds drink water from the waterfront.

JAE RA : (-kneeling next to him-) Are you okay?

JAE HYUNG : (-nodding-) Imm.. Appa don't talk to mom at home. I am fine with it now. (-whispers to her-) Appa doesn't like her.

JAE RA : Jae hyung-ah, it's not like that.

JAE HYUNG : (-goofy smile-) I, too don't like to be with mom. I love my Appa more.

JAE RA : (-fake disappointment-) Bad boy. You must love them both equally. Promise me, you will. (-showing my little finger-)

He, putting up a cute smile on his face, spared her a glance and her stretched out finger next.

JAE RA : If you don't, then I will cry. (-pouts-)

She faked a cry to put up a show and pace him up.

JAE HYUNG : (-instantly doing a pinky swear-) I promise emo, please don't cry. (-getting teary-)

Withdrawing himself from holding the railing, he hugged JaeRa by her neck in a comforting hug, a gesture he learnt from his grandmother.

It was a foreign feeling for JaeRa to be hugged by a little child which automatically surrounded her with her buried emotions and tears, she had for her son.

Merely his small and innocent gesture gave her the warmth, she didn't know she was yearning for- the warmth of a child to its mother. The pure moment didn't let her questions to rush in, reasoning out that she would feel the same with any little life she received such affection from.

She firmed her hug around the small figure as she tried to calm him down. It was so unfair for a young soul to witness such harsh behavior between his parents, she grieved.

JAE RA : (-patting his back-) Shh.. It's okay. I am sorry. Emo won't cry so, you too stop crying. Hmm? (-releasing the hug-)

He nodded twice with sniffles and pouted lips as he helped himself wiping his eyes with a miniature handkerchief, he carried around in his pockets. Jae Ra was awestruck watching the little being carrying himself as the most gracefully managed and well mannered among his family of three.

A wonderment suddenly caught JaeRa's notice to find his father who wasn't seen to be reaching out to his crying son.

Upon looking around, Taehyung was found taking pictures of them, the exquisite little moment between the two.
JaeRa, being alarmed, stood up immediately unsure of her reactions to him.

TH : (-seeing her nonplussed-) Ah! It's Jae hyung's.

JAE RA : (-awkward smile-) Ah, Yeh~ (-changing the topic-) Oh! It's lunch time. Would you like to look around a little more or head to lunch?

JAE HYUNG : (-whining-) I am hungry, Appa~~

TH : Imm, Are you? Let's go then.

Although, she wanted them to taste the Italian restaurant she had gone last day, it seemed too crowded for them. Moreover, the management of the same were still working on their reserved sections.
At last, she singled out with a French restaurant which had well functioning and highly rated reservations who qualified to provide them the best care.

In a few hours, they explored around a few more places- 'The Brooklyn bridge' and the 'Central Park' to be more specific- before calling it a day.

The entire package durated three days showing them around the best of New York in the shortest time possible.

Gradually, the last day started with touring around 'The Metropolitan Museum of Art' and the '9/11 Memorial' followed by the concluding destination, the Niagara Falls.
The place which JaeRa adored of all in New York were of the smooth latex sheath that the falls gave its outlook as.

It was the perfect time to start their journey- right after lunch- for the lighting effects they offered during the night hours. And so they began their six hours road travel to the worthwhile breathtaking sights of the falls.

After a few hours of quality time, JaeRa noticed the entire family peacefully sleeping in the back. An unconscious smile lingered on her lips as she looked outside diverting her gaze from the rare-view mirror.
Her eyes naturally fell on the right wing-mirror as she ran her fingers through her side bangs blown by the slid glass of the window.
She grew concerned about the sun directly hitting Taehyung's sleeping face and worried that might wake him up.
Very meticulously and not making the slightest sound, she shifted the shade down in the back, carefully designed for the company cars to provide utmost comfort to their clients.

Making sure of his easement, she looked back at the rare-view only to chuckle at Jaehyung flashing his teeth smile to her.

JAE RA : (-whisper talks looking back at him-) Did I wake you up?

JAE HYUNG : (-yawns-) No, I want to look outside but.. (-looks at his sleeping dad-)

He chuckled sheepishly watching his dad in deep sleep, a sight he had never seen from his father before. The father who always left his room after he had seen him sleeping. The father he always found in his best active state whenever he needed him.

JAE HYUNG : Emo, take me to the front please~ (-stretching his curled palms-)

JAE RA : Hop on! (-reaches her hand to him-)

The little boy slipped down his seatbelt to hold his aunt's hand, trusting her completely with his safety.

Jaehyung, with little moments of hard and heedful work, reached JaeRa's lap securely through the slow paced running car. JaeRa had asked the driver for it to bring about safe motion of Jaehyung.

Little did they know that, Taehyung's reflexes woke him up, the moment Jaehyung slipped out of his seatbelt but pretended to be asleep.

He was anxious about his son getting hurt in the process but trusted JaeRa with it. A faint smile wound over his lips as he felt him reach her sound and safe.

The two in the front had a quiet blast watching the beautiful and appealing sceneries through the rest of the ride.

On finally getting to their destination, the water fall flooded their sound receptors as JaeRa spoke before heading towards the main sight. Taehyung carried his son in his arms as the latter was tired from running around the museum in the morning and denied to walk.

JAE RA : It's our last destination for the entire package. I hope you enjoy the views of the Niagara falls. Please come this way. (-leading them-)

Ji hae, after all the days' sulk, finally had a smile force itself out at the mesmerizingly beautiful location.


JAE HYUNG & TH : (-in sync-) WOAAHH!! BEAUTIFUL~~

JaeRa silently enjoyed their reactions as they were tranfixed by the aesthetically divine and misty water shower.

She chuckled to herself watching the father-son giving exactly same responses to each new thing they discovered about the place- wide amazed eyes, astonished expressions and lengthy gasps.
"Do they require a DNA test?" She wondered but instantly dropped it with Ryan's words rewinding in her head.

Having a serious ponder, she perplexed between truth and the scenes playing before her- only to stop the entire thought process for a second. She walked herself through each and every point she had marked her boundaries with and shook off all the million questions that had planned to attack her.

JI HAE : (-snapping her back-) Jae Ra-ssi . . .

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