She's a little
Chaos.
A little
forever.

Kim Tae-hee

We are ringing the doorbell but no one is coming to open it. After ringing 5 times the doors open, an old woman came into view. Her hairs tied in a bun. She is Wearing white color frock which reaches just below her knees. Her face has wrinkles, showing the aging sign. Still, she looks beautiful with her breathtaking smile.

She looks at me from head to toe. Her face holds a confusing look. She didn't recognize me till now.

"How can't I recognize this face?"

Did I say this too loud? She cups my face in her hands. she cares my cheek with the pad of her thumb. The warmth of her hands reaches to my heart.

She kisses on my forehead. "Oh Yeon-Seo who is at the gate? Come fast... tea will get cold," someone yelled from inside the home.

She engulfs me in a hug. I wrap my hands around her fragile frame. I inhale her rose scent.

I miss all this every second.

I miss them.

I miss her smell.

I miss this home.

I miss the fragrance of being home.

It all feels like a dream. I don't want this dream to end. It should remain like this forever. But every dream end, then only we can see a new dream.

She breaks the hug and stares my face. her eyes shining by the unshed tears. her lips are curled in a beautiful smile.

"Oh Seong-Moo, come fast," grandma shout a little loud. Grandma hugs Ji-Hu.

" I told you, grandma,I will bring your granddaughter to you. Now you will give me your hand made cookies," Ji-hu joked.

" Of course ......of course ." grandma exclaimed. we both chuckle at his childish behavior.

"Let's go inside." She takes us inside. My heart finally feels the true feeling of being home.

Grandpa was standing near the sofa. His lips curled in a beautiful smile. he looks weak. Still, he looks handsome. He wraps his thin hands around my body. I hug him back. After a few minutes he breaks the hug. He kisses on my forehead.

"You just look, my daughter. Isn't she Oh Yeon-Seo?"

"Yes. No doubt in it. she is an exact copy of our daughter. She has grown into a beautiful girl," grandma said.

She made me sit on the sofa in the hall. Grandma sits on the right side and grandpa on the left. Ji-Hu is sitting on the opposite side. Grandma is holding my hand.

"I miss you both a lot." I hear my strange voice.

"We both miss you too so much," grandpa says. They both give me a side hug.

"I will bring tea and cookies for both of you."

Grandma gets up from her place, descend towards the kitchen.

"How are you Tae-Hee?" grandpa asked.

"I am good," I replied.

"I miss you all so much. sitting here in this room feels unreal. Every day I miss you in California." I control my tears.

"Every time you call, I just wanted to listen to the whole day. Whenever you console me,I wish you were in front of me. I wanted to hug you whenever I feel scared. I thought I will never be able to see you. I will never be able to feel your love, care, affection, warmth."

"Oh my child, you have gone through so much. I am sorry. I am really sorry." His weak hands wrap around my body.

By the time, grandma sets the table. The hall was

Grandma serves us the tea. The cookies were so tasty. They both start asking me things. grandpa asked about my old school, friends. I don't have so many friends there. I don't talk to anyone. just two people who I know a little bit and I can maybe call them my friend. Grandma asked about the behavior of my steps with me. about dad they asked.

We all were busy catching up on the things we missed in the past days. At the clock shows the dinner time. Grandma goes to the kitchen to prepare it.

We usually talk on call. And talking to them face to face is a different thing. I can't describe how I am feeling right now sitting with so precious and important people.

We eat our dinner. It was very tasty. After 10 years I eat dinner with them. room was filled with our talks.

" Tae-hee meeting you face to face is more good than just talking to you on the phone and just listening to your voice. " Grandma said.
She again starts crying.

" Grandma don't cry I will come to meet you three to four times a week. Don't cry. Grandpa hates your tears." I wipe the tears from her cheek. her cheeks turn red due to my last sentence.

We bid them farewell and sits in the car.

The car stops in front of the apartment

The car stops in front of the gate of the building of Ji-Hu's apartment. We both get out of the car. Ji-Hu walks to his building.

" Wait Ji-hu," I called him.

" Yes, Tae-hee." He turns towards me. I walk towards him.

"Ji-hu thank you for everything you had done for me. "

"Hmm... stop thinking. You are my best friend."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too more."

We both turn on our heels and walk away.

I get in the car. The driver starts the engine. And we are on the way to the house.

( Tae-hee's dad mansion)

The car stops at the gate. I get out of the car and walk to the main door. I feel like someone is watching me. someone is present in the garden. I was about to hold the doorknob but a hand came from behind and wraps the finger around the knob.

I shift aside. I look at the person. our eyes met. Coldness shines in them. "What you are doing here? You should be in California?" the question in my way shows the person doesn't know about my arrival and he isn't happy about it.

He holds my arm. His nails digging into my skin. "Get out of my house. return to the place from where you have." His words break my heart pieces into many more tiny pieces.

"Leave my hand. you are hurting me." I try to get out of his hands. but he tightens it more.

The night again made my day turn bad. His words made me forget the words I have to listen a few hours ago. The present moment again made me believe the past will never leave me in life. it will follow me to every place I will go to. Its now shadow.

"Dad told me to come back. he sends his people to bring me back from California. I am never interested in coming to this house of yours, to this dead house. I came back to see you, grandpa and grandma-"

My assumption is coming true. His words show the hatred his heart holds for me. I wanted to shout at him for not coming to meet me, for not protecting me, for not being my elder brother. but his words and actions show that his sister died the day his mother died.

"- I have return to meet my family. You are only family I have and – " he speaks up in between.

"Did I ever told you how much I abhor you. I am not your family. I hate you so much. you have taken my family from me. you will never be my family, NEVER. In my eyes, you are just the murderer. Did you get it?" he speaks belligerently.

His voice venom has mixed with my blood and oxygen. It's getting hard to breathe under this hatred stare. I feel like I am not standing in front of my brother, I am standing in front of an uncanny and unknown person.

He removes his hand from my arm. He pushes me aside and walks inside leaving behind a broken-hearted girl.

Thank you for reading this chapter.