Classical music filtered through Mr and Mrs Kim’s bedroom, a large expansive space, air flowed through the balcony doors that were opened by the maids at 5 AM per instruction.
The king sized bed was an exquisite affair personally designed by a famous artist. Some modern fantasy fusion with an exquisite spiralling design.
Mrs Kim Jae Hwa sat at her dressing mirror in a silk robe doing her makeup eloquently, her face a masterpiece itself, she was a lovely being with elegant facial features. When she walked into a room she was peerless, that was why Kim Sunghoon paraded her around like a trophy.
She sprayed some perfume lightly on her wrists and brought those dainty things up to her neck. Her perfume permeated the room, giving the essence of flowers and sweet spices.
Sunghoon, 39 years old, was Jae Hwa’s husband of 9 years. She had not been happy for a single one. He was a businessman from a wealthy family and had so much wealth of his own, he was a crass man, and extremely obsessed with her.
Or it only just seemed that way because of what she represented, a trophy from his conquest over his brother Hoseok. Jae Hwa rubbed her temples at the thought of Hoseok, she missed him dearly, she always did.
She looked back at the bed to find her husband had woken up and was getting out of bed in his black silk pyjamas. His hair was strewn in multiple different directions and she just watched him without a word.
“Not even a good morning? I’m touched.” He said rounding the bed to pick up the remote and turn on the television for the morning news that he never missed. When it came on he threw the remote on the bed haphazardly and continued to the ensuite.
The sound of the reporter was drowned out by her fond memories of Hoseok, she placed him in Sunghoon’s position all the time. Hoseok would have made a great husband, he was considerate of her, he never forgot special occasions and most of all he loved her.
JaeHwa sighed out loud without knowing it.
“What are you sighing so loudly for?” Sunghoon came out freshly showered with a towel wrapped around his waist and and his hair combed neatly back.
His body just kept getting better with age, his chest was wide, his shoulders broad and his morning shadow neatly lined. JaeHwa caught herself staring through the mirror but instantly looked away disgusted with herself. He had already seen her though.
“You like what you see?” He walked up in front of her and bent at the waist to be face to face with her. He was smug and she was revolted that she gave him that satisfaction.
“It’s too bad even if we did anything you can’t even give me a child.” He scoffed while smirking.
A shot of pain ran through her, for the 9 years they had been married she hadn’t been able to conceive and no one in his family missed a chance to taunt her for it.
“I mean, you don’t work, you can’t cook or clean, and even your only job as a woman is impossible for you. You’re practically useless.” He laughed mirthfully at her as though sharing a joke between friends.
JaeHwa suddenly just chuckled lightly and he looked at her curiously, she started, “Oh I just found it funny, because how do we really know it’s me, when we’ve never checked us both.” She smiled beautifully up at him, meeting his eyes,
“I mean you’ve never been able to make any of your mistresses pregnant either, what if you’re just not a man down there?” She asked politely, tilting her head in mock inquisition.
She saw anger flash through his eyes quickly and he raised his hand so far back that she flinched instinctively at the swing that was bound to land soon but it didn’t come.
When JaeHwa finally had the courage to look up she found Sunghoon had moved over to look intently at the television. On it was Hoseok with his mother waving charmingly at the cameras.
His smile was still the most adorable thing she had ever seen even if it was just for the cameras. Her heart fluttered at the sight of his face, his familiar face, a man that did nothing but love her with all his heart. Jae Hwa wanted him so much.
The News reporter was saying, “ Kang YuRi, of the guardian angel foundation that saves hundreds of children from human trafficking every year, and finds them new homes while their old ones are being located by authorities, today visited their biggest orphanage in Seoul to make massive donations and also give a farewell speech this afternoon for her retirement. The New Chairman of the organisation Mr Park Soo Myun, who was not in attendance, will from now on overlook the operation of these goodwill institutions.”
The News anchor continued. “Kang YuRi was accompanied by her son who is one of Korea’s most eligible bachelors, yet has been rumoured to be in a relationship with Mr Park Soo Myun’s daughter. A very powerful union by anyone’s standards.”
She commented with a smile and concluded, “Lastly, but not least, Resident trauma surgeon at Kang Hospital as well as business woman, Asa, is also in attendance as a special guest speaker, being one of the first rescued orphans by Kang YuRi she will be giving a speech talking about how she was rescued, brought up by the organisation and educated to a point where now she is one of the wealthiest women in Asia, holding key positions in the organisation herself. These women are role models to young girls everywhere, turning tribulations into opportunities and not just surviving but thriving.”
“Join us again this afternoon for the live broadcast of their speeches, now for the weather forecast.”
JaeHwa heard snickering first then a burst of uncontrollable laughter coming from Sunghoon. That never meant anything good. She got up and went to her wardrobe while he just laughed maniacally in the other room. She put on a tight dress that flattered her curves, her favourite colour was red so it was red in a very light summery hue.
She walked out and found he had calmed down, she didn’t say a word and picked up her bag.
“And where are you going?” He asked in a low threatening tone. She didn’t waver or stop.
“The spa, I don’t want to get wrinkles before I’m 40.” JaeHwa replied and left. They both knew she was lying.
—--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At The Orphanage
Asa roamed aimlessly around the orphanage grounds, there were so many children this time around, her stomach churned from the thought of it, she wiped the sweat that was forming in her palms on her white dress. The dress was a button up from chest to legs. It was loose fitting and elegant made of lace with long sleeves. The inner material was thick and gave the illusion of another design of dress inside the lace. She wore short block heeled, open toed pumps which were green in colour, matching the colour of her headwrap and handbag.
It was midday and a good number of people were taking a tour of the orphanage including Kang YuRi and her son, Hana had gone with them as well but Asa couldn’t stomach the thought of seeing such places again when she knew what was really going on here. What was really going to happen to these children.
She stumbled upon a football field with makeshift goalposts on each side, she smiled when she saw some children playing on one half of the field since it was too big for them to run around on all of it.
She watched for a bit when something caught her eye, sitted by the empty half of the field near the goal post was a little boy with his head in his palms looking depressed. There was a ball under him acting as his chair and he just looked on, as the others played. Asa squinted at this, she didn’t see anything particularly extraordinary about him that the children would outcast him.
She started to walk towards him without another thought. When she got close to him a few paces away she got his attention and he looked up at her. Understanding crossed her face when she saw his face, it was burnt on one side so his one eye was closed shut and his ear on that side as well. Yet the rest of his face was just fine, She didn’t allow her face to express any emotion and then she asked.
“Can I sit with you?” Asa asked. He just nodded and she took a seat in the grass next to him.
“Why aren’t you playing with your friends?” Asa asked from a few seconds of silence between them. “You clearly want to.”
“They don’t want to play with me.” He replied with a shrug as though having accepted it.
“They said that?” Asa asked calmly.
He nodded, “They didn’t say anything, they just ignored me.” He huffed out in frustration.
Asa looked at this little boy and was impressed by how didn’t look sad, only exasperated, huffing and pouting here and there, this made Asa smile.
“Maybe they think you’re bad at it.”
“How would they know?”
“Your shoelaces are untied, that’s a pretty good sign.” Asa laughed when the boy noticed for the first time his shoelaces weren’t tied.
“I’m good, I can play circles around all of them, especially TaeJoon.” The little boy said. Asa just smiled at the proclamation, he was getting fired up.
“Okay, start by showing me how good you are. If you can score a goal on me I'll acknowledge you.”
“What’s so great about scoring on an old person?” The boy inquired sceptically, genuinely curious and Asa was genuinely offended.
“Aha!? Me! Old?!” Asa stuttered. “Fine, if you think I’m so old it should be easy right?” Asa declared haughtily and the boy laughed for the first time and agreed competitively.
“Alright! let’s see you score.” Asa stated and the both stood up with a vigour for the game that had petty stakes but put smiles on both their faces.
The boy ran pretty far out to create a mark for where he should stand to do his free kicks.
Asa shouted, “Isn’t that too far?!”
“Not if I’m playing against you!” The little boy shouted laughing. He didn’t look younger than 10 years old but so much sass.
“Oh you better score because if you don’t I’ll use that ball to stopper your mouth shut!” Asa shouted and the boy belted out little squeals of laughter. It made Asa genuinely warm inside.
“Come on!!” Asa shouted, the boy got ready to kick. He ran towards the ball with unsteady feet at first and then gained speed and balance.
Asa had taken off her shoes and headwrap throwing them to the side with her bag, the green blended in with the grass.
The thud of the boy’s feet with the ball was strong and for the first time Asa wondered if the child wasn’t just bluffing. The ball started with a lot of speed and force but it was misdirected and it missed by a huge distance.
Asa yelled, “What are you doing?! Focus!” Then Asa realised something important, The boy because of his burn only had a limited field of vision and because of this his one eye was trying to compensate for that which was giving him divided attention.
“Hey, Kid?!” Asa asked, he answered, “What’s your name?” She asked.
“Sehun! Why?” He asked, “You want me to keep calling you Kid?! it’s rude!” She replied.
“My name is Asa. Sehun?” Asa started, Sehun replied, “Yeah?!”
“How many fingers am I holding up?” She put up 3 fingers and started moving from side to side to test out her theory.
“Why?” Sehun shouted, “It’s a game just play along.” Asa replied. “Okay.” He replied.
“I can’t really tell from this far they keep getting blurry when you move.” Sehun replied sadly.
Comments (0)
See all