The next day, in their small home on a hill near the edge of town, Seul-ki and Da-som sit on the floor at their table after finishing breakfast. Ha-neul is playing with Hye-jin on the floor just a few feet away, the morning sun pouring in through the front entrance.
Da-som leans over and speaks softly to Seul-ki. "Yeobo, Secretary Hwang returned from Beijing yesterday with the ambassador, right? What'd he say?"
"So the concert was approved?" Da-som asks.
Seul-ki nods, "We would play the concert, then that night our guard would accompany us to the port. There'll be a man on the boat to take us to the South."
"Is the guard coming with us?" Da-som asks.
Seul-ki nods, then takes a sip of tea before continuing. "That was the plan. That's not the problem though." He sighs. "They changed their minds. Now they won't let us take anyone else, not even Hye-jina."
Da-som leans in further. "Do they suspect us?"
"I think so," Seul-ki whispers. "Administrator Ji Yong-bom. He must have spoken to the Ambassador."
"We're not leaving then," Da-som shakes her head as she retracts back into her seat, horrified. "No, no."
"Of course not," Seul-ki replies. He reaches out for his wife's hand and tenderly caresses her fingers. "The guard said he knows someone who works at the border. We could possibly bribe him to let us through. There are groups leaving more frequently now. Since the new Leader took over, a lot of the elites are being shaken up and some are starting to flee. That could be our opportunity."
Seul-ki pats his wife's hand a couple times reassuringly. He turns his head to look at his daughters.
Da-som sighs, "Ji Yong-bom - I don't like the way he looks at Ha-neul."
"I know," Seul-ki replies.
Da-som continues, "Oh God, please take pity on us. We're so close." She also glances at the children. Ha-neul's smile seems contagious as she squints her eyes and chuckles while playfully tickling Hye-jin, who doesn't look particularly ticklish, but is laughing along anyway. Suddenly Da-som asks Seul-ki, "What's the first thing you'll do in the South?"
"Honestly?" Seul-ki asks. Da-som nods. "Soju," Seul-ki answers. Da-som raises her fist above her head at him as he laughs and flinches to avoid it. She grins playfully as they both settle down.
"Didn't you want the truth?" Seul-ki replies, "I'll buy a bottle of soju."
"You won't have the money," Da-som replies jokingly. "Besides, alcohol is alcohol, it's the same thing here."
"No," Seul-ki answers, "It's not the same. Not at all - it'll be my first drink as a free man."
Da-som half closes her eyes while pondering his words. "Mm," she says, before nodding with understanding. "The first thing I'll do is go to the nearest church and thank God." She suddenly appears more solemn. "What about your mother? Is she ... still refusing to come with us?"
Seul-ki looks at Da-som. "I'll talk to her tomorrow when we visit for father's death anniversary." Da-som looks worried. Seul-ki continues, "She doesn't want to burden us." Seul-ki bows his head down. "But I will carry her if I have to," he says resolutely.
Da-som sighs, shaking her head. "Otoke. Thank God my parents passed on early. I just hope we can follow their path, and not be a burden to the children."
Seul-ki nods, then glances at his watch. "We have to leave soon though. Be ready yeobo. We can't decline the concert invitation next week without looking suspicious. And with Administrator Ji around, I don't think we can return and wait it out either. " He turns towards the kids and raises his voice, "Ha-neula, time for school." He looks back at Da-som. "Do the kids suspect anything?" he asks. Da-som shakes her head no.
"Good," Seul-ki adds, "Better they don't know, in case they get questioned." He kisses Da-som on the cheek one more time before standing up. "See you at school," Seul-ki says to Da-som before walking over to the living room to separate the kids. "Alright, alright, let's get going. Hye-jina, go to your mother and get ready for school. Ha-neula, I'll walk with you to school now."
"Wait a moment," Da-som interrupts. She walks over to Ha-neul and hands her a paper bag. "Don't forget your lunch."
"Mom!" Ha-neul whines, stamping her foot childishly. "They provide us lunch."
Da-som ignores her, instead focused on fixing Ha-neul's messy collar. "I know, I just like making you lunch. What, you're ashamed to take your mom's food?"
"Mom ..." Ha-neul replies in a low, reassuring tone. "I always love your cooking." She hugs her mom tenderly.
"Okay, okay. Work hard Ha-neula!" Da-som says, patting Ha-neul on the head before waving her hand to whisk Ha-neul away.
"Bye mom!" Ha-neul answers, skipping down the steps of their front porch onto the road leading down the hill.
Ha-neul is enrolled as a violin student at the same music conservatory that Seul-ki and Da-som teach at. The school is a few minutes walk away from their home. Due to their connections, they have the privilege of living on a secluded property atop the hill not far from the school, allowing them to live near to where they can practice. Seul-ki has the further privilege of leading the school ensemble, and to occasionally tour on special occasions. This time around, the minister of education for their region is coming to visit the school.
Most of the teachers are worried due to the recent changes in the topmost leadership of the regime. The former Great Leader passed on from this world, leaving behind the new Respected Comrade to fill the power vacuum and to clean house, pruning the old guard. In this uncertain climate where the social ladder has been suddenly thrust down to those on the lower levels of the pecking order, the intimidated are striving to protect their rung on the ladder and ally themselves firmly with the new officials now descending upon their school. The bold meanwhile are uninterested in keeping their rung - instead, they are eager for ways to climb at the expense of others.
"Ha-neula," Seul-ki says, as they walk together down the hill towards the school. Seul-ki walks with his hands behind his back, his head bowed down as he observes the ground. "How are your studies?"
"They're good, father," Ha-neul answers.
"Mm, is it difficult?" Seul-ki asks. Ha-neul grins half-heartedly, hiding her teeth and simply nodding as she holds the straps of her violin case like a backpack. Seul-ki continues, "Good. It may seem hard right now, but just stick with it."
Ha-neul nods more slowly this time, raising her eyebrows in reluctant compliance.
"Hey kid," Seul-ki adds, "You can have a difficult time now, and an easy time later; or an easy time now, and a difficult time later. Everything worthwhile in life has a cost. Pay it now so that afterwards you can enjoy."
"What if I don't want to be a violinist though, father?" Ha-neul asks sincerely.
Seul-ki looks up at the late summer sky. It's bright blue with scattered clouds as white and pure as cotton balls. He continues. "Violin is as good a way as any to make a living. It's not something everyone can do, so once you obtain that skill, you will always be in demand. If I noticed that you had no ability, I would have let you study something else. But you have ability, Ha-neula."
Just then he pauses, thinking of the changes that are right around the corner. "No matter what," he adds, "Just keep up your studies. An education is something no one can ever take away from you. Once you graduate, you can always decide to be a janitor or a gardener, and if you change your mind you can go back to violin. I have nothing against janitors, but if you stop school, and become a janitor, then it's far more difficult to go back and study violin again. So stick with it, while you have the chance."
Seul-ki looks back up at the sky, adjusting his eyeglasses. He sees off in the distance a thick layer of dark gray clouds. "Looks like it might rain later this evening. Ha-neula, do you have your umbrella?"
"Yes, father," Ha-neul replies.
"One more thing," Seul-ki says, as they get closer to the school. "Stay away from Administrator Ji."
"Yes, father," Ha-neul replies nonchalantly as she walks on.
"Hey, really," Seul-ki says, suddenly stopping. Ha-neul stops walking as well and turns back toward her father. Seul-ki looks around before speaking more softly. "That man is dangerous. Never - never allow him to meet with you one on one. Always make sure there is someone around."
Ha-neul nods slowly in acknowledgement, a look of concern on her face.
"Alright, good," Seul-ki replies. Ha-neul's concerned look slowly melts away. "Good," Seul-ki nods, more confident now. "And remember this - I will always love you, huh?"
Ha-neul stares at him blankly as they both pause awkwardly. Seul-ki suddenly tries to hug her, but she parries his arms.
"Father!" Ha-neul whines childishly, embarrassed.
"Mm, I see how it is," Seul-ki says as he retracts backward, accepting defeat. "Mom gets a hug, but father does not." He starts down the hill again. "I see, I see - you don't care about father anymore," Seul-ki replies coyly.
Ha-neul suddenly hops up on her tiptoes and kisses her father on the cheek as he starts to pass by, knocking his glasses slightly astray. Seul-ki stops once more to adjust his glasses and looks at Ha-neul, surprised.
"Father, you'll always be special to me," Ha-neul replies in a sincere tone.
"Ha-neula, you're growing into a beautiful young lady," Seul-ki says softly, in his heart thanking God.
Ha-neul grins again innocently, her long black hair tied in a ponytail, her cheeks hiding her brown eyes and revealing her bubbly smile.
They finally make it to the school gate. "Take care, Ha-neula," Seul-ki says once more. "Work hard."
Ha-neul and Seul-ki part as they enter the school. Before moving on, Seul-ki peeks back at his daughter. As Ha-neul walks down the hallway, she tucks her head in embarrassment as most of the male students and even some of the male teachers turn their heads to admire her beauty. He suddenly feels his heart sink, realizing it's not a blessing, but a curse.
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