4 days later

 

Chaerin and her friends are heading at the airport that morning to go to South Korea with Chaerin’s mother. She’s excited to be at her hometown again after 12 years of living in UK

 

“I’m glad you can come with us..”Mrs. Lee said, they all smile at her and bow down their heads

 

“When we heard that the accommodation is free, who are we to say no..”Seungri said, Mrs. Lee laughs and looks at Chaerin who’s texting that time

 

“Did you inform Woojun-Oppa that we’re arriving tomorrow?”Mrs. Lee asked her daughter

 

“Yes mom and he’ll be the one fetching us at the airport..”Chaerin answered

 

“Okay, what about your Aunt Sallie?”Chaerin looks at Bom then to her mother

 

“I haven’t told her that we will be arriving, I know you want to surprise her..”Her mom smiles at her as they heard that the passengers for flight 210 is about to board in 30 minutes

 

“Let’s head to gate 6 and wait there..”Mrs. Lee said, they all starts to walk as Chaerin’s phone beeps

 

*I hope you know what you are doing Chaerin, I love you like my little sister and you know that I’m just concern about you and her* - Bom-Unnie

 

Chaerin type in some words as she follows her mother from behind

 

*I know Unnie and thank you but i know what I’m doing*

 

*Okay but do you think she’ll say yes?*

 

*I don’t know, I haven’t talk to Aunt Sallie again*

 

*Damn Chaerin! If your mother finds out*

 

*If she will, I know she’ll understand me. I’m not doing anything bad here. I’m just trying to help Aunt Sallie*

 

*Yeah but not in this way! Aisht! Do whatever you think is the best and I hope when you see her, you’ll have the guts to say something..*

 

Chaerin looks at her back and saw Bom walking while holding Seunghyun’s hand. She then looks at her mother as they approach the gate 6

 

Well here goes nothing. Think positive Chaerin, you got this!

 

 

 

 

Early the Next Day

 

4:15 am (South Korea)

 

Woojun the care taker of Lee’s mansion in South Korea fetched them and they are now on their way to the mansion. Mrs. Lee is busy talking with him while Chaerin’s friends are busy looking outside the window, in this trip Bom and Chaerin are sitting together

 

“When are you going to meet your Aunt Sallie?”Bom asked Chaerin who got busy texting again

 

“Tomorrow but mom doesn’t know that Aunt Sallie knows that we are here..” Chaerin answered

 

“What about your plan?”

 

“I don’t know how will I say it to my mom. Maybe one of these days but not now..”

 

“And what if she won’t say yes?”

 

“She will. She knows that we are lending some money to her mom..”

 

“And you’ll use that to blackmail her? God Chaerin! That’s not right you know..”

 

“Who say I’m going to blackmail her? Just leave everything to me okay Unnie. I know what I’m doing..”

 

“Whatever you say missy..”

 

 

 

 

When they arrive at the mansion, Mrs. Lee told the kids to take a rest for a while and she’ll promise to give them a tour later in the afternoon. Chaerin friends went to their assigned rooms while she went straight to the garden at the back. She’s so happy to be in Korea again, she’s still reminiscing when her phone rings. She took it out of her pocket and saw that her Aunt Sallie is calling

 

“Hello?”she answered, she look from her left to right hoping not to see her mother

 

“How’s your flight?”Sallie asked her

 

“It’s okay Auntie, there’s no turbulence so it went smooth..” Chaerin answered

 

“Nice to hear that. I’m just checking on you and your mother. Where is she by the way?”

 

“She’s inside talking to Oppa. Uhm Auntie, did you ah talk to her already?”Chaerin’s  heart starts to skip a beat, she patiently waits for her to answer her question

 

“Not yet sweetie. She’ll be arriving today from Japan too. I told her that I need to talk to her as soon as possible..”

 

“Oh, did she ask you anything else?”

 

“No but she told me that she can’t stay here that long because of her work. You know that she’s the one helping Minji to finish her study..”

 

“Yes Auntie..”she remembers Minji, she used to play with her when they were kids except when her older sister is around

 

“Just one more year and they will be back here in South Korea, she told me that yesterday when we talked over the phone..”Chaerin senses the sadness in her voice, though she and her mom lives in UK, they know everything that’s happening with Sallie and her daughters

 

“When their father left us for another girl, she promised me that she’ll do everything for me and her little sister. I want to help her Chaerin but she won’t allow me because of my condition..”

 

“You have a very kind daughter Auntie..” Chaerin said and smiles

 

“Yeah I do and I hope she can find someone who will love her and take care of her in the future..”

 

“I know she will..”

 

“Sorry for this Chaerin, I’m not suppose to say these things to you..”

 

“Hey its okay Aunt Sallie, you’re like a second mother to me. Don’t worry, I’ll be the one to talk to your daughter about my proposal and I hope she’ll agree to it..”

 

“I hope so Chaerin. By the way you haven’t told me your whole idea and proposal to her. Can you tell it to me now?”Chaerin looks down on the ground and sigh

 

“Auntie Sallie, I want to—“but she heard her mother’s voice before she could finish

 

“It’s mom! I’ll call you later Auntie, bye!”Chaerin said and immediately ended the call

 

“Who are you talking to sweetie?”Mrs. Lee asked her

 

“Oh it’s Yvette mom, she’s ah saying something about the meeting..”

 

“But it’s already 9:30 pm in UK..”

 

“Ahm yeah, she’s just ah informed me what happened to the meeting she attended to..”

 

“Oh okay, go get your friends, breakfast is ready. I’m sure they are starving..”

 

 

 

 

 

Kyoto, Japan

 

Toshiba

 

 Its 10:30 in the morning and the staff from the Toshiba Company main branch in Kyoto are taking their morning break. One of them is an employee named Park Sandara who is head of the Customer Service in the company. She’s eating silently while waiting for the clock strike to 11:30, she filed an EO (Early out) that day and told the management that she’ll be on leave until Monday morning. The management allows her to go home for a while because she’s one of the hardworking employees there

 

“There you are! I’ve been looking everywhere for you..”Dara turn around and saw Kiyong standing a few feet away from her, she smiles and taps the chair beside her

 

“And what can I do for you today Mister Jang?” Dara asked him, Kiyong smiles shyly and scratch his head. His uncle owns the company and he’s the second in command

 

“I told you to stop calling me that..”he said, Dara laughs and winks at him

 

“Uncle told me that you are going home to South Korea today..”Kiyong said and hand her a bottle of juice and a sandwich

 

“Yeah, it’s Minji’s semestral break and she wants to spend her vacation with our mother. She misses her so much..”Dara answered

 

“Then why don’t you file your 1 week Vacation leave instead of 2 VL’s only?”

 

“I don’t need to rest that long..”

 

“You don’t want to rest or you’re thinking about your salary?”Dara looks at him and sigh

 

“It’s a paid vacation Dara..”

 

“I know but just half of it. You know how I badly needed money to support Minji on her school and medicine for my mother..”

 

“Then why don’t you accept the position Uncle is offering to you?”

 

“Oh come on Kiyong, there’s a lot more qualified person for that position..”

 

“He won’t ask you if you’re not qualified..”Dara shook her head and took a sip on her juice

 

“Think about it, you don’t need to do 2 jobs just to support them. You’ll have enough money so you can bring your mother here in Japan..”Kiyong added, he looks at Dara and saw her crying silently, he then extend his arms and place it on Dara’s shoulder

 

“You can cry on me..”Kiyong said, Dara starts to cry hard. Kiyong is the only person she can talk to about their problems

 

“I called my mother yesterday and god how I miss her. I know she’s blaming herself for what’s happening to us. It’s not her fault, Kiyongie. Me and Minji don’t blame her...”

 

“I know that Dee..”

 

“She told me that she wants to work, she’ll try to apply as a maid to one of her friends but I told her not to. I’m afraid that something might happen to her while we’re here but there’s nothing else I can do..”

 

“There’s something you can do, accept the offer then in a month or two, you’ll be able to bring her here..”Dara looks at him

 

“I’m not forcing you to say yes now but think about it while you’re in Korea..”

 

“Okay I will. Thanks for being there with me Kiyong..”Dara smiles at him and kisses him on his cheeks

 

“Oh ah kekeke, nothing to worry about that. So ah what time are you two leaving?”

 

“Minji is waiting for me in our apartment, our flight is around 3 in the afternoon..”

 

“Oh okay, can you give me a call when you arrive at Incheon?”

 

“Sure, I’ll call you. Don’t miss me too much okay..”Dara said and laughs when she saw Kiyong’s face turns to red

 

“There goes our two love birds again, Kiyong your Uncle is looking for you..”Matt said, Kiyong nods his head and looks at Dara

 

“Take care and Have a safe flight..”he said, he waves his hand and left. Matt and Dara laughs when they saw how Kiyong runs far away from him

 

“You better stop teasing him Nii-san..”Dara said

 

“Oh come on Dara, can’t you see that boy is head over heels with you..”Matt answered

 

“Oh stop it..”

 

“I don’t know why you don’t let him court you. He’s handsome and a very kind and intelligent kid..”

 

“I know Nii-san but I have a lot of things to do right now but who knows when I go back from my vacation, I’ll allow him to court me..”

 

“Haha! So Mitchy is right, you do like Kiyong too..”

 

“Nii-san!”

 

“Okay I’ll stop. You be careful on our flight okay and bring me back some kimchi..”

 

“I will Nii-san. See you when I comeback..”

 

 

 

 

 

5 hours later..

 

 Sisters Minji and Dara arrived at the Incheon airport around 4:45 in the afternoon. They are waiting for their luggage when Minji’s phone beeps

 

“It’s mom, she send someone to pick us up..”Minji said to her sister who is carrying their bag

 

“Oh okay, go grab you luggage, I want to go home as soon as we can. I miss mom so much..” Dara answered

 

“Me too! Let’s go..”Minji said and they both walk towards the exit. When they reach the outside, they patiently wait for whoever their mom sent to fetch them then a two sports car stops in front of them, a man wearing a white polo shirt went out of the first car while a girl wearing a jacket with a hoodie and a sunglasses went out of the second car. Dara is looking at the girl because she’s familiar with her

 

“Welcome back to South Korea, Ladies..”the girl said, Minji’s eyes widen s she recognize the voice

 

“Chaerin-Unnie?”she said and run towards her, she hugs her and Chaerin smiles

 

“Hey kiddo! It’s been a while since the last time I saw you..” Chaerin said

 

“Me too Unnie, me too!”

 

“Look at you, you’re much taller than your sister..”Chaerin looks at Dara who is glaring at her

 

Okay Chaerin stop teasing her if you want to live

 

“Hey..”Chaerin said to her

 

“What’s the meaning of this?”Dara asked,  she then pulls her sister towards her

 

“I uhm fetching you and Minji..”

 

“What?!”

 

“You heard me right..”

 

“Does mom knows about this?”

 

“Actually yes, she’s the one who sent me here because I’m the one who wants to talk to you Dara..”

 

“Well I don’t want to talk to you Miss Lee, now will you excuse us. Minji go hail some cab..”Dara told her little sister, Minji nods her head but Chaerin walks over to Dara, lean a little closer to her ear and whisper

 

‘Just do what I say Dara and I promise you, I have the answers to your problems..’

 

‘Even if you have the answers, there’s no way I’m going to talk to you..’

 

‘Then what about the money we lend to you for your mother’s operation..’Dara looks at her and she can’t believe on what she’s hearing

 

‘You and your mother owe us a lot of money. Don’t make me force you to pay for it now. Just come with me and I have a proposal for you..’Dara then look at Minji who is standing beside her, she’s not hearing anything then smiles at her

 

“I’ll see you  at home Minji..”Dara said, Chaerin motion for the driver to get their things and put it inside the car

 

“I just need to talk to your sister about something, don’t worry we’ll see you at your home in an hour or so I’ll..”Chaerin said

 

“It’s okay Unnie, you can take your time..”Minji said, she smiles and walk away from them. When Dara saw her sister went inside the car and wave at them, she looks at Chaerin who is smiling at her

 

“So, shall we?”Chaerin asked her