Forty-Six

     “Have some more, Yuri.”  Lee Soo Man insists at the dinner table.

     Yuri unwillingly smiles, “It’s okay.  I still have a lot on my plate.”  It’s Yuri-shi to you!  Besides, I do have a lot on my plate, not literally, though.  Yuri slowly glances at the man across from her.  Thank goodness Taecyeon-shi is here with us.  I feel much more at ease, knowing I won’t lose control of myself.  I guess he was the guest before me.  I wonder what they talked about.  Taecyeon shi doesn’t look happy as usual.

     Taecyeon catches Yuri looking at him so he sends back a friendly smile, embarrassing Yuri.  She shyly smiles back and averts her attention to the lady beside Taecyeon.

     So, she’s my mother.  Lee Soo Man had introduced us to one another when I first arrived, but he didn’t say ‘Mother’.  Yuri takes a sip from her glass cup of water.  I wonder if she became paralyzed after or before I was born.

     “Yuri,” Lee Soo Man speaks once again, “I’d really like it if you live with us for the time being so I can take care of you in your father’s absence.”

     Yuri gently puts her cup down and avoids looking at Lee Soo Man, “I’m glad and I appreciate the thought, but…”

     “I’m sorry for pressuring you.  It’s just…your father’s a great friend and I’d…”

     Yuri looks up at the man.

     “…I’d like to understand and see what it feels like to have a daughter.”  Lee Soo Man’s voice is low gentle.  Yuri and Taecyeon can tell there is a slight sad tone within the words.

     Ah.  They don’t have any other children?  Yuri secretly looks around. If they did, we’d all be here together.  I guess…I was their only child.

     “Lee Soo Man shi.”  Yuri courageously begins, “have you…”

     The couples, Jonghyun and Jessica, Minho and Yoona, look at one another.  It’s 10:26 p.m. and they have arrived at Seoul Park.  The entire amusement park is privately rented for the couples to enjoy.

     “Noona, why are you here?”  Minho kindly asks at the sight of Jessica with Jonghun instead of Yuri.

     I want to ask you that, too!  I thought it was going to be a date for Jonghyun and me.  I guess I was being naïve again.  “Well, Jong—“

     “You read the letter, right?  Since Yuri can’t make it, I decided to ask Jessica to tag along.”  Jonghyun interrupts Jessica’s answer to reply to Minho.  “Yoona-shi,” he sweetly turns his attention to Yoona, “I hope you don’t mind us, but we’ll definitely not barge in on yours and Minho’s date.”  He sends a peace sign with a cute smile.

     Yoona shakes her head, “No, I don’t mind; in fact, I’m glad you two came.”

     Minho exhales and a cloud of white air is seen from his mouth as he speaks, “Okay.  Since we’re all here, and as promised, we’re going to separate and meet back here in three hours.”

     “Got it!”  Jonghyun excitedly exclaims.  He rubs his hands together.  “See you in three!”  He turns and motions for Jessica to follow him.

     Yoona and Minho patiently wait until the couple disappeared.  When they are out of sight, Minho and Yoona unclasp their hands from one another and walk the opposite direction.

     “Now that I think about it, this is the first time we’ve let someone joined us in our ‘date’.  Why?”  Yoona nudges Minho on the arm with his elbow.

     “No reason.  It’s just…to help a friend.”  Why am I upset that Yuri's not here?  Why am I happy that Jessica's in place of her?  What is wrong with me?!

     Jessica continues to follow the silent Jonghyun.  They both haven’t speak up to one another ever since they had left Minho and Yoona at the entrance.  Yuri was supposed to have been his partner for this date?  But, why did he asked me to come along?  Am I just his rebound girl?  A breeze hits them.  Jessica stops and pulls over her jacket over her and furiously rubs her hands together.  I shouldn’t had—

     “Here,”  Jonghyun is about two steps in front of Jessica and isn’t facing Jessica.  One of his arms is out to her.

     What…what is he…doing?  Jessica hesitates to jump to conclusions.  I can’t!  If I mistake that hand for him wanting to hold mine, I’d be-

     “Yah!”  Jonghyun shakes his hand angrily and finally looks at Jessica, “What are you waiting for?  You’re cold, right?”  Jonghyun shyly walks over to Jessica and grabs her hand and intertwines it with his hand.  “Here.”  He quickly averts his attention and begins walking, dragging her along with him.

     This!  This can’t be happening!  I’m…I’m holding hands with him?!  Jessica can’t look up.  She can’t focus on anything.  She can’t help but only look at the hands locking beside her.  Is this really my hand?  I can’t feel anything because of the cold.

     Jessica raises her free hand to touch it, only to bump into Jonghyun’s back.  “Ouch…”  She rubs her nose. 

     “Sorry. I forgot.”  Jessica looks at Jonghyun who is taking out a pair of mittens out of his back pants pocket.  The mittens are white with pink hearts.  Jessica can’t help but let out a giggle at it.  Her giggle stops when he lets go of her hand and gently puts on one side of the pair of mittens on her hand and puts the other side on his hand. 

     After he finishes, and Jessica can’t help but not blink at what’s happening, Jonghyun locks his hand with hers again.  This time, he didn’t drag her.  Instead, he gently kisses Jessica’s nose where she had touched after the sudden bump onto his back and says in a sweet dreamy voice, “My Ice Princess, let’s go.”