OST:  I'll Back Off So You Can Live by G-NA

          “Flight attendants please prepare for landing.  We should be arriving at Incheon International  Airport in less than fifteen minutes.”

          Nicole Jung heard the pilot announce.  A million thoughts were running through her mind.  She was finally returning home, after three long years.  So much has changed since Nicole was last in Seoul, and couldn’t help herself from feeling anxious.  Though, she wasn’t exactly sure what type of anxiety she was feeling- excited or nervous.

          “Whoaaaa!”

          Nicole broke away from her thoughts and smiled at the three year-old who was in awe from the view of Seoul outside the plane window. 

         “Look Yoogeun, it’s our new home!” Nicole said to her son excitedly as she pointed down at Seoul.  She couldn’t help but to chuckle at his amazed expression.  This was his first time on a plane and he was enjoying every bit of it.

          “Hey Goonie, better be careful or you might fall out the plane!” a man sitting on the other side of Nicole said playfully.

          “Yah, Jung Yunho! Stop it, you’re gonna scare him.” Nicole punched her older brother’s arm and glared.   Yunho winced in pain.

          “Ahhhh, I’m gonna have to pray for you, Goonie, you have one violent mother……” he whined, rubbing his arm, “God forbid you ever get in trouble….”

          “Yeah, and I’ll pray for him because he has an idiot uncle” Nicole said and stuck her tongue out.

          Yunho smiled sarcastically before turning away and grabbed one of the airplane magazines.  Nicole sighed as she looked over to her son, who was still staring out the window in amazement.  He turned to her and smiled and pointed out the window.  She nodded and smiled, but her smile slowly began to melt away as she thought about that day she left.

 ******************** Three Years Ago ********************

          “Nicole!”

          A 19-year-old Nicole stopped in front of the security line and turned to see her two best friends Park Gyuri and Han Seungyeon.  Her eyes widened with shock.

          “Gyuri, Seungyeon! What are you doing here? You should be in school!” Nicole exclaimed, walking up to them.

          “And not say good-bye to our best friend?” Gyuri said, “I don’t think so.”

          “School will be there tomorrow…...” Seungyeon said trying her best to smile, “but you won’t be……”

          With those last words, tears began to fall down Seungyeon’s cheeks and Nicole immediately hugged her, tears in her eyes too.  Gyuri gave a sad look before she joined in on the group hug. The three girls stood there in their embrace, not wanting to separate, but Nicole had to a plane to catch and eventually broke away.

          “Nicole, do you really plan to leave without telling Minho?  You know this will hurt him right?” Gyuri asked, wiping the tears that were forming in her eyes.

          Nicole looked at her two friends.  They knew the reason why Nicole was running away to America, but she made them swore not to tell a soul.  Even her own mother doesn’t know, she believed that Nicole was going to America to live with her older brother Yunho and study abroad.

          “It’s best for both of us if we never see each other again……” Nicole said before smiling weakly, “Bye Gyuri, Seungyeon, I’ll call when I land.”

****************************************

         Now, Nicole was finally moving back after Yunho’s job transferred him back to Seoul.  Three years ago when Nicole left for California and told her brother about her unexpected pregnancy, Yunho was angry at her for not telling him or their mother she was pregnant before she left Seoul.  However, he couldn’t just kick his little sister out to live on the streets, especially in a city like L.A.  To show her gratitude, Nicole did the chores around the house, even during her pregnancy, and even got a part-time job at a café across their apartment building.

         When the two told their mother, she was even more enraged and refused to speak with Nicole over the phone for months.  However, once Yoogeun was born, she began to soften up.  She had Nicole and Yunho send her pictures of her grandson and even learned to how to work a webcam.  Because flight tickets were expensive, her mother would send diapers, baby clothes, and toys for Yoogeun.  Their mother never met Yoogeun in person, but she knew practically everything about him and was already spoiling him like a normal grandparent.  Nicole would apologize repeatedly once her mother started speaking with her again, and her mother would only reassure that she understands and that she is forgiven.

         Nicole couldn’t wait to reunite with her mother and best friends, but she was nervous about seeing the father of her child.  It’s been three years, and as much as she tried not to, she couldn’t help herself but to wonder how he’s been.  She would find herself randomly asking “What college does he go to now?” “Does he still go running every morning?” “Is he working at his family’s company now?” “Is he living well?”

_______________________

          At the airport, Nicole waited patiently with Yoogeun at the baggage claim while Yunho went to get their luggage.  She scanned the crowd looking for her mother.  She smiled when she saw her mother waving happily at her.

          “Omma!”

          “Nicole!”

          Her mother ran up to Nicole and immediately embraced her, happy tears in both of their eyes.

          “Omma, Omma, I’m so sorry! I missed you so much!” Nicole cried in her mother’s arm.  Her mother her daughter’s head.

          "It’s okay, I missed you too.  I’m so glad you and you’re brother are back!” her mother said.

          Nicole broke away from their embrace and smiled.  Mrs. Jung returned the smile and looked down at Yoogeun.  Nicole bent down and said to her son, “Yoogeun, this is your grandma.  Say hello.”

          Yoogeun just stared at his grandmother and waved slightly, causing her smile to widen even more.  Mrs. Jung bent down and hugged her grandson, carrying her in her arms.

          “My little Yoogeunnie!  You’re even more adorable than your pictures!”  she exclaimed as she kissed her cheeks.  Nicole smiled even more at the scene of the reunion of her mother and son.

          “Nicole!”

          Nicole heard her name being called and looked past her mother to see Seungyeon and Gyuri, who were smiling widely at their best friend.  She screamed as she ran to them and immediately embraced them, jumping excitedly.

          “Gyuri, Seungyeon! Oh my gosh!  I missed you both!”

          “Us too!” Seungyeon cried when they broke away.  Nicole looked at Gyuri with shock.

          “Gyuri, when did you become a blonde?!?” Nicole asked.

          “About a month ago, I look good right?  Usually most Asian women can’t pull off blonde hair, but with my goddess-like looks, I’m beautiful with any hairstyle.” Gyuri flipped her hair arrogantly. 

          Nicole laughed.  Even three years couldn’t lower her Goddess best friend’s ego.

          “Is that your son?” Seungyeon asked, looking at Yoogeun who was still in Nicole’s mother’s arms.

          “Yes, that’s Yoogeun.”

          “Awww, he’s absolutely adorable!  I’m Seungyeon-Unnie!” Seungyeon introduced to herself with an adorable eye-smile.

          “And I’m Gyuri-Unnie.  Call me ajumah- and you’re dead.” Gyuri introduced herself and playfully threatened.

          Nicole shook her head as she laughed.

          “Omma,  I’m back!”

          Mrs. Jung turned to see her son, Yunho, and smiled even brighter.  She embraced him while holding Yoogeun.  However, Nicole couldn’t help but notice Gyuri’s smile falter and her eyes widen with shock.

          "Nicole, I didn’t know he was coming back too……” Gyuri whispered.  Nicole and Seungyeon looked at her confused.

          “He got transferred back to Seoul, that’s one of the reasons why we returned.” Nicole replied.  She and Seungyeon were curious on why their usually confident best friend was suddenly acting flustered.

          After Yunho finished hugging his mother, he looked up and noticed Nicole’s two friends.

          “Well, hello Han Seungyeon and Park Gyuri.”  He said with a friendly smile.

          Seungyeon smiled and bowed, “Welcome back Yunho-Oppa!”

          “Jung Yunho.” Gyuri muttered with a glare.  Nicole and Seungyeon began to feel an aura of hostility surfacing from her and gave each other a glance.

          “Shouldn’t you be calling me Oppa, Park Gyuri?” he asked challengingly, causing Gyuri’s glare to harden.

          “How about I call you Yunho-bas-“

          “Okay, I’m hungry!  Let’s hurry up and get some food!”  Seungyeon interrupted with Nicole nodding in agreement.

          “Oh please, I hate airplane food.  It’s disgusting.  Plus, I haven’t eaten a home-cook meal from Omma in forever!” Nicole agreed as Seungyeon led Gyuri to the exit.

          “Of course, let’s go back to the restaurant.  I’m going to make all of your favorites!” Mrs. Jung said and snuggled her nose with Yoogeun, “And I’ll also make something really special for you my little grandson!”

          “Yah! What about me?!” Yunho cried, causing Nicole to roll her eyes.

          “Yes, you too Son.  I already have all of your favorite meats in the kitchen.”  She replied before heading towards the exit.  Nicole followed, leaving Yunho to carry the three large suitcases carrying their luggage.

          “Ya-YAH! Come back, I’m not carrying all this by myself!”

_______________________

          Nicole, Gyuri, and Seungyeon sat at one of the tables in her family’s restaurant the Red Kitchen.  Mrs. Jung was busy cooking lunch and Yunho took Yoogeun to play at a nearby park.  The three best friends were catching up on the last three years.  Seungyeon is working as a fashion photographer for YesStyle magazine and Gyuri is studying to be a lawyer.  Nicole felt a bit envious at her two friends’ lives.

          “Yoogeun looks a lot like him, doesn’t he?”  Seungyeon said, cautiously.

          Gyuri nodded in agreement, “He does, you can definitely tell he’s Minho’s son……”

          Nicole stared at her cup of water before numbly saying, “Yes he does.”

          Seungyeon glanced at Gyuri, who glanced back with a look of concern.  They knew that the topic of Minho was still an open wound for Nicole, even if she pretended that it wasn’t.  They weren’t so blind to not see that there was obviously something more to why Nicole left, besides her fear that Minho’s life would be ruined because of his status as the heir to his family’s company because of the unexpected pregnancy.  However, they didn’t want to pester her about it.

          “So……” Nicole started, “How’s he been?”

          “He’s doing good, I believe he’s now the general manager at his family’s company……” Seungyeon answered, hesitantly.

          “Oh, that’s good.” Nicole said softly as she took a sip from water.  The three girls sat there in silence.

          Gyuri couldn’t take the silence anymore.

         “Nicole, are you really not going to meet Minho?” she asked bluntly.

         Nicole looked at Gyuri shocked.  She knew that Gyuri was confident and honest, but she never expected her to ask that question.

          “Don’t you think he should know about Yoogeun?” Seungyeon joined in on the questioning, her voice full of concern.

          The two girls sat there and stared at Nicole, waiting for an answer.  Nicole only stared back, her gaze was numb.  Finally, after a few moments, she firmly answered her best friends.

          “I hope to never see him again, it’s best for all three of us.”