Prologue: Paper Heart

The woman hummed to herself, raising her eyes to the beautiful day gracing her trip from the local store.  Her swollen belly proudly pushed at the material of the sweater she was wearing, a light early fall breeze carrying through the air.  The first signs of fall approaching as leaves changed into auburn decorations for the trees.  Perhaps when she got back to her apartment, she could suggest to her husband they travel out for the afternoon for lunch.  It had been a few days since the two of them ventured out.  Lately he seemed to be as sick as she was.  It would do them both good to have that fresh air.

Placing a hand against her belly, she rubbed the bump lovingly.  She was so excited, in a few more weeks she would be able to find out what she and her husband were having.  She really hoped it was a little boy to spoil.  She was more than certain that if it were a boy, the child would have her husband’s eyes.  Crossing the street, she rounded the corner to a small apartment building.

“Soosoo, what are you doing out and about today?  You should be resting.”  An elderly lady who lived down the hall from the pregnant woman was making her way down the steps of the apartment, her grandmotherly face holding concern for the young woman.  The woman had never been able to get her name right always calling her Soosoo for a nickname.  Soonim had allowed it; the woman was always so kind to her during the times of adjusting to the move there.

“I was in need of some things,” Soonim smiled nodding at the small bag carried in one arm.

“You should have made your husband get them.  You need to rest darling,” the woman chided.  “That young man is more than capable of going to the store to get you things.”

“He is not well again,” Soonim sighed, feeling sorry for Youngjae’s constant illnesses that always caused him to go to the emergency room.  The elderly woman’s face fell hearing the news of the young man needing to go to the hospital again.  When Soonim told her he had always been ill since he was a child, the woman did all she could to make the two welcomed in the neighborhood, inviting them over for dinners with her and her husband, as well as coming over to check on the two.

“You are a good wife to him.  He is lucky to have you by his side,” the eldery woman smiled.

“I am more fortunate to have him,” Soonim voiced rubbing her belly again.  “He is a good man.”

“Indeed he is,” the woman nodded knowing the two were always happy when the young man was not under the weather.  Remembering something the elder woman rummaged in her pocket pulling out an envelope postmarked from Korea, holding it out to Soonim.  “Oh Soosoo, while you were out you received from your brother in Korea.”

“Thank you so much for receiving it for me,” Soonim smiled taking the letter from Mr. Lee.  “I should head up grandmother.  I have ice cream in the bag I do not want to melt.  Forgive me for not speaking with you longer.”

“That’s fine dear, you should head up and check on your poor husband.  Tell Jae that I will make him some of my special dumpling soup later,” the woman said returning Soonim’s smile.

“Of course.”  Heading inside Soonim took the elevator up to the fifth floor wondering if Mr. Lee had any good news for her from Korea.  It was forever since she heard about her sister or father and brother.  She hoped they were getting on well.  Pulling out the key to apartment five seventeen – the apartment she shared with Youngjae, Soonim inserted the key and turned the knob.  “Yeobo, I’m back.”

Entering the apartment, she listened for a sound of Youngjae coming to greet her.  Hearing only silence Soonim locked the front door before placing her baggage down in the kitchen to go in search of her husband.  Padding to the bedroom, she discovered Youngjae curled up on his side in bed, the curtains drawn tight over the window.

“Are you still in pain yeobo?” Going over to his side Soonim climbed on the bed curling up against him.  Almost immediately he turned in her arms, nuzzling against her feebly.

“Please make the pain go away,” he whimpered.  “Everything hurts so much.”

“My poor Jae,” Soonim murmured kissing his forehead.  Reaching her hand into her pants pocket, she pulled out a bottle of pills.  “I have your medication right here.  It will be okay.  Don’t worry, you will feel better in a little while.”

“Thank you, you always take such good care of me,” Youngjae said, opening his mouth as she pushed two small blue tablets into his mouth.  Swallowing the pills, his tensions eased almost immediately at the thought of the pain going away in a few minutes.  Absently he reaching out, caressing a hand over her belly.

“In just a few weeks we will know what we’re having,” Soonim cooed.

“I hope it’s a little girl,” Youngjae expressed, closing his eyes to drift away into bliss.  “She will be just as beautiful as you are.  And she will be kind and as loving as you are.”

“If it is a boy, then he will be graced with all your characteristics.”  Listening to him mumble to himself as the medication took effect, Soonim was happy they chose to come to this place.  It was good for them both.  Without the influence of BAP, Youngjae was just as he was before Daehyun put those ideas in his head about her being insane.  He was her sweet loving Jae once again.  Despite his constant illnesses, they were happy.  It was the fairytale life they wished for.  Once their child was born the following March, their lives would get so busy. 

“Soonim,” Youngjae murmured.

“Yes Jae?”

“Let’s stay together forever.”  Opening his eyes, he gazed up at the woman.

“Babo, of course,” she giggled.  “Nothing will keep us apart.  We were meant to be together.”  There was no force in that world greater than her love for him.