The man stood there, barely responsive to his own actions as well. "Lee Haerin..."

 

"Don't you dare utter my name!" You didn't know if this rage of audacity was a result of fear or self-defense. 

 

Sungjong and Woohyun stood frozen, both in complete bewilderment. It wasn't long until the man spoke up again. "Your dad's been searching for you all these years, and-"

 

"My parents abandoned me in the middle of nowhere-!"

 

"YOUR MOM DID!" he screamed, unexpectedly. A fleeting moment passed before he tried to regain his composure. "My brother never wanted to resort to that."

 

You felt like scoffing at his words, and you did exactly that. "Why should I believe that?" Ten years of being torn from your parents had turned your soul hard and cold, like an empty slab of stone chucked to the side because it was nothing more than a nuisance. 

 

"Your birthday is April 6. You were born in Seoul-"

 

You sniffed. "Those are things you easily just got from reading the documents." You nodded toward the papers you had handed him. 

 

The man's next words caught you be surprise. "We celebrated your fifth birthday party just before they dropped you off in the middle of nowhere," he paused. "Don't you remember that stuffed bunny you had been so latched onto during the car ride?"

 

How did he know all this?

 

"Do you see what we have to resort to now?" he pointed a stagged finger in the direction of the other criminals. "Our family lacked the resources to continue raising you. When we tried turning you into the orphanage, they firmly rejected you, since both of your parents were still alive." He paused. "Your dad was dragging it out; he didn't want to resort to abandoning you like that... but your mom did." It felt like a slap to the cheek, that declaration. But you allowed him to continue. "Your dad's been working day and night, all the while searching-"

 

"Haerin is fine where she is," a voice stated by your side. Astonished, you jerked your head up at Sungjong's voice. He was stern and confident in his words, like he had heard your thoughts and was now acknowledging them out loud.

 

Out of all the times, you suddenly remembered that this was still occurring in the clinic, where dozens of people were suspiciously, but apprehensively, gaping at your association with this criminal. Keeping your voice to a minimum, you muttered to him, "I think you should go."

 

Guessing your statement had gone unchecked, you heard the nurse's shrill cry. "Oh no, this gang's not getting off the hook this easily! I'm calling security!"

 

"Lady, shut up!" he barked. But nevertheless, he also realized that he and s didn't have much time left before the authorities arrived. "Let's go, you guys." He ushered the other guys out the door.

 

"SECURITY! SECURITY!" the nurse hollered. 

 

Your supposed "uncle" aimed his gun at the wall behind her and pulled the trigger in a menacing threat. "Don't you dare call anyone." His eyes then darted back to you. "Haerin, I'm going to notify your mother about our meeting." A part of you was dying to be reunited with your parents; however, another fragment seemed foreign and pained to the point that you wanted to burrow yourself under the ground. "If you want to meet her again, I'll tell her to meet you in a week where you were... dropped off," he concluded. And with that? he dashed away.

 

I scoffed. He chose some careful words there. Dropped off. Not abandoned.

 

You were snapped out of your thoughts when someone placed a hand a your shoulder. You startled at the action, but softened when you realized it was just Sungjong. "Lemon Candy, what do I do-"

 

"How did you feel about that?" he asked stoically. His expression was unreadable, and you couldn't help but wonder if his thoughts ran parallel to yours. Did he think that I might return to my family? I bit on my bottom lip, not even sure of my own conflicted emotions.

 

I was saved from answering when the nurse clanged her clipboard on the table, impatiently waiting for the receptor to pick up. Finally, when it did, she responded, "Yes, police? I'm calling to report a group of..."

 

Woohyun nudged your side. "We should get home." He grabbed your wrist and led you to the door. 

 

Hanging up with the operator, the nurse called to us. "Excuse me! Would you like to reschedule-"

 

"No, thank you," Woohyun plastered on a smile. But you could sense that he was just doing that as a gesture of goodwill. He glanced at me and smiled. An actual, genuine smile. "I don't think that a blood test is necessary anymore."

 

Confounded, you couldn't help but wonder what his meaning was. Prior to the attack, he was vivacious and energetic, joking about how the motive to get your blood tested was to see if you were related (he didn't want to be related to his future wife). But now, the sanguine Woohyun was replaced by a serious person, his jocular personality besmirched by an unforeseeable event. You opened your mouth to object, "Namu, are you sure?" You maladroitly emitted a laugh. "It's not like I've made up my mind about his offer or anything."

 

Woohyun gracefully ushered you out of the door, with Sungjong following just a few steps behind. "Then we'll see then," he said sincerely. "I just want you to be the one in control of your own future."

 

As the three of you strode down the hazy street, thoughts ricochetted against your mind. Were you ready to leave your past ten years and just run back to your family's arms? Were you ready to just put down all the friendships, all the relationships, you've built all these years, to return to a family that had, back then, so coldly shunned and abandoned you in the middle of nowhere?

 

"Haerin, come here." You whipped your head up to meet with Sungjong, who had his arms outstretched. Was he calling you for... a hug? You gazed at his gesture, confused. "Come here," he repeated. 

 

You didn't know if it was because you were tired from the day's events, or some other notion, but you lethargically collapsed against his chest. He staggered backward a bit, taken back by how forceful you had reacted. Surely, he had only expected to give a reassuring gesture. Nothing more, nothing less. All at once, all your reticence crumbled and your demeanor broke down. You were sobbing uncontrollably against his shoulder blade. You didn't care if passerbys were staring in curiosity. 

 

Woohyun placed a gentle hand on your shoulder. "It's ok, Haerin. We got you." He hugged your back, so that all three of you were engulfed in the embrace. It felt like you three were so exposed to any wandering eyes, yet... with their presence, you felt at home.