She had just recently turned 21 and had been living with her single mom at a small apartment in Seoul. She may be born without a father, but her mother had given her the best of her world and everything that she wanted. Her mother worked day and night; just to make sure that she was given the best of education; upbringing and everything that her little girl needed.

Now, graduated from high school; she was going to embark her new life at Seoul University. She worked hard and it paid off. She wanted to make her mother proud of her; and her grandparents were ecstatic to learn that their little granddaughter has grown up into a young woman.

“Aigoo, our little darling is all grown up now.”

“Haraboji~~ Stop making fun of me!”

“Here, take this.”

“What’s this?”

“Some pocket money that your grandmother has been keeping aside.”

“Huh?”

“Omma, what are you doing?”

“You have been giving us money and raising your daughter all by yourself. Sometimes I felt upset to see you struggled so much back then. I told myself I need to keep some aside and then give it back to you.”

“But this is a lot of money, Haelmoni!”

“Keep it in a bank. Your grandfather has contributed some too. You’re our one and only granddaughter. If we don’t spend our money on you; then who else?”

The young woman has never felt so grateful and thankful. Because of her; her mother and grandparents had given their all to her. She knew she needed to do better than this. She needed to succeed so that she could look after them in the future.

“Kim Yongsun, let’s do this!”

-

She was brought up in a rich family. Although she had other siblings but she’s her mother’s only flesh and blood while the rest of her siblings were considered her step-siblings.

Her mother had married her step-father when she was 3 years old. She couldn’t remember her real father, but she had never questioned her mother. Her mother was more of the disciplinarian and had been strict with her up-bringing. Although she was closer to her step-father, she had never disobeyed her mother.

Because she knew her mother struggled for her first 3 years before she met her step-father; and she was raising her all by herself. But her mother was a little lax with the other children but when it came to her, her mother was quick to discipline and punish her if her daughter made mistakes.

“She had just turned 21 years old. And she’s going to Seoul University. Maybe we should let her stay on her own.”

“She’s still a young woman. Ahjussi can send her to school.”

“She’s an adult now. Not a child. It was already embarrassing enough that Ahjussi fetched her to and from school when she was in high school.”

“She’s my daughter.”

“She’s my step-daughter. Look, if you continue to be rigid like this, you will lose her one day. She’s my responsibility since the day I married to you. Trust me. She’s more than what you think of her.”

“You don’t understand my pain.”

“I understand. And I know. I know you’re worried that something might happen. But she needs to be independent to learn about life. We cannot continue to shelter her.”

Until now, she doesn’t understand why her mother is so protective of her. She felt suffocated sometimes when her mother was sheltering her too much. Thank goodness, her step father would always manage to persuade her mother to give her a little bit of freedom.

“If anything happens to my daughter, I will put you responsible.”

“Please do. I trust my daughter. She will not fail me.”

Her step-father gave her a triumphant grin when her mother relented. She then gave her thumbs-up to him before making a promise deep in her heart.

“Jung Wheein, you must not let your father and mother down now.”

-

She watched as her daughter ran around their apartment; getting ready for her first day in the university. She rolled her eyes when she saw the panicking look in her daughter’s eyes. She had to help her.

“Kim Yongsun, what are you doing?”

“Omma! Did you see my glasses?”

“Aren’t you wearing it now?”

Her daughter stopped dead on her tracks and touched her face. Her spectacles were sitting neatly on her nose.

“Oh.”

She stuck her tongue out at her mother before running back into her room. Her mother walked towards her daughter’s bedroom and sat on the bed. Yongsun was busily grabbing things and threw inside her duffel bag.

She would be staying at the hostel because the school was a little far from where they were staying. She knew she had to give her daughter that freedom if she wanted to keep her daughter close to her.

This would be her first time staying away from her only child. Tears brimmed in her eyes and she tried hard not to cry in front of her daughter. But of course, the girl knew.

“Omma, don’t cry. If you start crying, I’ll cry too.”

“I cannot help it. You have never stayed far away from me.”

“I know. And I’m going to miss you so much.”

“Don’t be silly. There’s a phone. You can call me anytime.”

“Omma, I will miss your cooking!”

“Right, you complained about my cooking more often than anyone else.”

“I’ll still miss you.”

Yongsun hugged her mother tightly as her mother gently caressed her back. Her mother is the only family she has. Yongsun couldn’t stop tearing up but her mother pulled away and smiled.

“Come on, I have something for you.”

She grabbed her daughter’s hand and Yongsun tagged along behind her mother. She took out a box and then placed it on Yongsun’s palm.

“Open it.”

“What is this?”

“Just open it first.”

Yongsun opened immediately and was stunned when she saw a car key. She stared at her mother with wide open.

“You just gotten your driving license and you’re staying far away from me. I just thought you probably need a car if you want to see me for no apparent reason.”

“Omma! You’re going to make me cry so much!”

“Stop crying. Why are you such a cry-baby?”

“I got it from Omma.”

“Shut up. I’ll take you to your new car.”

“ASSAAA~”

Yongsun immediately got up and left her mother’s room. Her mother had a soft smile on her face; her daughter is all grown up now. But she had a dark secret that she had hidden from her daughter all these years.

Kim Yongsun is not her daughter. She came from a different mother. She had left everything; her dark history behind her. She wanted to protect her daughter no matter how difficult it was for her.

She then pulled out a photo from her organizer. She smiled and then gently caressed the tip of the photograph. It was a photo of a woman – the woman who bore Yongsun. She was indeed Kim Yongsun’s flesh and blood mother.

“How are you? I hope you are doing fine. I wish I could turn back the hands of time and change everything. But now only regrets filled my world. I’ll raise our daughter well. Trust me.”

She heard her daughter screaming for her; she was visibly excited to see her new car. She hid the photo once again and then grabbed her house key.

She stood up and wiped her tears away.

“Kim Taeyeon, this is not the time for you to cry. Your daughter is more important than your life. Let’s just move on, okay?”

-

They were inside the car; she was driving her daughter to her school. She wanted to be the one to ensure that her daughter’s safety at the hostel is taken care of. She had always been protective of her daughter; and she was not going to stop for sure.

She knew her daughter was a little terrified of her. And she knew that she had been tough on her child, but it was not done intentional. She had reasons to do so.

“Wheein, have you packed everything?”

She asked softly. Wheein nodded; and managed a soft smile. She reached across and grabbed her mom’s hand. She squeezed tightly.

Gestures like that made her mother understood that her daughter loves her. She knows Wheein adores her mother but there were times where her mother felt reluctant to show affections for her daughter.

“Mommy, I’ll be fine. Please trust me. I’ll be good and I’ll not let you down.”

Her daughter pleaded for her trust. Her mother felt worse. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She should be that someone her daughter could trust and feel comfortable with. But she tried hard; circumstances just didn’t allow her to.

The ride was silent after that small talk. Wheein felt a little uncomfortable although she tried not to show it. Her mother didn’t answer her when she pleaded her mother to trust her. She wondered how much more should she prove to her mother that she was grown up and could look after herself properly.

Thank goodness, the ride didn’t take long. They reached the university and Wheein was awed at the vast landscape. Her school was located up on the hill and it looked so modernised just like how she imagined it would be.

She was going to start a new life and thanks to her step-father; her mother had decided to let Wheein to live at the hostel. She took out her luggage and duffel bag; her mother was already inside the school building.

Wheein sighed before dragging her stuffs and followed her mother. They were greeted by the course co-ordinators and Wheein was led to her hostel room. Her mother followed behind her. She looked around; scrutinizing every corners of the building.

“Don’t worry, Madam. The girls’ hostel is situated far away from the boys. We would ensure that your daughter’s safety will be taken care of.”

Wheein’s mother just smiled and nodded. Wheein looked around as well; she wanted to familiarize with the area. Finally, they reached her room. It was a twin-sharing room; so Wheein would be having a roommate.

Wheein sighed. Her mother wouldn’t agree. She was pretty sure her mother would prefer Wheein to be on her own. To her surprise, her mother was satisfied with the room.

“So, she’s sharing with someone else?”

“Yes, the person is coming later in the day. I will introduce Wheein to her. If you want to, I can introduce her to you too.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I trust my daughter. She’s mature enough to look after herself.”

Wheein was pleasantly surprised but she didn’t show it out. She then pulled her luggage and set it aside at one corner of the room.

“Which side is mine?”

“Since you’re here first, you will be given the privilege.”

“Choose the one on your right. It’s near to the window.”

“Okay, Mommy.”

“Since you love to paint a lot, the view outside of the window can give you some inspiration I hope.”

Wheein looked at her mother in disbelief. Her mother knew! And that was the first time she saw her mother’s genuine smile. Her mother probably knew what was on her mind since she gave a shocking face to her.

“Of course, I know you paint. You’re my daughter. I know what you like and what you dislike. Now, get unpacked. I’ll need to meet your lecturers. I’ll see you at the hallway later.”

Her mother left Wheein alone and then made her way to meet Wheein’s lecturers. The course co-ordinator knows her too. She was glad to see her again.

“It’s nice to see you again.”

“Yes, Soo Young. It has been a long time.”

“Your daughter is really beautiful. Anyway, I’m really glad to meet you again.”

She smiled but not as wide as before. It was more of a grimace. It had been awhile since she met up with her old friends. Something had happened before, and she lost contact with them over the last twenty years.

It had been long, but she couldn’t never forget.

“Welcome back, Jessica Jung. Don’t worry, I will look after Wheein.”

Jessica Jung nodded before she left Soo Young to handle the new students. She walked around the faculty for a while. She was an alumnus of this university. And it had been this long since she walked out of someone’s life; taking her daughter with her.

Her daughter is beautiful. Of course, she is. She takes after her mother. Her real mother. Her flesh and blood mother.

“Jessica Jung, get hold of yourself. This is not the time to think about the past. Wheein needs you now.”

-