1.

I glances to the brown-leathered watch that is wrapped around my wrist and nod, as if the person who I am talking to was here, right in front of me.

“It could take two to four hours. I’m not really sure, Ma. It’s been a while since I come home.”

My eyes keep wandering around, looking at the people at this departure area. There are those who are hugging each other, some are still talking with smiles on their face but tears in their eyes and also, there are people who sits alone, just like what I am doing right now.

Mom, on the other side is still talking – pouring all her reminders for me to take a good nap on the plane, have some meal and offering herself to pick me up at the port but I refuse. “Ma, it’d be already dark once I’ve arrived. It’s dangerous for you to go out alone.”

“Exactly. That’s why you shouldn’t take a cab home. I’ll go and don’t worry. Your brother is here.”

“Ma, Haneul is only thirteen. How can I expect him to accompany you in the middle of the night, keeping you safe?”

“He’s fourteen,” Mom corrects me, and I slap my forehead lightly upon that.

“Okay, but still a no,” I speak, softly so that my mom would understand. I hum for a second, looking for an alternative way to avoid my mom from coming just to wait for my arrival. “If you’re that worried, I’ll have Jisoo to pick me up. Okay?”

“Stay at her home until morning, then only you come here. Don’t rush.”

“Alright, alright.” I smile at receiving the approval, then my eyes shift to a specific spot, noticing that someone is here to send me off. He looks dashing as he always is, in his royal blue dress shirt and loosened necktie, his black coat hanged on his arms – indicating that he comes here right after finishing his work. My lips curl into a smile as soon as our eyes met each other’s. “Alright, Ma. See you tomorrow then.”

Right after ending the call, my steps draw me closer to that person, as well as his. With each steps getting nearer, they slowly turn into baby-running meanwhile Shixun takes off his glasses and opens his arms just fit for me to jump in and share our embrace. I notice that he is a little bit sweaty but after all, the soft scent of his cologne still there which makes him smell nice. As he always is.

“Sorry for being late, the traffic was quite bad along the way here.”

I shake my head off with a smile. “You’ve come, after all.”

“I’ll miss you, babe,” he pouts then gives me another quick hug. “I’ll call you often.”

“Only when you’re not busy.” My hands go down meeting his, those hands of his are very big that they kind of swallows mine. “Your work is more important, remember that.”

“Yes, ma’am. As if you’re not telling me that all the time. Now we’re apart, cut some slack for us, will you?” he chuckles and brings my hand closer to his lips before landing a kiss on it. That gaze is sincere as he looks into my eyes. “Take care, sweetheart.”

“You too. Don’t skip meals.” Slowly, our hands part ways from each other and turns into a goodbye wave.

My eyes are b with tears as I bid my farewell towards him and he is not doing any different. I saw Shixun wiping off the corner of his eyes with his thumb as he shouts, “I’ll come to visit.” Thought I have already standing a bit far away, I could see him pouting. “I love you…!”

I hope he means it this time.

My head keeps turning left and right as my eyes wander around the arrival terminal, searching for the person who I haven’t seen for almost 5 years since I last come home to this country. I’d fly back only once in a few years in my degree years then only twice after working as a teacher in Shanghai. But never a day passed without video-calling Mom and Haneul even how busy I got; so that my presence would still be filled, even when I’m away.

Leaving was really hard, I had a good time with the students, with my fellow teachers and also with my beloved lawyer boyfriend but this time, I’m putting my family as my very first priority. Haneul is growing up, being a middle-schooler – which is the very crucial time along his growth, s