Hyewon was nervous as she stood at Gimpo International’s terminal along with Soojin and Haseul. They were waiting for her parents to go through the gates. Soojin noticed that Hyewon was fidgeting and pressed a reassuring hand over her cousin’s shoulder. She assured her that everything would be alright. Nodding, Hyewon stood straighter and gazed at the crowds that are rushing out of the terminal.

“Appa! Eomma!” Hyewon said while waving as she rushed through to greet her parents. Her tall stature allowed her to spot her parents before anyone did. Rushing through, she gave her parents a tight hug.

“Aigoo Hyewon-ah! It’s good to see you!” Hyewon’s father, Jin-woo said as he returned his daughter’s hug. Her mother even joked that she had grown even taller as they both gazed up at their only child.

Haseul and the others followed suit. She gave her brother a hug, evidently missing her globe-trotting sibling. Giving his wife a kiss, they had shared greetings.

“Oh! Soojinnie! You’ve grown so well! A beautiful lady I must say!” Soojin’s aunt So-hee remarked as she gave her niece a hug.

Soojin was happy to see her aunt and uncle after a long time. Jin-woo, Hyewon’s father had been a career diplomat most of his life and his last overseas posting was in South Korea’s Canadian Embassy. Now, he had been appointed as Foreign Minister by the President himself. It was going to be his one last posting before he would retire for good. Hyewon’s mother So-hee had been a diplomat herself before giving birth to Hyewon. She had then retired and focused on taking care of Hyewon, going to and fro the boarding school she and Soojin had shared. So-hee would bring home-cooked food and baked cookies to the both of them back then.

Haseul then invited the couple to go with them as their rides was waiting for them. Hyewon chose to ride with her parents on Soojin’s Maybach. Soojin rode together with her mother in her Rolls-Royce. They then rode forward heading towards Hyewon’s residence.

Meanwhile, Jinsol and her family was heading towards Gyeonggi province at this very moment. They had thanked Sister Victoria and Il-Sung for everything before leaving the orphanage. As her parents conversed with the nun, Soeun saw a few orphans peering out curiously from the windows. Waving her hand, the kids waved back with smiles on their faces. She wanted to play with them but they were going to leave in a few minutes. Maybe next time, she thought to herself. She would love to comeback here whenever she could. It was once her home after all.

“All right kids! Let’s go!” Jinsol merrily said as she got into car with Hyejoo and Soeun. The pair had waved to Sister Victoria and her brother as they saw them off. The two sisters did not look away from the Abbey until it was completely out of sight.

Soeun looked forward gazing at the passing scenery. It was about a forty kilometer drive from here to Gyeonggi, she thought as she gazed at her phone. Their group chat was silent, perhaps everyone had a thing going on today. She recalled that Hyewon’s parents would be going home today.

“I live at Gyeonggi Province really. I just rent out an apartment here so I could easily go to school. I don’t want to bother appa with travel and stuff. He’s a really busy person after all.” Jiyoon shared one afternoon lunch with Soeun and the gang.

This specific moment was rushing through Soeun’s mind as they rode to Gyeonggi. Could this Mr. Shin be Jiyoon’s father? She thought as sat through the trip. Jiyoon hadn’t mentioned the specific address where she lived but it could really be her. After all, the kindly officer shared the same name with her and she herself had mentioned that her father was a public servant during one of their times together.

Suddenly, her phone buzzed. It was Jimin messaging the group chat. The message contained photos of them and Jaehee with various filters and effects. Chuckling, she replied saying that the photos were pretty. They exchanged a few more jokes before Soeun pocketed her phone. She was nervous about who the kindly officer Shin really was. Placing a hand on Jinsol’s lap, Soeun leaned on her shoulder. Jinsol brushed Soeun’s hair asking if something was the matter. Replying that nothing was amiss, Jinsol chuckled and pinched her cheek saying that her baby was just being clingy.

“I’ll just go for a nap appa.” Soeun said as she closed her eyes.

“Sure dearie. I’ll wake you up when we’re nearing Gyeonggi.” Jinsol said with a kiss towards Soeun’s forehead.

Hyewon was in a similar state with her Soeun appa. Only that she wasn’t sleepy. She was incredibly tense as she sat beside her mother close to the right door. They were nearing their home and would arrive in a few minutes. Yesterday, Haseul had called to the house staff, saying that her brother would be coming home the following day. Thus, there would already be staff ready and the house clean when they get there.

But what troubles her greatly is how she would break the news to her parents. Hyewon loved Jihyo truly and she cared a lot for the bubbly young lady. They had a lot of memories together. It was her who helped Jihyo and Jaehee decorate the house Hyejoo had given her. Soojin had even joked that Jimin was their carpenter slash handywoman while Hyewon was the interior designer of the bunch.

To calm herself down, she thought of Jihyo as she sat inside the car. One of her fondest memories was when she and the gang went to Jihyo’s hometown at Sejong. They were up at Jihyo’s treehouse and gazing at the stars. It was when she and Jihyo confessed feelings for each other. She chuckled at herself when she recalled that she would have small sparks of jealousy everytime Jihyo said wanted to have kids in the future.

“Hyewon? Hyewon-ah?” So-hee gently said, tapping Hyewon’s shoulder. Eventually she placed her index finger on Hyewon’s shoulder so that when she looked at her, she would get gently poked. That happened a couple of seconds later.

“Ha ha! Come on dearie. We’re home.” So-hee said with a chuckle when her finger gently prodded her daughter’s fluffy cheek. Smiling, Hyewon looked to the other side realizing that the car door was already held open by a smiling butler. Uttering an apology for having him wait unnecessarily long, Hyewon stepped out of the car.

Looking up, Hyewon barely remembers her time in this house. She comes here every winter break for awhile whenever her mother was at Korea. But most of the time she would spend her winter break together with Soojin at her home. Walking towards the front door, they were greeted by the house staff as they approached the front steps.

Inside, Hyewon looked around the grand main hall. A sight that was familiar to her but she couldn’t fully recall spending a lot of time in the place. Haseul went beside Hyewon and gently placed a hand on her waist, she asked if Hyewon was alright. She had noticed that Hyewon was quite tense as of late.

“Yeah, I’m alright auntie Haseul.” Hyewon said with a slight smile.

“Don’t worry okay? I got you. I’ll talk to Jin-woo. Sort of…pave the way okay? Cheer up baby.” Haseul said with a smile.

Hyewon nodded and thanked her aunt. Haseul was someone who they could really depend on. Despite her being always absent back then, she would always be relied on. She had flown to Canada when she learned that Soojin injured herself during one of her polo games back then.

The group had went to the sitting room and Haseul was noticeably tapping away on her phone. She might be messaging someone, Soojin thought. Haseul then sat beside her brother as she opened up a conversation. She began with asking him about her wife, Vivi and what she thinks of her.

“Well Haseul-ah, I read up on doctor Kahei. She is an impressive psychiatrist I must say. The research papers and dissertations that she had made is something truly impressive. I’m not a psychologist myself or a psychiatrist, but I think it can truly become something of a great contribution to the medical field.” Jin-woo said droning on, evidently he indeed had Vivi looked up. Ever the caring older brother, Haseul thought.

“Well true oppa. But I was asking about her as a person and my marriage with her.” Haseul said with a chuckle. Jin-woo was known for taking a keen focus on technical details.

“Oh, well I cannot really speak at length about Kahei-ssi since I haven’t met her in person. But I do want to meet her. Talk about stuff. Well about your marriage. You are happy with her right?” Jinwoo asked.

“Of course. Very happy with my Vivi.” Haseul replied with a smile. Hyewon was watching the conversation and she understood what Haseul had meant by paving the way. She was using her marriage to probe her father to see his reaction so they could measure how he would probably react.

“Well then if you’re happy little one. I am happy as well.” Jin-woo replied with a smile. So-hee nodded her agreement and congratulated Haseul on her re-marriage.

Haseul looked at Hyewon for a split second and winked. There you are my darling niece, she thought to herself as she smiled at her. The group had continued on talking with each other, asking about each other’s progress in their schooling and all.

So-hee had asked about Soojin and her studies. She was delighted to see that Soojin was acing her classes as the second best performing student in their batch. Intrigued, So-hee asked who was the number one ace.

“My girlfriend, Park Soeun.” Soojin said.

Both So-hee and Jin-woo were surprised at this. Even Hyewon looked at Soojin in surprise. Well, figured I could pitch in too, Soojin thought. Hyewon’s parents received this positively and asked about Soeun. So-hee expressed appreciation in the fact that Soojin did not try to explain away what Soeun was to her.

“Darling I appreciate the courage and honesty that you have. Especially in today’s society, oh the things people say! Don’t mind any of those my dear. If you’re happiness doesn’t hurt or violate people, then you are doing alright.” So-hee said, praising her niece for her honesty.

“Well said my love. But I must ask, is this Park Soeun the same Park Soeun? One of the long-lost daughters of Jung Jinsol?” Jin-woo asked. Soojin nodded in response.

The pair had talked a bit more about things. So-hee was curious about how she and Soeun had met and asked if it was alright for Soojin to share their story. Soojin agreed and told them a short summary of how she and Soeun had met. Including the part where she ran away and was taken in by Soeun and her sister back then when they still had an average life.

“Such a kind soul these two young ladies are! Oh I love them already!” So-hee couldn’t help but express admiration at how kind the two sisters are.

Soojin continued and told them how she and her friends had realized that Soeun might be Jinsol’s missing child along with her Hyejoo-unnie. Together with Chaewon and Jimin, they embarked on an adventure to dig out the truth behind it. Soon they were reunited after a DNA test result truly confirmed their paternity with Jinsol and Jungeun.

“Amazing my dear. Truly amazing. But yah Haseul-ah, why’d you let your daughter run away?” Jin-woo asked.

“I-I… you know oppa how I was not around back then. I failed to be a mother back then, I even tried to block her happiness. I stepped down from active leadership in my companies so that I could be a mother more to Soojin.” Haseul said.

“Well, that’s good to hear. Aigoo, I always told you back then little sis to calm down in your work.” Jin-woo said, lecturing his little sister.

They had continued chatting for a while, trading stories of their trips and adventures. Hyewon took a deep breath and stood up in front of her parents. Seeing this, Soojin almost stopped breathing in sheer anticipation of what was to come next.

“Eomma, appa. I… I have something to tell y