“Shuhua is sick. ”

Birds circle overhead. The sound of rushing traffic is absent, replaced with the water lapping against the shore.

“Honey?”

Soojin looks up from her phone and blinks. The sun is bright; almost blinding. “Hm?”

Her mother points to the phone then to the shoreline where her father and younger sister are playing. “Care to join us?”

“I…” Her brows pinch and with a frown, Soojin looks back down to her phone. “Shuhua is sick.”

“Ah,” patting her daughter’s knee, Mrs. Seo asks knowingly, “When is your flight back?”

Watching her sister laugh, Soojin hesitates.

“Soojin, look at me.”

Obedient, Soojin meets her mother’s gaze.

“What do Seo’s do?”

“Seo’s take care of each other,” Soojin says softly.

“That’s right,” cupping her daughter’s cheek, Mrs. Seo asks again, “So, when is your flight back?”

“If I left now, I might be able to make the one in two hours.”

Mrs. Seo nods, “You better hurry then.”