http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c42SbIN5Mc

Thinking of Noona

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Bomi parked her red Porsche Boxster, a birthday gift from Jaejoong last year, inside the Park Manor. The engine went silent, and she applied chapstick on her pink lips. She snatched her Michael Kor purse off the passenger seat and stepped out of her car. Bomi opened the trunk and pulled out a basket full of fruits and a bag full of yogurt and apricots, her grandmother’s favorite. She shut the trunk and approached the double doors of her old home.

Bomi took a deep breath and looked upward. It had been a while since she had visited.

Mrs. Park didn’t like her coming around often, so Bomi tried her best not to bother her.

However, she missed her grandmother too much and wanted to check how she was doing.

Bomi squared her shoulders, lifted up her chin, and rang the doorbell with a quivering finger.

Seconds later, the door was opened by one of the maids. “Hello, miss.” She bowed.

“Hello. It’s been a while.” Bomi stepped inside her home and looked around the grand home.

“And don’t forget to clean the library-“ Mrs. Park halted when she saw Bomi. The other maid saw her also and bowed mannerly. Mrs. Park’s expression grew cold, and she folded her hands together tightly. “Bomi. What are you doing here?”

“H-hello.” Bomi bowed her head. Her voice wavered, and she couldn’t help but tremble. Mrs. Park was intimidating with sharp eyes and an indomitable arua. Bomi couldn’t help but shrink whenever she was next to her.

“I asked you. What are you doing here?” Mrs. Park asked with no hint of warmth in her voice.

“I came to see grandma. I also brought fruit for you.” Bomi replied.

Mrs. Park seemed unimpressed. Bomi quickly waved her hands. “I won’t be a bother. I just want to visit her. I haven’t seen her in so long.” Mrs. Park walked away. “Don’t take long.”

“I won’t, mom.” Bomi promised. The corners of her lips curved upwards into a bright, excited smile. She handed the gifts to the maid. “Please wash and cut some apricots into small slices so that she won’t choke.” “Yes, miss.” She scurried away with the goods.

Bomi hurried upstairs to the third floor. No one else resided on that floor except for her grandmother. She ran to the end of the floor, fixed her dress, and plastered a smile on her face. Gently, she knocked on the door. There was no answer. Bomi rapped the door again. *Is grandma not here?* She put her ear against the door and listened carefully. A distinct humming from the other side told her that her grandmother was inside. Bomi opened the door and poked her head inside. “Grandma?”

Sitting on the bed next to the open window was her father’s mother and the woman who had practically raised her.

Beaming, Bomi approached her. “Grandma!”

The woman stopped humming and looked up. Her round, blank eyes drilled into Bomi. “Who are you?”

Bomi bit her lower lip. *Her dementia hasn’t been getting any better. Of course not. It’s not something that is curable.* Before she could remind her grandmother who she was, the old woman lit up. “You are Kim Myunghee! The little girl next door!”

Bomi’s expression softened. *She thinks I’m mom. She always thinks I am. Do I look a lot like her? I don’t remember what mom looked like.* “Yes, grandma. I’m Myunghee.”

“Oh, you sweet girl! Come sit down!” Her grandmother smiled warmly and patted the space on the bed.

Bomi sat down, and her grandmother took her hands. Her grandmother’s hands felt soft and warm. They always made her feel so safe

. “I haven’t seen you in a while! Why didn’t you come visit more often?!” She frowned.

“I’m sorry. I was…busy studying.” Bomi fibbed.

“Oh, yes, studying is very important. My son is also preparing for his exam tomorrow. He’s going to take over Royal Suites one day. You should grab him before you can.” Her grandmother winked. *Mom already married dad, grandmother.* Bomi smiled back. She looked down at her grandmother’s lap. There lay another knitting project by her.

Bomi wasn’t being biased, but her grandmother was the best knitter in the world. She could knit anything from socks and hats to pencil cases and sweaters.

“Look at you. So skinny, but beautiful.” Her grandmother her cheek and pushed her hair back. Bomi felt her eyes becoming wetter. She always became emotional when her grandmother doted on her like this. It felt like she was going back to her happy childhood…when everything had been perfect.

There was a knock on the door.

Bomi quickly wiped her tears away and answered, “Come in.”

The maid came in and held out the tray. “The apricots and yogurt, miss.”

“Oh, yes!” Bomi brightened. “Please bring them over here!” The maid placed the tray on the bed, bowed, and left the room to give them privacy. “Grandma, look! I brought your favorite! Yogurts and apricots!” Bomi beamed. Zeal sparked in the elderly woman’s eyes. Hungrily, she grabbed the yogurt and began to eat it at once.

Bomi’s eyes softened. It hurt her to see her grandmother so…animalistic. It was as if Mrs. Park had starved her.

Yogurt dribbled down her chin and spilled onto her top.

Bomi quickly grabbed a napkin and wiped the yogurt away. “Grandma, eat slowly, please.”

“That bad landlady might steal these from me! I have to eat it fast!” She tossed the empty cup away and opened another one.

Worried, Bomi gazed at her. “Does…she not provide you with food?”

“She does, but they’re nasty food! I hate boiled cabbage and rice!” Her grandmother grabbed the apricots and shoved them all into at once.

“Grandma…” Bomi whispered, but the woman was beyond her reach. *You used to scold me when I ate with my mouth open. Now…what happened to you?* Tears welled up in her eyes. It pained her to see that her grandmother had drastically changed into an entirely different being.

Her grandmother stopped slurping the apricots and blinked at her. When she saw Bomi’s tears, she dropped the fruits. “Goodness. I-I’m sorry. I don’t know what became of me.” She looked so lost and confused that Bomi felt bad.

“It’s okay, grandma. Keep eating, but eat slowly. I promise that I’ll buy you more food next time.” She beamed as if nothing was wrong.

Her grandmother brightened like a little child receiving candy and bowed. “Thank you, ahjumma! Thank you!”

Bomi’s smile slipped. *Now I’m an ahjumma.*

“You are like an angel.” Her grandmother gigled. Bomi softly smiled back, wiped the juice off her grandmother’s lips, and watched as she continued to scarf down on the fruit. Finished, her grandmother leaned against the bed and gazed out the window longingly. “I wish I could get some fresh air.”

“Mom- I mean, the landlady downstairs- does she not let you go outside?” Bomi asked.

“No.” Her grandmother pouted.

*Why is she t