How Are You

“Did they treat you well in there, Ahjussi?”

Her cheek was kissing the kitchen table with her arms spread across it.

Her college work creating a mess on the kitchen table, with an old laptop on the side.

She knew the question was a little belated; but she was reluctant to bring it up earlier.

“Well enough,” he answered as he leaned against the sink, a glass of water in his hands.

< Which reminds me, So-Mi is all grown up now. > 

Detective Kim's words echoed in his head.

“Ok.”

Ok? He thought. Though So-Mi may seem like a frivolous child most of the time, she was an extremely intelligent one.

One liner questions usually marked the surface of a greater query.

And he wanted to know what was bothering her.

“It’s better out here, though, if that’s what you are wondering.”

He knew she was hesitating, or collecting her thoughts.

He simply waited, looking at her back.

“Mianhe.”

She did not even look up at him when she said that.

“Mianhe for being in there because of me,” she whispered.

His heart went out to the little girl who had to grow up fast in a cruel world.

“Don’t think about it. It’s not your fault,” he dismissed her, ruffling her hair as he walked out to the living area.

And all she could do was sat up in attention and stare after him.

He touched my hair, she thought, placing her own hand to the spot where he touched her.