The Interrogation

The dinner was a sombre affair.

So-Mi was literally on her toes, being nervous for reasons she could not comprehend.

It finished a little under an hour, and So-Mi thankfully fled into the kitchen to help Choi-Omma wash up.

“Omma? Omma, why are you frowning?”

Choi Omma shot her a look of anger.

“You lied to me,” she accused.

“Mwo? When?”

“You lied to me,” she repeated, washing the plates aggressively.

“I have never lied to you, Omma,” So-Mi whispered in protest, quickly closing the kitchen door in case of any fights between her and her mother.

The dinner was strained enough and she did not want any mother daughter argument to add to the duress.

“Talk to me, Omma.”

Still Choi Omma continued her washing, her anger bristling under the surface. Till she could no longer contain it.

“He is not an ahjussi. He’s young. And ... and ... damn hawt!”

So-Mi was stunned only momentarily, before she burst out laughing.

Her 60 year old mother's outburst was too darn cute.

“Oh, Omma. You sound so dead serious.”

“I am serious,” Choi Omma turned towards her, with her soapy hands on her hips.

“All this while I thought you were staying in an old man’s house. Taking care of him and his potty. But no... he definitely do not look like he needs any potty attendant," her mother scolded her. "No wonder you seldom come home.”

“But he is old," So-Mi protested. "He’s 42 this year.”

“Are you even listening to yourself? I am old. Your Appa  is old. Even Choi Min-Sik is old. Your Ahjussi,” she stressed, “is not.”

He poured his guest a shot of soju.

From the bottle Tae-sik brought.

Without a preamble, he started.

“You gave her to us a long time ago. Are you taking her away now?”

“I’m not."

"But she's been going to you on a regular basis."

"Yes."

“And she will never stop, if you encourage her to stay.”

“I will stop her from coming then, if that is your wish.”

Choi Shin-kyun sighed.

“That is not my wish,” he said sadly. “She has always been yours. At times, we feel that it is we, who are just borrowing her from you.”

He took a swig of soju, and this time, it was Tae-sik who poured him a shot.

“But I don’t like her going back to that neighbourhood. We tried our best to make her leave that life. With whatever we can afford.”

Tae-sik simply sat and listened.

“But now because of you there, she continues to be there and will be prey to whatever plague that ails there.”

Choi Appa looked up at Tae-sik finally.

“We want a better life for her. Help us provide that better life for her. You, of all people, can do that for her. You can even do better than us. If you will only let yourself.”

It was time for Tae-Sik to leave.

“Appa, can I...” So-Mi began to ask for permission to go home with her Ahjussi.

“No,” Choi-Appa said firmly. “Keep your Omma company this week. I have to visit your Uncle Jang in the village.”

So-Mi simply kept quiet and looked up questioningly at Tae-sik.

“Thank you for introducing me to your parents, So-Mi,” Tae-sik reassured her. “You can come visit once your Appa is back.”

“Neh, Ahjussi.”

Her asking for Tae-sik’s approval was again not lost to her parents.

“Choi-Omma, kamsahamnida. It was a wonderful meal,” Tae-sik bowed with respect.

Choi-Omma actually blushed like a school girl, at Tae-sik's words, much to So-Mi's amusement.

Tae-Sik turned to Choi-Appa.

Silent communication passed through them.

“Choi Shin-kyun-ssi, thank you,” for our talk, he added silently.