A New Life

He led her to another part of town.

A more respectable one.

By cab.

And went to a little neighborhood shop.

The Junc Shop, it said.

So-Mi tilted her head to the side and wondered.

Tae-Sik simply unlocked the door and led her inside.

The shop was basically divided into two.  Without dividers.

One side was already decked as a flower shop. But a slightly different one than normal.

Exotic plants, orchids, bonsais and cacti filled the room instead of the normal flowery kinds.

Multitude of pots and gardening tools too.

It's his flower shop, she thought.

Dark, mysterious but buzzed with a silent undercurrent of life.

"That's your side," Tae-sik pointed, to the opposite empty part of the room.

"Mine?" So-Mi answered in surprise.

"Yes, to do whatever you want. A photography studio, a pedicure place or even just to study."

The space was equivalent to his flower area - about 300sq metres.

“The Junc Shop? But we are selling flowers…” her voice trailed. “Jung…?”

It was her surname.

“In honour of your real Omma, but the ‘C’ is mine,” he smiled.

Though Jung Hyeo-jun was an addict and a really bad mother, she was still So-Mi's birth mother.

So, Ahjussi's acknowledgement of that fact, truly moved her.

I love you, she thought, thoroughly touched by his gesture.

But instead she said, “thank you…”

They left the shop after being there for half an hour.

The shop had a rest room and a kitchenette too.

As Tae-sik locked the shop door, So-Mi noticed a monster of a pick up truck parked at the curb.

At So-Mi's questioning eyes, the Ahjussi simply shrugged and said, "it's for the plants."

"Uhuh," So-Mi nodded, unconvinced, internally amused at his little boy whimsical purchase.

He then led her around the corner to a low rise apartment and brought her straight to an apartment on the first floor.

He unlocked the door and led her inside.

The apartment was comfortably sized for two or three pax, and even better than the place she stayed in with her adoptive parents.

With a comfortable living room, a proper dining room and a spacious kitchen.

She knew his previous life gave him lucrative savings but she never expected it could afford him such an elegant purchase.

The apartment was understated but chic all the same.

He led her to a door, off the side of the small living room.

"This is yours, whenever you stay the night, so you don't have to feel guilty pushing me out of mine all the time."

The room was beautiful - quietly beautiful.

Wrought iron bed with plush beige covers.

A white study table that coupled as a vanity with a little black Victorian style stand mirror.

A built in cupboard.

Attached bathroom and small but comfortable looking arm chair completed the room.

"Where's your room, Ahjussi?"

(Flashback)

"Here's the key to my place. I'll be in and out on a regular basis, but won't be staying much the next few months."

"Going somewhere?"

"Just around Seoul. Need to settle a few things."

"Arasso.  I’ll take care of it for you."

The bookstore ahjussi knew better than to ask Tae-sik unnecessary questions.

He quietly absorbed the request and will just wait for any developments in the future.

"It won't be long til I come back to stay, I think," Tae-sik reassured him.

"Neh, I know. See you when you get back."

(End of Flashback)