“Momma?  Where’s Poppa?”  Gon-ah’s question rang in my ears.  We only have a few minutes before our plane take off.  My daughter was restless on her seat.  Her eyes were wandering around the boarding area. 

“He’s busy, baby.”  Is all I can tell her.

“But, he promised.”  She pouted and crossed her arms on her chest.  It was the first time Gon-ah is throwing a tantrum.

“Baby…”

Fortunately, the flight crew started calling the passengers to board the plane.  But, Gon-ah wouldn’t budge from her seat.  Almost all the passengers have boarded the plane.

“Gon-ah.  Don’t be like this.  We need to go now.”

“I want to see, Poppa!”  Tears were pooling on my child’s almond eyes.  It was breaking my heart to see her like that.

“He’s not coming.  Now, get up.”  I was starting to get mad.  Not because of her, but because of Jiyong.  He did promised to see his daughter off.

Gon-ah stomped her feet.  She started wailing which caught the attention of the flight crews. 

“Baby, don’t be like that.  You should understand.  You’re father can’t make it.”

“I want Poppa!”  She yelled. 

I don’t know how to handle her tantrum.  She never had one before.  It’s because nobody promised her anything and broke that promise even once. 

I apologized to the crews watching my predicament.  I had no choice, but to call Jiyong.

He answered after several rings.

“Where are you?  Did you forget your promise to my daughter?”

“I’m sorry, Dara.  I want to send her off, but some things came up.  I can’t leave the company right now.”

“Explain that to my daughter.”

“Is that Poppa?”  Gon-ah asked.  She wiped the tears on her cheeks while still sobbing.  I handed her the phone.

“Poppa?”  She sniffed.

“Don’t cry, baby.  I’m sorry.  I can’t come now.”

“I want to see you, Poppa.”  Gon-ah started crying again.

“I can’t, baby.  I really am sorry.  There are bad people outside.  They won’t leave me alone.”

“When are you coming to see us?”

“Soon, baby.  Very soon.”

“Promise?”

“I’ll see you as soon as I fix everything.  Now, be a good girl and listen to Momma.”

“Yes, Poppa.  I love you.”

“I love you more, Gon-ah.”

“Bye, Poppa.”

Gon-ah handed the phone back to me.  Her sobbing stopped.

“I hope you didn’t tell my daughter unnecessary promises.”  I warned Jiyong.

“I didn’t.  I’m going to fix everything.  I’ll see you soon.”  Jiyong sounded sincere.

“We need to go.  Bye.”

I pushed the end call button. Gon-ah was already waiting for me at the boarding gate.  I gathered our things and followed my daughter.

Goodbye...