Koala 2

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Chapter 10

One week later…

It was March 8. Today was a very special day yet no one knew the reason why. Yet a meddling twosome knew. Jae Duc and Jae Jung.

Si Eun came home wearily from work that day and was approached by the two at the dinner table. Both of them were wearing matching I-know-something-you-don’t-know grins.

“Is something wrong, Jae Duc?”

“Umm…nothing wrong in particular, Si Eun. Do you remember what day it is today?”

*gasp*

“It’s the anniversary of my parents’ death!”

Jae Duc gave her a look. He was absolutely shocked at her bad memory. He did not mean anything cruel by his next words.

“What kind of child, are you? It’s tomorrow! They were killed after midnight so technically it is March 9, remember?”

Si Eun gave Jae Duc a harmless scowl.

“Then there’s nothing special about today then.”

“DOH!”

Jae Duc and Jae Jung both slapped their foreheads in unison. Jae Duc got up and walked up behind her while Jae Jung held Si Eun’s hands firmly together.

“I’m going to blindfold you now so we can go.”

“Go where? Where are you taking me?”

Si Eun was momentarily confused. Jae Duc wrapped a scarf around her eyes and she wasn’t able to see anything any longer.

“Somewhere special. Don’t peek.”

She gave into their demands and remained quiet as they loaded her into the car and drove off. It was a long while before the car finally stopped and they led her out of the car.

Si Eun took off her blindfold and checked out her surroundings. Something about it was remotely familiar.

“Where are we?”

Jae Duc gave her a mysterious smile and shrugged his shoulders. Jae Jung nudged Si Eun’s hand and she looked down at him. His eyes were misted with tears as he kept a grin on his face.

“I just want you to know mommy, that today is the happiest day of my life.”

“Mine too, Si Eun. I’m glad to be a part of your life.”

Jae Duc gave her a smile and then leaned over to give her a feathery kiss on the cheek. Jae Jung kissed her hand and both of them walked away, leaving Si Eun alone in the forest.

“What?”

Si Eun felt a sudden chill, as she stood alone in the forest. She knew where she was now. It was the same forest located near her family’s old home and uneasy feeling washed over her.

She still wasn’t able to comprehend on why today was such an important day except -

Of course. Si Eun paused. Today was the day that she had met Jae Jin exactly 7 years ago. Suddenly, she felt his presence. Si Eun’s eyes rose, and then stopped. There he was.

At the exact same tree, wearing a bandana.

For his part, Jae Jin felt as if he had been waiting his entire life for this moment. He started to skirt around the trees with Si Eun following behind him and he felt her grab him by the collar.

She spun him around and he looked directly at her with his bandana still covering his face. Si Eun’s hands started to tremble as she finally unmasked Jae Jin for the first time.

She started to sob loudly and threw herself into Jae Jin’s arms. He held onto her tightly and pressed a kissed to her forehead. Si Eun steadied herself to look up and meet Jae Jin’s eyes.

“I should have known from the beginning,” she whispered, her voice hoarse with emotion. “I was such a blind fool.”

“You’re right.”

Jae Jin agreed with her assessment of herself. Si Eun gave him a curious look but he gave her a warm smile.

“Was. But you’re no longer a fool, Si Eun. You now know the truth.”

“I don’t deserve you. You went through so much to find me, Jae Jin and I…”

Jae Jin stopped Si Eun from further berating herself by pressing his finger to her lips.

“I’m the one who destroyed your family, Si Eun so it’s I who must ask for forgiveness.”

“It’s the past, Jae Jin. Let it be buried.”

In those past years of bloodshed and hidden truths, Jae Jin finally felt light-hearted that it was finally over. Now he and his love could begin anew.

“Si Eun, I would’ve spent my entire life searching for you if I had to. There’s nothing in this world that will make me forget you. I love you too much to let you go.”

Si Eun stared at him for the longest time. Jae Jin swallowed once nervously as he waited for her reply to his declaration. She kissed him gently and whispered her response in his ear.

“And I love you… Koala.”

THE END

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