Chapter 29: The Hospital Room

Her smile as usual made his heart flutter. The whole environment turned rosy. He loved talking to her. He liked her sweet, lighter side. Then he thought that he liked her feisty side too. Was his crush changing into something more? No, no, that was not possible. He met her today. How come crush changed into love in a single day?

They didn't realise but they both kept staring at each other without uttering a word or even blinking once. They were inside their own bubble. Nothing else, no one else existed inside the castle in the air. The earth was not spinning for them, rather the earth was spinning around them. Soft melodious romantic music was ringing in their ears. The hospital smell changed into a sweet, flowery smell. All they could see was each other's faces. Nothing else was visible to them. Yong-Sun wanted to grab her face and kiss her again. They both tilted a little towards each other. Just a few more inches and their lips would meet.

The next moment there was a sound of conversation outside the door. They heard Baek-Hyeon talking to someone outside the door. Their trance broke. They removed their gaze and lowered their eyes with embarrassment.

All through the conversation, all she could understand was the word 'ajhussi'. After some time, Baek-Hyeon opened the door and entered inside. He stood at the threshold for some time looking outside, and after a few seconds, he closed the door behind him.

Yong-Sun started talking to Baek-Hyeon in Korean. They both forgot that Ashma had no clue what they were talking about as she understood not a single word of the Korean language. Well, she understood a few words, like annyeonghaseyo, ajhussi, Unni, etc. Half the words she knew was from her visits and a few words were taught to her by Bong-Cha. But everything Baek-Hyeon and Yong-Sun were talking was flying over her head. She stood there looking confused.

"English, English, please. I need to understand what is happening," she shouted.

"Oh, sorry," said Baek-Hyeon.

"I asked who was he talking to outside? What was that about?" explained Yong-Sun.

"Oh!" exclaimed Ashma.

"I said that it was nothing. Just someone was looking for a relative but as the visiting hours have been over he was hiding from doctors, nurses, in short, he was hiding from hospital staff," replied Baek-Hyeon.

"Why did you scold him then?" inquired Yong-Sun.

"I thought he was listening inside," answered Baek-Hyeon.

"What?" screamed Ashma, shocked.

"He had his ears on the door, so I thought he was listening in," explained Baek-Hyeon.

"What did he say?" asked Yong-Sun.

"He said he was listening for nurses and doctors inside. If a sound was coming from a room he was avoiding that room and moving on to the next room," narrated Baek-Hyeon.

"Are you sure he was not a paparazzi? You know what can happen?" questioned Yong-Sun, worried.

"I know we have to protect the privacy of her and our family," replied Baek-Hyeon.

"True, no one can know the secret. I don't want anyone in my circle to find out I have a father. The whole world knows my story and I don't want to change that suddenly," she announced suddenly.

Baek-Hyeon was shocked and distressed. He didn't understand why he was hurt when Ashma talked about hiding her newfound family. Maybe he wanted to scream to the world that he had an elder sister. Maybe he too secretly wanted an elder sister just like Bong-Cha. "You don't want people to know I am your brother?"

She understood his emotions and explained in a calm tone, "do your family want to tell everyone that they have an estranged daughter? Do you really want to tell the world that the Park family hid a secret for more than 25 years? As Yong-Sun told me your family is one of the richest in Korea that means you are famous too. Do you have any idea what would happen to your lives? You will be in news for ages. Your stock prices will take a dive. It will a scandal that your family hid. What will happen to your father and mother? What will happen to my mother? People will call her names. They will call me names. Just think about your marriage. What will happen to your marriage? It will become a news circus."

"She is right." Yong-Sun chimed in. He understood that whatever Ashma said was absolutely true. He continued, "well, you think like harabuhji."

She raised one eyebrow and asked, "Is that a compliment or an insult?"

"Woah! Harabuhji is a genius, of course, that was a compliment," stated Yong-Sun.

"If you want to compliment me, never ever compare me with him," she said in an angry tone.

"You still angry at him?" asked Baek-Hyeon with concern.

She gritted her teeth and replied, "he is the one who created this mess. He is the one who made your father abandon me. I grew up without a father, not that I need one now." She hid her sadness behind her anger once again.

"Leave that, just be happy that that person was not a paparazzi." Yong-Sun tried to control the situation as it was getting off-topic. "Baekhyeona, what did the doctor say?"

"Oh, I am sorry, they didn't allow it. She can't stay," replied Baek-Hyeon.

She bit her lower lips and closed her eyes. She turned away from them. Yong-Sun went and stood near Baek-Hyeon. Both stared at Ashma with pitiful eyes. She didn't want to go back home. She didn't want to face Eun-Kyung. She didn't want to face anyone. Staying in the hospital was her only chance to avoid the situation. Yong-Sun understood her anxiety. He elbowed Baek-Hyeon on his stomach to signal him to ask her to come with him.

He nodded and went up to Ashma. He placed his hand on her shoulder lightly. She turned around with guilt on her face.

"Let's go home," he requested.

She hesitated and then replied, "you both go. I will call a cab and stay in the hotel."

"But all your luggage is at the house. Will you sleep in this dress?" asked Yong-Sun.

"Oh shit!" She murmured.

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"Okay if you don't want to stay, no one will force you. Just come with me, we will get your luggage and then I will drop you at your hotel. Is that okay with you?

"I don't want to impose. I can go to the hotel on my own."

"We are not going to leave you alone at this time of night that too in an unknown land," shouted Yong-Sun.

"Hyung is right," said Baek-Hyeon.

"Who?" asked Ashma, puzzled.

"Oh, Hyung means big brother," explained Baek-Hyeon. She was learning new words from both her sister and brother. She smiled at Baek-Hyeon.

"Okay then let's collect my luggage and then I will stay at the hotel. Done?" inquired Ashma.

"Done," replied Baek-Hyeon.

Yong-Sun threw his hand in the air and mouthed "what?" Baek-Hyeon assured him and gestured him to stay calm.

Ashma moved forward to her mother's bed, kissed her on the forehead and then addressed Baek-Hyeon.

"Can I trouble you for a piece of paper and a pen?" requested Ashma.

"I will be back in two minutes," chirped Baek-Hyeon and exited the door.

Yong-Sun looked at Ashma who was staring at her mother's face but her face was distraught as if she was thinking about something else.

"Are you afraid to go back home?" interjected Yong-Sun.

"A little," replied Ashma and looked at Yong-Sun with a fake smile.

"Afraid how they might react?"

"I know how they will react." She lowered her gaze.

"What?" asked Yong-Sun confused.

"Mumma and Bong-Cha will be sweet as always. I can never do any wrong in mumma's eyes. That's what I am afraid of," replied Ashma.

"That's what you are afraid of? What? Why?" every word out of Ashm'a mouth was making Yong-Sun more confused.

"I was an asshole. They need to berate me, not talk to me sweetly. I won't be able to take them if they will be sweet to me like always," explained Ashma.

"How does Gomo know you? How do you know her?"

"Who?"

"Gomo means aunty, who is your father's sister. My father was close to her. Gomo is my Eun-Kyung Aunty, your Mumma. Why do you call her Mumma? I even heard you calling her your fairy godmother."

"Yeah, I know her since my childhood. She was my pen pal and now she is my email buddy. I tell her everything, my every failure, my every achievement and she supports me no matter what."

"Then why are you not angry at her, she too hid a secret from you?" asked Yong-Sun with curiosity.

"I know. But I can never be angry at her. We have that kind of relationship and after learning the truth I have more respect for her. Just imagine what she went through. Being friends with your husband's daughter from another woman. That needs a large heart. No one can get angry at a big heart." Her voice became heavy with sadness.

"That's why do you listen to her every word?"

"Yes."

True to his word, Baek-Hyeon came back after two minutes with a paper and pen in his hand. Yong-Sun and Ashma stopped talking. Baek-Hyeon halted, looked at both of them in confusion.

"What? Why did you stop talking? What were you guys talking about?"

"About your mother," joked Ashma.

"Excuse me!"

"Ha-ha," both Yong-Sun and Ashma started laughing.. Baek-Hyeon stood there baffled.

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