Kenji and Bongyeon stood in front Mr. Baek, their faces painted with soft expressions overflowing with innocence and affection.
Kenji clasped her hands gently under her chin and added sweetly,
"Mr. Baek… my kind uncle and father figure."
Mr. Baek lowered the newspaper from his wrinkled hands, veins visible and proud,
sliding his reading glasses down slightly, looking at her with eyes filled with nostalgia.
"Kenji, Bon-Bon… there's no need for all this. It's not the first time I've paid your rent."
Both Kenji and Bongyeon exclaimed at once,
"You paid our rent again, Mr. Baek?!"
They continued, frustrated yet endearing,
"We told you we want to handle things on our own!"
Mr. Baek straightened up and pulled them into a rare, heartfelt embrace,
saying warmly,
"You girls… how are you any different from Kai? You're like daughters to me. You know how much I care about you and so does Kai."
Bongyeon buried her head in the crook of his neck, tears welling up in her eyes like a quiet lake beneath a still night sky.
"I truly love and respect you, Mr. Baek… you're like a father to me,
and I'm so grateful you see us as your daughters."
"Don't get all emotional on me now… you'll make me cry and I can't handle that!"
Kenji said, laughing, then added with affection,
"But Mr. Baek, how did you pay the rent this time?"
Bongyeon chimed in,
"He already told us he's close with the building owner he paid it directly to her."
"I forget things so often… Oh right, I remember now!
He met her at that café all the older folks go to."
"But why do you even go to places like that, Mr. Baek?"
Kenji asked playfully,
"You're still young! What are you doing hanging out with the elderly?"
Mr. Baek chuckled deeply.
"I don't know… maybe it's fate."
"You took that too seriously! You're not young!"
Kenji teased again, feigning annoyance.
"Liar! You just go there to see that old lady who keeps yelling at us to pay rent!"
Mr. Baek lightly swatted her with the newspaper.
"Don't talk about her like that… she's sweet!"
I stood at the cashier counter, watching Seji arrange some items bottled juice, some quick meals
while Kenji was cleaning the marble floor,making it shine like moonlight reflected on still water.
We were waiting for our rescuer…
Kai.
He had planned to take us to one of the large orchards today a short getaway,
but enough to brush off the dust of exhaustion from our souls.
Then came the sound of the bell above the door,
signaling that someone had entered the store.
And of course, it was him again…
Mr. Jon.
He walked over to one of the shelves,
grabbed a cup of instant noodles, poured in some water,
added the seasoning, and popped it into the food heater.
He sat at one of the dining tables inside the store,
eating quietly, like someone used to solitude
yet comforted by the familiar surroundings.
I ate my meal, sneaking glances at her.
I unlocked my phone and began scrolling,
when the bell rang again, announcing another guest.
This time, it was a man in his late twenties.
His skin was bronze, his hair medium-length and brown,
a muscular build, standing about as tall as me,
wearing black pants and a light blue shirt,
sleeves rolled up, revealing veins in his forearms.
"Oppa!"
Bongyeon called out, beaming as he approached her with a warm, family embrace that was truly priceless.
"Alright, get ready! I brought your bags from home."
Then the man working in the store a guy in his mid-twenties,
with light brown hair, a lean frame, and fair skin added
"Mr. Baek, we're heading out… see you later!"
"Where to?! No one told me anything!"
"To Shaizen Orchard. Just for two days, we'll be back."
Said the man in the light blue shirt.
"So that's why you girls were being so sweet this morning?"
"Yup! Bye, Mr. Baek."
Said the older lady with dyed red hair.
I watched them all walk toward the black car parked outside,
teasing each other, laughing together
as if they shared one heart… and one dream.
I stood up and walked to the counter,
where Mr. Baek greeted me.
"I'd like to pay."
"No need. One of our staff already took care of it and she wanted to give you some band-aids too, for the cut on the corner of your lip."
Then he added,
"I mean Bongyeon.
She's the one you helped out in the back room that day."
I nodded, carrying the black plastic bag in one hand,
my cigarette tucked between my lips,
and made my way home…
My heart pounding like war drums in the night.
You've never been far… not really.
You visit my dreams every single night.