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I keep glancing at my phone, hoping to see Rafe’s name on a missed call. For some reason, the cell phone reception is crappy on this side of the hospital.
As for Halmeoni, she’s doing alright. She had a hard time waking from the anesthesia, but once she did, the woman was not happy. Like now.
“You have to eat something, Halmeoni. Have some soup.”
“I want to go home,” she says firmly, but her eyes are welling with tears.
I gulp. “Halmeoni, the doctors say that you need to stay a few more days to make sure there’s no infection in your foot.”
I can’t imagine how she’s going to react when she learns about what her son is doing with her home and land. I want to warn her, of course. But I also think I want to leave that up to my father, so he’ll get the brunt of my grandmother’s anger.
“Halmeoni, you’re awake?” He Sook greets, as she walks into the room.
“My girl,” she says, holding out a shaky hand. “Why are you here? Don’t you have school?”
“I don’t have class this week,” He Sook lies as she clasps onto Halmeoni’s hand, but my sister glances at me with a look.
Yeah-yeah, keep quiet, she’s silently telling me.
“I have some good news,” my sister say sweetly.
“Is the doctor releasing me? Can I go home now?” my grandmother asks with enthusiasm.
“What is it?” I ask, curious. I know the doctor isn’t releasing Halmeoni from the hospital yet. And there’s no way He Sook is telling her about her secret boyfriend.
“When you do get out of here, you will move in with me,” she says with excitement, like it’s the best news ever.
“What?” I’m not sure if I heard my sister correctly.
“I’ve decided to take care of Halmeoni instead of her going to Father’s place. You know what would happen there.”
“I’m going home. It’s where I live. All my things are there. That’s where your grandfather is buried.” Tears well up in her eyes, and she presses her swollen hands to her chest.
Her heart monitor goes off, and a nurse quickly rushes in. “I think it’s best you two leave for a while. Your grandmother needs her rest.”
We both reluctantly agree. “We’ll get some fresh air. Be right back,” I say to my grandmother and step out of the room.
At the elevator, I turn to my sister and ask, “Why did you lie to her?”
“I’m not,” she says smoothly, like she is telling the truth. “Halmeoni will live with me, if she can’t live on the farm.”
“And Father agreed to this?” I ask, because hell would have to freeze over for Joon-So Kim to agree to my sister’s terms.
As we step into the elevator, she presses the button for the first floor and answers me. “No. I didn’t ask. And I’m not going to, since I’m a grown woman and make my own choices.”
“He Sook, I don’t think it’s a good idea defying Father. Me, on the other hand, I can deal with his crap.”
“I don’t care if it’s a good idea. This is what’s right. Father is selling her land and her home to strangers. He won’t bother asking Halmeoni if that’s okay. Because it’s not and he knows it. Then expecting her to endure living in a high rise, where she isn’t use to that lifestyle, is horrible. Besides, who will take care of her while she’s recovering? Certainly not Father.”
“You’re right,” I say honestly. “Halmeoni would hate living in the city, especially since she’s been a country girl all her life. But I don’t know about her living with you when you have school and work.”
“I can manage,” she says as she steps out of the elevator. We walk outside, where there’s an open atrium with a small garden and benches to sit on.
“What if Father uses school against you?” I press, and study my sister’s face.
“I’m so tired of him trying to control me. I’m done, Oppa. I’ve taken steps to stand on my own… With mother’s help.”
“With mother’s help?” I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “You’re getting help from the woman who is equally selfish, like our father?”
