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ย “You look happy”
Nari commented, leaning against the stairwell when Geon-woo, who looked a bit too giddy, walked in a few seconds later. He paused; his smile softer as he took her carefree stance in.
“Yeah, I am” He nodded; his smile almost wistful. His wounds were healing nicely Nari noticed. She had taken the liberty to patch him after they had returned to Mr choi’s house and off loaded all the money. It had been an awfully long night and all Nari wanted to do was sleep off the events and ache in her bones, but they had insisted on patching each other before she could retire to bed.
“I am glad” she said, smiling at his dimpled grin. “Happiness suits you”
He flushed but his smile sat permanently on his face.
” So, what did he want to talk about?” she asked, pushing herself off from the stairwell to talk to him.
He shrugged lightly. “He thanked me for what we did, and he insisted our debt was paid.”
“The advancement pay” she queried, and her answer was answered with his nod.
“He told me we were even but ” for the first time his smile faltered. ” It doesn’t feel right until I know I paid him back ” a deep sense of obligation shone in his eyes, a look Nari understood too well.
“I think I know what you mean” she said, her feet shuffling. ” He told me I didn’t need to pay him back, but I couldn’t sleep at night with the guilt. So I’m still paying it off, slowly”
It seemed no one understood him like her.
“We might be two sides of the same coin” she chuckled. ” It seems we’re both too self-righteous for this gig”
“I don’t think I’d like it to change” he said honestly, and Nari agreed.
“Hey, how about we-” Geon-woo tried but Mr Oh entered into the corridor, catching the two by surprise, his kind eyes jumped between them rather apologetically.
“I apologise if I’m interrupting but Nari Mr Choi would like a word” he told her and Geon-woo’s disappointment flickered in his eyes.
”I’ll be right there” she told the elderly man before shooting Geon-woo a remorseful glance. “We’ll pick up where we left off when I return” she told him and he nodded, maybe a bit too eagerly.
She smiled at him before following Mr Oh. He watched go, eyes longing and heart yeaning. He smacked his head before turning and retreating back into his room where he’d struggle to get a certain raven-haired woman out of his thoughts.
“Mr Choi?”
“Nari, have a seat” Mr Choi offered as he slid some lavender tea in front of her. He simply adored the drink, said it calmed his old and jittery nerves.
“I’m aware Mr Hwang invited you all for lunch so I will make this brief” he said, and she nodded in understanding, having been aware of the arrangement from her boss.
“Are you okay, first and foremost” he asked, gesturing to her face now faded neck. Her fingers reached up to gently flutter over the old wound. Her nights sometime plagued by strangers hands all over but she nodded none the less.
“It is healing nicely” she said assuringly. Mr Choi didn’t look satisfied, but he relented.
“I want you to know, that after today, after everything you’ve done for me, Hyeon-ju and those boys, that you do not need to keep up with your payments.” He said. This was something Nari did not want to talk about. She had thought she had made it clear to him those many months ago that she could not possibly adhere to his request for the sake of her sanity. She couldn’t handle it. This ask was simply too much for her.
Mr Choi saw her confliction, their last argument ringing clear in his mind, but he merely raised a hand to shush her. ” I know what you will say but you are practically family Nari and I will not take money from such”
Her heart and conflict stuttered at the words. Family. He considered her family. Of all people, Mr Choi had been the last person who she thought she’d ever take a liking to, not especially after her mother’s death. But Mr Choi had accepted her with all her terms and conditions, anger and grief and he let her do whatever she needed with support at her ready.
He had felt a soft spot for her since she had barged into his store and she continued to impress him the more she grew. She was kind, loyal and strong. Much like someone else he knew. No wonder they got along so well. But ever since his old foes returned, he’d become as protective over her as he did with his granddaughter. Nari had provided Hyeon-ju with something he could never give her, no amount money or wealth could ever amount to- a true friend. For this reason, he was the one indebted to her, not the other way around.
“You have always been a good friend to my Hyeon-ju. You have also been a pillar for both of my boys and you seem to keep in check yours. So Nari, I will not be accepting any more money from you, I will not allow it. So, I hope when this is over, you take your family somewhere nice and build a good home for you all” he said, his hands reaching out hold her hers.
“Mr Choi, I cannot simply abide by that” she said hesitantly, her throat closing and eyes swelling,
“It is an order” Mr Choi said lightly. ” You need to live a good life Nari, unburdened by all this responsibility. This is your chance” he said.
Nari felt the tears dribble down her cheek, Mr Choi’s old and wrinkled hands patted hers gently as she bowed, thanking him over and over for everything. For being there when she needed him, for allowing her a chance at life again.
“Don’t cry child, nothing is worth your tears” he said as he swiped at the droplets.
She laughed a watery laugh but nodded.
She had grown to love them all as her family. Not her blood ones, but her chosen. And that was far more powerful than anything else in the world.ย
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