Page 39 of Perfect Happiness
According to Jane’s mom, Eun-ho was a good guy.And when Jane saw him herself, she knew that Yuna had a type.Just like Joon-young, he had an introvert’s face and his eyes had the look of a sensitive child.But sensitivity was just another name forweak.And just like a weak person, he gave Jane the impression of being anxious and uncomfortable.
Yuna started her car.She continued to think about Yuna’s text message all the way to Jiyoo’s daycare.Was she telling the truth?Had her stepson really died?
It was possible that she was lying.Actually, the probability she was lying was very high.Yuna was so imaginative that she could lie about a genocide if she needed to.Everyone knew it, even and especially their mom.Jane decided she would pick up Jiyoo and take her to Yuna’s house in Cheongyeon.She needed to confirm the truth for herself if she wanted to avoid being taken for a chump like she often had in the past.
Jane parked outside the daycare and went inside.The first thing she saw was a teacher stacking legos with a young boy.A moment later, she discovered Jiyoo sitting in the corner of the classroom reading a book.Jiyoo looked up as soon as Jane walked through the door, as though she had been focusing all her attention on the sounds around her.
“Auntie.”
Jiyoo put down the book and jumped to her feet.She bolted toward Jane and hugged her waist.With her body glued to Jane’s stomach, she looked up at Jane.
“Auntie.”
She called Jane like this a third time.
“Auntie.”
Jiyoo squeezed even harder and buried her face in Jane’s ribs.
“I thought you weren’t coming.”
Jiyoo had never acted like this before.She never even acted like this to her own grandma.Jane could feel her heart sink.Yuna must be telling the truth.Jane hoped Jiyoo hadn’t seen too much.But there was little that could explain Jiyoo’s unusual behavior.Jane hugged Jiyoo and patted her on the back.
“I would never leave you.”
Jiyoo’s calling Jane “Auntie” three times had completely changed Jane’s plans.She couldn’t take Jiyoo back to that house, not when her stepbrother had died there.She had to take Jiyoo home with her.She could take her anger out on Yuna later.
“Jiyoo looks really happy to see you,” the teacher said as she approached them.Jane asked when Yuna had dropped Jiyoo off.
“Around lunchtime.”
According to the teacher, Jiyoo had sat in the corner of the classroom and hadn’t said a word all day.She didn’t touch her lunch or her afternoon snack.
“Make sure she eats something when you get home.She’s probably starving.”
Jane sat Jiyoo in the front passenger seat, something she wouldn’t normally do.But today, she didn’t want to leave Jiyoo, who looked anxious, by herself in the backseat.
“Should we pick something yummy up on our way home?”Jane asked as she started the car.She rattled off anything and everything that she could think of that a kid might like.Tonkatsu, pasta, jjajangmyeon.Jiyoo just sniffed once and shook her head.
“Or how about I pick up a Happy Meal from McDonald’s?”
Jiyoo didn’t answer.Her lips were clamped tight, and the tip of her nose was becoming red.She looked like she would burst out in tears if Jane suggested one more thing.
Jane was lost for ideas.Jiyoo wasn’t the type of kid who often expressed her dissatisfaction.Most of the time, she would say yes to something that she didn’t want to do to avoid upsetting people.For her to refuse food like this must have meant she was in a lot of pain.
“Then should we just go home?”
Jiyoo answered yes so quickly that it surprised Jane.There was even a look of urgency on her face.Jiyoo didn’t say anything the entire ride home, nor did she look at Jane.She just hugged her school bag and looked down.She had withdrawn so much that Jane wondered if the warm welcome she showed Jane earlier had been her imagination.
Not much changed once they arrived home.Jiyoo went straight to her room, still hugging her backpack as though it were her favorite stuffed animal.Usually, Jiyoo would run to the bathroom to wash her hands first.She would then go into her room and come back out with a fresh pair of clothes on.But today, she didn’t come back out of her room.In fact, she was still in her room by the time Jane changed out of her work clothes and knocked on the door.
“Jiyoo, are you asleep?”
No answer.Jane put her ear up to the door and asked again.
“Can Auntie come in?”
She could hear Jiyoo reply “Yes.”A person shouting from a deserted island in the middle of the Indian ocean would have sounded louder.Jane opened the door and went in.
