Page 8 of Perfect Happiness
First, Mother told Jiyoo that she mustn’t tell father that she was living with Grandma.And second, she mustn’t mention anything about Stepfather.Jiyoo didn’t ask why.There were a lot of secrets she had to keep.The exact secret depended on whom she was talking to.But regardless of who it was, Mother never explained to Jiyoo why she had to keep each secret a secret.But perhaps she would make an exception for Father.Actually, Jiyoo was most curious about whether the father Mother was referring to was her real father or stepfather.
And it turned out to be her real father.There he was, standing at the lonesome bus stop in the middle of nowhere.Slung over his shoulder was a bag, and in his hand was a McDonald’s Happy Meal.He got into the back seat as soon as Mother brought the car to a stop.
“My daughter,” he said as he sat down.He was out of breath, as if he had run here.He looked at Jiyoo, placed the Happy Meal by his feet, and spread his arms as wide as he could.Jiyoo knew he was trying to initiate a hug, but even so, she didn’t move.She just gave Father a blank stare.Something was off.Was this really her father?He seemed like a mirage, one that would disappear as soon as she reached out to touch it.
“Jiyoo, did you forget Daddy?”
His eyes were begging her to hug him while there was still time.Jiyoo glanced at the rearview mirror.Mother’s icy stare was locked onto her.
Mother couldn’t bear to see Jiyoo acting close with other people.Holding hands, hugging, maintaining eye contact for too long—all of these were things Mother hated to see Jiyoo do with other people.Jiyoo wasn’t even free to do these things with Grandma.Jiyoo was the only one who could recognize that icy glimmer in Mother’s eye’s when Jiyoo showed another person affection.She knew what Mother was going to say the moment the two of them were alone.I guess you love Grandma more than me.I guess you’d be happier living with Grandma from now on.
“Hello, Father.”
Jiyoo decided to go with a greeting instead of a hug.She placed both hands on her lap and politely bowed her head.This would usually win her compliments, but not this time.Father dropped his arms, his eyes moist.And his lips, which had been wearing a smile, puckered into a strange shape.It took several seconds before he finally spoke.
“Hi, Babe.”
Babe...Jiyoo had almost forgotten.That’s what Father used to call her.
“Look at you.You’re all grown up.”
His voice was trembling slightly.Jiyoo could feel her chest pounding.Her breathing was becoming irregular and her throat tight.She wanted to say something, but nothing was coming out of her throat.She didn’t know what to say.She felt like she had been too harsh on him.
“Honey, put on your seat belt,” Mother said.
The eyes staring at Jiyoo disappeared from the rearview mirror.Her father placed his bag on the car seat and fastened his seatbelt.As he did this, she couldn’t help but stare at the strap on his bag, hanging from which was a fist-sized keychain of a bumblebee.The keychain was grubby and had multiple stains on it.Jiyoo had a hard time believing this could belong to her father.
“Ready?”
Mother turned on her left turn signal and stepped on the gas.As the car exited the curb, the sound of music started playing from Father’s coat pocket.Mother’s eyes appeared in the rearview mirror again.Father hurriedly stuck his hand in his pocket and took out his cellphone.As soon as he pressed accept, a girl’s voice started talking on the other end.
“Joon-young, where are you?”
“Kyochon.”
This time it was Father who glanced furtively at the eyes in the rearview mirror.
“Min-young, I’ll call you back later.”
The girl was beginning to say something when Father abruptly ended the call.
“You haven’t changed at all,” Mother said.
“I won’t answer the phone from now on,” Father said as he shook his head.
Mother was smiling gently through the rearview mirror.
“You must have forgotten about what you did at Lotte World on Jiyoo’s birthday.”
“That was an emergen—”
“You better not make any mistakes today,” Mother said, cutting Father off.“Only then will I believe you and let you look after Jiyoo.You said you wanted to see Jiyoo alone next time, didn’t you?”
Father made eye contact with Mother as he gave her a nervous smile.His expression looked as though he still hadn’t figured out what it was that Mother wanted.Jiyoo was beginning to feel uncomfortable.She was afraid that Mother and Father were about to fight again, only moments after reuniting.Jiyoo didn’t know who Min-young was, but she wished Father would turn off his cellphone already.After all, wasn’t that what Mother was asking?
“Idon’t answer phone calls when I’m with Jiyoo.”
Mother had decided to teach Father a lesson.She took her phone from the cellphone mount and showed it to Father.
