CHAPTER ONE
Seo Joon Ah is the only child of the couple Seo Joon Gi and Ahn Hyun Ji. He has a handsome face, funny, smart, and very energetic. His father is a civil servant who prioritizes safety, and works as a labor inspector for the Ministry of Labor and Labor in South Korea. While his mother is just an ordinary housewife.
When holidays come, this little family always spends his time together. The moments of togetherness they always document in a photo and of course they display in the picture to fill all the rooms in them house.
Spring is coming. This is the season that Joon Ah and his parents have always been waiting for. Because in this season they always take a vacation together. But reality says differently. This spring is a very sad moment for Joon Ah. He lost his beloved father to a heart attack. Now Joon Ah is an orphan at the age of 5 years.
Joon Ah’s life changed dramatically. The death of his father was the hardest blow he had to take. Day after day .. morning meets afternoon .. and afternoon meets night just silence and crying which he did. Joon Ah loves his father very much.
Hyun Ji felt the sadness that Joon Ah was experiencing. She tried to comfort him. But these efforts did not produce any results. Hyun Ji also tried and kept trying so that her son smiled and could continue his life again as before.
[One day ..]
Hyun Ji invites Joon Ah to go to the amusement park and hopes she can see Joon Ah’s smile again. This amusement park is his favorite place.
Hyun Ji could slowly see the smile on Joon Ah’s face. That made Hyun Ji happy and at the same time kept trying to restore Joon Ah’s life due to the sadness he experienced after his father’s died.
Various kinds of rides for the two children they both play, from noon to meet with the evening.
“Mom ... Mom ...” Joon Ah called to his mother while pointing at the pororo doll he wanted.
Seen from the look on his face, Joon Ah was very happy when his mother fulfilled his wish. The doll was hugged tightly by Joon Ah.
The night came so beautifully.
The lights that surround the amusement park also look very charming.
The sound of the gurgling fountain that sounds very melodious.
The happy laughter was shown by other visitors who came with family, lovers or friends very happily. Likewise for Hyun Ji and Joon Ah.
But an unwanted event happened suddenly. Joon Ah’s hand was released from his mother when he was about to take his doll that fell due to collide with other visitors in the opposite direction.
Hyun Ji realized when her son let go of her hand and she immediately turned around to look for her child.
The crowd was so crowded at the time that it made Hyun Ji find it very difficult to find her son. And finally they separated.
Information center, asking for help from local officials, she even asked all the visitors she met and asked, “did you see my child?” while showing Joon Ah’s photo. But Hyun Ji’s efforts did not produce any results.
Sobs and self-blame that he did when she got home.
At the same time and different place, Joon Ah just sat quietly under the tree house in the amusement park while hugging a doll when he knew that he was no longer with his mother.
“Announcement to the visitors, we as an amusement park officer would like to inform you that in the next few minutes the amusement park will close soon. Thank you for your visit today and good evening,” said an amusement park officer.
Slowly visitors also leave the amusement park. Then, what will happen to Joon Ah who is still there?
The sound of footsteps was very close. Suddenly an unknown man approached Joon Ah and asked,
“Why are you still here?”
“This place will be closing soon”
“Why are you alone?”
“Where are your parents?”
So many questions asked by this unknown man, none of which was answered by Joon Ah. After seeing his reaction, this unknown man felt concerned and he immediately invited him out of the amusement park.
In a parked car, there is a woman who is looking at the figure of a man she knows walking toward her car while carrying a boy.
“Whose child did you bring?”, asked the woman when they arrived in the car.
When the woman saw the look of Joon Ah gloomy, without further ado she immediately carried Joon Ah on his lap.
“We just bring this child home”, said this unknown man to the woman beside him.
Along the way to their home, this woman keeps watching Joon Ah by stroking him so he feels comfortable. In addition, this unknown man occasionally glanced at Joon Ah to pay attention to his condition and kept trying to talk to Joon Ah but Joon Ah still remained silent without agreeing with a word.
A few minutes later, they finally arrived at the house and invited Joon Ah inside.
Seeing Joon Ah’s poor condition, they both felt confused about what to do with him.
30 minutes walk, just a glance they look at Joon Ah. And suddenly ...
"Tomorrow morning we take this child to the police station to report missing children,” the unknown man said.
“Should we do that?”, The shocked question the woman showed.
[The next morning ..]
The two of them are ready to take Joon Ah to the police station. And when they got there, this unknown man immediately gave information about the incident of a missing boy to one of the police there. While that woman continues to accompany Joon Ah lovingly.
After the information was given, it is now Joon Ah’s turn to get some questions raised by him by the police. But Joon Ah still doesn’t give any response. He kept his head down while hugging his doll tightly in her lap.
A few moments later, suddenly ..
“Joon Ah”, a small voice made by Joon Ah was heard.
[Who are the unknown men and women?]
They have a harmonious couple. Park Jin Hyuk’s name. He is a professor in industrial robotic design at a renowned university in South Korea. He has a wife named Jeon So Mi. 5 years after marriage, they have not been blessed with a child. They live in an elite neighborhood in Gangnam. The big house where they lived was increasingly dead without the presence of laughter or the crying of children. That’s the life of both of them right now.
[1 week passed ..]
Sunday are calmer compared to previous weeks. The conversation began when Ji Hyuk, who was enjoying time off with So Mi, was in the middle of their lunch.
“How’s Joon Ah, honey?”
“Has he been with his family?”
“What is Joon Ah doing right now?”
“Why hasn’t the police given us the latest news about Joon Ah?”, said Jeon So Mi.
For the past week, So Mi has always been thinking about Joon Ah. She felt very comfortable especially when Joon Ah was in her arms and lap while being near him. Releasing Joon Ah makes So Mi look sad because she had been separated from him.
As a husband, Jin hyuk understands his wife’s feelings. When he saw the look on her face, he immediately rushed to take So Mi to the police station.
When they got there, they immediately got information about Joon Ah. It turned out that the police took Joon Ah to an orphanage located not far from the police station. The reason the police did it was because there was no progress regarding the Joon Ah case over the past week. Hearing the news, So Mi also revealed her sad face when they both walked toward the car.
“Honey, let’s adopt Joon Ah”, Jin Hyuk said while holding So Mi’s hand after they arrived in the car.
[25 years later ..]
Park Joon Ah is a name that Joon Ah currently has after its adoption by Park Jin Hyuk’s family and Jeon So Mi. Little Joon Ah has now turned into an adult Joon Ah. His face that was so handsome and calm could melt every woman who saw him. Joon Ah’s presence in the midst of their families provides a lot of happiness for both of them. Right after 1 year of adopting Joon Ah, So Mi was declared pregnant by a doctor and gave a younger brother to Joon Ah who was named Park Goon Ho. Whereas Jin Hyuk got a brilliant career in the field he liked.
In 2011, this family decided to move to Germany because at that time Jin Hyuk wanted to build a robot company there. And they have remained there until now.
In the atmosphere of his father and mother’s wedding anniversary, this dinner was very warm and romantic. Joon Ah and Goon Ho took out presents for their parents.
“Happy 26th wedding anniversary”, said Joon Ah and Goon Ho together.
So Mi suddenly shed tears and was very moved when she got a surprise from her two lovely children.
“Why are you crying, honey?”
“You should be happy to get surprises from your children”, chirped her husband.
So Mi smiled and said, “Thank you, my baby”.
Shortly after dinner was over, Joon Ah started a serious conversation with his parents.
“Dad .. Mom .. I want to go home and live in Korea”
Hearing this talk suddenly made both parents surprised. Then Joon Ah continues his statement in detail.
"There is a job that I want there”
“I have done all the wishes of you both”
“This time, let me do what I like”, Joon Ah’s request was so convincing.
Without further ado, his father gave permission to Joon Ah and said,
“Do everything you like, my son”
“Me, your mom and Goon Ho will always support you”
A happy smile can be seen on Joon Ah’s face.
[1 month later ..]
End of the year in 2017, Jooh Ah arrived at the Incheon international airport, South Korea. He then rushed to order a taxi to return to his old home. Joon Ah’s return to Korea this time felt very lonely, because he only did it by himself. Usually every year their families always return to Korea for the purpose of vacationing and meeting relatives of their father and mother’s family together. But not this time.
Inside the taxi, Joon Ah looks out and enjoys the entire night view from the window of the taxi he was riding when he arrived in Korea. Korea is one of his favorite places to live because he was born here and hopes that one day when he closes his eyes, he will be here too.
The trip was taken approximately 25 minutes, Joon Ah finally arrived at his house and he was immediately welcomed by his caregivers since childhood. This caregiver is both a trusted person from his father and mother to take care of the house they have lived in since his departure to Germany.
“Ommona ..”, exclaimed the caregiver who immediately embraced Joon Ah.
“Have you been well, Imo?”
“Starting tonight I will stay a long time here”
“I miss you so much, Imo”, the happy voice that Joon Ah made.
After welcoming Joon Ah at his home, the caregiver told Joon Ah to rest a little because she wanted to make a special dinner for Joon Ah.
[A few moments later, the food is ready at the dinner table ..]
“Wow! These foods are all delicious, Imo”, said Joon Ah praising the caregiver who was right in front of him while continuing to taste all the food that has been provided.
Jooh Ah is very hungrily eating all the food made by the caregiver. There isn’t any food left.
[Morning ..]
Promptly at 9:18 Jooh Ah looks neat and is ready to go do what he had planned last night before he sleeps.
“Imo, I’m leaving”
“I will have breakfast and lunch outside”
“After that, I will look for a shirt for my interview tomorrow”
“Anyway, today I will enjoy my free time in Korea”, said Joon Ah while coming out of his house.
[Lunch time is coming ..]
Right now Joon Ah is at a mall. He decided to postpone his lunch because he was still busy going in and out of the store to find a shirt that suited him. When he was exhausted, Joon Ah suddenly accidentally looked at a store at the end near the elevator and Joon Ah decided to come there.
The last shop he visited turned out to give a good mood to Joon Ah, because he finally found the shirt he wanted. But when he wanted to take the shirt, at the same time a woman also took the shirt.
Joon Ah and that woman looked at each other.
Who is she?
To be continued ..
