Fated

Yang Seokhyung.

Friday night.

"Chu Minha-ssaem. Have you gotten your dinner yet?" I ask her as I enter our common office. Thank goodness, no one else is here.

"Not yet, gyosunim. I'm still checking something. It will be done in a while," she answers me without looking. She really is a hardworking person. Wait.

"What did you call me?"

"Huh? Wait, let me just finish this," she continues as she finishes her work. I smile. I love this about her. She knows when to have fun and when to be serious at work.

"Okay. That's it. What did you say again, gyosunim?" she asks as she finally looks at me.

"I asked you, what did you call me?" I repeat. She only looks at me confused. So, I raise my eyebrow and say, "Gyosunim?" She then looks around and laughs.

"Hahahaha. I'm sorry, OPPA. Why are you here again? You're not on call tonight, right?"

"To have dinner with you, of course. I won't be able to this weekend, remember?"

"Oh. Right. You and eomoni are going to have your own short vacation, aren't you?"

"Yes, you really don't want to come with us? We can use this opportunity for you two to meet."

"Wha... What? Uhm... No. I'm not yet ready. I mean, it's alright. It's your time with your mother, we can meet later. Plus, I would be working all night. I wouldn't be in my best appearance to meet eomoni," she says embarrassedly.

"Why do you look so embarrassed? It's not like you didn't expect this?" I look at her accusingly. "And my mother would definitely love you. She always nags me to get a girlfriend."

"I know that, oppa. But... You know, I still want to prepare my heart. Please?"

"Okay, if you say so. I will not do anything that you don't want."

"Really? Thank you, oppa. You are the best." She then hugs me. "Let's go. I'm hungry now."

"Alright. Let's go to the cafeteria then."

"It is really okay, oppa. Don't worry too much. I'll still see you on weekdays. I'll give your original queen all the time she deserves to be with you. Bye. You need to go now. You still need to wake up early tomorrow. Go now. Quick," she says and bids me goodbye. We just finished eating our fill.

"I understand. Just call me if there is any emergency, okay? Bye." I then kiss her goodbye.

"Bye, oppa. Enjoy your trip!"

Chu Minha.

Ring. Ring. Ring. Argh. Who is it now? What time is it? "Hello? This is Chu Minha."

"What this is Chu Minha? You don't even save your own father's number on your phone?" I immediately sit up and look at the clock. It's only 10:00 AM? I only slept for 3 hours.

"Appa?! Sorry, appa. I just woke up. I worked night shift yesterday night. Why? What's going on?"

"You just woke up? Then, you should sleep more. Alright. I'm hanging up."

"Wait. Wait! What is it? I'm fully awake now anyway. It doesn't matter. Is there something wrong at home? Are you alright? Is mom alright?"

"This child. There's nothing wrong with your mother and I. I just wanted to ask if you are free later tonight, our staff wouldn't be able to work, her son has fallen ill. If you're too tired, never mind then. Just rest well."

"No, it's okay, appa. What time do you need me to be there?" I ask yawning. Farewell, my most awaited weekend.

"Around 5:00 PM. You can still sleep for awhile. Go back to sleep. We just have a few customers for now."

"Understood. I'll be there later, appa."

"Okay. See you."

Yang Seokhyung.

"Minha-yah? Did I wake you up?"

"No, oppa. I woke up already. I'm actually on the bus right now? I'm going back home. My father needs a helper in the rest house. How are you? Is eomoni enjoying her time?"

"You're travelling now? Then, you probably just slept in a few hours? Yes, the view here is excellent. I would have loved to come here with you too. Let's go later on. Mother is enjoying the view. The food tastes good as well. Alright. I'll hang up first. Sleep more while you travel, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, oppa. I'll call you back once I arrive."

A few hours later.

"Hi, oppa. I just arrived at home. It's quite busy here since it's gonna be dinner time already. I'll talk to you later again, okay?"

"Okay, we're gonna eat also. I'll call you again later."

"Eomma, let's go down to the lobby to eat? Or you just want it to be delivered here in our room?"

"No, let's go down. It's better to have some company."

Ah. It is quite funny how fate works.

I thought I would have to wait a few hours to hear from her again. But, it turns all I have to do is go down here.

"OPPA?! What are you doing here?" she asks me once she finally looks at her customers. And I laugh.

"Oppa? Do you know this young lady, Seokhyung-ah?" my mother asks me, I notice that her eyes are shining brightly.

"Hahahaha. That's what I should ask you, Minha-yah. What are YOU doing here?" I smile at her. I can see the eyes of my mother looking over at the both of us. Oh. Minha, I'm sorry.

"This is our rest house. Haven't I mentioned this to you, yet?" She says. She then looks at my mother. "Uhm... Eomoni, I am Chu Minha. I am-"

"Wait, eomma. Let me just excuse ourselves." I cut her off and urge her to go to the side window. "I want to ask you first. How do you want to be introduced to my mother? I know that you are not yet ready. I will not force you, well even though fate is also working on my side. Hahaha." I look at her dumbfounded face.

"I... Uhm... I... Wait. Let me think, oppa."

"Okay, I'll give you a few minutes to think, but you need to decide quickly because my mother is getting suspicious now." I then observe her expressions. She looks so scared at first then she now looks determined.

She then lets out a deep breath and says, "Alright, oppa. Let's do this. I will have to do this sooner or later, anyway. It doesn't matter to do it in advance."

"Are you sure?" I look at her inquiringly.

"Yes, oppa. Okay, Chu Minha. You got this! You even got him as your man. You can do anything!" I laugh as I watch her prep herself up.

"Hahahahaha. It's not like you're going into a war. Just be yourself. She'd love you. Don't worry," I tell her encouragingly as I clasp her hand.

"Alright. Let's go, oppa."

My mother's eyes immediately go to our hands. "So, she is?" she brightly asks while looking at Minha.

"Eomma. This is Chu Minha, my girlfriend. She is also a fourth year resident in my department."

"Girlfriend?! Girlfriend?! I knew it. My handsome and smart son would find his love someday. I knew it," my mother says as she lovingly hug Minha. "Thank you. Thank you for giving my son a chance."

"Aniyo, eomoni. Thank you for giving birth to your son and so I am able to meet such a good person." Now, it is my turn to look dumbfounded.

Fate works in a mysterious way.

I am glad that fate has brought as together.

Chu Minha, I am also thankful to have met a good person like you.