Memory Lane
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Among ginger teas and belly rubs the old yet soft lullaby suddenly came up, between smiles and tears of gratefulness. Jin Ho smiled down at his wife, his wife!, while she cried and thanked the heaves that had brought her husband back from the dead. While making her tea and fixing up the small tray with medicine and water, making sure she had her feminine drawer well stocked and the blinds closed to keep the thunder away, Jin Ho had tell his particular tale of the last week and his short search for home. Gae In had listened, or at least pretended to listen to his story; but knowing better she was just listening to his voice as it rang in the echo of the house now not so empty. Yet his story had drifted to a sudden halt and the rhyme brought back to sooth her pain away.
"Father's hands are medicine, the baby has pot belly." He said softly, in a singsong voice, unable to help but to smile and continue the soft movements of his hand. He couldn't press too much because it would hurt her, but he couldn't move too softly because she wouldn't feel it; so he moved in the right way, with the right pressure and thanked God because he could remember everything.
"Jin Ho-ssi?"
"Hmm?" He said softly, continuing to rub, while she stared at him.
"Do you have any idea how much I miss you?" There was pain in her words, and they made him turn and stare into her eyes. "I thought I was going to die soon," her face shifted and she hid her face because of the tears. "I was dying already." The back of his hand touched her cheek, softly cleaning the tears away. "Why did you take so long?"
"Besides the fact I was in a coma?" He asked, trying to lift her with a soft humorous comment, failing miserably. "When I woke up, I felt I was missing something, you weren't by my side and even when I didn't remember you right away I knew there was something wrong. Jeon Jin Ho without Park Gae In is not Jeon Jin Ho, but… someone else; someone without a past or a future, just existing without reason. I left the little village I was found at, and came back to Seol to find my reason to live. And here you are, hiding from me at Jeju Island." He smiled, picking up her hand he rested his cheek within the curve of the soft limb, and sighed. "Gae In-na?"
"Mm?"
"I'm sorry."
The woman turned to the side, and padded the spot beside her, making him move and drop beside her. "Jin Ho, you are the best present I've gotten so far."
"What do you mean?"
Gae In frowned at him, and then narrowed her eyes. "I can't… Men they are all the same."
"What?"
"You've forgotten what day is today, haven't you?"
"I just returned from a coma, woman, what do you expect?"
"No excuses, you… terrible man." She kissed his lips softly, and rested against his collarbone.
"What is it?"
"You should feel ashamed; forgetting the day you married me so easily." A moment of silence. A loud Aishhh, followed and she grinned, like she haven't for a year, before looking up at him. "You owe me a gift."
Breakfast was served late, after all she didn't have many groceries around the house and they were unwilling toe leave bed early. Outside the rain continued to beat the ground loudly, and thunder were scarce but loud, forcing Gae In to hide under the covers and against his ribs. He didn't mind, but couldn't stop chuckling, and only when she elbowed his ribs with fake embarrassment. Jin Ho got up after than and using his rusty (if they could be called that) cooking skills managed to produce a well balanced fruit salad and juice. He handed her some medicine for the pain and ordered her to eat. "You are too thin for my taste." He said looking down at his own plate.
"I don't know I like been thin." He looked up at her, not liking the answer he got. Sure he used to tease her about her weight, but he loved her chubby hands, the fullness of her body (let's face it, she was lovely thin or chubby) "I fit into everything I get." She wasn't looking at him, and seemed to still be embarrassed. Jin Ho shook his head, not liking this particular brand of humor, and showing it with his face. "But Jin Ho," He looked up at her curious. "During that amnesia, did you remember something? Anything?" Her voice was hopeful very soft, as if hoping that whatever she wished for was true. Jin Ho smiled, and turned his face away; thinking deeply, while humming, for her answer and hoping his words were what she expected. No, he knew his words will be what she expected.
"I remembered apples, balloons, SanGoJae," here he pauses, just for kicks, or maybe for a dramatic statement, "and Park Gae In-ssi." Her face flushed, her hands covered her cheeks and her eyes closed. "Eat your breakfast. There's a few things we have to do before the day is out." She looked up at him, now the curious one was her. "We need to call my mother, your father and a lot more people."
"Oh yeah, you've returned to us." Still forgetting about her meal she continued to cup her cheeks with both hands, smiling like a fool. "I'm so happy." She whispered softly, turning even redder and moving her head from side to side, like a little cartoon doll.
"Stop being silly and eat!" He ordered playfully, offering his fork loaded with watermelon, and she lifted her body shoulders as a reply, smiling brightly and taking the bite of fruit. "I don't think we are leaving this house any time soon." He informed her, staring at her body. "You need to gain some strength, how did you carry yourself around the house?"
Answering quickly Gae In smiled. "With the hopes of seeing you again."
Finally it was his turn to flush and lower his eyes while smiling like a fool.
'
'
It was amazing how much one could miss without knowing.
And it was also amazing how much technology could help such little things take place. After a shower and a change of clothes, which were still the doctor's, Jin Ho had sat down on the large sofa, with the large center table pull close and several papers just in case in received information. Gae In curled around him, arms holding onto his torso and making things hard for him, but she refused to be removed and would only move her arm to reach for her own cell phone.
"Gae In, how am I supposed to call…?"
"All you need is a hand and an ear," And to make her point across she rested her head over his lap. "And I'm helping you, alright?"
"Alright." He had to agree. Their eyes turned to the cell phones, while his hand landed on her belly, and hers over the soft limb. He dialed first, and smiled.
"Jan-Mi-ssi? Omma?"
"Father?"
After dealing with many tears, some of his mother, the rest of his own, Jin Ho hung up with the promise of seeing his mother in the next couple of hours, and probably Hye Hi, and that silly employee-of-his-turn-fiancée-of-hers, Tae Hoon. Gae In was still talking to her father, and he seemed to be dropping by soon as well, but what he noticed was not what they spoke about, but that his hand and hers were linked tightly together.
He smiled at the fact and dialed his Hyung's phone number. The man answered in less than two rings and sounded distracted.
"Hello?"
"Ah, Hyung, we are having a party at Jeju Island, and hope to see you tonight. Bring soju and some of those plump cakes you are always talking about, alright?"
"Who is this?"
"Jin Ho, hyung, forgot about me already?"
"Ah, Jin HO… JIN HO!"
'
'
Six hours later Jin Ho reconsidered his idea of having made so many phone calls during the morning. His mother was all over his lap, crying and hugging his torso while wailing against his belly. He'd seen this before, during his father's funeral, and had never wanted to repeat it; so his heart was twisting painfully as he tried to get her to sit up beside him. Gae In was beside the woman, also sobbing, and repeating everything Jang Mi-ssi said.
"My precious boy has returned to us."
"Yes, he's returned."
"I'm so happy I can't help but to cry my eyes out!"
"Please don't, I started last night and haven't' been able to stop!"
"Park Gae In-ssi, you aren't helping." Said Jin Ho trying to get his mother up, and when all else failed, he quickly stood up and his mother was lifted, his hands falling over her arms and lifting her so he could hold her tightly. The woman moaned in relief and held tightly onto her son, crying some more. He kissed her forehead and cheeks and parted slightly from her to smile down at her. "You are as beautiful as I remember you."
Suddenly someone tugged down at his shirt and looking down found Park Gae In looking up at them while pouting. "What about me?"
Thee door opened and a Hye Mi walked in, crying and sobbing, and fell to her knees beside Gae In, pulling also at his clothes while his mother cupped the back of the girl's head in surprise. "Oppa!" for some reason the nickname had stuck with her, making Gae In frown at her. "Oppa you've returned!"
"I've told you not to call him Oppa!" hissed Gae In, still sobbing along side her mother in law. Tae Hoon walked in, coming to a halt with the scene before him, and quickly his jealousy issues started.
"What is this: a harem?"
"I'm going nuts. Can you help me here?"
Again the door opened and Sang Joon walked in, tears in his eyes and fell to his knees by Jin Ho's legs, "Jin Ho! You've come back to us! You miserably man, how could you make us worry so much, I missed you!" and started sobbing as loudly as the women already around Jin Ho, making the man look up and groan.
"Hyung, not you too." And Gae In got up, sniffling and smiling at the show the man was putting up. Jang Mi-ssi cupped Jin Ho's face and kissed his cheek.
'
'
The detectives arrived two hours later, and had the group gathered around the living room for an emergency family meeting. Dr Park arrived with the man, and seemed quite grave at whatever news they were delivering. Both Jang Mi-ssi and Hye Mi were cooking dinner, their tears finally having given in, while Gae In tried to learn something from them. Tae Hoon opened the door for them, and watched them with worry as they walked to the living room; curious as to what they had to say.
"What's this?" Asked Sang Joon, cleaning for the hundred time his face with the already wet handkerchief.
"Detective Chang Ji Heon, and my partner No Eun Seol. We want to talk to you all about Jeon Jin Ho's situation."
"What situation? That he came back? No need, no need! We can handle this!" Started Sang Joon attempting to stand only to be pushed down to the sofa and a finger pointed at him by the female detective.
"The situation is far from over. So sit tight and be quiet, understood?"
"I like them feisty." Purred Sang Joon, making Jin Ho turn away after slapping his arm so he could stop being silly. Embarrassed because of the man Jin Ho turned away and covered his mouth, while Sang Joo just laughed. Ji Heon stared daggers at the man, who noticed his predicament, and Jin Ho's and just cleared his throat and sat up.
Dr. Park sat beside Jin Ho and shook hands with him. Jin Ho noticed the man was quiet and his hand trembled ever so slightly as they parted, making the younger architect aware that something was either wrong or missing. Could be the second, Jin HO had missed a lot in the last year, but something could also be wrong because the situation was a bit out of the normal. The two detectives fought between themselves, as who would be the one talking, and the man sat by Sang Joon, who frowned at him, and making Eun Seol sigh. "Are we all here?"
"Gae In is at the kitchen with my mother and a friend of ours."
"Can you call them in?"
But Tae Hoon had done the job and the women were walking in, his mother cleaning her hands and looking quite worried. "Ah, hello."
"Detective, how can we help you?"
"Actually, we do need your help for a bit more, ma'am." Gae In hurried to Jin Ho's side, and looked at the woman worried. "Although a year has passed by and the case has gone slightly cold the case is still in court. With your testimony will make sure to put all those architects behind bars but for now, and before your turn to testify, you must continue to be missing."
"What do you mean?"
"For now information that you've returned from the death is restricted to the people in this room; that's why we've gathered all of you here. None of you must tell that Jeon Jin Ho has returned to us, no matter how difficult it may seem, understood?"
"Yeah, you heard Tae Hoon?"
"Why me?"
"Aren't you the one who sees a girl winking at him and blabbers out all he knows?"
"Weren't you the one to get drunk and tell everything about Jin Ho?" Accused Tae Hoon, unwilling to be quiet.
"Weren't you both the idiots almost messed up our participation on the DAAM art project?" Said Jin Ho finally, arching and eyebrow and arms crossed.
"Weren't you the one who lied to enter SangGoJae?" Asked GAe In, looking up at her husband, arching an eyebrow.
"Weren't you the one who took loans without telling me, so you needed to take in Jin Ho as a tenant?" Replied Doctor Park, calmly, from his side of the room.
"Didn't you two say they were working on a project together so they could live together?" The news from Jang Mi-ssi had Doctor Park gasp in surprise, while Sang Joon hid away to avoid any of it to back fire to him.
"And then she stole him from me!" Accused, Hye Mi, just to add some fuel to the fire building in the living room.
"And you fooled Tae Hoon into finding them out! And splashed Gae In with a glass of water!" Said Jin Ho, quickly standing up to turn to the others, while the loud bickering between family started.
Eun Seol and Ji Heon watched from one to the other, amazed at the accusations. When they were all quiet and staring dagger at one another, Ji Heon turned to Eun Seol.
"There's more dirt in this household than in the Sahara desert."
The thought was funny for both detectives but the rest of the group turned to them and only common sense held them back from insulting the couple; after all how many had survive insulting an armed police officer?
