Main Characters in the Story:

*Kim So Hyun as "Athena" Myung-hee Park

*Tom Hiddleston as Himself

Minor Character in the Story:

*Cha Seung-Won as Park Woo-bin {Myung-hee's father}

Chapter VI: Take Me Away From Here.

~o~

.

.

~o~

I lay in my bed, my earphones in my ears and Evanescence playing quietly from my phone. I refuse to open my eyes; I don't want the lovely after-feeling of sleep to go away. It's too relaxing to let go of. I shall lay here. I shall lay here all day, listen to music, and question my purpose of me coming home, because this is truly boring.

Laying here all day is not an option; there's a loud knock on my bedroom door. "Myung-hee?" my Abeoji says.

I groan, annoyed, and roll out of bed. I take out my earphones and throw my phone to the side. I make sure it's far away enough for me to miss it when I plan to fall onto my bed and return to my sleep. As I stand up, I sense the lovely feeling draining from my body and mind, and it makes me sad. I'm obviously not getting back. I twist the door knob and yank it open (the door is too un-even to just open smoothly).

My abeoji stands in the doorway with a box in his hands, a very big box.

"Appa." I say while looking to him then down at the box, not sure what's in the box. I eye at the center of the flaps, trying to peer through the crack where they're just not long enough to meet. ""Sangjaga mwoya? {What's the box for?}"

He shrugs. "Myeoch gaji seonmul. naneun neoui dongchanghoe da-eumnal geudeul-eul delyeowassda. {A few presents. I got them the day after your homecoming.} Naneun neoleul dulyeowohaji anhgo neoleul jogeum deo wilohaeyahandago saeng-gaghaessda. {I thought I should comfort you a little instead of scaring you off again.}"

"Ige jeongmal amugeosdo gochil su eobsdaneun geos-eul alji? {You realize this isn't really going to fix anything, right?}" I lean sideways against the wall. I ignore the Winnie the Pooh sticker they just never had the heart to take off the wall.

"Neowa geunyeoneun ssawossgo ssawossda. wae jag-eun Myung-hee iga ulgo iss-eossneunjibodaneun neowa segseuga-eobsneun iyue deo manh-eun gwansim-i ssollyeossda. {You and her fought and fought, and more attention was paid to why there was no sex between you than why was little Myung-hee crying.} Geuligo geugeos-eun danji hanaui yee bulgwahabnida. {And that's just one example.}"

My words hurt him. A wave of emotional pain passes over his face, but it disappears quickly. He better not expect me to take it back. "Naneun uliga sesang-eseo gajang joh-eun bumoga anieossdaneun geos-eul algo issseubnida. {I realize we weren't the best parents in the world.} Geuligo seonmullo syawo haneunge uliga neoege eotteon pihaeleul ibhyeossneunji chiyuhaji anh-eulgeoya. {And I know showering you with presents will not heal what damage we've caused you.} Hajiman naega dasi jib-eissneun geoscheoleom neukkil su issdolog naega hal su-issge haejwo. {But let me do what I can to make you feel like you're at home again.}"

"Naneun jib-eissneun geoscheoleom neukkibnida. {I do feel like I'm at home.} Deo seoldeug hal pil-yoga eobs-seubnida. {There's no need for further convincing.}"

"Myung-hee, nega geuleohji anhdaneun geos-i bunmyeonghada. uliga eumsig-eul jegonghagileul gidalibnida. mul, juseu, ttaeloneun keopileul yoguhabnida. {Myung-hee, it's very clear that you aren't. You wait for us to offer you food. You ask for water, and juice, and sometimes coffee.}

Yogsil sayong-e daehae uliege mudgikkajihabnida. Dangsin-i jeongmallo jib-eseo neukkindamyeon dangsin-eun geuleohgedoeji anh-eul geos-ibnida. {You even ask us if we mind you using the bathroom. You wouldn't be that way if you really felt at home.} Naneun nega yeogi issgileul wonhaji anhneundago saeng-gaghanda. Uliga jeonyeog-eul meog-eumyeon ne nun-eseo bol su-iss-eo. {I'm guessing you don't even want to be here. I can see it in your eyes when we're having dinner.}

Jebal, nawa eomeoniga dowajuge. neoleul wihaeseoga anilamyeon, ulileul wihaeseo. {Please, just let me and your mother help. If not for you, then for us.}"

"Naneun ne doum-i pil-yo eobs-eo. {I don't need your help.}" I think of something Tom would tell me. You need to give them a chance. You're the only thing in their life they love the most. Yes, that sounds about right. "Hajiman na-ege mueos-eul eod-eossseubnikka? {But what did you get for me?}" I step aside to let him into my room.

He walks in with the box and sets it down on my bed. He sits down next to it and looks at me, waiting for me to sit down with him.

I sigh deeply in annoyance. I move forward and plop down on my bed, on the other side of the box. I keep my hands on my lap and wait patiently to open it and reveal its contents.

He opens it up and pulls out several folded clothings. He lies them out on the bed for me to see.

I raise an eyebrow. These are very high fashions he has here, the kind you save several paychecks for. Dresses, shirts, blouses, shorts and a couple of pairs of shoes.

"Neohui eomma ga mullon gollass-eo. {Your mother picked them out, of course.}" He says, noticing how I'm staring at the clothes. "Bang-geum don-eul naess-eo. Naneun igeos-i eotteohge yuhaeng-inji jeonhyeo moleujiman, ne eomeonineun neo jasingwa gat-eun sibdae sonyeodeul-i ibgo sip-eohaneun geos-eul algoissneun geos gatda. {I just paid for them. I have no idea how these are fashionable, but your mother seems to know what teenage girls, like yourself, like to wear.}"

I nod. "Naneun geudeul-eul joh-ahae. geudeul-eun aju meosjida. Naneun teughi deuleseuleul joh-ahanda. igineun hajiman… {I like them. They're very nice. I especially like the dresses. Although…}" I pinch the hem of one of the dresses between my index and middle finger and lift it up a bit. "Damhongsaeg? Jeongmal? {Pink? Really?}"

"Eum, agicheoleom saeg-eul joh-a haess-eoss janh-ayo. Os-i bunhongsaeg-i anieossdamyeon ul geos-ibnida. {Well, you used to love the color as a baby. You would cry if your clothes weren't pink.} Nega jala nandago saeng-gaghaji anh-assda. {We didn't think you would outgrow it.}" He reaches in and pulls out a black iPad case then hands it over to me.

It's heavier in my hands than it should be. I lift the cover, and underneath is a shiny, black, brand new iPad in absolutely perfect condition. My jaw drops just the slightest bit. It's so… expensive. That's all I can think right now. It must have cost him quite a few dollars. "Uwa. iPad? Neo jinsim-iya? {Whoa. iPad? Are you serious?}"

He nods. "Ye. Nega joh-a halgeola saeng-gag haess-eo. Geulaeseo naneun nega bwassdeon gajang joh-assgo choesin geos-eul sass-eo. {Yes. I thought you might like it, so I bought the best and newest one I saw just for you.} Naneun gusig chaegsang mit-e chungjeongiwa se gaeui daleun keiseuleul gajigoissda. geuligo hangaji deo. {I have the charger and three other cases for your old desk downstairs. And one more thing.}" He takes out a beautiful Nikon camera, small and perfect for carrying with me.

"Eom-ma-ya. {Oh my god.}" I take it from his hands and study it. It's just the way I saw it in ads and catalogs. "Coolplx P510eun geomjeongsaeg-ibnikka? Andwae! {A Coolplx P510 in black? No way!}" I turn it left and right, studying the detail and quality of the camera itself.

"Nega geuleoljido moleugessda. iyuneun moleugessjiman iyagieseo boassseubnida. Naneun geugeol joh-ahal geos-ilago saeng-gaghaessseubnida. {I thought you might like that. I don't know why, but I saw it in the story, and I thought you would like it.} Geulaeseo naneun geu salam-eul bulleo naessgo, geuneun naleul wihae hanaleul gajyeo gassgo, dangsin-i wonhal ttae eonjedeunji geugeos-eul sayonghagi wihae geugeos-eul gu-ibhaessseubnida. {So I called the guy over, he took one out for me and I bought it for you to use whenever you want.}"

I look at each and every one of the gifts. So much of his money was put into this. I should be ecstatic. Anyone would kill to have this stuff. I mean, it's the finest-quality gifts out there. They're absolutely perfect. And they're for me and me only. I finally have all these nice, expensive things like I've always wanted. But… why do they make me so sad?

"Eotteohge saeng-gaghae? {What do you think?}" My abeoji says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I surface from my sea of thoughts just long enough to answer him. "Jeongmal gomabseubnida. Geugeos-eun naega kkumkkwo wassdeon geos-ibnida. {Thank you, so much. It's what I dreamed of having.} Neo naega eolmana gomawohaneunji moleugessda. {You have no idea how much I appreciate this.}" I set the camera aside, along with iPad. I lean forward and hug my abeoji as tightly as my weak body can take.

"Neoleul joh-ahaeseo gippeo, yeobo. {I'm glad you like it, sweetheart.}" He says as he kisses me on the cheek and hugs me back.

It's too awkward for me; I'm the first one to pull away. I smile at him.

"Johguna. {Alright.}" He stands up and stretches up to the ceiling. "Laebtab keiseu ttoneun gita mulgeongwa gat-i daleun geos-i pil-yohan gyeong-u allyeojuseyo. {If you need anything else, like a laptop case or something, just tell me.} Naneun neoleul haengboghage eod-eulgeoya. {I'll happily get it for you.}"

"Gwaenchanh-a. Gomabseubnida {Okay. Thank you.}"

He exits the room, closing the door behind. But it reopens quickly. "O, siljelo majimag-eulo han gajiga issseubnida. {Oh, there's actually one last thing.}"

I tilt my head to the side, curious.

He carries in another large box, but this one has been taped and closed properly, almost professionally. "Eoje uli jib bakk-e iss-eoss-eo. Geugeos-eun mesijiwa hamkke upyeon-eulo balsongdoeeossseubnida. Hang-gong upyeon-eulo boibnida. {This was outside our house yesterday. It was mailed in with a message. Seems to be air-mail.}" He takes a folded piece of paper out of his pocket and read it to me. 'Make sure she gets this soon. Tell her I bought this for her. She should know who you're talking about. And tell her I'm proud of her. – T.W.H'

I reached my hands out for the box like a child reaching out for her doll. I grip it, and the weight immediately affects my arms as I lower it to my bed. I dig my fingers underneath the cardboard flaps, but instantly stop when I realize my abeoji is still here. "Naneun naega honjaseoi chaeg-eul yeol-eo jul geos-ilago saeng-gaghanda. gyeolgug geugeos-eun nae geos-ibnida. {I think I will be open this one by myself. After all, it is mine.}"

He raise his hand up in defense. "Johguna. Joesonghabnida. Naneun jigeum tteonanda. {Alright. Sorry. I'm leaving now.}" As he exits, I see him glance at the box, a look of curiosity on his face. He's wondering who's sending his daughter presents.

As I make sure he's gone, then I sit cross-legged on my bed. I tear the box open, throwing the tape on the floor. I take out a large, white box from it, and there's a picture of a microphone on it. The box is huge; that has to be a pretty big microphone. But when I read it, I learn it not just a microphone.

It's an entire audio recording set. From Tom Hiddleston.

I smile as I run my hands over the smooth sides of the box. I stare at it. I have dreamed of this for so long. It's finally in my possession. Tears begin to roll down my cheeks/ my hands begin to tremble against my knees. My lower lip quivers, unsure of what sound I'm going to make next. My chest tightens with a feeling that overwhelms me completely.

Suddenly, I fling the box across my bed. It hits the pillow rather than the wall, but I wished it had slammed against the plaster and destroyed whatever there was inside. I clasp my hands together tightly, keeping myself from destroying anything else. I rock back and forth in panic, anxiety taking over my heart and nerves. Finally, pressure behind pushes the tears out of my eyes. They pour down my face as I sob with this pain. Waves of sadness and anger wash over me, creating more and more tears. I look around at the gifts, then I closed my eyes tightly with the hope that they will disappear somehow. My thoughts end up coming screams. Stop trying to buy me! Stop it, please! I don't want expensive gifts! I don't want expensive gifts! I don't want laptops and cellphones, music players and headsets, iPads and cameras! I don't need those! Take it back! All of it! Take it back! I cry painfully, loudly, endlessly. I remember when Tom gave me the laptop. Then the iPhone. Then the speakers. Then the boots. Then the clothes. Now the recording set. I think of Nikon. The iPad. The fancy clothes. Why is everyone buying for me? Why the gifts? What is the point for all of this? They hurt me, they break me, and then they try to patch me up with gifts? Why? What makes them think money will make me feel better? I don't want money. I don't want to be spoiled and pampered. I don't want so many nice things at once. One by one. Maybe. That's nice. But to pour them onto me that way… I don't want any of these. They hurt. It hurts. Tom is trying to keep me by giving me gifts fit for a queen. My Abeoji's trying to make me happy by showering me with gifts fit for a queen. No. I won't have it. They… they need to earn it.

I gather all the gifts and carry them to the corner of my bedroom. I stack them, one on top of the other, until they're all just in that one corner. There they will remain, where they will gather cobwebs and strange little insects. I will use them one day, but not anytime soon. Not while I'm still hurting, and everyone is trying to buy a heart or a smile out of me.

I pick up a book and return to the comfort of my bed, I look at the cover. "The Hobbit." I say out loud. I study the cover. I let out a heavy, shaky sigh. "Naleul yeogiseo delyeoga {Take me away from here.}" I open it and begin reading, no intention of getting out of bed today.

~o~

My laptop begins to make a ringing sound. That's when I realize it's been on last night. I set the book down and reach for it. I pull it onto my lap, making sure the charger doesn't unplug or tangled. I look at the screen; it's a FaceTime request from Tom. I click "Answer" and wait for our screen to come on and appear side-by-side.

Finally, his face pops up on the other screen. It takes him a second to see me, then he smiles.

I smiled back. "Hey, Tom."

"Hello, darling." He replies. His window is in the background of his screen. It's dark outside over there, like its nighttime.

"What time is it over there?" I ask him.

"Nine-fifteen. I just finished getting for bed."

I nod. "Oh." I remain quiet after that. There's nothing for me to say now. I'm still upset about the presents.

He lowers his eyebrows in concern. "What's wrong? You look upset."

I shrug. "Maybe because I am."

"Why? Did something happen? Nothing's broken, right?"

I shake my head no. "It's nothing. I just… I have been thinking. That's all." I really should tell him how I have a problem with the gifts. I already told myself that I would tell him they're too much. I can't keep on accepting them.

"What's on your mind? I can probably help you out."

I take a deep breath. Tell him now. I can't keep these presents. I don't need them. They feel like you're trying to buy my move, when you already have. A thing of flowers or something once in a while is fine. That's all I need. The words are in my throat and ready to be spoken, but as soon as I'm ready to say them, I can't quite seem to even open my mouth. My thoughts, as always, stop me. I'm always complaining about not having anything. I'm always talking about what I want and how much I want them. Now that I finally have them, after how much they've spent on them, I'm going to complain? That's wrong. I should just accept them and not complain. Plus, it makes my abeoji happy to give me gifts. He's made that very clear… no. I can't say anything. It makes them happy to see me have these things. I shouldn't complain. It might make them feel bad. "I… I wish there was some way I can study in England or something. I don't like it here. It's so dull, and the students are all idiots. It might be the same over there, I don't know. But at least I'd be close to you so I would never be bored."

"Speaking of which, I have a little surprise for you. Your summer vacation is coming up in June, right?"

"Yeah. End of June. Why?"

He smiles, eager to tell me. "I don't know if you'd like it, but I reserved a first class for you to fly over here for the summer. That is, if your parents agree to it."

My expression switches to excitement in a heartbeat. "Mwo?! {What?} " The corners of my smile reach for my ears. "You're kidding me!"

"Nope. I spoke to a friend of mine. He owns the American Airlines, and he said if I pay him myself, all you have to do is give your name, and you are on the plane without a problem."

Inside, I'm freaking out like crazy. I can't believe what I'm hearing. I might see Tom this summer! "Eom-ma-ya! {Oh my god!} You are the best! I can't believe this!"

"I miss you too much, love. I need to see you in person. This is just not enough for me."

My happiness brings tears to the rims of my eyes. "Same here. Concentrating in school has never been so hard for me since you left. I have no doubt my parents will say yes.

"Unfortunately I do. But I'm sure you can handle it well. You have some good persuasion skills."

I smirked. "It's all about finding the weakness."

He laughs, and I giggle. We spend the rest of his night talking about London.