Chapter Four: The Call
1304 Words
For a few seconds, Juliet forgot how to breathe.
The rooftop suddenly felt colder.
“My mother?”
Sung nodded.
Juliet stared at him as though he'd just spoken another language.
“She called you?”
“She called someone I know. They contacted me.”
“Why would she contact you?”
“I don't know.”
Juliet looked away, gripping the railing.
Her mother wasn't supposed to be here.
Not in Seoul.
Not anywhere near her new life.
She had spent months convincing herself that coming to Korea meant leaving everything complicated behind. She'd told herself she was starting over. New apartment. New city. New people. No history following her around like an unwanted shadow.
And now, somehow, her past had found her.
“Juliet.”
“Don't.”
Sung stopped.
She took a slow breath.
“What exactly did she say?”
“She said she needs to speak with you.”
“That's it?”
“Yes.”
“Did she say why?”
“No.”
Juliet laughed quietly.
It wasn't a happy laugh.
“Of course she didn't.”
Sung watched her carefully.
“Do you want me to tell her you don't want to speak?”
Juliet shook her head.
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
She looked toward the city.
Thousands of lights stretched across Seoul, beautiful and distant. Somewhere down there, people were laughing, eating dinner, falling in love, arguing over stupid things.
Life was continuing.
Hers had just stopped.
“I'll talk to her.”
Sung nodded.
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Do you want me there?”
Juliet looked at him.
She almost said no.
Instead, she asked, “Would you?”
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly.
She studied him.
“You barely know me.”
“I know.”
“Then why?”
Sung shrugged.
“Because you look like you need someone.”
Juliet looked away before he could see the expression on her face.
“Don't get used to being nice.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
She smiled faintly.
For the first time since hearing her mother's name, some of the tension in her chest loosened.
They left the rooftop a few minutes later.
The walk home was quieter than usual.
Juliet kept her hands in her coat pockets while Sung walked beside her. Neither spoke much.
When they reached their building, Juliet stopped at the entrance.
“Thank you.”
Sung looked at her.
“For what?”
“Tonight.”
He nodded.
“Anytime.”
She gave him a small smile and walked toward the elevator.
“Juliet.”
She turned.
Sung was standing a few feet away.
“If you change your mind about tomorrow, call me.”
She nodded.
The elevator doors closed between them.
Juliet leaned against the wall.
She was exhausted.
But she knew sleep wasn't coming.
Not tonight.
---
The next morning, Juliet woke up at six.
She stared at the ceiling for nearly an hour.
At seven, she gave up and got out of bed.
At eight, she had showered.
At eight-thirty, she changed outfits.
At eight-forty, she changed again.
At nine, she was standing in front of her mirror wearing a simple black dress and staring at herself.
She looked nervous.
She hated looking nervous.
Her phone vibrated.
Sung: Breakfast.
Juliet frowned.
Another message arrived.
Sung: And don't argue. I know you haven't eaten.
She smiled despite herself.
Juliet: You're annoying.
His reply came almost immediately.
Sung: Eat first. Insult me later.
She shook her head.
A few minutes later, she opened her apartment door.
A paper bag was sitting outside.
Again.
Juliet picked it up.
“Seriously?”
She looked upstairs.
Nothing.
She opened the bag and found breakfast and coffee.
There was another note.
Try not to murder anyone before noon.
She laughed.
It was the first real laugh she'd had since last night.
She carried the bag inside.
Maybe she wasn't completely alone here.
---
At ten thirty, Juliet met Sung at a quiet café near the Han River.
He was already there.
He stood when he saw her.
“You're early.”
“So are you.”
“I've been here for twenty minutes.”
“That isn't early. That's suspicious.”
He smiled.
“Sit.”
Juliet sat across from him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Sung pushed a cup toward her.
“Tea.”
She looked at it.
“I ordered coffee.”
“You need something calming.”
“Who are you, my therapist?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“I'd charge you.”
She laughed softly.
The waiter brought their food.
Juliet picked at hers.
Sung noticed.
“You're not eating.”
“I am.”
“You've moved the same piece of toast around for five minutes.”
She looked down.
He was right.
She sighed and took a bite.
“Happy?”
“Yes.”
“You're bossy.”
“You're stubborn.”
“I'm not.”
“You are.”
She pointed her fork at him.
“Don't start.”
He smiled.
She almost forgot why they were there.
Almost.
Then her phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
Juliet's stomach tightened.
She knew immediately.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then a woman's voice.
“Juliet.”
She closed her eyes.
Her mother's voice sounded exactly the same.
Years disappeared in an instant.
Juliet couldn't speak.
“Are you there?”
“Yes.”
“I need to see you.”
“Why?”
“It's important.”
Juliet's fingers tightened around the phone.
“You came all the way to Korea?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“Then where are you?”
Another pause.
“I'm in Seoul.”
Juliet's heart stopped.
She looked across the table at Sung.
He immediately understood something was wrong.
“Where?”
Her mother's voice became quieter.
“I'm outside your apartment.”
Juliet stood so quickly her chair scraped against the floor.
“What?”
Sung stood too.
“Juliet?”
She didn't answer him.
She rushed out of the café.
Sung followed.
They reached the street, and Juliet started walking faster.
“Slow down.”
“I can't.”
“Where are you going?”
“My apartment.”
“Why?”
She looked at him.
“She said she's there.”
Sung's expression hardened.
They hurried through the streets.
When they finally reached the building, Juliet stopped outside.
Someone was standing across the street.
A woman in a long beige coat.
Juliet couldn't see her face clearly.
But she recognized the posture.
The way she stood.
The way she held her handbag.
Her entire body went cold.
“That's her.”
Sung looked at the woman.
“Are you sure?”
Juliet nodded.
The woman turned.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, nobody moved.
Then the woman crossed the street.
She stopped in front of Juliet.
She looked older than Juliet remembered.
But it was still her.
Her mother.
“Juliet.”
Juliet couldn't answer.
Her mother glanced at Sung.
Then back at her daughter.
“I need to tell you something.”
Juliet's voice came out barely above a whisper.
“What?”
Her mother looked frightened.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Frightened.
“I didn't come here because I wanted to see you.”
Juliet's stomach dropped.
“Then why are you here?”
Her mother looked over her shoulder.
“Because someone is looking for you.”
Sung stepped closer.
“Who?”
Her mother looked directly at him.
“You need to stay out of this.”
Sung didn't move.
Juliet's heart began pounding.
“Who is looking for me?”
Her mother swallowed.
Then she whispered:
“Your father.”
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