Once Upon A Spring

CHAPTER 3

*Chang Hyun's POV*

I did not know that this would happen. I have a quarrel with my daughter and I don't know where and how to find her. She did not even bother to answer my call.

I am now sitting on a bench near her school, waiting to see if she will return there or she will call back.

JONG HYUN CALLING...

‘’Yes?’’

‘’How’s the day? How's the meeting?’’

‘’Not good.’’

‘’Oh. Sorry for asking.’’

‘’It is okay. Now, she is literally nowhere to be found.’’

Many students going to their home are looking at me. Well, I am so familiar with them since it is already countless times that I went here just to assist my daughter and to talk to their office. I am now full of shame for what I did a while ago. I just made my daughter so embarrassed.

But I just think that she started it all first and I have no choice but just to raise my voice just to stop the situation.

But I think it is not a good idea.

‘’Hello? Seems I am talking to a ghost.’’

‘’C... Can I call you later? I'm not in the mood. I will just inform you if I have already seen my daughter.’’

‘’I hope things will get better between you two. Wishing you luck. Bye then.’’

I quickly ended the call. I'm just staring everywhere.

’’Luck?’’

I don't know how to reunite with my daughter. Maybe if I lower my knees and pride, she will still despise me and go rather with her mother.

Because of the quarrel about the past, maybe this is really my fault why our relationship did not last better.

If Hyeon Sil shows in front of me this time, I will have the face of shame and guilt because of what happened these years.

Maybe this is my fault why there's a tarnished relationship between us. It is maybe because I have not become an attentive father to her since she started her high school days.

I was just busy at my work just to provide a single penny for our food and daily needs. I did not know that it would be the reason for her to become that hard-headed and really hard to discipline.

But I only do my job because of obligation. Maybe the reason is that I didn't keep an eye on who she was growing up with. What were the influences on her as she grew up?

Is…

Is the world too much for me now?

For us?

*Yoo Jeong's POV*

Maybe I just need to air out and reflect on what I did a while ago. I couldn't handle the tension between me and dad.

I am here now near the gym where I practice taekwondo. It's good that my mentor allowed me to hang out here for a while. I'll just run to this gym in case dad and I get into trouble. I can't stand it either.

Maybe there’s just a problem that we really can’t find or we don’t understand.

Maybe we are really lacking in conversation.

Ever since I was in high school, that’s where I felt like I was abandoned. That's where my dad was inattentive with me, but I'm so thankful that that's why I was able to fight back. Since that time, I have gone through many influences.

At a young age, I learned to fight. I learned to drink and I almost learned to smoke. I also learned to quarrel with my dad then and I started to lie too.

I’m lying about where I will be going.

This is now the influence of my fellow youth with whom I come in contact before.

What else do you expect?

This is the situation of young people today.

The time is very different now.

Without parental guidance, the child’s misfortune is definitely the consequence.

Many also die here and the rate of suicides has become higher because the standard of elderly and our country is too high.

This is probably the reason why people like me have to fight to survive and not to look weak. Likewise, if you are weak, you will really be pulled down more than you thought.

‘’Yoo Jeong!’’

‘’Mr. Han?!’’

‘’Are you okay? It is okay to stay here, but don't forget to lock the gym. You can just give me the keys tomorrow if ever.’’

‘’As of now, I'm still in the process. Thank you.’’

‘’I will just go home. If you are still in the process of reflecting and healing, you can just say it to me. We can adjust your training schedule.’’

‘’It is fine. I will just tell you, Mr. Han.’’

‘’Okay then. I must go.’’

After all of the sudden flashbacks, I just realized, who should change first?

If one person starts to change, will everyone change as well?

Possible.

Or maybe not, because the others there will still mock you.

I already locked the gym.

It was already dark and I don't know where to go.

I am still wandering.

I am so curious about how these adults now handle their youth despite having different types of parents.

Maybe I'm just weak, so that I could not handle it.

I started to doubt my father's care and attention to me. Why is he still working in those stinky places and doing various part-time jobs for me?

He also graduated a business course but here he is, working as an assistant in a wet market, selling junks and working as a guard in, a convenience store.

He works from morning until dawn.

He knew that he would just receive a little penny out there.

But what's the reason why he was doing it?

I have decided now to go back to my dorm. There is a 50-50 chance that he is there.

I was about to cross the pedestrian lane,

When I saw a light coming near to me…

*Chang Hyun's POV*

''Excuse me. I am Son Chang Hyun, the father of the new and young female patient brought here.''

I am recently at the information center of the hospital.

‘’What is the name?’’ the nurse at the desk replied.

‘’Son Yoo Jeong, my 20-year-old daughter. ‘’

‘’Okay, Sir. We will just check the room where she is in.’’

‘’She is in Room 1302, on the fourth floor, Sir but---’’

‘’Thank you very much!’’

As I run, my surroundings seem to slow down.

I can't feel anything.

I can only see my child safe and her heart still beating. That's the only way I can alleviate my situation now.

I can’t feel the tiredness my foot feels right now.

I can't cry.

I have to look brave in front of my daughter because what if her eyes are open and then she sees me crying?

The situation may get worse.

It would be even more debilitating for the two of us.

I am here now in front of her room.

I find the room isolated. I could not move my body just to see my child. If her condition worsened, I could do nothing but work hard while waiting for her to wake up.

I just brought some money supposedly for her comfort treatment. Supposedly, this time we are going back to the countryside...

but everything changed...

We are in the hospital now.

I knew there was a doctor coming. I have no choice but to accept whatever happens.

‘’Hello, I am the doctor in charge of your daughter.’’

‘’Yes, my daughter. That young lady in that room, that's my daughter. She is beautiful, right?’’ unknowingly replied him while staring at the glass window.

‘’But now.. I almost lost her.’’

‘’Sorry about that matter, Mr. Son. Your daughter seems in a severe comma. There are witnesses who revealed that the truck hit her so hard. There's a fragment in her skull and we do not know how things will go from this time.’’

‘’What do you mean?’’

‘’I just want to say this directly to you. Expecting that she would not be able to wake up again. There's a bigger percentage for it. I am sorry. ’’

I left speechless.

I’m sorry, I let you down so much.

===================================

*Yoo Jeong's POV*

‘’Ouch! My head hurts. I can't sleep well.’’

Damn it. Did I hit my head somewhere? I'm just sleeping peacefully here and my head will just suddenly hurt.

Or is it because of the truck that hit me a while ago...

No, it is already morning…

Yesterday?

But I am in a different room, I guess.

This is not my room set, rather my dorm set.

I quickly got up from bed.

I quickly opened the door when I saw her.

‘’He..hey you!’’

‘’Why?’’ she said confusedly.

‘’What are you doing here?’’ asked her shockingly.