Withering Soul

Perfect Family

It was May 5th, 2010. The day when I unlocked one mysterious question about Sofie.

“Zev, have you checked all your stuff again?” Mom made sure over and over again. And it made me doubt myself.

“Wait mom”. I checked all over again. The closet in my room. I opened it and checked one by one all the clothes inside. My casual clothes, I wore daily and clothes I usually wore for once-in-a-while occasions. Mom had actually asked me when she sorted them out one by one, and I did all over again when she asked me if there were clothes that I rarely wore, and I thought that’s it. None of them needed to be taken out anymore. I walked to the book-shelf in the corner of my room. After taking a brief look all over the display, I knew I still loved them all, they were still useful. I read them for fun and as references when I did my writing. Then I walked to the stairs, leaned on one side of the wall in my room, to the attic. It was my playground. I stored all my toys and stuff for playing games in the room. But well, I needed them all. Some boxes and stuff had gone from the room, meaning that mom had also sorted the stuff out and took some that I had left idle for a long time.

I walked to mom in the living room organizing the stuff. Our old belongings were packed in boxes, including some new things we had just bought. And some food and snacks, which were organized in paper bags. We were going to make our regular visit to a church celebrating children’s day with some kids from some orphanages. We all gathered in the church, having a fun ceremony organized by the church. I liked joining in the ceremony. The program organized by the nuns was always fun and I was always happy that I could gather with many kids doing games and other things together. At the end of the event, we would hand all the stuff we brought to them, and the expression on their faces was priceless. These kinds of activities had become my favorite since I could remember. And because of that, I always bought some good books or toys on purpose when we were shopping, because I knew we always shared them on any good occasion.

…

We approached the church park, there were many cars waiting in line and people were crowded waiting their way inside the church. Dad, mom, our driver and one of our house helpers helped bring all the boxes and paper bags, and a nun was helping to guide their way to a room where they stored all the things. I followed mom from her back while bringing my own stuff. After placing all the boxes and paper bags in one corner of the hall, we took a seat where many others had been sitting. Most of them were families. There were grandpas, grandmas, daddies, mommies and their kids. We approached my grandpa and grandma, who had been sitting in one row of the chairs together with my uncles and aunties, and my cousins. We were sitting right beside grandpa and grandma. My dad was the youngest son of grandpa and grandma, and the dearest to them, and the same happened to me. My older cousins often teased me. I meant it in a good way. We were all living in harmony. It’s just that, grandpa and grandma treated me slightly differently, more lovely. Dad was the youngest son, he had the oldest brother and older sister, my uncle and aunty. Dad was the only one who followed grandpa’s pathway, to be a professor at the best university in the country, majoring in medical science, at his young age. My uncle had his own company, following grandma’s family pathway. And my aunt was also a businesswoman following her husband’s family pathway. Yes, my dad was the most loved one to grandpa and grandma. Moreover, when they got a perfect daughter-in-law, my mom. She was well known for her smartness and beauty, and from a noble family, most of mom’s family were professors at university in various majors. After being in the entertainment industry since her childhood while managing to maintain her achievement in her studies, mom finally stopped her career as an actress when she got married to my dad. And since then, she had been a part-time lecturer at the same university as grandpa while taking the responsibility of taking care of me. Sometimes, she followed grandma around managing her business and foundation. I could say I had a perfect family. And I was always thankful for that. And the best thing I was grateful for was, one of my older cousins took my dad’s pathway, a professor to-be, and like so, I didn’t have to bear the name on my shoulder, because honestly, I didn't like study. It was the perk of being the youngest in the big family, they literally treated me as the golden youngest. The elders looked happy supporting me in whatever things I wanted to do. They allowed me not to take my studies too seriously but instead took piano lessons and other kinds of musical instrument lessons. I had art sessions after school. I started my singing lessons when I was in grade 1. Mom and dad even offered me to take acting lessons. Well, I was in the class for 3 months, and I stopped. Simply, they allowed me to do anything I liked. I didn’t know if they really wanted me to follow mom’s pathway, but so far, I had done things without pressure. I ran everything just like that and, at my best, enjoyed life.

We enjoyed the worship solemnly. The songs we sang were good. The message the pastor delivered was meaningful. And the whole ceremony ran well. Right after the closing by the pastor, we were about to be guided to a room for kids having fun when mom suddenly shouted happily, seeing someone, maybe her friend. She directed dad and I to walk toward them. My eyes looked straight at someone my age, a girl, Sofie Lim. She was dressed up elegantly and more neatly. She was still the same timid and shy girl. She kept looking somewhere else while entwining her hand to her dad’s hand. She didn’t look at me. And I wonder as well if she even noticed or knew who I was.

“Brenda!” Mom squealed happily, reaching her hands, welcoming the woman for a hug. The woman called Brenda did the same, smiling happily. Well, I guess she was Sofie’s mom. From the way they form their position. They were standing hand in hand and Sofie was in the middle. I was so sure that the man was her dad, to whom she entwined her hand.

“Zara!” They hugged each other for a few seconds. I saw how happy their expressions were. I bet they were close friends, not just friends.

“How are you? How can I meet you here? What about Canada?” She giggled while making gestures to make up her long hair. She was beautiful, more like gorgeous and elegant. I did my own thinking. Was she really cheerful or did she pretend to be cheerful? I observed the man, he tried to sync with the atmosphere by smiling sweetly while holding Sofie’s hand dearly. He was so handsome. I should say. And Sofie, she was still in her own world. Which left me a big question. Who knows, they were not her parents. I was waiting for the whole story.

“Let’s have a meet up. I have many stories to tell you. But yeah, we moved here last month, for good. You have never met them, right? My husband Ethan and my daughter Sofie”. She gestures her hands softly at Sofie’s back.

“Ah yeah, this is your first time to be here since your marriage. Hi Ethan, I am Zara. My husband, Zayn, and my son Zev. Hello Sofie …” mom bent her body to be able to match her position with Sofie and reached her hand. Sofie turned her head and finally met her eyes with mom. She bowed her body politely then gave her hand for a hand-shake.

“Hi aunty, I am Sofie…” Ah, she was able to do such a thing. I didn’t expect he would be that sweet. Mom smiled happily, welcoming her hand.

“Brenda, we have a sweet girl here!” and they were giggling. I did the same, introducing myself to the adults. Dad took time to introduce himself to Sofie’s dad too and exchanged a conversation. And they handed us to a nun who was guiding us, joining all the kids in a room for another event. Celebrating Children's Day.

During the event, I was busy observing Sofie rather than enjoying it myself, like usual. She was a bit different, happier. She mingled with everyone in the room and smiled a lot. I didn’t realize how much I adored her that time around. While busy observing, I was also busy managing my emotions. I was overwhelmed seeing her happy. I wondered if she knew that I was one of her school mates. I didn’t bother to ask. I planned to check her stand later at school. And I came to the end of the day in a different state of feeling. I thought I was hooked up on her world.

“Mom, is she your friend?”

“Yes, my best friend.”

“How did you meet her?”

“Mmm… we were in the same class in high school. We got into the same class at university. We even worked together as actresses.”

“She is really your best friend…” I was mumbling to conclude their relationship from the story. Mom looked at me curiously.

“Why? Is there anything I need to know?”

“No. But yeah, Sofie is my classmate. She is the new student that I have ever told you about.” she looked at me even more intensely.

“The one that is always shy and doesn’t want to mingle with others?”

“Mmm…” I nodded.

“But she didn't look that way during the play with all the kids… ?"

"I know, right mom? I wonder too… " Mom took her time thinking, scrunching her forehead.

"She looked different honey, don't you think so? I mean, when you were still together before both of you got married, she was genuinely cheerful. I don't know. I wonder if it's only me who thinks of it that way. What do you think?" Dad mingled in the conversation.

"Really? Well, she indeed, looked skinnier, paler. I wondered if she was still doing that thing. I mean, you know, she was addicted to diet things when we were teenagers. I wonder if she is still doing it even now. While, we don't need to do such kinds of things anymore. We quit being actresses a long time ago… " Mom was still doing her thinking while talking.

"Have a talk. Or if it's possible. Let's have dinner. We can invite them to our house, or we visit them."

"Mmm… I think we should. That's a good idea. I am curious now. But Zev... Sofie looked just normal. Nothing like you told me. This is odd…"

Well, I was in awe too. And was eager to know the whole truth when we were at school. Dad and mom still continued the topic. I was listening. And I concluded. Brenda was a kind-hearted woman just like mom, both of them were lovely. Well, they were best friends. I trusted my mom that way, and of course she befriended someone kind and lovely like her. And I felt relieved, it meant that nothing happened like abusive treatment to Sofie. It makes me become more curious about what truly happened. Brenda was from a noble family, respected elders in a high-class community in the city. Her father was an ambassador and often visited Canada. Well, they literally lived in Canada. But then she decided to move back to Seoul with her grandma when she was in senior high school and she met my mom. They attended the same university and she followed mom's pathway, they had fun being actresses filming movies, dramas and ads. She moved back to Canada and married her husband. End of story, I mean for that day.