Chapter 10

JENNIE

Jisoo Kim. The muffin girl from the bakery shop.. The girl who never smiles. But yet these couple of days I see her smiling every second, every moment of the day. She has a very beautiful smile. She is so different outside her work. Do I like her? I liked her the moment she stepped inside our shop. Even when it was crowed I would know that she was there. Even when she didn’t talk to me, or even when she had the attitude. I liked her.

And look how we are right now. Jisoo hit me with her car, accidentally of course, Mr. Yanni couldn’t take care of me and I found myself being a guest to Jisoo’s apartment till Mr. Yanni comes back. I must have my cast on for three weeks. Yeah.. Fuck my life. And I can’t go to work and that sucks even more because I need the money. I started saving the moment I got that job but that was for us. For Ella and me to find another place to live. Sometimes I miss those days when I didn’t have to worry about anything..

I miss my parents and my sister.. I miss my life.. And Jisoo wants to know about that life.. I don’t think I am ready yet.. Although she has every reason to ask those things. I am not a family to her, I am not a friend. She needs to know some things. I want to but this trip back just hurts.. She asked about my last name and that caught me off guard.. The only ones that know my real name is Ella’s school because they needed a birth certificate and thank God they didn’t ask about our last name. Ella knows what her last name is. Ella Kim. Kwon was my mother’s last name and I use that to introduce us if someone asks. If I do remember correct Ella told our last name when she said her poem. I don’t know why Jisoo didn’t catch it. But when she asked me again the first thing that came in my mind was Kwon.. And it wasn’t a lie.. It’s not that I had a fake last name or anything..

It was Saturday, the day after Christmas. Jisoo didn’t have to go to work so it was me, Ella and her. Jisoo insisted for us to go out. I tried to tell her that it was kind of difficult for me to walk but she insisted and I didn’t really want to say no to her and Ella who was very exited..

“Can I at least know where we are going?”

“It’s a surprise. You will see.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

“You are going to like this. What do you think Ella?”

“Oh, you will mommy.”

“Okay okay. I will wait to see what surprise is that.”

To someone else it might seem strange how two people who don’t know each other interact like me and Jisoo. It’s true. We don’t know each other but she knows who I am as I know who she is. We were seeing each other at the bakery shop every day for the last couple of months. So it’s not that I just met her. It’s just that I finally get to know her.. And I like her..

“Ok, here we are.”

Here was a park. A park with a frozen lake in the middle. I have to say that I didn’t expect that. What she was thinking?

“Really? A park?”

“It’s my favorite place here in Philadelphia. I just wanted to show that to you.”

“Well, it is beautiful but I didn’t expect that we would come here, when outside it’s below freezing, I have a cast on my leg and..”

“Mommy, Jisoo wanted for you to get outside the house and feel better. And I think it’s beautiful out here. Jisoo bought me ice skates.”

“I don’t think so young lady.”

“But why mommy?”

“Why? Because it is a lake. And you never had done ice skating before. So I don’t think so.”

“But mommy..”

“No.”

“Jennie I am going to be with her you know. I am going to show her. I have done ice skating my whole life. Don’t be scared.”

“Jisoo, really? What if the ice breaks and you both fall in? Eh? What about then? And me being like this I don’t think that I can help you. So Ella no.”

Ella gave me that pout. I couldn’t resist that pout. I don’t know when she would have the chance to do ice skating again. And Jisoo bought her skates without asking me? We are going to have a chit chat..

“Okay. Just be careful though. And don’t give me that look Ella.”

“You are the best mommy in the world.”

“Yeah, yeah.. Jisoo can I talk to you for a sec?”

Jisoo nodded her head and followed me a few meters away so Ella couldn’t listen.

“You shouldn’t have done this Jisoo. Especially behind my back.”

“I am sorry Jennie. But I thought you wouldn’t have a problem. And believe me when I am saying that this lake is completely frozen. I come here every Christmas. Not many people know about this place. And I wanted to show you my favorite place as I wanted to show Ella how to skate. Simple as that. I am sorry that I didn’t ask first.”

“Just be careful. I can’t help you if something happens.”

“We will. Don’t worry.”

I sat on the bench looking at them.. Jisoo was very good at ice skating. She seemed like an angel on ice.. And my little one seemed to enjoy it too. She fell more than one times but she would stand on her feet again. She was strong..

“Well, see? We didn’t fall.”

“I think you are wrong. This one here fell enough times for a life time.”

“Oh mommy stop. It was my first time. Jisoo told me she would take me again. Can I go?”

“Of course. But not here. She can take you to an ice skating stadium and you can skate as long as you want.”

“Can you take me there Jisoo?”

“We will see. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Sick person over here. I am sitting in the cold for an hour now. Can we please go back to where I can feel my hands again?”

“Ella? Is she always that whiny?”

“Yes.”

“NO I am not. Ella? I am not”

“Yes you are mommy but its okay. I love you either way.”

“And I love you baby girl. Now can we please go? My as-butt is cold.”

I have to say that I liked spending time with Jisoo. And although it was two days it seemed more than that. From Monday she would have to go back to work and I really didn’t like staying at home all day. Ella would have to go to her school, Jisoo at her work and I would watch reruns on tv.. Lame. So lame.. I hate being like this..

“What are you thinking Jennie?”

We came back an hour ago. Ella was exhausted from her falling and I was just sitting in the living room deep in my thoughts. Jisoo was trying to let me in. For me to see who she was. And I really wanted to tell her something of my past. But what could I tell her really? From where to start?

“I.. I was thinking of my parents.”

“What about your parents? You miss them eh? They still are in California?”

“In a way yes.”

“Have you called them recently?”

“They are the reason why I am here. I lost my parents four years ago.” I felt her had on my thigh. I was trying to hold my tears. I cry. I do cry. But not infront of Ella. And I didn’t want to cry infront of Jisoo too.

“I am sorry Jennie. I am sorry to hear that.” I could see that she wanted to ask more but she was respecting me and that I appreciated it.

“They are the reason why we are here. I needed a change. I just couldn’t stay there anymore.”

“They will always be with you. The people we lose are always with us. Guiding us. Like guardian angels. I am sure they look at you from heaven.”

“I hope so. Jisoo thank you for today. Ella liked it very much.”

“I had fun too. Maybe tomorrow we can do something else. What do you think?”

“We can always stay inside and watch a movie. We can make some pop corn and relax. You are working on Monday. So.. you don’t have to be out all day again.”

“I don’t have a problem. But the movie sounds good. I guess tomorrow it’s relaxing day.”

“I guess it is.”

She looked at me and I did the same. I wanted to sit with her and tell her everything but from the other hand I wasn’t ready yet. There was time. And I don’t think that me and her would stop seeing each other. Even when I will take my cast off I think that Jisoo and I will be close. Because me and her just clicks..