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Chapter 7: Home Is Where the Hurt Is – May 2, 2020

Hobi came for her at eleven thirty the next morning.

“Hi!” he greeted her in his usual cheerful manner.  “How was your date?”

She blushed.  Which made him uncomfortable.

“It was good,” she murmured in a tiny voice.

“Are you ready to go get Minnie?” he asked, changing the subject.  Deliberately.

She nodded, and her flush faded.  But she was still beautiful.  Even more so today.  He wondered why even as that knowledge pierced him with bittersweet longing.

“Yes!  I can’t wait to see her!”  She jumped up and down and twirled in a circle.

Then, suddenly, she reached out and flung herself at him.  “Hobi, you are the best!  Thank you so much for saving Minnie.  You’re my hero!”  She began to cry.

“Hey, hey.  Why are you crying?”

He didn’t like making her weep.  And…

What was that elusive scent?

“I’m just so happy.  So relieved.  I love that little dog.  So much.  I’ve missed her so much, and now I’m going to get to see her every day!  All because of you!”

She was still clinging to him and jumping up and down.  He laughed and hugged her tight.  And wished for things he clearly couldn’t have.

—

She was nervous.  He noticed it for the first time as they approached the door of her parents’ house.  He stopped.  And reached for her hand.  As his fingers slipped around hers, she slowed down and stopped.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

She was lying.  He knew it.  She wouldn’t meet his eyes.  She tugged on his hand.  

“Come on.  Let’s get Minnie and get out of here.”

Wasn’t that a strange thing to say about visiting her parents?

She released his hand and turned towards the door.  A few more steps and she was knocking on it.  It was opened by a woman who looked nearly identical to Minsu.  But for a few extra years.

“Mini!”  She reached out and grabbed her daughter, pulling her close.  “How I’ve missed you!”

“Hi, Eomma.”

Her mother turned and headed for the kitchen as Minsu and Hobi stepped over the threshold and into the house.

“Minsu!” A sharp voice thundered from the next room.  “Have you finally come to take this damn dog!?”

She flinched.  She was trembling.  Hobi was sure of it.

“Y-yes, Ap-Appa.  I h-have.”

She was stuttering again.  Hobi’s heart sank.  Was this the origin of her stutter?  Something that had happened in this house that she clearly didn’t want to visit?

Suddenly, a tiny dog yipped and barked and came running out to dance around Minsu.  She fell to her knees and cooed at the pup.

“Minnie!  I’ve missed you so much!”  She picked up the little dog and pulled her to her chest as she buried her face in her fur.

Hobi noticed that her stutter had disappeared in the presence of the tiny dog.

Minsu stood up.  Her eomma came back into the room, carrying a bag.

“Here’s her food.”  

Hobi held his hand out.  “I’ll take it.”

Her eomma eyed him.  “Minsu, who is this?”

“Eomma, this is my friend, Hobi.  He’s taking Minnie for me.”

“Oh.  What a nice boy!” She smiled at him as she relinquished the bag to him.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am.”

“And so polite too,” she murmured.

She elbowed her daughter in the side.  Then she bent to whisper in her ear.  “I think you should keep this one.”

Minsu’s cheeks caught on fire.  “Eomma, we have to go.”

“Ohhh-ohhh,” her eomma was clearly disappointed.  “You can’t stay for a little bit?  I see you so seldom.”

Her mother saw her eyes dart towards the living room where her appa was napping on the couch.  With one eye open.

“Come visit me at the cafe, Eomma.  I’ll treat you to a pastry and a coffee.  Anytime,” she whispered into her mother’s ear as she embraced her once more.  “Thanks for taking care of Minnie.”

Her eomma nodded as her eyes filled with tears.  “Of course, baby.”

Minsu kissed her mother on the cheek.  Then she turned towards Hobi and headed out the door a moment later.

They hadn’t walked more than a few steps when her appa suddenly appeared in the doorway.  “What?  You’re leaving without talking to me, Minsu?  Don’t want me to meet your boyfriend, eh?  Afraid I’ll tell him what a good-for-nothing you are?”

She stopped, mortified.  She was trembling again.  Hobi glanced sideways at her.  His hand slipped into hers again.  The comfort of those warm fingers broke through her appa’s harsh words, and she turned her attention towards Hobi.  He smiled at her.  Trying to lend her his strength.

Then, she turned towards her father.

“Ap-Appa, th-this is H-Hobi.  H-He’s m-my fr-friend.  H-He’s t-taking M-Minnie.”

Hobi winced as her stutter reappeared.  This was the worst he’d ever heard it.

The man harrumphed and spun on his heel before heading back to his couch.

As they approached Hobi’s car, he remarked, “Your eomma is nice.”

He didn’t mention her appa.  And neither did she.