Màu nền Màu tối Mặc định Xám nhạt Xanh nhạt Xanh đậm Vàng nhạt Màu sepia Vàng đậm Vàng ố

Font chữ: Palatino Linotype Bookerly Segoe UI Patrick Hand Times New Roman Verdana Tahoma Arial

Chiều cao dòng: 100 120 140 160 180 200

Kích cỡ chữ:

Make new friends, but keep the old; one is silver and the other's gold. ~Joseph Parry

Logan gazed nostalgically at the Daegu landscape as he drove northeast toward Gyeongsan. He held Soo Ryeon's hand across the console, occasionally squeezing it in a silent show of support. Her gaze had been fixed out the passenger-side window since they'd left Daegu, although he doubted that she'd actually seen the scenery before her. Occasionally she sniffed or swiped at her eyes, and his heart constricted. She'd been excited for weeks at the prospect of seeing Seo Jin and Ji Gun, their best friends from high school, but dropping off her mom at the airport had dampened her mood. She'd had a difficult time saying goodbye to Yeo Hee, particularly because Yeo Hee had nonchalantly announced during breakfast that morning that her company was transferring her again, from Ulsan to New York City.

He raised their joined hands to his lips and tenderly kissed her hand. "Soo Ryeon, I know you said you don't want to talk about it, but I really wish you would. It'll help to get it off your chest."

She let out a sigh. "It's silly," she said softly.

"It's not silly if it's upsetting you," he countered, stroking her hand with his thumb. "Come on, I promise not to think it's silly. I've been told I'm a good listener."

She turned to face him then, her half smile a contrast with her red eyes. "You are… unless there's a Lakers game on T.V.," she teased.

He feigned hurt, thrilled that he'd gotten her to open up. "Hey, I can listen during a Lakers game. Unless it's the fourth quarter, or the score is close, or it's the playoffs…"

She shook her head at his excuses before sighing. "My mom's moving again."

Logan waited for her to elaborate, but she didn't. "Why does that bother you, sweetie?" he asked.

She turned to stare out the window again. "I don't know. It's… When she was in Ulsan, she wasn't that far away from Seoul. New York City is like the other side of the world."

"Okay…" he prodded, giving her hand another squeeze.

"I just thought… when I get pregnant… that Mom would want to be nearby," she admitted quietly.

Logan didn't answer right away as he carefully measured his response. He had mixed feelings about Yeo Hee agreeing to be transferred every couple of years for her job. He respected her drive, after Soo Ryeon's father had died, to work hard to support herself and her daughter. But for the second half of Soo Ryeon's childhood, she had been uprooted and moved all over the country and the world, limiting her circle of friends and making her susceptible to bullying. On the other hand, Yeo Hee's job had brought Soo Ryeon to Daegu and into Logan's life, for which he was immensely grateful. Yeo Hee had always called the transfers a "necessity" to adequately support her daughter, but she was no longer supporting Soo Ryeon, and yet was still transferring regularly to stay at the cutting edge of her company's brokerage team. She had enough seniority with the company that she could choose a city, accept a cushy management position, and stay put, but she'd once said that she'd find that lifestyle rather dull. She was, Logan thought, a workaholic who did not seem to notice the hurt in her daughter's voice when she called to cancel planned visits. But Logan's opinion was largely kept to himself, because although it hurt Soo Ryeon to feel like she was second on her mom's list of priorities, she was fiercely defensive of Yeo Hee.

"Sweetheart," he began carefully, "when your mom moved to Ulsan, all she talked about was how she'd be closer to you and could come for visits more frequently. But she's only come to Seoul a handful of times in the past year."

"She's busy," Soo Ryeon noted, her voice neutral.

"So she says," Logan countered edgily.

Soo Ryeon turned to face him. "What do you mean by that?" she asked sharply.

He took a deep breath, changing his tack. "Okay, let me explain it like this. When I was at Hanyang University, I was extremely busy studying, playing basketball, and rehearsing for shows. But you never stopped being my number one priority, and when you needed me, I was there for you, no questions asked." He paused to glance at her, and she nodded, conceding the truth of his statement. "I married you because I want to be with you every day and every night for the rest of my life. When you get pregnant, I'm going to be with you every step of the way, taking care of you, telling you how beautiful you are, and making plans for our future together as a family." He paused again, biting his bottom lip as he considered his next words. "Your mom has missed a lot of things in your life because of work, and I'm… sorry… that she will miss out on the milestones of your pregnancy—our first ultrasound, when you start to show, when the baby kicks and turns and hiccups. But it's her choice, and frankly, in my opinion, it's her loss. I'm disappointed that you won't have your mom around when you need her, and you're not being disloyal to her by admitting that you're disappointed too."

"I am disappointed," she said quietly. "You're wonderful, Logan, and I love everything about our life together. But sometimes, a girl just needs her mom. We never outgrow that need for parental support and validation, do we?"

"Nope," he agreed with a smile. "But if you ever tell my parents I said that, I'll deny it."

She smiled, but then turned to stare out the window again. "It's been 17 years… but I still miss Daddy. He would've been ecstatic at the idea of being a grandfather."

Logan raised her hand to his lips again, turning it to kiss her palm. "I wish I could've known him."

"He was an amazing man," she told him.

"He had to have been to produce such an amazing daughter," he replied, and then chuckled. "Would he have even liked me?"

She couldn't help but giggle. "Probably not at first. He would've warned me to stay away from pompous jocks."

He feigned hurt. "I wasn't pompous!"

Soo Ryeon leaned over to place a loving kiss on his cheek. "After he got to know you, though, and saw how happy you make me, he would've loved you."

Logan beamed at the compliment. "I can just picture my dad and your dad and me sitting on the couch, watching the Lakers, with you waiting on us hand and foot." He watched for her reaction out of the corner of his eye, and laughed when she slapped his arm.

"I would not be waiting on you guys hand and foot!" she insisted, and then grinned. "If the Lakers were on, I'd be right there on the couch with you!"

...~«ώ»~...

After graduating from Chung Ang University with a degree in Political Science, Cheon Seo Jin had planned to stay in Seoul to seek a job as a political aide. Her plans had changed, however, when her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and Seo Jin had returned to Daegu to help take care of her. She had worked as a public affairs consultant for a large firm in Gyeongsan for several years, the first step in her political career. Her mother's cancer had, thankfully, gone into remission the previous year.

Seo Jin had broken up with Seo Ji Gun after high school, realizing that neither wanted to attempt a cross-country long-distance relationship. They had reconnected when Seo Jin returned to Gyeongsan, and Ji Gun had been a source of support for Seo Jin as she dealt with her mother's illness. Their friendship ultimately turned to romance, and they had been married for just under two years. Ji Gun had graduated from Daegu University with a Physical Education degree, and worked as a P.E. teacher and assistant basketball coach at the local high school. Logan and Soo Ryeon were thrilled that their best friends had ended up together, and tried to keep in touch as much as their busy schedules would allow.

By the time Logan pulled his father's car into the Seos' driveway, Soo Ryeon excitement was back full throttle. He laughed as she barely waited for the car to stop before climbing out and hurrying up the walk to the front door. He popped the trunk to retrieve the Christmas gifts they'd brought for their friends, and then rushed to catch up with his wife. Seo Jin must have been just as excited as Soo Ryeon, because she flung open the front door before her friend's finger connected with the doorbell. Matching screams echoed through the December air as the two women flung themselves into each other's arms.

"Soo Ryeon! I can't believe you're really here!" Seo Jin squealed.

"I know," Soo Ryeon replied happily. "I've missed you so much!"

"What's with all the screaming out here?" Ji Gun teased as he appeared in the doorway. "Oh, I didn't realize there was a Brainiacs' convention in town today."

"Ji Gun!" Soo Ryeon exclaimed, releasing Seo Jin to hug him.

"Hey, Soo Ryeon," he greeted.

Seo Jin grabbed Logan in a warm hug, but then took a step back as he suddenly shrieked in an impossibly high voice, "Ji Gun! Is it really you?"

Ji Gun released Soo Ryeon to take up the game. "Logan!" he declared in an equally high voice. "I thought I'd never see you again!" The two men rushed towards each other and hugged ecstatically in a near-perfect imitation of their wives.

Seo Jin moved forward to smack Ji Gun on the back of the head, eliciting a startled yelp, before taking Soo Ryeon's arm and leading her into the house. "Lunkhead basketball men," she muttered loudly enough for the men to hear.

"I love you too, snookums," Ji Gun taunted as he and Logan followed them inside.

They settled in the living room, with Soo Ryeon tucked into Logan's side on the couch and Ji Gun and Seo Jin sitting in armchairs on opposite ends of the coffee table. They made small talk for half an hour, sharing the latest news about their jobs, families, and lives. They were suddenly interrupted by a shrill cry from another part of the house.

"Uh oh, I think somebody's awake," Ji Gun commented with a grin as he pushed out of his chair and headed towards the impatient wails.

Seo Jin beamed and Logan chuckled as Soo Ryeon clapped her hands excitedly. A few minutes later, Ji Gun returned carrying a blue bundle with unmistakable curls peeking from beneath the blanket.

"Eun Chan!" Soo Ryeon squealed, reaching for the baby. "Come here and see Aunt Soo Ryeon!" Ji Gun laid the chubby infant in Soo Ryeon's arms, and she and Logan leaned close to look at him. "I can't believe how much he's grown," she exclaimed.

"Well, you haven't seen him since shortly after he was born," Seo Jin pointed out with a grin. "Babies change quite a bit in six months' time."

"Oh, Seo Jin, he's just beautiful," Soo Ryeon cooed.

"He obviously takes after his mother, then," Logan teased. "Definitely not his father!"

"Hey!" Ji Gun feigned hurt. "He totally got my hair, though," he boasted.

"Poor kid," Logan returned with a grin. He extended a finger towards the baby, and Eun Chan quickly grasped onto it, smiling as Logan wiggled it. "He's strong, too," Logan observed, then winked at Soo Ryeon. "Must've gotten that from his mother as well!"

The women laughed, and Ji Gun tossed a pillow in Logan's direction. His weak throw missed the target completely.

"I rest my case," Logan laughed.

"I didn't want to hit the baby," Ji Gun argued. "Move away from Soo Ryeon and Eun Chan and I'll show you who's weak!"

"No, I'm good right here," Logan returned, moving closer to Soo Ryeon to prove his point.

Soo Ryeon and Seo Jin made eye contact, shaking their heads at their husbands' antics, before Soo Ryeon returned her attention to the child in her arms. As she bounced him in her lap, his face suddenly grew stormy, and he let out a lusty wail.

"He's ready to eat," Seo Jin declared, pushing up out of her seat and heading towards the kitchen to fix a bottle. She returned a few moments later and held out the bottle to her friend. "Would you like to feed him?" she asked.

"Absolutely," Soo Ryeon answered with a smile.

"Here, come sit in the rocker," Seo Jin instructed. "He likes to be rocked while he's eating."

Soo Ryeon lifted herself out of the deep sofa with the assistance of Logan's hand on her back, and resettled in the rocking chair. She offered the bottle to Eun Chan, gasping in astonishment as the baby sucked like he'd been starving. "He sure can eat," she observed.

"Now that he gets from his father," Logan laughed.

"Okay, Hoops, let's see how badly your basketball skills have deteriorated since you've become a fancy doctor," Ji Gun invited.

"Sure, why not?" Logan answered. "It's been awhile since I whooped your butt."

"Game on," Ji Gun snarled. Seo Jin and Soo Ryeon exchanged eye rolls as the men clambered towards the back yard.

"They never really grow up, do they?" Seo Jin commented.

"Nope," Soo Ryeon confirmed. "Logan's the same way when he's around his friend Yoon Cheol, ever since college."

"Oh, yeah," Seo Jin said. "How is Yoon Cheol? Is he still dating… What's her name?"

"Yoon Hee," Soo Ryeon supplied. "Actually, they're engaged. They're getting married next summer."

"Hmm," Seo Jin mused. "The few times I've met Yoon Cheol, he didn't strike me as a 'settle down' type of guy."

"He wasn't until Yoon Hee came along," Soo Ryeon explained. "She's a nurse at the hospital where Logan and Yoon Cheol are residents."

She paused, pulling the bottle out of Eun Chan's mouth to burp him. She patted his back until two loud burps escaped, then shifted him in her arms to give him the rest of the bottle.

"You're really good at that," Seo Jin observed. "When are you and Logan going to…"

"Soon," Soo Ryeon interrupted, her voice sharper than she'd intended it to be. "I'm sorry. We've just started trying. I'm still trying to adjust to quitting birth control, so I've been nauseous and crampy and just really tired for the past few weeks."

"Oh, honey, I'm sorry," Seo Jin replied. "That must be awful."

"Once everything levels out, I'll be fine," Soo Ryeon continued. "It's just, the way I feel right now isn't exactly conducive to… romantic interludes."

"Yeah, but Logan's taking you to Colorado for New Year's," Seo Jin countered. "It doesn't get much more romantic than that."

"True," Soo Ryeon conceded. "I'm really looking forward to it. It'll be good to get away from our crazy schedules and just enjoy being together." She paused, her gaze shifting between Seo Jin and Eun Chan. "How long did it take you… I mean, when did you start trying…?"

"We didn't," Seo Jin admitted. "We were planning to wait a couple more years, but Eun Chan was what Ji Gun and I like to call a 'happy accident.' He wasn't planned, but now I can't imagine my life without him. I love being a mother."

"It shows," Soo Ryeon told her. She glanced down again to see that Eun Chan had finished the bottle, so she shifted him onto her shoulder to burp him again.

Seo Jin watched her for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "So… Our ten-year high school reunion is coming up this year… And, well, as class president, it's my responsibility to put everything together… but I was wondering… if maybe you would be willing to… you know, help me."

"Sure," Soo Ryeon replied easily. "It's hard to believe that it's been ten years since we graduated from Daegu high school and all went our separate ways."

"Well, not all of us," Seo Jin corrected as one of the men shouted victoriously in the back yard. Soo Ryeon giggled. "I really appreciate your help with this, Soo Ryeon. In addition to taking care of Eun Chan, I have several clients who are running for office in the May primaries, so it's going to be a crazy few months. Here, I'll go get my notes so we can put together some plans for the reunion."

...~«ώ»~...

Outside, Logan pumped his fists as he scored yet another basket. "You are so going down, Ji Gun," he taunted.

"How can you still play like that?" Ji Gun panted. "I play quite a bit with the kids on the team at school, but you're running circles around me."

"Well, I was better than you to start with," Logan laughed, ducking as the basketball whizzed past his head. "Besides, Yoon Cheol and I play a lot before and after our shifts at the hospital."

"Ah yes, Ha Yoon Cheol, Hanyang University's basketball star," Ji Gun scoffed.

Logan laughed again. "Something like that. We help keep each other in shape." He paused, and his voice dropped. "He's been a really good friend through college and medical school, and particularly in the last year and a half."

Ji Gun didn't need to ask what Logan was referring to. The previous year, Soo Ryeon had been terrorized by one of her colleagues, a law professor. He'd ultimately attacked her at school, seriously injuring her before Logan and Yoon Cheol found her. Her physical and psychological recovery had taken months, and she'd had to attend counseling to deal with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"How's Soo Ryeon doing now?" Ji Gun asked quietly as he sat in the grass next to the basketball goal.

"She's great," Logan told him as he came to sit next to him. "She still has nightmares once in awhile, but her psychiatrist released her from treatment several months ago. She's pretty much back to her old self now."

"That's awesome, man," Ji Gun said sincerely, clapping a hand on his friend's shoulder. "And how are you doing?"

"I'm glad she's all right," Logan replied, then laughed softly. "That's the understatement of the century! I'm unbelievably glad that things turned out okay. You never really know the depth of your love for someone until you have to face the prospect of losing them. I can't help but be protective of her, more than I've ever been, because I came so close to having her erased from my life. She means the world to me."

"I know what you mean," Ji Gun agreed. "I never thought I'd get a second chance with Seo Jin, much less marriage and a family, but here we are. It was meant to be, just like with you and Soo Ryeon."

"Yeah," Logan agreed distractedly, his thoughts on the raven-haired beauty he'd left in the house.

"Okay, enough with the sappy crap," Ji Gun suddenly declared, pulling Logan out of his reverie. "We've got a game to finish." He stood and then turned to offer his hand to Logan.

"Bring it on," Logan answered with a grin.

...~«ώ»~...

When the men finally returned inside, they found Seo Jin and Soo Ryeon still in the same spots in the living room. Seo Jin was reading a book, and held up a warning finger to quiet them as they approached. Soo Ryeon had rocked Eun Chan to sleep on her shoulder, and had, in the process, also rocked herself to sleep. Logan stopped and stared at her, enchanted, realizing how perfectly natural she looked with a baby in her arms. Love washed over him, love for the woman who owned his heart, and for the baby that they would hopefully soon conceive.

"She fell asleep about twenty minutes ago," Seo Jin reported. "She said she's been really tired for the past few weeks."

Logan nodded in confirmation, not taking his eyes off his wife. "Yeah, hopefully things will level out soon." He glanced at his watch and sighed regretfully. "I hate to wake her, but we really need to get going. We're having dinner with my parents before our flight leaves at 7:00."

He bent over her and placed a soft kiss on her forehead, followed by one on each cheek. Her eyes peeked open, and she smiled when she saw Logan beside her. "Hey, beautiful," he greeted softly, meeting her lips as she raised them in invitation. He gestured to the baby cradled against her. "That's a really good look for you."

"Thanks. Is it time to go?" she asked drowsily.

"Yeah," he answered, gently taking the sleeping baby from her arms to allow her to stretch and then ease herself out of the rocker.

"Hey, little man," Logan whispered. "When you're ready to learn how to play basketball, you just call your Uncle Logan, okay?"

"Come on, I'll show you where you can lay him down," Ji Gun told Logan, leading him down the hall toward the nursery.

"It's been so good to see you again," Seo Jin told Soo Ryeon. "I'll be in touch about the reunion."

"Sounds good," Soo Ryeon agreed, stepping forward to hug her friend warmly.

When Logan and Ji Gun reemerged from the nursery, the two couples hugged and reluctantly said their goodbyes, promising each other that the next visit would be longer.

As Logan and Soo Ryeon drove back toward Daegu, she chatted excitedly about her ideas for the reunion, and wondered aloud what their friends had been up to for the past ten years. Logan thought back to what he'd told Ji Gun, and smiled contentedly. Yes, Soo Ryeon was back to her old self, all right. And he wouldn't want it any other way.

...~«ώ»~...

Late that evening, Logan collected his luggage and Soo Ryeon's from baggage claim, and then returned to the bench where he'd insisted she sit and wait for him. She'd been airsick on the plane, which was common for her on long flights, but not usually on the trip from Daegu to Seoul. Since they'd landed she'd told him repeatedly that she felt better, but Logan could see the strain of exhaustion in her dark-rimmed eyes.

"Yoon Cheol called while I was at baggage claim," he told her as he offered his hand to help her up. "They're waiting for us outside." Their friends had offered to drive them to the airport and pick them up to save the hassle of leaving a car parked at the airport. "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked, his concern evident.

"Yeah," she replied, soothed by his loving protectiveness. He had an amazing way of making her feel completely safe, loved, and cared for.

He laced his fingers through hers, guiding her towards the exit. "We'll be home soon, back in our own bed," he promised.

"Can't wait," she answered.

As the exit doors slid open, Logan glanced around until he spotted Yoon Cheol's car by the curb. Yoon Hee squealed through her open window, much like Seo Jin had earlier that day, and climbed out of the car to offer Soo Ryeon a warm hug. Yoon Cheol hopped out to help Logan put their luggage in the trunk.

"How are you feeling, Soo Ryeon?" Yoon Hee asked when they separated. "You look exhausted."

"Long day and a rough plane ride," Soo Ryeon explained as they all settled back into the car.

"Motion sickness," Logan added, sliding his arm around her and pulling her head down to rest on his shoulder.

Yoon Cheol checked his mirrors and pulled away from the curb. "How was the trip?" he asked.

"It was good," Logan answered. "Although kind of rushed."

"Yeah," Yoon Hee empathized. "You guys are lucky that your parents get together in one place to see you. We had two separate celebrations, one with each of our families. Good to see everybody, but not very relaxing."

Logan nodded. "We'll get to relax when we go to Colorado this weekend."

"Don't rub it in, Logan Lee," Yoon Cheol warned. "Some of us have to work this weekend to cover your ass."

"Hey, you'll thank me when you're on your honeymoon and I'm the one covering your shifts," Logan reminded him.

"No offense, Logan, but when we're on our honeymoon, you're just about the last thing we'll be thinking about," Yoon Cheol announced.

Yoon Hee bounced excitedly in her seat. "We're getting married in less than six months! I'm so excited!"

"Really?" Yoon Cheol teased. "I hadn't noticed."

She smacked his arm, and then turned in her seat. "Soo Ryeon, do you think you'll feel up to some dress shopping with me next week?"

"Absolutely," Soo Ryeon said, rallying momentarily to share in Yoon Hee's excitement before her head dropped back to Logan's shoulder. He pulled her close again, kissing the top of her head, and before long her even breathing indicated that she'd dozed off. He chatted with Yoon Cheol and Yoon Hee as they drove, enjoying the camaraderie. When they pulled into the Lees' driveway, Yoon Cheol again swung his long legs out of the car and retrieved the bags from the trunk. Logan roused Soo Ryeon and led her inside with Yoon Cheol close behind, luggage in hand. He settled Soo Ryeon on the bed, and then turned to follow Yoon Cheol back out to the porch.

"Thanks, man," Logan told him, offering a firm handshake.

"No problem," Yoon Cheol replied. "That's what friends are for."