Flowers of Andong [COMPLETED]

29 July 1950

In the morning, the quiet sound of birds chirping had stirred Jisoo awake. What was usually a cold winter morning, she found herself warm and in Kiyong's arms. She didn't want to move from how perfect it all felt, but suddenly, she heard the sound of her front gate slamming shut.

She was startled, and sat up to look out the window of her bedroom only to see her grandma walking towards the house. She panicked as a million excuses soared through her head but she still didn't know how to tell her grandma about Kiyong who was naked under the covers they shared.

"Kiyong!" she whispered while silently scolding herself with hands on her head. She pushed his shoulders to wake him, "Aish, please wake up! My halmeoni is home early!"

"Hm, what?" he asked, he deep morning voice ringing loudly throughout her room. She held his mouth closed and shushed him, repeating that her grandma was home. His eyes, tired and squinted, widened in fear.

"Jichu-yah, is that you?" her grandma called from outside her room. "Jichu?"

"Y-yes, halmeoni!" Jisoo was forced to reply. "D-did you enjoy your trip to Daegu? You're back so fast."

She got up from the mat and picked up her clothes, throwing them on aggressively while tossing Kiyong his clothes too. He put his clothes on quickly and while he fixed his watch around his wrist, Jisoo stuffed his shirt into his pants to look slightly more formal.

All of a sudden the door swung open and Jisoo's hand was in Kiyong's pants. She squealed and took them out swiftly, hoping her grandma didn't see it.

"Hello, I'm Kiyong," he introduced with a polite bow but Jisoo's grandma didn't seem to show much interest. He looked at Jisoo with confusion and she waved it off.

"She's kinda hard of hearing."

"Did you say something, dear?" her grandma asked, oblivious to the elephant in the room that was Kiyong.

"Ahem, no, I was clearing my throat. Ahem, ahem, I think I'm coming down with some phlegm. Halmeoni, do you mind making me some pear ginger tea for it?"

"Aish, Jichu! Didn't I tell you to stop forgetting your scarf? You've misplaced it again, haven't you?" she scolded and came closer.

Jisoo pushed Kiyong behind her while her grandma came to hold her hands. From the closer distance, Kiyong saw the slightly pale colour of her grandma's eyes, an early sign of terminal blindness.

"My dear, your hands are so warm this morning. Are you fevering?" She felt Jisoo's forehead and clicked her tongue, "As I thought. Let me make you some medicine instead."

"I'll be right out to drink it!"

"You should drink some too, young man," her grandma said to Kiyong and finally left the room.

Jisoo sighed loudly in relief, seeing how her grandma didn't freak out when she saw Kiyong. She turned to him, and he was staring at the door sadly. "What's wrong? What's with the face?"

"Your halmeoni..." he said quietly.

"Oh, don't take it to offence, she ignores me on purpose sometimes too," Jisoo replied and began to fold her blanket and put her futon away, thinking he was sad that her grandma ignored him.

"It's not that, but, Jisoo, aren't you worried?"

"About what?"

"About your halmeoni's eyesight. The foggy and paling colour of her eyes is a serious sign of glaucoma."

Jisoo's hands stopped moving for a second but resumed until the floor was neat. "I am. I always am."

"She could get treatment for it. I know a couple of doctors in the Seoul who could help-"

"She's fine, Kiyong."

"But Jisoo-"

"I said she's fine," Jisoo said sternly while slightly glaring at him. She didn't want him to feel bad so she changed her expression and sighed. "Besides, I'll never be able to afford it, let alone a train ride there. Stop talking about it now. It's not something you should be worried about."

Those words set Kiyong in his place and he didn't push further. He stood there awkwardly while Jisoo tidied up her room. When she caught sight of the awkwardness, she was about to speak on it but was interrupted by a loud banging sound on the front gate.

"What is that?" Jisoo asked and approached the window to see.

Kiyong followed and recognized the military uniforms of soldiers knocking on the neighbour's gates. "The army."

"The army? Why would they be here?"

"Find your halmeoni and stay in the house. I'll get the door," Kiyong ordered and rushed out of the room.

Jisoo listened to him and went to the kitchen, telling her grandma a lie about who could be at the gate.

Kiyong left the house after sliding his shoes on and opened the gate. The soldier looked him up and down in suspicion, knowing very well that Kiyong didn't look like he was from here-that is, the watch that Kiyong wore looked too expensive for a poor village like this.

"The Communists have invaded our country at the 38th parallel and have taken capture of Seoul. Are there any other males of this household who are capable enough to join the fight?"

"No," Kiyong replied.

"Very well. Here." The soldier shoved some papers onto Kiyong, "Enlistment papers. Sign them."

Kiyong stared at the papers in his hands, "Wait, where did you say they took capture of already?"

"Seoul."

Kiyong was stupefied. His current stay was in Andong but his family resided in Seoul. He was wondering what could've happened to them and now he desperately wanted to go back.

"And soon Incheon if you don't get off your ass, soldier. Sign the papers and fight for your country. The Communists won't take long to catch up to you here."

Kiyong stood at the gate, gripping the papers tightly. His jaw was clenched from the fear and worry for his family. Jisoo came outside to see what's wrong and he gave the papers to her.

"I have to go," he said almost robotically. He looked at her and swallowed.

Jisoo read the papers and knew what he meant.

"They've taken capture of Seoul already. I must contact my family." She nodded at him and he held her face in his hands. The warmth was fading from his hands but she didn't care. They both knew it'd be the last time they'd see each other for a long while. "Take your stuff and go to Busan immediately. It's the farthest out of the Communists' reach so you'll be safer. I have some money in my jacket, use it to buy two train tickets for you and your halmeoni."

"What about you, Kiyong?"

"I'm going to the frontlines. I'm going to fight and we're going to win."

"But Kiyong... I'm gonna miss you."

He bit his lip to stop his voice from breaking. He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "You should hurry. The trains will be busy soon."

He took a few steps away but she held onto his arm, "Kiyong..."

"I have to go, Jisoo. We'll see each other again, I promise."

Droplets fell down her cheeks as he felt the tears beginning to threaten his own eyes. She refused to let go of his arm and pulled him into a tight hug with her head against his chest.

"Please be careful," she mumbled into his shirt.

"I will." He was hesitating on whether or not to kiss her goodbye, but when he did, the kiss spoke for itself.

It wasn't a goodbye. It just wasn't.

•

Flowers of Andong

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