At Lunch

Eun Lee walks into his mom's room. "I'm ready Mama, are you?" Coree smiles at him, she stands up from the bench from the far end of her bed, and walks to her son. "Yes dear, I'll be ready in a minute." Eun leaves, walks downstairs while Coree grabs her bag from the bed and follows him. Upon reaching the end of the staircase, she hears people coming out of their cars, chatting. She goes straight to the door and opens it." Hello, everyone, I'm glad you all made it." She and Eun welcome all the guests, one by one, as Han is too busy in the kitchen preparing food. "Where's his dad?" asks an old woman who just hands over a box of cake to Coree. "Never mind your mother," says the man who just got inside the house, his right hand holding the woman's shoulder and the other touches Coree's hair. They all walk towards the dining, and when everyone is seated, Coree proposes a toast. "This is for my son, Eun Lee has been a great student and a good son." She reaches for Eun's hand which also holds a glass of wine. "Cheers, Eun. You may now drink the sparkling wine in your glass," Coree smiles as well as Eun. "Well, you'd have to wait till you're nineteen before you can drink the same wine that we do," says his grandfather, Kim Lee. Everyone smiles, and Eun is very happy at the event. He had been asking his mom for a small reunion but Coree was hesitant at first, because of the divorce. "Eun, did your father know about your graduation?" asks his grandmother, Yin Park. "Honey, I have been telling you to focus on eating and leave the guy out of this." Yin protests, "He is still his father," Coree cuts them off, "Yes, mom, dad. Jae was with us to celebrate with his son. We just both agreed to have a different celebration with his family if they want to." She touches the hand of her son, "Today is ours, let's make the most out of it." They all smiled, as Han was coming from the kitchen to serve the ice cream. "Does anyone want dessert?" Eun stands up, "Han, let me help you." He helps her, carries the jar that contains the dessert and then goes to the other side of the table and pulls out a chair. "Han, sit here please," Han Kang was surprised, she is a household helper, and though Coree has always treated her like family, this would be the first time that she will eat on the same table with Coree's parents. "I can't." She shakes her head in disagreement but Eun pulls her hand and lets her sit. Everyone is silent, carefully watching what the young boy is doing. After Han has taken her seat, Eun goes back to his own and eats. "Shall we all eat?" he asks. Everyone resumes eating, after which, Coree decides to play their favorite music and they all dance happily. "I wish unnie will soon meet the love of her life," said Cara Lee, Coree's younger sister. Cara is seated on the corner of the dining table, beside Han. She is aware of what has happened to her sister's family, and she knows that her parents were also disappointed with Jae and Coree's divorce. "Cara, if you have nothing good to say you need to stop talking especially not at lunch," Kim said. They all stop dancing, and Eun speaks, "It's okay grandpa. I know that Papa has already been seeing someone. Is that right Mama?" He looks at Coree, who hugs him and says, "I and your Papa gladly remain friends. We may be part of each other's past, but there's one thing that is for sure Eun." She holds his face in her hands, "You are, and will always be part of our future." Eun hugs her, and says, "I know, Imo, Mama deserves a man who will love her forever just like I do," he says to Cara and smiles.