The Invitation

Eun gets back inside their home one morning, after checking the mailbox for some letters that they received for the past week. He closes the door after him, and sits on the sofa in the living room. His mom calls him from the veranda, which overlooks the living area, as it has a high ceiling with a crystal chandelier that beautified it even more. "Eun? What are those?" she asks. Eun answers, "Some letters Mama. I'm checking if I got a reply from the university," he answers with a smile. The first letter is a congratulatory one from his papa's parents, "They could have just called me," he laughs. Coree walks toward him as she gets down from the staircase. "Well, old people think sending letters would still be sweeter than a phone call," she smiles and touches her son's hair. She sits beside him, as Eun opens another letter. "An invitation?" he asks. "Looks like a wedding invite to me," Coree says. The letter did not contain an envelope, it was folded into three, with a ribbon closing it. "You are cordially invited to attend the engagement," he pauses, and closes it. "What's wrong?" Coree asks. Eun passes over the letter to her, which she reads aloud. "You are cordially being invited to attend the engagement of Mari So and Jae Lee," she glances to her son and continues to read the details as to the date and venue of the event. Eun could not look at his mom, instead, he got up and tried to walk away from her." Eun, " Coree calls him. She explains to him that she and her husband have been divorced and they are entitled to their own happiness. "I know Mama," he says while keeping the tears from falling. "I just cannot believe it. My godmother is soon to be my father's wife." She hugs him, Coree knows there is nothing in the world to make her son truly happy but a family that is whole, but that may not be possible at all. She tells him that Jae is still his father, and he can still visit him whenever he wants to. She assures him that even if Jae marries another woman, he will never stop being his papa. "Son, whatever happens to adults, they are part of our decisions. You must remain respectful no matter what." Eun steps back and holds his mother's hands. He smiles at her, knowing that she is also hurting, but she chooses what is convenient to everyone especially to him.

******

The sun is about to set in the afternoon, Jae Lee steps out of his office and sees Mari in the hallway. "You're here," he says. The secretary tells him, "Miss So has been waiting for more than an hour." Mari, who was wearing a flowy red dress made of silk, with a white belt and white stiletto walks toward Jae. "I'll be happy to pick my fiancé up," she says. The people in the hallway look at them and whisper to one another, because Jae had been working in the same office for long, even before he married and then divorced Coree. Mari attempts to kiss him, but Jae moves his face. "Mari, we're in public." Mari rolls her eyes, "Whatever, we're engaged." Jae grabs her elbow and thanks the secretary, and goes to the elevator with Mari. They go to the ground level and a new sports car stops in front of them. The man gets out the car and hands over the keys for Jae to which he was surprised. "The car is yours, honey," Mari said. "What for?" Jae could not believe his eyes, so Mari touches his elbow and says, "An engagement gift." They both get in the car, leaving Jae's old sedan in the valet parking. They go to a nearby restaurant and while waiting for the orders, Mari tells Jae that she sent an invite to his son and ex wife. "Why? I mean, there is no need to have them there," Jae says. Mari tells him that she thinks it is important to have them there because they used to be his family. "Coree is my ex wife, but Eun is still my family," he replies. "I know, but Eun surely won't come alone, so he needs his mama to accompany him there. I'll behave, promise," she says, and reaches for his hand over the table. They agreed to let them come, and a driver would pick them up from home and take them to the venue so they won't get lost. The engagement is set to be held in an exclusive villa in Jeju, with many known personalities to attend. Once dinner is finished, they both go back to the car and decide to go to the home of Mari's parents. "Here we go," says Jae as he parks the car near the automatic gate. "There's no turning back," Mari says and leans toward him then kisses him on the lips.