Beneath The Glitter

One day, the village received unexpected visitors - a man and a woman. Hye-ja, being the village leader, welcomed them warmly, but the villagers were abuzz with curiosity. Who were these strangers, and what brought them to their quiet village?

As the visitors sat down, their eyes scanned the room, taking in the familiar surroundings. Hye-ja noticed that they seemed particularly interested in Ju-Hoon, who was sitting quietly, unaware of the attention.

Masika, sensing the tension, remained hidden from view, as Hye-ja had cautioned her to stay out of sight. The visitors introduced themselves, asking if Hye-ja knew anyone by that name. She was taken aback, masking her surprise quickly, and asked why they were looking for her.

The man explained that he had studied with Hye-ja's son in high school, and they had been close friends until he left for the United States after college.

He had returned to Korea, hoping to reconnect with his old friend, but was shocked to learn that Hye-ja's son had passed away due to a heart attack, triggered by the grief of losing his wife, Ju-Hoon's mother, who had died from illness.

The man and his wife had been searching for Hye-ja's family for five years, following every lead, no matter how slim. They had finally decided to try the last village on their list, hoping against hope that they would find some trace of their old friend's family.

Hye-ja was overcome with emotion, tears streaming down her face as she thought of her children. The visitors' words had awakened a mix of sadness and nostalgia within her.

The man and his wife asked if Ju-Hoon was the child they had been searching for, and Hye-ja nodded, her voice trembling. She called out to Ju-Hoon, asking him to come and greet the visitors.

Ju-Hoon, now 11 years old, had never met outsiders apart from Nzanzu during her labor. He approached cautiously, but Hye-ja reassured him with a gentle smile.

The visitors explained that they lived in the United States and had been searching for Hye-ja's family to offer their help. They wanted to provide Ju-Hoon with a better education and life, just as his father would have wanted.

However, Ju-Hoon was hesitant to leave, refusing to abandon his grandmother. He ran out of the room, quarreling with the idea of separation. Hye-ja followed him, trying to reason with her grandson.

"Ju-Hoon, listen to me," she said gently. "This is an opportunity for you to have a better life, to study and become someone who can protect Masika and me. You'll come back to us after you've finished your studies and gotten a job."

Ju-Hoon hesitated, his eyes welling up with tears. "But Halmoni, I don't want to leave you and Masika behind. I'll be separated from Masika."

Hye-ja's expression softened, and she wrapped her arms around Ju-Hoon. "I know it's hard, but you must think about your future. You'll come back to us, and we'll be proud of the person you've become."

After a long, emotional conversation, Ju-Hoon finally agreed to leave with the visitors. As he made his promise to return, Masika, who had been listening from behind the door, began to cry silently, her heart heavy with the thought of being separated from Ju-Hoon...