Finally, on Friday, Jihu concealed himself behind a large oak tree near the kindergarten. He watched as a figure descended from the sky, a man with white hair and dark clothing. From behind, Jihu couldn't make out his face. But as the figure gathered Faith and Roxy into his arms and soared upwards, Jihu saw him clearly: Raven.
Relief washed over him, so intense it brought tears to his eyes. After all these years, Raven was alive. He was watching over Roxy. He hadn't forgotten them.
Jihu turned and walked away, his heart finally at peace. As long as Raven was there, Faith and Roxy would be safe. He could trust Raven to protect them, a silent promise kept in the secret recesses of the sky. He left feeling grateful for the love that defied distance and time. Raven was back, and Jihu would keep his secret.
The moment Jihu stepped back into his house, the phone was in his hand. He dialed Ri's number first, the urgent news bubbling inside him, needing to be shared. "Ri, you won't believe this," he began, his voice a mix of disbelief and elation. He recounted everything – seeing Raven, the unmistakable glint in his eyes, the way he moved, and then, the gut-wrenching sight of him dropping Roxy and Faith off at school.
Ri's gasp was audible through the phone. Next, he called Fang and Ash, the reactions mirroring Ri's – a whirlwind of shock, joy, and a simmering undercurrent of concern. Raven, alive? It was a miracle, a twist in their lives they hadn't dared to dream.
Later that afternoon, after Raven had driven away, Jihu dialed Roxy's number. "Roxy, darling, it's Uncle Jihu. Faith is with you, right? I need you both to come over, there's something important we need to discuss."
The girls arrived a little later, their faces bright from the afternoon sun. As soon as they were settled, Jihu took a deep breath. "Roxy, Faith," he began, his voice gentle but firm, "Who do you two call Guardian Angel… and Mr.?"
The air in the room instantly thickened. Roxy's eyes widened, a tremor ran through her tiny frame. Faith, usually so bubbly, became strangely still.
"Uncle Jihu…" Roxy stammered, her voice barely a whisper, "Please, don't tell mom. Mom won't let me meet Guardian Angel again. Guardian Angel said… he did a very bad thing, so mom doesn't like him. Please… don't tell mom." Tears started welling up in her eyes.
Faith chimed in, her voice filled with pleading, "Yes, Papa, please don't tell Shaun! Mr. told us Shaun doesn't like him. Mr. did something bad so Shaun doesn't like him, and Mr. is very kind and very interesting, so please don't tell Shaun. Because if you tell Shaun, we won't be able to meet Mr. anymore, Dad. Please!"
At that moment, Ri entered the room, her expression softening as she took in the scene. "Baby Faith, you like Mr. so much? I didn't know." She knelt down and pulled Faith into a hug.
Faith hugged her back tightly, burying his face in Ri's shoulder. "Yes, Mom. I really like him. He is really handsome, you know!"
Ri's gaze sharpened. "But… don't you want to know, sweetie, who your Mr. really is?"
Faith went silent, the joy draining from his face. Jihu stepped forward, kneeling in front of Roxy. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his voice soft and encouraging. "Roxy, has your mother… ever talked about your father?"
Roxy hesitated, her lower lip trembling. After a long moment, she let out a small sigh. "No… Mother never said anything. But… I understand, you know, Uncle. Mom… she misses Dad every night. After I fall asleep, Mother goes into a closed room… I've seen her… again and again."
Jihu felt a pang of sympathy for the little girl, wise beyond her years. He straightened his back and looked Roxy directly in the eyes, "Listen to me, Roxy, if I tell you that the Guardian Angel is your father, will you like it?"
Roxy's eyes widened, disbelief battling with hope. Faith's head snapped up, her face a picture of stunned amazement.
"Uncle…are you telling the truth?" Roxy asked, her voice a tremulous whisper. "Guardian Angel… my father?"
Jihu replied calmly, "Yes, your father".
Roxy's face crumpled, a fresh wave of sadness washing over her. "Then why doesn't my father come to me and tell me? Why doesn't he say he's my father?"
Ri stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Jihu's arm. "Roxy," she said gently, "a child can be innocent and has the right to know the truth. Roxy, your father was cursed."
Jihu took over, his voice steady. "We had a big war in the past. We all participated in the war together. But in that war, your father got a curse while trying to save us. Because of that curse, your father now thinks he's not worthy of you or any of us. So, you have to do everything to regain your father's confidence, can you?"
Roxy considered his words, her brow furrowed in concentration. After a moment, she nodded, a spark of determination flickering in her eyes. "I can," she said firmly, "but… I won't tell my mother."
Ri smiled warmly. "Don't tell your mother now. First, when your father's confidence returns, then we will surprise your father in front of your mother. Your mother will be even happier with this. We have this job starting from today, first we have to convince your father and bring him in front of us, then it's okay in front of your mother. This is your and Faith's job from today," she said looking at both of them with a gentle smile "You will do it, right?"
Roxy and Faith looked at each other, their eyes reflecting the weight of the task ahead. Then, they nodded in unison, their small faces resolute. "Okay," they declared, their voices filled with a newfound purpose.
"When Raven comes to visit next Friday," Roxy said, "we'll convince him to come home with us." The plan was set. The journey to bring Raven back had begun.