The most valuable porcelain collection the Lee Family had in the house was stored in the big glass and wooden closet in the second floor's main sitting room.
Ga Eun never trusted anyone to do the cleaning, so she still did it herself. That morning was no different. She sat on one of the desks, waterproof gloves on and soft cloth in hand, she carefully cleaned it.
Kim Ae Mi was sitting on one of the couches, peacefully watching a family drama.
At that moment, Myung Hwan appeared, clad in black.
"Morning, Ommoni," he greeted.
"Good morning, Myung Hwan-ah. And where are you going today, all covered in that gloomy color?"
"I want to say hi to Harabeoji."
"Oh. The cemetery or Sang Kyu Hotel?"
"The cemetery."
"Ahrasseo. Say hi to him from me as well. Bring some orchids. Ask the gardener. Abeoji always loved that."
"Ne."
"I'll tell the gardener about the orchids, Doryeonnim," Ga Eun offered, sitting up from her desk and taking her gloves off.
"Gomawo," Myung Hwan said, as he waved to his mother. But then he called, "Wait. G Eun,"
She was going to go down the staircase and halted.
"Do you want to go with me?"
"Ne?"
"Visiting Harabeoji is the same as visiting Kim Ahjussi. I need to pray for him too. Do you want to go with me?"
"May I go, Samonim?" she asked Kim Ae Mi.
"Of course, it's been a while since you went there, right?"
"Ne."
"By all means, go. There's no need to bother about this house today. No guests would come at all."
"Gamsahamnida, Samonim" she bowed, "I'll just put everything in the closet first, Doryeonnim."
She carefully put all the porcelain and ceramics inside the closet.
"Here, I'll help you," he said, taking one big blue and white ceramics.
"But Doryeonnim, you're not wearing gloves!"
"So? It's not like I'm going to break it," he continued to get another plate.
The color was red and it was decorated with complicated drawings. He put it hurriedly with a thud. It made her flinch.
"Doryeonnim, please be careful. Its age is hundreds of years and it's very valuable."
"I know. But it looks like a normal plate to me."
Kim Ae Mi chuckled as she watched the exchange.
He took a cup. It was different from the others. This one was completely made in jade. The color was yellowish green. It's true that he held it with both hands, but he still put it hurriedly, and Ga Eun could hear the thud.
She felt like screaming in panic. Her father had taught her, years ago, that she must handle all the porcelain and ceramics carefully. Because it was really, really expensive. They were worth hundreds of millions of won.
"Myung Hwan-yah," Kim Ae Mi called.
"Hm?" he turned to his mother.
"Stop it. You're only stressing out."
Ga Eun was indeed standing anxiously and her face looked definitely pale by then.
"Oh. Sorry."
"Just let me do this, Doryeonnim. I won't be long."
"Okay," he agreed, "I'm not touching anything anymore," he announced, hands up in the air.
"She cares more about those things than you," Ae Mi said in an amused tone. "She looked like she almost cried when you carelessly held the jade cup."
"Lee Dong Ho Hwejangnim once told me how much it cost back then."
"How much is it?"
"I forgot. But he mentioned something like hundreds of million won. And that jade cup was his favorite."
"He might be exaggerating," he said.
"I don't believe he did, Doryeonnim."
Kim Ae Mi laughed as she saw her son's expression.
Ga Eun carefully took every item one by one, gloves on, putting it inside the closet, on its rightful place, carefully, gently. No sound was heard every time she did it.
"You'll take hours like this," Myung Hwan commented.
"Just a moment more, Doryeonnim."
"But you know there's always traffic jams in the morning on the way to the cemetery."
"I know, Doryeonnim, but I can't possibly leave everything outside the closet."
He sighed and tried not to say anything more. She finished almost ten minutes later.
"There," she uttered in relief, locking the closet and pocketing the key.
"May I change first, Doryeonnim?"
"Ne. I'll wait in my car."
"Are you sure this is not a problem for you?" she asked after bowing to Kim Ae Mi and they walked down the stairs together.
"What is?"
"Taking me with you? Maybe you prefer privacy or—"
"I was the one who offered, wasn't I?"
She nodded.
"Go change."
"Ne."
*****************************************
As it was an airplane accident, they had no bodies to bury.
Still, they made a grave for Lee Dong Ho and Kim Sang Ok in their family cemetery.
Located in the outskirts of Seoul with peaceful surroundings, that was the place where the family came and prayed for the deceased.
First, they prayed at Lee Dong Ho's grave. Both holding their hands together and closed their eyes in a sincere prayer.
"Hello, Harabeoji. I just got out of the army," he informed.
"It was hard work, but it became a good memory, and I found a lot of good friends. You were right. It's better to do it when I'm still young."
"I'll take my master degree soon, in New York. I'll do my best not to let you down."
"Rest in peace, Harabeoji."
She gave him the beautiful white orchid they brought and he placed it on the grass.
Next, they walked to Kim Sang Ok's grave and prayed for him.
"Appa, I'm here again. I'm doing well. I'm doing my best taking care of the Lee Family as usual and studying hard in university. I'll graduate with good marks to make you proud. Everybody who works in the house is kind to me, so I'm never lonely, you don't have to worry. Ki Junnie always supports me. He is doing well in his design school. Park Jin Yang is also...very good to me. I'll continue to do my best from now on. Rest in peace, Appa. I will always love you."
They bowed to the grave once more before walking away.
******