12 Preparing the goodbye

Young Jae was still feeling hazy after the surgery. The effect of anaesthesia was wearing off, but it was still a little difficult for him. When the doctor told him, he would be staying awake during the surgery a day before, and he had an internal war. Young Jae refused to stay awake during the surgery irrespective of the doctor, saying it would not create complication. When baby doll saw the tightly clenched fist, she asked him whether he was scared or stressed. The warm touch on his clenched fist and her soft voice made him cling on to her for the dear life. Young Jae was afraid of pain from childhood. Life did toughen him up, but if he had a chance, he would opt out off from experiencing pain. The hold he had on her made Chin Hae ask about other alternatives. Finally, they decided on using general anaesthesia and be more cautious during the surgery. Crazy doctor Ro was able to get every resource person into the operation theatre sooner than it was possible. His name and reputation in the medical field were impressive enough for every top expert to arrive soon to aid the operation in a short notice of a day.

Even though he was scared about the operation, his cousin and baby doll arranging a delicious, extravagant meal for him comforted him. But after surgery, even though he slept off for a long time, his head was little buzzed from anaesthesia and stress. The good news he heard from doctor Gem Carrington made him happier. The operation was a success, and he has the chance of recovering 82% of his vision from the first operation. After four months, the second operation would happen, and they would be able to restore his vision fully if not above 93%. It made him feel happy and grateful. The doctor helped him in understanding the dos and don'ts. He hugged both Chin Hae and baby doll tightly. He really wanted to see them, but he was still in the recovery stage. When he complained about not being able to see baby doll, he got scolded for being impatient by her and gained a new nickname for himself.

"Why are you zoning out, Mr Impatient idiot?" the laughter in baby doll's voice was evident even though she didn't laugh explicitly. He cringed at the horrible nickname every time she calls him that. She seemed to enjoy his reaction more than the name.

"Nothing… Just happy that I will get my eyesight back soon and now I can eat lots of delicious food." Young Jae grinned while thinking about the food. No one should blame him for his attitude towards food as 'Min Min' makes the best, and it would be a crime ever to criticize his cooking. If anyone told Young Jae that he, himself, would criticize 'Min Min's' cooking out of pettiness in a few years, he would have laughed on their face at the moment. Baby doll shakes her head and ruffled his hair out of fondness.

"Why do you like messing my hair?" Young Jae asked her without thinking. It was not the first time, and every time she does it, it reminds him of his mother and her warmth. He liked to lay his head on her lap and listen to her tell sing a lullaby during his childhood days while she ruffles his hair affectionately. It stopped abruptly as his father said his son should not be coddled and they had to raise with an iron fist to be strong or else he would be a weakling who shows emotions. The warmth shared between the mother and son was controlled and slowly taken away from them. Now baby doll developed the habit of giving him the warmth he strangely wants to grab it more.

"Ah… I am sorry if it bothers you. It is just a behaviour I got from my oraboni. He used to do it to me, and my other brother's when we were stressed or being mischievous when we were kids. I somehow adopted it. I will not do it if it bothers you." She told apologetically. Young Jae panicked immediately. He would have smacked him that if not, his doctor advised him to keep his head safe because of multiple concussion and operation.

All he could think of was explaining himself soon than create an unnecessary misunderstanding between them. "My mother used to do it for me when I was a child. She was not allowed to do it when I grow up. You doing it made me remember the missing days and happy at the same time. I don't mind you doing it." He even gave her a small smile while explaining everything. He thought he fixed the issue before anything happens.

Baby doll looked at him with pity knowing how bad Moon family could be. She understood Young Jae's situation. But that doesn't mean that she could become a replacing figure in his life, especially if she would be leaving the country in a week. She had to go back to Germany to pursue her studies. She got admitted in one of the reputed University in Germany for Bachelors in Economic and already completed three semesters now. She came down to South Korea for the vacation and would be leaving soon. She was only 17 years when she was sorted out by the University. She readily agreed because her oppa Min Min, who was a year older than her was studying in the same University majoring in Accountancy and his third year of the course currently. Once she leaves South Korea it was not sure when she would come back. She and Min Min planned this trip because of an unfortunate event Min Min experienced. Kang Chin Mae's wife being pregnant with due delivery and BB's wife giving birth to a son couple of months back made them feel delighted over the coming back for couple of weeks.

Now it was for the time to leave, but the bond she formed with Young Jae made her worry. Young Jae started to depend on her more and was affectionate towards her. She didn't want to be brutal and leave after everything he experienced and leave like he didn't matter. Because he mattered for her, she knew he was a good person experience ill-treatment in the hand of his own family... Even though she never asked him or anyone what happened because of the worry of ripping the wound and making him sad. Usually, she never cared about such feelings but she couldn't help but have a soft spot for the strong yet insecure man who needs supports. She decided to plan to explain everything to him and bid a proper goodbye. She was not sure if they would meet ever again once they departed. She just hoped that they would at least remember each other. But fate had other plans and brought them together to live in the same house.

Young Jae started to fidget, wondering if he made her uncomfortable only to smile when she gave him a tight hug and ruffled his hair even more. He prayed to god after a long time hoping the good thing that happened to him to last for a long time and these good people he got to know recently stay around him for a long time.