The Better Ending, pt 11
Among the survivors at Manchuria, Sumi is the single best seamstress. At home, she does all of the mending for her family. While Aeshin has been suitably taught to sew, she doesn’t have the skill her adoptive daughter does. As such, the girl had simply taken up the task for everyone, even Joonyoung. Her skills with the needle are so precise, that even the surrounding families around the hut often come bearing requests… and their laundry.
Sumi doesn’t mind, it gives her something to do and earns her the odd coin to help expenses around the house. She enjoys it, spending hours sewing in front of the fire while chatting with her mother gives her something to do. Her fame has spread even to the Manchurian locals, who have suggested she set up a booth during the Sunday market to offer her services to a more varied crowd.
Sumi had prudently asked Eugene if she could do that and earned permission gladly. Eugene had even suggested her brothers accompany her.
This is how Sumi, Domi and Joonyoung now prepared this beautifully fresh Sunday morning a pretty little stand for her to receive customers. The tablecloth was a work of both herself and Aeshin, mixing Sumi’s careful stitching with Aeshin’s deliberate strokes with the brush. The ornate, masterful cloth is decorated with bright birds, flowers and leaves. Along with Aeshin’s carefully written poetry in a flowing hand, the end result is gorgeous. Domi, Joonyoung and Eugene had put the table and some chairs together, and carved a sign in Chinese welcoming all guests to the small stall. Sumi also laid some examples of her work with an artist’s eye, making her stall truly stand out from the rest.
Already, despite the early hours, they’ve had two clients request mending and one commission for a silk vest. Sumi is sitting at work while her brothers handle the finance and record all purchases. This way, the little family spends the day in relative peace, sometimes overworked as the flow of customers change over time. Around noon, after Joonyoung had fetched them all some dumplings from a nearby stall, Sumi stretches her sore back. Sitting crouched over needlework is taxing, and Sumi has spent the last five hours doing nothing else. She stands, hands raised over her head, and looks up. For the briefest of seconds, there was a shadow in the roof across the street.
Like the flutter of a black bird’s wings, it’s gone before Sumi can identify the culprit. She has a good idea who it is, however. Really, it’s the first time in months since her parents had been given the chance to be alone in the house. They shouldn’t be spending it outside watching their kids from the rooftops.
Sumi pats Joonyoung’s arm, glancing surreptitiously at the roof to tip him off. “I’ll be right back. Watch the stall for me, please.”
Joonyoung doesn’t look upwards, even has his back stiffens slightly. He nods, waving her away and busying himself with the money they’d earned.
Sumi has learned from the best, and she’s up on the rooftop in mere seconds. Her steps are quiet and she’s behind the lurking shadow before they’re even aware of her presence. Sumi swipes their feet out from under them, catching the rifle as it swings toward her and kicking her mother’s hand so as to loosen her grip. Breaking the rifle out of her hands isn’t easy, but Sumi isn’t the daughter of Joseon for nothing. She holds the rifle steady, aiming at her mother’s chest, and pulling the bolt handle with practiced ease. The bullet clicks into place, but Aeshin is already smiling widely. There’s pride in her dark eyes, and it takes Sumi a moment to compose herself at the perceived compliment.
Her triumph is short lived when Aeshin casually kicks her in the face, swings to her feet and steals the rifle right back.
“You’ve gotten better,” the woman says with a fierce smile, as Sumi wipes the blood away.
“I’ve learned from the best,” Sumi boasts, as Aeshin pulls the bolt handle smoothly, dislodging the bullet. “But really, mother, you don’t have to be here. We’re fine! We’re completely safe, I promise!”
Aeshin doesn’t seem convinced as she puts the rifle down, crossing her arms. “Are you?”
The click of the magazine startles Sumi, who turns as she raises her arms. Eugene’s hands don’t waver as he aims, standing a few feet away. Sumi’s startled, she thought only one parent had been spying on them. But then again, no Righteous Army member went anywhere these days without back up. Aeshin and her husband were stuck almost to the hip. It shouldn’t have surprised her that her father wasn’t too far off.
“Really! You’re incorrigible! It’s the first time in weeks since you’ve spent the day by yourselves! We got out of the house to give you time alone!” She scolds them, even as she keeps her hands above her head. Something moves behind her father, but Sumi doesn’t dare to look. Joonyoung knows better than to reveal himself.
Eugene sighs, lowering his weapon and gesturing for Joonyoung to come out. “Yes, yes,” he says tiredly. “But we’re still wanted criminals. We can’t be sure you’ll be safe by yourselves out here. Your mother and I were worried. It’s your first time in a market like this, too.”
Sumi and Joonyoung stand together, glaring at their parents. Joonyoung is standing at an angle and he yelps when his mother gives him a slap upside the head.
“Don’t leave your brother alone! Go, both of you!” Aeshin snaps, her temper flaring.
While Joonyoung bows, spitting apologies, Sumi isn’t so easily cowed. “Only if you go home,” she growls.
Eugene glances at his wife and shrugs one shoulder at her silent look.
“Fine, but if anything happens…” he hands them his handgun, giving Joonyoung a pointed look. The young man pockets the gun, nodding sharply. With that, they climb back down, leaving their parents behind.
“We have some time alone, then,” Eugene says, curling an arm around his wife. She gives him a sharp look before ducking under his arm, climbing down from the roof and making her way home. He catches up with her easily, hands in his pockets.
Eugene gives his wife the side-eye, smiling crookedly.
“She got the drop on you,” he says, laughter in his voice.
Aeshin kicks at him, unconcerned when he easily dodges her. Her palm strikes his back and he hisses in response.
“Yes, she did.” The pride in her voice is unmistakable.