The Yuchae Blossom

by Asher Quinn

  He had just gotten Luke tucked in when there was a knock at his patio door. It was Jenna. His heart jumped for a moment thinking it might be Woo-bin. Fat chance.

  He opened the door. “Hey.”

  “Sit with me for a few.”

  “Okay.” Jack came outside, closing the door behind him.

  They sat.

  “So, Woo-bin. Spill it.”

  “What’s there to spill?”

  “Everything.”

  “I told Luke earlier.”

  “I knew it. You do like him.”

  Jack looked down at his hands folded in his lap. “I love him,” he said quietly.

  “Oh, Jacky, that’s wonderful. How long has it been? It that even okay here?”

  “He doesn’t know, Jen.”

  “What? Why? You haven’t told him how you feel?”

  “It’s not the same here. The culture is very different. Many still don’t really believe in or accept homosexuality. It is part of their past several millennia ago, but the culture changed. It’s all about family and children and marriage. And I respect that. Hell, I was married.”

  “So, you’re in this alone? What are you going to do?”

  “I don’t know. I think Missy thinks that Woo-bin likes me or loves me too, but who the fuck knows.”

  “How did Lukey take it?”

  “He was fine. He said that he just doesn’t want me to be lonely.”

  Jenna put her hand on his knee. “Awful. You must feel awful. I mean, to love is great. To not know if you’re being loved back…. Maybe he does love you as well. I see the way he looks at you even when you are not making eye contact. I’m with Missy on this one. Give it time.”

  “Sometimes, what I feel is just too much. I love him and want to protect him, take care of him, sleep with him, hold him. Ugh.” He sobbed.

  She knelt before him and wrapped him in her arms. “Oh, Jacky. He would be so lucky to have you.”

  Just then they both heard a noise and looked up. There was no one there. Jack got up and went to the edge of the patio in time to see Woo-bin rounding the corner of the house, hands in his pockets. He turned to Jenna. “It was Woo-bin. Do you think he heard us?”

  “Never mind that, why do you suppose he came to your patio at 1:00 a.m. in the first place? Again, I think Missy is spot-on.”

  Maybe.

  THE NEXT morning, Woo-bin was waiting, in full uniform, with all the car doors open. As Jack got in, he tried to meet Woo-bin’s eyes, but Woo-bin refused to look up. Once they were all in, Woo-bin closed the car doors. As they headed out of the drive, Luke, who had opened the two coolers that were belted in against the wall on the right side of the car, shouted, “Whoa, look at all this stuff!”

  “What’s in there, Lukey?” Jenna asked.

  “I’m not sure. It’s all in plastic containers and bags. There are a ton of drinks too.”

  “Choon-hee must’ve been busy.”

  “Jack, this place is a gold mine. Drivers, a cook and housekeeper who’s like your mother, and, other things. You’ll never come home.”

  “What? Dad’s not gonna come home?”

  “Just a figure of speech, Luke. I’m coming back. Don’t worry.” Am I?

  The car pulled into a driveway, and Missy jumped in dressed in a pair of faint blue flat-front shorts with the hems folded up, a brown belt, a white linen short-sleeve blouse, and a raffia straw hat with a medium brim and a black bow and tails. The car filled with the light scent of whatever perfume she was wearing.

  “You… look… adorable, Missy.”

  “Thanks, Jenna. Just something casual for the day I’ve got planned.” She winked at Jack.

  “That means we’ll be out all day, I think. Miss doesn’t do anything half-assed. She’s my gal Friday.”

  “What’s a gal Friday?”

  “An invaluable partner in crime, buddy.”

  “So, are you my guy Friday?” he asked his dad.

  Jack laughed out loud, as did everyone else. “I am.”

  Luke looked puzzled and then irritated when his dad ruffled his hair.

  “Where to first, Miss?”

  “Well, we’re going to go watch the Jeju haenyeo.”

  “The what?” Harper asked with an unlit cigarette in her mouth.

  Jenna pulled it from her lips.

  “What? It’s not lit. Oh, come on.”

  “You’re quitting, remember.”

  Harper scowled.

  “The Haenyeo are woman divers. They dive up to ten meters for shellfish without the use of oxygen tanks or breathing apparatus. Some of them are close to eighty years in age. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for centuries dating back to 434 AD. They have a vast knowledge of sea life here. So a little bit of education, plus some sightseeing. The coast here is really beautiful,” Missy said nodding toward the window. The view had opened up to a rocky shoreline.

  “I read about them when I first got here. It was part of the history of the island in the welcome packet supplied by Chapel.” Jack nodded.

  “I don’t think I want to watch a bunch of old women diving, Dad.”

  “Hey. They are not all ‘old women,’ and it’s only part of the day’s stops. Plus it’s on the coast. There are a lot of things to see. You gonna be okay with it?” Jack raised an eyebrow.

  “Sure, Dad. I was hoping we were gonna go to the aquarium.”

  “That’s the next stop after this one, Luke,” Missy said.

  “It is? Yes!”

  Jack looked at Missy and smiled. He knew it wasn’t, but that Missy had just updated the itinerary to appease his son. He would be sure to tell her that it wasn’t necessary, that Luke needed to continue to learn to roll with the punches. If anything, Luke was not spoiled, and he wasn’t about to completely indulge him and do just that. Jack looked through the glass partition at the back of Woo-bin’s head, hair flowing out from under his hat, buffeted by the wind as he drove with the window open. He wished he were in the front seat sitting next to him with his hand on his leg, feeling the closeness, the belonging one felt when together with the one you loved. Woo-bin pulled into a gas station. Jack got out to stretch his legs. Luke followed him, as did the girls. The temperature was unusual for September. It must have been close to eighty by late morning. Jack asked Jenna to take Luke into the mart and for Missy to accompany them. He gave Luke some money and winked at Jenna. She looked at Woo-bin and smiled in return.

  “Come on, Lukey. We’ll help you pick out something good.” She took his hand and the three went into the convenience store.

  As soon as they were inside, Harper lit a cigarette. She glanced at Jack. “What?”

  “I didn’t say anything,” Jack said, holding up his hands.

  “I can’t do this cold turkey.” She walked around to the other side of the car.

  “You look warm.” He could see the trickles of sweat traveling down Woo-bin’s forehead and neck.

  “I’m okay, Jack.”

  Jack pulled a napkin out of his pocket and handed it to Woo-bin. “Why didn’t you wear something more comfortable, like shorts and a T-shirt?” Jack was in a pair of flat-front clay-colored shorts and an untucked eggshell-yellow-colored polo made of light cotton.

  “I am working,” Woo-bin said, dabbing his forehead and neck.

  “No, Woo-bin, you’re not. You’re spending the day with me and my family.”

  Woo-bin looked away quickly, clearing his throat.

  The pump snapped off. Full. He pulled the nozzle out and replaced it, securing the gas cap and closing the fuel door. Luke came out with Jenna and Missy just then with a bag of “stuff” and handed the change to his dad.

  “What’dya get?” he asked as he placed his hand on Luke’s back, easing him into the car.

  “Candy and a Clif Bar.”

  “You came across the Pacific Ocean to buy a Clif Bar? I hope the candy is Korean.”

  “Daaad.”

  Jenna looked at her brother. “That’s what he wante
d. He’s eight, Jack.”

  “I know, but I’d like him to try something local besides candy.”

  Jenna sighed, smiling.

  Woo-bin had already gone around to the driver’s side and was getting in. He started the car. Jack, Missy, Jenna, and Harper got back in, and Jack tried to catch Woo-bin’s eye in the mirror.

  “Everything okay?” Missy asked.

  “Yep. Fine,” Jack responded, blushing.

  She didn’t look convinced.

  “You smoked.”

  “Put it in a balloon and let it go, Jenna.”

  Jenna looked at Harper, scowling.

  The car pulled back out onto the highway and off to Seongsan Ilchulbong.

  THEY SAT in the shade of two picnic tables with umbrellas. There was a stand selling bowls of abalone porridge. Jack bought three for the table. They were sitting around eating the frozen fruit bars Choon-hee had packed at the bottom of one of the coolers.

  “What is that, Dad?”

  “Abalone.”

  “What’s abalone?”

  “Abalone is a sea snail. It’s a shellfish,” Woo-bin said. He was sitting with them sharing a bowl of porridge with Jack. He had finally taken his hat, tie, and jacket off.

  “That’s gross.”

  “Try some.” Jack held a spoonful out for his son.

  Luke took it and swallowed. “It tastes fishy.”

  “Well, that’s because it’s seafood, Luke. You’ve had enough of that staying with Gram and Pop, yes?”

  “Gram always puts a lot of lemon and butter in it.”

  Jenna laughed. “That woman would do anything to be liked.”

  “Jen,” Jack said warningly.

  “What. It’s the truth.”

  Jack sighed.

  “Okay, okay.”

  “Look, they’re getting ready to dive again. Let’s go watch.” Harper was up and headed out along the spit. Jenna, Missy, and Luke followed. Jack decided to stay with Woo-bin. Woo-bin was getting up, but Jack asked him to sit. He did.

  “Dad?”

  “Your dad’s gonna sit this one out,” Jenna said, moving Luke along, following the other two women.

  “So what do you think?”

  “About what, Jack?”

  “My son.”

  “I like him. He looks just like you.”

  “I think so too. He doesn’t resemble his mom except for the eyes. He has his mom’s eyes. Blue.”

  “I like your eyes, Jack.”

  “Thank you, Woo-bin. I like your eyes too.”

  Woo-bin nodded, blushing. He looked out toward the sea.

  Jack studied him in profile. Strong and perfect nose, full lips, and a square jaw, and his hair, so thick with no hint of red or light brown highlights. Black like a raven’s feathers, dark and glossy. He really wanted to touch it.

  “Jack?”

  Jack blinked. “Yes?”

  “You were staring at me, but you wouldn’t answer me. Are you okay?”

  “I am. I was just… thinking.”

  “Thinking about what?”

  “Well, I was… I was thinking about the divers and how brave the women have been throughout the generations, diving in place of the men.”

  “They went in place of the men who had to work on boats out at sea. Some never came back. The sea is very turbulent around the island, with riptides and rogue waves. My mother’s father was lost at sea. My grandmother was haenyeo.”

  “So you know about this personally.”

  “Uh-huh. I remember coming here with her when I was very little to watch. After my grandfather was lost, both my parents had to work, so I would spend the day with my grandmother until I was old enough for school.”

  “I see.” Jack paused, watching Luke as he talked with one of the older women divers. “Woo-bin, I—”

  Woo-bin turned to face him.

  “I—” Just then Luke came running up to him holding several abalone shells. The colors within the mother-of-pearl were striking. “They’re beautiful, Lukey.”

  “One of the women gave them to me. They really are divers, and some of them are old!”

  Woo-bin laughed softly.

  The girls returned, and Missy was suggesting they head over to the aquarium.

  “Did you say thank you?” Jack asked Luke.

  “He did. They love him, especially his hair. They said he was very handsome, and one of the halmeoni (grandmothers) said she had a granddaughter his age,” Missy said, approvingly.

  “Lukey, looks like you might end up promised in marriage before you leave South Korea.”

  “Aww, Dad. I’m too young to get married. Besides, I’m gonna live with you and Song Woo-bin ’til I’m old.”

  No one spoke until Woo-bin broke the silence. Jack could feel the heat in his own cheeks.

  “I will go start the car and turn on the AC.”

  “Good idea, Song Woo-bin.”

  Jack picked up the cooler and patted Luke on the back.

  “Did I say something wrong, Dad? You didn’t answer.”

  “No, Luke. You probably helped break some ice actually.”

  Luke looked at the cooler. “Ice?”

  “Let’s go, bud. We’ll talk about it later on when we get back to the house.” With that, they headed out to Aqua Planet in Seogwipo.

  The first floor of the aquarium housed the seals, sea otters, penguins, and the living ocean. There was also a coffee shop, and Jack took orders, and he and Luke went and bought everyone coffee. He handed Woo-bin an ice coffee, black with sugar. Coincidentally he and Woo-bin liked their coffee the same. Luke wanted coffee because Gram let him drink it. Jack bought him a mango smoothie.

  “I wanna see the penguins first.” Luke was tugging his father toward the corridor that led past the touch pool and a tank with a submarine tunnel, to the penguin exhibit. It was dark and cool, offering relief from the heat of midday. The girls walked ahead, and Jenna kept an eye on Luke. Jack and Woo-bin brought up the rear. Walking, talking, and drinking their coffees.

  “This was a great idea. It’ll be the highlight of Luke’s day.”

  “I like it here. I thought Luke would too. I love seals.”

  “Otters are my favorite. And I can see from the brochure that they are residents here.”

  “Yes, Jack, there are otters. Just for you.”

  They were walking shoulder to shoulder, and their hands touched occasionally. Before he knew it, Woo-bin had grasped his hand and was holding it. It was dark in the corridor and not easily noticeable. The excitement he felt was palpable. Jack gave Woo-bin’s hand a light squeeze. He wanted him to know that he liked and wanted it. Woo-bin squeezed back, then released his hand, patted his back, continuing to walk shoulder to shoulder with him.

  “Woo-bin… I….”

  “Me too, Jack. From the first day we met.”

  He was dumbfounded. He didn’t know how to respond. Instead of words, he patted the back of Woo-bin’s head and let his hand linger in the younger man’s hair. Woo-bin leaned his head into Jack’s hand. He felt his adrenaline rising, but this time the rush didn’t connect to his groin, but his heart. It felt full, and he felt happy. They arrived at the penguin exhibit with Jack blinking away the moisture in his eyes. This was by far the best penguin display he’d ever seen. He completely forgot about the otters.

  SEVERAL NIGHTS after Jenna, Harper, and Luke left, as Jack lay in bed in between slumber and consciousness, he awoke to someone sitting on the edge of his bed. He opened his eyes, and he could see by the silhouette that it was Woo-bin. He was wearing only his boxer briefs.

  Jack started to sit up, but Woo-bin stilled his movements by placing a very warm hand on his chest.

  “Woo-bin?”

  “I know this is wrong, Jack. You are my boss and my friend, but I have to, I need to be close to you… here in the dark.”

  Jack gently rubbed Woo-bin’s thigh. “Why do you think this is wrong? You know how I feel about you. How I’ve felt about you since we met, sinc
e I understood the frustration I felt being with you was confusion.”

  “I, too, felt confused. I’ve never felt this way for any man.”

  “Neither have I. There was only one guy. My roommate in college, and we never had sex. He never knew how I felt. This means so much more to me.”

  “You are my first. There hasn’t been a woman either.”

  “Not even in high school? No girlfriend?”

  “I’ve had no mother to push me or to find someone for me, and I have never met anyone who makes me feel the way I do when I am with you, Jack. But you’ve been married. You have a son.”

  “But I didn’t feel for Nannie the way I feel for you. Not even a little.”

  This time Jack did sit up, pulling Woo-bin closer. They were face-to-face now. He could feel Woo-bin’s breath, quick and shallow, on his lips. He, too, was breathing quickly, his heart racing. He leaned in tentatively at first, and then their lips met. Jack slowly slid his hand into Woo-bin’s thick hair. He smelled of sleep and tasted like cloves. He deepened the kiss, moving to separate Woo-bin’s thick, full lips. Woo-bin didn’t fight him. He seemed to welcome the intrusion. Jack broke off the kiss and pulled him close into an embrace. He felt like he couldn’t catch his breath.

  “I’ve been wanting this, you, for so long now. It about broke my heart finding you in the hospital in Seoul. I vowed then that I would protect you, keep you close. My heart aches for you every day.”

  Woo-bin sobbed against his shoulder.

  Jack separated them so he could face him. “Why are you crying?”

  “Because I, too, have wanted this from the day I picked you up at the airport. I am happy, Jack.”

  “I am too, Woo-bin-i (“ee” or “ah” added to the end of a name is used to express affection).”

  Jack lay back, pulling Woo-bin down with him. He covered them with the blankets and wrapped his arms around him again, holding him close. They lay like that for a long time, quiet, breathing.

  “I don’t ever want to be without you, Woo-bin.”

  Woo-bin didn’t answer. Jack could tell by his breathing that he was asleep. He felt the even rise and fall of Woo-bin’s chest, and soon the peacefulness of finally being with the man he loved, slowly, gently, rocked him to sleep.