#the stars wrote...

He mixes the porridge and the soup at the same time, also checking on the tea in the small teapot over the smaller fire. The porridge is ready, but the chicken isn’t tender enough in the soup. All the same, he picks up the teapot with its cups and the entire pot of porridge. 

“Dad,” Gaon says as he watches his father stumble into his room. “I could’ve gotten it myself, you didn’t need to trouble yourself.”

His father tuts and takes the empty bowl from the floor. He scoops in a heap of porridge, then pours a hefty cup of tea. “Your mother is out buying some more herbs and presents for Soohyun.”

Gaon sighs. “What time is it?”

“Time for you to have your porridge, that’s what time it is.”

His father helps him sit up against the headboard and spoons out some porridge for him. His hands shake as he takes the spoon so he eats it quickly, nervous about spilling it. It’s tedious, especially with having to wait for a moment at which no porridge will fall from his tremors, but his father sits with him patiently and talks while pouring their many cups of tea.

“How are you feeling today?” Gaon asks. “You’re very lively.”

“I feel like I could wrestle three bulls at the same time! You see, if you eat all of your porridge and drink your tea as you should do, you’ll be fine.” His dad downs the rest of his tea. “This sickness in my heart is too scared of the power of ginger and turmeric.”

“But Dad, you know I can’t stand the taste of turmeric, and it stains my teeth.”

He tuts again and pours Gaon’s third cup. “Three in the morning, three in the evening, that’s what the doctor said.” Gaon’s starting to resent her a little more with every sip. “Turmeric doesn’t taste of anything, you're too fussy.”

“It tastes like dirt.” A cup is shoved in his face. “Drink.”

He chuckles and sips the tea, now warm. 

His dad shifts to lean against the wardrobe. “How are you feeling, my son?”

Gaon shrugs. “Better than yesterday. Still a bit weak, but I think I’ll be able to go out properly for spring this year.”

His dad smiles and rubs his arm. “I wish we knew,” he says quietly, “I wish we knew why.”

Gaon chuckles and takes his dad’s hand in his. “I don’t think we’ll get an answer even if we ask every year. Things like this happen.” He breathes in and looks out of the window. “The cherry blossoms will start to bloom soon.”

Gaon’s father watches him gaze beyond their window and slowly stands up. He tries to hide the pain in his chest as he takes in a deeper breath. “Come,” he says, grasping Gaon’s arm, “there’s over an hour before Soohyun’s assessment. She’ll be getting ready now.”

The both of them walk slowly to the bathroom where Gaon freshens up. When he goes back to their open kitchen, his mother is frantically storing herbs in ceramic pots and putting sets of jewellery on the table.

“Quick, choose one,” she says, gesturing vaguely at the table. 

Gaon runs his fingers over a purple ribbon for hair tying. Next to it is a different ribbon in a jade colour. He takes the purple in his hand. It would match Soohyun well. From the selection of necklaces and bracelets, a necklace of indigo pearls with swirls of vibrant violet swirls catches his attention immediately. Between every three pearls is a pink star which glitters in the sunlight. It’s the most artistic and elaborate between the rest of them, and an instant match for Soohyun.

His mother laughs. “I said one .” She packs the rest away in a fabric bag. “You have a good eye for these things. Are you ready? We’ll have to go now if you still want to see her as she’s getting ready.”

Gaon nods and goes for his thick cloak. It’s padded with miscellaneous things, from collected lint off of his clothes to the dead hair that falls from his and his mum’s scalp when they brush through it. It’s the thickest, heaviest cloak of the three there (and the most expensive too). Gaon sighs just thinking about how heavy it rests on his shoulders. 

He turns to his father who’s sitting at the kitchen table. “Will you be alright on your own?” he asks.

His dad nods and waves a dismissive hand. “Go, go. I’ll be fine. Give Soohyun my best wishes.” 

With a smile, Gaon pockets the gifts, links with his mother’s arm and they leave the house, waving his father goodbye.