The Promise

Joonjae drove aimlessly. The ring was still in his pocket. Even though the Undertaker had insisted to have it examined, Joonjae refused to part from it. After many years, he was convinced that whatever happened that night to his parents was not an accident.

His mother was labeled as a mentally ill woman by the media. She was accused of killing her husband and attempted murder on her son. Even though people pointed fingers at her, Joonjae knew she was not at fault. He still remembered the kind and caring mother he had…

"Joonjae!" Jisoo called out. "Joonjae, where are you?"

She was looking everywhere for her son at their mansion. Where could he be hiding? She wondered.

Jisoo looked in the attic, but he was not there. She searched for him at his playhouse, but he was not there either. Panic began to creep into her heart.

"Joonjae!" she cried out. She began to dread that something awful might have happened to her son.

"Mrs. Wang!" she called out. A slim woman in her fifties rushed out of the kitchen and greeted her.

"Yes Madame," she bowed.

"I can't find Joonjae anywhere!" Jisoo said hysterically. "Did you see him?"

"No Madame," the old woman frowned in worry. "I will send the servants to look for him at once!"

Jisoo nodded as the old woman scurried off. Please be alright, she prayed. She thought hard and listed down all the places he could be in. He was not anywhere inside the house…

Inside the house…

Suddenly something lit up in her mind. Of course! She still had not checked that place.

Jisoo hurried out of the house and ran towards the main gate. She walked a few paces before reaching a small park right outside their mansion. From a distance, a young boy of twelve and a girl around eight years old were in the park. The little girl seemed to be crying.

"Joonjae!" Jisoo called him crossly. She ran towards them. The little girl was still crying and Joonjae looked flustered.

Jisoo bent down and patted the young girl's head.

"Chaerin," she said in a soft tone. "What's wrong? Did Joonjae bully you again?"

She shot a warming look at her son.

"I didn't do anything!" he protested. "I was trying to cheer her up!"

Chaerin looked at Jisoo with teary amber eyes.

"Joonjae said he won't give me any wedding ring!" she cried. "He said, we won't get married when we grow up!"

"I did not say that!" Joonjae gaped. "I said, who would marry a crybaby like you?"

Jisoo almost laughed. These two children were inseparable. The Lee family were old friends of the Hwang family and their relationship was very strong. Hwang Jisun, Joonjae's father, was friends with Chaerin's father Lee Naesong. Their relationship was so deep that Naesong was appointed as Joonjae's godfather and Jisun was Chaerin's godfather.

Unfortunately, Naesong and his American wife, Leora, died in an accident, leaving Chaerin at the care of her grandmother, Shin Sunmi. They lived at the mansion next to the Hwangs. Joonjae and Chaerin grew up together.

When Chaerin was born, five year old Joonjae played with her everyday. He was there for all her major milestones. He was the first one to hear her talk, saw her walk in baby steps and even took her to school everyday. Even though Joonjae teases Chaerin a lot, Jisoo could see how much he cares for her.

"Joonjae, you should not make a girl cry," she told him off sternly. "Especially our little Chaerin."

Amidst her tears, Chaerin stuck out a tongue at him.

"When I grow up, I'm gonna marry a good looking oppa!" she declared. "And make you jealous!"

"I'd like to see you try," he sneered. "No other guy can handle your tantrums like I can."

"You'll see!" Chaerin squeaked. "I'll get a hot oppa!"

"Try it and I'll pull your cheeks really hard!" Joonjae warned.

"Why should I marry you when you won't even give me a wedding ring?"

"Why don't you ask for a wedding ring from that scrawny geek who lent you a pencil yesterday?" Joonjae shot back. The memory of it made him flinch.

"Maybe I should!" Chaerin stomped her feet in anger.

"Calm down both of you!" Jisoo spoke up, barely containing her laughter. These kids, she shook her head.

"You kids are too young to think of all this," she explained them calmly. "You need to grow up first and then think about getting married."

"Who wants to marry him?" Chaerin mumbled. "Won't even give me a wedding ring."

"Ask that geek to give you one," Joonjae muttered.

Jisoo sighed. Kids, she thought in exasperation.

"Tell you what," she clapped her hands. She took off her wedding ring from her finger.

"When you two grow up," she held up the ring. "And if you two get married, Joonjae will give you my ring."

She smiled at Chaerin, who beamed in happiness. "Really, Aunt Jisoo?" she exclaimed.

"Yes," Jisoo said. "This will be yours!"

"That would mean, you will have to marry me," Joonjae said smugly.

"Even if she doesn't marry you, she'll get my ring," Jisoo teased her son who looked mortified. "We won't give our little princess to a boy who made her cry." Chaerin giggled.

"A-as if any guy would be crazy enough to marry her!" Joonjae stammered, while his face turned red as a tomato. "You'll see! Chaerin will end up marrying me in the end. I might just say yes coz I'd feel pity for her."

Chaerin made a face at him. "Bad Joonjae," she scorned him.

"Fine!" Joonjae said. "I'll never make you cry again! Just wait and watch. I'm gonna put that ring on you someday!"

"Grow up first, you little kid!" Chaerin scoffed.

"Kid?" Joonjae was affronted. He pulled her cheek, making Chaerin whimper as she tried to slap his hand away.

Jisoo watched as the two kids bantered on. If these two ever get married, they'll burn down the house, she thought hopelessly. But even though they were kids, Jisoo clearly saw the affection in their eyes. She smiled as she put her ring back on.

"I hope someday, you will really get to put this ring on her finger," Jisoo told Joonjae. Both the kids flushed red at her words while Jisoo let out a hearty laughter. Little did they know, it was one of the last moments of happiness they will experience together…

Joonjae's thoughts returned to the present. He took out the ring and clutched it.

It was time to give it to its rightful owner.