Because It's You - Hwang Inyeop

"What are you doing here?" In-youp asked as his eyes start to water, shocked seeing his mother who had abandoned her for years. He can't believe his eyes right now and his stomach starts to churn.

"How have you been?" His mother gave him a worried smile. In-youp remained silent. He feels suffocated in the presence of his mother. So without saying anything he starts to walk away but his mother immediately held his wrist to stop him.

"Please, let's talk," his mother pleaded, holding tightly onto his hand.

"I have nothing to say," In-youp whispered. His hands tremble and even though he wants to pull his hand away from her mother's touch, he can't. He hates himself for feeling like he wants to hug his mother tightly now that she's close to him.

"Ten minutes," his mother pleaded more. "No, just five minutes of your time will do."

In-youp looks at his mother and when he saw the tears in her eyes, his anger subsided and is replaced with sadness. He slowly pulled his hands from her grip and sat across his mother.

"Have you already eaten your dinner? You are very busy these days. I hope you don't skip yo---" He did not let his mother finish his sentence.

"I am not here to talk about my schedule nor eat with you," he coldly said. "Just cut to the chase." His mother smiled at him. A smile that is full of longing for forgiveness. A smile full of mother's love.

"I'm sorry, In-youp," his mother whispered as she looks down at her hands placed on her lap. "I love your brother and father so much and I was blinded by grievance. I felt like everything was taken away from me on that day." Her tears start to flow as she recalls the accident.

"I love them, too," In-youp whispered and tears start to fall down his cheeks. "I always think about them every day. What if I did not take my eyes off of my brother? What if we did not go near the water? What if it was me instead of them? There so many ifs and it haunts me every night."

He was not able to stop the sob which escaped his mouth and he immediately wiped his tears with his hands. He doesn't want to show his weakness to the person who abandoned him. His mother stood up and sat beside him. She grabbed In-youp's hands as he continuously cries, letting all of his emotions out which he's been caging inside him all these years.

"I'm sorry. I should not have blamed you for what happened. I'm sorry I never considered your feelings. I would try and explain abandoning you, but there are no excuses. I made a huge mistake of leaving you knowing you were also hurt with what happened," his mother sobbed and stared at her hands on top of her son's hands. "I take responsibility for my selfish actions and the pain I have caused you."

In-youp looks at her mother as she felt the sincerity in her words. "Yes, I was hurt... because I'm your son, too," he sobbed. "I'm your son, too, mom."

His mom's heart melted when she heard her son calling her mom once again. She realized that when she left him, she has also left a piece of her heart. She promised herself that she will do whatever it takes to gain his forgiveness.

"Yes... Yes, you are my son," she breathed and hugged her little boy. In-youp longed for his mother's touch for so long. All the anger he feels is now gone and he melted in his mother's embrace.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered and tighten her arms around her son. She pulled away and cupped his cheeks. "I am glad things turned out okay. I was expecting I will receive tons of scolding and sermon just like your wife did," the old lady chuckled.

In-youp mushed his eyebrows, confused at what his mother said. "You have talked to Hee-soon?"

"Didn't she tell you?" She asked equally confused. "I have talked to her two weeks ago over the company phone I am working in. I have no idea how she knew where I was working. She scolded me and shouted at me for what I did to you. I was frightened by how she approached me. Your wife is as sassy as ever," the old lady chuckled remembering her conversation with Hee-soon. In-youp was not able to say anything as he tries to process what his mother said. He has no idea that Hee-soon tried contacting his mother.