บท 11: Are You Our Dad?

Rosalina made noodles for herself and her children and ate quietly.

"I found your phone ringing while tidying your room," The nanny said, handing Rosalina the phone.

"Thank you," Rosalina replied, taking the phone.

She noticed three missed calls from an unknown number on the screen and decided to call back as she walked to her room.

"Hello?" she answered, recognizing the voice on the other end.

"Hey, Rose," U Jin replied, sounding pleased that she had picked up.

"I'm surprised you answered my call," U Jin said.

Rosalina chuckled softly, unsure of how to respond.

"We've been friends for years since high school, and I've always supported you no matter what," U Jin said, his voice sounding slightly sad.

"I'm sorry, Jin. I just wanted to distance myself from anything related to the Kim family," Rosalina explained.

"If that's what you want, I'll respect your decision. I don't want to lose our friendship over something unnecessary," U Jin assured her.

"How did you find me at Gu Best company?" Rosalina inquired.

"I asked my assistant to find your details and location. That's how I knew you were working there," U Jin explained.

"I see. How have you been all these years?" Rosalina asked.

"Everything's been good. How about you? Are you doing okay?" U Jin inquired, prompting a brief silence from Rosalina.

"Are you still there?" U Jin asked.

"Yes, I'm here. I've been doing well. Thank you for asking," Rosalina replied.

"I heard you were back in the country, so I wanted to check in on you. You have kids now, right?" U Jin asked.

"Yes, I do," Rosalina confirmed.

"How are the kids? I can't believe you're a mother now. And what about their father?" U Jin probed.

"Can we not talk about that right now? I'll call you later, okay? I have to go," Rosalina said, ending the conversation.

"I'm sorry if I said something wrong. I'm just really worried about you. Can I come over to visit? I just want to see how you and your kids are doing," U Jin pleaded.

"Okay, I'll send you the address after we hang up. But please, don't mention anything about me to the Kim family. I want to keep my distance from them," Rosalina said.

"Sure, I promise. Would it be okay if I visit you?" U Jin asked, thinking about Rosalina living with her husband and kids.

"Don't worry. Just let me know when you plan to come," Rosalina replied.

"I don't have any plans for today. Can I come over today? I have a business trip tomorrow, so I'll be busy starting then," U Jin said, hoping for Rosalina's approval.

Rosalina was silent for a moment before responding, "Okay, I'll send you my address. Just give me a call when you're on your way," Rosalina said, hearing Joon Ah cry out "Mommy" and run to her.

"I'll say goodbye for now. Take care," Rosalina said quickly before ending the call.

"What's wrong, Joon Ah? Why were you crying like that?" Rosalina asked, kneeling to her level.

"Joon Woo pushed me, wuwuwu," Joon Ah said tearfully.

Joon Woo also entered the room, and Rosalina called him over. "Why did you push your sister? I've told you both not to fight," she scolded him.

"She called me stupid," Joon Woo muttered.

"You shouldn't push or hit her, even if she says unkind things. I've warned you both not to fight. You should always be kind to each other. Mommy doesn't like it when you fight because it makes me upset and sad," Rosalina said gently, pulling Joon Woo close.

"Say sorry to your sister," she told Joon Woo.

"I'm sorry," Joon Woo said softly. Rosalina then turned to Joon Ah and said, "Apologize to your brother and promise not to call him names again."

"I'm sorry, and I won't call you names anymore," Joon Ah said. Rosalina smiled and kissed them both.

"Now go play together and no more fighting," Rosalina said as a text message came in on her phone from the earlier number.

She opened the message and read, "I'm waiting for the address you said you would send."

Rosalina quickly typed her home address in response to the message that came in.

The message read, "Got it. Thanks, I'll be on my way now." Rosalina replied with a simple "Okay." And then made her way back to the sitting room.

Thinking she should grab some drinks and maybe some chicken, as it had been a while since she had some with Soju.

Rosalina turned to the nanny, informed them she was leaving, and then hopped into her car to drive to the nearby store for her purchases.

After a few minutes, she returned with everything she needed.

"Hey kids, Mommy got some chicken, would you like some?" Rosalina cheerfully announced.

"Yay! Yes, Mommy, I want chicken." Joon Ah exclaimed happily and rushed to his mom, who had placed the bags of drinks and the carton of chicken on the table.

Rosalina unpacked the bags and opened the carton of chicken.

"Take from the carton and no fighting, there's plenty for everyone. Understand?" She said, taking a bite of a chicken wing and savoring the taste.

"This is so delicious, right Joon Ah?" Joon Woo said happily as they continued to enjoy their meal.

A message appeared on Rosalina's phone asking for her floor number as the person was already at her place.

"Floor 104," she quickly replied.

In a few minutes, the doorbell rang, and Rosalina walked over to see a man on the camera screen.

With a deep breath, she opened the door to reveal U Jin, a tall and handsome man in a stylish suit with perfectly styled hair.

Rosalina was unsure of whether to hug him or not. It had been years since they last saw each other, back when she was just a normal lady. Now, she was a single mother of two kids.

"Hey," U Jin said softly.

"Sorry, please come in," Rosalina welcomed him in, locking the door behind him. She led him to the living room where her kids, Joon Ah, and Joon Woo, were enjoying the chicken she had brought in.

U Jin walked to the sofa, smiling as he looked at the two beautiful kids.

"Hey kids," he greeted them, causing the kids to be surprised and wonder who he was.

"Hello, uncle. Who are you?" Joon Ah asked sharply.

"Stop it, you should greet elders politely, not ask unnecessary questions," Rosalina scolded with a frown.

"Sorry. I just want to know who this uncle is," Joon Ah said softly.

"No, it's okay. You don't need to scold her, she has the right to know who is close to their mother," U Jin said softly, turning back to Joon Ah.

"Are you our dad?" Joon Woo asked softly, causing Rosalina to gasp softly.

She frowned and approached them.

"Stop saying nonsense. You guys are too young for all this," Rosalina said, pulling them up from their chairs.

"This is Uncle U Jin, my friend from high school when Mommy was still in school, okay? Now go to your room," Rosalina explained to them as they nodded and ran to their room.

"You don't have to be harsh on them. It's fine for them to ask questions, and I must say they're very smart kids, which is good," U Jin said, smiling.

Rosalina smiled softly and sat on the couch.

"I still need to educate them on what is right and wrong. They are too smart for their age," Rosalina said, rolling her eyes.

U Jin chuckled and looked at her for a few seconds.

"You haven't changed at all. Honestly, I'm very happy to finally meet you again. When you left the Kim family all those years ago, I felt really bad and wanted to meet you, but you didn't give me the chance until you left for California," U Jin said softly.

"It was difficult for me and I just wanted to avoid everything and forget it all. I discovered I was pregnant after spending the night with a stranger. To be honest, it seems crazy, but I don't regret it now," Rosalina said softly.

"Do you mind me asking how you ended up sleeping with a stranger?" U Jin asked Rosalina, who found it difficult to make eye contact with him.

"I was drunk after I left the mansion when I found out the man who I thought was my dad wasn't my biological father, but it's all because I refused to do what he wanted me to do. Well, it's all in the past now. I'm living fine with my two kids, and they are what matters most to me now," Rosalina said, causing U Jin to nod his head.

"Do you have plans to look for the kids' father?" U Jin asked.

"No. Even if I wanted to, he must be with another woman and have a family now. I don't want to disrupt anybody's family because of my kids. I can manage to raise them all by myself," Rosalina said, making U Jin feel happy hearing that from her.

U Jin sighed and found himself not saying anything.

"Well, how about you, how have you been doing and what have you been up to nowadays? I expect you to invite me to your wedding soon," Rosalina said, smiling.

U Jin chuckled lightly.

"I don't have plans to marry now since I haven't found anyone I like," U Jin said shyly.