To Find Something True

※ fifty-five

The time was eleven in the morning when they landed in South Korea. Seokjin took the bus with the children to send them back to the orphanage. Jiah waved at them as they bid her goodbye. It was supposed to be Yoongi, but he wasn't in the right state of mind to do so. Yoongi's fragile state worried the rest of them, but those who knew what happened didn't dare to share any answers.

As the bus drove away, Jiah put her hand down and scanned the area. Yoongi and Taehyung had already walked away and taken a taxi. Hoseok glanced at her stealthily, but she pretended not to notice and decided to sulk at him too. Wheein and Jisoo were chatting cheerfully, walking together. Jungkook had gone to the car park to get his car.

Finally, she saw Amber, who was about to leave the platform and cross the street.

"Miss Amber!" Jiah shouted and jogged toward her, dragging her luggage behind her. "Miss Amber!" she called again, and Amber stopped walking when she saw her.

"What's up?" Amber asked in English as Jiah stood in front of her.

"May I talk to you? If you're not too jet-lagged," Jiah said.

"Sure. What about?" Amber asked.

Jiah turned her head to make sure her friends were far enough or had gone home. Once she confirmed that, she faced Amber again. "I need your help," she said. "My mother... I remember she used the country code for the United States the last time we talked."

Amber listened attentively and replied, "Okay. There's a café nearby. How about we talk inside?"

Jiah agreed, and they entered the café, ordering their drinks before sitting at a secluded table for two. Jiah held her hot cup, warming her cold hands. As she took a sip, Amber began, "You know your mother is in the States?"

"Yes. Uhm..." Jiah paused. "My mother disappeared a few years ago. We only knew she was in the States, but we didn't know why she went there. But... My father called me last night. He found an In-Kang's business card," she said, her voice trembling at the end.

Amber's eyes flicked from her coffee to Jiah. "And?"

"Lee Soohyuk. The name on the business card is Lee Soohyuk," Jiah said, her trembling eyes fixed on Amber's. She gulped. "Do you think... Do you think my mother-"

Amber interrupted her, "I need your mother's ID number. Her name too. I'll ask my cousin."

"Oh, yeah." Jiah searched her medium-sized sling bag and rummaged through its contents to find her phone.

As she was looking for her phone, Amber added, "Can I also get a photo of your mother?"

Jiah nodded. When she found her phone, she unlocked it and showed Amber the message with her mother's identification card number that her father had sent. Amber typed it down on her phone. After that, Jiah directed her phone to the gallery app and showed Amber a photo of her mother. "This is what she looks like. Her name is Song Yoon-ah."

Amber's thumbs suddenly stopped typing as she looked up at Jiah's phone. She remained motionless for a second before shifting her gaze to her own phone. Putting down her phone and taking a deep breath, she said, "Uh... I've sent my cousin a message. We'll get a notification within a few minutes if he's not on duty."

Jiah nodded again. "Should we wait here?" she asked.

"Uh... I think we should go home first. I'll send you a text," Amber said, and Jiah agreed. Then Amber asked, "Do you need a ride?"

"It's fine. I'll take the bus." Jiah smiled and bowed to Amber, saying, "Thank you, Miss Amber."

Smiling back, Amber nodded.

Jiah stepped out of the café and walked to the edge of the platform. Turning back, she saw Amber talking on her phone. When Amber noticed her looking, she smiled, and Jiah returned the gesture. Then Amber went back to her call, looking distressed.

With the news she received yesterday, her anxious heart couldn't ignore the possibility. Nevertheless, she hoped her mother was still alive.

**********

Two days had passed. Yoongi being quiet was nothing new, but everyone noticed his demeanor. He came to work untidy, with stubble on his philtrum, and his eye bags were larger than usual. He made several mistakes in his tasks and was often caught zoning out.

Amber urged him to go home, but Yoongi insisted he was fine and continued working. Hoseok noticed it too but didn't say anything.

Jiah learned that Jiwoo's body had been sent to a local morgue, and after further discussion, Amber would arrange for the body to be sent to the family after informing the Jungs. Her cousin had warned her not to delay it. Understanding the urgency, Amber started to plan how to break the news.

Even though Amber had returned, she suggested keeping Jiah as Hoseok's assistant. Hoseok and the rest had no objections, and Jiah continued her usual tasks, making Hoseok's coffee and organizing emails. After finishing her work, she would go out of the office to help her friends.

While at the pantry preparing Hoseok's coffee, she saw Seokjin in her office, which used to be Jiwoo's office. Seokjin gave her a light smile when he saw her looking through the glass wall. Amber, on the other hand, seemed to avoid eye contact with Jiah and focused on Seokjin.

This made Jiah even more anxious.

Before leaving the pantry, she saw Seokjin nodding at Amber. His chest rose before relaxing.

**********

After locking the store's door, others walked down the street to eat at their favorite restaurant. Amber asked Jiah, "Lee Jiah, can I talk to you?"

Jiah stopped her steps and looked at the short-haired woman with raised eyebrows. "Yes?" she replied.

Hoseok turned to look at them briefly before focusing on the path again.

Amber whispered, "Let's talk in my car."