I attended that wedding for my father in the end…
My mother's wedding ,the woman I hadn't seen for many years.
My heart was burning every second,
but what helped me endure it was the presence of my little sister there… Rina.
She had grown so much.
She was holding a bouquet of flowers and looked very happy.
I was sure that in her little mind, she thought she was just playing the "bride game" we used to play when we were young.
She was so adorable…
I didn't want to get close to her…
or maybe I didn't want her to recognize me.
I sat beside my aunt in the last seat so I wouldn't attract attention.
Yet, everyone was talking about my presence.
I often heard the phrase:
"The abandoned daughter."
It didn't hurt me,
because I knew it was the truth in the end.
After the wedding ceremony,
my mother was standing beside her husband.
Suddenly, our eyes met.
I saw her smile fade away…
She lowered her head, and her tears began to fall.
"How ironic…"
I don't know what my mother thought when she saw me after all those years.
I was sure she wouldn't recognize me… but somehow, she did.
Seeing her cry after seeing me…
gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.
I was happy.
Happy that she cried for me,
instead of smiling or laughing.
I wished that my presence hurt her instead of making her happy.
I felt that my presence finally had value.
My aunt looked at me and held my hand.
There was pity in her eyes because of the voices of the guests rising after my mother's tears.
But I… was happy.
Happy that I caused her pain for one day,
after she had caused me pain for all those years.
I said to my aunt:
"Let's go… I've fulfilled my promise to my father.
Since she saw me, there's no need for us to stay."
My aunt nodded in agreement.
We left the wedding hall and headed toward the exit.
I stopped when I reached the door.
Unfortunately, someone was following me from behind.
I heard a voice calling:
"Ruby!"
I turned around.
"Ah… I was sure it was you.
How are you, my granddaughter?"
It was my grandmother.
I had only met her a few times in my life.
All I remembered about her… was that she had always been in conflict with my mother,
and she didn't like meeting her—or even meeting us.
I only remembered my mother begging and crying every time she tried to visit her.
I never knew the reason for their conflict.
My mother always said that my grandmother was going through a difficult time,
and that she would accept us eventually.
I was just a little child…
I didn't understand what she meant.
I said coldly:
"Oh, you're my grandmother, right?
I don't know if you really want to know how I am for the first time in your life,
but what I know is that you're doing much better than me… you look very happy.
I've never seen you smile before.
I only remember you looking at me as if you were about to kill me when I was little."
My aunt shouted:
"Ruby! Watch your words!"
Then she turned to my grandmother:
"Please forgive her… you know this is a very sensitive day for her."
I thought to myself: Nonsense.
My grandmother adjusted her posture, looking angry:
"No, she's just as I always remember her… bad-tempered,
and she doesn't know her place… just like her father."
I said angrily:
"What did you say?
Are you talking about my father's status now?
Maybe you don't know this, but
my father is considered one of the best surgeons in all of Korea.
He excels at his job
and has saved many lives.
You can insult me as much as you want,
but even if you don't seem to like him,
isn't it shameful for you to talk about your daughter's ex-husband like this
while pretending you're someone of high status?"
Her expression changed within seconds:
"You're rude!
I shouldn't have allowed a lowly girl like you to attend my daughter's wedding,
the wedding I waited decades for, and ruin everyone's happiness!
And you say your father is one of the best doctors in Korea?
How ignorant you are!
Do you know who put him in that position?
Who got him into the most prestigious hospitals in Seoul?
Of course you don't know.
If it weren't for his marriage to my daughter, no one would've heard of him.
He took advantage of my daughter's kind heart to marry her for his own benefit and become rich.
Even though I warned her, she insisted on marrying that parasite!
I heard he entered a mental hospital again…
That's his real place—in a hospital as a madman, not as a doctor!"
"…Ruby!"
My mother was standing there.
She looked at me, then walked toward me and hugged me.
"Oh my God, Ruby…
My daughter, I missed you so much.
You've grown so much…
Thank you for coming for me. I can't believe you're here, my daughter."
Her words meant nothing to me.
All I wanted…
was to escape that place immediately after hearing those words about my father.
I hated everything at that moment.
Was what my grandmother said true?
I wanted answers immediately.
Everything was blurry.
I was extremely angry.
I shouted:
"Take your dirty hands off me right now!"
My mother's eyes widened, and she stepped back slowly:
"Ruby…?"
My eyes were filled with tears.
She held my cheek and looked at my grandmother:
"Did she say something she shouldn't have?"
I slapped her hand away hard:
"I told you not to touch me!"
She stepped back slightly and held her hand.
My aunt stepped forward, trying to calm me down.
I shouted:
"Why? Why did you invite me to your stupid wedding
after all these years?
Did you want to show me that you're better without me?
That you're happy after abandoning me?
Do you have any idea how much I suffered… me?!"
My tears overwhelmed me.
I lowered my head and bit my lip.
"What's the point of telling you now…
Come on, Aunt… there's no place for me here."
I turned to leave.
But my mother grabbed my hand:
"Ruby, please listen to me… I—"
I pulled my hand away:
"How many times do I have to tell you not to touch me?!"
My grandmother said:
"Didn't anyone teach this filthy girl manners?
Look how she treats her mother!
Let her go!
Her presence here was a mistake from the beginning.
I told you she would ruin your happiness,
but you didn't listen.
This is what happens when you don't listen to your mother.
Consider her a mistake… and forget her."
My mother shouted:
"Mom! How can you say that?!"
I said in a wounded voice:
"Yes, she's right.
Why are you denying it?
You did exactly what your mother just said.
You considered me a mistake from the beginning… and left me behind.
Why are you pretending to be innocent now?
Let's never meet again…
just like we haven't all this time.
That's better for both of us.
You've been dead to me
since the day I woke up and didn't find you.
So consider me dead too."
I looked at my aunt:
"Let's go…"
I stopped for a moment.
"Oh, before I forget… I didn't come here for you.
I came because my father asked me to.
Even though you abandoned him,
he told me to pass on his congratulations
and that he wishes you a happy life,
despite the misery you caused him."
I glanced at my grandmother.
"My father isn't the crazy one here.
Isn't what he did enough to prove that he's the only sane one among you?"
My grandmother replied:
"Should I call security to kick you out right now?"
I smiled sarcastically.
Then…
I left without looking back.
All I wanted…
was to see my father.
To hug him.
I wanted to run to him,
cry in his arms,
and feel him pat my back like he always did when I was little.
And I wanted…
answers.
To all the questions
I had never dared to ask him.