Her heels clicking loudly, she strode toward them, her gaze fixed anxiously on the girl. The child, meanwhile, completely ignored her mother, focused intently on brushing off her clothes.
"I'm sorry," Suho said, taking a step back from the girl and wincing slightly as his knee protested.
The woman shot him a sharp glance as she rushed to the child.
"You could have helped her up, young man! You saw a child fall," she exclaimed, grabbing the girl's hands and lifting her to her feet in one motion.
While Suho stood there, fumbling for the right words to explain the situation, the woman had already crouched down to the child's level and started gesturing rapidly.
"You," she pointed her index finger at the girl, "shouldn't run off like that." Suho watched in surprise as she formed unfamiliar signs with her fingers.
The girl waved her hands in annoyance and started explaining something to her mother rapidly, using sign language.
"This," the woman pointed at the green stains smeared across the dress, "is so the new devices fit your ears properly." She clapped her palms together, formed a well-like shape with her thumbs and index fingers, then pointed to her ears with her pinkies.
The girl stomped her foot and made a V-sign with her fingers—the one people usually used for photos. Then she bent her fingers and moved them back and forth in front of her eyes.
"You don't like them?" the woman threw her hands up. "Your brother took time off work especially for you! Who's going to show you the cartoon? And you can't even sit still for five minutes? Do you want to keep going around like this? Fine, I'll tell the doctor, and he won't make you new ones…"
Suho felt extremely awkward witnessing the scene unfolding before him.
"Again, I'm very sorry," he said.
The woman turned to him, holding the little girl's hand. Suho thought she looked vaguely familiar. She had expressive features and the same beautiful eye shape he recognized.
"Young man—" she started, but a voice behind Suho cut her off:
"Mom, the next patient is already here to see Dr. Kim. We need to schedule for Thursday."
Suho froze, realizing the voice belonged to none other than Jia.
"What's going on—" The girl walked around his right side and also stopped, looking at Choi in surprise.
"Suho? What are you doing—" Jia stopped short. Suho didn't miss the quick glance she shot at his legs.
"Hey," Suho said.
The puzzle pieces in his head were slowly forming a complete picture. A younger sister who was different from other kids. Problems at school. Worries.
The girl pulled her hand free from her mother's grip, ran to Jia, and hid behind her back. The mother clicked her tongue, while the girl, clutching the hem of her sister's vest with her small fingers, peeked out and looked at Suho carefully. Jia placed a hand on her shoulder, glancing first at her mother, then at her sister, and then back at Suho.
"Is everyone okay?" she asked, searching his eyes with concern.
He smiled gently in return and shook his head.
"I'm fine. I hope your sister didn't hurt herself. She ran into me and fell."
Jia nodded in relief and turned to her sister. The girl immediately started signing rapidly, occasionally pointing her palm toward Choi.
"Look at her. An absolute angel in front of her sister," Suho thought, watching their silent conversation.
Jia smiled softly at her sister. She put her index finger and thumb together, brought them to her chin, then made a pinching motion, lowering her hand. The girl smiled and glanced at Suho again.
The woman, who had been watching her children the whole time, also softened.
"I'm so sorry," she said to Suho, nodding slightly.
"No, no, it's fine," Suho replied quickly, struck by how much Jia looked like her mother: they had the same soft lip shape, similar smiles, and delicate, straight noses. "I hope your daughter didn't hurt herself too badly."
"This little troublemaker is tougher than she looks," the woman chuckled. Suho suddenly remembered Jia mentioning that her sister had started the fight at school. "I see you know my daughter," Jia's mother added casually.
"Yes, yes," Suho answered quickly, meeting Jia's eyes. "My name is Choi Suho. We're in the same program at university. If you're done here, I can give you a ride."
Jia raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Oh, don't trouble yourself. We don't want to impose. Besides, Jia has a meeting soon. And Sooyeon and I wanted to stop by Baskin-Robbins," the woman glanced at the girl, adding with gestures, "Though this little one only deserves the empty carton after all that."
Jia sighed deeply, looking at her mother.
"Mom, don't start. Just get her the fruit mix."
"Sooyeon-ah, see what a protector your sister is?" the woman approached the girl, repeating the words with gestures. She took her hand and looked between Suho and Jia. "We'll go schedule the next session. You can probably head out now, Jia. Suho, sorry again."
"Please, don't worry about it, Mrs. Yoon." Suho bowed respectfully.
"Such a nice young man," the woman said approvingly, and after saying goodbye, led her daughter toward the reception desk.
"Shall we go?" Jia offered, smiling sheepishly.
Suho just noticed that the girl wasn't wearing one of her usual tracksuits. She had on black fitted trousers, a cream-colored blouse, and a vest. Her long hair was still tied back in a ponytail, with loose strands framing her face. Looking at her, you could tell Yoon was indeed dressed for a business meeting.
"Let's go." Suho held the door open for her.