The Mango Tree
It’s the 22nd day of June and the sun is shining brightly. The wind breezes languidly, circling around the vast open area at the bottom of a small hill. The tiny hill looks serene and the playful wind creates ripples to every grass that it touches. With these sights, the old lady living in the big timber house located at the base of the hill inhaled the fresh air deeply, feeling that today is perfect for her agenda. Sitting on her veranda, she is suddenly reminded of her last spring in the States where the flowers bloom of every color and the grass looking very healthy and green. The weather is just perfect for strolling and an opportunity to walk her legs which are now prone to little cramps. She looked at her cat curled snugly on her lap and smiled ruefully. It is a glorious day but her only companion opted to sleep. She playfully tugs its tail causing the cat to jerk awake. Its green eyes looked at her reproachfully, obviously not pleased for disturbing its happy slumber.
“Sorry dear” she said, “I have to go somewhere and see someone. You want to meet him?”
But the cat just turned its head away from her and leaped to the floor landing lightly on its feet, obviously, not interested on its master’s plan for the day. With a sigh, she slowly got up from her chair and took the white knitted shawl hanging on the seat beside her. She wrapped the shawl around her slumped shoulders and looked around her. She debated on the idea whether to lock the house or not but ended choosing the latter. She’s the only one living around the place and with her nearest neighbor living 15 minutes away from her. She felt safe and at ease that no one would attempt to rob an old lady’s house and who is living on its own. Her only prized possession is her sluggish cat. Surely thieves won’t appreciate to steal something as lazy as her cat. So with slow but sure steps, she went down the stairs gripping the railings tightly. She kept on gritting her lips as she was going down for her knees are killing her. Ever since she came to this house, she kept on avoiding the veranda for she hated using the stairs. She’s not young anymore and her knees are not that strong like before. Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she took a lace handkerchief from her right pocket and wiped her sweat. It was just five steps of stairs but she’s a gasping a little for breath. She looked at the hill before her. Can she make it up there without passing out? She’s starting to have misgivings but she pushed her ugly thoughts away. She’s already here, at this place, this house she left after- she grimaced.
“Not now, I’m already here.” She scolded herself.
She took a deep breath and started to walk towards the top of the hill. From her backyard gate, she followed the path towards it. Tall mango trees lined up along the trail as she walks giving shade to her. She kept on walking until she realized that the path she’s treading on is gone. At first, she’s confused. Is she lost? She looked at the trail behind her and saw with relief that she’s still on the right track. The wild grass had somehow covered the road to the hill for the past years. She mentally noted that she has to look for workers to clear the path towards the hill after finishing her plan for today. She suddenly stopped on her tracks and was surprised by that sudden thought.
“So you are finally staying here for good?” she talked to herself astonished that the idea was conjured by her. “I guess he must have changed your mind.”
She continued her walking while trying to repress the urge to scratch the annoying itch on her legs. The wild grass kept on brushing her legs while walking and is starting to be a distraction. She wants to give in to the temptation of scratching her legs but she mused that once she bent down her back would scream in pain. It would just delay her progress of arriving at the top before noon. She continued walking and stopping now and then to make sure she is still on the right path. While walking along the familiar shaded path, she can’t help feeling melancholic and remember her happier times of the place she’s heading after 40 years.
Forty years ago, she was a carefree 20 year old lass who loves to explore and run around the small hill that stood behind her house. As a girl, her parents are strict with her and so during her escapades she was always accompanied by her childhood friend and neighbor, Yonghwa. Yonghwa is the only boy her parents trust to be with her since his family works for them. This is an advantage for her since she harbors this deep infatuation for Yonghwa for a very long time. She would purposely hide among the tall mango trees and laugh quietly to herself as she watched him frantically looking for her. She just keeps on annoying him for she doesn’t know what to do if she ever tries talking seriously with him. Although she keeps on infuriating him, Yonghwa was patient and rarely gets angry. During her 20th birthday, he brought her to the top of the hill and gave her a gift, a mango seedling. Together they planted the tree and he made her promise that she will take care of her tree for one day when it’s big and bears a lot of fruits; the two of them would harvest the ripe mangoes themselves. He revealed to her that June is special since it’s their birthday month. On his 5th birthday, her Mother gave birth to her.
“Seohyun, take care of this tree okay?” Yong told her.
But she never had a chance to take care of her tree. Her parents decided to migrate to the States. She was extremely devastated. She doesn’t want to leave especially now that she has something to look forward to with Yonghwa. She tried convincing her parents but they were already determined. She cried herself in front of him but was only told to listen to her parents.
“If you’re sad about not taking care of the tree, it’s okay! I will be the one who will tend to it.”
He is confused why she is feeling forlorn. Going abroad is a big opportunity and he even envies her, not understanding why she wants to stay here in this vast area of a hill. His statements struck a chord in her and provoked her to speak the truth.
“Because I wanted to pick fruits with you‼!” she burst at him ran back to her house and sobbed the whole night on her bed..
Those memories made her wistful. She regretted shouting at him before she left. It was a bit immature of her to do that. Due to her childish anger, she refused to write to Yonghwa or bother to communicate with him. Her childish heart made her to stay in the States longer, thinking to herself that Yonghwa made a great mistake. She dated other men and almost got married thrice but in the end, she finally admitted that she is still irrevocably in love with Yonghwa.
So after 40 years, this will be their first time seeing each other. She quickened her steps and was already gasping for breath when she made it to the clearing on top of the hill. She must have been foolish for coming back at this place when she’s already too old. Yonghwa would surely laugh at her. Then she saw her mango tree, all tall and full of fruits ready for harvest. She smiled and looked at the tomb beside her tree.
“Happy Birthday Yonghwa! Let’s go and pick some mangoes.”
Author's note; Let's just imagine that they are not in Korea. I'm not sure actually if there are mangoes there..Heheheheh