“My mum is forcing me to come home. My strict and insane grandmother has come home from Daegu and wants to see me.”
“But why? I mean, we are coming back home to Korea tomorrow, but…why is she forcing you to come back home?”
“I just told you the reason.”
Eunice then laid in Jake’s arms, cuddling up against his chest.
“I love you!” she then whispered.
Jake kissed her on the cheek and replied, “I love you too.”
It was already a day after both schools had come home from California. Eunice felt such irony and nerve. She thought she was going to be in such trouble. When her own parents were already in trouble…with Jake’s mother and father.
It began with another day at school and Mr. Lee entered the classroom.
“Students,” he said, “As it turns out, this class has a final, and before our graduation party, we must present our project in a matter of 45 seconds or at least one minute. So get together with your partners and then go straight to work.”
Eunice got together with Niki, Jay, and Sunoo.
“Our project is about our past memories. And we have to come up with them fast, because the party is in a matter of two weeks! We have to work out something, and fast!”
Three of the boys obeyed Eunice’s words.
“I know exactly where we can work! It’s just up the street from here!” said Jay.
After school, the group of four donned their bikes and rode away from the school. They followed Jay to a house that really was up the street from the school.
But then, when they arrived, Jake, Jungwon and Sung-hoon were already waiting.
Wait! This is Jake’s house! Why the hell are we at Jake’s house?!
Eunice became resentful. They settled in the living room. It was strange, Eunice was the only girl in the project with Niki and Jay and Sunoo.
But then, something happened; there was a sudden knock on the door.
If there are seven boys here, then where is Heeseung?
Eunice shuttered horrifically. She then heard the voice of Jake talking to the person outside. She felt scared, thinking it was her own parents.
The six boys looked concernedly at Eunice.
“Is she scared of something?”
“I don’t know.”
“We have to figure out something.”
Jake then slammed the door and startled the girl to the bone. The six boys circled around Jake, who was panting from the anger.
But why is he angry?
“What happened?” asked Sung-hoon.
Jake looked at Eunice, who was spacing out.
“He…he is looking for her.” he whispered.
But Eunice heard his words. She felt even more terrified.
“But…why would he? Who is he? Why is he trying to look for Eunice?”
“I…I don’t know.”
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
EUNICE’S POINT of VIEW!
I knew who was at the door. It was my mum and dad. I knew that they would come and take me away from all of this. It just felt wrong to go with people that don’t care about their children’s needs.
But still, the thought of them showing up at nine in the evening just terrified me to the core.
I tried not to cry. But I was scared, how could I not cry? Niki then noticed me hugging a pillow and softly crying.
After a while, I felt someone’s hand. I didn’t know who it was at first, but then…as I turned around, I saw Jake, holding my hand.
At first, I felt uncomfortable. But then, I knew he was caring for me, so I let him hold my hand.
And then, another knock was at the door. My heart was pounding like crazy. As the door opened, there was Mrs. Shim, walking inside the house, with a bag of groceries.
“Hello everyone,” she greeted, “Let me guess: a school project?”
How did she know?
Mrs. Shim then chuckled, “I’m teasing. I’ll be in my office, Jakey!”
She then left the scene. And Jake’s face was like the color of a tomato.
For at least two hours, we had to figure out what to put in our slideshow project. And then, everyone went home, except for me.
Mrs. Shim pulled me inside.
“I urge you to stay for the night, please.” she encouraged me, “I would love to have you over.”
I didn’t know what else to say, so I nodded my head.
Mrs. Shim lended me a fresh-cleaned gray long sleeved top and white long bottoms. She then showed me to the guest room.
“This is where Jake used to sleep when he was a baby.”
“MUM!” Jake said, embarrassed.
Mrs. Shim laughed. “It’s okay, he doesn’t like to talk about his toddlerhood.”
“Me too.”
Mrs. Shim gave me a hug and a kiss goodnight before letting me tuck myself into bed.
I couldn’t sleep. The bed was comfortable, but I still couldn’t get my eyes to close. I tossed and then turned continuously.
I was afraid my parents would call me in the middle of the night, while I was sleeping. I felt scared. Scared of them.
After all of the pain I have gone through, I realized whatever they did was their last. I was going to seek justice for myself, with the help of Jake and Mrs. Shim.
At twilight, I found my comfort spot, and I then fell fast asleep.
In the morning, I was still sleeping, since I was up most of the night, worrying about my tiger parents’ vengeful plan.
“I hope they don’t call me right now.” I muttered to myself.
And then, Jake entered the room. He sat down on my side of the bed and then patted my back. I turned to my back, but struggled to open my eyes. It was because my eyelids had felt heavy.
After rapidly rubbing them, they fluttered open. As my vision cleared, I saw Jake smiling at me.
“Good morning, darling.” he said.
“What time is it?” I yawned.
“It’s already 6:30 and we have to get to school.” Jake responded softly.
I yawned some more.
As I got ready for school, I realized I forgot to wash my school uniform. But Mrs. Shim had read my mind as I saw it hanging on the side of the guest room door. I felt the fabric: it was already dry. I smiled.
After school (nothing really special happened; we just had to work on our class project), I rode my bike back to my apartment.
But then, as I was tying my bike to the racks, I saw someone in a black hoodie, a mask and a cap that was coming my way. I didn’t know who it was, but I ignored it.
I saw Jake coming in and for some reason, I felt comfortable around him.
But the man wouldn’t leave as he kept staring at me. I pretended not to notice, when really I did. I felt completely uncomfortable. I held onto Jake’s hand for dear life.
Speaking of which, Jake allowed me to stay in his room the whole day. My phone suddenly rang. I looked at the caller ID: MUM.
I answered.
“EUNICE PARK!” shouted my mother, “WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?!”
“I’m in my apartment, Mother. I’m sorry I couldn’t come over, I had to work on a school project.”
My mother would not even believe it.
“EUNICE PARK…YOU DECEIVE ME THE MOST. YOUR OLD GRANDMOTHER WANTED YOU TO PLAY THE PIANO FOR HER! AND THEN YOU CHOOSE NOT TO SHOW UP! YOU ARE A DISGRACE! TOMORROW YOU WILL COME HOME. WE ARE GOING TO FLOG YOU 50 TIMES! DO YOU HEAR ME?!?!?!”
I hung up the phone abruptly and scooted away from it. I began to cry and Jake rushed to my side.
“What happened?” he asked.
“My mother called again,” I blubbered, “She wants me back home…so she could try and beat me to my death.”
Jake was shocked. “But why would she beat you to your death?”
“It’s an exaggeration, it means she would just hit me with a cane.”
“A little or big one?”
“I don’t know the exact size…but…it does hurt a lot.”
Suddenly, in the evening, I heard my phone ring again. But I answered it without reading the caller identification.
“Hello?”
“You have to come down to the lobby at six in the morning, and bring your phone!”
“W-who are you?”