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The trio had gone to Bumseok that same morning after leaving the girl’s house, he let them into his house and told them how bad he had been at his previous school, caused by the same guys as last night, the karaoke guys, Heejin felt bad about it, she didn’t know what it was to be bullied.
Maybe, if they had to give her a role, between bullying and being bullied, Heejin would be an aggressor, but it was the simple fact that she couldn’t keep quiet about the things she was told, she always had an answer, for everything. And if they went to the punches, she wasn’t going to let herself be beaten either, although she wouldn’t be the first to start the fist, she would only return them if necessary, but she knew that Bumseok, at least, saw that he wasn’t of that kind.
At least, she thought that until everyone went to the karaoke to face those idiots, which didn’t turn out so bad, but it did end up with Sooho and Bumseok arguing and the last one leaving the place upset by the situation.
And all because the boy didn’t want to let him keep hitting the idiot who used to hit him.
And Heejin understood that, she knew that Sooho drew a line always, in any situation, a boundary that they had to respect, he and the people involved in the conflict, it was simple.
If you had the chance: “Don’t cross the line, don’t become one of them”
If you didn’t have the means or skill: “Never hurt yourself from a fight, it’s not worth it”
The boy repeated it to her so much in their friendship that she recorded it in her head, and shared his thoughts.
— You don’t have to multiply, you’ll get more than what the answer is. — Sieun told his girlfriend, the girl was making an equation, out of the many, that had been assigned to them in class, and having not paid attention, she didn’t understand exactly what it was that she had to do.
— ¿Uhm?
— Are you paying attention to what i’m telling you? — He asked, looking at the girl, who seemed to have woken up from some trance, looking at him with attentive and somewhat confused eyes.
— No, I’m sorry… — The girl straightened up, blinking so she could better see the exercise she had in her notebook before swallowing and begin to solve the problem.
Sieun looked at her attentively, noticing how she solved the exercise after a minute and a quick glance at her notes, she closed her book and notebook after a moment, looking at her boyfriend with a smile, leaning over the table. — is something wrong?
— Uhm? No, it’s all right, just… I didn’t sleep much last night, I’m sorry if I wasted your time and–
— I wouldn’t mind explaining the whole math book to you if you asked me, Hee, but I feel like you’re not fine… Is there anything in your head that’s bothering you? — The girl looked at him for a second, going through every faction of his face, stopping at those pretty round, bright eyes he had, she smiled, taking his hand and giving it a slight squeeze before starting to play with his fingers.
— It’s okay, kitten, I just stayed up last night watching a movie… I didn’t sleep well and I’m very sleepy. — This assured him before the boy asked again, of course he did not believe her, of course not, however, he did not want to press her, so, nodding, he stroke the back of her hand with his thumb.
— Sleep then, here. — The boy made a space on his desk, moving some books he had on his desk, touching it slowly so that she could sense that she could lie there. — I’ll wake you up when it’s lunchtime.
The girl smiled tenderly as she heard that. — No, I’m going to sleep at my desk, I don’t want to bother you. — Sieun looked at the girl’s desk before seeing her, pulling her chair slightly toward him, Heejin sighed, refusing, releasing the grip, stood up, giving him a small smile before bending down a bit. — Keep studying, honey, I’ll see you later, okay? — She whispered to him before leaving a caress on his hair and moving away from the place with her notebooks in her hands.
Sieun saw his girlfriend walk away, making him frown and look at his hand before seeing her sit on her desk, noticing how she sighed before running her hand through her hair and how Sooho seemed to put his hand on her back as he asked her something with eyes brighting in concern.
Looking away, the boy opened his books again, writing things randomly, because the girl’s action made him bewildered, worried, didn’t know what was wrong with her, and maybe that mattered more than he thought it should.
…
— Did you tell him?
— I don’t think it’s something I should tell him, you know? — Heejin said, looking at her friend, both friends had left school together, after the scene that Bumseok had mounted that day, Sieun tried to go after him, so both had taken advantage of that and left alone so they could talk for a moment.
— He’s your boyfriend, I thought you shared these things, well, I’d like my girlfriend to tell me that the witch she has as mother is back at home to make her life impossible, I’d get her out of there right away or the witch.
That’s right, her mother had set foot in her apartment again after almost six years, and it wouldn’t be bad, if not because she had found her drunk, lying in the entrance of her room next to another man and some ugly suitcases.
She didn’t even know how they got the key and password to her door.
Heejin smiled, in normal cases, the girl would make some joke about her friend’s single situation, but she decided to simply nod, she was not in the mood, not when she knew who was waiting for her at home now. She really didn’t want to go back but leaving them alone would be like leaving a baby in a place full of sharp things, a mess. — I don’t think it’s the presence of that woman that has me like this… Well, not at all, at least.
— ¿No?
— She took her boyfriend and his son with her. — Sooho opened his eyes in surprise to hear that, stopping to see the girl.
Something in distrust, he approached her, looking her in the eyes. — But… They haven’t done anything to you, have they?
— No, it’s just their presence… — The girl said with some disdain. — His son’s not a bad boy, he’s our age and you see he’s very nice, but both of them… I found them drunk in my home Sooho… What can I expect?
— Don’t expect anything, throw them out, all three of them. — The girl smiled at her friend, he did not feel much affection or respect for these figures, not after he found out how the woman had left her, her daughter, alone, for a married man and some bottles of alcohol… Now she dared to return with intruders to a place that didn’t even belong to her anymore. — I can help you do it if you want, I’m good at dealing with drunks.
— But not with the police, so, we won’t get in trouble, you better leave, you’ll be late for work, and I have to go see that they don’t burn my apartment down. — The girl said with a face, he nodded, taking his helmet, giving a farewell hug to his friend.
— You know that whatever happens, you can call me and I’ll go right away, right?
Heejin nodded, smiling thankfully at him, before saying goodbye with her hand and watching him walk away on his motorcycle. She was grateful to have Sooho with her at the time, knew she could rely on him, but she didn’t like to get him in trouble and hoped she could get them both out of her house without having to involve him or her father.
The girl sighed, closing her eyes for a moment, cursing to have returned home the night before, or at least not to have taken them out while they were fainted.
…
The girl’s hands opened the metal door of her apartment, feeling an unpleasant smell coming through her nose at that moment, loud music was heard in her ears and some arguing voices caught her attention, entering the place, she quickly closed the door so the noise didn’t hear too much outside, she threw her backpack to the ground when she saw what was happening.
The boy she had met the day before, tried to get away from the blows that his father was giving him, his hands covered his face only to be whipped by a black leather belt. Heejin knew that she was nothing against the big man who struck the youngest, looking around, she stretched out over the marble of the kitchen, taking a knife she had at the counter, approaching quickly, The girl pushed the man.
— What’s your fucking problem!?— The girl shouted, looking at the man, who laughed and was about to approach before the girl showed the knife, putting it near the man’s neck, who stopped when he saw the weapon, eyes open in surprise. — I asked you something, didn’t I?
— It’s not your fucking problem.
— It’s my fucking problem because is my house. — The girl said, remarking her belonging, approaching the man still with the knife in that position, causing him to trip and hit a wall.
— Moon Heejin! — Her mother’s voice made her even more upset. — Stay away from him, it’s not your fucking problem whether he hits his son or not.
The girl looked at the man and gave a small look at the woman, she laughed at her condition, she was drunk, as usual. — No, it’s not my fucking problem, but if you want to treat it like shit, it’s gonna be out of my house. — She said again, looking at the man with serious eyes.
— Heejin… — The boy’s soft voice called her, he took her by the shoulders, he was trembling and the pain could be heard in his voice. — I’m fine, nothing happened… it’s…
— What did he do? — The girl asked, looking at the man. — Uhm? What did he do to get you hit him?
— Heejin, it’s my fault, I’m late and don’t make lunch, I-
— Oh, — The girl laughed, staring at the man in disbelief. — He didn’t make lunch… — She asked, with feigned grief. — Do you have a good-for-nothing woman? And I’m saying it because you seem like a jerk who couldn’t even wash a glass, but she, I thought if you left your family it was because it was worth it… It’s a shame you got yourself a useless one just like you.
She hatefully walked away as she squeezed the knife in her hand, taking the boy with her, this way to her room, turning around to see the two adults. — Next time, tell your wife to make you the food or make it yourself, your son is not your damn servant.
— Moon Heejin, respect-
— You shut your mouth… — The girl said, pointing to her mother, she didn’t even know why she kept calling her that way, she never deserved the title, not after leaving her to ruin someone else’s life besides hers. — Listen to me, both of you… Next time you guys put a hand on Jiwoong again, next time you disrespect my house again, you get out, easy or hard way, I don’t care, but I’m gonna take you out. You got it?
The girl waited for a response, which didn’t get, so she approached her mother, staring at her, thanking her to be taller than her. — you got it?
— You think you’re gonna be able to kick me out of my house?
— It stopped being your home the moment you decided to set foot out of it and not come back for more than five years… So, next time, think better about that asshole’s actions or you’ll pay the consequences, too.
…
— Noona, I’m so sorry.
— It’s not your fault Jiwoong-ah, stop apologizing. — The girl said, carefully putting the ointment on her hands, on the wound that the boy’s arms had, apparently, his dad had hit him with the buckle. — Was he always like this?
The youngest looked at his red arm, denying. — When he started drinking, he became more violent, at first it was words, but… Then the blows started…
Heejin made a sound with her throat before blinking, returning to his wounds. — Where’s your mom? Where is she now?
The youngest lowered his sight, the girl understood that uncomfortable position the conversation had taken, knew that he didn’t want to talk about it, which, perhaps, wasn’t his favorite subject. Putting one hand on his shoulder, she smiled warmly, sighing. — Do you want something to eat? Come on, I’ll buy you lunch.
The boy immediately shook his head, and he smiled with some nerves. — You don’t have to do it nonna, I can’t eat anything until it’s dinner time.
The girl embodied an eyebrow in confusion before seeing it from top to bottom. — Are you on a diet or something?
— No… it’s my punishment… I didn’t feed them, I don’t have the right to a meal. — The girl felt her heart break as she heard that, looking at the boy, who was only months younger than her, but still treated her with respect, she sigh with some discomfort, denying after a second.
— Come on, punishment, what punishment? Is not like that you were his maid, get up, we’ll go to lunch, is on nonna today… — Having an idea, she laughed, getting out of bed as she looked at the boy. —… or maybe we’ll find a charitable hyung to pay for our meal. — Heejin smiled, taking the youngest’s hand to lift him out of bed
When they both left the room, the image of the two adults lying on the sofas made the girl make a grimace of disgust, those were her favorite and now they were going to reek of alcohol, thanking that they were fainted with too many bottles of alcohol around them, the girl told the boy to go and take his things to leave them in her room, she didn’t want them to try to take away something of value from the boy.
The vices were horrible.
They both left the apartment once the girl locked her room. — Tell me Jiwoong, do you have any fun hobby? You know, you exercise or you like some sport… Or maybe… Oh, the billiards! Do you like billiards?
— Play billiards, yes… — The boy said with a smile, feeling comfortable talking to the eldest, he had felt a warm aura the night he met her, although he felt like a tenant in that place, she felt like someone he could trust, unlike her mother, of course.
— Oh…— The girl laughed gently taking his arm. — Sooho will love you, and we’ll have free food! — The girl said with a giggle, the boy laughed with a little blush on his face, he had never had such a cheerful conversation with anyone and the girl’s attitude made him forget what had happened a few minutes ago, they both kept talking as they went down the elevator until it stopped and the doors opened, just in front of their eyes, they could see a figure in front of them, which stared at them attentively, as if thinking.
— Oh, kitten. — The boy’s eyes passed from the girl to the arms intertwined with those of the boy unknown to him, and so on until they decided to stay in the boy’s face.
When his eyes looked at the tallest, he scanned it in more detail, tall, perhaps the height of Sooho, thin, black hair split in two but with a cut that fits him very well, eyes torn, but not so small, his face looked well structured and when he smiled, the boy could see the little dimples he had in his cheeks.
And that made Sieun feel a tingle in his chest as he looked at the girl again, she was going to say something before he decided to talk. — I was waiting for you at the exit, Heejin… I thought we agreed to come home together. — The boy said, looking at his girlfriend seriously.
Uh, he’s mad.
The girl squeezed her lips before nodding, thinking it was true, usually they going home together. — Yeah, I’m sorry… It’s just I had to get home quickly, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you, I thought you went looking for Bumseok and all… — This explained and Sieun was going to respond before the movement of the boy’s body next to Heejin caught his attention.
Sieun looked back at the highest one, bowing his head a little, he didn’t know if it was because he wanted to bother him or because he was looking for the words to ask who he was.
Of course you want to make him uncomfortable, have you seen how your girlfriend take him by the arm?
Blinking at that thought, Sieun now looked into Jiwoong’s eyes fixedly. — Who are you?
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