Kwa young POV
A maid led Dad into the living room with his suitcase in her hand, I smiled widely upon seeing him, he was on call, though.
“Welcome Dad” I stood on my feet and greeted, but he only waved at me as he motioned to the staircase, speaking nonstop to his phone. I sighed deeply and sat down again. A normal Dad would ask why I am still up by this time, isn't? This was how it has always been, so I shouldn't be sad.
I continued with my movie. It was late though, but I really wanted to know when mom returns from work, it had been pretty long since I last saw her.
And it was just like a wish come true, a car honked from outside, and I was certain it was no other person than her.
I stood up and ran to the door, gleefully.
I opened it and stepped out to welcome her, smiling sheepishly like I just won a lottery.
Furthermore, I watched as she parked her car carefully in the garage before stepping out.
The bright light in the compound reflected on her face and I just watched as she approached me with her small purse hung on her shoulder, I was sure she hasn't seen me yet.
“Welcome Mom” I said with all smiles and her eyes widened in surprise as she walks closer.
“What are you still doing up, baby?” She glanced at her wristwatch. “This is past nine” She said calmly as she pecked my cheeks.
“I missed you, mom” I hugged her tightly.
“I missed you too, darling” She kissed my hair and disengaged from the hug. “Let's go in”
“So how was school today?” She asked me with a little smile, it was pretty obvious she's stressed, but I really wanted to have a nice time with her. “School was boring as usual, mom” I told her sadly. “Your dinner is served, ma'am,” A maid interrupted us. Mom nodded, and the maid bowed before walking away.
“Do you want me to come to your school concerning your classmates?” She asked and I almost roll my eyes. This was probably the hundredth time she would be asking me this, but she never comes, even when I told her to.
“It's fine mom, I already met a new friend” I began, smiling widely as I remembered how cute she was. “Really?” She raised a brow at me after she gulped down some water.
“Yes mom. Her name is Audrey, and she's a really nice girl” “Is she in your class?” Mom asked and I shake my head sideways.
“She's in grade eleven, but she told me I shouldn't hesitate to always come to her whenever I need someone to talk to” I narrated, and she just nodded.
“That was cool…” She was saying, but her shrilling phone interrupted her. She looked down at it beside her and quickly picked it.
“I need to pick this call, Kwa Young” She told me, standing on her feet already and my face quickly switched to a bitter one.
“Go to bed dear, you're going to school tomorrow” She blew me a kiss and picked the call. ”Yes Sir” She said through the phone and I watched as she climbed the stairs, her heels making a sound.
Can't I just have a normal life like other people out there?
**********
"Mi Cha” Mom called as she walked into the living room, I quickly closed my eyes and lie on my back, pretending I was sleeping.
She laughs, I squinted an eye open to see her switching off the TV.
I groaned inwardly.
Why wasn't she asleep yet?
I really wanted to watch the wrestling match finish. “Now cut the pretence and go to bed” I heard her say. I opened my eyes and slowly sat up on the long couch, scratching my nape.
“Naughty girl” She joked.
I looked at her and she eyed me playfully.
“I was actually sleeping, you know?” I told her.
“Just go to bed, naughty” She scolded, I twitched my lips in annoyance.
I just can't wait to graduate from high school.
I slide my feet into my flip-flops and rose to my feet. “Goodnight, mom” I yawned softly.
“Sleep well, dear”
I took the stairs but stopped halfway, immediately Duffer crept into my mind.
“Foolish boy” I muttered.
“You say what?” Mom asked from the living room. “Nothing mom” I answered and continued climbing the stairs but stopped again.
“Mom?” I called, climbing down from the stairs.
“You're not watching anything here tonight again, Audrey” Mom rolled her eyes as I walked into the sitting room again, I also did the same.
“I just wanted to tell you something” I told her, taking my seat opposite hers, she had already turned on the TV.
“What's it?” She asked, sitting up.
“Uhm mm”
How do I start?
“It's about a guy in my class” I began, and a smirk ran across her lips. I scoffed.
“He's a Duffer, mom”
“Could you believe he told me he also doesn't interact with girls, and that I broke his rule today?” Mom's mouth went agape.
“He doesn't interact with girls?” She asked and I nodded curtly. “And how come you broke his rule?” I sighed softly.
“He just prompted me to talk, and I did”
“So you talked to him already, huh?” Mum smirks again. I rolled my eyes.
“Tell me, is he cute?” She winks.
I grimaced. “He's the ugliest I've ever met” I answered, taking my eyes to the TV.
“That's a lie, Mi Cha” Mom laughs, and I furrowed my brows as I turned to her again.
Duffer isn't cute, isn't it?
“You're talking to your mother here, remember?” She teases. “Jokes aside, mom, what reason could make him not wanting to talk to girls?” I asked curiously.
Mom hums as she stared at me with a grim expression. “What?”
“Why don't you like to interact with guys too?” Mom returned the question and I frowned instantly. “Come on mom, we can't possibly share the same reason” “Or can we?” I stared blankly at the TV screen, thinking about the whole thing.
The following_day.
Kwan POV.
“Thanks for having lunch with me, Audrey” I told her, she glanced at me as she rushed her pasta, like she was in some kind of competition.
I let out a small laugh as I watched her, admiringly. She's so cute.
I averted my eyes around the cafeteria and few eyes were on her, but she was careless about it.
She gulped down some water and shot me a little smile. “That was so good” She commended, pointing a finger at her empty plate. And we both erupted in a small laugh.
“Don't ever thank me again, we are friends now, right?” She asked, and I could feel joy leapt in my heart.
“Whoa… I feel so great now”
“Becoming a friend of almighty Audrey, isn't that great?” I joked and we both laughed out loud again.
“You're very funny, Kwan” She said, after we stopped laughing.
“It's my pleasure, my lady” I bowed a little, and she nudged my arm playfully.
“They caught me writing a letter to someone I've always liked in our class” I began.
We were both sitting on the grass in the school garden, the garden was strictly restricted from student though, but we had our way.
“A letter?”
I nodded.
“I tried my possible best to hide it from them, but Jin snatched it from me and read it out to her friends hearing”
“And Mr. An- the principal had warned us not to ever write a letter or anything related to love in school, he warned us that if he ever caught someone like that, the person would be punished severally”
I released a rueful breath.
“Ever since that day, Jin, and her friends have been using the letter to threaten me, they keep telling me they still have it and if I stopped listening to them, they'll show it to the principal” I concluded, feeling ashamed to look at Audrey at the moment.
“Who are you in love with in our class?” Audrey asked in a rough tone, obviously angry.
"Seo Yun” I replied, nervously.
“And who the hell is that?” She asked in the same tone. I slowly look at her in the eyes.
“The guy you slapped on your first day of resumption” I told her and I watched as her eyes protruded in surprise.
“That fool?!” She almost screamed.