"Goodmorning, Unnie!" Yuna yelled while sitting down across Mom.
I started stretching my limbs while yawning. I walked my way to the dining table with a smile on my face. It's been a while since I had a full 8-hour sleep. My body was relaxed. My mind was focused and I was happy.
It's all because of Yeji. I still can't forget what we talked about and how she comforted me yesterday. I don't really open up and share my feelings with others.
Yeji listened to me. She listened to every word I said to her. We talked yesterday until the end of my shift. We talked about my problems and her problems. It was truly fun talking to her.
If I'm being honest, I would rather sit besides Yeji than Hyunjin and Heejin. Those two girls don't listen to my problems. They just talk to me because I know how to cause trouble. The three of us have been friends and have been causing trouble for 2 years.
We've been friends for 2 years, but I would rather hangout with Yeji, whom I met recently. She's the reason why I'm not hurting at the moment. She healed some of my scars.
I sat down on the empty chair besides my sister and I let out a sigh of relief. It was a peaceful morning.
My mom was cooking a bunch of stuff as usual.
"Yuna, can you turn on the TV?" Mom said.
Yuna nodded and stood up from her seat. She walked towards our TV and pressed the small button on the bottom part of the TV.
"A highschool student in Gangnam was brutally murdured last night. The police said that the suspect escaped and is still on the loose."
My mom clicked her tongue while looking at the TV. She had a distressed and concerned look on her face.
Yuna, on the other hand, is covering her eyes trying her best not to look at the picture of a dead person on the TV.
Even though the picture was on black and white, I was still a little disgusted at how detailed the picture is. The student's organs are scattered around the road and her clothes are torn apart. It was truly horrific.
Yuna looked at her food with a disgusted expression on her face. "I regret turning on the TV. I lost my appetite." She pouted.
My mom stopped cooking and sat down on her chair. "Ryujin, you like wandering around. You should always be careful." My mom said with a hint of worry.
I let out a small smile. "Mom, don't worry. You sent me to a karate school, remember?"
My mom chuckled weakly. "Ryujin, that was taekwondo. Plus, that was 9 years ago."
I slowly nodded. "Oh." I replied. "Don't worry, Mom. I can defend myself." I said to calm her down.
"Sure." She said.
I looked around our house while trying to find someone. There is supposed to be four of us eating together, but there was someone missing.
"Mom, where's Dad?" I asked.
The woman in her 30s clicked her tongue. She looked frustrated. "He's not going to eat with us." She weakly said.
I clenched my fists and furrowed my eyebrows. I was mad at my father. He would always go home drunk and start an argument with my mom. He doesn't even greet us or eat dinner or breakfast with us.
I stood up from my seat and gritted my teeth. "Mom, get a divorce."
Her eyes widened at what I said. I can tell that she was caught off guard. "What are you saying? sit down, Ryujin."
"I said get a divorce. You have a decent job, Mom. You don't need Dad." I said
She crossed her arms and looked at me in the eyes. "He will change."
I chuckled. "We've been like this for a year or two. Everyday is the same." I held my head. "Everyday, all I can hear are your arguments. Everyday, he always yell at you and hurt you." Tears started to form in my eyes.
"Everyday is painful. Everyday feels like shit!" I yelled.
My mom stood up from her seat. "Language, Ryujin." She threw a glance at my sister.
"Shit!" Yuna imitated me in a cute voice.
I looked at my sister and I forced a smile. "Yuna, don't be like me." I pointed at myself. "I am a bad person."
Yuna nodded and looked at me with her puppy eyes. "Oh-keh." She replied.
I switched my attention to my mother. "Alright, Mom. If you don't fix your relationship with Dad, I will jump on Mapo Bridge." I threatened.
My mom glared at me. "What did you say?!"
"I can't live like this. I will jump without hesitation, Mom. You will see my dead body floating on the river!" I yelled.
I inhaled and sharply exhaled. I walked away and I grabbed my bag that is on the floor. I placed both of my hands in my pocket while looking at my mom who is still shocked at what I said. "Thanks for the breakfast. Goodbye. I'm going to school."
"Hey, come back here, you brat! you didn't even eat!" She yelled, but I ignored her.
--
While sitting down on my chair and waiting for school to end, I rested my head on my hand while thinking about the small argument I had with Mom this morning.
It was the first time I argued with her. I hope that my mom made up her mind and decide to to fix their relationship. I just want us to be happy again
"Ryujin." Someone suddenly spoke that made me snap out of my thoughts.
I looked at the person standing in front of me. "What?" I looked at the person in the eyes and my world lit up a little bit. "Yeji." I said.
Yeji smiled and sat down on the empty chair besides me. "Do you remember the nurse who assisted me when you brought me to the hospital?" She whispered.
I nodded. "Yeah."
Yeji showed me the notebook she is holding. "She handed me this earlier. She said that you left this at the hospital."
I weakly chuckled. "O-oh. I must've forgot to give it to you." I said. "Don't worry, I didn't read your diary."
"I actually have a bucket list." She said.
I opened my palm and started caressing the back of my head. "D-do you need help with your bucket list?" I shyly said.
Yeji's smile grew as big as the skies. Yeji stood up and excitement is seen on her face. "Really? you will help me with my bucket list?"
"Yeah. You made me happy yesterday so I'm willing to do the same." I said.
Yeji hopped like a bunny out of excitement. "Thanks, Ryujin!" She happily said and walked away from me with a smile on her face.
I smiled and rested the right side of my face on my palm.
Suddenly, I felt a hand on my shoulder that made my soul jump out of fear.
I looked behind me and my eyes met with my friends. "Hyunjin, Heejin, what's up?" I said.
"The ceiling." Heejin said and crossed her arms. The two had a serious look on their faces that made me a little confused. They looked like they want to beat me up.
"Something wrong?" I asked again.
Hyunjin leaned forward to me. "Why are you hanging out with that beanie girl?" She said with a hint of jealousy.
Heejin nodded. "Yeah. Why won't you hangout with us? it's been a while since I saw you land a punch on someone."
"Yeji is...." I struggled to construct a sentence. "She's what I need."
The two laughed at me.
Heejin held her stomach while laughing at me. "Ryujin, your jokes never fail to make me cackle."
Hyunjin did the same. "That's true."
They kept on laughing until their faces turn red. I wanted to laugh too. 'Saying "she's what I need" is so corny.' I thought to myself.
After a few seconds, the joyful look on their faces dissolved into a serious look. They looked at me with their bossy eyes that made me gulp in a quiet manner.
"Seriously, Ryujin. Come hangout with us." Heejin said.
I stood up from my seat and smiled at them. "I'm sorry."
"I'm going to spend some time with Yeji." I said without hesitation and walked away from them.