"Oh God!" I thought to myself as I looked down at my newly acquired phone. I slowly swiped the screen and started to cycle through the messages.
01:32pm T38 V18 ||||| 5G
________________________________________
<- (M) -Mom- MOBILE [ :
________________________________________
{12:01pm Mom: How was your Final?
{12:02pm Mom: Did you do okay?
{12:03pm Mom: You should be done by now.
{12:05pm Mom: Why don't you answer my call?
{12:07pm Mom: I'm calling the Police if you don't
respond?
{12:10pm Mom: Did you get killed? You better be
dead!
{12:11pm Mom: Aigooo! This child, You want to
die?
{12:15pm Mom: I see you have chosen death!
{12:17pm Mom: Omma is really worried!
{12:18pm Mom: Where are you? I called you
again!
{12:19pm Mom: I called you, why did you block
me?
{12:20pm Mom: My daughter hates me...
{12:21pm Mom: Are you trying to kill your
Omma?
{12:30pm Mom: I am going to the school to try
to find you!
{12:45pm Mom: Your professor said you were at
the exam.
{12:46pm Mom: Did you get kidnapped?
{12:50pm Mom: Your friend said you got in a taxi
alone.
{12:51pm Mom: Obviously you must be fine.
{12:52pm Mom: I am going to wait at your
apartment until you come home.
{01:00pm Mom: I am here at your apartment.
{01:10pm Mom: I am making you some bonchan.
______________________________________
I sigh, thinking my mother is off her rocker and scroll through the other messages.
I also received several threads from my x's. I have dated a lot of guys, but it was always them trying to make love happen. Wearing matching outfits, and going on expensive outings. Most girls would swoon over these cute guys and all of their gifts, but I was unphased and mostly tried to keep to my studies. Every now and then, I'd go out to get some drinks with my girlfriends and of course end up with some other guy vying for my attention. A few were "arranged dates" my mother set up for me as well. I guess they had the opinion that I was a "done deal" if my mother was okay with the date and arranged everything. My face became twisted in disdain.
"Why is she always arranging these "dates" with these older business men." I think in disgust to myself.
"Ug, why do they keep texting me? I have already told them all I am uninterested."
I muse and don't bother opening them to read. "I don't want to give them hope." I think to myself, with a smirk.
I know it's all because my dad wants to appease his work colleges with sealing my fate in an arranged marriage for the good of the Soon family business. I have never wanted all of the excess my other family members show. The fancy bags, the cars, the excess everything. All of that just seemed so extra in my mind. I am just happy to be the youngest and mostly out of the spotlight. I wanted to focus on my studies and make it on my own without the help of the Soon Family Business. I just want to do what I have a passion for while I can, I want to start my own company before I am forced into the Soon conglomerate. I can't do anything else but sigh. Maybe I can go work in one of the art museums and not be bothered by all of the family drama.
I continue glancing at my phone. One conversation thread is from my friend Han-sue wanting to get together for drinks and grilled beef this evening. I consider taking her up on that offer after the horrible day I have had today. Maybe some drinks will cure this headache and anger.
I text her back telling her,
"Maybe later, I have to clear up some things with my mom first."
She texts me back that my mother called her, and she thought I was dead. Apparently my mother called all the hospitals in Seoul looking to see if I was dead or dying.
I let out a scream in the middle of the street.
"OMMMMMMMAAAAAA! Whyyyyyyyyy are you like this?"While shaking my self in exasperation.
I then get embarrassed and look down apologizing and bowing to the few people near me, and start walking towards my house.
I realize at this point, I've been standing in the middle of a Gangnam sidewalk for 15 minutes completely oblivious to the stares and people talking about, "This clueless girl."
As I walk I decide to call my Mom, which I never do, but I think she would like this better. I can smooth things over with her by the time I get to my apartment. I hit call Mom.
"Yeoboseyo?" says my Mom in a nonchalant way.
Mom starts yelling at me through the phone. I pull the earpiece out of my ears. My ears ringing from her screaming. I take a deep breath in and apologize for not responding faster. I told her my phone was broken on the bus. At this point she chastises me for breaking my phone. I calm her down and tell her it was an accident and that I also became hurt today. She finally relinquishes her hold on my ear drums. I told her all about the bus accident, the taxi guy, Mr. Handsome, knocking me over, and my final exam. She says I need to go to the doctor, but I told her if I can go through all of that, and take a final exam, I am fine. She concedes and says,
"Well, I guess it can't be helped. I called your building manager and demanded he fix your AC immediately and made them turn your power back on. The way they treat my baby, I will have words with the manager in charge of this complex. Everything is fixed. I will see you when you get here." Mom proceeds to hang up the line. This leaves me with a wave a relief. Finally I can breathe again. I am pleased to hear my AC and power are back on.
I arrive home. I stand outside my door and sigh, getting ready for an assault on my ears. I brush my hand on the lock and it pops up, I place my finger on the digital keypad and it unlocks. I open the door, the light flicks on in the foyer, and my bag drops to the floor. Before I can look up I feel my mother starts to squeeze me. I am mid removal of my shoe and I stand there almost hopping on one foot attempting to eye my slipper. My knee starts to crack. I wince in pain, but I am successfully able to ease into my shoe while looking down over my mother's shoulder.
My mother releases me for a second, and I use the opportunity to shed my other shoe and put on my remaining slipper quickly as I can. I now have a renewed sense of pain in my leg from my weight standing on that one leg. She grabs my shoulders and gives me the one up and down. Then she manhandles sides of my head and tosses it carelessly from right to left, and then up and down, fully examining me. My head spins. I sigh and attempt to gently push her off. She continues her examination and starts running her fingers over my head.
"Hea-Ran!! Omo! I feel a bump!" She says and she points to the back of my head. She releases me and starts to rapid fire click her tongue in disapproval while waving her finger in the air.
She declares, "Aishhh, That man... Who does he think he is? I will kill him. I will hunt him down and tear him limb from limb for hurting my baby."
"I know mom, It's fine!" I say and put my bag, keys, and shoes away.
She takes off in the direction of the kitchen. She proceeds to put the freshly made containers of bonchan in the refrigerator and make up an ice pack for my head. I walk towards my living room and peer towards the kitchen. She runs towards me and shoves the ice pack in a towel at me.
"I made some porridge in your rice cooker. Also some side dishes for you to eat later. They are in the fridge. Please eat them well and feel better!" Mom states and turns around tapping her finger to her lips.
I roll my eyes and start to shake my head at her. "Wow she must be bi-polar!" I think in my head.
Mom heads to the door, grabs her bag, goes to put on her shoes. She then pops her head around the corner of my hallway and says,
"I have set you up with a new handsome younger ceo guy! I gave him your number this time, so you couldn't run away and not go this time. I can't wait to hear how it turns out!" with a giggle.
I mouth,"What the Fuck!" thinking, "Great, just what I needed, another guy trying to get into my pants again. Dammit!"
She has set me up on another date. And what's worse! She gave the guy my number already?
Cheerfully she says,"I am leaving first!" then she proceeds to open the door and leave. I hear the lock click closed with a beep before I can say goodbye or thank her for the food.
"Thank God she is gone!" I think, then I attempt to think of how I can get rid of this new suitor, but I quickly give up that thought currently as my head begins to pound again.
I am now in my living room standing in from of my couch. I collapse in exasperation on the soft fabric. It's so comfy. I slowly begin to tuck into a fetal position and resolve to relieve my headache with a nap. I start to doze off with Koi jumping up on my feet, she starts to "knead bread" on my blanket and I accidently toss her off as I pull it the blanket up over me and start to fall into a deep sleep. Koi flops onto the floor on all fours, ruffles her fur, and walks off with an angry flick of her tail. I think I hear a ding from my phone, I think I have a new message, then a few more dings, but I ignore the chiming and fully give into sleeping.