That morning, Arthur was left to his own devices.
His Grandfather had pulled his Mother and Father aside to talk. Leaving him alone and bored out of his mind. He decided to get a head start on returning their things back to the car. It was a lengthy trip especially since he had to go up and down the flight of stairs just to go to and back. He cursed at the uselessly big house.
On his last trip, he encountered some of the adults.
The woman in red, was now wearing a nude fitted lace mini dress. Her ferocious look had toned down a lot. She stood next to two men.
"You there."
Arthur froze on the spot, holding in a sigh, he dipped his head. "Good Morning."
He walked on.
"Where are you going so early?" She called after him.
Arthur blinked a couple of times at her, and shot her look as if to ask "Why do you care?" "Why pretend to care?" "Are you just trying to waste my time?"
He learned from his Father last night, this woman was actually his Aunt Eunju. Her husband was the son of Ms. Ayeong, who he also learned, was his Dad's Step Mother.
His Mother's Dad was a step too, but he never treated him as anything less than family.
He looked her up and down.
Her eyes widened at his audacity.
"...To our car." he finally answered.
She folded her arms and lifted her nose at him. "You're having breakfast with us this morning. Aren't you?"
"Yes."
She eyed his bags.
"Are you leaving after breakfast?"
"I don't know."
"Then, why-
His patience was thinning. "Be. Cause. I have things to do! I have to go to school soon but I haven't even set up my room or gotten my uniform yet."
"Don't be so on edge." Her husband butted in. Arthur assumed he was the husband, aside from his Uncle Jason these were the only men present he didn't know. The broad shouldered one, who just spoke was Si-Wook, and the pale and slender one was Yeonu.
His Uncle Wook stepped up and smiled with his hands in his pockets but there was a stop sign in his eyes warning him not to proceed any further. "She doesn't mean any harm." And yet his posture felt intimidating.
"Which school are you going to?" His other Uncle, Yeonu asked.
Arthur studied the two. They seemed relaxed but it felt like if he wasn't careful he could get mauled.
"I don't know. I forgot. Ask my Dad. Excuse me." He bowed and walked on ahead.
Eunju's lip twitched. "He's an uppity little thing but at least he seems to know his place."
Si-Wook looked amused. "He reminds me of Chung-Ho when he was young."
-
Meanwhile Chung Ho himself was seated across from his Father in his Father's study.
"What? Why all of a sudden?"
"It's not all of a sudden. I gave it some thought, he's still a Sim. I can't have him bring any dishonor."
Naturally, his Father objected. "No one will even know who he is!"
His Grandfather nodded, his thumb rubbed on the golden finger-ring on his finger. "But once they see you, they will. Because you're my son, because no matter what you do you're a Sim. People will care."
Chung-Ho took a deep breath, his eyes closed. "I'm… not going to work for you."
Chung-Ho's wife, Bo Bae, listened to the exchange patiently at first. He didn't even greet her when she greeted him... To think he was THE Sim Young-jae, to him she was probably just a tick.
But after listening to what the old man had to say her feelings of wrong subsided. She actually agreed with him. So hearing her husband object pained her. It was at times like these she remembered their social classes and difference in upbringing. She couldn't hold her tongue any longer.
"What are you saying? This could be a good opportunity for Arthur! Working for him aside why not let Arthur attend?"
Her outburst startled him.
He regarded her for a bit, finally remembering himself Chung-Ho nodded.
"Okay, whatever you say." He eyed his Father. "What's the catch?"
"There is no catch."
"Impossible."
"Hmmm." He hummed, pressing the tips of his fingers together as he reclined in his chair. "While he's here, have him use the name Taejin."
"That's it?"
"What that's not enough?"
Bo Bae interjected. "No! It's good enough!"
Chung Ho stared at her. She mouthed the words "What?"
Finally the meeting ended.
During breakfast, Wook glanced at Chung-Ho and asked in-between bites.
"So...which school... will A-tha... be going to?"
"Arthur." Bo Bae and Eunju corrected him in unison. The two women locked gazes then.
Si- wook impatiently nodded.
Arthur slowed eating to look at his Uncle exasperated, Why do you care?
"He'll be attending the academy." His Grandfather answered for Chung-Ho.
The Acadamey? That's very specific. Arthur took note of this. He looked to his parents. They didn't refute him. Did something happen?
"What?" Ayeong stared at her husband, hard. "The qualifications for Oz Academy-
"He meets the requirements. No need to pull strings."
Eunju's face scrunched up, "YOU speak three languages?" she looked to Arthur in turn.
"..."
Bo Bae dropped her mouth in offense. "We lived in Canada, why is it that surprising?"
"What was his extra-curricular?"
"Tennis."
Wook's face lit up, "Tennis?" He eyed Arthur the light in his eyes shining with genuine interest.
Arthur didn't meet his gaze of course. The only good thing about this place was the food.
"He quit tennis." His mother added quietly.
"You quit?" His Grandfather spoke directly to Arthur. "Why?"
"I wanted to do something else."
The light in Wook's eyes dimmed, "What?"
"I wanted to start a different club, but I didn't get to because we moved."
"Arthur, look at your Grandfather when he's speaking to you." his Mom whispered.
"Why? He doesn't even look at you when you're speaking to him? The elder should set the example." He whispered back.
His Mother sighed and pinched his ear. "Oi. Are you going to keep mouthing off like this? Think I can't make a scene here?!"
"Ow...Ma, fine. Fine. Fine! Ow! I'm sorry!"
His Grandfather interrogated Chung Ho. "You let him do this?"
Chung-Ho and Arthur exchanged looks. Initially, his Father didn't take it so well either when he said he wanted to quit. There was even a cold war... But that was natural, he was the coach of his team after all.
"Did you push him too hard?" Eunju asked, failing to conceal her smirk.
Wook chimed in. "Chung-Ho… I know you're a perfectionist but sometimes kids need to have fun."
They were already assuming what happened. His father offered no word in defense.
Arthur suddenly stood.
"Hey!" His Mother whisper hissed and pulled at his sleeve.
She didn't have to say it.
This wasn't Canada.
These weren't strangers.
They were family. He needed to hold his tongue.
"I!" Staring at his Father he felt so guilty and apologetic he couldn't bear this scene. "I...need to go to the bathroom. May I?"
Dad... I'm sorry.