"Hi, mom" I said from behind her
She jumped, and, satisfied, I smiled, but hid it when she turned to look at me with a glare
"Mwohae?" what are you doing? I asked her, innocently
She kept her glare on
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" she asked, ignoring my question
"What?" I asked, still feigning innocence
She flicked my forehead
"Ah!" I protested as I massaged the spot
She ignored me and went back to what she was doing
"What are you doing?" I asked her again
She didn't ignore me this time
"Making a plan" she phrased
"A plan? Of what?" I asked
"My hospital. You see, when starting a business you need to create a plan. A plan entails the cost in opening the business, the expenses you will have, who the target market are, how much you charge, how much profit you can make, how to make it more pro..." she began to elaborate, but I cut her off
"Ah, I see. It's all about how to succeed in it, right?"
"Yeah"
"And that's all you have to tell me. No other information needed"
"You need information in the life" she tsk-ed
"And I'll get, and keep, all the useful information I need"
She just shook her head
"How was school?"
I smiled a victorious smile
"Good"
"That's good to hear"
She nodded
"Ah,", she said as an afterthought, "who dropped you off yesterday?" she asked, bringing back the discussion we left off the morning
I raised an eyebrow
"I heard the engine of a car when you came home, but you said your car was at school this morning. That means someone dropped you off" she added, ignoring the look I was giving her
I signed
"That was Ji Sung" I said
She nodded, smiling
"Don't get your hopes up, mom" I told her, as I turned towards the stairs
"Nothing bad in it" she defensed
I stopped, and turned to her
"Yeah, but I stings when it gets crushed, a lot" I said
We both knew, and understood, the second meaning of what I said
I turned back, and continued my journey
I managed to drop my bag in a respectful place, before I plopped on the bed. I groaned as I carefully and slowly released my tensed back muscles into the bed
"Igeo ya" this is it I signed as I completed my mission
I signed as I stared at the ceiling, focusing on nothing in particular
I should get up and start doing school work now, I thought, although I didn't even make an effort to transfer my thought into action
After some couple of minutes, I finally forced-encouraged myself to do some work
^^^^^
A knock resonated from my door
"Come in" I said turning around to face my mom
"Mwohae?" what are you doing? she asked
"Homework" I replied
"How's it going?"
I shrugged
She smiled at my response
"Just wanted to let you know that dinner's ready"
"Okay, I'll be down in a minute. Let me just wrap up"
"Okay" she nodded, but still hung around
I gave her a reassuring smile, which she responded to with a small smile before she retreated
Sometimes, I was angry at her for her decisions, I never understood them, and even though I will never understand them, she was still my mom, and I love her
I turned back to my work, completing what was left
^^^^^
Everyone stopped what they were doing, and went to their seat as our homeroom teacher stepped in. Fortunately, the teacher I met when I came in was just a substitute. Teacher Han Jun-woo was a nice, funny, and encouraging teacher. He's the first teacher, probably adult, who I actually like
"Stand" our class representative, and everyone complied
"Greet"
We all bowed
"Annyeong haseyo, seonsaengmin. Jal jass-eo?" hello, teacher. did you sleep well? and said at once
"Um, aju jal jassda. Neoneun? Jal jass-eo?" I slept very well? and you? did you sleep well?
"De" yes the class rep. replied
He nodded
"Anj-a, anj-a. Don't stress your legs" sit down
"Ssaem, neo oneul meosjyeo boyeo" you look cool today a student said giving him a thumbs up
"Ya" hey a girl beside her nudged her
"Ssaem always look cool" she said
"That's right" the student said
"I also think you guys are pretty. Like the beautiful lilies in the midst of grasses. Shining brightly, full of grace...."
"Ssaem!!" we shouted in protest, cutting him off
"Ow, chijeu. I'm going to throw up" cheesy
"Mwoya" what is that?
Some students added, and we all laughed
"I just want to describe my love for you. Which shines bright that the sun. Makes the..."
"Ssaem!!" we cut him off again
"Geumanhae, jaebal. I'm going to throw up" please, stop it
"No, you won't. You have a strong stomach" he said
"Teullyeoss-eo, I have a weak stomach" you're wrong she replied
"Well, if that's the case, I'll just have to show my love in another way"
"What is it?" a boy asked
"Drum roll, everyone"
As it intensified, he spoke up
"A class project!"
"Ah!!" everyone protested stopping the drum roll
"What's with that response? I thought you'll be happy"
"Is there no other way to show your love?"
"No"
"Ssaem!!"
"You don't like it?"
"No!!"
"That's too bad, we'd have gone on a trip after that"
"Jinjja?" a boy asked
"But I'll have to cancel it"
We shouted, happily, ignoring his last statement; we all knew he was joking. He smiled, and quieted us after a while
"I'll tell you the details next time. But for now, get ready for school, and have a great time"
"De!!" yes we responded
The class rep. stood up and was about to tell to do the same and greet, but was stopped by the teacher
"Pil-yo eob-so. I'm honored to teach such a great generation. Thank you for making me teach you" no need he said with a bow, and left, our laughter escorting him out
^^^^^
"Where are you going now?" Ji Sung asked as I went towards my car
"Where else am I supposed to go to after school if not my home?"
I then stopped walking and turned to face him
"Mwo? Mwo? Why are you looking at me like that?" what? he asked
"Ya, neo, jigeum, mueos-e saeng-gag-kae?" hey, you, what are you thinking of now? I asked him
"Neh? museum tteus-iya? huh? what do you mean? he asked taking a step forward
"Hajima" don't I said stopping him
"What are you doing?" he asked
"Ya, neo gyeong-gohanda. If you're thinking of kidnapping me again, neo dachilgeoya" hey, I'm warning you.... you'll get hurt I warned him
He laughed
"You're talking as if I actually kidnapped you. Ij-eoss ni? You had so much fun beating me, and didn't want to leave; I had to drag you away" did you forget? he said
"Bottom line is still that you kidnapped me" I said as I ruined around and continued walking
He scoffed
I entered my car
"Hey, do you want to hang out this weekend?"
"Why would I want to hang out with you?"
"Can you just reply normally for once?"
I shrugged
"I don't know if I have time; I'll let you know later"
"How come you don't know if you'll have time?" he asked stepping away from the door
"My mom might have prepared something" I closed the door and rolled down the window
"And besides, something might just pop up"
He nodded
I turned on the engine
"Annyeong, chingu" bye, friend
He waved