Donsu didn't come to school the next day. That much was given though considering how much he was hurt. But then again, he didn't come to school the day after either, and the day after, and another day after, and the weekend passed and he still did not come to school on Monday. Since the incident, nobody really talked about it. I was of course enraged, but it wouldn't have done any good trying to pick a fight with Hechan and Soojin over this. Their victim wasn't even around the school, so what would I have been fighting for?
There was no one to protect or save. Nobody else in the class was hurt during Donsu's incident. Nobody got into any trouble for it, so why bring up an unpleasant topic to talk about?
At least that's how I understood the situation and I went along with it. This was not my fight.
However, when Donsu did not come to school even in the week following the incident, I just had to ask Ajin what happened.
"Hey, Ajin. How's Donsu? Did you hear anything about him? Is he that seriously injured?"
"He was pretty badly hurt on that day but was able to get up and leave the school by himself so I guess he will manage"
"Right, when would he be back to school? Isn't it gonna be pretty bad for him and Hechan to meet again?"
"Don't worry about that. Donsu is expelled and won't be coming back again"
"What?!"
"Well, you can't get away with bringing a knife to school and trying to stab someone with it"
"What the hell? How about Hechan and Soojin? What THEY did was ok?"
"No, it wasn't okay"
"But they are still coming to school while Donsu is expelled?"
"You might have noticed that they have been staying after school for the past week"
"What's that about?"
"Disciplinary action. They got cleaning duties for two weeks"
"That's messed up. Sorry, but that's really messed up"
"Neither you nor I get to decide what punishment they should receive"
"I can't accept this"
"So what are you gonna do? Calm down, Jenn. You were not hurt. It's unfortunate for Donsu but he DID try to stab someone in the classroom. No reason or context can cover that up"
I was fuming with anger but I also knew Ajin was right. It did feel messed up that Hechan and Soojin were getting away with such light punishment, but Ajin also had a point regarding Donsu's use of a weapon.
So this was what would have happened to me too if I ever braved it and tried to fight back.
"Jenn, I will tell you for the one last time"
"What?"
"Don't get involved with Hechan. Think about it. There must be reasons how he can do all this and always get away with it"
"What are the reasons?"
"Don't pry into it"
***
"Miss, you don't look too well. Is anything the matter?"
Uncle Tan asked me on the drive home.
"Just something that happened at school has been bothering me a bit… but it's alright"
"If anybody has done anything bad to you, then talk to Hana and she can sort it out"
"Gees, I get scared when you say she can 'sort it out'".
"Well, she's a very capable woman"
"I bet. But no, nothing happened to me. It was just something that happened in class"
"I'm afraid if it's a problem that does not involve you then Hana or I will not interfere"
"Interfere in a way that Hana can 'sort it out'?"
"Something like that, yes"
"Never mind then"
"Right"
Then we drove for a few minutes without saying a word, but seeing that I was still unhappy about something, Uncle Tan tried to cheer me up.
"Miss, there is a nice surprise waiting for you back home"
"Oh, really? What is it?"
"It's a surprise"
Knowing Uncle Tan a bit better by now, I knew he wasn't gonna give me anything more than that. When I arrived though, Mom came to the door to greet me and I could tell she was excited and happy about something too. So there really was something cool happening today?
"Jenn, go to the dining room now there's something waiting for you"
What's with all this secrecy today?
I duly obliged and walked into the dining room. I saw a rather handsome, yet rugged-looking middle-aged man sitting at the head of the table and he beamed me a big smile as soon as he saw me. Could this be….
"Guess who's back! Long time no see, Jenn"
He then got up and approached me in big strides. I noticed he was tall and well built, probably in his late 40s or early 50s but looked as fit as someone in his 20s.
"Da….dad?"
I took a chance and guessed out aloud.
"Yes, I'm back!"
'Dad' then gave me a big bear hug and easily lifted me off the floor, spun around a few times, and let me down again.
"Welcome back, Dad…"
"I can see you've had some hard time, Jenn"
"I'm sorry… you know about my accident right…? My memory's a bit hazy…"
"Aw, are you saying you forgot about your dad?"
I probably shouldn't disappoint him too much.
"Of course not, but… there are many things that I don't remember"
"It's okay, Jenn. Even if you don't remember me or forget about anything and everything that happened before the accident, you will always be my daughter"
Dad was smiling as he said this and he did look like he really meant it.
I was trying to think things through quickly but just couldn't get a good read on the situation. I knew he was away on a business trip for a long time. The business was important enough that he couldn't come back home even after hearing his daughter was in a major accident. Never called me on the phone to ask if I was okay. He was also the one who thought I needed to learn some humility and build character by transferring to my current school, away from the posh South East High. I always thought he would be some cold and stoic kind of a guy, yet here he was looking all happy and smiling. I could feel that he definitely cared a lot about me and was perhaps even a very dotting Dad. It was also very hard to discern just what he does. He looked very kind and jovial, but I could picture in my head that if he wasn't smiling he would probably look super serious and perhaps even a bit scary.
"So… how was your trip... Dad?"
"Great! Things got a bit complicated at times but it all worked out in the end. Ende gut, alles gut"
I didn't quite catch the last part, but I guess I'll probe a bit.
"Sorry, I really seem to have forgotten… where did you go?"
"Ah I see, you really did forget some things"
"I guess…?"
"We don't ask such questions in our family"
What?
"Er… ok, sorry. So I guess I shouldn't ask what you were up to either?"
"Nope, just be happy that your old man's back home safely for now"
"For now?"
"Yeah, I have to make some follow-up visits again soon-ish"
"Gees, you sure are busy"
"Yup, and that's a good thing. Look around you - isn't everything wonderful? All this is for you and your Mom"
"Thank you… I really appreciate everything"
I really meant it.
"Looks like you've learned to say thank you to your Dad, haha. This memory loss isn't too bad after all!"
Was I, Jenn, that ungrateful? How could she be? She was living in a mansion being looked after and served by Hana, Uncle Tan, various maids, and a chef. Maybe people who always had it don't appreciate what they've got.
"So, how long will you be staying?"
"I will be leaving soon actually. I have a dinner date"
"Dinner 'date'?"
"With your Mom of course"
"Er… how about me?"
"Sorry, Jenn. I haven't had a dinner date with my wife for a long time. First things first"
"Riiiight"
"We'll all eat at home for tomorrow's dinner so let's catch up then"
At that moment Mom came into the dining room dressed in an elegant dress. Dad walked over to her and held her hand as if he were inviting her to dance or something. They sure looked lovey-dovey.
"Good night, Jenn. Don't stay up too late"
With that, Mom and Dad left the house.