CHAPTER TWO
“Omma!” I yelled up the stairs. “Dinner is ready!”
“Okay, be down in a minute!”
In the kitchen I began setting the table, though my appetite was nonexistant. My conscience was still gnawing at my stomach, and I couldn’t get her pitiful, hurt face out of my mind.
I stared down at my bowl of rice. I was dejectedly rolling a grain around with my spoon when Omma sat down across from me, dressed in blue sweats, her hair damp from having been in the shower.
“Ooh,” she said, smiling. She tasted the soup and gave me a military salute. “So how was your day?”
“Fine.” Omma had no idea about Jiyong, and I had no intention of telling her. She owed my broken glasses to clumsiness.
“Ugh, I had the longest day,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. “Mr. Lee gave me four huge files to sort through and put in the database, and I had to go all the way on the other side of town to get someone to sign something.”
She kept chattering about her job, but I wasn’t listening. I just nodded every once in a while so she thought I was.
Poor girl. She bought me ice cream, even after I pushed her down. I was such a jerk! I wasn’t nearly as good a person as I had always thought I was. Did she cry long? Did she get angry at me afterwards? I wouldn’t blame her if she did. Did she have band aids to put on her elbows? My hands still throbbed a little from the gravel, I bet her cuts were worse. I had seen blood on them…
“Seung-hyun.”
I jumped to attention. I could tell by her tone that Omma was repeating herself.
“Huh?”
She narrowed her eyes. ”What’s wrong?”
“Uh, nothing.” I sat straighter in my chair and looked her in the eyes. “I’m fine.”
“You sure? You were really spaced out.”
“Yeah, I was just thinking about the book I’m reading. The chapter ended during a huge plot twist.” Honestly I didn’t know whether to be proud or ashamed of my excellent lying skills. I could think them up fast and keep a perfectly straight face.
“Well, alright then.” She paused, as if trying to decide how to word something. I took a bite of food, not really noticing what I was eating.
“Your appa called today. He left a message on the answering machine.”
I slowed my chewing. “So?” I swallowed. “What did he want?” I kept my voice even, and nonchalantly took a sip of water.
“You know what he wants,” she said, quietly, her chopsticks resting on her lips.
I put down my spoon. “I don’t want to.”
“I know how you feel.” She reached across the table and put her hand on mine. “You should still talk to him. He really misses you, and he still loves you.”
Yeah, and he said he loved you too. I abruptly got up, my chair screeching across the floor. “I’m going to take a shower.”
“Wait.”
I stopped, my left foot on the stair. When I didn’t turn to face her she sighed.
“Tomorrow I want you to go over to Mrs. Hwang’s house. Her granddaughter got here yesterday evening, and-“
“Ommaaaaaaa,” I moaned, leaning my head back. “I don’t want to meet some girl. That’s so awkward.”
“Your going.” She used her evil parent voice, finalizing it. I had no choice. “She says her granddaughter has been so excited to meet you since Mrs. Hwang told her about you. She’s going to need a friend over the summer.”
I turned and glared at her. She arched her perfectly shaped eyebrows at me, daring me to argue.
“Fine,” I sighed, then quickly jogged up the stairs before she could tell me anything else I didn’t want to hear.
YOU ARE READING
Paperthin Hymn
FanfictionWhen Lexi moved in next door, Top had no idea how she would change his life completely, how much she would come to mean to him. But what will happen when fate turns his world upside down? Will Top have enough strength for the both of them?
