He stares at me with a straight face. A huff escapes his plump lips. "Leave or-" I cut him off smoothly.
"-Or what?" I ask curiously, raising my eyebrows. 100% dedicated to the conversation.
The stranger chuckles bitterly, "Or I'll pour these noodl...
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P R O L O G U E
My foot tapped impatiently against the cold floor. "Mica, stop!" My mom scowled and I glared at her. My nerves were in a bundle knots formed from my anxiety.
"You can't do this to me," I said, my voice breaking. My hands were shaking because she just dropped a bomb on me.
"We're moving whether you like it or not," she says, "We have nothing here!" She yelled as I felt more tears fall from my eyes.
"But our home. Dad-" she cut me off, her thick Indian accent bleeding through.
"YOU'RE FATHER IS DEAD!" She yelled. I felt a lump form in my throat from what she says... I am unable to talk for a short moment. I shift uncomfortably on the hard chair I was sitting in and glance down at the floor.
"So the answer is to force me into marriage?!" I yell, my voice thick with emotion. I couldn't help but frown. She raised her hand at me. I waited. I looked away, expecting for her to slap me at any second.. but she didn't.
I opened my eyes and she glared at me, "You're lucky I feel the slightest bit bad. Or I would slap you upside the head for the attitude," she muttered. When she's angry it's like poison in her veins. It makes her shutdown.
She started walking away. I stood up quickly making the chair behind me fall with a loud thud. "Where are we going?! Who is this boy?" I asked, following her to her room. She started walking to her room. When we approach her door. She abruptly spun a around to look at me.
She took a deep breath. "We're moving to Korea," she said calmly. I shrieked, "what?!" My mouth went agape.
"You better start studying Korean. You have all summer. I mean it too, I'll get us a tutor," she says, crossing her arms. Staring at me with a knowing look. The mom look.
"What about my friends?" I ask. she pinched the bridge of her nose, sighing loudly. She stared at me, "Mica, we can't worry about friends. We are struggling financially without your father." she paused. I stared at her, my tears had stopped falling suddenly.
"Korea is a cheaper place to live...and with your arranged marriage, you will not have to worry about money," she says, sitting down on her bed.
I run my hair through my long brown hair. "Okay..." I say softly in defeat. She stood up, and walked toward me with her arms open. I heard her sniffle. She engulfed me into a hug, and I felt her stress and sadness. Its weighing me down, us both down.
"I'm sorry Mica, it's the only thing I can think of that will help us," she whispered, rubbing my back in the hug. I closed my eyes and suddenly the tears were back, but I was silent this time, making no noise for her to hear.
"I understand," I say honestly, trying to make my voice sound strong.
"I'm sorry about what I said about your father... I miss him," she muttered. I sniffled and silently curse at myself for crying again and letting her hear me cry. I didn't like crying in front of anyone, it made me uncomfortable.
"Me too," I said, my voice cracking.
She pulled away and her hands went on top of my head, smoothing my hair down. She looked at me and weakly smiled, "I'll make your favorite for dinner tonight, yeah?" She asked. I offered her a non-toothy smile, nodding, "Sure." Little did she know my appetite had disappeared the moment she talked about us moving and my father. It wasn't her fault, and I knew it, but I feel like if we really thought about it together... we could come up with a better solution.
But she's my mother and I must trust her.
But talking about my father is something that will always be painful. Especially right now. His death is fresh like a unhealed wound. Every time anyone talks about him. It's like tearing off the bandaid.
"Do you know what he looks like?" I asked her. She shook her head, "No dear... I've been emailing the boys parents for quite some time. But his mother said he hadn't had a girlfriend in a very long time. She also said something about him having a reputation where he's from," she looked at the floor for a moment.
That didn't sound good but I was just hoping he wouldn't be a ugly or in the least; creepy and try to touch me right away just because we had an arranged marriage.
"Do you know his name at least?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. She nodded, "Hwang Hyunjin," she paused. "He's young, 19 years old," she muttered. I let out a breath of relief, glad he was around my age.
I nodded, "Okay, I'm going to go to my room for a bit..." I trailed. She nodded, "Ill make dinner soon."
I walked away and went to my room, closing the door and I found myself crying quietly as I slid down the door. I tucked my head into my knees and closed my eyes.
I wasn't ready to get married. I was only 18 and I just turned 18. My father would have hated this for me, I know he would have. I also know he wouldn't have made me do something like this. I miss him so much and I wondered why he had to leave mom and I. If it weren't for the stupid robbery in the gas station that night.
I threw my head against the door and bit my knuckle for a moment, allowing myself to drown in my own self pity for a couple of seconds. My life is about to change. I wish my Dad were here to stop it but my mom had her mind made up and most times when she did, there was no changing her mind.
