He Started It by Hitting on Me

Christmas Story

Yess.
Vacation time. It's like heaven for me.
But, I have to spend Christmas with my mother. Oh yeah, great.
On the last days of school, Jonghyun and I had a couple of revenges.
So, the first one went like this: He greeted me by saying and I supposedly had a bat in my hand and hit him smack in the face with it. He stayed in a corner all day for that.
The second one went like this: Somehow when I was sleeping in lunch because I was so tired, he wrote on my face which said "I'm an ugly ." Oh, I was really mad when it couldn't come off for 3 hours.
The last day was like this: I hit him with a block of ice on his back which he deserved and he hit me with multiples of snowballs in return.
And now, I'm at home with my mother letting her talk about school.
, I just got out of school and now she just brings the ing back.
"Do you understand what you have to do once you're back to school?" she asked like for the hundredth time.
"Yes umma," I said, picking at my food.
She nodded. "Good. Now... I just wanna know one thing."
"About studies?"
"No. I mean, that boy."
"Boy? What boy?" I asked.
"That Jonghyun boy."
"Oh. What about him?" I asked, taking a gulp of water.
"Is he your boyfriend?"
I spit out the water from my mouth. What the hell?
My mom looked at me with some scary eyes. "Well?" she asked.
I wipe the water from my mouth.
"W-what?" I asked, still surprised she said that.
"Are you with that boy?" she asked.
"N-no! Of course not."
"Then, why do guys seem like you like each other?"
"How would you know that? I hate him. And he hates me too."
She raised her eyes. "Oh. So he hates you. And why does he hate you?" she asked.
I widened my eyes. Oh no. I just said the wrong thing. Oh no. Oh no.
If I say what had happened between us, she'd kill me and blame him for all those troubles and think it was him who lowered my exam grade. Aish, it's because of the pranks I can get away from that devil.
I look at my mom, who was waiting for an explanation tapping the table with her manicured nails.
"Uhm... we just don't like each other. He, uh, just made me mad and I insulted him and that's why we hate each other. Nothing special," I lied.
I could lie to my mom about this- just not studies.
She nodded slightly. "Uh-huh. So, no romance between you guys?" she asked carefully.
I shook my head. "Not at all."
She sighed. "Good. I don't like that boy. He seems like a ."
Oh, you have no idea.
She exhaled. "That boy is too low for you- you need someone else. A better man. Someone who can give you chances to get into good schools."
I look at her. "But I'm not even dating him."
"I know and please don't make that mistake. He's just... ugh," my mother made a face.
For some reason, I didn't like how she was acting when she talked about Jonghyun like that. It makes me... angry.
Why?
"You know, hatred turns into friends and friends turn into love which can lead into anger and sadness," she sighed. Uhm... that was just out of the blue. But I talk back to her about the other thing she said.
"He's not... so bad. He's just a and nothing much. It's not like he could ruin my life-"
"Are you defending him?" my mother asked.
I shook my head. Almost too quick.
"No."
"Then we're done here."
She leaves the kitchen, leaving me alone and my water and food.
I lowered my head. Why did it make me feel mad? Why??
I go into the living room and just wait for Christmas to come already...
It's not like I'm expecting anything special like all my other Christmases.
I just get more study books and clothes that I may never wear.
The only one who ever gives me presents... is my mom.
She keeps me isolated from every family member I have because they all like Dad, so being the she is we moved here to Seoul from Busan to get away from them.
I haven't seen them ever since I was 7.
10 years later, look at the mess I am now.
My mom wants be to be this and that, everything she dreamed of being but couldn't because she met my Dad.
Like, do I care?
I know I was being mean, but I never got the chance to have any fun.
It changed me to being this boring, crazy stick in the mud.
I closed my eyes. Just freaking come already, Christmas...
(Christmas) It's Christmas time... and I woke up around like 3 pm.
I go downstairs and see my mom left me a letter and a couple of presents.
I open the presents first. Just like every other Christmas. Hm, no big deal- I'm used to it.
I open the letter my mom left.
"Dear Mi Young, I left the presents for you and there's some food in the fridge. Help yourself to your favorites and I'll be back soon. From, your mother."
Yup. That's it. Not, 'love Mom' or 'I love you, Mom.' Just 'from, your mother.'
I just love the relationship we have. I absolutely love it.
I sighed and ate the food she left for me. I'm eating alone in the kitchen with no family.
It's great. Just great.
7 hours later, the door is opened and in comes my drunk mother.
I just knew she was partying.
She smiled at me. "Mi Young! How are ya?" she asked.
I see hickeys on her neck. Of course.
I grabbed her arm. I took her into her bedroom and tucked her into bed.
"Stay here and go to sleep," I shushed.
She nodded like a child and soundly went to sleep.
I left her room with the door closed and went into my own bedroom.
I sat on the bed.
Every Christmas, she gets wasted and comes back home giggling like an idiot.
It started when I was 10.
When it first happened, I let her go roaming the house with her drunken state but I realized she's way more violent than I thought.
She's scream at the photos hanged up on the walls and break them.
She'd always say, "GO TO HELL, YOU FREAKING BASTARD!"
I already knew she meant Dad. Even though she never remembers what happened when she was drunk, I do.
And it was not such a pretty sight.
I look out the window and sighed. Yeah, I think it's time to do this.
I grab my jacket and boots and make a run for the door.
Like hell I'm going to stay home on Christmas.
I walk around the park, the big park where I always go because it's such a nice place.
I sit on a bench and sighed.
This is better than staying home alone.
1000000 times better.
"Why aren't you at home, ?"
"Are you stalking me or something?" I asked, looking at Jonghyun.
He shrugged. "I just seem to find you in places. You look... sad again."
I folded my arms. "Well, I'm not sad. So, go away."
He sat down. "Nah, I'm think I'm going to stay here."
I sighed. "Fine. Just, don't touch me," I said.
"No promises."
I rolled my eyes. "What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Oh, my family comes to see the big Christmas tree downtown. I came here because I grew tired of it."
I nodded.
"Why did you come here?" he asked.
"I like the park."
It was true- I wasn't lying.
He smirked at me. "Are you sure there isn't more to it?"
"Damn, how many questions can a guy like you have?" I asked, annoyed he never leaves me alone.
"I am a guy who likes to ask questions."
"God, you ask your mother lot of questions? Because I know she sure thinks you're one hell of a boy."
He glared at me. "Psh, you're one hell of a girl."
"Bastard."
"."
"Dino-head."
"Grudge."
"Ugly."
"THAT'S A LIE!"
I scoffed. "Not really," I laughed a little.
He glowered his eyes at me. "So... get anything for Christmas?" he asked.
Suddenly, my shoulders are slumped and I look at the snowy floor.
"Yeah.. I did."
"Really? You got presents? Ha, you don't look so happy though..."
I shook my head."It's nothing. I'm just gonna go now," I sighed as I got up.
I started to walk until I heard him say, "Wait."
I turned around.
He was already in front of me, looking into my eyes.
He held out his fist and opened it.
Inside, there was a little box.
I looked at it with surprise. "What's... what's this?" I asked, surprised. I'm very surprised.
"It's a present."
"For...?"
He hesitated until saying,"For you."
WHOA. HE GOT A PRESENT FOR ME?? WHOA. I THINK I'M DREAMING...
I widened my eyes. "Why me? I thought you hated me."
He sighed. "That's what's been on my mind. Look, I don't wanna keep hating each other anymore. It's too much for me. Sure, we can still have the fights, but... I just... want to be friends now," he quietly said.
Oh my god. Are you kidding me? A couple of months ago, he and I were in battle of humiliating each other and now, he wants us to be... friends?!
Damn, this is so scary.
Wait a minute-
"This is a prank right?" I asked.
He shook his head. "No. I'm not lying. I wouldn't lie about this."
I look at him carefully until I said,"Are you sure?"
He nodded. "I'm sure. So, friends?" he asked.
I look at, hesitating for a very long time.
He was an enemy beyond enemies... and now he wants to be my friend.
I look at the box and then at him, his face very solemn.
I sighed. I slowly took the box from his hand and shook my head.
"Sure. Friends."
And on Christmas, I just realized I made friends with a former enemy.
When Jonghyun smiled, I could hear a faint saying at the back of my head.
"You know, hatred turns into friends and friends turn into love which can lead to anger and sadness."
Hatred into friends... friends into love... love leading to anger and sadness.
What's going to happen to me now?