Malcolm's POV
Metal clanking and cricket noises filled the night air as we ate and drink while the others grilled the meat.
Han came to us and harshly dropped the plate full of meat next to Chaeyeon as we looked at him confused as he left.
"Really? This is the way you're breaking up?" Mrs. Hwang asked her which made her sigh.
"Oh, what a great age. I'd be dating like crazy if I were just a few years younger" She remarked which made Hyunjin look at her with a face of disbelief.
"More than you do now? You date more than I do" Hyunjin said.
"Me? I haven't seen anyone in a while" She replied.
"Really? I'm sure I saw crane guy come to the campus one of these days" He scoffed.
"Really? Has it been that long?" She asked.
"Yes, after dad's gold digger came I started seeing that guy. It's a good thing he didn't do anything bad" Hyunjin complained.
"Wow! It really has been a while since my last guy. No wonder I felt like my heart was getting hard. I can't live without love" She sighed before pouring herself another shot as she emptied the bottle.
"Son, we're out of liquor. Go get more. I need to soften my heart with alcohol" She ordered Hyunjin which made him grumble.
Minju's POV
I looked at Malcolm as he stared at the empty bottle of soju. He looked like he was in a daze as he stared aimlessly at the bottle. I tapped his shoulder which made him slowly turn his head towards me.
"I'll just get us more meat okay?" I smiled at him and he flashed a small smile before nodding lazily.
I stood up from my seat and took the plate before heading towards the other group. I sat with them for a while as Chaewon insisted that I joined them for a bit.
"Minju here made such a bad impression. She didn't talk. She was distant. She didn't hang out with us" Chaewon said which made me pout.
"You got a lot better. You're even traveling with us" Jeongin smiled.
"Oh, right. You have the exhausting issue. You are not gonna like this place because the other places here are kind of far and you need to walk alot" Changbin groaned.
"I'll have to make do. I've gotten so much better, though. And it's all thanks to my baby" I giggled which made them look at me in disgust.
"Seriously? My baby? Stop being so cringy" Chaewon said.
"What are you going to do in Korea now? We know you want to live a normal life and find your way, but..." Han paused.
"I've actually never known what I wanted to, you know. I've always done exactly what other people have told to, so I never really found out what I like" I explained as I cooked the meat.
"And I have to try to figure it out now. You guys can help with that" I smiled at them.
"That depends. Are you gonna use your wealth to treat us good food?" Han joked.
"Before leaving, I promised my mom I'd earn money for expenses, if she pays for my tuition. I'm glad Malcolm-ah got me those jobs" I smiled.
"Oh, that's right. I forgot you're broke too" He chuckled.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Malcolm made you take those jobs because you broke his phone screen, remember?" He asked and I nodded.
"That was a total scam. The screen was broken already. He just dumped it all on you" He laughed.
"What? Really?" I asked in disbelief.
"That's right. Don't you see? Malcolm is a selfish brat. I think you should dump him" He said and I jokingly threatened him with the chopsticks.
Malcolm's POV
Hyunjin's mother filled up my shot glass and toasted with me.
"Don't let him drink too much. Look" Hyunjin sighs as I drank.
"He talks too much when he's drunk" He added which made me exhale after gulping.
"It's too late. He's already drunk" Chaeyeon said which made look at her.
"I'm totally fine" I told her.
"You know, it's just that I hate parents. They're all irresponsible" I sighed.
"What are you so unhappy about?" Hyunjin's mother asked.
"It's not that I'm unhappy. You remind me of my mom. You gave birth to kids with incompetent dads and just neglect them" I said.
"Yah! Malcolm!" Chaeyeon gasped before looking at Hyunjin who was just conflicted.
"Personally, I think my mom really needs to repent" He complained which made his mom glare at him.
"Do you know how Hyunjin lives at school? He's always mooching up everyone all the time. Do you know he does that?" I asked her.
"Personally, I didn't think about it before. Now I feel sorry for myself" Hyunjin said.
"But you looked the other way. Listen. You're the one who's letting him stay in the dorm. Just send him home" She replied.
"Do you stop caring after giving birth? Don't you feel sorry for your son?" I asked, feeling teary-eyed.
Minju suddenly came back and sat next to me and put her arm around me to comfort me. Chaewon and Jeongin joined us at the table and sat as we argued.
"I was 21 and alone when I gave birth to Hyunjin, but I didn't abandon him. I was pretty responsible, if I say so myself" She replied which made Hyunjin gasp.
"Mom! How could you say that? Minju was adopted" Hyunjin said but it didn't really bother Minju.
"Whether you gave birth to your child or raised him with all your heart, she should thank her birth mom. She met a better mom and then grew up pretty well" Mrs. Hwang retorted.
"You're right, I did grew up well" Minju smiled.
"Malcolm-ah, I'm fine" She reassured me.
"You're fine, right? It's no big deal to have multiple parents, is it?" She asked.
"Mom! Stop!" Hyunjin begged.
"Minju and Hyunjin...they must have been so hurt when they were little kids. What's wrong with moms?" I sighed in frustation as I removed my hand from Minju's and finished the shot glass.
"I know that a lot of people talk behind my back for having a bunch of kids with different fathers. But, you know, for each of my kids, I would run into a pit of fire" She retorted.
"So what? People will keep talking? Aren't you ashamed at all?" I asked.
"Those people won't provide for me. People care too much about what others think. Don't let others shame you. It's not worth it" She explained.
"If a parent makes a lot of money, so they're not ashamed, and gives you enough money to make others jealous, is that being responsible?" She asked and I shook my head.
"No...I'm never gonna have kids, ever. And I'm never getting married. I don't trust people. I don't trust love" I sighed as I felt a lump in my throat.
"Whether or not you trust them is up to you. But, honey..." She paused as she poured herself another glass.
"Look here, at this girl, looking at you with her sparkling eyes and liking you. Atleast show her some respect" She said as she pointed at Minju.
"Saying you don't need love when you're receiving love like that...is very disrespectful" She said which made me felt bad as I could only sigh.
I know...
