Irene arrived home late, it was dark on their way. The way to the City was rough, still an under develop road, muddy and uneven. It's even dangerous to go in there once the dark engulfed the place since there are no street lights. That is why Irene was forced to walk for almost two hours to avoid accident.
Her feet was dirty, she washed at the back of their house before going inside. Per usual, her parents are waiting at their narrow dining area. She greeted them, but she noticed that Yeri was there too. Her eyebrows furrowed, Yeri should be sleeping right now but her eyes were puffy.
"What happened?" Irene asked. Did Yeri do something? Did she broke a plate?
Her parents face appeared to be gloomy making Irene anxious. She put down her worn out bag and walked near them. With a panic in her voice,
"Abeoji, eomeoni, what happened?" Irene repeated her question with rush and worry.
"Lisa-" Yeri started before her lips quivered as she cry.
"Lisa? What? Where is she? What happened to her?" Irene asked as she put her slippers once again, ready to go on Lisa's house.
Her father cleared his throat before standing up to walk towards Irene. The teenager didn't like it, she can feel something was off and she was still hoping that she was wrong.
"Lisa decided to get adopted." Her father said.
Irene hitched her breath, unable to speak.
"Adopted?" Irene repeated.
Her father nodded.
Irene laughed humorlessly.
"She agreed to be taken away from us?"
"Is it true?" Irene asked, she was tearing up.
"We talked to her but the kid was decided." Her mother said and Irene combed her hair using her fingers in distress.
"When will she leave? Abeoji! When?!" Irene shouted in pleading tone.
Her father opened his mouth but no words came out.
"No. I'll ask that kid in person. How dare she- how dare she plan to leave us like that! I thought we're family." Irene said and she was ready to rush downhill.
Yeri cried harder and her mother held Irene's hand.
"Don't go. She already left with her foster parents." Her mother said and then Irene can't help herself anymore, she broke down in tears. Her body falling in the floor as she felt melancholia.
Irene cried silently, not caring if her tears were wetting her clothes. She doesn't care. The pain in her chest is unbearable and she couldn't breathe.
"She didn't even bother to say goodbye to me." Irene asked, her question was incoherent.
"How can she-" Irene cried harder.
"I told her I'll be the one to send her to school! That she should get along with Yeri while I am gone!" Irene slammed the seat near her.
"How can she leave while not thinking this through? How can she leave without telling me?" Irene's voice cracked.
"I thought we are enough." Irene added.
"It was for the best for herself, Irene. That is what you want right?" Her mother tried to comfort her until her crying subsided a little.
"Eomeoni, are poor people like us will never be enough?" Irene asked as she chase her breath.
Her mother didn't answer but only hug her.
"I can't help but to get mad." Irene mumbled, not meaning to say those words. It's just she couldn't express how hurt she was aside from crying.
