Where Do I Go 🥀 All × Mingi [⏹]

8

"Once again, I want to thank you," Mingi said for the umpteenth time.

"You don't have to. I'm just happy to know you're okay now. Take good care of yourself, alright?" Seonghwa smiled warmly. It was a far cry from the condescending smiles he gave his customers or the fake sweet smiles for those who behaved nicely in front of him but then mistreated him behind closed doors.

Mingi was startled, almost frozen by Seonghwa's casual remark. Take care of yourself. That wasn't something Mingi could do. Everything he had done so far proved he couldn't take care of himself properly. He allowed his body to be touched by anyone, and he hadn't done much to change that. Could that be called taking good care of himself? Mingi felt ashamed. He responded with a stiff smile.

"Oh, your baby is surely the luckiest to have such strong and kind parents like you. I hope they grow up to be someone good who can take care of you, too," Seonghwa added.

I'm not good. I've never been good. Mingi was crushed by his own reality. His baby could never feel lucky, being born from rape and living as the child of someone as disgraceful as Mingi. What could make the child feel grateful? Mingi felt there was nothing.

After saying goodbye, Mingi walked away from Seonghwa's shop, holding a plastic bag in his right hand containing five pieces of bread given by Seonghwa. Seonghwa's words about Mingi and his baby kept echoing in his mind, making him almost lose focus on the road. Maybe it would be better if he went home soon to calm himself down.

That night was clear, bright without fog, making it easy for Mingi to see around. Including the minimarket he passed by, where three familiar-faced youths were sitting at a table. Mingi thought just recognizing them was threatening enough. But what Mingi didn't know was that the three youths also recognized him. They were even talking about him.

"Hey, isn't that the guy we beat up before?" San began his suspicion.

"Which one?" Wooyoung asked for clarification.

"The one who stole from Seonghwa's shop? The one who's pregnant?" Yeosang recalled.

"That's the one!" San almost shouted. "Do you think he just stole again? Look, he's even carrying a full bag! That must be stolen goods!"

Yeosang and Wooyoung exchanged glances, as if seeking opinions with just a look. Both ended up nodding, as did San, who seemed to understand. The three of them got up from their seats, leaving the minimarket. This caught the corner of Mingi's eye, making him feel threatened and quicken his pace. He remembered when the three youths had beaten him up. That wasn't something he wanted to repeat.

Unfortunately, Mingi wasn't fast enough. A few steps after he decided to try running, his hair was yanked from behind, forcing him to stop.

"You stole again, didn't you?" Wooyoung accused as he tightened his grip. "Didn't I tell you, if you don't have money, don't steal! Work if you want to eat!"

"I didn't steal! The shop owner gave me these breads himself. Let go!" Mingi tried to resist. But it was futile. He was far weaker than Wooyoung. Moreover, San and Yeosang now grabbed both his arms, making him unable to fight back.

San growled softly, about to throw a punch when his eyes accidentally saw Mingi's stomach under his jacket. He just remembered that Mingi was pregnant. "Just drag him!"

"Let go!" Mingi cried as Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang dragged him back towards Seonghwa's shop.

Mingi kept struggling, occasionally shouting. This made Seonghwa, who was inside the shop, run outside after hearing the commotion. He was shocked to see his three friends dragging Mingi mercilessly.

"What are you doing? Let him go!" Seonghwa helped Mingi break free from Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang's grip. "Are you okay?" he asked worriedly, bending down a little, seeing Mingi still cowering in fear.

"Did you see? My God, how could you be so cruel to drag him like that? Didn't you see he's pregnant?" Seonghwa raised his voice, angry at the three youths who had recklessly dragged an innocent person.

"He stole from here before!" Wooyoung lashed out.

"So what?" Seonghwa demanded an explanation.

"We thought he just stole again," Yeosang continued.

"No, he didn't steal! He even came here to pay for what he took before, and intended to buy more. I gave him all those breads myself. He didn't steal!" Seonghwa emphasized his words.

Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang blinked in disbelief at Seonghwa's words. But they knew what Seonghwa was like. He wouldn't lie. Still, they were reluctant to believe, or rather, they were annoyed.

Seonghwa snorted, these kids and their need for moral justification.

Well, Seonghwa was also at fault before, so he couldn't judge them.

"I have money now." Mingi looked up, seeing Wooyoung, San, and Yeosang, still scared. "I won't make the same mistake again, I promise. Forgive me."

"Hey, it's okay. This isn't your fault." Seonghwa patted Mingi's arm, comforting him. "Apologize to him!" Seonghwa ordered his three friends.

Without Mingi's confession earlier, the three might have still been teetering between belief and annoyance. But seeing Mingi apologize and admit his mistake, they softened. They also apologized for their false accusations and for beating Mingi until he was defenseless before.

"Do you live around here?" Wooyoung asked.

"No. It's quite far from here," Mingi replied, calmer than before.

"In that case, let me take you home. It's too late, something bad might happen," Wooyoung offered.

Mingi thought cynically for a moment, the bad thing that happened today was because of them, actually. But he didn't want to argue further; these youths had tempers as short as firecrackers, quick to explode.

"No need, thank you. I can take care of myself. Besides, the bus stop is close from here, I don't need to walk far."

Mingi felt somewhat at peace and happy. At least now he had no enemies or people he was afraid of. And another thing, he had acquaintances.

Four people at once, and all four were kind to him—even though they hadn't been before.