QUID PRO QUO

SIX

GENERAL POV

There was an awkward silence between mother and son. Steven still hung his head down as he waited for his mother-or whatever she called herself- to say something.

Finally, she cleared her throat and flipped her hair.

"you just can't stay put without causing any trouble, is that it?", she asked, the disgust on her face showing clearly.

"Sorry", Steven simply apologized.

His mother chuckled.

"you cannot come back to my house unless you behave properly as you're supposed to. You scare, disgust and embarrass me. What will people say if they found out that the wife of a former presidential candidate has a son whose brain doesn't function properly?"

Steven scoffed and raised his head up.

"that's all you care about huh? It's always about your reputation and never about your son or how he feels!"

"My son? I don't have a son. I sincerely hope we do not meet each other like this next time. Get your shit together please"

Steven's mother then walked away from her son brushing her shoulders purposely and violently against his. Steven sighed and ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

Just as he was about to get back into the police station, he bumped into Nari who happened to be eavesdropping. His eyes widened in both anger and surprise.

What the hell was she doing there and how much of their conversation did she hear?

"I just got here. I didn't hear anything at all," Nari explained as fast as possible.

Steven just eyed her and started to make his way back inside the police station but Nari held him back.

"What now?", Steven asked with disgust and contempt written all over his face.

"The policemen said we're free to go. I guess your mother pulled some strings. I still find it hard to..."

But Steven interrupted her;

"She's not my mother."

Nari opened her mouth to say something but shut up again. What was her business with whatever was going on in his family anyway? She had enough things to worry about already.

The police man in-charge of the case came outside smiling like something so amazing had just happened.

To Steven he said; "We have an available car to take you back to school. How about that, sir?"

Sir?

SIR?!

Nari scoffed. How could people change so much after collecting bribes?

"I have legs", came Steven's blunt reply.

"Ahh, but I just..."

"I said I have legs".

The policeman gave up and left him alone.

Steven gave Nari a condescending look one last time before walking out of the premises of the police station.

Nari cursed under her breath behind his back as he left.

Who the hell did he think he was?

Because his father ran for presidency or whatever did that give him the right to be like that?

***

NARI's POV

So, one thing was solved but there was another problem yet to be solved; where was I going to live now that I had been kicked out?

My wound was getting painful every second because I haven't even had a good rest ever since last night that I got injured.

Is this what it feels like to be unlucky in life?

That idiot Steven had already left and I was the only one walking down the street alone.

I need to think fast if I don't want to end up sleeping in the streets this night.

I found myself going towards school as I was still busy battling with my thoughts. Then my eyes caught a place.

There's a middle-aged lady who happens to run a sushi and kimpab shop a few paces away from school.

What if I just showed up and asked her to employ me so I can work for her?

But would she?

There was no sign outside her shop saying she wanted to hire anyone.

But it was still worth trying right?

I sighed and straightened my hair with my hands so that I could less homeless and more presentable.

I entered the shop with my best smiles.

"Welcome", the lady said beaming with smiles immediately I stepped in. there were a few customers and they looked like they were enjoying their meals because the place was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop.

I nodded respectfully in response to her and just stood there. I suddenly didn't know what to say to her.

"Is there something you want to order?", she asked me.

"I..uh...actually i...uhm..", I began to stutter.

"You've forgotten what you want to order? We sell sushi, kimpab, noodles and...",

I cut her short; " I want to work for you!", I screamed with my eyes shut tight.

Please, please let her say yes..

"I'm not hiring my dear. Maybe you can check somewhere else?"

My heart sank.

I fell on my knees at once.

"Help me please. I got kicked out of the house by my step mother, my father is in the barracks and doesn't even care about me and I have nowhere to go. I'll do anything you ask. I don't care how much you'll pay me. I just want a place to sleep and a job so that I can feed myself. Please".

Everyone in the restaurant turned to look at me with pity in their eyes and I hated it.

I hated people looking at me with such eyes.

The lady cleared her throat and then looked at me all over.

"you'll do the cleaning. 8,000 Won every week. That's all I can do for you. As for your accommodation, I have a house that I'm supposed to rent. I'll let you stay there for a while and you can start paying rent when you're stable. I barely know who you are, please do not make me regret my actions".

I got up from my knees and rushed to hug the lady.

"Thank you. You're my life saver", I said to her as I tried so hard not to cry.

She pushed me away from her and cleared her throat.

"Work starts tomorrow. You can wait here till my daughter closes from school and comes here. She'll take you to see the house."

I nodded.

"I'm a high school senior too. I'll come to work here after school. I'll never miss a day. I promise".

"We'll see about that."

TBC...

*****

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