Street Racer || Yang Jungwon

°•♡•°/ 61

——Seori

Saturday morning began like any other—peaceful and slow. I stumbled out of bed, the remnants of sleep clinging to my eyes as I made my way downstairs. The smell of breakfast wafted from the kitchen, promising a comforting start to the day. I was looking forward to it, a simple pleasure that seemed all the more inviting after the chaos of the past few days.

However, as I descended the stairs, the warmth of the morning was overshadowed by an unsettling sight. My mom was already in the kitchen, her gaze fixed intently on something spread out on the dining table. The tension in her posture was palpable, and a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach.

“Morning, Mom,” I said, trying to sound cheerful as I approached. But my voice faltered when I saw what she was looking at. My heart froze in my chest.

Spread out before her were several photos—clear, unmistakable images of me and Jungwon. The photos depicted us in various settings: laughing together at a café, walking hand-in-hand in the park, and that one particularly damning shot of us at the bistro, Jungwon’s hand resting on my shoulder.

My breath hitched as I took in the scene, my mind racing with the realization that my carefully guarded secret was out. I had hoped that my mom would never find out the full extent of my relationship with Jungwon, especially not through such an invasive and hurtful method.

Before I could even gather my thoughts, my mom’s voice cut through the silence, sharp and accusatory. “Seori, what is this?” Her tone was a mixture of anger and disappointment, and it made my stomach churn.

I swallowed hard, trying to steady my voice. “Mom, I can explain.”

“No, you can’t,” she snapped, standing up abruptly, her face a mask of frustration. “You’ve been lying to me. You told me Jungwon was just a friend, and here you are, spending all this time with him while hiding the truth. What do you have to say for yourself?”

I opened my mouth to respond, but my mom didn’t give me a chance. “I can’t believe you kept this from me. You know how I feel about this relationship. Jungwon is too old for you, and you’ve been deceitful about it.”

The accusation stung. I had hoped to ease her concerns with time, but now everything felt like it was falling apart. “Mom, you know Jungwon from months ago when he—”

“—when he hit you with his car,” she interrupted, her voice icy. “And yet, you’ve kept this hidden from me. What am I supposed to think? This isn’t just about him hitting you; it’s about the fact that he’s twenty and you’re still in high school. It’s an age gap that concerns me, and I won’t stand for it.”

Her words were like a cold slap to the face. “But, Mom, we’ve been through this. Jungwon and I—”

“No,” she cut me off again, her voice rising with frustration. “You’re grounded, Seori. I don’t want you seeing him anymore. Not until you understand the seriousness of this situation and the trouble you’ve caused.”

I felt a surge of anger and desperation. “You don’t understand, Mom! Jungwon and I care about each other. It’s not just a fling or something.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” she said, her tone final. “I’m tired of your excuses. You’re grounded. No outings, no seeing Jungwon, and you’ll focus on your studies.”

The finality in her voice made my heart sink. “But Mom—”

“No more arguing,” she said firmly. “Go to your room.”