H.E.L.P. Club

Chapter 18: The Intertwined Past... And Present

FLASHBACK:

It was around 5PM when my brother and I came home after we said our final goodbye to our parents. Jihyun, Woohyun and their parents told us they want to at least cook some dinner for us but, I told my brother that I want just the two of us for the time being. Similarly our annoying childhood friend and his family offered the same thing and fortunately, they all understood us.

My brother and I had a quiet dinner. We both sat on our usual seats around the dining table; on the two long sides. Mom and dad usually sat at both ends of the table.

I noticed my brother smile a little.

"Wae?" I asked him.

"Remember that time I cooked some carbonara for dinner?"

"Ah... yeah... the one where you gave all of us stomach troubles the next day causing you and I to miss school and for mom and dad to be absent from work."

"Yeah... Priceless..."

"Are you insane? My tummy hurt so badly that time!"

"Hahaha! You're smiling now."

"Smiling? I'm not..."

"Come on, do you think they'll like it if we're too sad?" he said.

"Right... I'm sorry..."

"You should go out tomorrow with Jihyun, Woohyun and..."

"No, I don't feel like it..."

"Are you just going to stay in your room the whole day then?"

"Maybe..."

"Yah dongsaeng, that won't be good for you. Go out with your friends tomorrow, okay?"

"*sighs* Fine..."

Silence and then, I couldn't take it anymore and started crying.

"I MISS MOM AND DAD SO MUCH ALREADY! WHY DID THEY HAVE TO DIE LIKE THAT?! WHY DID THEY LEAVE US SO SUDDNELY?!"

My brother stood up and quickly ran around to comfort me. He was crying as well.

"I miss them too... It's going to be so hard without them now that it's only the two of us but, we're going to work hard and continue living... for them, okay? Ssshhhh stop crying now..."

PRESENT

"Um, do you mind explaining? Why you asked to see them?" My brother asked me. "You said it's something about our parents. Did you find out something?"

With tears in my eyes, I turned around and faced him. "His dad... his dad..."

"His dad? Whose dad?"

"W-Wonho's... dad..."

"What about his dad? Come on, say it now before... wait..." He grabbed the document I was holding and read the same thing which I did.

"Are you telling me his dad... was... Yes... I know this name... How can I forget it when I was at court and I saw the face of this man..."

Just then, my phone started vibrating; I took it out and saw it was Wonho calling. I rejected the call and placed the phone back inside my pocket.

WONHO'S POV

"... Heol! She didn't answer!... What's wrong with her?"

I sent her a message instead.

"Are you okay? Did you get home safely? Call me or send a message. I'm worried."