Different | k.sj

☁제21장☁

제21장:

"What is it you wanted to discuss?"

"Well, Iyagi, the thing is..." She trailed off, staring at the carpet beneath us, "..I need some money."

"Money?" I frowned.

"Yes....."

"H-How much?"

"Only 2 million won." A nervous smile planted on her face.

"2 million won?? What kind of money do you need this for???"

"Uh, things here and there--- Oh all important things, I promise!"

"Like what?" I crossed my arms, receiving a worried feeling.

"Um.." She hummed.

"Do you really need the money, mom?"

"..Yes." She looked back up at me.

"Why are you lying?"

Her eyebrows were soon knitted together, an anxious, heated look rested on her face. She got up and crossed her arms, pacing in front of the sofa as I sat still, watching her.

"I'm your mother, can't you help me?" She crouched in front of me with an instant smile on her face.

Now I was scared. It was obvious she was upset not even a minute ago, now she's pretending to be happy. And all for what? Money. I really hope she's not allowing me to contact her for what I think she's doing it for.

"I'm sorry... I love you, but I can't."

"And why not?" She snapped, causing me to flinch, "You live in that big fancy house, I'm sure you can afford ANYTHING."

".....How do you know what the house looks like?" I frowned.

".."

"Jesus, have you been stalking me?"

"No. N-Now honey, I'm going to ask one last time..." She sat beside me on the couch, not caring I scooted away, "...Please... I won't ever ask ever again, I just need this bit."

"I'm sorry, no."

"Tsh.." She scoffed under her breath, looking down into her lap.

My eyebrows furrowed. What was she doing?

"You'd think.... After... After all those beatings you'd learn something....." My eyes widened and my heart began to race at these muttered words.

She clenched her jaw then licked her chapped lips, "Yet you still don't know how to respect your mother!"

She took a swing at me, her empty hand-sized plate between her fingers as she attempted to hit me with it, I dodged her hit and watched the plate shatter against the cheap wallpaper. 

"You're insane!" I shrieked, standing up to run.

Her footsteps were as close as a hair's width. Just as I reached the doorway of the living room, her cold fingers intertwined with my hair, yanking it back until I lost my balance and fell to the floor. She was stronger than I thought.

"MOM!" I shrieked, holding my head after slamming it to the wood floor. I curled up on the floor, rocking back and forth, trying to soothe my bruised head with the palm of my hand.

"How about it then?!" She spat, "Will you help your mother out or would you like me to convince you a bit more?" A sinister smile formed on her face.

Dad was right.......Jin was right.

I stared up at her, my eyes wincing in pain. She went for the table and returning with another little plate. My eyes widened and my stomach twisted to the image of what she'd do.

"Iyagi." She threw the plate to the wooden floor, picking up a sharp white, broken piece in her hand.

"You sick monster!" I kicked her ankles, watching her lose her balance. Instantly, her arm jabbed at me when I was halfway up. I shrugged it off and darted out the house, trying my best not to look back on her.

.

What time was it now? 

I'd been sitting in this ally outside a fancy restaurant for hours now, I lost track of time and I hadn't even dared to open up my phone. I was worried.

Would she be spamming me with texts, threatening or apologizing? I thought of who else might text. 

Within these hours I would stared at the smoothly constructed wall across from me. The alley had dim-lit lights and a few people would pass. I possibly came off as a beggar. Who did I first think of when calling? Jin. 

One of the things that surprised me was that I actually just stared in shock for half the time I was here. Thinking, thinking of what might happen if I did something. I actually wonder what would happen if I called the police. If I called my dad. If I called Jin, like I said.

Eventually, I made up my mind.

"..Jin-ah." I muttered into the mic of my cellphone.

"Iyagi?? Where are you? I didn't see you come home!" 

Immediately, Jin was stuttering into the call.

"I-- There was a little issue. Can you pick me up?"

"Of course, where are you?"

"Uptown, by the expensive restaurant with the two trees out front."

"The expensive restaurant Hoseok wanted to go to?"

"Yes." I whispered.

He hung up in an instant, leaving me with no one to talk for some time.

"What time is it?" I asked myself, opening up my phone to see it was 1AM, "Already?.. I must've been here for hours."

I hugged my phone to my chest and sighed. 

Then, when I was finally finding my peace in the ally, a woman passed by.

"You poor thing.." She sighed and went through her purse, handing me 50,000 won, "I hope you buy a nice warm blanket with this." 

The woman pat my should and walked off in her stiletto heels and fur coat. She was wearing rather expensive clothes, maybe she was feeling fortunate today as a rich woman.

A frown grew on my face. I really do look like a beggar.

I'm not going to return her money since it's money, and she technically gave it to me either way, so-

"Iyagi!"