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Chapter 12

"What is this?" Oseong's mother asked, a stack of papers in her hand. It was Sunday evening, and Oseong had just gotten back from a get-together with his aunt and multiple other relatives. He was confused by the sudden meeting, but staring into his now messy room, he knew exactly why. Someone had obviously been snooping through his stuff, and it was no surprise that that someone turned out to be his mother.

She threw the papers at him, and without even looking down, he knew what they were:

Music sheets.

She was fuming, "Your father and I have told you countless times, but you haven't listened to a word we've said." She pointed around his room, "This? It needs to go. This sort of behavior is no longer acceptable. We gave you a chance to take care of it yourself, but you didn't. Never in my life had I thought I'd ever say these words, but, Hong Oseong, you are grounded."

Now, Oseong did not particularly like these words. Growing up in a wealthy, proper family meant that he had expectations but was also granted with many exceptions. He had never been grounded before, and at age 19, he did not want that to change. "Mother," he said as calmly as he could, "there are definitely better ways to go about this. How about we come up with something more... reasonable?"

She was not looking for "something more reasonable." "No, Oseong. You already had your last chance." She gestured at the entirety of his room, "When you father gets home, all of this is going away. You will stay at home and do nothing but study business until New Years. No more sneaking around, no more art, no more music. You can't live like a peasant anymore, Oseong. You can't live like you're less than what we are."

Without giving him any time to respond, she turned to leave, "I will be confiscating your phone in the morning, and if you dare try something before your father gets home, don't think your punishment will get any lighter." She turned around for a brief moment and looked him straight in the eye, "Hong Oseong, I am very disappointed in you."

She slammed the door so loudly that the entire house shook. Slamming doors was not a proper thing to do, and it was absolutely not acceptable in this household. The fact that his mother had done such a thing showed just how terribly upset she was.

There was no reason for Oseong to feel bad about this, but he hung his head and stared down at the scattered papers on the floor.

He was simply doing something he loved.

Was that so terrible?

He clenched his jaw and collapsed onto his now unmade bed. Fishing his phone out of his pocket, he sent a quick message to Minsoo.

Oseong:
I'm afraid we may have to postpone the meeting.
read

Minsoo:
Oh
Did something happen?
read

Oseong:
Well, for the first time in my life, I'm grounded.
So yes. Yes, I think something did happen.
read

Minsoo:
I'm so sorry :(
Is there anything I can do to help?
read

Oseong:
Probably not, but thanks for the offer.
My phone will be confiscated tomorrow, so I won't get to see or talk to you until after the New Year.
read

Minsoo:
You won't even get it back for Christmas?
read

Oseong:
Who knows?
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Minsoo:
I'm sorry :(
Hopefully things will start to look up soon.
Minwoo just woke up, so I need to check on him
Have a good night, Oseong
read

Oseong:
Thank you
Good night, Minsoo
delivered

His mother had terrible timing.

~*~*~*~

Minsoo rushed over to his brother as soon as he heard him crying. He had been feeling sick today and was coughing a little, but because Minwoo hated going to the doctor, he decided to wait and see if it would get better or not. Now, his little brother was coughing a lot more, and he regretted not taking him to the doctor sooner.

"Are you okay?" Minsoo asked softly, placing his hand against Minwoo's forehead; he was burning up.

Tears spilled down his face, "It hurts."

"What hurts? Your head?" He was panicking now.

Instead of answering his question, Minwoo just murmured, "It's cold. I'm really cold."

As quickly as he could, Minsoo grabbed his little brother's jacket and dialed Oseong's number. The hospital was too far away to walk to, especially in this weather, and he didn't have enough money to take the bus there and back. Minsoo really didn't want to ask for Oseong's help, especially because he was already in trouble, but he quite literally had no one else he could ask (except Eunbi, but she was probably already asleep).

The phone rang twice before Oseong picked up, "Hello?"

"Uh, hi. I know you're in trouble right now, and you probably have other things to do, but I need to take Minwoo to the hospital, but I have no way of getting there," Minsoo said, his words rushed and full of panic.

"I don't want to go to the doctor!" Minwoo sobbed.

With his phone placed between his ear and his shoulder, Minsoo helped his little brother put his jacket on, "I know, Minwoo, I know, but you're sick. We have to go."

From the other end of the phone, Oseong said, "Just send me your address, and I'll be there as quickly as I can."

He let out a small sigh of relief, carefully wrapping a fluffy blanket around his brother, "Thank you."

~*~*~*~

While Oseong waited for Minsoo to send him his address, he quickly set up one of his paint stands and took out a piece of paper. He scribbled on the words I need to take my friend to the hospital. It's an emergency. I'll be back as soon as possible. He taped it to the stand and set it right in front of the door so his parents would see it as soon as they walked in.

He grabbed his phone and his keys before carefully climbing out of his window. His parents would definitely not be pleased with this sort of behavior, but he could worry about that later.

For now, he needed to get Minsoo and Minwoo to the hospital as soon as he could.