Mathematical attraction

Chapter 45

Minho's P.O.V.
Today was the day.. For my hair and for my attempt to tell my mother. A knock was heard on my door. Come on Minho.. Open up. "Hey mom."

"Hey baby!" She hugged me so tight I could barely breathe.

"Jagi you're crushing her ribs." Wonhae laughed.

She let me go and I hugged him. "Wonhae! I wasn't sure you'd make it!"

He pat my head. "If I say I'll be there, I'll be there. How have you been princess?"

I grinned. "I've been good. Really good actually."

"I heard you wanted to changed up your hair. Your mother's so excited she's acting like a College girl again." He joked.

Ara glared at him, I just answered. "Yup, I can't wait to freshen my haircut."

"Then.." My mother placed her hand on my back. "We'll take care of that right now, because while Wonhae may be a surgeon, he ain't good with scissors."

He placed his hand against his chest in a chuckle. "Straight to the heart my love."

"Well that's for saying I was acting like a child." She stuck her tongue out. "Lets take care of your hair baby." First, she combed my hair. It had been a while since she had done this.. "I miss doing this." She sighed looking into the mirror. "Look at you.. You're all grown up. I still remember when you were as tall as a nightstand, wearing two pigtails at the top of your head."

"Mom.." I sighed, her eyes meeting mine through the mirror. "I'm not as grown up as you think."

She started applying the dye. "You are! You take the Seoul subway on your own, you work, you cook, you can even drive.. You don't need your half good of a mother anymore.."

Now I was getting pissed. "Mom. You did just fine. You do just fine."

"See? Listen to your daughter a little." Wonhae came in and kissed her cheek. "Stop shaming yourself."

How touched was my mom? Enough that there were tears in my hair dye. "Stop that both of you. I'm trying to concentrate." The conversation turned around it later on once she started to cut my hair. "You truly mean that? That I'm not half bad."

"Why are you so unsure of yourself?" I sighed.

"It's just that.. It was so unexpected-" She started.

I stopped her. "Unexpected? You adopted me."

She stayed silent for a minute. "I mean.. I didn't know how hard it would be to take care of a child baby.."

I accepted her answer until my hair was done. I wasn't sure if it was the right time, but I had to bring it up. Once we were all on the couch getting ready to watch TV. "Hey.. Mom? Wonhae? Can I tell you something?"

They turned to me. "Sure, what is it?"

I took a deep breath. "I know in what I'll apply in College."

Ara seemed delighted. "Tell us! What is it?"

"Forensic sciences." I stated.

The room became silent. "Forensic.. You mean.. With the police?" My mom mumbled.

I had to admit I was quite nervous now. "Y-yeah.. Pretty cool right?.."

She rose to her feet. "I won't have it. It's dangerous! Working with the police could kill you!"

"I.. I don't get it.. I'll be in a lab I-" I argued.

"And I don't want to hear any of it! You will not do this!" She yelled, more out of fear than out of rage.

I turned to Wonhae who had stayed silent. "Tell her it's nothing! You know it!"

He stood next to her. "I sadly can't argue with her on this one Minho."

"So you're telling me, after I finally found something I like, that you won't have it? After you clearly asked me to seek this? What are you? Monsters?!" I raged straight to their face.

A hard slap and a stinging sensation on my cheek. My mother's hand still in the end of the motion. "How dare you calling us monsters?! I fed you! I took care of you! The least you could do is listen to me one last time!"

I stayed mute, took my bag and opened the door. "Monsters succumb to their fears. I don't know what's yours and I don't plan on hearing them." I closed the door and ran to the closest shelter I knew.

Ara's P.O.V.
What had I done? I slapped her.. My little girl.. My most precious thing I had left. I felt a pair of arms around me as my knees buckled. "Shh.. It's alright. It's alright. She'll be okay.. Just take a deep breath for me."

My sobs stopped me from doing so. "I just want her to be safe! I promised to protect her. If she follows their path I'm scared she'll-"

"End up like them? Now now.. Minho is a stubborn girl, but she knows when it is too much. Besides, it isn't because of their work that they-" He started.

"It is! That job.." I didn't know what to say. I just wanted to run after my girl to make sure she was safe..

"Isn't hers Jagi." He assured me. "Besides.. You want her to be happy right?" I nodded. "Then let her do it and see how it goes. A little advice.. Maybe you should tell her soon, the reason of your fear. I feel like it'll be the source of many problems."

I moved back. "Not yet. I can't. I'm not ready.. Right now I just want her back here. It's raining outside.."

He kissed my cheek. "I'll go get her. Just wait here."

Minho's P.O.V.
I didn't go far. I was drenched anyway. I didn't know whether my cheeks were wet from rain or tears. "Goodness you're soaked! Come in honey I'll take care of you." She wrapped me in a towel. "What are you doing here at this hour? It didn't go well did it?"

I nodded. "She was furious.. I didn't know what to do."

"And it's good that you came here. My roommate is sleeping so I'll fix the couch for you." She said getting covers from her room. "There you go sweetie.. Try to rest."

I changed into the pajama she gave me and settled on the couch. "I'll try. Thanks.."

Then seconds later, a knock on the door. I closed my eyes and she opened the door. "Yes?"

"Is Minho here?" Wonhae's voice met my ears.

Eunho answered. "Yeah, she's sleeping on the couch. I heard she had an argument with her mother."

"Mind if I enter?" He stepped in. "She did and I want to explain."

I sat up. "Explain why she slapped me?"

"Princess.. She didn't mean it. It's just that she had a bad life experience with the police.." He started.

I rolled my eyes. "All she does is flirt with them not to get speeding tickets."

He held back his laugh. "If you see it like that.. But it isn't." He cleared his throat. "Your mother had a friend who worked for the police and she died on duty. That's why she's scared okay?"

It was because of that? "Why didn't she tell me? I wouldn't have called her a monster. I would've understood. I'm still not gonna change my field of study, but at least I would've reassured her instead."

"So, will you come back to your dorm with me?" He asked crouching next to me.

Honestly, I wasn't sure. My mom would be mad, I was still pissed and now I was feeling pretty bad. "Just.. Let me sleep here."

He glared at me. "You know why I want you to come back.."

I sighed. "I can skip it.."

He let out a laugh. "Sure. Then you'll get sick and won't go to school or swim. Do you want that?"

Urgh.. "Fine.. I'll come."

I honestly wouldn't have lasted the night. I just wanted time to understand why she had never told me about her friend before. At least, I could talk about it with Joonie on the first day of school. Maybe he'd know a reason.