The New Bride

Thirty Three

"Jae-won," comes my voice as we both walked into the shared apartment. He took his time to look back at me, untying his shoes and placing them into the small brown cubby. When I shut the door and copied his actions, I repeated myself. "Jae-won."

His eyes flickered to me and from my shoes. "Yes?" He questions, slightly less focused then I wished him to be. "Are you hungry?"

Before I could reply, he made his way to the kitchen. "Jae-won, why is it that every time something bad happens in my life, your answer is food?" I made a light attempt at the joke. "I'm not hungry, but thank you."

I waved him over with my hand, waiting patiently for him to come to me and sit on the couch. When he did, I sat on the coffee table in front of it, wrapping my arms around my legs after pulling them to my chest. "Is mother-in-law alright?"

I nodded with thin lips. "She is fine. The surgery went well, they said, and that we can visit her tomorrow," I inform him carefully, watching my words so that I didn't accidentally spill something I shouldn't.

Jae-won grew a small smile. "That is good, right?"

I nodded again. "Right." My fingers started to fidget with my toes as the air become a bit more tense. I wasn't sure if my husband could see that there was more that I wanted to tell him, but it felt like he did. To think that the pressure could make me imagine something like that must really mean I'm panicking.

"Can I make food?"

My face contorted at the question and I laughed. "Why? Have you not eaten?" I query, glancing over to the dinner table to see if the lunch box I made was still there. Unfortunately, it was. "Hey! Jae! You were suppose to take that!"

He looks at me from his slouch position on the couch. "I know this," he deadpanned. "I was in a rush this morning because of the meeting."

A collection of our conversation popped into my head and I had to agree. "That's right, it was today, huh?" I allowed him to get up and cook himself a quick meal while I stayed outside the kitchen, peering in through the open sill. "So they said mother was in a car accident," I start to say, eyeing him for his reaction.

He didn't look at me as he pulled a pack of ramen out of the cabinets. "Oh?"

"Mhh hmm," I hummed. "They said the police found it to be rather forced for an accident." I kept waiting for a response but got nothing. "I think it was Jeffery."

My husband turned on his heels, instantly making eye-contact with me. "What?" His whole appearance dropped as he looked to me in worry. "Why do you say this?"

Got him.

I sighed. "There was a man there. He fled the scene immediately after hitting her from the side. It has to be someone Jeffery knows," I conclude.

Jae-won shook his head in disagreement. "No, that can not be true. Jeffery was at school the whole time. Not everything bad is his fault."

Um...what?

"Why do you sound like you are defending him?" I ask incredulously.  "Jae, I'm telling you it was him! He even smiled at me when I got called down to the office! He knew!" The disbelief was clear in my voice as we stared at each other through the small square hole in the wall.

"Lilla, I do not think-"

"Who else could have it out for my mother? The police even said it wasn't an accident!"

"But I don't-" He sighed out of frustration but continued to speak. "That is not it, Lilla! I know him. He is not like this."

My head tilted to the side as my eyebrows furrowed from the sudden leaked information. "Know him? How can you know one of your students so well? He got here a month before the end of the year. You barely know me that well!"

"I just know him! He isn't like this!" Jae-won's Korean came spluttering out as he struggled to speak with me. "It had to be someone else."

I wasn't having it. I trusted my intuition and it was telling me this new kid had something to do with the accident. "Shall I ask him, then?" My suggestion seemed to surprise my husband. "Huh? Shall I? Then we can finally see the reason and stop it all?"

"No, no," he quickly fills in his response as he came around the corner. "Do not do that. If we leave him alone, he will leave us-"

I felt my breath leave my lungs. "Leave him alone?!" I yell, quite enraged to hear such nonsense come from him. "He has done nothing to leave us alone! Why should we be the victims of being stalked, harassed, and harmed just because you believe that this kid is good?"

"Lilla, I am telling you, he did not do this."

I shake my head vigorously. "Then who? A stranger? You want me to think some psycho rammed my mother just because? Jae-won, I'm not going to sit here and take that. I'm telling you, he did do this."

"I know him. I know his family too. They are in a little trouble but are nice people. What happened earlier with the threats was nothing. I told you I would protect you."

I sighed at his ignorant response. "So why, when I am scared for my life and for my family's, do you turn your back to me?"

I watched for his expression. I didn't expect realization to wash over him as quickly as it did, as if he suddenly took notice to what he has been saying. He bit his lip like my own habit, before placing a hand on his forehead.

"Lilla, I'm sorry." He takes a deep breath before saying, "Jeffery's dad use to work for my family. They were let go several years back. Now that I have seen them, here in America, I am not prepared for these events."

My arms cross over my chest and I soak in the new information. "So you are trying to repay your guilt?" I ask, not finding sympathy in me. "Why haven't you questioned his actions? This family clearly has issues if they stalk you, harass you and your wife and go as far as hurting her family."

I looked into his eyes so that he knew the definite meaning behind the words I spoke. "These aren't the same people you knew years ago, Jae. These are scary human beings that only wish for your sorrow. Don't allow your guilt to shield you from your morals."

I realized then that I would have another discussion with Jeffery. If the truth was what I am suspecting, then it is time for me to contact the authorities. The risk of my family and I's mental health is rising. I must make this matter my own, since my husband can't seem to fight away the sorrow he grew up with.

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