𝐌𝐲 𝐇𝗼𝐧𝐞𝐲 (𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐒𝐚𝐞𝐫𝗼𝐲𝐢)

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞: 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐥

Gwangjin in Seoul
9:00 am
Gwangjin High School

The room had an ominous feel to it as the two older men conversed. "No, it's ok, sir." Mr.Park stuttered out nervously, Saeroyi looked incredibly uncomfortable and I could tell everyone in the room saw it. "Your name is Saeroyi?" Father asked the sweaty boy across the room, Saeroyi stayed silent, I didn't know if it was out of fear of the situation or that he simply didn't want to talk. "Principal." Father turned the the balding man next to him. "Yes, sir?" The principal asked. "What's going to happen to him?" Dad asked as he eyed Saeroyi. "We'll follow the school rules and have him expelled. And the police will help you come to a settlement." The principal answered, Mr.Park looked at Saeroyi in shock. "The police doesn't need it get involved in this." Dad said, I released a breath I didn't even know I was holding. "Mr.Park and I have known each other for a long time, so settling won't be an issue." There was a moment of silence before Dad started speaking again. "But, school rules are different." He said, as he eyed Saeroyi and Mr.Park. "What do you say?" He asked the teacher that stood next to the Park's "Pardon?" The teacher said. "Will he be able to stay in school if we decide to forgive him?" Dad asked eyeing both the principal and the teacher. "Yea, of course. If you forgive him, we'll give him a hood scolding and make sure this never happens again." The principal replied with a slight tone of relief in his voice. "Okay. Let's not cause a fuss." Dad turned his attention to Mr.Park and Saeroyi. "Thank you, sir. Thank you so much." Mr.Park replied.

"That's enough, your an important member of the company." Dad said as Mr.Park kept bowing and muttering. "Thank you, sir. I'll make sure this never happens again." Mr.Park said with one final bow, Saeroyi looked a little relieved but still upset. "But...Saeroyi." Father said as he caught the young boy's attention. "It's important that you know how to apologize for your mistakes. I want you the kneel before my son and daughter and apologize for what you did." Dad said, I agreed with him, I had to witness my brother get punched in the face, I mean he was being rude but that was a little far. "That's how we'll settle this." Dad continued, Geunwon had a smirk on his face and I stood still and silent. "But sir, that's..." Mr.Park started before he got cut off. "Mr.Park. my eldest son got beat up and my eldest daughter had to witness it. It make me very uneasy to be in this situation. So i'm offering a solution that will enable me to tolerate this. We need to wrap this up anyway." Father said, Mr.Park stayed quiet and nodded, he turned his attention to Saeroyi. "What do you think, Saeroyi?" Dad asked him, if I were in Saeroyi's shoes I'd do anything to keep my dad from getting fired, I just hope he makes the correct choice, I took a moment before Saeroyi finally spoke up.

"If you do something wrong, it's only right that you get punished. That's what my dad taught me." Saeroyi said as he avoided direct eye contact with contact. "That's right. Mr.Park, your a great father. You taught him well." Father said as he leaned forward and folded his hands together. "But my dad also taught me that or must stick to their beliefs." Saeroyi said, I looked over at my father and he didn't look to happy about what he said. "I saw one of my classmates get bullied. And the teacher condoned that." Saeroyi said, making Geunwon scoff. "I never bullied anyone, you jerk." Saeroyi continued without giving Geunwon a second thought. "It made me feel uneasy, so I tried to stop him. But he didn't listen, so I hit him." Saeroyi finished with shaky breaths and semi-tears eyes. "I shouldn't have hit him in front no matter what. I desktop get punished for what I did wrong." He finished as his father tried to stop him. "But I can't apologize to Geunwon, Chaeyoung maybe but Geunwon, no." Tears threatened to spill from us eyes and I could see it. "Because I don't feel sorry at all." The room was silent and it had an ominous feel to it. "So you refuse to get on your knees even if you could get expelled?" Father asked Saeroyi.

"I'm doing what I think is right. That's what my dad taught me. And I wish to continue living like that." Saeroyi said, I was angry at him, not only was he refusing to apologize but he is going to be expelled because of his foolish actions. "How unfortunate." Father sighed and stood up. "You leave me with no choice. Mr.Park, what to you think?" Father asked as he neared the pair, I didn't know who's side to be on or wether I should speak up or not, I was taught the same things as Saeroyi by my mother but they both did something wrong. "Why are you so quiet?" Father asked as he stopped in front of Mr.Park. "He's just a child who doesn't know the ways of the world. It's hard to believe that he is my son." Mr.Park said, usually I could read people pretty well but it was hard to figure out what he meant by that. "I am amazed by him." Mr.Park said with a wide and toothy smile, at this point both his and Saeroyi were on the verge of tears. "He's doing what he thinks is right and is willing to be responsible. So..So I have nothing more to say to you, sir." Mr.Park said, I was shocked at his boldness, the entire meeting he has been nothing but quiet and now he decided to speak up.

"Your being a fool. How are you going to keep working at the company now that things are awkward between us?" Father asked with a monotone voice and a straight face, Saeroyi was about to say something to my father before he was cut off my his. "I'll resign, sir." Saeroyi was now actually crying at his father's foolish choice, I would have too. "Okay, then. You do that." I can't believe that Father just let his best employee go like that, without putting up a good fight. "Thank you so much, for everything, sir." Mr.Park said with a respectful bow, the pair departed after Saeroyi grabbed his backpack from the class, I was still in slight shock from the situation. "Cant you believe that guy?" Geunwon said as he nudged me. "Not at all." I replied.