Teenager's Rebellion 1

PART 1(TWO-SHOT)

Today the campus is closed due to the student having a dead week before final exam. So, since I don't have any teaching schedule for today, I'm alone at home. My husband is still in his office, and my sons are still in their schools.

This year Mingyu enters high school. Myungho and Channie are still in the same school, because Myungho is 11 years old and Channie is just 6 years old. After giving birth to Channie, I thought I would never have another child, but God said the opposite. Now I'm in my 7th month of pregnancy. And my USG test result shows that I'm having a baby girl. My first baby girl.

Right now I'm getting ready to go to Mingyu's school. 10 minutes ago I got a phone call from Mingyu's school principal. The principal informed me that Mingyu got into a fight with his classmate, and Mingyu with his stubbornness, doesn't tell what caused their fight at all.

This of course makes me think, what happened to him? Mingyu is a good boy. He doesn't even argue with anyone. He's the type to avoid confrontation. Certainly it confuses me and makes me hard to believe. My son must have his own reason why he beat his friend.

On the way to Mingyu's school, my phone rings.

"Seungcheol-ah..."

"Honey, why you sound exhausted? Where are you?"

"I'm on my way to Mingyu's school. His principal called me that Mingyu got into a fight with his classmate."

A long exhale is heard from the other side. "Okay. I'll go home. I will accompany you to Mingyu's school, honey."

"No need to Seungcheol-ah, I can take care of it on my own."

"I know you can do it alone honey, but I'll still go home early. If so, then I'll wait for both of you at home. We'll talk about this together. Okay honey?"

"Yes Seungcheol-ah. Wait for us at home."

***

In the principal's room, there's already Namjoon's father, Mingyu's classmate who fought with my son. I see Namjoon's face skinned and bruised. There's a trace of blood from his nose, temple, and the corner of his lips. His shirt is already in tatters and blood clearly seen on it.

When I turn my eyes to the right, there my son sits arrogantly. His face shows deep anger. His eyes implying hatred and his jaw clenched. There's only a wound on his left cheek and blood on the corner of his lips. Other than that he's okay.

I go to my son and stroke his hair. I look over at the principal and wait for her explanation.

"They got into a fight in the middle of a class. Their friends who witnessed it, said it's Mingyu who started beating at first. But...."

Before Principal Lee could finish her words, suddenly I hear a voice from the left.

"That's because your son is a delinquent."

I glare at the mouth of the one who dares to talk like that to Mingyu.

"Can I listen to Principal Lee's explanation over, without any interruption from your impudent mouth, sir?"

Namjoon's father's face seems startled after I'm done telling him to be quiet. Not wanting an argument between the parents, Principal Lee continues her explanation.

"But, some students who sat near Mingyu's and Namjoon's seats, saw Namjoon gave Mingyu a paper at first. Mingyu ignored that first paper, but Namjoon kept sending the papers, it made Mingyu got up from his seat and hit Namjoon. When I asked him the evident from that paper, Mingyu didn't want to give it. As well as Namjoon who didn't want to tell what's in the paper."

I look back at my son. His right hand is in his pocket. "Can you give me the papers Namjoon gave to you, dear?"

Hesitantly, Mingyu gives the papers in his pocket to me. I'm shocked to see what's inside those papers.

You're not your mother's biological child!

You're just his step son, no wonder you don't look like him at all!

How does it feel knowing that your mother loves your little brothers, his own biological children, more compared to you who's just his step son?! Must be hurt if everyone praises how smart your brothers are because they're your mother's alike, while you're just a dull-witted because you're indeed not his biological son!

If I'm on your shoes Mingyu-yah, it's better for me to run away from home, than being embarrassed knowing my mother isn't even my biological mother!

Those are what in the papers Namjoon gave to Mingyu. Mingyu has long known that I'm not his biological mother. I thought all this time he's going to be okay, as long as I treat him equally to my biological sons. But he actually holds his own disappointment. Moreover his friend knows about this and slits open the wound right in front of him. I know how angry he is.

"I realize that my son is at fault. Me and my son are willing to receive any form of punishment from this school. But, that's if you act decisively and fairly Mrs. Lee. And if I sense unfair punishment that more burdening for my son, I won't hesitate to prosecute this school. And for you Mr. Kim....."

I glare at Namjoon's father's eyes.

"I see that you're an impudent person. Please teach your son not to imitate your impudent self. Intervene other's life, what else is it if not an impudence?! And I know that you're my husband's employee. As long as you couldn't properly teach your son to not intervening other people's problem, it's better for you not to come to work."

I place 2 papers on Mrs. Lee's desk and take the rest as evidences. I pull my son's waist and bring my legs out of that room.

***

All the way home not a word comes from our mouths. Mingyu keeps staring outside of the car window. I also think it's not the right time and place to talk about what had happened. My phone rings.

"Seungcheol-ah..."

"Honey, how is it?"

"I'm already on my way home. Mingyu is next to me."

Long my husband doesn't give a response.

"I'll be waiting at home. Be careful while driving honey."

That is my husband, he's not the type to talk too much. But I know right now, actually he's a bit disappointed with Mingyu. But I also know, that now he's changed into a cool-headed person, solving problems after he listens to overall explanations. He's like this now because of that occurrence when we almost lose 'bibi' Myungho in the womb, just because he didn't want to hear my explanation first.

Once we're arrived, I find my husband already waiting for us on the living room's couch. I immediately sit next to him and not long after I feel his hand around my waist, a kiss on my stomach and lastly on my forehead.

Mingyu stands before me and Seungcheol, then waits for us to start the parent-son talking. I hear my husband whispers, "Your turn honey."

This is our way to discipline our children. We never scold our children together. If Seungcheol scolds the kids, then I'll keep quiet. I won't give a comment or defend my sons. Because I believe my husband is wise enough to face the kids. And vice versa. When it's my turn to discipline the kids, Seungcheol will just keep quiet and listens.

"Choi Mingyu, could you explain to mom and dad what motivated you to beat your own friend?"

"Mom already knew what exactly made me had to beat Namjoon. For what am I going to explain it again?"

"That's not what I mean Mingyu-yah. I know that Namjoon tried to provoke you by prying into your status who's just my step son, that I'm just your step mother. But, what makes me hard to believe is why for that trivial problem you had to ruin Namjoon's face, dear?"

I catch the sound of my husband inhales and his hand which is around my waist moves anxiously. I take his hand from my waist and place it on my lap. I squeeze his hand and tell him everything's going to be okay through my hold.

"Trivial problem you said? I just wanted to defend you mom."

"Mingyu-yah, I didn't need you to defend him. I never bothered with my status as your step mother. What's important is, that I never looks at you as other person dear, because I see you as my own son, my flesh and blood."

Mingyu's voice raises. I don't know what's on his mind right now.

"But for me that's a must mom. And for me what Namjoon said wasn't something small and trivial, because in front of other people I'm just your step son. That's where I have to defend you and my own self. Mom, you never heard anyone talked about how different my face looks compared to you and my brothers, never heard how people admire Myungho and Channie as smart kids, whereas me, there are a lot talks about how by just promoted to next grade and pass an exam is already a miracle for me."

Oh God, did Mingyu have to suffer that much this whole time?

"I'm sorry Mingyu-yah. Mom indeed never heard of that. But what you did to Namjoon still isn't the right thing dear."

"Oh so this is how it felt? The mother that I desperately tried to defend isn't on my side and blamed me instead? Thank you mom, thank you for making me know how it feels to be a step son."

"CHOI MINGYU. Watch your mouth!! Go to your room this instant!!"

"With pleasure, dad."

Mingyu runs away from our sight. I stop my husband's hand who's standing up and about to follow Mingyu to his room.

"Leave him alone Seungcheol-ah."

"I can't honey. He's off the limits."

"No Seungcheol-ah. Leave him in his room. Mingyu is a good boy, let him reflect his own mistake. I'm sure he'll immediately realize his mistakes."

Seungcheol sits back beside me. He takes both of my hands.

"I'm sorry honey."

"You're not one to blame Seungcheol-ah. Here, I'm at fault. I'm not sensitive enough towards my son's feelings. Mingyu was here to wreak his disappointment. Let him be, hmm?"

My husband takes a breath. It's clear he's trying to calm himself down.

"Okay. But I also don't want you to blame yourself honey. We'll talk about this later, when Mingyu has woken up from his stubbornness."

I smile at him as a response and my husband goes to pick Myungho and Channie up from their school.

When I hear Seungcheol's car leaves the house, I go to the kitchen to prepare for dinner.

END OF PART 1