Death Wish

Act III - Mother

“Jin Suk-ah”, his mother called out to him, “Yes, Eomma?”, he replied as he went near his mother laying on the hospital bed. He looked at her smiling, he doesn’t want his mother to see that he is down, he believes that displaying a sad face will make her mother’s last moments be full of grief. He wants to show that he will be fine by the time that her mother will be gone in this world. He was forcing his smile even if it’s hard for him, he needs to be strong, to show his mother that he will be able to live his life easy without her around.

“Could you please lower down the air conditioner, I feel cold”, her mother gave a gentle smile. “You should have told me earlier”, he replied. He grabbed a stool and stood on its seat, “Be careful”, her mother reminded because the stool was wiggling. He reached for the air conditioner as his other hand was on the wall to maintain balance. He lowered it down to half and carefully went down. “Did I adjust the right temperature, mother?”, he asked his mother as he returned the stool to its place. “Yes, thank you, Jin Suk-ah”, the two smiled at each other.

Jin Suk picked some fruits and slice them into pieces so her sick mother could eat, “When will your father come?”, she asked as he continues to slice the fruits. “I don’t know, but he said he will come after work”, he replied. His mother looks outside the window and saw big fluffy clouds slipping slowly into the sky. “Is your father, overworking again?”, she asked. “I don't know but I can see that he is very stress”, Jin Suk asked and gave the plate of sliced fruits to his mother then sat near her.

“Thank you”, her mother patted his head and Jin Suk couldn't help look at her loving mother with a smile. Her mother took a slice of apple, “Tell your father not to stress himself too much, he will get older faster”, they both laugh softly. “I will mother”, the two chuckled.

The two heard the room’s door slides open, a girl who was carrying a pile of lunchbox entered, “Hello, Mrs. Han”, she greeted her and bows her head slightly to show respect. “What are you doing here?”, Jin Suk asked. “I didn’t come here for you, I came for Mrs. Noh”, she said and tease him with her tongue.

She puts the lunchboxes on the counter, “Mom, wanted to give this to you”, she said as she place every lunchbox on the counter. “She doesn’t need to but tell her that I said thank you”, her mother smiled. “She said she can’t come because she is busy handling some issues in the company”, she took an extra chair and sit on the opposite side near her. His mother took the girl’s hand, “We have such a good and caring neighbor”, she said smiling and looking at Jin Suk, “Aren’t I right, Jin Suk-ah?”, she asked his son. The two look at each other with cringe face, “Yeah, her parents to be precise”, Noh Jin Suk said then looks away. The girl grunts, “Said by someone who cr-”, Noh Jin Suk covered her mouth immediately because he knows what was he was going to say, “Shut your mouth”, Jin Suk told her with his furious eyes as if he was hiding something. “What is it?”, her mother asked smiling. “Nothing eomma”.

The girl wrapped her arms and smirk then her mom chuckled as she look at the two. The girl get up and took her bag, “I’ll be going now, I still need to study”, she said. “Thank You, Hyun Jin-ah, please take be safe on your way home”, she said to her and the girl nods her head. “Go send Hyun Jin out”, her mother asked him. “Oh no, no need Mrs. Han, it's okay”, the girl refuses. “Are you sure?”, she asked. “She can take care of herself, men fear her”, Jin Suk looked at Hyun Jin and smirked. Hyun Jin was furious but she can’t show it. “I’ll get going now”, she said. “Okay, take care and thank you”, Hyun Jin slide the door open and bowed her head then close it again.

“How about you get going too, you still need to study”, his mother said. “It’s fine, mom. I can review here”, he insisted on staying, “No, go home and study there. You can’t review here comfortably”, her mother insisted. “No, im not leaving you alone”, he sticks to his own word. “Aigo, I raised such a stubborn kid”, her mother sighs. “Appa, gave me a personal nurse so that someone can take care of me, you can go, I will be fine. Don’t worry”, her mother said. Jin Suk who can’t disobey his mother’s word decided to follow her. “Okay”, he took his bag and stood up. “Good, now go”, her mother pushed him gently with one hand.

“I’ll be going, I will be back again tomorrow”, he said then opened the door. Before he leaves, “I will stay sleep here tomorrow, its weekends the next day so I have a reason and you can’t do anything about it”, he explained and his mother can’t say anything bak to him. “Goodbye”, he close the door and left.

It was already past ten in the evening when he arrived home. He entered his home and notice that his father is already home, he saw the coat hanging on the sofa that he wore this morning. He removes his shoes and saw a pair of shoes that he never seen before, he learns that his father has a guest over. His dad often have guests over for meetings and just discussion so it was normal.

The lights in the bar island in the kitchen were on and he saw liquor and food so he thinks that they had a drink. He drop himself in the sofa, he was worn out and already sleepy. He took a deep breath and sighs then close his eyes for a moment. He got up and picked up the telephone beside the television. He called his mother, he was really sleepy but he waited for his mother to call back. He dialed her number several times but no one was answering, “Is she already asleep?”, he mumbled.

He puts the telephone back and went upstairs to go to his room. He was climbing the stairs when he heard a sound. It sounded like a woman in pain, he thinks that was only in his head so he ignore it. The sound came again and he was sure that it was coming upstairs, he already had a feeling what was happening..

Curiosity lured him and the sound was coming from his parent's room. He confirmed that there’s two people in the room. In his mature mind, the sound that they were making was inappropriate to be known to the young ones. He gulps and his sleepiness went away.

He doesn’t want to know and he doesn’t want to believe what was coming into his mind. Various scenes were running to his head, just to deny that one lewd scene in his thoughts. He slowly climbs the stairs to avoid making any sound. His heartbeat is getting faster and he was feeling restless.

He was about to open the door when he heard the telephone ringing from downstairs, which made an excuse for him to turn a blind eye to what happens inside the room. He went downstairs and picked up the phone, “Hello?”, he answered. “Hello? Is this the family of Mrs. Han Young In?”, the stranger asked? “Yes, this is them. What is it?”, he asked. “I see, this is from the hospital. I called regarding Mrs. Han Young In”, the woman said.

He thinks that it may be about the new medicine that her mother will take again, “Sir, please prepare for what I am about to relay. Please hold yourself together”, the woman said. “On December 3, 2001, at 9:52 pm”, the woman had a long pause after saying the last line, “Mrs. Han Young In passed away, we are grieving with you and we are sorry for your loss”.

His eyes widened with shock and he stop breathing for a moment. He drops the phone and his knees became weak. He couldn’t believe what he heard and refused to accept that statement. He wants to break apart the reality and moved to a world where all the things he believed existed.

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[End of Act II - Mother]

[Next Act - Father]