LEE
There was this vast feeling of satisfaction to see the piece of ornament I gave her two nights ago by her wrist. The silver chained bracelet hung loosely on her, faintly crinkling when she moved her arms. Reassuring that sound was as I chiseled my hearing to overhear my family discuss and opinionate the episodes from the ceremony. The gossips that sizzle among them, it must be diplomatic- because from where I saw her seated next to Sera, her highlighted curiosity seem to pique with each word that my sister said.
For a brief moment she looked at me, then she turned to exclaim. I couldn't hear them, but with the dissected analogy of how they behaved- sera was onto something. My best guess was, she was narrating the top listed events that involve me and my embarrassments.
Chewing on a nonexistent gum and pride I surf through my phone to look through the countless emails that I wasn't able to attend to. Each more important than other- but none than the issues I have with her.
The hammering complication which led me into confronting her of her loyalty was vicious when she has been convinced on defying her actions. She gets me, she knows how lenient I am when it comes to her. But I have had enough- why wear the bracelet that I gifted her today when she could've thrown it away?
Why confuse me?
Why the faux?
I don't care who that man was. But the lie? Do I deserve them, after she knows what she means to me?
But forgiving her became a norm, so as we sat with mementos huddled around us for the said family culture to be wrapped. Shin and I have been sharing the room and bed by my family home on the third floor after the night of the reception. Not that I have seen her awake and active since I was seldom home, when I was back she was asleep with an open book on top of her chest. What could I give to hold her and tell her about my day? To see her smile at me and flirt with her philosophical humor. The final court hearing and prosecution of a decade-old nemesis had been keeping me up and off. Now that he was sentenced to life imprisonment I could see the relief in my father's behaviour.
He even shared a warm hug with me this morning, it caught me off guard so we ended up butting his forehead against mine at first. He wasn't impressed by it. No one ever seems to appreciate the efforts I make- so with a grumpy attitude, I crossed my legs by the mattress on the ground. We waited for everyone to join us- Shin who scooted to me with small unnoticeable steps whispered hurriedly.
"What is going on? Why are we on the floor?"
I stared ahead at the mural in the wall as I answered her.
"It's a tradition. We unwrap the presents we receive with them"
I hear her gasp in shock- I could relate to her. Out of all the aspects that confused me about her- this was something I could understand. Invasion of privacy- the Kims don't heed at it.
"Why are we all on the floor though?"
This wise I look up at the chandelier. The large ball of crystal hung there proudly.
"Because it's humble. A symbolism that we are grateful for the love we are amassing through these tokens" maddened, I laugh. Looking at her quizzical gestures I agree with her unsaid notion "Yes, it's irrational"
But so were the thoughts of what was packed within those mysterious boxes. Because as far as I know my friends- I don't want to admit. But they were a bunch of assholes at the end of the day- so the chances of me receiving a genuine one was a farce. Not even with Elzina- not when I pranked her with a live tarantula encased in a jar for her own wedding present.
Now that I think back, it's karma.
Aaron was inching with excitement as sera splits up the crates and cartons in numbers so each member could get an equal number of them.
"Do you have Hwans?" shin was careful not to imply her nerves as she smiled at my mother. She blows air out with a pout once she was free of my mother's radar, her small face snuggled by the fluffy turtle neck top as she softly blinked at me. But then the realization strikes as she monitored off. Refraining to hold a gaze or conversation with me.
I sigh, grazing the tip of my nails with my thumb as I watched them eagerly tamper with the coverings. Revealing sets of exported wine, valid passes to luxury villas, promotive technologies, gold bars, handcrafted invocations from known artists, and many more that were entirely for connective purposes. Half of the names on them, I don't even know of their existence. Then it was my turn to do so-
Inspecting the nearest one that I had, I fumble with the wooden beige box- the size of my palm. My heart began to race with ecstasy when I flip it open. My clutch stiffened against its covering. Shutting it with a snap I blinked, morphing my flushed nature into a composed smile.
"It's a gift card. So Clarissa like" I mumble shoving it inside the pocket of my jeans as shin projected me with a concerned gaze. she didn't have the right to do it- but it was comforting to know that she knows me well.
Then Aaron ripped open a bag of boxers with small animal prints on it. From my place, I announced it was from Mike. There wasn't anyone else who loves animals more than him that I know of- I could see the disappointment clouding my father's features. My mother smiled lovingly. Aaron was probably planning on stealing it. And shin thought that they will look adorable on me.
Good thing she whispered her mind to me.
Bad thing- she whispered her mind to me.
Worse for her- because she realized what she said after it was too late.
But too late also was it when my grandfather, who had been quiet for a prolonged duration picked up a case. The room fell silent in the mark of his respect as the wrinkled corner of his mouth curved into a smile.
"Alexander White and Edmund Sargent" his raspy voice read "Aren't they your American friends. White? The one who runs Elite Cooperation?"
My throat dries up in an instant as I nod lightly. What on earth presumed them to even join in on a gift. Don't they have enough money to do it separately- Aaron crawls and picks a note that was attached by the outer layer.
"Because we know you too well- written with a heart drawn at the end" Aaron grins, his bunny teeth wide on display as I reached my hand out to grandpa. Apart from not being able to hear well, he seems to have forgotten the hint of a body language. Because instead of handing me the box, he slapped me a hi-five with a laugh and proceeded to gut through the content inside.
Before I could jump onto it- he pulls out leather-strapped handcuffs.
With it, a major silence befalls that outdoes that one that we gave out to grandpa earlier.
Closing my eyes and sucking in a deep breath I fall into my spot, I sit my conscience going numb.
"This coming from a reputed man like Mr. White- beautiful" a croaky, quick squeak leaves me as Grandpa weighs them on his palm with scrutiny "His taste in art is phenomenal. I wonder how much this piece is worth"
Stunned, I watched my eighty-nine-year-old savior. His innocence seems to buy me validation from my parents. But when Aaron doubled over with sera hauntedly popped the bubbles from the discarded rap did I realized the generation gap saved me from a disaster only for the other to the surface.
It was too much pressure until the small voice of shin soon garnered everyone's attention as she desperately wheeled the focus on her-
"Does anyone want to see the potato peeler my bother got me?"
***
The curly-haired guard beelines towards me the moment I walk through the gates. The drill chopper could be heard from afar as I get walked through the prison's desks, the officer reads me the information- the reason why I got called to convene a convict.
"He asked to meet you. we tried investigating his motives- but he was relentless" scanning his permit by the reader he opens the iron door for me. behind the one-way glass panel, I could see him. "He says that there is something he has that you must know"
Scantily I run my gaze across the empty room with a chair and microphone to talk through. Cha Jung-hoon, the man too malignant and psychotic to be faced without a barrier. I remember him from my childhood memories, chaotic and jumbled- but he had been there around my younger days working tirelessly as my father's associate.
Tireless yes. But faithful?
When he was caught leaking information to the opposing committee he was executed from the existing forms of official disciplinary. His crimes meddle with the nation's policies and he deserved what came his way. A hefty sentence that he escaped as a fugitive.
But when her only surviving parent- committed arson and died within the property. He targeted my father for the murder when it was nothing but a framed homicide by people he betrayed my father for. But he would never believe that because we never found the evidence, but neither the clearance that could stop him from flipping out completely.
So now when I faced the once handsome, cultured, and groomed man in shackles and prison clothes with scars mapping his features, it colds my nerves to think of what has become of him and how he had been the cause of my family living in dread for so long.
Just a soul like us, but impaired with malice and hatred.
"He also confessed to some new crimes that weren't listed" I hold my breath , taking a seat facing him- he looks up, his dead and deranged stare is tight on me- he can't even see me. He reflection is all that he will speak to "He revealed this by his last therapy session, claims to have abduction, abuse, money deflation and laundering, and pedophilic tendencies though he never engaged in the act. I will be outside if you need me"
An acidic disgust prickles my throat as I noticed at him. He was far gone- I couldn't have withstood to be in the same room as him. It was a good thing he was shielded. People like him are the reason why I have been so protective of Sera and Shin. even thinking of them with him in a visual length felt precarious.
But I can't help but get drawn to how I had left in a frenzy when Shin made an endeavor to speak with me. After she diverted the nonexisting attention span of the people in the room to her potato peeler, there wasn't much interesting commodity in there. once we were done with dinner, her monotonous question, once we were strolling by the pool side in silence, had me in a fit of unrest.
"Did you mean it?" she watched the water with a distant look as if she was fighting through and over "That none of it, no matter what happens. Your feelings- they'll remain the same"
The luminous from the water creates a lucid hue, she looked elegantly beautiful with the soft lights highlighting her features. Removing a hand from my pocket with the box that Clarissa modified to be in the likes of a present, I pass it to her.
Initially skeptical but vividly curious she unlocks it. I memorize her flaming surprise and fidelity with how brightly she smiled-
"Is this- is this what I think that I am thinking?" she rambles, the element of her I cherish ardently.
"Is that my license?" regardless of my smug stance, she grins "I look hot in the picture don't I?"
She ceased to comment as I lift the card, a whiplash of emotions fogs in as I struggled to form a sentence.
"I-I wanted to show this to you first. It was you I thought of when I was at the peak of my success and elation. Does that answer your question" the spark in her goes flat, but not the life in her eyes. They were intense- "I am sorry for how I behaved. I wasn't on my right state of mind to-
"There's something I want to tell you"
There was a sea of apprehension in her utterance- but then her form relaxed as she took a step near me. Not close, neither far from. A civil expanse between us kept me sane. But then my phone rang, I pull it out to disconnect. But ended up receiving it on an important note. It was from one of the high post officials who wouldn't have bothered to call me if it wasn't an urgency.
And then I left-
I freaking left her hanging there asking her to wait for me while I have been waiting for her since lasting days that didn't seem to faze. But here I was encased in an interrogation cabin with my fingers pressing at the microphone so that I could have a chat with a convict.
Why did he want to meet me now?
Weren't all these years enough for him to acknowledge my presence? I was sent to the US because of this bastard's threats, he kidnapped my father on my eighteenth birthday, he attempted to poison my grandfather by saturating his medical prescriptions. He got caught four years ago-
Why meet me now?
"Shaun Kim Lee" he drawls out my name as if it was sweet on his tongue. Too lunatical to consider him humane. "Grew up so well I see"
I don't let the creep play around. I wanted to leave this place as soon as I could.
"Why did you want to see me?"
He closed his eyes with a shake of his head as if my question was like a lullaby to his ears.
"What's the hurry?" leaning on his seat his orbs fixed on his own introspection. But I could sense him on me. The stare of his was conjuring the patience in me. I only listen- was there anything else that I could do? "Ah- you must be forlorned to get back to your bride. What a lovely couple you both make"
My whirling thoughts, every bit of them freeze in speck. Clenching on the thin neck of the mic I speak- my voice comes out sharper than I intended to. The inkling of a man like him even knowing about shin was making me sick.
"What does this have to do with it?" My toes press by the sole of my left shoe as I lift my heel. My body kept tensing with each second that passed with his silence.
"I saw her image in the newspaper. My little shin-young grew up into such a beautiful lady, you are one lucky guy"
The echo of the chair scraping promptly against the concrete is all hear as I stood up, nothing constitutes to make my fuming anger dissolve- to hear her name from his filthy mouth, what the hell was going on?
"Why the fuck did you want to meet me" it was me, the thundering growl- the severe voice. He better shut up about her before I lose control like an animal. But he in prior was it- a filth- so when he laughs with his corners wrinkling I found my inhalations deepening.
"Look how fate plays Lee. I am sentenced to life here, but you are free on the other side of me. Conceivably expecting me to break down and beg for mercy. But why do I smell that you are restless, furious, and afraid" with each word he breaks the walls that were saving me from his toxicity- he riddled in my mind until I found myself whispering weakly-
"What are you even trying to say?"
He looks at the ceiling with his cuffed wrist holding his head. For a second I think I saw a shadow of misery sweep by him- But that was just an illusion.
"She served as a bait when I first tried to kill your father when he was treated by the Han's health center" stunned to the brink of breaking apart I stood there uselessly deciphering the hoax this was. Imploring ridiculously for this to be a nightmare. "She was a smart girl even when she was just eleven, won't give in despite the trauma she endured. Now that I see it this way, she saved the life of your father. That's heroic- it makes me fall in love with her more now that she is all grown up"
"SHUT UP" I scream punching the glass, it rattled with resentment as I kept demanding him to shut his fucking mouth up - with each repeat my voice cracked harder until I had to grab the edge of the plank that hoisted the microphone.
"You won't see me much Lee. But you'll see me in the fears of shin-Young" he pressed the red circle as a guard stepped in to take him "I used to be angry at my sister who released our hostage, but now that IÂ hear you, I am contended with how things turned out"
Frantic I hit my palms against the glass in rapid knocks as he got up-
"What did you do to her?" I wanted to kill him, rip him shreds as he looks through his shoulder-
"My confessions that are new for you, are my oldest sins"
I don't waste my time in ponderation as I turn around- I step out to see him being escorted from the compartment, he falls to the side as I punch him. He smiles, the side of him bedded by the corridor's wall. But before I could grab his collars and choke him until the life left his eyes I got yanked back by the security. They don't let me go, he walks free as they pulled me away and out.
With each forced backed step, I go weak.
I think of all the alibis to this. But found none.
Of all the people he could have ruined to get to my father. Why her?
Why the innocent girl?
Why me?
***
Comment your thoughts, let me know what you think so far. Also I am flash.
I wish.
I don't like flash tbh.