FLAME - EPISODE 7

LEE JIM IN

After I had my last lecture,I returned to my private class for some peace and quiet. I met Taeyhung there,scribbling something on a paper and he looks focused on it.

“What are you doing?”,I walked up to him.

“Writing”,he said,trying to minimize his word.

I rolled my eyes. “Thanks for stating the obvious”.

He sighed and turned to face me.

“I am writing some drugs name that Aera can use for her skin”,he said while folding the paper neatly.

I raised my brow at him.

“She needs it. She has several bruises on her body”,he said and stood up.

Strange! Why has Taeyhung been acting all caring with her.

“Taeyhung,do you like her?”I asked and he chuckled and opened the door before answering me.

“When did you start acting like Ji hoo? I have my suspicion about Aera and been close to her will confirm it”,he said and closed the door behind him.

‘What suspicion?’,I asked myself.

My phone beeped and its a message from Mi cha…..

A family meeting will be held in the Lee ancestral mansion by 5pm. Mom will be there!

My heart skipped a bit.

My mom will be there for a meeting?

Is it that important?

After my mom left my dad,she only steps her foot in the ancestral mansion when its important or when I am down with the flu. After I left for the states,her visits became regular and it touched my heart that she flew all the way from Korea just to see me,something my dad has never done.

I quickly left and entered my car,I noticed Taeyhung car isn’t here anymore but Ji hoo’s car is still here. He is probably busy doing you-know-what.

AT LEE ANCESTRAL MANSION….

I arrived and the butler bowed at me,as usual. “They are all in the study except for your mother”,he informed me.

I walked into the study I once entered Three days ago.

“Look what the cat brought in”,Mi cha smirked at me and pulled me to seat beside her.

“How are you enjoying the Korea weather?”,she asked me.

I only glared at her.

She pats and ruffled my hair. “Look how cute he is”

“Stop it!”,I slapped her hand off.

“Children!”,my dad called us to order with a strict tone.

“Father”,Mi cha responded coldly.

“Its nice to see you both all grown up and it gives me hope that I might see my great grandchildren before my death”,my grandpa smiled.

“Are we here to discuss your funeral?”,I frowned,obviously annoyed at where the conversation is heading. I’d really love to know what this is about.

“Put a zipper on that mouth”,my father warned me.

“How about you go buy yourself a heart”,I scoffed at him.

“Good one brother”,Mi cha giggled in amusement and even ruffled my hair again.

I glared at her.

She pouts with displeasure,”so I am not allowed to praise you”.

I rolled my eyes at her act.

“Can we get straight to the point…I have somewhere to be”,I complained.

“I have a shoot”,Mi cha added to my reasoning.

“Fine! We are here to discuss Lee Jim in marriage arrangement”,my dad announced.

Ohh! The expression on my face can’t be described right now.

“Pfft…”,Mi cha burst into an uncontrollable laughter.

“I drove all the way from Incheon just to hear this… pfft!”,she continued laughing.

“Its is not a laughing matter and certainly not up for discussion”,my dad voice came out stern.

” Ohh…it is cerainly going to be up for discussion”,I countered his word.

“I won’t let you control my life and mould me as you dim fit. I have been keeping quite just because I want to get your approval,your love and your attention. I had to make myself uncomfortable for you but that has ended since I came back from USA”,I lashed at my dad in a state of rage.

“JIM IN!”,He yelled my name with fury.

I stared blankly at him,not affected by his rage.

“I have let you control me! I have let you do what will make you happy at the expense of my own happiness but I’ll certainly not let you rub me of a lifetime happiness…marriage! Its a thing of joy and I will share it with the woman I am in love with and not for business benefit”,I said.

“I agree with Jim in. He is old enough to make his own decision. You have tampered and toyed with his life and he has reached his breaking point. Have you ever thought of his happiness? Have you ever thought about how your decisions are affecting him? Have you ever asked for his opinion on whatever decision you made? No! Instead you impose your every word on him”,Mi cha yelled at my dad in anger before sitting back on the chair.

“Well….you can’t try that with me. I never really wanted your attention anyways. I have stopped hoping to have your fatherly warmth and I am glad Jim in has come to his senses. We have mom”.

“You…!”,my dad glared at her and made to move to her.

I blocked his way….

“What do You think you want to do? Hit her?”,my eyes reddened in anger.

My dad took a step back while my grandpa watched on in amusement without uttering a word.

“You will be doing as I say and that’s final”,my dad slammed his fist on the mahogany table.

“Not if I have something to say about it”,my mom walked in.

…………………..

JUNG AERA

I successfully evaded trouble for my next two classes and rushed out of the school premises. While trekking the long distance out of the school environ my mind is busy evaluating how my first day went. It’s definitely not how I expected it to be.

On a normal first day at somewhere,you’d be barely noticeable but because of the badluck I carry with me,I started on a wrong foot and got into the the bad book of everyone.

A car screeched and stopped at my feet,”get in”

I looked down and saw that it is Taeyhung.

I bit my lips and stared around and saw people glaring at me and warning me to not enter.

“Are you really scared of them?”,he asked and I didn’t reply.

He sighed and rested his head back on his car seat while I am busy staring and playing with my feet.

“Do you need help getting in? Should I carry you? Does your feet hurt?”,he asked as he seems calm and not affected by his surroundings. His eyes are even shut.

How does he do that? Sit back and feel calm even in a storm.

I really envy that trait in him.

“I’m coming”,he snapped his eyes opened.

I quickly shook my head to disagree and entered his car.

I heard gasp behind me.

“She entered his car!”

“How dare her?”

I sighed.

What exactly do they want? I should wait and let him carry me into his car?

They’d definitely die of shock.

” Your address”,he asked as he stared at his Google map.

I told him.

“Can I see your hand?”,he requested.

I nod my head. First time he requested something from me. Its not like he is gonna bite me.

He stared at my arm for a long time and smiled before leaving my arm.

I stared at my own arm in confusion but didn’t see anything that made him smile.

“So tell me about your family”,he said as he drove off.

“They are nice and my father is dead. In summary,my mom shows my sis and I much love”,I lied through my teeth.

He chuckled and swerved of the road and went into a drug store.

He came out minutes later and handed me a mini handbag filled with drugs,soothing creams,pain killers and spot cleaners.

“You don’t need to lie to me…I can see through it. Those will help with the bruises and pain”,he said and continued driving.

I felt touched by his act of kindness and thoughtfulness. My own family doesn’t even care.

He stopped right in front of my home and came out to open the door for me.

“Always learn to stand up for yourself. Don’t let people pick on you”,he adviced,stared at my arm again and went into his car.

He drove off.

Why does he keep staring at my arm?

With that thought,I walked in and the first person I saw was Ara.

She immediately snatched the small bag filled with drug and threw it contents to the floor.

“What is in there?”

“Who is he?”

“On your first day you actually came home with a guy”

“How digusting of you”

I stared at the bottles that broke and spilled the liquid out.

The others were still intact like;capsule,creams,etc.

My heart is heavy right now

Does she know how this thing means to me.

I already had the thought that at least I won’t be wearing long sleeves no more to hide the bruises once it heals.

“You should be ashamed…..

I didn’t let her complete her statement when I slapped her hard that she fell to the floor.

This is the scene my mother met when she walked in…..