Silently, I led Ji Won into my room. My room
was small and luckily, it was far away from my parents so
they can’t hear much. I let Ji Won have the bed while
I take the floor. ‘Damn,’ I thought. ‘Why
does the floor have to be so cold and hard?’
Ji Won stared down at Mina who was trying to sleep on the
cold stone floor. He picked her up easily and lifted her
onto the bed.
“Oppa? What are you doing?” I whispered as my
eyes grew wide.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
I nodded my head slowly.
“Good,” he said. “This bed
is small but it’ll fit both of us.”
My eyes grew wider at what Ji Won had just said. But I had
just told him that I trust him. I couldn’t take my
words back so I had no choice but to sleep with him. We
both got in my bed and slept side-by-side. I was so nervous,
I couldn’t sleep. Ji Won, on the other hand, had no
problem. He fell asleep instantly.
I turned my head over to look at him. His face was so innocent
like an angel when he was sleeping. Who would have thought
he was such a devil when he’s awake and moving?
An hour had passed and it was 3’ in the morning. I
still couldn’t sleep. Suddenly something weird happen.
Ji Won turned his entire body around and did a 360, kicking
me.
“Ow!” I cried out but covered my mouth so my
parents wouldn’t hear me. When he was done, he had
this happy look on his face. At first I thought he was just
playing with me but he really did do a 360 in his sleep.
Suddenly he reached over and held me tight. My entire body
went tense and rigid. I could feel Ji Won’s light
breathing on my neck.
I don’t know why but now that Ji Won was this close
(practically laying on top of me) made me feel better. It’s
probably cause I’ve never been this close to a person
in a long time. Soon I began to fall asleep too…
Part 8
November 1, 1993
Ji Won opened his eyes and found himself laying partially
on Mina’s body. He blushed and slowly moved away from
her. Then he just lay near her watching her sleep.
Suddenly it caught his eyes. The sleeves and pant legs of
her pajamas were lifted up and he got a good look at her
arms and legs. Dark purple bruises cover her entire body.
There were several scars on her legs and arms too. Red lines
run across her legs and it made Ji Won wince because it
looked so painful.
He didn’t want to disturb Mina but he was really curious.
She turned over and Ji Won lifted the back of her shirt.
It was even worse than her legs. Ji Won opened his mouth
lightly in shock and touched her bare back delicately, fearing
that he might hurt her. Mina began to stir.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I saw Ji Won looking at me
with this sad expression on his face. “What’s
wrong oppa?” I asked.
“Who did this to you?”
Then he lifted the sleeve of my shirt. I opened my mouth
in shock. I tried to hide it but I couldn’t believe
he saw my bruises.
As I tried to answer him, I heard my stepmom’s footsteps
heading towards my room. “Oppa!” I yelled, turning
back to Ji Won, who was rubbing my bruises. “You have
to get out of here! My mom is coming!”
Ji Won looked at me surprised but I opened my window for
him to climb out. “Climb down this tree. Goodbye Ji
Wonee,” I said to him with tears in my eyes.
Ji Won remained silent the whole time as he left her room.
But he didn’t leave though. He sat on the branch of
her tree and looked through her window. He couldn’t
hear what Mina and her mom were talking about but he saw
it.
He saw Mina’s mom bring out a small wooden stick and
whack Mina with it several times. Ji Won couldn’t
take it anymore. He busted back into Mina’s room.
Part 9
I looked up at my stepmother in pain. “I’m sorry
mom. I didn’t know we’re supposed to have guests
today.”
She glared at me with cold hatred in her eyes. “Mr.
Eun, of the Eun Hotel Empire all over Hawaii, is coming
to visit us. Your father might get a promotion if we make
a good impression! You’re supposed to be awake half
an hour ago to prepare all of us tea! Now Mr. Eun is down
there expecting tea! What am I supposed to do now huh?”
My stepmom began to breathe rapidly as her anger increased.
I saw her raise that stick of hers again. I curled myself
up hoping the pain would lessen but I know it wouldn’t
so I prepared myself for the strike…
Ji Won caught the stick just before it would hit Mina. Mina’s
mother stared at Ji Won in surprise. Mina opened her eyes
and stared at Ji Won in shock. He looked down at her.
“Mina, are you okay?”
“Ji Won!” I screamed. “What are you doing
here?”
Ji Won looked back at me. “I came to save you from
this evil bitch.”
My stepmom twisted her face in hate. “I knew you were
trouble all this time Mina. How dare you bring this boy
home? Wait until I tell your father about this!” Ji
Won grabbed my stepmom’s arm to stop her.
“You do that and I’ll have you fired!”
I stared at Ji Won dumbfounded. ‘What is he talking
about?’
“What are you talking about you juvenile delinquent?!”
snapped my stepmom.
“I mean,” said Ji Won glaring at her. “That
you’re having tea with my father right now and I’ll
get you and your husband fired if you hit Mina one more
time.”
I look at Ji Won surprised. ‘Ji Won is the heir of
the Eun Hotel Empire? His family is the richest in all of
Hawaii!’
My stepmom looked at Ji Won doubtfully. “If you’re
his son, then how come you’re so filthy?”
Ji Won gave her a smirk. “I know you want proof. How
about all of us go down there to talk to my dad?”
My stepmom looked at him and thought, ‘This is the
only way for real evidence. He might get us a promotion.’
Then she said, “Come on then, boy. Let’s go.”
