Chapter 49
The woman's gaze lingered on Hyun Min, her eyes piercing and unyielding, as she stood up with a fluid deliberateness that belied the tension in the air. She dusted her clothes with a quiet precision, her movements controlled, her eyes never once leaving his face.
"I don't care what you say," she stated, her voice firm and unyielding, like a granite wall that refused to be breached. "You will marry Na Yeon..no..you must marry na yeon."
Hyun Min's eyes widened,his frustration and anger boiled over, and his expression twisted into a mixture of both. "Sometimes I wonder if I was cursed with a mother like you," he spat, the words tumbling out of his mouth like a dark confession, laced with resentment and hurt.
The woman's face contorted in rage, her features twisting into a dark mask of fury. Before Hyun Min could react, her hand shot out, and a thunderous slap landed on his face, the sound echoing through the room like a crack of lightning on a stormy night, leaving behind a stunned silence and a burning cheek.
"A lot of people are out there wishing to have a mother like me," she said, her voice heavy with pride and condescension, the words rolling off her tongue. "But yeah, you're being ungrateful." Her gaze pierced Hyun Min, daring him to contradict her, the air thick with unspoken challenge.
Her words hung suspended, but before Hyun Min could respond, her anger and frustration boiled over, her face reddening with rage. She seemed on the verge of explosion, her very presence crackling with electricity.
And then, in the midst of her tempestuous emotions, a calculating glint appeared in her eye. "Well, that reminds me," she said, her voice taking on a deliberate tone, like a chess player contemplating her next move, her words dripping with a sinister intent that sent a shiver down Hyun Min's spine.
"We would be having dinner with na yeon's parents" she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she turned to face him. Her gaze locked onto his, and for a moment, Hyun Min felt like he was trapped in her sights.
"So, after the school trip or whatever..... on Monday, I'll be coming over here to pick you up," she continued, her voice matter-of-fact, devoid of any emotional inflection.
The woman's words hung in the air, like a subtle manipulation, designed to elicit a specific response from Hyun Min. Her lips curled into a faint smile, and she laughed, a light, airy sound that seemed to mock the tension between them.
With a final, piercing glance, she turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing through the silence. Hyun Min was left standing there, his mind reeling with the implications of her words, like a puzzle piece that refused to fit into place.
*
*
*
*
Evening....
Na Yeon's voice cracked with irritation as she watched the woman struggle to unpack her bag. "Just transfer my clothes to that larger box," she snapped, her patience worn threadbare by the woman's sluggish movements. The woman's hands trembled as she reached for Na Yeon's delicate garments, but Na Yeon's frustration boiled over like a pot left unattended. She snatched her clothes away from the woman's fumbling fingers, her eyes blazing with annoyance.
"Can't you see I'm trying to speed up this process?" Na Yeon's words dripped with venom, her anger and frustration simmering just below the surface. "Just dump them in the box; don't waste time folding or organizing them." The woman cringed, hastily shoving Na Yeon's clothes into the larger box. But Na Yeon's ire remained unsated, her gaze raking over her belongings with a critical eye.
"Look at this," Na Yeon's voice rose to a shrill pitch. "You've stained my dress." Her accusation hung in the air like a challenge, and before the woman could respond, Na Yeon's hand flashed out, striking the woman's cheek with a resounding slap. The woman stumbled back, tears welling up in her eyes as she cradled her stinging cheek. Na Yeon's face remained a mask of indignation, her anger still simmering like a pot about to overflow.
Na Yeon's voice exploded into a furious shout, shattering the air. "Can you ever do anything right in this life? Oh God, I'm baffled as to why you're still employed here. You're fired, effective immediately!" The sudden outburst drew Madam Laura into the room, her face etched with concern.
"What's happening, Na Yeon?" she asked, her voice firm but laced with a hint of maternal calm. Na Yeon's face contorted in rage as she turned to her mother.
"I'm appalled, Mother," she said, her words dripping with venom. "Just look at what this inept woman has done now."
Madam Laura's expression turned from concern to curiosity. "What did she do?" she asked, her voice measured.
Na Yeon's anger seemed to simmer just below the surface as she produced the stained cloth. "Look at this," she said, her voice laced with disgust. "I told her to handle it gently, but she stained it due to her carelessness. Now I'll have to throw it away."
Madam Laura's response was calm and practical. "You can always do a laundry, no matter what," she suggested, trying to diffuse the situation.
Na Yeon scoffed, rolling her eyes in exasperation. "Doing a laundry is a waste of time," she said, her tone dismissive.
Madam laura's gaze turned to the woman, her countenance still stern, yet a hint of contrition flickered in her voice. "You may leave. I'll speak with you later. My apologies...for that." The woman nodded demurely and departed, leaving Na Yeon alone with her mother.
Madam Laura's voice was laced with concern and authority as she spoke. "Na Yeon, your attitude... Don't tell me, you haven't learnt to deal with that temper of yours..you should have dropped that attitude of yours in canada.. You must stop this."
Na Yeon's response was tinged with defiance, her eyes flashing with indignation. "Mother, not when these workers are so woefully inept. They don't know their place or their duties." Madam Laura's sigh was heavy with resignation as she attempted to reason with her daughter.
"Very well, I'll get more dresses for you. But for now, focus on preparing your bags. You have that school trip to attend to, don't you?" Na Yeon's tone remained agitated, her words tumbling forth in a rush. "Yes, Mother. There's a trip tomorrow,I'll be leaving for school early."
Madam Laura tried to interpose, but Na Yeon's patience had worn thin. "Leave my room, Mother. I've heard enough. You've spoiled my mood." With a quiet dignity, Madam Laura departed, choosing not to press the matter further.