Escape

Dinner

Mikyung were just getting inside her house, arrived from Seoul. Secretary Jung entered the password of the front door and turned the knob  when a soft voice welcomed her, "Fortunately miss, the dinner is ready. Please do a quick shower and have a dinner with Master and Madam, they will wait for you. " He bowed and dismissed himself. She nodded to the maid and went up to her room. 

Chairman Min and her mom were sitting at the table. A maid was going back to the kitchen to take whatever needed in the table. This was indeed quite a rare occasion to happen. She guessed her parents didn’t make a whole set of meal this much just because of her accepted in the South Korean Ivy League University. There must be something special today.

There she saw her brother opening the front door. She only meet him once or two after their parents wedding. He turned his head and walked towards the table. ‘Oh, this is the ‘special’ occasion.’

She ducked her head and Jaerim sit next to her.

She bit her lip. She never this close to him and how blank his stare made her uncomfortable.

“Father, Mother.” He nodded toward their parents respectively.

“You’re here. Come eat. There, the rolled omelette you like.” Her mom was taking one of the rolled omelette above Jaerim’s bowl of rice. Her stepfather was not saying much but, “let’s eat,” and picked his chopsticks.

This was the usual treatment she got, her mom not saying anything and her stepfather who spoke nothing but just simple order to anyone in the room. The happy and sweet promise her parents made back then was never meant to be forever. She was just so used being ignored since she couldn’t remember when. Life’s been tough since day one and the world’s saltiness eventually wiped down the warmth her mother had. She had promised herself that she would make it to the top. She was the top dog and she really proved her true. But then again, those males in her job turn her more inhuman. This was all just a lie. Just for the sake of the show in front of the children.

“Have you been well? Long time no see.” She heard Jaerim asked and proceeded to turn his head to see her answering.

“I’ve been alright,” she mouthed and signed her hands to it, trying to be as polite as she had trained to be.

He nodded, ‘she grew up so much I almost didn’t recognize her.’

The maids served steaks as the main course. She could see her step brother eyes lit up at the sight of the meat. ‘I guess he likes it.’ It’s new for her to see this sight of him. They barely knew each other and had quite a number age gap that’s why he’s not around the household after their parents married.

“Jaerim-ah, your dad had called you up because he needs to say it to you by himself.” her mom spoke.

“She’s accepted in Seouldae, she needs a place to stay. Take her with you, “her step father nonchalantly said.

“Oh.” Jaerim looked flabbergasted.

‘He actually talked about me. Father told me to what?’ She was quite amazed. Again, this was the first time.

“If Father says so, then….”

She bit her lip and was honestly so confused. She had been told by the maid some days prior the dinner to pack her things up to go to her university but seeing her step brother face, she clearly knew that he was as shook as her too.

No one was saying anything after that. She didn’t know how to feel. She only continued to cut piece by piece from the meat on her plate and put it to her mouth. She just lowered her head, ‘this house has always been felt cold.’ Her step brother gave her a quick look and sighed. Her mom just glanced at Mikyung from the very corner of her eyes and sipped her wine. She’s always wanted to run away from this house but why running away like this didn’t seem like a better way to go too. She couldn’t bear how much expectations her step father had for her. He rarely talked but always order people around. She had been trying her best to be the conglomerate’s daughter should be, what she should do at every hour, but also always been locked up in the house, to conceal her lacking, to conceal the fact that she was speech-impaired. She was so used to it she couldn't feel anything now, or she just didn't understand herself anymore.