FALL 4 ME

FALL 4 ME --- *Chapter 1: No Space For You* "First of all, my child is already bearing your son's name," argued Mrs. Kaima. "No honey, her nationality is Korean and so she’s supposed to bear a Korean name." Well, my mom and dad are the best arguing couple I’ve ever seen. My mom and dad always seek my attention to check who I prefer most. But that’s so wrong. I am my father's only child. And I’m so fluent — Igbo, English, Korean, Japanese, and even Philippine. My parents are so wealthy that you can ever imagine. And it made me feel proud, actually. I have long hair with a Nigerian texture. I picked up pink lips from my father. Height from my mom and dad. Complexion from my mom. Korean language from my dad. Bad mouth from my mom. Introversion from my dad. Tomboy? From no one. Just myself. If you’re trying to bully me, it’s a waste of time. Do you know why? Because I will end up bullying you. And that’s what got me expelled many times at different schools. Mara is a short name for my Igbo name, Chimaram. Interesting, right? "Mara!" Mrs. Kaima called from the kitchen. "Yes, mom," she replied, leaving the novel she was reading and heading to her mom. "Really? Huh? My mommy called me. What were you thinking, Mara? Leaving me in the kitchen alone? Don’t you know that the maize will not be active due to the fact that it’s Nigerian dishes I’m preparing today?" asked Mrs. Kaima, really angry. "Mom, nothing serious. But I’m here. Let’s go ahead," she said. And her mother glared at her for a while before continuing what she was doing. "Mom, what are we having tonight for dinner?" Mara asked. But as usual, her mom was very sarcastic. "You did not see your grandfather in the grave to go and ask, huh? Well, as you can see, we are having your lungs for dinner," her mom replied and looked at Mara, who was really shocked. "I think I’ve answered your question, instead of _dowaga_," Mara got angry, but she did not move. She knew what her lion mother could do. She could only eye her, but not get caught. "How I wish dad was here," she said in her mind. Just then, her father came back. So she ran out to hug him. He bought her two pairs of white sneakers and a red big water can, and she was so happy. "Dad, mom just insulted me," she said. "She said we are going to have my lungs for dinner," said Mara. And her father smiled. "Darling, I’m back. Anything for home?" her father asked from afar. "Eh eh, now come chop me," she replied with vernacular from the kitchen. "Darling, I’ve told you to stop making use of such harsh accents," said Mr. Weng. "Mara is always like that," shouted Mara. "Huh, Mara!" Just then, Mrs. Kaima left what she was doing and started chasing her daughter as they ran round the whole house. --- Mr Hueng just put on the apron to cook. What actually stopped the chasing was when they heard a boom in the kitchen. Mother and daughter paused. "Was that not coming from my kitchen?" asked her mom. "Are you asking me as if I was there?" said Mara teasingly, and Mrs Kaima smiled. "Let’s go check your father." "Sure, mom." They approached the kitchen and saw smoke everywhere. "Darling, are you this a noob? Stop emptying my kitchen!" she said, really worried and concerned. And she opened the windows. "Dad, don't mind mom. I will take you to the sitting room," said Mara, and she let her father out. "Better for you," said MrsKaima, still annoyed. Mara held her purple teddy bear as she sat beside her father. "Dad..." "Uh huh?" "Dad, it's so rare for me to see a Korean man marrying a Nigerian girl. What did you see in mom back then that made you fall for her?" she asked, and her father smiled. "The most special thing I love about her is her stubbornness. Your mom actually changed me. I love everything about her... her hair." Mara became irked. She actually wondered what her father saw in her annoying mother if not beauty. "Well dad, didn’t your friends discourage you from getting married to mom?" "No. We fought secretly to even gain her heart." "Really?" "Yeah." Mr Hueng Yun-Seok turned to Mara as he patted her hair. "I think I have found a good high school for you. But Mara... anyone your heart beats for, don't be too stubborn like your mom. I beg you." Mara laughed. "For how many months did you beg mom?" "Huh? Are you serious? I begged her for two years," he replied, and she smiled. "Really?" "Uh huh. But be careful of falling into the hands of the wrong man in the future." "Dad, stop. Are you mentioning love?" "You mean you don't believe in love at first sight?" "No dad. True love comes from friendship, not at first sight," said Mara. And Mrs Kaima came in with different trays of food. "Food is ready, honey," said Mara's mom. Mara got down to help her mom with the juice, glasses, chopsticks, and water. "Honey, won't you eat?" "Sure," said Mr Hueng and he got up. He set the dining table and sat down. "Mara, could you be fast? If my honey dies out of hunger, I will send you to the orphanage home," Mrs kaima said and Mr Hueng laughed while Mara smiled. Just then she came and dropped everything and sat down with her parents. "Mom..." "Uh huh?" answered MrsKaima as she chopped her chicken. "Could you and dad stop looking for a high school for me? Because I'm not actually interested in schooling." Mrs Kaima gave Mara a 'is like you're not feeling well' kind of eye. "Why?" Her dad was calm. "So what do you want to do with your life?" impressed, the wife of China asked her mom. "I... I want to be a racer," stammered Mara. Her dad laughed, but her mom glared at her. Her father calmed her mom down. "Honey, she's our daughter. She has to say what is in her mind." "Yes, mom. Exactly." Her mom forced a smile, but was boiling inside. "So my great wall of China, how can I help you with your decision?" "Mom, I feel comfortable in sports. Racing." Mara's mom became calm. "So Mara, what if you don't achieve that?" she asked, really caring. "Hey honey, don't discourage her," said her father. --- Mrs Kaima looked at Mr Hueng. "My daughter must go to high school to complete her remaining year, so that she will be able to take the entrance exam to the best university here in Seoul, South Korea." Mara became irked. She looked at her dad. He always supported her and saved her from her mom's wicked decisions. But his face didn’t tell like one who was actually ready. "Dad, dad, are you going to—" "Oh Mara, we are doing this for your own good," he interrupted her. "But mom, no school will accept me," she explained. Mrs Kaima smiled mischievously. "Don’t worry, sweetie. You are going to the most wealthy school, high school here in Seoul, South Korea. It’s mainly for only the elite classes." Immediately Mara looked up. "Honey, tell me." "I and the school principal were both childhood besties, and that is why Mara is admitted," she told her husband. "Hm, really?" "Yes, honey." Mara's father was so happy. "Honey, we will be going swimming tonight. This is a very big testimony," said her father. "Really?" "Yes, honey. I love you." Mara just glared at her parents as tears filled up her eyes. And they were there doing lovely-dovey. "But honey, what’s the name of this school?" asked her father. "Yeon-Seok National High School, Seoul, South Korea." "Yeah, it’s really the best," supported Mr Hueng as Mara boiled with anger, glaring at her parents, exciting her mom and her foolish dad. "Honey, you see why I said I love you," said Kaima as she patted Mr Hueng’s hair. "I love you too, honey. It’s been sixty years now that we were married together," said Mara's mom. "No honey, it’s been nineteen years now since I saw you, and you are still very young and beautiful," he said. "And together we raised our stubborn Mara," they both said it together and laughed. They both looked at Mara. "Mara, you are starting school next week. And we are going to clear everything so that you can start school, including getting your school items from the store," said her mom. And Mara dropped her chopstick. She could not take it anymore. "Where to?" asked her dad. She stood up and looked at her parents. "Mom, dad, I am filled up," she said. "I’m made to go." "Mara, please sit," begged her dad. But her mom didn’t talk much. Mrs Kaima did not even talk, but the kind of eye she gave Mara made Mara sit down back and grab her chopstick. Mr. Hueng turned to Kaima. "Honey, take it easy. She’s still a child." Mrs Kaima was not happy. "No honey, you don’t know how to treat a child’s f**k-up. That’s why I love my Nigerian people. So let me look up. You have not finished that food. I will use fine pan and teach you how to house sense me," said Kaima angrily, and she stood up. "If you don’t finish your food, I will reduce your weekly allowance from two hundred thousand won to twenty thousand won. I don’t need to talk much, but you know what I can do," she said and made it upstairs. Mara started sobbing, and her father stood up to console her. "Sorry dear, but you must finish your food. You know how your mother behaves." "But dad, I don’t want to go to school. I’ve said this several times," Mara maintained. "Just go and do it for me, okay? I promise you a Samsung S26 Ultra," he said, and she hugged him. "I’m sorry, but I can’t do anything ," he said. "Her father, dad, you have never yelled at mom before. Why?" "Do you know why?" he asked, and she shook her head negatively. "Because I love her so dearly," he replied. "Hey, go to your room. I will talk to her for you, okay?" he said. But Mara refused. She knew what her mother could do. --- *END OF CHAPTER 1* ---