Lost in translation

Chapter 29: Family Tension

“Where have you been, Min-Jun?” Mrs. Cha asked, her tone sharp.

Min-Jun turned to her, trying to keep his voice calm. “My girlfriend took me to Italy for a week.”

Mrs. Cha’s eyes narrowed. “Which girlfriend are you talking about?”

“Evelyn,” Min-Jun replied, watching his mother’s reaction closely.

Mrs. Cha’s expression turned to one of disbelief. “Evelyn took you to Italy?”

Min-Jun nodded. “Yes, she did. Why are you so surprised? Did you think Evelyn would break up with me just because of money?”

Mrs. Cha raised her voice. “I don’t like Evelyn because I prefer Hani over her.”

The shouting woke Evelyn up, and she headed downstairs, hearing Min-Jun and his mother arguing. Mrs. Cha’s voice was filled with anger. “I will never accept your union. Have you ever imagined how your father would feel if he found out his son is in a relationship with a foreigner?”

Min-Jun’s voice was firm. “I truly love Evelyn, and I want to be with her. Giving her money and telling her to go to another country was wrong.”

Mrs. Cha’s eyes flashed with anger. “I am your mother, and I will decide what happens in your life. Evelyn has to go because she’s influencing you in the wrong way.”

Min-Jun’s patience snapped. “I’m no longer a baby. I’m an adult and can make decisions for myself. If you were a good mother, you would have let Byoel marry the man she truly loves, and Tae would be in the United States living his best life, but he’s stuck in Seoul because of your selfish reasons.”

Mrs. Cha started fake crying, blaming Evelyn for influencing her son. “I never want to see her again.”

Min-Jun’s anger boiled over. “You have to get used to Evelyn because she’s stuck in our lives for good. She’s pregnant.”

Mrs. Cha’s face turned pale. “She’s pregnant?”

“Yes,” Min-Jun replied, his voice steady.

Mrs. Cha slapped him across the face. “How could you get a foreigner pregnant?”

Tae intervened, stopping his mother from hitting Min-Jun again. “Mother, stop it!”

Mrs. Cha turned to Min-Jun. “Deny getting Evelyn pregnant so you can marry Hani.”

Evelyn appeared, tears rolling down her cheeks. Mrs. Cha walked towards her, her voice filled with venom. “Why didn’t you take the money and leave?”

Evelyn apologized, but Mrs. Cha slapped her as well. Min-Jun grabbed his mother’s hand and started to walk her out, but Evelyn stopped him.

“I can’t be the reason for this chaos. I’m really sorry,” Evelyn said, her voice breaking.

Mrs. Cha’s eyes were cold. “If you’re really sorry, then go to another country. I’ll find you a good spouse to settle down with.”

Tae accompanied his mother to the car and then returned to apologize on her behalf. “I’m sorry, Min-Jun. Don’t mind her words. I’ll try to talk to her.”

Evelyn looked at Tae, her voice filled with uncertainty. “There’s a lot I don’t know. I don’t know if I should ask or just let it be.” Evelyn’s heart pounded as she climbed the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. She reached the bedroom, closed the door behind her, and locked it. Taking a deep breath, she pulled out her phone and dialed her mother’s number. The familiar ring echoed in the silent room, and soon, her mother’s voice came through.

“Hello, Evelyn. How are you, my dear?”

“Mom,” Evelyn’s voice trembled, “I made a very big mistake. I’m pregnant.”

There was a pause on the other end. “Oh, Evelyn,” her mother sighed, “How far along are you?”

“I’m almost four months,” Evelyn admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother took a deep breath. “How did this happen? Who is the father? And how is your relationship with him?”

“His name is Min-jun, he's Korean, Mom. We’ve been together for a while now. He’s happy about the pregnancy, but we haven't really spoken about the future.”

“Are you ready to be a mother, Evelyn? Does Min-jun’s family know about this?”

“Not really, the mother just found out. His mother was very upset, but Min-jun is supportive,” Evelyn explained, tears welling up in her eyes.

Her mother sighed again, this time with a hint of sadness. “Evelyn, you know our traditions. When a girl loses her virginity and gets pregnant, there are certain customs we must follow. It’s important to honor our heritage, even in difficult times.”

Evelyn nodded, even though her mother couldn’t see her. “I understand, Mom. I’m sorry for disappointing you.”

“Disappointment is not the right word, my dear. I’m concerned for you and the challenges you’ll face. But we’ll get through this together. You have my support, and we’ll figure out the next steps according to our traditions.”

“What customs, Mom?” Evelyn asked, wanting to be prepared.

“Of course,” her mother replied. “First, we need to inform the elders in our family. They will conduct a cleansing ceremony to protect you and the baby. This involves prayers and offerings to our ancestors. It’s also customary for the father’s family to pay damages, known as ‘inhlawulo,’ to acknowledge the pregnancy and show respect to our family.”

Evelyn listened intently, absorbing every word. “And what about after the baby is born?”

“After the birth, there will be a naming ceremony where the baby is introduced to the ancestors and given a name that reflects our heritage. This is a joyous occasion, filled with singing, dancing, and feasting.”

“Mom, how do I explain all this to Min-jun?” Evelyn asked, her voice filled with uncertainty.

“You need to sit down with him and explain our traditions clearly. He needs to understand the importance of these customs and how they honor our family and ancestors,” her mother advised.

“Thank you, Mom. I really needed to hear that,” Evelyn said, feeling a small sense of relief.

“Take care of yourself, Evelyn. And remember, you’re not alone in this.”

“I will, Mom. I love you.”

“I love you too, my dear.”

As Evelyn ended the call, she heard a knock on the door. “Evelyn, are you okay?” Min-jun’s voice was filled with concern.

Evelyn didn’t respond. She needed time to process everything. After a while, she gathered her thoughts and packed a small bag. She needed some space to think.

When she opened the door, Min-jun was standing there, his eyes wide with worry. “Where are you going?” he asked, his voice trembling.

“I need some space, Min-jun. I need to think,” Evelyn said, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

Min-jun reached out to her, but she stepped back. “Please, just give me some time.”

He nodded, his heart heavy. “Okay, Evelyn. Take all the time you need. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

Evelyn walked past him, her luggage in hand, and left the house. She needed to find clarity and strength to face the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile Tae bid farewell to Min-Jun and Evelyn and left with his mother. As Tae drove his mother back home, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions. He had always been the peacemaker in the family, the one who tried to keep everyone happy. But seeing his brother and Evelyn in so much pain made him question everything.

“Am I a bad mother, Tae?” Mrs. Cha asked, her voice breaking the silence.

Tae sighed, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Don’t take Min-Jun’s words to heart, Mother. He’s just upset.”

Mrs. Cha looked out the window, her expression unreadable. “If it wasn’t for my decision, you would have been in America doing what you love. But here you are, playing the assistant role.”

Tae’s heart ached at her words. He had always dreamed of going to America, pursuing his passions, and living a life of his own. But he had stayed in Seoul, taking on the role his mother had chosen for him. “I love my job now, Mother. It’s not tiring.”

But deep down, Tae felt a pang of regret. He had sacrificed his dreams for his family, and while he didn’t resent them, he couldn’t help but wonder what his life could have been. He had always been the dutiful son, putting his family’s needs above his own. But seeing Min-Jun stand up for Evelyn made him realize that sometimes, you have to fight for what you believe in.

As they continued their drive, Tae thought about his brother. Min-Jun had always been the strong one, the one who followed his heart. Tae admired him for that, but he also worried about the consequences. He knew their mother would never accept Evelyn, and that would create a rift in the family.

“Everything will be fine,” Tae said, trying to reassure his mother and himself.

When they arrived home, Tae helped his mother out of the car. “I’ll talk to Min-Jun. Maybe we can find a way to make this work.”

Mrs. Cha nodded, her eyes filled with worry. “I just want what’s best for him.”

Tae watched her walk inside, feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders. He knew he had to support his brother, but he also had to navigate the delicate balance of keeping the family together. It was a role he had played his entire life, and it was starting to take its toll.

As he drove back to his own place, Tae’s thoughts drifted to his own dreams and aspirations. He had always put them on hold, but maybe it was time to start thinking about what he wanted. Seeing Min-Jun fight for his love made Tae realize that he deserved to pursue his own happiness too.