Hidden pains

Episode Nine

Two months later.

*In Kim Mansion*

(Kim's parents are coming down from their car after returning from the United States.)

Mrs Minnie: Welcome back, madam sir (taking Mrs Kim's bag from her).

Mrs. Kim: Thank you, Mrs Minnie. (smiles at her)

Mr Kim: Is Gem in the mansion?

Mrs Minnie: Yes, sir. He has been here since he returned from school two months ago, sir.

Mrs. Kim: What!? Why did not I know anything about my son back at the mansion? What about his condo; why is he not there?

Mrs. Minnie: I tried to reach you, ma'am, but you did not answer the phone. Afterward, I could not get through.

Mrs. Kim: Oh, my bad. I am sorry I forgot to call you back after getting a new phone.

Mrs Minnie: Okay, ma'am.

(They all went inside, with housekeepers packing their bags. They settled down on the couch, and Mrs Kim looked around.

Mrs Kim: Why is he not coming down to greet us yet? (worried)

(She asked Mrs. Minnie, who came out of the kitchen to get them coffee.)

Mrs. Minnie: Ever since he returned early crying on the second day of school, he has spent all of his time in his room.

Mrs. Kim: what happened? Why was he crying? Was he bullied?

Mrs. Minnie: His friend came over and spoke with him, but when I asked him what had happened, he said it was just a minor problem that had already been resolved. However, ever since, he has been spending all of his time in his room.

Mr. Kim, where is he now?

Mrs Minnie: in his room, sir.

(He gets up from his seat and heads straight to Kim's room.)

Mr Kim: (knocking on his door) Gem, open it for me, your dad. (The door opened and he went in to meet.)

Gem: welcome back. (Looking sick)

Mr Kim: What is the matter with you, son? Why do you look like this? Are you sick?

Gem: Yes, I am fine, dad. (sitting on the bed).

Mr Kim: When your mother and I returned, you did not even come down to greet us.

Gem: I called you two months, three weeks, one day, twenty-five hours, seven, eight, and nine seconds ago, but you never planned to call me back or check on me.

Mr. Kim: I am sorry, son. I am unable to fly back here because I got so wrapped up in work.

Gem: even giving me a call?

Mr Kim: Gem, I am sorry. Tell me about what happened to you. Do you not pass your exam? Please tell me what happened to you.

Gem: Do not worry, I passed my exam. (laid on the bed, turned his back on him)

Mr. Kim: What happened to you...(He heard the door open and turned to see Mrs. Kim, his wife.)

Mrs Kim: Is he still sleeping?

Mr Kim: No, he is not; I believe he is angry with us.

Mrs Kim: (moving closer to him on the bed) Gem, are you angry with me and your father? Our hands are full with work, which is why baby

Gem: I am not angry with you, Mom. (Looking at his mother.)

Mrs. Kim: Baby! Your face looks sick. Is anything wrong with you? Are you sick, or should we go to the hospital? Are you okay?

Gem: Mom I am fine. You may leave now; I am sleepy.

Mr. Kim: Sleepy? In the morning.

Mrs. Kim: I do not get it; you should come down and eat with us.

Gem: I am not hungry; I just want to sleep for now.

Mr Kim: I think we need to take you to the hospital. You do not look good to me (looking worried).

Mrs Kim: Are you sure you are okay, baby? You look very sick to me. Are you sure you do not want to visit the hospital? (Feeling nervous)

Gem: I am fine. Dad, Mom, you both should get some rest. I am fine; you do not have to worry about me. You both just returned from the US (faking a smile on his sick face).

Mr Kim: Are you sure?

Gem: Yes, I am sure you both should leave now; I will come down to eat later.

Mrs. Kim: Okay if you say so, but your face says something else. I knew something was bothering you, and you were making me even more worried. (pats his head)

(A few hours later, four arrived to check on Gem and met his parents in the sitting room.)

Four: good morning uncle, good morning aunt. (smiling)

Mr. Kim: Good morning.

Mrs Kim: Good morning, my dear.

Four: I am here to see Gem; I will be going to Aunt. (pointing up to the direction)

Mrs. Kim: Four?

Four: yes, aunt.

Mrs. Kim: Do you know what is wrong with your friend? (She looks at him, curious to see how he reacts and whether he is lying.

Four: no aunt and yes as well.

Mr Kim: What do you mean when you say yes and no? Do you know something we don't?

Four: yes, but also no uncle.

Mr Kim, what do you know then? (getting furious)

Four: Sir, I am not in the right position to say it. (sad expression)

Mrs Kim, what are you both hiding from us?

Four: I am sorry, but I can tell you. Can I go meet him now (try not to be rude)?

Mr. Kim, you may leave.

Mrs. Kim: Make sure you tell him to come down and eat; he has not eaten since we arrived. (with a worried expression)

Four: okay (nods) (he left and went straight to Gem's room; he was about to knock when Gem opened the door for him to enter.

Gem: Please come in. (He went to sit on the couch in his room).

Four: Are you aware that I am about to knock on your door before you open it for me? (looking surprised)

Gem: I was about to go eat when I overheard your conversation with my parents.

Four: Oh, okay. But, I believe you should inform them about it.

Gem: No, I can't. I can not tell them that such things happen to me. Sit them down and tell them I was r***d. No, I can not do that; it is disgusting and dirty.

Four: I know it is difficult for you to say, but you have to tell them. Recently, you have been acting in a way that neither Pammy nor I understand and you are always angry and shout at us for no reason. If they are aware of it, they will try to help you find a solution. (holding his hand, worriedly)

Gem: I am not sure how to say it. Mom's condition is not stable, and I am not sure how Dad will react, nor do I know how she will react. (crying)

Four: Stop crying; everything will be fine (cleaning his face).

Gem: Pammy is still not here. What has she been up to over the last few days?

Four: she stated that she is looking for an apartment and that her mother has sent her money to use.

Gem: Pammy, hmm (smiling) I think I am hungry (rubbing his tummy).

Four: Let us go down to eat something.

Gem: Will you spend the night with me?

Four: No, I am going to my aunt's house; she asked me to come.

Gem: Okay (looking sad).

Four: Do not worry, I will be here with you tomorrow, okay?

Gem: Okay (he nods).

(They both went down to eat in the dining room, and his parent continued to look at him worriedly. A few minutes later, Pammy arrived and saw Mr. and Mrs. Kim sitting in the dining room eating lunch with her friends).

Pammy: Hello, uncle, aunt. Kim (she hugs her).

Mrs Kim: Wow, Pammy, how come you are here? When did you arrive? I thought Gem said he lost contact with you.

Mr. Kim: Can you let her sit first? Have a seat, my dear.

Pammy: Thank you, uncle. (She sits down in the dining chair, smiling.)

Mrs Kim: How did you get to know this here?

Pammy: I have been working here, aunt. My father sent me back to Thailand to study, but I did not want to rely solely on my parents' money, so I decided to work here without knowing it was a friend's house, which is why I am here, but I resigned one week ago after my mother sent me some money.

Mr Kim: That is fantastic; how come we did not know you were here working with us?

Gem: You never know who the housekeeper is around here. Mrs Minnie hired them, and you always check their information and pay their salaries.

Mrs. Kim: That is true. Pammy, you are always welcome here.

Pammy: All right, Aunt. Thank you, aunt.

Mrs Kim: You are welcome.

(After they finished eating, Pammy, Gem, and four went back to Gem's room.)