Silently, I led Ji Won into my room. My room was
small and luckily, it was far away from my parents
so they can’t hear much. I let Ji Won have
the bed while I take the floor. ‘Damn,’
I thought. ‘Why does the floor have to be
so cold and hard?’
Ji Won stared down at Mina who was trying to sleep
on the cold stone floor. He picked her up easily
and lifted her onto the bed.
“Oppa? What are you doing?” I whispered
as my eyes grew wide.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
I nodded my head slowly.
“Good,” he said. “This bed is
small but it’ll fit both of us.”
My eyes grew wider at what Ji Won had just said.
But I had just told him that I trust him. I couldn’t
take my words back so I had no choice but to sleep
with him. We both got in my bed and slept side-by-side.
I was so nervous, I couldn’t sleep. Ji Won,
on the other hand, had no problem. He fell asleep
instantly.
I turned my head over to look at him. His face was
so innocent like an angel when he was sleeping.
Who would have thought he was such a devil when
he’s awake and moving?
An hour had passed and it was 3’ in the morning.
I still couldn’t sleep. Suddenly something
weird happen. Ji Won turned his entire body around
and did a 360, kicking me.
“Ow!” I cried out but covered my mouth
so my parents wouldn’t hear me. When he was
done, he had this happy look on his face. At first
I thought he was just playing with me but he really
did do a 360 in his sleep. Suddenly he reached over
and held me tight. My entire body went tense and
rigid. I could feel Ji Won’s light breathing
on my neck.
I don’t know why but now that Ji Won was this
close (practically laying on top of me) made me
feel better. It’s probably cause I’ve
never been this close to a person in a long time.
Soon I began to fall asleep too…
Part 8
November 1, 1993
Ji Won opened his eyes and found himself laying
partially on Mina’s body. He blushed and slowly
moved away from her. Then he just lay near her watching
her sleep.
Suddenly it caught his eyes. The sleeves and pant
legs of her pajamas were lifted up and he got a
good look at her arms and legs. Dark purple bruises
cover her entire body. There were several scars
on her legs and arms too. Red lines run across her
legs and it made Ji Won wince because it looked
so painful.
He didn’t want to disturb Mina but he was
really curious. She turned over and Ji Won lifted
the back of her shirt. It was even worse than her
legs. Ji Won opened his mouth lightly in shock and
touched her bare back delicately, fearing that he
might hurt her. Mina began to stir.
I rubbed my eyes and sat up. I saw Ji Won looking
at me with this sad expression on his face. “What’s
wrong oppa?” I asked.
“Who did this to you?”
Then he lifted the sleeve of my shirt. I opened
my mouth in shock. I tried to hide it but I couldn’t
believe he saw my bruises.
As I tried to answer him, I heard my stepmom’s
footsteps heading towards my room. “Oppa!”
I yelled, turning back to Ji Won, who was rubbing
my bruises. “You have to get out of here!
My mom is coming!”
Ji Won looked at me surprised but I opened my window
for him to climb out. “Climb down this tree.
Goodbye Ji Wonee,” I said to him with tears
in my eyes.
Ji Won remained silent the whole time as he left
her room. But he didn’t leave though. He sat
on the branch of her tree and looked through her
window. He couldn’t hear what Mina and her
mom were talking about but he saw it.
He saw Mina’s mom bring out a small wooden
stick and whack Mina with it several times. Ji Won
couldn’t take it anymore. He busted back into
Mina’s room.
Part 9
I looked up at my stepmother in pain. “I’m
sorry mom. I didn’t know we’re supposed
to have guests today.”
She glared at me with cold hatred in her eyes. “Mr.
Eun, of the Eun Hotel Empire all over Hawaii, is
coming to visit us. Your father might get a promotion
if we make a good impression! You’re supposed
to be awake half an hour ago to prepare all of us
tea! Now Mr. Eun is down there expecting tea! What
am I supposed to do now huh?”
My stepmom began to breathe rapidly as her anger
increased. I saw her raise that stick of hers again.
I curled myself up hoping the pain would lessen
but I know it wouldn’t so I prepared myself
for the strike…
Ji Won caught the stick just before it would hit
Mina. Mina’s mother stared at Ji Won in surprise.
Mina opened her eyes and stared at Ji Won in shock.
He looked down at her.
“Mina, are you okay?”
“Ji Won!” I screamed. “What are
you doing here?”
Ji Won looked back at me. “I came to save
you from this evil bitch.”
My stepmom twisted her face in hate. “I knew
you were trouble all this time Mina. How dare you
bring this boy home? Wait until I tell your father
about this!” Ji Won grabbed my stepmom’s
arm to stop her.
“You do that and I’ll have you fired!”
I stared at Ji Won dumbfounded. ‘What is
he talking about?’
“What are you talking about you juvenile delinquent?!”
snapped my stepmom.
“I mean,” said Ji Won glaring at her.
“That you’re having tea with my father
right now and I’ll get you and your husband
fired if you hit Mina one more time.”
I look at Ji Won surprised. ‘Ji Won is the
heir of the Eun Hotel Empire? His family is the
richest in all of Hawaii!’
My stepmom looked at Ji Won doubtfully. “If
you’re his son, then how come you’re
so filthy?”
Ji Won gave her a smirk. “I know you want
proof. How about all of us go down there to talk
to my dad?”
My stepmom looked at him and thought, ‘This
is the only way for real evidence. He might get
us a promotion.’ Then she said, “Come
on then, boy. Let’s go.”
