Baekhyun pressed his ear on their parents’ bedroom door and a deafening crashing sound was heard. He paused in perplexity. Meanwhile the little Heesun who was squatting on the floor, startled at the ear piercing noise and tightened her hug on her teddy bear as if her life depended on it. Another smashing sound was heard with an alternate of the adults screaming and cursing. 

The little boy then turned his head to see Heesun covering her ears with eyes full of bewilderment. He was 10 and the latter was 8 years old; being the curious children they were couldn’t help but to eavesdrop on their parents' quarrel which happened almost every day. It was like a routine; every night, her father would came home, tie hung loosely from his neck and the scent of his cologne filled the air. He would sat in the dining table with them, late as usual and stare at the foods in discontented. 

"Are you feeding me a dog's food again?" He would grouse.

"Not again," Mother exhaled loudly.

The children sat quietly, playing with their food. Baekhyun silently thought her mom's cooking was the best and it tasted just fine.

"I can’t eat this." Father said, looking at his food as if it disgusts him. He sneered and shook his head "Baekhyun, what do you think about this Ddukbokkie?" He then turned his head to face Baekhyun, everyone did. Baekhyun rolled his fork in his mouth, and sat still even though they both were expecting his answer. 

"It’s delicious." Baekhyun mumbled meanwhile his father snorted and shot his mother a glare. "I didn’t raise you to be stupid." he spat.

"Oh really? I'm so glad because he'll probably end up just like you." his mother interposed, taking away the plates and put them in the sink rather harshly. She then climbed the stairs and their father would follow right after. And finally the children would end up here, in front of their parents' bedroom door.

"Oppa," Heesun's low timid voice snapped his train of thoughts. "I need to tell you something." She continued. Baekhyun sat on the floor and shifted closer to his sister. "Remember during your summer camp? I peeked inside Appa's office and I saw JiHee lying on top of Appa. They were kissing." Her voice trailed off. What a jerk. Baekhyun suspired and patted Heesun's back.

"Promise to keep this as a secret?" Heesun raised her pinky finger. "Promise." He hooked his finger with Heesun's. All the sudden, the door swung open leaving the pair froze on the spot. 

They can see veins popping out from their father face which was red in anger. He scowled at the kids and walked away. The door was wide open, revealing the mess their parents made and- their sobbing mother.  Without hesitation, Baekhyun dashed inside the room and hugged his mother tightly.

"Umma, dont cry." He tightened his embrace. Seconds later Heesun joined in, squeezing the middle aged woman.

"K-kids, get back to your room. Please." She said between her sobs. Their hug was loosened as they looked into her mother's eyes which were filled with sorrow. "Please." She repeated, wanting to be alone. Heesun pulled her brother away who refused to let go of her and eventually he gave up and followed her upstairs.

The next morning, the kids woke up and realized that they were late to school. Baekhyun rubbed his eyes tiredly and went downstairs to the kitchen where his mother always greeted him every morning with a wide smile. But today, there was no sign of her, preparing their breakfast on the kitchen counter. 

"Where's umma?" He shouted while calling out for his mother. Moments later, the freshly bathed Heesun walked down the stairs while combing her hair with her fingers. "Oppa, where's umma? I need her to tie up my ponytail." She grumbled.

"I have no idea. Let’s go find her." He replied, abruptly pulling Heesun's hand and guided her. First, they looked for her downstairs, and they asked the maids if they had seen any trace of her but the result brought them to disappointment. Later, they went upstairs to check in their parents’ room.

When they arrived, Baekhyun twisted the doorknob slowly, afraid to disturb his mother who was probably sleeping. Instead what came to his view made him petrified and he felt his stomach churned. He felt like his whole world falling to pieces, burned to ashes when he saw his mother's lifeless body hung from the ceiling fan, swaying from left to right. It’s like he was woken up inside his nightmare, and he couldn’t find the way out, tears started to falling down his cheek like a river. Heesun's mind went blank and she collapsed to the ground; crying. 

Why was this world so unfair?  He thought, staggered to his feet, nearing his mother's body. What did he do to deserve this?

"U-umma.. Wake up.." Baekhyun hugged her leg tightly as if it could bring back his mother. "Please tell me this is just one of your magic tricks." He wept.

"I'm so sorry if I did anything to you, I didn’t mean it okay? Now come back.." Baekhyun was bawling his eyes out, shaking the lifeless body.

"Who's going to help Heesun to tie her hair, who's going to cook us pancakes for breakfast and who's going to wait for us in front of the school gate everyday.." He started to snivel and turned to look at Heesun who was crying feebly. His heart aches and he couldnt make it stop.

What hurted them the most was when they realized, no matter how much they prayed and begged for god to bring back their mother's life, no matter how long they stood infront of the door, waiting for their mother to walked in and kissed them, hold them, it would never happened. Their mother was the one who taught them to walk, to smile, and they loved her even before they knew what love was. Now, she didn't have the chance to watch them grow up.

On that moment, hatred aroused from deep within the children. There was no way they can forgive their father nor would they forget. 

The noise they made lured the maids over and they too, stood in front of the door and covered their mouth in shock.

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Gangs :