Chapter 2:  CAKE

Sulli woke up that morning feeling really heavy. She feels like a fever is coming. But she can’t miss a day at work. She needs to earn her salary each day. Any missed day may mean missing a meal for Kevin.

Sulli pulled herself to the bathroom to wash her hair and her face. Ahh...Her body is painful all over…she’s definitely sick…

Sulli woke Kevin up.

“C’mon Kevin…You need to wake up. I need to bring you with me to the laundry shop today, remember?” asked Sulli

Kevin reluctantly sat up.

“I am hungry Mom.” Said Kevin

“We’ll buy something for you to eat on our way ok?” said Sulli

Kevin nodded.

Sulli doesn’t know how she’ll survive this day. She feels like she needs to lay down…but she knows she can’t.

Sulli made sure Kevin is wearing enough clothes. It’s already started to get cold outside.

Sulli and Kevin went out the house. Sulli made sure all the locks are in place.

“Who are they Mommy?” asked Kevin

Sulli’s head is throbbing. Sulli turned around to look at what Kevin is referring to. She saw a black car in front of her house. There were 2 men wearing black suits who seems to be waiting for them. One of them approached her.

“Good Morning. I’m looking for Miss Sulli Choi.” Said the man

“What do you need?” asked Sulli pulling Kevin behind her in her protective gesture

“Mr. Minho Choi asks for your presence with the child.” Said the man

“Minho Choi?” asked Sulli

“Ummm…” the man seems to feel it weird that she doesn’t know who Minho Choi is

“He’s Mr. Tony Choi’s Son.” Said the man finally

“Oh….I see…” said Sulli

So did that Mr. Henry succeed? What did he actually do?

“What does he need from us?” asked Sulli

“He requests your presence on the funeral of Mr. Tony today.” Said the man

Oh no…she would lose a workday’s salary.

“I’m sorry…Mr. Tony has been really good to us…and I sincerely want to go to the funeral. But…I am a single Mom who needs to work. Please give my apologies to Mr. Choi.” Said Sulli

Sulli held Kevin’s hand and left the man.

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Sulli is loading the fifth set of clothes to the washing machine when her manager called her to the office.

Sulli went to the office. Is it because of bringing Kevin? Did he do something wrong? Are they going to ask her to stop bringing Kevin to work?

“Please sit down, Sulli.” Said the manager

“You called for me?” asked Sulli

“Yes…Sulli…I hate to say this but…I need to terminate your employment, I’m sorry.” Said the manager

Sulli felt like the world suddenly fell apart.

“You mean….I’m fired? But manager…if it’s because Kevin plays around too much, I can probably do something about it. I can teach him to stay in one place.” Said Sulli

“It’s not Kevin. He plays with my nephews and niece so I am happy that he’s around…but that’s not the reason I’m terminating you.” Said the manager

“Is there something you didn’t like about my work? Am I not hardworking enough? I can make up for it. I will try harder.” Said Sulli

“You’re the hardest working person here Sulli. I don’t have any concerns on how you do your work. This decision is hard for me considering that I really like your work.” Said the manager

“Then why manager? Why do you want me out?” Sulli feels like desperation is at the peak. She needs this job. She needs to provide for Kevin. Sulli felt like hot tears stinging her eyes.

“I’m sorry Sulli. I was left with no choice. I don’t know what you did to the owner of the Golden Pearl restaurant. But they are our biggest regular customer in this laundry shop. Their owner called me earlier to tell me that if I don’t terminate your employment, He’s going to ask another laundry shop to serve them.” Said the manager

“Golden Pearl…Isn’t that one of the biggest restaurant chains in Korea?” asked Sulli

“Yes…And the owner called me personally.” Said the manager

But what does the owner have against her? She doesn’t even know who the owner is!

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Sulli went out of the laundry shop. She feels drained physically She’s sure her fever is up. But she's also drained mentally. Where will she get money now?

Sulli is holding Kevin’s hand while walking towards their house. She saw Henry waving at her.

What is he doing here again?

“Rolling your eyes is not a good welcome. And it certainly will not change anything.” Said Henry

What does he know?

“What do you plan to do now that you lost your job?” asked Henry

“How did you know that?” asked Sulli. She just lost her job not an hour ago.