I ran as fast as my legs could take me. The school and the playground may not be far from home but still, Areum shouldn't leave with her friends like that. She is still a baby to me. The news about children getting abducted by strangers and never coming back to their families. Aish! I don't even want to think about it. I was almost at the playground when I heard a familiar cry. I ran even faster.

Areum: Waaaaaaa!!!! *cries*

Jimin: Areum! Thank goodness you are here! *hugs*

Areum: Waaaaa!!!! Oppa!!!!! Apple is gone!!!

Jimin: Huh? What do mean Apple is gone?

Bully: Hey boys! Look at this cute fluffy thing! It looks kind of our…

Jimin: HEY! YOU!

Bully: Shortie!

Jimin: Give that toy back!

Bully: Wohoo! You and this toy? Tsk. You are just a big baby.

Areum: That’s my toy!

Bully: Aww… really? Too bad. I found it first. You should be more responsible.

My first clenched. I can feel the anger boiling in me. How dare he do that to my sister?!

Bully: If you want this cute little thing back, your brother must submit to us. He has been running away from his punishment.

Jimin: That was just an accident!

Bully: Or it could be on purpose. It was a disrespect to me though.

Jimin: That’s misleading. I am being accused for something I never did wrong.

Bully: Well, that’s society, Shortie. Those who have power will always take over the weak. There are no such thing as equal rights. Even in court.

Jimin: What do you want?!

Bully: Well, I need you to run the same errands that you never did all this while. My homework had to be the correct ones instead of those wrong answer that you purposely gave me. I need you to also start being a man for once. You are such a coward to smoke!

Oh my goodness! What is his deal? He is manipulating my mind right now. I got to shake this off. I looked at Areum. Her teary eyes are begging me to get the teddy bear back. The sun is about to set soon. I have to get back before Mommy reached home. I couldn’t accept his request just to get that bear.

The bully just gives me a smirk as if he won the debate. If he is a real lawyer, the world be in chaos. I just can’t this situation anymore. The bully went to my face while swinging the bear by its paw. As he swings faster, the bear suddenly flew and landed to the ground. Areum gave a scream as she saw the arm that was missing from the toy. The bully put on the ‘Opps’ act and he looked at me. The heat was already at my peak and I could hear a click sound in my head. There it was. It had happened in flash that I found myself going straight to the bully and giving him the worst punishment ever.

Mrs. Park: We NEED to talk! What was all that about?! Beating up a boy until he bleeds and then he loses consciousness.

Jimin: I can explain.

Mrs. Park: You could kill a person, Jimin! Thank goodness Miss Min was there to stop you on time. Don’t you know how annoying it is for me to talk to the boy’s mother? We had to compensate the medical fees. We were so close to be reported by the police!

Jimin: Mommy! He was making Areum cry!

Mrs. Park: You should have called me. The adults can handle this. *Big Sigh* Since when did my son become a gangster?! Your clothes...when I put them in the washing machine. They smell like cigarettes! Have you been smoking?!

Jimin: I never did smoke. I was never in a gang. You have to trust me. It was that guy who forced me in. He was the one the bullied me in school.

Mrs. Park: Your father won’t be happy to hear this. You are grounded!

Jimin: Mommy! Please! You have to believe me!

Mrs. Park: It’s final. I am sorry. That means you are not allowed to attend the dance competition.

I stormed into my room and slammed the door behind me. I couldn’t get rid of the idea that my own mother will go against me. I was trying to save Areum. It is my fault for not being responsible but still my school life ruined me. Darkness fell upon me. I am angry at myself for being so hopeless. My dream will be gone since I am not part of the competition. Life is so unfair.

The fire is still burning inside of me. Oh how I wish really did punch the bully to death. I wouldn't mind going to jail since everything is going to end this way. I looked at dance competition poster. Will it end like this? I tore the poster and smashed it against the wall continuously. I can almost break through the wall. The house was filled with the loud banging sound.

Mr. Park: What the hell is going on?! Jimin!

I couldn't cool down my anger. It is still burning. I just need to continue to hit the wall. It's like the only way to express myself. What comes next, my cheek was in painful sensation and I was on the floor. My father went after me and hold onto my shoulders to face me.

Mr. Park: Jimin! Look at me! It's me, Daddy! I am sorry I had to slap you. You need to snap out of it.

I let out a big cry as if I was still baby.

Jimin: I...I... I can't help it, Daddy… I don't...even mean to hurt...anyone or anything… I just don't know what's wrong with me. *looks at his red knuckles* I feel it's the only way to get rid of this monster in me… Daddy, I think I am becoming a ... monster. *sob*

Mr. Park: Come my boy. *hug Jimin* You are no monster. We will get help. I am sure everything will be ok.

I continued crying in Daddy's arms until I went to sleep. It was the 1st time in many years since I last hug my father. Even though he was away from home because of his business travels, I can finally feel his love that he has for me.

NOTE: I feel sad when I wrote the last part of this chapter. I know there are kids out there who have parents who don't really believe in what they say. I hope for a stronger bond between parents and child. Jimin's background story might be longer than I expected. Even though I had my drafts written down, the story line changes. I will do my best to put up a beautiful (areum) story for Park Jimin. ^.^