CHAPTER 43: Take it or Leave it

This morning the kids were going to school earlier. They made an appointment with Dongho to meet at the gymnasium to talk about what actually happened last night.

“Here’s your request..” Minhyun said as he handed his perfume to Dongho.

Dongho sprayed the perfume all over his body to hide the stink of his uniform. It was his yesterday’s uniform since he left the house without taking anything.

"Tell us the details." Minki asked impatiently.

Dongho took a bread that Hanna brought before answering, "Yesterday, when I came back from school, my parents were already in the living room. They sat in silent, like.... waiting for me." He took a bite of the bread and continued the story, "Then Dad started to talk about the letter."

"Your letter of notification?" Hanna asked to confirm.

Dongho nodded. "Yes. Dad supported me to take that chance. But Mom said no."

They all sighed.

"Mom said she would never allow me to continue Kendo and it triggered Dad. Aaargh it's confusing, I can't tell you the details. But what I just know.. Dad is actually an ex national boxing player."

Listened to that, all of the kids were surprised. "What?? Really??"

Still munching his bread, Dongho answered, "Yes, I just figured it out last night when Mom screamed she didn't want me to become like dad."

"Eh? What's that mean?" Jonghyun asked in confuse.

This time, Dongho has already finished eating his bread. He straightened his back and told the kids, "Dad nearly went blind after one of his tournament.. Since then, mom didn't allow him to play again. My dad retired early."

"So that's why your mom didn't want you to play Kendo?" Minhyun asked.

"Yes, I guess." Dongho paused to sigh. "Aaargh I never know it will turn out like this. I feel really guilty to my Dad. I didn't expect that he will defend me this hard. He told my mom to let me catch my dream, he didn't want me to become like him who have to lose his dream. But it made my mom's mad. Really mad. You know how she is when she’s mad, right?”

The kids nodded in harmony.

“But she told him that she did it because she loves him, because she care. And aaaarggh I never saw they quarrel as hard as last night. I feel really guilty. I wish I never got that scholarship if I know that it will make them separate like this."

Jonghyun responded fast. "No, don't say that, Dongho ya.. Isn't this your dream?"

"Yes, this is my dream. I really want it, but.."

Jonghyun told Dongho firmly. "You deserve to catch your dream, Dongho ya. Now what you have to do is to support your dad."

"By leaving my mom? Somehow after I figure out her reason, I can understand that she actually really care about me." Dongho said softly.

That made Jonghyun difficult to respond, "No, of course not by leaving your mom.. But.. But it's adult's problem. What else we can do?" Jonghyun said it unsure.

There was a silent for a moment before Hanna asked, "So now you live in sauna?"

"Yes, for a moment until Dad find an apartment."

"Just stay at my house, you can use Minseokie hyung's room." Minki said in worry.

But Minhyun directly argued, "No. It will trigger a bigger problem, Minki ya.." Minhyun then asked Dongho, "Do you have some relatives who live in Seoul?"

"No, my dad's relatives are all in Jeju.." Dongho answered briefly.

And it got replied by Minki’s stressful whining. "Ah, what should we do then? I don’t want you to move out from Dobong dong.."

"Yeah, I hope I can come back to the house soon. I’ll try to figure it out. But you know, living in sauna actually isn't really bad though." Dongho tried to cheer Minki up.

But it made the other kids to look at him in sorrier.

Hanna directly hugged Dongho as she said, "Kang Dongho, My White Tiger.. please be strong!"

But Dongho even had a time to joke. “Ya, why’d you suddenly hugging me? There are two pair of eyes who’s glaring at me right now..”

Minhyun and Jonghyun who previously felt sorry to Dongho then smirked at him. And it made Minki laughing too. But it seems Hanna didn’t really care about what Dongho was saying because she hugged Dongho even tighter. I don’t want you to leave us, Dongho. Hanna said in her mind as the result of what Minki was saying.

-00-

The kids were having morning class as usual. But they couldn’t focus on class because their heads were thinking about Dongho’s problem. All of them didn’t want Dongho to leave the house. They didn’t want his family to be separated, and they also didn’t want to be separated with Dongho. Dongho should be always be with them, as a part of Dobong –dong kids.

There were so many things filled Hanna’s mind at the moment. So at the first break, she decided to go out looking for some fresh air.

She sat on the bench at school’s garden when someone came approaching her.

“Hey..” He greeted as he sat next to Hanna.

Hanna turned her head briefly to see who’s coming, before bending her head down again.

"Why are you here alone? Thinking about Dongho?" Minhyun asked full of care.

Hanna nodded. “I don’t want him to leave us, Minhyun ah.. We’re not complete without him..”

“He won’t leave us.. His problem will soon to be solved, Hanna.. Don’t worry..” He said softly.

Hanna sighed before saying, “It’s really sad to see Dongho need to face that complicated obstacle to achieve his dream. Moreover he seems really want to achieve it. Meanwhile me...” She sighed again couldn’t finish her words.

Minhyun leaned his body in order to see Hanna’s face that bent down. He asked, “Meanwhile you what, Hanna?”

"While me, I have everything from chance to support but I'm the one who's not sure of it. It seems like I'm not grateful for what I got and even wasting it."

Listened to Hanna’s words, Minhyun lifted Hanna’s chin so that she looked at him. "You're not wasting it, Hanna. I know you're still thinking about it. And it's fine. Just take it slowly. This is your future. It should be thought carefully."

Hanna looked at Minhyun deeply before asking, “Minhyun ah, what do you think I should do? Should I take it or leave it?”

“Just follow your heart, Hanna ya..” Minhyun said it softly, and followed by a smile.

Hanna was still looking at him, confused.

Minhyun straightened his back before explaining, “Well, I really love to hear you sing, Hanna, seriously. If there’s people who eager to see you become a singer, I’m one of them, Hanna ya..”

Hanna felt that it was kind of de javu. She felt like she ever heard that words.

Minhyun continued, “But, if you’re not comfortable when doing that, I will be sad. I know how hard for you to cease your nervous habit when you wanted to perform for Girl Spirit.“

Minhyun’s words got Hanna flashback to the time Minhyun comforted her at the back stage. Yes, surely it was hard for me. I didn’t know what would happen if you’re not with me, Minhyun ah..

“I know we need to work hard to get our dream, but It will hurt me if you don’t enjoy the process. Don’t compare you with Dongho, Hanna.. You both are different people and facing different problem. Do what works for you. You don't have to be IU or Taeyeon, you just have to do what you're thinking will be the best for you. For me, this Kwak Hanna is already great.”Minhyun ended it with a smile, a sincere smile that can make Hanna smile too.

Hanna held Minhyun’s hand softly as she said, “Thank you, Minhyun ah.. I feel like you’re the one who really understand me..”

Hanna was smiling, didn’t realize that what she did just make Minhyun’s heart beat faster.

Calm down, Hwang Minhyun! Don’t make it obvious. Minhyun tried so hard not to blush.

-00-

After the first break, the Science students were scheduled to have a carrier planning counseling. Started from class 3C to 3A, they would alternately go to the room and have a face to face private consultation with a famous carrier planning counselor, Kwon Boa.

The Dobong dong kids started to queue to get the counseling. The first one was Dongho’s class.

Dongho went inside the room and bowed to Boa.

“Kang Dongho?” Boa asked to confirm.

Dongho nodded. “Yes..”. He sat on the chair across Boa comfortably.

Boa started the conversation with a confirmation question. “As I read your resume, you’ve won Kendo championship, haven’t you?”

“Yes..”

“So, will you pursue it as your career?”

Dongho wasn’t sure how to answer that question. “Well.. I wish I could..”

It made Boa frown. “I wish? Why? What happened?”

Dongho looked contemplating at how to explain his problem to Boa, but he tried, “Actually I got a scholarship to Hanseol Sport University..”

“Woah, that’s good.” Boa directly praised him.

“Yes, but my mom didn’t allow me to take it.” Dongho said softly before grinning, thinking that the words he just said sounded so foolish.

But Boa didn’t laugh. She even asked in a serious tone, “Do you know her reason for not allowing you to take it?”

Dongho was silent for a moment. Not because he didn’t know the answer, but because he felt sorry that he made his mom worry. Slowly he could answer, “She didn’t want me to get hurt.”

Boa took a deep breath before giving respond. “Okay, let me ask you, do you really like Kendo? Are you sure you want to pursue Kendo as your future career?”

“Yes, I do like Kendo, I want to be a professional Kendo player. But I also do like my mom.”

Boa cracked up at Dongho’s last word. “You may have a strong intimidating looks, Kang Dongho.. But you’re quite innocent..” Boa was still smiling before then going back to be serious again. This time, she asked Dongho, “May I know your mom’s background?”

“She’s a lecturer in Korean University.” Answered Dongho briefly.

Boa was quite surprised with Dongho’s answer. “Woah, really? That’s great.” She then straightened her back and continued, “Well then, let me ask you again. Is the way you communicate with your friends same with the way you communicate with your teacher?”

“Uhm? No. I use honorifics to the teacher.”

“That’s right. That’s what you should do to your mom, too.” Boa told Dongho.

But Dongho directly defended himself. “I also use honorifics to her.”

Boa was cracking up again. She didn’t imagine this tough-looking guy would make her laugh, twice!

“No, that’s only an analogy. I mean, you should try to communicate with her style. Your mom is a lecturer who’s always familiar with data. Then, you should persuade her with data too. Her concern is about your safety, right? Then, go search how many percentage Kendo player can get the injury in whole of carrier and what kind of injury Kendo player could get and the possible healing trea