"How do you like the new house, son?" Mr. Moon said, patting Jongup on the shoulder. 

The house in front of them was huge.  It was two stories tall and had an endless expanse of forest behind it. The beautiful green trees swayed slightly in the wind.  Out here, the houses were few and far between.  There was only one other house within a mile of theirs.

"It's...nice." Jongup said, not even looking up.  He fiddled with a strap on his backpack. 

The only reason they could afford the house is from his mother's money.  She had been killed, and no one knew who had done it.  The insurance they had and the money his mother had saved up had gone straight to Mr. Moon.

Jongup couldn't help but to think that his dad had something to do with his mother's murder.

Mr. Moon was an alcoholic.  He didn't work at all and just lived off of his late wife's money.  It was just too coincidental that his father went "out of town" the same weekend his mother was killed and that he had just increased her life insurance. 

"Well, let's go see inside, shall we?" Mr. Moon strode past Jongup and went towards the house.  He turned the key and pushed the door open.

Their short exchange must've seemed like a normal father-son interaction, but Mr. Moon didn't seem like a father to Jongup.  He beat him each time he drank, and never remembered it the next day.  Jongup couldn't remember a time he didn't have bruises covering his pale skin. 

Jongup's mother had taken a few beatings, as well.  Every time Mr. Moon came home drunk, he'd walk straight to Jongup's room.  One time Mrs. Moon came home from work early and saw her husband beating their only child.  In order to "keep her quiet," Mr. Moon had beat her as well. 

The harsh memories still stung, and the pain still felt unbearable.  Subconsciously, Jongup touched his shoulder where a few bruises still colored his skin.  He cringed and suddenly did not want to enter this house, which was in the middle of nowhere, with his abusive father.

Jongup hung back a little, slowly following his father inside the door.

"It's nice inside, too!" His father called, "Come in, son." Irritation and impatience tinged his voice.  Gulping, Jongup quickly went inside the house.

He looked around the empty house.  It only had basic furniture--the movers were supposed to bring their belongings this weekend.

Of course, his father was by the refrigerator, marveling at its size.

"We can fit a lot in here!" Mr. Moon said happily. 

"...You mean you can fit a lot of your beer in there." Jongup muttered under his breath, glaring at his father's back. 

"I'm going to get the cooler from the car.  Go and choose a room." Mr. Moon went back outside, leaving Jongup alone.

Jongup walked through the kitchen and saw the stairs.  They creaked with every step he took.  That meant he wouldn't be able to sneak out of the house going this way.

Upstairs, there was a hallway with two doors on each side and one at the far end of the hall.  Jongup figured his father would take the one at the end so he peeked into the one closest to the staircase, which was coincidentally the room furthest away.

It was a normal bedroom.  A plain bed, a bedside table, a desk, and a small closet.  A small lamp was on the table, but other than that the room was empty.  He pushed the door open a little more and walked in.  Immediately he went to the window and looked out.  There was only forest outside.  A branch, perfect for climbing down, went up right against the window. 

Jongup smiled.  If he ever needed to escape his abusive father, he could climb out and flee into the woods.

"You like the room?" Mr. Moon questioned from the door.  Jongup turned towards him and nodded, the smile gone from his face.  "The bathroom is right across from this room and I'll be at the end of the hall." He looked at Jongup one more time, then left the room. 

Jongup sighed.  He tossed his backpack onto the bed.  It only had clothes and a picture of him and his mom inside.  Carefully he propped the picture up on the table.  His fingers lingered over the frame. 

"Mom..." He whispered, tears threatening to fall down his face.  She was the only one who could protect him from his father. 

Now that she was gone, Jongup didn't have anyone.

~~

Short ; o ; Mian~