Home Gallery Wattpad Upvote monsteracademy   "To put it clearly, I'm going to a school filled with monsters?" FOURTY-FIVE: Monsters in the House “Well, come on in,” you said uneasily as your mother opened the gate towards your house. You unconsciously held your breath while they came in, preparing yourself for whatever they were about to say. “Oh, I love this,” was the first thing you heard. It was Chen , running towards the pyeong sang - wide, wooden platform in the middle of the yard. It was where you laid down sometimes to look at the stars. Chen and Baekhyun also went there after Chen, lying down. “Joo Ri, this is cool! I've always told my dad to build one of this but he was always too busy,” Baekhyun said. “Make yourself at home,” your mother told them as she opened the front door and turned the lights on. “Thank you omoni,” Suho said, taking his shoes off before following after your mom inside to the kitchen along with Lay and D.O. who carried the other bags of food. The others also followed inside to look around. “Look at that! Omo!” “Where? Where?” Sehun said, going over to Chanyeol who was laughing at a picture of you and your dad sleeping with both of your mouths hanging wide open. “Ah, keyeopta,” Xiumin remarked, also looking at the picture. “Omo! Look at your face, Joo Ri,” Chanyeol laughed harder while he looked at another picture of you. It was your first grade picture during a stage play. You were wearing a bear mascot costume and you were crying, raising the bear's head in the air, as if to throw it down really hard. “Aigoo, I still remember that day. They were doing the Three Little Bears during a school program. She was chosen to play the Baby Bear but she didn't like the costume because it was too hot. She finally cried on stage in the middle of the performance, throwing that poor bear's head at the audience,” you mother told the story. “Jinjja?” Sehun asked, laughing. “Grizzly,” Lu Han sniggered, making the others laugh. “Neomu keyeopta,” Lay said. “Hey guys, check this out,” Chen told the others, grabbing a picture of you with mouth wide open while holding rice cakes in both hands. “Oh, that one was when she joined a rice cake eating contest. She would have won if she didn't choke on the last piece,” your mother told them, making them laugh again. “Ugh! Umma, stop telling them my embarassing stories,” you groaned. “Hey, look at this one,” Kai pointed to another picture of you in which you were sitting on the lap of a man pretending to be Santa Clause. You were pulling his beard, detaching it from his face. The other kids in the background were either shocked or crying. “Ya, you people stop looking at my photos,” you said, pulling them away from the wall were the frames were hanging. “This is the only decent picture you have Joo Ri,” Chen said, lifting a family picture from a shelf. Your mom and dad were sitting side by side while you sat on your father's lap. “Mom, don't we need to cook dinner?” You asked your mom, determined to change the subject. “Oh yes, yes. I'm still soaking the vegetables,” your mother said. “You kids can hang out outside if it's too hot in here. Sorry about our space being small and hot. But the breeze should be cool outside,” your mom told the others. “Joo Ri, why don't you get the benches at the back?” “Araso. But before that, Lay, you need to get changed or you'll catch a cold. I'll go get search for something you can change into,” you told Lay. “We'll take care of the benches Joo Ri,” Xiumin offered. “Hyung, what's up with you?” Sehun asked Lu Han who had been staring at your family picture for quite a while now. “Nothing,” he replied, giving one last look at the picture before heading outside after the others. You went to your mom's room to look for some of your dad's remaining clothes. You came back out with an old brown t-shirt. “Sorry. This is the most decent one I could find,” you told Lay, showing him the shirt. “That's okay,” he said. “I also brought a towel,” you told him. “Thanks,” he said, suddenly lifting his shirt up. Your eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when you saw his well-defined six-packs. OH.MY.GOD. I'm so not prepared for this! He finally took his shirt off, showing his strong chest muscles. Good Lord, he's got deeper cleavage than me! You gulped. “Joo Ri?” He inquired, holding his hand out for the towel and the shirt. “O-oh! Righ, right,” you stuttered, handing him your dad's shirt. “Give me your shirt. I'll dry it outside.” “Thanks,” he smiled, handing you his shirt. “Oh! Would you look at that!” Your mother suddenly exclaimed. She was eyeing Lay like some tasty piece of meat. “Umma!” You said in embarrassment. “Oh, so sorry dear. But you see, women my age don't see that much of great masculine bodies anymore,” she said to Lay, laughing. Lay just laughed shyly, taking what she said as a compliment. Looks like I wasn't the only one enjoying the view, you shook your head. You almost sighed sadly when Lay finally put on your father's shirt, covering his muscles. “Joo Ri-ya, will you come here a minute?” Your mother suddenly called you, a curious expression on her face. You approached her, wondering what's wrong. She cupped your face in her hands, turning your head left and right. “What happened to your face?” She asked, gently caressing your cheeks and the side of your face which you realized had your wounds and scratches from centaur girl and friends that have not completely healed yet. “Oh, uhm...I fell down,” you gave the lie you told the others. She didn't answer and just looked at you in the eye, searching. You looked at her nervously, your eyes flickering every now and then, afraid that she might actually see through your lie. She finally sighed. “Aigoo. Take better care of yourself,” she said, gently caressing your cheeks. “Don't worry, umma. They're all healed. They're just scars. They'll be completely gone in a day or two,” you tried to assure her. “I'll just go hang this outside,” you told her, showing Lay's shirt, eager to end this particular conversation. You went outside to hang the shirt, and found the others on the platform and benches, playing songs with your father's guitar. You smiled. You haven't heard that guitar play ever since your father died. You went back inside to find Lay and Suho chatting with your mom while she was writing something down. You looked at the food and knew that it was too little for all of you, knowing the boys' monstrous appetite. “Uhm, umma, aren't we a litle short on food?” You asked her. “Ah, yes, yes. I was gonna call you to go buy some stuff. Here,” she said, handing you the paper she was writing onto earlier. “Would you go buy these for me?” “Okay,” you said, taking the list. “And here,” your mother murmured, fishing some bills from her pocket. “Omoni, we'll take care of it,” Suho told her, gently placing his hand over hers. “Oh, no dear. I got it. Don't worry. And besides, I invited you here. I'm not gonna let you pay for anything,” she told him. “It's really fine, omoni. You cooking for us is more than enough. Allow us to contribute a little,” Suho said. “Omoni, I'll help you cook too,” D.O. said, who you didn't notice followed you to the kitchen. “Thank you but not to worry dear. You're my guests. You just go there and relax with the others,” your mother replied. “Oh, you should let him, omoni. He likes to cook, he'll enjoy it more than anything. I'll help too. I want to learn more about cooking Korean dishes,” Lay said. “Well, if you lovely boys insist,” your mother laughed. “Umma, are you sure this is everything you need? Coz I'm going,” you said. “Yes, dear,” your mother replied while she rummaged through the cabinets for pans and pots. “I'll go with you Joo Ri, I need to buy a few things too,” D.O. said. “Here,” Suho handed D.O. a black credit card. You don't know much about credit cards but you do know that only rich people can afford the black ones. “Oh! I'll just go change real quick,” you told D.O. when you remembered that you were still in your school uniform. You finally went out after wearing whatever you pulled ou