Twenty One

 

 

Eunji had dreaded this day all too much. She had spent the entire night debating on what to do. Should she try to talk to Luhan? But what if he ignored her or even yelled at her again? Thoughts like those had continued throughout the night, the possible negative outcomes always playing in her head after every thought. 

  Eunji dragged herself out her room, each step heavy and slow. Her mother was at the dining table again, eyes greeting Eunji though her expression was sullen. Her mother was always there these days, and Eunji couldn't think of an explanation as to why. She always got up earlier than her mother for school, and she had become used to eating breakfast alone. Yet each morning her mother sat there, hands on her lap and her hair in a loose braid, eyes always watching Eunji as she walked out of her room.   "Good morning Mum," Eunji croaked sluggishly, trying to act casual.   "Good morning," her mum replied before gesturing to the plate and glass on the table.    "Yeah...thanks."    Eunji pulled out a chair and grabbed the plain piece of toast that sat on the plate. She took a large bite before slumping down and chewing the dry bread.    "Everything okay?" her mum asked while observing her daughter's behaviour.
"No." Eunji looked up at her mother.   "What's wrong?" Her mother's expression instantly changed from serene to concerned.    Eunji sighed. "I broke up with my boyf-" She paused, eyes widening after realizing what she had just said.   "...You had a boyfriend?"    Eunji bit her lip, waiting for her mother to snap at her like any mother would. Instead, her mother gave a some-what amused smile.   "Why didn't you tell me? I always wanted a mother to daughter boy talk."    Eunji immediately began to cough from the shock of her mother's words, hammering her chest in order to get the  dry food down. Her mother immediately pushed the glass of water towards her, in which she immediately took and gulped down in a matter of seconds.   "You okay?" her mother asked in which Eunji replied with a few difficult nods. "Do you want to talk about it?"   Eunji shook her head, her cough subsiding. "I don't think I can talk about it," she said sullenly as she fiddled with her toast. She glanced up at her mother, waiting for the silence to end and for her to say something. Instead she remained silent, and Eunji continued to stare at her mother. She noticed the deepened wrinkles on her mum's face and how her eyebags were more noticeable.    "So, how are you?" Eunji asked hesitantly.   Her mother looked at her in surprise. "I'm fine."   "Is your depression...okay?"    Her mother nodded, though the look on her face seemed very uncertain.    "How about the pain in your chest? Has that gone away yet?"    She nodded again. "Its gone, it's gone...Don't worry." She smiled comfortingly, though it was clear something was bothering her. "It's time you go to school, isn't it?"   Eunji looked up at the old clock that hung on the wall that