Chapter 05

“Aww look at our Joongie!!! He’s so cute in that uniform!! Are you sure you don’t want all of us to take you to school … we want to see you on your first day of middle school. Aww our baby is growing up…” all eight of his sisters scream as they all rushed toward him hugging, pinching his cheek, and kissing him. Jae Joong, not wanting any part of this glared at them to no avail and was drawn into the center of his noona huddle. He tries to crawl out and break through the barrier formed by his older sisters but their combined powers kept him at bay and defenseless to the onslaught of his sisters.

“Ummah!!! Appah!!! Help!!!! Noonas!!! Let me go!!! I’m not a baby anymore!!! I’m going to be late to school … I need to go !!!” Jae Joong said as he pushed away his noonas’ hands just enough to jump up and down to try to get his parents attention.

Unbeknownst to Jae Joong, his parents were watching the entire time from when he stepped out of his room to when the swarm attacked. His mother giggled as she prepared breakfast for the family. It took all her will power not to join her daughters, she could not help it, Jae Joong just looked to adorable in his khaki shorts, white short sleeve button up shirt, red tie with his glasses on.

His father wanted to stop the chaos but decided not because it was their only boy, and the baby of the family too.. so everyone would be emotional too.. he guessed as he hid behind the newspaper laughing. After about 5 minutes of Jae Joong’s pleas for help his father decided to take pity on Jae Joong, put the newspaper down and said, “ Hey girls… we all know how ahem… handsome our Jae Joong is right now, but we need to leave him in one piece so he can charm his classmates at school. Now stop playing with your brother and all of you come help your mother set up the table for breakfast..” as he walked towards Jae Joong breaking through the noona blockade and placed his hands on Jae Joong’s shoulder.

He gave all 8 of his daughters a stern look, the girls began to pout but all of the sudden their facial expression turned to anger. And what was the source of the sudden change of emotion…his father looked down at Jae Joong and sighed. Jae Joong now free from his sisters went back to his usual self of mimicking and this time he mimicked his sisters reaction to their father’s command.. of course adding a little bit here and there to make it entertaining … well at least to him.

“Why you little!!” Bae said as she lifted her right hand as if she wanted to leap over and smack him.

“Bae… he’s just playing around… now go on its getting late.. we don’t want Jae Joong to be late on his first day” their father said as he looked at both Jae Joong and Bae to stop.

Bae lowered her hand, stomped her feet, turned around and began walking with the other sisters to the kitchen but abruptly stopped and turned around glaring at Jae Joong who until then was still mimicking his noonas, “ This isn’t over yet Joongie… we’ll let you go for now, but just you wait til you get home… muwhahahahah” But Jae Joong ignored her threat and stuck his tongue out at her while waving his hands back and forth taunting her, Bae now more angered than ever sticks her tongue out at him and pulls back her lips making a stupid face at him before walking into the kitchen.

After all his noonas disappeared into the kitchen, picked up his book bag and turned to his father, bowing to him.

“ Thank you father for saving me from those crazy old ladies..” he said as he shot an evil glare directed towards the kitchen, “I think they wanted to kill me..like a herd of rabid dogs..”

“Now Jae Joong, that is not the way to talk about your noonas… you know they didn’t want to hurt you.. they were just over excited is all.” His father said as he began to search his pockets for something.

“I know, but still, over excited people still hurt… anyways I’m going to go now.. I don’t want to be late to school, bye father”

“Wait on a minute… Your school doesn’t start for another hour.. so there isn’t a rush… go eat something.. your mother made all your favorite spicy foods for breakfast.. go eat or you might her feelings. It will only be a minute, I’m sure you will still make it to school on time.”
“I really can’t father. I have to go somewhere … first… before heading to school.” Jae Joong said nervously.

“Oh… where is this somewhere…” his father said smiling as he sat down on the sofa.

“Umm.. no where really… just somewhere I need to go to… so I’m going now ok.. bye” he quickly said trying to make a hasty escape.

”Well then take this ok.. your lunch money”’ said his father as he got up and placed the money in Jae Joong’s bag. Curious as to how much was given to him, Jae Joong opened his bag and pulled out the money.. Jae Joong reached into his bag and pulled out the money shocked.

“Why so much father? This is enough to feed me fore 2 days…”

“Correction… my son, it is just enough for you and your friend that you’ve met with at the sunflower field everyday for the two years…Sunflower girl.. isn’t that what you call her?”

“What!!!” Jae Joong said falling to the ground dumbfounded at his father’s comment. “Umm I have no idea what you are talking about… I don’t have any friends… only punching bags and especially not girls… and why would I go the sunflower fields everyday??? I hate that place… mother always makes me go with her…”

Jae Joong continues his excuses as his face got redder and redder with embarrassment. Seeing his son like this amused his father. His father got up from the couch, went to his son and placed his hand on Jae Joong’s head, “ It’s alright Jae Joong... there is nothing wrong with having a friend.. you know that you don’t have to pretend to be a cold mysterious person around family. And you should know that there is nothing you can hide from your father ok heheh.”

“Father… she’s just a violent girl that comes and steals our flowers everyday and fights with me… she’s not my friend”

“Oh really… hhahah well at least I know that she can handle you hahahah”’ as he laughed he noticed his son’s expression, “ sheesh why can’t you take a joke like your old dad huh… we laugh at your jokes … ok ok I won’t bother you anymore. Go.. have fun at school with your friend ok and please don’t beat up any of your classmates ok ??”

“Ok father… thanks for the money” Jae Joong puts on his book bag, bows and begins to walk towards the front door.

“GOODBYE JAE JOONG HAVE FUN AT SCHOOL OK !!!” his father said loudly as Jae Joong grabbed the doorknob.

“Dang it!!! I know you did that on purpose father... BYE EVERYONE I’M OFF TO SCHOOL” Jae Joong said as he ran off just before his mother and 8 sisters ran out to the living room.

“Wait.. Jae Joong…. Dear will he be ok?” his mother asked his father.
“Yes of course he will be, he isn’t our baby son anymore.. he’s growing up to be a fine young man.” His father said trying to comfort Jae Joong’s mother.

“You talk as if he’s fallen in love or something father… hahahha who would like our mischievous son… anyways he’s only 14 years old … he’s too young to be in love..”

“hahah oh really… we should ask our daughters how old they were then hahahah…”

Upon hearing this revelation his 8 sisters said in unison with disbelief,“What?!?!? Joongie has a girlfriend?!?!?!? “

Jae Joong relieved to be out of the house and away from his sisters merrily ran towards the one place that now always brought him happiness and also brought him his sunflower girl.

I could not believe that even father knew that something about me had changed. Though I was able to hide it from everyone else… my mother, noonas, and at times myself… I was not able to hide the happiness..warmth .. and love I felt from father or more importantly not even from you…