ONE

That is my son. Yes! The little boy in the stroller is my son, Leo Lee. Then the grown man standing behind the stroller of course my husband, Lee Junhyu. Well... it's still so hard to believe. I never thought that I would get Leo in such an unexpected way. Of course my story is very cliché, we got Leo because of an accidental incident.

Lee Junhyu fucked me when I was drunk. But I guess we both did it under the influence of alcohol. It's just not what I want to tell you, but who Lee Junhyu really is. This really doesn't make sense because a quiet, unpopular, slightly geeky guy with his thick glasses turns out to be able to make a popular girl at Kirin High School pregnant in one time were making love! Oh my God, that really is something beyond common sense. In fact, my friends and I used to make fun of him so badly that he had scratched his forehead on the edge of the school fence. Ohh... those were really dark times. And I think that now I have gotten a better life because of Leo, and of course Junhyu.

           "Anna, Leo is thirsty."

I raised my eyebrows briefly and immediately gave the bottle of milk that I had been holding. I saw him smiling slightly at me while showing the results of his hard work feeding Leo until my son's small plate was empty. Good, I love you Lee Junhyu even more. You managed to make Leo who has been very difficult to eat lately to finish his meal easily. How frustrated I have been during this week because I have to fight on my own to take care of Leo, while Junhyu is busy with his final exams at his university.

Junhyu and I were actually two years apart, but— something happened between us that it wasn't exactly two years. He used to be my sunbae[1] at Kirin High School, but I'm his hoobae[2] who often annoys seniors who are very nerd like him.

            "Oppa[3], where are we going after this?"

            "Where do you want me to accompany you? Today I am free, my final exam is over. But the day after tomorrow I have to go to Japan to solve some problems at my father's company," he said with a guilty face.

Hmm... yes, I will be left again. In the past, maybe I would be happy if he left and didn't appear in front of me.

But since Leo was present in the middle of our lives, I didn't want to be separated from him at all. I admit I have fallen in love with this geeky man. I fell in love with his efforts to turn me into a better woman. Oh... I think I wanna cry right now. The past has always filled me with very irritating emotions. And I also don't know since when became this melancholy Anna.

            “We need to buy Leo necessities and some food to stock up at home. My friends today will come.”

"So you're having a reunion at home?"

            Somehow I seem to have caught a lazy tone in his voice. Maybe Junhyu still can't forget how cruel my friends and I used to be when teasing him. And unfortunately that karma applies to an evil woman like me.

            “Yes, Yui, Tiffany, and Jessica will come. Then... Dannis oppa and Jihoo oppa."

            "Tsk, those two bullies again."

            “Oppa, they just want to chat and see how we are after all the things that have happened so far. Hasn't it been more than three years since we saw them?” I asked softly.

In the past, maybe I scolded him more often, was rude to him, and blamed everything on him. But now, I'm trying to be a good wife. I tried to forget all the bitterness of the past, and tried not to hurt his feelings that I had often did.

            "They used to be your lover."

            "I know, but that was a year ago. Now I am yours. Look at Leo, it's a pity if he has to see this stupid fight." I said huffily.

Junhyu's jealousy was really no joke. Once he is displeased and jealous, then don't expect that his mood will be fine so easily. Look, even now he is pushing the stroller with a cold face into the supermarket without noticing me who was walking alone behind him. Huh... it is not easy to have a household relationship if we are filled with unpleasant pasts. In fact, we are currently trying to build things for the better. But still it is not very easy to do.

2 years ago

Again my locker was filled with chocolates and flowers and love letters with envelopes that smelled sickening and made me want to puke right away. What stupid boys are they so attracted to me? And that idiot over there, why is he looking at me like that? His gaze gave me goosebumps a little. As far as I know he is a senior, I saw him when I went to Jihoo oppa's class yesterday. Incidentally, my lover is in the same class as that poor guy, Lee Junhyu. He is quite well known in this school with various proud achievements. Unfortunately he has a strange behavior and is often the butt of Jihoo oppa and his friends.

            "Anna, chocolate again?"

            Tiffany suddenly came and took a bar of chocolate with a brand that hmm— you could say that chocolate is considered as expensive chocolate. Just let Tiffany eat it, I happen to not really like chocolate. Moreover, I almost get it every day because of those stupid boys.

            "Just take all the chocolate, I'm bored. Every day they fill my locker with chocolates, flowers and letters, it's disgusting. I'm sick of it! Come on, I know I'm beautiful and popular, but I'm getting more and more sick of the reactions of the people here."

Brakk

            I closed my locker door hard and immediately invited Tiffany to come into class. Soon the lessons of the most killer teacher in this school will begin. I don't want my image to be bad just because I got to class late, even though I honestly didn't like that lesson, Physics!

            "Anna, what's up with that lousy man?" Tiffany whispered beside me.

I reflexively followed Tiffanya's gaze and found Lee Junhyu staring at me. Since earlier that strange man had been standing next to the large pillar while staring at me. I don't know what he was doing, but he managed to make me both scared and uncomfortable. If he was attracted to me, he shouldn't give me goosebumps with his kind of gaze.

"Hey, what are you looking at? You also want to give me chocolate like the others?" I asked fiercely after I decided to approach him. For a moment he didn't answer me and instead looked at me from head to toe. Damn!

            "Hey, answer my question, nerd! You want me to call Jihoo oppa so that you get beat up by his friends again?"

            I glanced a little at his temples and also the corners of his lips which still left a bluish mark from being beaten by Jihoo oppa's friends. This arrogant man two days ago refused Jihoo oppa and his friends' request to share the answer, so when he came home from school he was dragged forcibly to the school warehouse, and he was beaten there.

At that time I saw what happened, but I was just silent. I just watched him continue to be hit while narrowing my lips. Even though from the beginning he had asked me for help while looking at me with his pathetic gaze so that I would report the incident to the teacher, but I didn't. Why do I help a nerd like him. I honestly never liked him because he was too weak that he could easily be trampled like that.

            "Why didn't you help me when that gang of thugs hacked me down yesterday?"

            "Help you? What for? I won't get my lover in trouble.” I replied curtly. Huh, did this guy just get hit? How dare he say that in front of me, even in that nonsense pretentious manner. If he wasn't a weak man, he should be able to protect himself from being bullied by Jihoo oppa.

            "Your lover is a troublemaker, he should be punished for his bad deeds."

"Tsk, listen Lee Junhyu ssi[4], you are treated like that by Jihoo oppa because you are a lousy man. Loser! You can't protect yourself."

With a quick movement I pulled out his glasses and made him immediately panic to take them away from me. But I just teased him and avoided here and there so he couldn't take his glasses from me. Then I dropped the glasses on the floor until he then crouched down to get it back. And before he managed to take it, I immediately stepped on the sunglasses with my shoes until the crackling sound of the shards managed to make him frozen in place with a hardened face holding back the emotions that managed to make me laugh out loud.

            "Oops, I'm sorry buddy, I accidentally stepped on your glasses. Come on, Fanny, let's go."

            After being satisfied with teaching Lee Junhyu a lesson, I immediately embraced Tiffany's shoulders to immediately enter the classroom. It turned out that it was quite fun to teach the nerd Junhyu a lesson too. No wonder Jihoo oppa and his friends also often hurt that poor guy, it was quite exciting. Next time maybe I will join Jihoo oppa to teach that damn guy a lesson.

            "Anna, how pity that guy, he can't seem to walk properly without his glasses."

            I actually laughed out loud when I looked back and saw Junhyu stagger several times while occasionally bumping into objects standing in front of him. And he just fell on his knees because he hit a trash can. Oh... poor Lee Junhyu, or idiot Lee Junhyu.

            “Leave him, that's a lesson for him so he doesn't dare to tease me like

just now. I'll report his actions to Jihoo oppa later after school."

            Tiffany seemed silent and did not respond to my further words. Maybe she still felt sorry for Lee Junhyu's bad luck, or she was thinking about something else. I don’t know.

-00-

I smiled triumphantly when I watched the poor man tied to a pole with clothes that had been crossed out here and there by Jihoo oppa and his friends. Oh, even his face did not escape Jihoo oppa's scribbles using a paint splash. His face, which turned out to be quite handsome without glasses, looked pathetic with various colors that were sprayed carelessly by Jihoo oppa.

            "Stop it!"

            Every now and then he tried to beg Jihoo oppa to let him go, coughing. But my boy didn't seem to want to finish his torment on the little Lee Junhyu.

This afternoon I did it reported Junhyu's misdeeds who dared tease me. Jihoo oppa then acted quickly by intercepting Junhyu when he came home, then he immediately dragged the weak man to the warehouse back to launch the action.

            "You dare tease my lover!"

            I, who previously only saw from a distance, decided to walk closer to Jihoo oppa while hanging on his shoulder. Lee Junhyu looked so pathetic with the colors of spray paint that was visible all over his body, even his black hair had now turned pink. Geez, what a pity this poor guy is. If he were not a weak man like this, maybe I would not waste him because he is actually quite handsome.

            "I didn't do anything to her." he replied coldly.

With a little annoyance, Jihoo oppa slapped his face until the corners of his lips looked bleeding.

            "You dare to challenge me!"

            "Oppa enough, don't hit him. This is enough."

            I suddenly felt sorry to see his condition. I think he's suffered enough with all that spray paint, so I don't want any more violence here. Besides, I also broke his glasses. And now the glasses seemed to have been fixed by him using clear tape.

"He's challenged me honey."

            “Yes, oppa, this is enough. Let's leave him here before the teachers catches us." I said provocatively while walking behind the pillar to get the bag.

When Jihoo oppa was talking to his friends, I pretended to look down behind the pillar, then I slightly pulled the knot of the rope used to tie Junhyu's hands while hurriedly walking towards Jihoo oppa. Hopefully after this he can go home safely to his house and clean all the remaining spray paint that sticks to his body.

-00-

            "It's cold today."

            I tucked the jacket was wearing while walking slowly through the small shops that were located not far from my house.

Seoul is getting cold tonight, and I suddenly want to eat a warm bowl of ramen. It would be really delicious, especially if I add a slice of mushrooms and a poached egg. Ohh... it feels like my stomach is struggling to be filled right now.

            "Good evening Somi, do you still have ramen?"

            Somi seemed to be smiling at me while pointing at the third shelf from the end which contained various kinds of ramen.

I then immediately walked towards the shelves to get some packs of ramen that I needed. When I arrived at the alley full of ramen noodles, I saw a man also standing in front of the ramen noodles I wanted. From the side I gave the guy a little weird look because he covered his whole body with a jacket and hoodie. Suddenly it reminded me of the mafia movies that I often watched at home. At first glance the man looked like one of the mafia who likes to kidnap women to become prostitutes. But— tsk! it's just a movie, of course that's not going to happen here. So I just need to take the ramen noodles I need as fast as possible, then pay immediately at the cashier.

"Excuse me, please move to the right." I said a little loudly behind him because he hadn't moved from his place at all, even though he had clearly prevented me from taking the ramen noodles I wanted. Even after I reprimanded him he also didn't move from there.

"Sorry, are you deaf sir? I want to take the ramen noodles on the shelf in front of you."

Finally I can no longer cover up my anger. This guy also doesn't seem like he wants to leave if I continue to use the gentle tone like before. And sure enough, after I showed my emotions, he immediately stepped aside to the right, but didn't move from there either.

"Thanks for earlier."

Instantly I turned to the side while narrowing my eyes sharply. There stood Lee Junhyu! The man finally opened the hoodie that had been hiding his face, even his hair was still pink. But at least the spray paint that was lodged on his face was clean.

"You have nice hair, I think you will soon get a lover if you have pink hair like that." I sneered at him. His bangs really make me cringe when I see him. Like eager to cut it so that he doesn't look weird with the style of his clothes that are always buttoned up to the neck coupled with thick glasses that have tape everywhere.

"This can't be removed, you are too much, Anna."

As he slowly said my name, I felt the hair on my neck goose bumps. He again seemed to spread terror for me and made me feel uncomfortable lingering here.

"Move, don't get in my way." I said curtly while pushing his shoulder to the left. He immediately shifted to the left and slightly hit the shelf filled with snacks. I quickly took the ramen noodles I needed, then immediately walked quickly towards the rough. I saw him still standing in place while putting the hood back on. I think he has a bit of a grudge against me for what I did this morning. If he dares to mess with me, I'll tell Jihoo oppa.

"Anna, you've finished shopping."

"Yes, um— be careful with that guy over there, he's a little weird and scary." I said provoking Somi a little.

While putting my things in a plastic bag, Somi glanced at the fourteen-inch screen beside the cash register to see what Junhyu was doing around the instant noodle rack.

 “He's been here since fifteen minutes ago. He seemed confused, and several times he asked about black hair dye or shampoo that can be used to remove hair dye."

Hearing that I just kept quiet and decided not to say anything. It turned out that Junhyu was looking for something to get rid of the pink color in his hair. Huh, you idiot! It is better if such hair is taken to the salon, then cut off so that new hair grows. It was useless for him to look for any shampoo or hair dye for his hair because obviously it would not come off easily because of using spray paint.

"Thank you Somi, see you later."

Finished with my stuff, I immediately walked out to go home. Honestly, I'm a little lazy to go home because the situation at home will be the same, boring. My parents are busy going abroad to take care of all their work. At home I only had a white poodle friend and of course a few servants.

Sometimes I ask Tiffany and Jessica to accompany me at home, but still they will not be able to continue to be in my house. They also have their own families who will look for them.

Huh, I hate my situation. People have always thought of me as a lucky girl to have a beautiful face and rich parents. But life is not just about possessions, I need more than that. I need genuine affection from the people who love me.

 "Hi sweetie, join us. Come on over here."

"Move, don't get in my way."

I roughly brushed the dirty hands off my shoulders. Two bad guys suddenly blocked my way and made me panic at once. Oh God I'm scared, Jihoo oppa help me!

"Play with us for a while, you will be happy."

"I'm in a hurry, please leave me alone."

 With all my strength I restrained myself from crying right now in front of that thug. I'm scared, so scared. Even to run, it feels weak, my legs have been shaking since earlier.

"Just a moment sweet, you must accompany us."

They suddenly pulled my hand so that the plastic containing my ramen noodles fell in the middle of the road. Instantly I panicked and was only able to struggle asking to be released. My tears slowly began to fall from the corners of my eyes as the ruffians of the men had dragged me down a quiet alley.

I was shocked when suddenly one of the brute men let go of my hand while groaning in pain because his back had just been hit by a large rock. The reflex of the rogue man to my left also let go of his hand on mine to see the condition of his friend's back, which might be bruised.

Suddenly another rock landed right on the back of the rogue man who was standing next to me. From a distance I saw someone giving me instructions to run. Instantly I immediately ran towards my house without noticing the terrible men who were noisy calling me.

My frightened footsteps continued to carry me running far until I forgot my helper. And when I looked back, the men who bothered me were out of sight. Well, whoever has helped me today, may he always be blessed by God. If there weren't that kind-hearted man, maybe by now I would have become the food of the crazy men there.

[1] A senior

[2] A junior

[3] A call for an older man (Specifically for younger woman)

[4] A word affix to refer to a stranger