THREE-I MISS MY MOM

I cleared the dinner plates off the table, while Father watched English movies, trying to pick out words and sentences from them.

The thing is, we're Korean by birth and nationality, but we had to migrate to Kentwood for reasons best known to pa- after my mother died, that is.

Thinking of it, I never knew my mom. She died of a heart disease, since then, I and father hadn't been close to each other.

Pa used to work for the rail as a repair man, but after the crash of the second train, he was put out of business, and he became a coffee maker. He owns Gravi-tea (a name I made up for him) down the road, and Ronald helps him run the shop when it gets boring - or so he says.

I never actually accepted the concept of friendship and associates until high school (and Tessy), and I'm still trying to widen out- because she say I should - but it doesn't quite work out when you're invisible. Was I really a wallflower? I NEVER attended any of these high school functions before, so I don't know - unless being a wallflower is more than just not dancing at parties and all that.

Tessy was a bad person in the making. Knowing her, she'd probably screw up on this with Austin guy, and come back in tears - like she did with Brett, and I'll have nothing to say to her.

"Kim Yeon-Jun, bring my coffee." Papa said,

referring to his pot of Chinese tea, and I got up from the couch where I was reading a large leather bound copy of 'War and Peace', and headed for the kitchen, when the tea bags lay scattered about on the counter top.

I picked one up, and put it in a 'Best Dad in the whole world' mug, while the teapot was on the stove, and I arranged the teabags back where they were supposed to be- in their respective drawers.

My mind flew back to Tessy. Don't get me wrong, I don't like like her - I'm not even sure what that feels like - I'm just uncomfortable with her chatting him up.

Then her message came;

T- [ Xup??]

K-[??]

T-[ So I messaged him...]

K-[ Oh No!!!]

T-[ And I didn't screw up]

K-[ I'm not buying that]

T-[ I'm not selling either]

K-[...]

She sent me a screenshot of her conversation with Austin, and surprisingly, she didn't ruin it. To say the least, that was good enough.

K-[it's a miracle you didn't crash it]

T-[!!!]

K-[ So, what're you gonna do nxt??]

T-[ Wait maybe]

T-[ Could work...]

"Kimyeoun-Jun! My tea!" Father yelled from the living room, and I became suddenly aware of the singing teapot. In one disoriented second, I dropped my phone on the counter, and dashed to the stove.

I gingerly placed my hand on the handle, and felt the heat shoot through my hand, heading for my spine or whatever receptors were available.

I carried the pot, careful not to spill a drop on the floor, or on my body.

I had successfully made his tea, when the message ping came.

Ignoring it, I went to serve pa his tea.

"Sorry I kept you waiting." I said in Korean, with a bow.

" Hmmm" he snorted, and took the hot mug from my hands.

"Careful" I said in English, but he ignored me and gingerly placed it on a chair side stool.

I sighed, stared at him for a moment, and went back to the kitchen for my phone;

T-[he's online. What do I say]

K-[ Let him speak first, that way you seem less desperate.]

T-[ Hmmm...]

K-[ ??]

T-[....]

T-[ He texted]

K-[ What'd he say?]

T-[ He'd like to hang out]

K-[ Don't jump at it]

T-[ Not planning to]

K-[ Good girl. See you tomorrow at the mart]

T-[ Shop Saturday??]

K-[ After my shift at Gravs]

T-[ Gravs ?]

K-[ Gravi-tea]

T-[ I still laugh at that...]

K-[ it's starting to get old]

T-[ Yh]

K-[ Go to sleep. Love you..... No I don't love you.]

T-[ Yeah you do. Bye then.]

I sighed and switched off the phone, then headed for my room upstairs.

Being a chronic insomniac, I couldn't sleep at night. I just felt like a lump had shrunk all the lines in my neck together, a feeling I got only when I felt close to tears.

Don't ask me why, I know I'm crazy and weird, with an emotionally jumbled personality.

If only mother were around, maybe I wouldn't be feeling this way - or maybe not.

T-[ are you awake?]

She pinged , and I opened the message;

K-[ ???]

T-[ how does it feel?]

K-[ ?]

T-[you know, knowing you don't have a Mom]

K-[ numb, painful sometimes]

T-[ ouch]

K-[ ....]

I sighed and looked around the room.

K-[ So what did he say after that]

T-[ He's going to be in the library]

K-[ Great, now you get to hang out]

T-[ Not my idea of fun, but could work.📖📖]

K-[ Go to sleep!!!]

T-[ Can't]

K-[ y?? And what's with the book emoji?]

T-[ Why do you care? I'm offline. Bye. Want to watch a movie.]

And she went off. Leaving me hanging. I think I dosed off after that, cos I woke up to see my self slung on the floor, phone in hand, and my alarm screaming up my ears.....