Deen-Home Alone. Again

It still stung though. Not the fact that I was illegitimate. But the fact that I was unwanted.

I started to take the school bus since the past week. Mee picked me up most of the time but her workload was heavily increasing. At times, it was impossible for her to take her lunch time off to pick me up. On those days, I took the school bus. It dropped me off at a point which was two minutes away from home. Choi ahjumma waited for me there to take me home.

Choi ahjumma was at the stop when I got off the bus.

'How was your day Deen?' she asked as we walked home.

'Fine,' I muttered. I did not feel like telling anyone about what was really going on at school. Mee would freak out and that was the last thing I wanted. Best was to keep my head down and finish the school year peacefully.

'Quickly change your clothes,' Choi ahjumma said as we entered the house. 'I bought some soup noodles. I'll prepare them for you.'

'Okay,' I replied drily. I took off my backpack, picked up some fresh clothes and went in to the bathroom to change. When I came out, Choi ahjumma was laying down a plate full of soup noodle.

'Aren't you gonna eat?' I frowned.

'I'll have to go out for a while,' she said sheepishly. Not again.

'Ahjumma, you are leaving me alone again?' I exclaimed. 'You do realize that I am just a kid?'

'Don't worry, this neighborhood is safe,' she assured me. Safe? The ahjusshi next door broke into our house on our very first day!

'Ahjumma-'

'I'll be back in an hour,' she promised. 'I really have to go and sort some things out. It won't take long. Just don't tell your mom. If she calls, say that I am sleeping.'

Huh? She was telling a kid to lie? Insane woman.

'Ahjumma, what if something happens to me while you're away?'

'Nothing will happen,' she assured again, with uncertainty. 'But I really have to go. I will lock the door behind me, okay?'

Before I could say anything, she hurried out, locking the door. That's it, I'm gonna tell Mee when she comes home, I decided. Back home, Mee's nanny, Mrs. Bee as I called her, used to take care of me when Mee was away for work. Mrs. Bee raised Mee when the latter was a baby and she raised me as well. After we decided to move, Mrs. Bee retired to spend time with her family. I missed the old woman. She never left me alone and doted on me. Choi ahjumma was nice but very irresponsible. It was time to tell Mee the truth.