[Meet with teacher. 15:00.]

I tapped away the notification, blocking another shopping list from view before seeing the check appear. Curled up, he had given up on other kids and wouldn't get out under the table. The night before had clearly exerted it's pressure. I thought he’d be able to bear it, thinking of the library. Suppressing a sigh, I studied the room again.

「A brightly coloured room, covered in stickers with a few cartoons, with wallpaper filled with polka-dots. An aged yellow desk littered in fresh notebooks followed by whiteboard covered in black and white drawings. An innocent smile complemented with a sad face.」

「And a drawing my son did in crayon.」

It was the picture of childhood. However, this ‘intervention’ was anything but. The only thing it was good for was worsening my headache.

"Why can't I remove him? He is my child."

The heat made it tempting to take off my trenchcoat. I scratched the bruise on my neck idly before looking at my fingers with flecks of blood peaking outside my nails. Wearing bright overalls and hair in a loose ponytail, she seemingly gave off a peaceful impression. Only if she wasn’t fidgeting so much. Or trying to haggle with me pointlessly.It wasn't as if being absent a few times would harm his chances of succeeding Suneung..what a hassle. I'd even heard they were wondering why my husband never came to pick him up,as if he'd ever arrive to school even if he was clear-headed.

"Yes,yes..but he already has a lot of missed days. We try to ensure the quality of education-"

"Are you saying you know his needs better than me?"

She stuttered before shutting her mouth. Compared to us adults, children didn't know how to hide those cracking emotions yet. But you’d have to learn one day, there was no escape from that reality. I turned towards him.

"Here."

He shuffled deeper under the table with faint muffling heard about. He felt safe within that underneath. All the while avoiding my hand. Perhaps to him, we were both the enemy.

"Mrs Lee. I don't intend to be rude, however. There are some concerns about the environment at home."

"He's easily upset."

"Your child doesn't socialise with other kids, either! If you..pardon. The most I can allow you is on grounds. Our school has other facilities, so playing outside shouldn’t be a problem."

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

As such, I took him to the swings while other children were learning. The chains seemed sturdy enough. Crossing my arms, I glanced around as I let go of his hand. It felt soft and a little frail. Still, he didn't speak. I couldn't lecture him under prying eyes.

If anything got out..

Finally, he spoke while looking down.

"..day."

"Holiday. That's what made you upset? Hm. I can't say what something like that is like."

Pretending to not understand, I answered his implicit question. Yes, I really hadn't experienced anything like it for a long time.

"...do you want it, Dokja?"

He didn't reply.

"Even if you did, I can't get it for you."

There was only saying this.

"Give up on it, understood?"

I couldn't nurture the hope that things might get better. Because I didn't have the will for it, the strength for those ideals. I knelt to his level and whispered to him.

"But you can still experience it. As long as you read again."

It was the worst, but most truthful conspiracy I could give. His hair fell deeply in front of his face, and he swung a little. Good, he was moving. That should assure them a bit. And show them a mother knows her child better than anyone else…then my coat was suddenly dragged.

"No one else."

Yet I didn’t recognise the desperation that was etched onto his face.

"No one else lives like us, Mom!"

Feeling dizzy, my hands gripped his shoulders tighter making him flinch. Yes,he was only a child but when he shouted like that, he eerily resembled his father. Stares grew from the window as he continued on,slowly pulling me closer to him.

“Why is it only..us? Why does no-one else have to worry? Mom. Don’t you know—”

I finally brought myself to cover his lips. No wonder he was reacting like this. I was too passive earlier. The trees cast shadows over me,and my lapel flew in the wind. I didn’t say anything,and just continued to stare at him.

That was enough. Walking out the school-gates, we headed towards the library. They’d probably try organising another intervention, along with phoning home but I had no plans to answer any further. And he barely engaged in our child’s education. I remember that arrival well. Slowly adjusting the light, he sat on the beanbag and cracked open the pages, noticeably blocking me from view.

Ha. He was still cute like this.

The sun was soaked in by the bookshelves, as dozens of paperbacks, hardcovers and leatherbound books shone picturesquely on display. The murmurs of others,paper planes and hastily written notes reminded me of my teenage days. I didn’t mind this kind of civility. Rather, it was too nostalgic for me.

I just quietly observed that scene for a while before patting his head. He still didn’t know, but we would soon meet an unfamiliar next. So, I had to say it, even if I didn’t want to accept it.

I smiled bittersweetly, leaning a little closer to him. My hair blocking the letters caused him to jump and glare at me. Well, at least he was paying attention.

“Goodbye, Dokja.”

He dug his face deeper into the book. Ah, this child of mine..

“I’ll be back quickly, don’t worry.”

Finally, giving a quick explanation to the librarian observing our little world, I walked out of those double doors for the last time and towards the department store. Swiping the screen, I brought up the shopping list. Maybe there was another way. But the sentence had already been written. It was the conclusion.