It’s already been a month since I saw Denise and Mr. Joo in a heated argument. Denise Lee hasn’t been coming to the school since her scholarship got terminated because of her cheating incident.

“Hey! What are you thinking so early in the morning?'' Yuri jumped on me and wrapped her arm around my shoulder. So clingy.

“Nothing”, I replied simply.

“Well, I have something in my mind”, Yuri chimed.

I raised my brows to ask what she’s up to.

“I think we should visit Denise, I already talked with Nelly and Charles, they seem fine with it.”, Yuri added.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea”, I answered. I can’t let them be involved on what issue Denise and Mr. Joo have.

“Why? Why not?”, Yuri complained.

“Nothing, just don’t go visit her”, I said.

That’s why here I am meeting them on a saturday morning to go visit Denise’s house.

“How would we even find her house in this neighbourhood?”, Charles exclaimed.

“Shh, lower your voice.”, Nelly reprimanded him.

“Nyenyenye”, Charles rolled his eyes and made a face.

“No worries. I got her address from her social media account. Well, we used to be friends, there’s no way she would have blocked me.”, Yuri looked down while looking at her phone.

She looks so worried and concerned for Denise.

“I didn’t know you two were friends”, I said to break the silence.

“It was a long time ago, and I have you guys now.”Yuri acted so happy but I know she’s just putting on a show.

“Let’s go”, she chimed then grabbed my arm.

3-116 Imun-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul

We are now standing in front of a building, which seems like an apartment to me.

“Hey? Are we sure about this?”, I asked them.

“Yeah, why, you're afraid?”Charles laughed.

“Stop picking a fight with Dylan, dumbass”, Nelly yelled and slightly hit Charle’s arm.

We entered the building and followed Yuri.

.

*Ding*Dong*

“Hey, someone’s at the door! Open it up bitch. Stop sleeping like some kid”, a deep voice shouted inside.

Yuri looked at me.

What the hell was happening inside?

Shortly,the door clicked and opened. A familiar girl appeared in front of us. It was Denise, nothing had changed except that the bump on her stomach is noticeable. She’s pregnant?

“What are you doing here?”, she asked in an unpleasant manner.

“We’re just here to visit you”, Yuri said gently.

“I don’t need your pity! Go!”Denise attempted to lock the door but I got to block it.

“Yuri just wants to know if you’re okay”, I said.

“Go! Leave me alone!”, she shouted then pushed the door.

Yuri then placed her hand in my arm, telling me to just let her go.

I can see how disappointed she was, but at the same time how concerned she is to Denise.

“Who’s that assholes?”, the guy’s voice reverberated throughout the whole floor.

“Just some kids selling beauty products”, Denise said.

We then leave the place, and eat some street foods along the way.

“Did you see how big the bump in Denise’s stomach was? I think she’s pregnant”, Nelly exclaimed then took a biteful of fishcake.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect her to get pregnant this early when she’s just 17 years old”, Charles laughed.

“Guys! Stop!”, Yuri yelled. This is the first time I have seen her get so tense, and worried.

“Do you know who that man is living with her?”I asked Yuri to change the subject.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Her father.”, Yuri simply replied.

“Her father? Why would he treat her that way? It’s like she’s an animal in his eyes”, Nelly exclaimed.

“Denise was being abused by his father, especially when he’s drunk. I always told her to get help from the authorities but all she did was tell me how nice his father was and how he didn’t know that what he’s doing is wrong. I got so tired of it that I broke off our friendship”, Yuri said while staring blankly at the tteokbokki.

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure it out,” I said.

Weekend has past and we still haven’t heard from Denise. It seems to me that she will never come back home.

“What should I do? I want to help Yuri at all costs.”, I said while lying in my bed and lifting Tangerine, the cat I’ve found on the street.

“Meow”, it answered.

“Hmm, I guess I should visit her once again”, I said.

3-116 Imun-dong, Dongdaemun, Seoul

I arrived quickly at her apartment after taking the bus. I brought some of the food my mom has cooked which she thinks is best for the baby’s health.

I was suddenly appalled when the room’s door was left open. What happened here?

I silently opened the door, and went inside.

“Hello? Denise? I brought you something”, I called while finding her presence.

The room was filled with a pungent smell from the food wastes located in the whole premises. Empty bottles of liquor are scattered on the floor.

“What are you doing here? Did I already tell you to leave me alone?”, Denise yelled.

Her face has some bruises,including the one in her right eye.

“Are you okay? Who did that to you?”, I asked worriedly.

“None of your business. Just go! Before my father woke up!”, she shouted.

I then left her house as quickly as I could.

I was on my way home when I saw Simon Park together with Mr. Joo. Are they together here? Has he become Mr. Joo’s errand boy?

I sneaked at them and observed them longer, they seemed to be talking about something, like some sort of negotiation.

“Dylan! Why are you here?”. Oh no! Mom.

“Mom! I didn’t know you’re here, why are you here?”I laughed and scratched my nape thinking of a great excuse.

“I was out with my friends in the Dongdaemun Market, and you, why are you here?”, my mom asked while placing her hand on her waist.

“Uhmm…I have met with one of my friends. Let me bring that for you”, I explained then changed the topic.

Phew. Glad mom bought my excuse.

***

Days have passed and none of us dare to bring up Denise. I haven’t even told Yuri what happened when I visited Denise alone.

“Guys! Have you seen this?" Charles hurried to where we were seated.

“Hey, keep it low”, Nelly interrupted.

“Look!. Denise posted this”, Charles then showed a photo of Denise’s post in social media.

It says that she’s going to abort her child as the father of her child doesn't want to support them. The post then says something about the surname of the father being Joo.

It all adds up, on why Denise and Mr. Joo always have secret talks.

“That bastard!”, I said and clenched my fist.

“What? Where are you going?”, Yuri asked.

“I’m going to Mr. Joo”, I said. Yuri then ran after me.

“What? Why?”

“He wants to abort Denise’s baby. His son’s baby!” I exclaimed.

“What are you sure? Let’s not do something so dangerous”, Yuri said and held my hand.

“I have to get him!”, I said and brushed her hand off.

“Then I’ll go with you”

I then hurried to Mr. Joo’s office, but he’s not there. Where would he have been?

“Let’s try the principal’s office”, Yuri suggested.

As we arrived at the principal’s office, I forcefully opened the door where I found the Mr. Joo and the principal… and Simon Park.

“What is it?”, Mr. Principal yelled. I can feel that he’s being upset with our sudden intrusion.

“I’m sorry, sir. I just want to report a case of bribery.”

“What?”, Mr. Joo exclaimed.

“Someone bribed a student here to abort her baby just so he could protect his son” I added.

“And that someone is you Mr. Joo!”, I shouted while pointing at him.

“What a joke! Who are you to disrespect me?”He stood up and pointed some fingers at me.

“Look at this Mr. Principal”

I showed him the post that Denise had published on social media.

“I even saw him giving money to Denise. I thought at first that Denise is giving him the money, but it turns out Denise is returning the money just because she doesn’t want to abort the child”.

“Is this true Mr. Joo?”, the principal raised his voice.

“I-It’s true Mr. Principal, but I offered her the money not because I want to abort the baby but because I want her to stop pestering my son. They have broken up half a year ago, and yet there she goes claiming him to be the father of her child”, Mr. Joo explained.

“What? But I saw you hit her”, I shouted.

“It was my mistake, but I swear I was carried away when she told me that she’s gonna tell everyone that my child is the father”.

“How about him?” I said, and pointed out to Simon Park.

“I have seen you form some alliance. You were even there near Denise’s house”. I yelled.

“Mr. Joo told me to investigate the matter, and I’ve found out that the father of her child is his step-father. The one living with her right now. I also asked for her medical records and I found out that she suffers from stockholm syndrome, which is the reason why she can’t leave his father…because he loves him, and both of them are on it extorting money from Mr. Joo’s son.”, Simon Park stated.

“What?”, I asked in disbelief.

“I can’t believe you are capable of doing such speculations”, the principal told me.

“And for you Mr. Joo, I can’t tolerate this, you are to be reassigned to another school” The principal exclaimed.

“All of you, out of my office now!”, he shouted.

My body was frozen because of all I’ve heard.

“W-We’re sorry, Sir!” I said and bowed down in front of Mr. Joo, which Yuri followed.

He didn’t take a pause, and walked past me.

“I told you not to be a nuisance.”. His voice sent shivers down through my spine.