Page 104 of Perfect Happiness

Jane was amazed by Yuna’s temerity.From the moment they saw each other, Yuna hadn’t shown much more than a flinch.Even right now as Jane had her at knife point, Yuna didn’t seem very nervous.Jane couldn’t judge if it was because Yuna didn’t think she was a threat or because she simply didn’t fear death.If she was just acting like she wasn’t nervous, she was the best actor Jane had ever seen.

Jane stopped thinking.But by the time her eyes moved to the handbag hanging from Yuna’s wrist, it was already too late.The handbag was slicing through the air and flying toward her head.Jane instinctively leaned back, but it wasn’t enough to dodge the surprise attack.The heavy horseshoe key chain on the handbag smacked her in the right eye.

Pain shot through her head as though her eyeball had been shattered.At the same time, Jane felt an immense force shoving her shoulder.Jane had the wind knocked out of her as her body bent backwards and her heels lifted off the stairsteps.She went flying through the air and landed on the hardwood floor headfirst.

It happened so fast that she didn’t even have time to scream.Even before she had the chance to open her mouth, darkness overtook her.The last thing Jane saw was Yuna picking up the cleaver off the ground.Just before Yuna brought the back of the blade down on her, Jane blacked out.From the darkness, she could hear Yuna’s voice.

“Stealing bitch.”

*

Mother came back later that night.Jiyoo was sitting on the living room sofa, mindlessly watchingBallerina.Felicie and Camille were in the middle of a dance battle when Jiyoo heard Mother’s voice.

“Jiyoo Cha.”

Jiyoo was suddenly brought back to reality.She turned her head to find Mother standing at the entrance to the living room.In one hand she had her coat, and in the other a large plastic bag.Jiyoo jumped to her feet.

“You’re still up?”

Mother glanced once toward the wall clock.Jiyoo followed Mother’s gaze.11:00.Jiyoo had no idea it was so late.

“I was watching a movie and didn’t know—”

Mother headed into the kitchen.After placing the plastic bag and her coat on the table, she sat down on one of the chairs with her legs crossed.

“Turn that off and come over here.”

Jiyoo did as she was told.With her eyes, Mother motioned Jiyoo to the seat across from her.Again, Jiyoo did as she was told.

“Have you had dinner?”

“No.”

“You must be hungry.I was going to save this for tomorrow—”

Mother took out a Happy Meal from the plastic bag and placed it in front of Jiyoo.Then, she took out a bag of French fries and put this in front of herself.

“Eat.”

Jiyoo hated cheeseburgers.She never ate mozzarella sticks and didn’t like milk.And yet, all three of these things were included in the Happy Meal.And Jiyoo already had three SpongeBob and Krusty Krab toys.It would be difficult to have such a perfectly horrible Happy Meal without trying.It almost seemed like this was Mother’s cruel way of punishing Jiyoo.But for what?

Of course, Jiyoo couldn’t express her discontent.That was the kind of thing that Mother never allowed, not even when she was in a good mood.And right now, because Mother had caught Jiyoo watching a movie when she should be sleeping, because Mother didn’t look like she was in a good mood, it was even more important that Jiyoo eat the food with a happy look on her face.And yet despite knowing this, Jiyoo’s mouth didn’t do what she told it to do.Feeling like she was about to throw up, Jiyoo simply nibbled on the edge of the bun.

“Why are you eating like you’re a rabbit?”Mother asked.

But as always, this wasn’t really a question.It was a command to stop picking at her food and eat already.To show she understood, Jiyoo took a big bite out of the burger.She swallowed the whole thing without chewing to avoid tasting the cheese.The same way Father did that day in the car.

“What did you eat for lunch?”Mother asked as she picked up a single French fry.Jiyoo quickly swallowed the food that was stuck in the back of her throat.But it didn’t go down easily because her throat was dry.She let out a sound as if she was being strangled.

“R—rice.”

“What rice?The curry rice is still there.”

Mother pointed to the three-minute curry rice that was placed next to the microwave.Jiyoo frantically opened the carton of milk.She guzzled the milk until she washed down the bite of cheeseburger lodged in her throat.As she did this, she searched her brain for an appropriate answer.

“Actually—I didn’t eat.”

Mother blinked once.Jiyoo lowered her head.