Page 115 of Perfect Happiness

But Mother wasn’t in the kitchen.Stepfather was sitting by himself at the kitchen table and drinking coffee.

“Good morning,” Jiyoo said as she brought her hands together in front of her stomach and bowed to Stepfather.

“Did you sleep well?”he asked.The look on his face was unfamiliar.Even though he wasn’t smiling, there was this kindness in his eyes.His tone was uncomfortable, but not cold or unfeeling.

“Yes.”Jiyoo hesitated for a moment.“Where’s Mother?”

“She had something to take care of.She’ll be back around lunchtime.”

Jiyoo nodded in excitement.It seemed her punishment had been delayed a few more hours.Suddenly, Jiyoo realized she might be able to call Auntie.But she immediately abandoned this idea.Mother would be checking the call history from now on.But perhaps she could ask Stepfather if she could borrow his cellphone.

“Well, don’t just stand there.Sit.”

Stepfather motioned to the seat across from him with his eyes.On the table was an omelet, cereal, yogurt, orange juice, bananas, toast, strawberry jam, and honey.It was enough to feed all the kids in the neighborhood.Surely he wasn’t expecting Jiyoo to eat all this.Jiyoo stared at Stepfather in disbelief.

“I didn’t know what you liked.”He forced a toothy smile.“Just pick out what you want.I’ll eat what you don’t.”

Stepfather didn’t say anything more.He didn’t even ask about last night’s incident.He just took notes on a piece of paper as he finished two cups of coffee.

Jiyoo could feel herself relaxing.She was relaxing so quickly that she was surprised.Before long, she even felt comfortable, at ease.The cellphone placed next to the cup of coffee kept grabbing her attention.Courage was forming in the back of her mind—courage out of desperation.

“Excuse me—”

Stepfather looked up from the document.Jiyoo practiced a few times in her head before speaking.

“Can I ask you something?”

Stepfather put the papers down on the table and looked at Jiyoo eagerly.

“May I use your phone?”

For a moment, Stepfather looked like he was thinking.

“You mean my cellphone?”

“Yes.”

Jiyoo could feel her voice retreating back into her throat.She wanted to take back what she had just said.

Stepfather opened his phone and handed it to Jiyoo.The phone was already unlocked.

“Can I go to the bathroom to make a phone call?”

“You can do it here.”Stepfather got up from his chair.“I needed to go to the bathroom anyway.”

Stepfather didn’t ask whom she was calling or why.He picked up the papers he had been looking at and disappeared.Before the screen turned off, Jiyoo found Auntie Jane’s number and pressed it.She could hear the ring tone.Once, twice, three times.

Auntie didn’t pick up.Jiyoo got an automated message telling her Auntie’s phone was turned off.Jiyoo hung up the phone and called again.She could feel her strength draining.No, that wasn’t the right expression.Auntie Jane had taught her that for a situation like this, the correct word was “hope.”She was losing hope.But why did Auntie turn off her phone?She said she would keep it on.Always.

Jiyoo tried ten more times.She put down the phone just as Stepfather came back.

“Done?”

“Yes.”

Jiyoo wanted to thank him but couldn’t.Her throat was tight and she wanted to cry.Jiyoo dropped her head and stuck a piece of toast in her mouth.She was afraid that she would really start crying if she made eye contact with Stepfather.But the toast got stuck in her throat, making her gag.Jiyoo reached for the juice and drank the whole glass.

“Are you all right?”Stepfather asked as she put down the glass.