Ma’s eyebrow arches as she rises from her chair and moves to stand beside Bàba. “So it’s unsupervised?”
“We’re grown men,” I gently argue. “We don’t need supervision.”
Ma rolls her eyes, crossing her arms with a huff. “It’s a party weekend. You’re not going.”
“I—”
“I already told you you’ve committed to the Abbot function, and you will not miss it just so you can go and get drunk with a bunch of unruly men. Who knows what trouble you’ll get into. I don’t even understand why youwantto go. It’s beneath you, Jun Hie.”
My stomach coils into a ball that physically hurts as I lightly grip the back of the chair.
I really hate the way she bosses me around like I’m a child.
But she makes me feel like I can’t defy her.
Mac always tells me that’s bullshit.
“You’re a grown-ass man! You don’t have to do what Mommy tells you anymore.”
That’s exactly what he’ll say to me if I tell him I can’t come. He’ll say, “Why?” and I’ll come up with some excuse about a prior engagement when the truth is as simple as “My parents won’t let me.”
“Stop letting them control you and do what you want. You’re twenty now. Start acting like it. It’s your summer. Don’t you fucking let them steal it from you.”
I know that’s what he’ll say.
And he’s right.
“I’m going.” My voice is so soft I can barely hear myself, but my mother’s eagle eyes read my lips.
“You’renotgoing.”
My insides shrivel—an automatic response. That familiar disappointment builds, and I can sense my body wanting to turn and shuffle back to my room, slump onto my bed, and resign myself to what is. What has always been.
But…
Gripping the chair a little tighter, I inhale a sharp breath before doing something I’ve never really done.
“I am going.”
Ma blinks at me like I’ve lost my mind. I dare to contradict her?
My heart starts to pound so loud I can barely hear the words coming out of my mouth as I desperately try to sell this, to soften her reaction to my defiance.
“It’ll be good for my mental health. A final break before summer school begins. A chance to clear my head so that I’ll be more energized for studying.” I keep gripping the chair until my knuckles turn white.
Will my argument stand up to their scrutiny?
They’re not saying anything, so I take my chance, throwing a quick glance at my father before turning and stalking out of the room.
I need to get out of here.
Their disapproval is like a sledgehammer, and they always go straight for the kneecaps.
Ma’s going to follow me and keep on arguing, but I’ve come this far, so I have to win this fight. I’ll just throw a few things into a bag and act like she’s not yelling my name and storming after me.
As soon as I get to my room, I text Mac.
On my way.
