Page 109 of Perfect Happiness
“Put her down!”Mother shouted.
Stepfather brought Jiyoo over to her bed.Jiyoo’s heart was beating so fast she thought it might leap out of her body.
“Can’t you hear what I’m saying?”
Stomping her heels on the ground, Mother walked over to Stepfather and shoved him out of the way.
“I said don’t touch my daughter, you sick son of a bitch.”
Jiyoo didn’t want to believe it was Mother who was saying these things.She didn’t want to believe Mother had called her that name.Stepfather fell on the bed while holding Jiyoo.Jiyoo opened her eyes out of shock.Stepfather stood back up and started shouting at Mother.
“What did you do?”
Mother reached out with both arms and shoved Stepfather in the chest again.
“I said don’t touch my daughter!”
It seemed like Stepfather hadn’t expected this second attack from Mother.He lost his balance and was forced backwards.The third attack started immediately.Mother rammed Stepfather into the wall.There was a loud thud and Jiyoo could feel the wall shake.
“I told you not to touch her.”
Mother started thrashing and pounded her fists against Stepfather’s chest.
“What has gotten into you?”
Stepfather grabbed Mother by the wrists.Mother writhed violently as she tried to free her hands from his grip.
“Let me go, you son of a bitch.”
“Get ahold of yourself.Don’t do this in front of Jiyoo.”
Stepfather shook Mother a couple times before letting go of her with a gentle push.Mother then took several steps back before falling to the ground.Jiyoo held her breath as she watched them fight.She remembered that Mother and Father used to fight like that a long time ago.Mother would throw a fit like a child.She would shove Father and punch him.And then when Father couldn’t take it anymore and pushed her back, she would run to the kitchen and come back with a knife.
“Did you just hit me?”Mother said as she got to her feet without breaking eye contact.The whites of her eyes were streaked with red, like a candy cane.
“If you want to keep going, let’s do this downstairs,” Stepfather said.
Mother pursed her lips and stood up straight.
“Go to the kitchen, drink some water, then meet me in the living room.”
At this, Mother turned to look at Jiyoo, who closed her eyes as fast as she could.A moment later, Jiyoo heard a voice.It seemed like Mother had finally left the room.
“It’s safe now.”
Jiyoo opened her eyes.Stepfather was picking Dad Puppet off the bed and looking down at it quietly.
“Is this why she was mad at you?”
Jiyoo nodded.
“Because your father gave it to you?”
This time, Jiyoo shook her head.
“You mean this isn’t yours?”
Jiyoo didn’t answer.Stepfather stared motionlessly at her.
