Chapter 4
Mom handed me a spoon and fork, noticing my struggle with chopsticks. "You need to learn how to use chopsticks," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "Mom, don't tell me that's a necessary thing I need to do here in Korea," I said, beginning to eat. The food wasn't bad; in fact, it tasted good. I didn't know what it was called, but I was enjoying it.
"Even in the next hundred years, I'm not sure I'll be able to use chopsticks," I told Mom, munching on beef or maybe meat. Mom looked at me"Okay, that reminds me... you'll be going to a boarding school." I coughed, shocked, and reached for my water. "Wait, a boarding school?" I asked, my voice rising.
Mom nodded. "Yes, a boarding school." I tried to protest, but Mom cut me off. "Young lady, please don't start. We'll get you registered, and you'll start school soon."
I felt a surge of anxiety. "Mom, why a boarding school? How do you want me to cope?...how am I supposed to manage when everyone around me will be speaking Korean? It's not like I know the language," I protested, feeling a sense of unease wash over me. "What do you expect me to do, Mom? Just somehow magically understand everything?"
Mom's expression was calm. "That's why we're sending you to an international boarding school where Koreans, Americans, and other languages meet. English will be spoken there too, so you won't have to worry about the language barrier."
She continued, "And I'll make sure you have a Korean tutor to teach you the language. You need to work on your Korean." I sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "Don't you think you want to put my brain in unnecessary stress?" I asked, trying to reason with her.
Mom reached for a glass of juice, sipping it without responding. I knew that look – she was done discussing it. If she didn't want to answer me, she'd just ignore me or do something else to distract me. I shook my head,It seemed like my opinions didn't matter in this decision.
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I was immersed in a world of vibrant colors and infectious beats, my eyes glued to the screen as K-pop music videos danced across my phone. The catchy tunes had me swaying to the rhythm, my mind carefree and lost in the melodies. Suddenly, the tranquility was disrupted by a gentle knock on the door. "Come in," I murmured, my gaze still fixed on the screen.
The door creaked open, and my mother's presence filled the room. "Sarah, drop that phone. I want to talk to you," she said, her voice a gentle yet firm intrusion into my musical reverie.
With a soft sigh, I relinquished my grip on the phone, switching it off and setting it aside. My eyes finally met hers, curiosity etched on my face. "Okay,what is it Mom?" I asked, my voice laced with a mixture of interest and wariness.
Her smile was warm, but her eyes betrayed a seriousness that made my heart skip a beat. "Well, Sarah, something came up, and I'll be traveling tomorrow evening," she began, her words dripping with an air of importance.
I felt my eyes widening in shock, my mind struggling to process the sudden revelation. "You're leaving tomorrow? But you just got here!" The words tumbled out of my mouth, my tone a mix of surprise and dismay.
Mom's calm demeanor was a stark contrast to my growing unease. "I know, but it's urgent," she explained, her voice measured and collected. "I've spoken to Mr. Kim, the man who picked us up from the airport. He'll be coming tomorrow morning to pick up, you will be resuming school tomorrow."
The words hung in the air, heavy with implications. My mind reeled as I struggled to comprehend the sudden turn of events. "Wait, what? You're leaving me at a boarding school? Already?" The questions poured out of me, my voice laced with uncertainty and a hint of fear.
Mom's expression softened slightly as she elaborated, her words painting a picture of arrangements already made and promises already secured. "Dad has spoken to the principal, and you'll need to take some exams.."
I felt a pang of uncertainty, a sense of being swept up in a whirlwind of decisions made without my input. "But Mom, can't I just stay at home for a while?" The plea slipped out of my lips, a desperate attempt to cling to the fragile sense of normalcy we had established.
Mom's expression turned firm, her eyes unwavering. "No, Sarah. It's not possible. You need to go to school, and I have to leave. Mr. Kim will take care of you tomorrow."
The finality of her words left me feeling lost and uncertain, the world I had known mere moments before crumbling beneath my feet.
I stood before my mom, my voice shaking with emotion. "Mom, why are you and Dad doing this to me? always traveling here and there, Sometimes I wonder, did you guys even think about how it would affect me when you decided to have me?"
My mom's expression softened, and she reached out to touch me "Sweetie, we didn't mean to make your life difficult. Your father and I are just trying to provide you with the best opportunities, even if that means being apart sometimes."
I pulled away, feeling a mix of frustration and sadness. "Opportunities? You call being constantly on the move an opportunity? I feel like I'm losing myself in all of this. And now you're sending me to a boarding school? It's like you're pushing me away."
My mom's eyes filled with understanding, but I could see the resolve in her gaze. "Sarah, this is for your future. You'll have a chance to excel academically and grow as an individual. We'll be here to support you, even from afar."
I sighed, feeling the weight of my circumstances. "I just wish you guys could be here more often, to see me grow up and experience life with me."
The conversation hung in the air, a silent acknowledgment of the challenges that came with being part of a wealthy family that traveled frequently.