Shut up Nala!

It was a sunny morning, Coree gets out of the car and the driver assists her with the grocery. Eun Lee comes out to the car port from the side access, and he helps his mother with the bags. “Han is not in today, Mama,” he tells her. Coree replies, “Yes, she needs to attend to something important.” Eun smiles, he earlier saw the news about Mari making a scene at the boutique which has already circulated online. When they are able to get inside the house, and into the kitchen, he asks her if she has seen it. Coree shakes her head, “No I did not, it’s fine, I’m not that interested anyway.” Her statement silences her son, as Eun looks down and realizes that Mari is somewhat like Nala has always thought. He asks his mother, “Mama, in case they get married, she is going to be my stepmother, right?” Coree nods, and touches his head. “Would you be angry, Mama? If ever I ever get near her?” She cups his face in her hands, “Of course not. I know your Papa will be very happy.” Eun hugs his mother, and smiles as he decides that he would never try to hide things from her again.

Nala phones Eun, and tells him that he saw Mari’s video. “The one that’s circulating online, dude it’s so bad.” “Well, I guess she has reasons,” Nala dislikes what Eun has said, and he was out of words for a short while. “I cannot believe you are defending her, she stole your father, Eun.” “I know, right. But Nala, she is right,” Eun quickly replies as he reaches for the remote and turns on the television in his room. “Relationships are not one-way streets. Something did not work out between my parents. Papa did not fall in love with her for no reason.” Nala sighs deeply and agreed, “That is what we need to find out. We will find out what truly happened to him and your Mama.” “Yes Nala, we will.” The flash news catches Eun’s attention. “Nala! Turn the tv on.” “What, why?” Nala feels the rush in Eun’s voice. Mari is on the news report, she slaps a lady on the cheek. “Did you see that?” “Yeah,” Nala says. “It happened about a few hours ago. Do you know if your Papa was with her?” “I am not sure, I did not see him on tv.” The two are still talking about how weird Mari has been acting lately. Nala knows for a fact that Eun is beginning to like her, and does not want to say anything rude against her. He understands that while Eun Lee wants to build a good relationship with his future stepmother, Mari seems to be hiding something.

Eun hangs up the call, and overhears his mother as he opens his bedroom door. Coree is at the family area in the second floor, with her furry slippers on, it is quite obvious that she is on her way to her bedroom, the master’s. She is on a mobile phone call with someone, and he hears her worry. “So, you mean all the designs in that certain book were stolen?” She pauses, as if the other person on the line speaks. Coree stops walking and rests her left arm on the balcony in the open family are which overlooks the living area on the ground floor. “Is that so? I need to find evidence, you see, those designs are patented, she cannot just go to a boutique and have them made by another designer.” She transfers the mobile from her right hand to her left, and her right hand now touches her forehead. “What? Why is she making a scene? Those designs are mine. The staff would not be able to do anything, they are just trying to protect their jobs. Her tantrums are unbelievable, she is soooo used to getting what she wants. By the way, keep me posted please. Alright, goodbye.” She hangs up and notices that Eun is watching her, from the open door of his bedroom. “What’s wrong dear?” Eun finally steps out of the room, “Mama, are you talking about Mari?” She shakes her head. “Well, she,” Coree pauses, and decides to keep all the worries away from her son. “She is probably amazed by my designs so she wants to use them.” “She slapped the woman in a store. The other day she shouted at the staff of another. I am worried for Papa.” She smiles and tries to comfort him. “Don’t be. I’m sure they’ll handle it well. They are adults anyway.” He smiles back, and Coree tells him to go back into his room and study, as she goes to her room as well.

In the afternoon, just as Eun decides to work on his project, Nala calls him to study. “Nala, I can’t go. Maybe you can drop by. Mama’s here today.” “So, you cannot go to Yun-Oh’s, is that so?” “It felt different, Nala. With all the news about Mari, I think I am starting to believe you. I don’t think I should leave Mama today.” Nala agrees, and tells Eun that he is going to take the paperwork with him to the Lee residence.

An hour later, a car stops in front of the house, and Nala gets off it. Eun hreets him as he opens the gate, and helps him with a few folders that he carries. They both go inside, and Han leads them to the lanai for a meal. “What do you guys want, tea or milk?” “I’d have milk please, “ Eun says and Han nods. “How about you young man?” “Can I have a cup of coffee?” Eun breaks in laughter. “Oh Nala, you are an old man!” He exclaims, jokingly. Han laughs with the two for a bit, and leaves them to prepare their meal. While she is in the kitchen, the two boys observe a different sound. A woman is shouting at the top of her lungs, and starts to bang the metal gate. The intercom phone rings. Eun grabs it immediately, and asks, “What is going on?” The driver replies, “Young Master, your stepmother is here.” Eun tells him that he is coming. He hangs up and tells Nala that Mari is outside the home, making a scene. The two boys go out to the carport and see Mari in a little black dress that extends to her knees. She is angry at the driver and the security person of the village for not letting her in to talk to Coree, for she does not have an appointment. “Mari!” Eun shouts at her. Mari quickly shifted from being an angry wolf to an innocent puppy. “I just wanted to talk to your mama, dear. They wouldn’t allow me, why is that?” Eun takes a few steps forward, getting near the gate. “I am very sorry, Mama is tired and cannot speak to you now,” he tries to explain. “No worries, I should be going. Thank you, Eun” Mari smiles at him as she has been smiling every time she sees the boy. She turns and opens her car door, and when she is about to get in, another boy’s voice is loudly heard. “Just like that? She quickly changes attitude from a wild boar to a princess in a castle.” Mari turns to the boys, and walks toward them, leaving the car door open. She raises her arm and points a finger at Nala. “Shut up, Nala! You know nothing. Your father is a pathetic loser and your mother almost killed herself when he fell head over heels with me.” She then goes back to the car and drives away, leaving the two boys and the driver, clueless.