Fourth Crack

Yonghwa didn't eat breakfast or dinner with "them" for several days after that his father didn't even see him now he didn't know he was managing his meals

most likely eating outside since he didn't seem to be starving at home

he got upset and went up to his room one day while he was at school

he tried the door but it was locked what the? his bedroom door was never locked

since when had this started? he wondered giving the knob several twists but it was solidly locked

there would be no getting into his son's room unless he had the key or broke the door down

feeling annoyed he went to his bedroom to get the collection of spare house keys

he held up the jingling keys to his wife with a smirk no fourteen-year-old kid was getting the better of him

he proceeded to try to unlock his son's door none of the keys fit

"This is impossible!" Daesook said "I have keys for every single door in this house there is no way I don't have the key for this door," he said in frustration

but try as he might none of the keys fit the keyhole for the knob on Yonghwa's door

he could not understand what was happening

"did he take the spare key from your collection?" Melinda asked

"you mean he stole it" Daesook replied annoyed "wait until he comes home"

Yonghwa came home from school that evening as soon as he walked in the door his father came towards him with purposeful strides

"Yonghwa where is it?" his father demanded

"where is what?" Yonghwa replied arching an eyebrow

"don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about the key to the door

of your room, you took it from my spare keys in my bedroom didn't you?" he asked

"No I didn't" Yonghwa replied popping his hands on his hips he faced him down "you have it"

"I don't have it I tried to unlock your door this morning why are you locking your door now by the way?" he asked

"because it's my room and I have a right to privacy?" Yonghwa replied

"excuse me?" his father cried flabbergasted

"Everyone has a right to privacy dad it's a basic human right written into

Zithurian constitutional law if you would recall I'm a teenager going through puberty and I want privacy!" Yonghwa replied

"do not get smart with me Yonghwa!" he said getting angry

"I was born smart I'm a genius remember?" Yonghwa replied rolling his eyes

his fathers face flushed he was starting to lose his temper with the sharp mouthed brat

"Yonghwa please don't fight just return your fathers spare key, and we will let it end here ok," his stepmother said gently

"and I told you I don't have it you are falsely accusing me of stealing? what will you accuse me of next I wonder?" Yonghwa replied sharply annoyed "why the heck are you trying to

break into my room anyways my room is off-limits to you both"

"This is my house," his father shot back "no room in this house should be off-limits to me "

"well kick me out then" Yonghwa shot back "I dare you"

his father ran a frustrated hand through his hair

"Yonghwa why did you take the pictures of your mother down?" he asked

"what do you mean why?" Yonghwa replied with a bitter laugh "because your dear wife feels like she's living in a house with your mistress," his father's eyes went wide as Yonghwa continued

"shes sick of seeing my mothers face everywhere she feels like mom is a ghost thats haunting this family

and she didn't get a happy honeymoon, to see your ex-wife's pictures every day, they make you jealous?" he said to her

"oh, how you wish you could get rid of me, the spoiled brat thats always crying for his mommy, he's so pathetic,

he always cries because he can't get over his mom's death, a ruined pianist who only plays dreadful songs on his piano, and makes the house sound like a graveyard, he's not talented and famous anymore"

she went pale at his words

"thats right! you shouldn't talk so loudly, when youre on the phone, complaining

to your dear friends about me and my mother", he said giving her a glaring look

she had to recall that Yonghwa was a genius child he wasn't like ordinary children

mentally at all, he comprehended things

on a very different level and he spoke in such a way that was unlike a child

"what?"Daesook said in shock can't believe what he was hearing

"you said all of that about my son and ex-wife to your friends you gossip about us on the phone?" Daesook cried turning his anger on his new wife

"Shut up! fine, just return the key now, and you can keep everything" his stepmother negotiated with him trying to stop him from spilling more things she didn't want her husband to hear

Yonghwa snorted "I told you I don't have the key and you don't believe me, I have no reason to lie," he said folding his arms across his chest

"then why are none of these keys working" his father demanded keys jingling in his hands

"because I changed the lock" Yonghwa replied

both adults felt stupid now when the answer was so simple how had they missed that?

he smirked, "did you not notice that my doorknob is now different from all

the others in the house?" Yonghwa asked, "are you guys blind or something?"

"How did you change the lock?" his dad asked

"It was easy" Yonghwa laughed

"I just bought a new knob set and a screwdriver from the home hardware store near my school I unscrewed the old old knobs from my door and installed new ones,

the keys that I have now are mine, bought and paid for with my own allowance money,

you are holding all of your spare keys I never touched them, and I do believe you have a lying gossipy wife to deal with"

with that, he walked past the pair and went up to his room unlocked the door

and walked inside and closed the door

there was an audible sound as the door locked from the inside