108. I'm Smarter Than You

"Mijin, I won't support what you have in mind."

"It's not your decision. I don't want to keep this pregnancy, neither do I want to be tied to your family." Looking at Mora, Mijin asked. "How do you want me to tell this child once he grows up how he was conceived? That his entire family was there watching his conception like in ancient Roman ritual?"

"Mijin calm down. It's not good for you to be this way in your condition."

Ignoring Mora's remark, Mijin got out of her bed and began changing from her pyjamas as if she was planning to head out. "Why do you keep coming to our house Mora? I told you I hold no grudge against you, just your brother..."

Mora watched her silently for a while, her gaze at the neck of Mijin's neck. She smiled at the sight of the scar disappearing among other parts of Mijin's body. "You are in no correct mental state to be making major decisions right now. Let your parents decide the way forward on this issue. it's already three months..."

"My dad is not against ridding myself off this pregnancy. I just need to convince my mom a little more."

"Mijin look, I don't think any member of my family has a chance at having a normal life apart from my brother. Keep the child please. I'll compensate you handsomely."

"Do not dare insult me. I've never once asked you for anything and I'm not about to start now. I've wanted nothing to do with you and your family after your brother and I split up ages ago." Looking at her image in the mirror, Mijin tapped her slightly protruding belly. "If you will not help me get rid of this mistake of a pregnancy then I'll do it myself."

"You know don't you?" Mora asked, still sitter on Mijin's bed. "I came visiting a few days ago and you weren't here. Your parents said you'd gone for a walk however upon looking for you, I couldn't find you but a suspicious transaction happened that day with your name under it."

"What the heck are you talking about?" Mijin asked, turning to look at Mora.

"Stop pretending. You can fool everyone but not me. You and I are cut from the same cloth. You took it didn't you?"

Unable to play along any longer, Mijin scoffed then sneered. "So what if I know the truth already? What now? Will it undo what you, your brother and stupid father did to me?"

"When?"

"When what you stupid fuck?" Mijin advanced towards Mora. "When did I start remembering or when I'm I going to expose you?" When Mora didn't reply, Mijin continued. "You messed with the wrong person you lying bitch. I warned you that I'd remember."

Ignoring Mijin's threat, Mora asked. "Where did you get the purified CS drug? I distinctively recall eliminating any form of contacts you had associated with that drug, contaminated or otherwise."

"Mora, you sold yourself out, acting all friendly to me like we were ever that close. It's obvious you want to have my life... Oh, you really wish you were me." Pulling a chair to sit infront of Mora, Mijin added. "I've been watching you closely, thinking to myself why you kept yourself constantly around me. You wanted to make sure I wasn't a loose end right?"

"Don't forget that all I have to do is tell everyone you are crazy. No one is going to believe you Mijin. With your tainted personality, everything is in my favor. You treated your family badly before and after what you went through, do you really think they'd believe you? You're manipulative and selfish...."

Mijin suddenly slapped Mora without batting an eye at the sight of her head tilting to the other side. "My father is suspicious of you and so is Yeon. Not everyone is a fool as you think."

"You just gave me more proof that you're crazy." Mora spoke as she rubbed her cheek. "This is nothing compared to my father's beatings."

Laughing aloud, Mijin said. "You fucking bitch. Your last words to me that day have played themselves repetitively like an annoying song I can't forget. It's either I die or you die. You decide. I have nothing to live for anymore."

"Be careful Mijin. Your parents source of income just got renovated so don't corner me like that."

"You think I give a shit? I'm not scared of you Mora."

"What about Yeon then?"

Mijin's face turned sinister. "Mora, if you harm my brother one more time..."

"We both seek to protect our brothers therefore, if you do not wish for any harm to befall him, make sure your tongue doesn't slip. I'm too close to completing my plan and I won't have you interrupt it."

"Was me getting pregnant part of it?"

"That was a last minute adjustment and I was bored but now that we are here, that child has to live."

"Good." Mijin sneered. "Now you have two weakness."

"And what are they?"

"This bastard and my brother. Remember what you told me? To use my brother as I deem fit."

"You're a fool to think him as only my weakness." Mora laughed hysterically . "I don't give a shit what happens to him. He intrigues and entertains me. Yeon is unpredictable. A normal person would hide after what he went through but he flaunted himself openly. He lives in his own world, looks weak but is quite intimidating yet annoyingly innocent at the same time. I'm tempted to see him hurt but I can't bring myself to see him bleed. I'd have thought he'd expose you by now but he still hasn't and isn't planning to so in future. He hasn't sold me out to your parents either. I'd plan something and expect a certain outcome with him in mind and despite going through all possible outcomes, he'd do something completely different and surprise me as if he could read my moves. Whatever goes into his mind, I wonder. He is protecting me despite calling me out on my act a few days ago." Chuckling, Mora concluded. "Yeon is my moral compass."

"What kind of psychopath are you?" Mijin couldn't understand Mora.

"I can never tell if you really care for Yeon or not."

"I'd say the same thing about you too."

"I'm not as complicated as yourself. My brother is the only child my father ever loved and as long as he stays alive, I have the upper hand against my father."

"You call locking up someone and forcefully destroying his life love? You and your father have no idea what love is!"

"That's why I'm intrigued by your brother. An individual who swore never to love again managed to cure himself from that curse. I wonder, if I can find redemption too. No matter. "

"Not in this lifetime you won't. You think your mother actually left the country?"

"What?"

"You keep forgetting I worked at the airport for two years. Haven't you wondered why she didn't call you back?"

Mora's face grew grim, a look Mijin remembered too well. "What did you do Mijin?"

"Why don't you ask Elric's mother? I wasn't supposed to tell you this but I'm too pissed to give a shit about you and other people therefore, watch your back. She has her eyes on you."

Seeing that Mijin had caught her off guard with her remark, Mora decided to turn the tables and delay addressing her mother's concerns later. At the moment, if she were to show any sign of weaknesses apart from those she'd willingly let out, Mijin was bound to dig into them and set her plans ablaze. "I know the loss of my brother being your fated hurt you the most. You loved him and my parents not accepting you made you feel worthless."

"What the hell are you spouting now?" Mijin looked confused.

"Your imprint Mijin. You hate yourself. That's why you want everyone else to hurt just as much as you do."

"Shut up, unless you want to turn the other cheek..."

"You destroy everything and anyone that comes close to the affection you had with my brother."

"I said shut up!"

Advancing towards Mijin, Mora whispered. "You hate your brother the most for having survived a gruesome experience. You thought he'd be traumatized for life, but he recovered and things turned out rather too well for him. He took the attention of your parents away from you. He met his fated Stan, the only guy you couldn't have. You and I are no different Mijin. Deep down, you know you labour hatred for your brother just like I do that sometimes you wish he was never born. Yet, despite being aware of how we truly feel, we want to keep them close to us just so we can measure our self worth and validate our existence..."

Suddenly, Mijin shoved Mora forcefully away from her and stood up, pushing the chair behind her."You know nothing about me!"

Mora laughed lowly while sitting back up. "How do you intend to outwit me with such a temper... Agh!" Mora screamed when she felt Mijin pulling at her hair, forcefully bringing Mora to her feet while pacing towards the door to her room. "I'm going to expose you, you lying snake!"

"Mijin! What are you doing?" Both her parents stormed in. "Let her go!"

"She has you all fooled! She is the one behind everything!" Mijin yelled, pointing at Mora, who was wiggling herself, trying to break free from Mijin's grasp.

"You're hurting Mora!" Her mother yelled back and took a hold of Mijin's wrist to free it from Mora's hair.

"Get her out of this house! She should never be allowed to return!"

"She is crazy..." Mora cried, covering her eyes with one of her hands as the other held Mijin's mom's hand. "We were just talking and all of a sudden..."

"Hush my dear." Mijin's Mom said as she gently pushed Mora behind her, as if to protect her from her daughter. "I know you are hurting but you can't act like this Mijin..."

"Dad..." Mijin turned to her father. "I remember everything of that night." Pointing at Mora, she added. "She took my imprint away!"

"How can you remember anything when you were in heat!" Mora cried behind Mijin's mother."

"My memory during my heat may be vague but you were there Mora!"

"I never denied being present but that doesn't give you the right to slap me and pull my hair!"

"Stop it you two." Mijin's dad's voice was firm. "Mijin, please calm down."

"No!" Mijin shook her head, hating the feeling of her vision growing blurry then felt tears falling from her eyes. "She has you all fooled!"

"Mijin calm down. Think about your health and your pregnancy..."

"Don't touch me!" Mijin yelled when her mom reached to comfort her. "I'm not crazy..! I'm telling you she did this to me but none of you believe me..."

"That drug causes hallucinations my dear, you are defaming your friend very harshly when she's shown you support throughout. It breaks our hearts seeing you like this..."

"We should let her be sweetheart." Mijin's dad finally spoke. He seemed heartbroken at the sight of his hysterical daughter. "Mora, let's give her sometime to calm down. Please don't take anything she has said to heart."

Looking at Mijin, Mora replied as she wiped tears from her eyes. "I understand."

"What made her get like that?" Mijin's mother asked once they were outside."

"She wants to get an abortion but I was against it. I know I shouldn't meddle but she is my friend..."

"She may look strong but she is still not ready for that discussion so do not bring up that topic with her for now." Mijin's mother cautioned.

"I'll get supper ready." Mijin's dad said and left immediately.

"I don't think he likes me." Mora whispered while watching Yeon's dad walk away towards the kitchen.

"That's because he is hurting seeing Mijin like that. He is the one who carried her after all."

"Just like my father.."

"Your father?"

"I mean, he reminds me of my father..." Mora stuttered.

"In what way?"

"I...really don't want to talk about him right now. Please excuse me. I should be going." Mora said nervously as she begun trying to fix her quite messy hair. Mijin mentioning her mother earlier messed up her train of thoughts and after her violent display with her hair, talking to Mijin's mom made her feel sweaty and nervous.

"Stay for dinner at least..."

"It's fine. I'm not hungry anyways." 'I need to get out of here fast!'

Upon hearing the door close after Mora's quick departure, Yeon's dad appeared from the kitchen and walked to stand behind his wife, his eyes still on the door. "Her cracks are getting bigger."

"Yea. Elric's mother was right. We need to be extra vigilant and monitor her closely. This time, let's not wait for her to invite herself but do the invitation ourselves. As long as she continues to be comfortable around us, her mistakes will become more consistent."