may 6th

There he was, standing tall and almighty, his arm wrapped tightly around Taeyeon's waist. Yet, he never dared taking an eye off of me. When I was little, I was frequently bullied by older boys in my class. Back then, Hungary was a lot different, with communism and people who made disgusting jokes at the people they disliked; I just happened to be one of them. They pulled at my long hair, called me names and even went out of their way to spread a disgusting rumor about my family being poor. My family wasn't rich, yes, but we made it by comfortably since my father served our country: another reason why people bullied me, because they didn't like communists. But my father was a good man deep inside, you just had to live with him as many years as me and my mother had. One day, the boys in my class pushed me against the wall, pulled my hair, laughed in my face and cursed into my face. I ran home immediately, not caring about the kids laughing behind me, or the car honks that were trying to tell me to watch out. I didn't care, I was so upset. And by the time I got home, my father, big and tall in his suit like your average Colonel, stood in my front yard, his hands behind his back, waiting for me. Turns out, they had called him from school, and he was luckily dismissed from his work with a tough argument. My father was always there.

So the minute I got home from school, my face was so red, I could've been mistaken for a tomato. I ran straight into my father's arms as he squatted down and wrapped his arms around my tiny body, lifting me up in the air as he caressed my braid and sat me down on the front door step. And after I finished crying—once I only remained with loud sniffles and abrupt chest lifts, he lifted my chin, and with his other hand carefully holding the back of my head, he looked at me.

And I will never forget what he said. "Nora, they might look at you and dislike you, or perhaps look down upon you for your treasures, but a woman is always strongest when they stand their guard, and never stop being strong," he caresses my braided hair as he wiped a tear rolling down my right cheek. "That's how I won your mother. I saw her, always so strong in front of others, never showing her weakness, but rather her strength. I know you are like your mother, my little star, but you need to show it. Never hide who you are." 

I would've disappointed my father and brought shame upon my family now, if he saw how I reservedly looked down from Baekhyun's strong gaze. It disgusted me, made me sick, even, to see him showing up at my girls' birthday party with another woman, while he should be with me, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist, being a happy father. I shivered and looked back to my girls, trying to rush Aimee for their slices of chocolate cake. I gave them a weak smile and turned my head back to Jen.

"I think I need an Advil," I mumbled into her ear. 

I didn't bother to look at her reaction, but I knew that I could trust her with it. She quickly waddled over to the door and left the room, while I stood there, trying hard to ignore Baekhyun's gaze on me. I was nothing like my mother. Truthfully, I was, but my behavior in these past three years have not shown it. It was true though, everything I did resembled my mother and her ways.

"Eomma! Eomma!" I looked up at the girls with a smile. "We know what we want for our birthday, Eomma!" Nari says in an excited tone. 

I chuckled and nodded. "Ne, tell me what it is, beautiful." 

"I want to be girlfriend of Chanyeol oppa!" 

I nearly choked on my saliva as everyone burst out laughing. My face was burning and I looked at Chanyeol, who covered his face up with two of his hands in embarrassment.

"What's wrong, oppa? Is our relationship just a joke?" She sounded so sweet and innocent in her thick Korean accent, it made me laugh and smile at the same time. 

Chanyeol got down on his knees and picked her up, tightly hugging her and rubbing her back. "Not at all, sweetheart. Everything is fine."

Taeyeon took a photo, which only made Baekhyun look at me again. I shivered and looked at Baekyoung.

"And what do you want, Baekyoungie?"

She popped the bubble in her cheeks and looked at me with a straight face. 

"I would like to have an appa."