Sangria Scandal

”How long will this take? ” I asked.

The seamstress weaved the last fabric unto the clothing.

”Its finished, my lady ”

I held unto the flower my sister gave me as I gazed with awe. I am so mesmerized by how the whole thing turned out that I haven given the ache in my palms any attention.

”Its a sangria hanbok, as you have requested. ”

Sangria scandal*

One night ago…

”Mahri! The rice is burning! ”

I ran inside the kitchen. The blazes of the fire lit up as it ate our pot. I poured water towards the continually growing fire until it died out. The smoke stung my eyes and my throat slowly dries out.

”And now, we no longer have rice. ”

My sister mockingly looked at me as I gazed at my wrinkly clothes then at her iron-like clothes. She hasn been moving from inside the study.

”Look at the bright side! At least the house hasn burned down! ”

I said in my most enthusiastic tone but she didn budge.

”I don get our mother, she puts you in charge when you cannot even do anything right. ”

I placed my hands on my hips and looked at her.

”Excuse me? I am older than you, Rhiame. ”

”You do not act like someone older. ”

”And you do not act like someone younger. ”

We were both glaring at each other when she rolled her eyes and fixed her posture.

”Then I will act like one! How about we go to the fields right now? Please! ”

”Wow, and the intelligent young daughter of a market vendor is now looking for trouble? Theres only a few minutes before the curfew, we won make it back in time, and mother is coming. ”

”Please! Ive seen some kind of flower that caught my attention and I want to give it to someone. ”

”Someone you like? Is it a scholar*? ”

”Just someone! Please! I will help you with the chores from now on, just please let me get that! ”

”Just get it tomorrow morning. ”

”It will wither! And besides, we won be staying here any longer, mother is taking us to the US colonies in a cargo ship! I heard her a few nights ago! ”

”We don even know if what you heard is accurate! ”

”I heard what I heard! Would you doubt an intelligent girl like me? ”

”We have no reason to migrate, we are not criminals. And even if what you told me is true, we can just pass by the fields tomorrow. ”

”And what? Go back here to give it to him to hold mother a bit longer and miss the ship? ”

I paused.

”Okay, but we shouldn take too long so we can get back here in time, okay? ”

She nodded happily in response.

~

She ran through fields as I watched her.

”I told you that we shouldn be too long, we might get caught during the curfew. ”

She ran towards me while holding a purple-colored sunflower.

”Where did you get that? I thought the sunflowers were yellow. ”

She handed me the purple sunflower.

”This is not a sunflower! I forgot what this flower is called but this is not a sunflower, sunflowers are way bigger. ”

”Why are you giving me that unusual sunflower? ”

”Its for you. Ive been meaning to give it to you but every time we go to the fields, these flowers have withered or been cut, I hid this one for you. ”

”You should have just given it to me tomorrow. ”

She frowned.

”But thank you. I liked it. ”

~

We ran towards home and made it through the doors before the bells started chiming.

Mother is not yet here.

”See? I told you wed make it in time. ”

My sister boasted.

”I am happier with the fact that youd finally stop bossing me around. ”

She rolled her eyes.

I walked towards my room but stopped before opening it. I should take care of the flower first.

I went to the well and poured water into one of my mothers pots and placed the flower.

”I don know what you
e called but Im pretty much content calling you purple sunflower. I think thatd be a lot better than calling you a weird purple flower nobody knows existed. You
e pretty, you deserve it. ”

”Mahri, are you talking with the flower? ”

My sister used her sweet tone but Im pretty sure she is hiding her mockery behind it.

”What? No! You
e hearing things. ”

I love her, but I don want her to know. I care about her but I don want her to be too dependent on other people, she is intelligent and has a bright future ahead of her unlike me, I don want her to be controlled by other people, and I am not being strict. She wouldn be able to boss me if I was being strict around her.

”I thought you lost a couple of screws off your head. ”

And there she comes with her nasty remarks.

I smiled.

Im not sure why I should be worried about her, she doesn even fear her older sister.

I went to my room and opened the door. I placed the flower in the very corner and opened the doors to the study.

My smile faded and I couldn move.

”M-mother… ”

Her eyes widened at the sight of me. She then started shaking her head but my mind was too consumed and shocked to process what was happening or what she was trying to tell me.

Her bleeding head stained the clothing used to tie her whole body.

A loud shriek rang through my ears.

My body acted in an immediate response and I ran toward my sister.

Black men with swords strap