Work Text:
It is in the middle of noon when Minho suddenly gets a phone call. Seungmin is at work and Yongbok is at school, she decides to cook something out of boredom but when she sees the phone number, she quickly lowers the heat on the stove before answering it.
"Auntie, do you have time?" Changbin's voice comes out at the other side of the line. Minho furrows her brows, confused.
"Yeah. What's going on?" She asks right away, since the number that pops up on the screen is his school's phone number. So, it worries her a lot.
"Can you...uhm.. come over? I got into a fight" he explains briefly and he sounds a little less enthusiastic than he always does. Minho turns off the stove right away, walking out of the kitchen.
"Did you start it or did you end it?" Minho asks as she talks to the second floor.
"What? I- No, I tried to stop two people fighting but somehow I got physical too"
"Did you end it?" Minho grabs her coat and her car keys.
"...yeah"
Minho smiles to herself as she leaves the bedroom.
"Good. Now give me five minutes. I'm on my way"
"B-But my school is 15 minutes away from your house"
"8 minutes max. I'll get you out of there"
Minho calls Seungmin on her way to the school, explaining the situation and he even offers to come along but Minho insists on going alone. She only takes seven minutes to arrive (she drives safely, no worries on that) and she doesn't waste much time to go to the principal's office, led by the guard to show her the way. Once she opens the door, she sees Changbin, another student with a small wound at the corner of his mouth and bruised left eye, the student's father, then the principal. The latter seems to be surprised by Minho's presence since she is really familiar with Changbin's family.
"I'm sorry, student Seo Changbin is supposed to call his mother to discuss this matter" the principal tries to be polite and respectful in rejecting Minho's presence in the room, but Minho still takes a seat next to her nephew.
"Trust me, you will be grateful that I'm here instead of my sister-in-law" she holds Changbin's hand, a reassurance that she is there for him as she continues.
"My nephew told me that he only tried to stop a fight. That means the injuries come from self-defense. I don't see any problem here. And also, where's the other kid?" Minho asks as she observes the room. Right. If Changbin is just meddling into a fight, there must be at least two students in the room with them.
"Got away. His parents paid for things in this school" the father of the other student speaks up, grabbing everyone's attention right away as the principal gets panicked.
"I'm sorry, there must have been a misund-"
"Did he start the fight with your son?" Minho interrupts the principal, and just directly discusses with the father. He instantly turns his body facing Minho.
"That boy got second place in a competition. My son got first. That was how the fight started" he gets defensive. Minho observes the injuries on the kid's face before she sighs. The student looks back at her and only then, she speaks up, directly at him.
"Listen here. If you start a fight, you're the bad one. But if you end it, you're a hero. Learn how to defend yourself so my nephew doesn't have to be in here and drag me along. Understand?" She says it so calmly and stands up, ready to end the discussion but the principal is now furious with Minho's advice.
"Ms Minho, we don't condone violence in here" she speaks up, sending a sharp glare. Minho doesn't bother even one bit.
"We don't condone bribery, wealth privilege and contribution entitlement either but I don't see you highlighting any of those beliefs. If you want to have integrity, please consider the overall view of it and not just apply to the area that doesn't give you materialistic benefit" she argues so calmly. The principal is speechless, while Minho just pulls Changbin to leave with her. No one says anything as they leave, hand in hand very tightly that they are covered in sweat.
Once they step out of the office, the charisma disappears. They walk as fast as possible but as quietly as possible as well, Changbin tries to hold his laughter while Minho keeps on checking if they are far enough from the office. Only when they reach the stairs do they giggle in whispers and bump into each other with their arms as they walk down to the first floor.
"Auntie, your hand is so cold and sweaty"
"Shut up, it was too nervewrecking"
Changbin wants to laugh out loud but it might echo until the principal's office so he just holds it together. Minho smacks his arms as an order to make him keep walking, but that doesn't stop the soft giggles from escaping their mouths.
- The End -
Bonus :
"That...was absolutely corny, by the way" Changbin solemnly comments when they finally get to talk about the scene that happened in the principal room just now, as if he didn't giggle along the way. Minho shakes her head while she sips her pudding latte, while the nephew just waits until his aunt swallows and replies.
"I think it's absolutely cool, though? Didn't you see how all of them went silent at the end?" She praises herself shamelessly, with an innocent expression on her face. Changbin chuckles while dragging Minho's latte glass towards him.
"I have to acknowledge that. But I think your solution will bring me more trouble" he replies and sips the same drink, since they share the same glass. The aunt tilts her head slightly, confused.
"Trouble? Why?"
Changbin enjoys the pudding in his mouth first.
"Because first, we simply left in the middle of the discussion. No final agreement, no space for the principal to speak. I think she will be annoyed. And second,...
...you literally brought me out of the school in the middle of the school session. I'm supposed to go back to my class after the discussion" he crosses his arms, raises one eyebrow like he is judging his aunt. He should've said it in the car or even before that, but he didn't. On purpose. So, now it's just a guilt-trip tease to his aunt. Minho blinks a few times, putting on her innocent face once again.
"Really? That's unfortunate. So, what do we do? Should we go back to school?" She teases back, and giggles when Changbin sends her a glare. They keep bickering like two best friends when suddenly
"What the-"
They hear a familiar voice. Minho already freezes with wide eyes when her eyes fall on the person at the entrance while Changbin needs to turn around just to be sure if he hears the right voice. It's true. He can feel his tummy shrink and his heart stops right when he makes eye contact with Hyunjin. Hyunjin gasps, both in surprise and anger, then she drops her grocery bag to the ground and instantly grabs the scallions as her weapon.
Changbin screams in horror, comically, and scattering off his chair to hide behind his aunt when his mother approaches them. Minho quickly stands up, hands in the air just in case she has to grab the scallions away from her sister-in-law. Chaos ensues.
"Why are you not in school?! You use your aunt to skip classes?! Are you kidding me?!!”
"Hyunie-ah, calm down- drop the scallion!"
"Mom, I'm sorry!!!"
The End <3