: The Ex-Boyfriend

My son's homeroom teacher called to tell me he'd been hit by a classmate.

I never expected the other parent to be my ex-boyfriend.

He looked at me mockingly.

"Your son can't even win against a girl. How pathetic."

The words flew out of my mouth:

"My son is just like you, of course."

"Don't you forget how I pinned you to the ground and beat you."

"..."

He froze. I panicked.

1

I took time off work and rushed to the school.

If my son started it, he deserved a beating.

If he *didn't* start it, then the other kid deserved one even more.

If you get in a fight, you fight to win. His mom—me—has never lost a fight in her life.

I walked into the office fuming, but also a little ashamed.

The homeroom teacher was sitting down. My son was standing off to the side with scratches on his face, and next to him stood a girl.

'He couldn't even win against a girl... No, wait. Why would a boy hit a girl in the first place!'

My shame dwindled, leaving only a trace behind.

"Leo Carter..." I glared at my son. The words that were supposed to follow his name weren't appropriate for the setting, so I just mouthed them while rolling up my sleeves, ready to administer some family justice. A good paddling, for starters.

"Mrs. Carter, please, just wait a moment. The girl's parent will be here shortly."

The teacher's subtext was clear: stop the theatrics and wait for everyone to arrive so we could sort this out all at once.

「Three minutes later」, the girl's parent came running in, huffing and puffing.

In those three minutes, I had imagined all sorts of scenarios—some where we'd be understanding, others where we'd argue endlessly. The one thing I never expected was to run into him.

"Mina Carter? What are you doing here?"

"I should be asking you the same thing." I shot him a sharp glare.

In that moment, all I could think was, 'It's a small fucking world. How did I end up running into him?'

Caelan Corbin. My ex-boyfriend. The only boyfriend I've had in my nearly thirty years of life.

"Oh, so you two parents know each other. Why didn't you kids say so earlier? This should make things much easier to resolve," the teacher said, trying to smooth things over.

...

No one responded. The silence was awkward.

"Mrs. Carter? You..." The teacher prompted me.

Right then, I was filled with nothing but pure rage.

"Teacher, you've misunderstood. I don't know him. I'd rather be acquainted with a pig than with him."

"..." The teacher was completely at a loss.

Caelan was a head taller than me. He looked down from under heavy lids, giving me a sidelong glare.

"Hasn't changed a bit after all these years. Still acting like you've swallowed gunpowder. If there's ever a war, we should bring you along. Think of all the bullets we'd save."

"No one will think you're mute if you just shut up," I seethed through gritted teeth.

If the teacher and kids hadn't been there, I would've given him a smack across the face long ago.

"Alright, parents. Here's what happened today. Leo Carter and Ivy Corbin had a conflict over collecting homework. Ivy started it, and as we can all see, Leo got hurt."

The teacher was clearly trying to resolve this quickly. She probably sensed that the conflict between us parents was going to be more troublesome.

But my attention was caught by the fact that the girl looked a bit like him around the eyes, and that her last name was also Corbin.

'After we broke up, he must have found someone else right away, gotten married, and had a kid.'

It was like pouring gasoline on the fire of my anger. I felt like I could explode at any second.

"A girl hitting someone? What kind of parenting is that? So aggressive at such a young age. Be careful, or she'll never find a husband when she grows up. Apologize! You must apologize to us!"

I was being deliberately difficult. Leo stared at me in surprise. I wasn't usually like this, at least not in front of him.

Caelan's face darkened, and he pulled Ivy Corbin behind him.

"Your son can't even win against a girl. How pathetic."

My anger shot through the roof. The volcano erupted.

I didn't care about anything anymore.

"My son is just like you, of course!"

"Don't you forget how I pinned you to the ground and beat you!"

Caelan's pupils dilated. After a few seconds of stunned silence, he grabbed my wrist and bit out, "What did you just say?"

I panicked, hating myself for my big mouth.

2

"What did I say?"

I tried to argue, yanking my hand from Caelan Corbin's. "Me hitting you back then was between us. It has nothing to do with anyone else."

'As for my son, he can forget about it.'

But Caelan Corbin didn't believe me.

His suspicious gaze roamed over my face, trying to find any clue.

I chuckled dryly and shot him a glare.

'Keep the kid, ditch the dad. He can get lost.'

"Teacher, I know it's normal for children to get into conflicts, but I need a reasonable explanation."

I've seen plenty of kids fight, but parents like Caelan Corbin deserve a heavy penalty.

'How dare he say my son is weak?'

'No wonder he's just like his rotten old man!'

"Mom, don't be angry."

My son, who had probably never seen me so furious, grew a little anxious. "I'm not weaker than Ivy Corbin. It's just that boys shouldn't bully girls. Fists are for fighting bad guys."

Oh?

I looked at the little boy, quite surprised. 'Where did he learn that from?'

'Guess cartoons aren't all bad for kids after all.'

"You're changing the subject."

Caelan Corbin stared intently at me. "Mina Carter, I also need a reasonable..."

"Then ask Ivy Corbin what happened."

I cut him off.

'If he thinks he can question me about my son, he's got another thing coming.'

Caelan Corbin frowned at me, then glanced at the teacher, who, though silent, wore an impatient expression. He went to talk to Ivy Corbin.

The story was simple. The two kids had argued over homework, and then Ivy Corbin had thrown the first punch.

"Getting physical is never the right way to handle things."

Caelan Corbin earnestly lectured Ivy Corbin while I watched from the side, shooting him a cold glare.

'He certainly moves fast.'

Ivy Corbin was in the same class as my son, so they had to be around the same age. That meant he must have found someone new immediately after we broke up.

'Ugh, scumbag!'

My glare must have been too sharp, because he suddenly looked up at me in surprise.

I put on a stony face and impassively looked away.

'What are you looking at?'

'Look again and I'll gouge your eyes out!'

"Teacher, Leo Carter, I know I was wrong."

After just two or three minutes, Ivy Corbin lowered her head and sincerely apologized to my son. "I'm sorry. I'll never hit anyone again."

Caelan Corbin spoke up next. "To show our sincerity, I'm willing to take Leo Carter to the hospital for a check-up."

Seeing the two of them working in concert, the teacher smiled in relief.

But I wasn't happy about it.

I had already let something slip. If I let Caelan Corbin get any closer to my son, what if he tried to fight me for custody?

"That's not necessary. I can take him for a check-up myself."

I refused, but the teacher tried to persuade me tactfully. "Mrs. Carter, the children are so young. It would be better if you both went together."

She even shot me a look, as if she were afraid I was being foolish.

I pressed my forehead. 'It's really not what she thinks.'

"You're Leo, right?"

Just as I was getting frustrated, Caelan Corbin crouched down, trying to get friendly with my precious son with a gentle smile. "Ivy didn't do it on purpose, and she knows she made a mistake. Can you forgive her?"

"Leo, I'm sorry."

Ivy Corbin was very obedient to Caelan Corbin and immediately apologized again.

My son, ever the little gentleman with girls, immediately declared that he had already forgiven Ivy Corbin.

"Then why don't you two shake hands to show you've made up, okay?"

Caelan Corbin patiently coaxed the two children. Kids that young don't hold grudges. They shook hands and were soon laughing and talking together again.

Watching them made my head ache even more.

'Damn him. He's even better at handling kids than I am. It's so unfair.'

: An Awkward Encounter

3

"Let's go to the hospital."

The two kids had already shaken hands and made up, and Caelan Corbin stood up to look at me.

I shook my head reflexively.

No way. Absolutely not.

"Mina Carter, don't tell me you're avoiding me because you did something you feel guilty about, are you?"

He had a half-smile on his face, his expression probing.

I was so pissed off I actually laughed.

'I wronged him?'

It was always Caelan Corbin who let me down! There was never a single time I wronged him!

"You're overthinking things."

I shot back with a stony expression, "Why would I need to hide from you?"

"Then let's go to the hospital together."

Caelan Corbin glanced pointedly at my dear son. "Leo is still hurt. We need to get that taken care of right away."

Hearing that made my heart ache all over again.

I might spank my son when he's being naughty, but I rarely let him get truly hurt. That Ivy Corbin is just too aggressive.

'Caelan Corbin must have married a real tigress, and his daughter is just following her example.'

"Let's go."

Caelan Corbin hurried ahead with the two kids, and I had no choice but to follow.

As they treated the wound, my boy really made me proud. You could tell it hurt from the way his face was all scrunched up, but he was so brave he didn't make a single sound.

I watched, both gratified and heartbroken for him.

"Leo, you're doing great. You're so brave."

Caelan Corbin was more direct than I was, immediately showering him with praise. I couldn't help but shoot him a sidelong glance.

'I haven't even admitted the boy is his son. What's he laying on the flattery for?'

But my dear son seemed to really appreciate it.

His brow, which had been tightly furrowed, relaxed, and a smile spread across his little face. "Thank you for the compliment, Mister."

"Leo is the greatest."

Ivy Corbin chimed in with her own praise and offered another sincere apology. Her attitude seemed wonderful, and Leo graciously reassured her.

The two children had endless things to talk about. I glanced at Caelan Corbin before looking away in disdain.

'Hmph. A scumbag like him doesn't deserve the time of day from me.'

"It's already evening."

By the time they finished treating my son's wound, the sky was already painted with the brilliant colors of sunset.

"Let me treat you to dinner."

Caelan Corbin took Leo's hand, looking for all the world like a father and son. Leo skipped along beside him. "Okay, okay!"

'He sure agreed quickly,' I thought. 'Didn't even bother to ask me.'

"We're going home."

I took two steps forward and glared defiantly at Caelan Corbin. "What are you doing, kidnapping my child?"

Caelan Corbin looked at me with a grin. "Why do I detect a hint of jealousy?"

"Are you jealous of me?"

He stood there, handsome and poised, his bright eyes twinkling with mirth. "Don't worry. Leo definitely loves you most of all."

!!!

'As if I needed him to tell me that!'

I turned my head away in frustration, refusing to engage with that damn man.

He agreed to our breakup so easily back then, and then immediately had Ivy Corbin with another woman. How could he possibly know what I went through?

Now that our son is older, he suddenly decides he knows how to be a father?

Not a chance!

"Mommy, I love you!"

My sweet boy obediently threw himself into my arms. The moment I picked him up, he planted a big SMOOCH on my cheek and announced with a proud grin, "My mommy is the best mommy in the whole wide world!"

Oh, my heart.

All my anger instantly evaporated. I couldn't stop smiling as I kissed his little face over and over. "And my son is the best boy in the world!"

'Hmph. That scumbag may have shattered me, but my dear son is the cure for all my wounds.'

Caelan Corbin was laughing beside me.

When he saw me glare at him, he held up his hands in a gesture of innocence, but the corners of his mouth only curved higher.

Finally, he let out a soft chuckle.

"Mina Carter, you're just like you used to be. Hot-tempered and cute."

???

'Does he even hear the words coming out of his own mouth?!'