Page 63 of Rules for Rule Breaking
“They’ll always love you, even if you’re not perfect. You don’t have to make everyone happy. Like, do you even want to go to Harvard? Your parents will never love you less no matter what rules you break or what school you go to or if you can’t speak Korean,” she said, not bothering to whisper anymore.
Bobby’s breath caught. “My parents abandoned my uncle because he disappointed them. I guess I always kind of thought my parents would abandon me if I did the same.”
“You’re their son. That’s never going to happen.”
“My mother is estranged from her parents and siblings, and Eugene is my father’s brother. They’ve cut people off before. Who’s to say they won’t do it again?”
“Regardless of what you do, they love you.”
“Doyou?” Bobby crossed his arms and propped himself against the doorway. “Why’d you defend me back there?”
Winter heaved a big sigh. “It’s difficult watching you allow yourself to be everyone’s punching bag, including mine. I didn’t get it before, but I think I see you now.”
“I see you too,” Bobby said, just above a whisper. “You’re kind. You act like you’re not, but you can’t hide it. Your problem is you shut people out.”
“I’m not kind. You are.”
“I’m polite. There’s a difference. Kindness comes from within. Politeness comes from without,” he said, and the two stayed silent for a few moments, allowing the conversation to linger in the air.
“We need to do better. Try harder,” Winter said finally.
“How? What am I supposed to do about Jacqueline?”
“She dumped you. Cut your own bangs and burn all her stuff in a trash can.”
Bobby laughed despite himself. “I’m not a teenage girl from a movie.”
“Halmeoni wanted us, meaning you too, to have fun. Does watching Simone give your uncle stitches seem like fun to you?”
Bobby stood up straighter. A surge of courage and determination took hold of him, and he activated like the Winter Soldier. “You know what? You’re fucking right.”
“Bobby, you’ve been back in New Jersey for, like, five minutes and you’re already dropping f-bombs?”
“Get your stuff. Let’s go.”
Winter’s eyes grew wide. “Really? Now?”
“Yes! Now! Before I change my mind,” he said, running back to his room to grab his things.
Winter took her phone charger out of the wall and stuffed it in her bag. It seemed to be the only thing she had unpacked or was at least the only thing she cared about taking with her. She was in her pajamas, with her hair sticking every which way out of a ponytail holder, and couldn’t look less bothered by it. She slid past Bobby, and he followed behind her.
Simone was done patching up Eugene when they got back downstairs. He was quietly sitting at the table, his eyes staring into nothingness, a fresh white bandage on his hand. Simone looked over, and noticing the bags in their hands, she said, “I understand you wanting to leave. He’s not usually— Well, things have been hard since Mom died.”
“I hope you’ll come back,” Eugene said, looking up at Bobby. “You can always come here to stay, anytime. You could even live with me if you decide to go to Princeton. I’m so happy that you called.”
Winter was having trouble hiding her face. Eugene was going full Scar to Bobby’s Simba.
“Do you hate my mom and dad?” Bobby asked simply.
Uncle Eugene lowered his eyes. “Sometimes.”
“Do you miss them?”
“All the time.”
Bobby slowly turned his head, his eyes meeting Winter’s gaze. His jaw tightened at the sight of her, a deluge of memories from their past flooding his mind. But then he breathed in deeply as he let go of the tension in his body, and his shoulders relaxed. It perhaps wasn’t unreasonable to hate and miss someone at the same time. He’d always had a burning rage toward Winter but felt her absence in equal measure.
“I’m not my father,” Bobby asserted. “This isn’t the last time you’ll see me. I promise.”
