Heat (Yumark)

Chapter Twenty Seven (Part One)

Day One in Japan

Mrs. Nakamoto watched as Yuta helped Mark down the stairs. Both of the boys were smiling, causing her to smile. She felt guilty about freaking the poor Canadian boy out the day before, so she was glad when he came down the stairs with a wide smile on his face.

"Good morning mom," Yuta pulled Mark over to his mom, both of them enveloping her into a hug.

"Good morning Mrs. Nakamoto," Mark showed her the biggest smile he could. "I'm sorry about freaking out yesterday. I just-"

"Markie, sweetie," Mrs. Nakamoto sighed and rubbed her hand on Mark's arm gently. "You can't help the way your brain processes certain things. And Markie sweetie, you don't have to call me Mrs. Nakamoto, you can also call me mom. Okay?"

Mark nodded his head shyly.

"Now, breakfast is done, and I'd like to know about how things are. So please, have a seat."

The three sat down at the small round table. Yuta was about to fill Mark's bowl, (as he always does), when Mrs Nakamoto beat him to it.

"Don't worry Yuta, Mark's my son now too. I want to treat him as I treat you."

"Of course mom," Yuta smiled and grabbed Mark's hand. "Just don't be too hard on him about safe sex okay?"

"Nakamoto Yuta!" Mrs. Nakamoto stood up and smacked Yuta's arm. "Some things need to stay between the two of us!" She continued to hit his arm, more out of jest than embarrassment.

Both mother and son turned to Mark when he burst out into laughter.

"I'm sorry!" Mark tried to control his laughter, but failed. "I never had these moments growing up! It feels so refreshing!"

Yuta smiled in awe as Mark calmed down. Hearing his laugh filled his heart to the brim with love.

Mrs. Nakamoto on the other hand, felt confusion cloud her mind. "Markie, if you don't mind me asking, why did you never have moments like this? Were you a foster? Or and orphan?"

Mark's face fell. He didn't want to think of those times, the pain he went through was unbearable.

Yuta went to reprimand his mom when he felt Mark's hand in his arm.

"It's okay Yuta," Mark sighed deeply. "I haven't really told you the whole truth either." He looked to his boyfriend and... mom... before clearing his throat. "I'm not originally from Korea. I was actually born in Canada. I only lived there until I was ten, before my dad got transferred to Korea for his job. He brought all of us with him, my mom, and my two older brothers. I wasn't exactly planned like my two older brothers were, so I was basically a Cinderella to my family."

Mrs. Nakamoto's heart dropped. "Both of your parents mistreated you?"

"Yeah. It got worse though when I... came out. I was only fifteen, but they were so disgusted by it. So I was treated even worse than I was before I came out. I had to pay for my own meals, my own clothes, transportation to school, everything. School wasn't much better either, I was always bullied for how scrawny I am, and the fact that I'm gay."

Yuta grabbed Mark's hand. "Baby..."

"I'm fine Yuta." Mark smiled a sad smile at the older. "Just after I turned sixteen, my dad got transferred back to Canada. They were so disgusted by me that they just left me there. It hurt you know? I came home from school and all my stuff was in boxes. They didn't even bother leaving a note, I had to ask my neighbor what happened. She said 'they just threw your stuff out the door, put their stuff in a van and left'. She at least took the time to stack my stuff. She also offered to let me stay with her, but her kids didn't really like me. But that's probably just because they were friends with my older brothers. So I went out and lived on my own. I stole things, slept on the streets, got hired and fired, and all that glory. That is, until I met Yuta."