Keep me secret

Chapter 13: "Don't go past fourth street."

(Yoongi POV)

8 years ago

I've never been amazing at academics. Not that sports are much of a strong point for me either. Actually, I prefer sleep to school. Maybe that's why everyone always gets mad that I never gain weight. It's not like I don't eat just as many cream pops and drown in popcorn like everyone else does at the movies. But I do tend to sleep a lot. I have a high metabolism, sue me.

Anyway, it was during one of those many trips to the movie theater that I make during the week when everything in my life changed.

"Hey, Jisoo." I greet the guy behind the snack bar.

"What's up, Yoongi?" He smiles at me. He always does. Jisoo is definitely the best with our customers. I'll admit, my mom did a good job hiring this guy, "You looking for your mom?"

"Yeah." I nod, "Is she in the back?"

Jisoo confirms that she's been in the back office all day and lets me pass by the "employees only" sign to go find her.

This movie theater has been in the family for years. My great-grandfather passed it down to my grandfather who passed it down to his one and only daughter who plans to pass it down to her one and only son. This theater is my future. I guess I'm okay with that. I don't really have motivation to do anything else with my life. I guess if I was going to pursue another career, it would be music. I like producing and writing lyrics. My mom says that is a dangerous profession, and I should stick with something to keep my head above water. Like running a movie theater (apparently).

My mom told me she was so proud of me for passing my freshman year of high school considering it was pretty rough. I'm proud of me too, if I'm honest. Three more years and then I am done! One thing is for sure, after this, I am never going back to high school. Ever!

I open the back door to a small room that has half of its space occupied by a red wood desk. A desk smothered in papers that lead a trail to the floor and walls, and one smaller lady sitting in front of it. A tiny women with her tiny face and delicate hands laying on the wood sound asleep.

I tip toe past the doorway and reach to readjust the teal blanket resting on her shoulders, "Tough day, huh, Mom?"

She sighs and shifts a little in her seat as I cover her. Her eyes are always like that. Dark circles. Purple bags. Tired eyelids. She mumbles something under her breath as if to answer me in her dreams.

I've been making a little extra cash on the side, but my mom doesn't know. She told me not to worry about our financial state because she could handle it. I suppose I received that same stubborn gene from her because within two weeks I was selling my own songs underground. For 10 cents a piece but hey, it was still something. I used that cash to help keep the theater running. I didn't know that all this was pointless at the time, but hey, a kid has got to do what a kid has got to do.

It was almost 2am when it happened. The theater was closed, and Jisoo had already gone home for the night, which meant I got free reign on the left-over Crunch bars and Coke bottles. Being raised in the theater isn't so bad if you think about it.

Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention. I live here.

"Yoongi?" My Mom yawns as she finally comes from the back office into the main lobby, her teal blanket still wrapped around her shoulders, "Did you eat?"

I nod and swallow another gulp of Coke.

"Did you eat real food, I mean. Not candy and soda."

"Yeah. I ate at school before I came back." I explain and throw away my candy wrappers and cup.