Accepted | Jikook

21

❗️ Physical and emotional abuse; development of a mental illness; predatory behavior ❗️

Two little boys burst through a front door, screaming and squealing from their play fight in the front yard. They ran into the kitchen where a woman was standing over the stove, wooden stirring spoon in hand. She lifted her head to smile down at her son before her eyes shifted to the slightly older boy, trying not to frown at the sight of a new black eye and swollen cheek.

"Mommy!" the younger of the two boys exclaimed. "Can Lukas spend the night again?"

Turning off the heat and setting the spoon on the counter, the mother crouched down to her knees, pulling the two boys into a tight hug and gently caressing the hairs at the napes of their necks. The boys were practically inseparable; she may as well have been the mother of both of them.

It was without hesitation that she nodded to the younger boy's request. She knew that Lukas was being abused at home, anyone with eyes could see it in the way he looked, the way he held himself and frowned when he thought no one was looking. The woman would have taken Lukas into her own care if the legalities could have worked that way, but the most she could do was offer Lukas a temporary reprieve under the guise of his friendship with her son. Pulling back from the hug, she forced a smile on her lips.

"Of course he can stay the night. Why don't you go get him some of your baggier clothes to sleep in, little mouse, and I'll get some blankets. Lukas, dear, you make yourself at home, okay? I'm almost done cooking the stew, there's enough for all of us."

Her son's face lit up with a toothy grin and the tension in the elder boy's shoulders visibly released as his expression turned grateful. They darted upstairs to the younger's room, pushing each other up the steps and giggling the entire way.

The mother turned the stove back on, stirring the stew and feeling somewhat relieved that at least Lukas could depend on her and her son if things weren't going well at home.

On the second floor of the house, the younger boy was shuffling through his dresser drawers in search of his baggiest clothing for the elder to wear. Lukas was only one year older, but he was tall for his age and quickly outgrowing both his and his friend's wardrobes. The elder sat on the edge of the bed, pulling the comforter around his shoulders while he watched the other pull out a large black t-shirt and some boxers.

"I don't think I have any shorts or pants for you but boxers are like shorts I guess, so here you go!" He shoved the clothes in Lukas's hands with a smile.

"I-" Lukas looked from his friend to the clothes and back. He couldn't help but feel guilty, like he was robbing him of his hospitality. Fondling the clothes in his lap, a frown tugged at his lips. "Thank you, but are you sure about this, Jinnie? I don't want to intrude..."

"Nonsense!" Jin yelled. "You're my best friend, you practically live here already! How could you be intruding?"

"That's exactly what I mean," the elder muttered. "I practically live here and I'm not even family. Your mom has to spend extra money to get more ingredients to feed a second child and you keep giving me your clothes and I have nothing to show for it and nothing to give back to you-"

"Lukas." Jin interrupted the boy, stepping closer to him and wedging himself between the elder's legs. He cupped Lukas's face in his hands, pulling his chin upwards to make eye contact with him. "We love having you here. We love taking care of you. You're my best friend, I'll always be here to love and comfort you."

The elder took notice of the sincerity in Jin's eyes, smiling and pulling him into a hug. They stayed like that, feeling each other's hearts beat rapidly against their chests, listening to their breathing, enjoying the comfort of closeness in a tight hug. Lukas squeezed Jin against him, never wanting to let go of the one person that seemed to anchor him.