Thinner

44

Immigration.
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Home just didn't seem to be his place. A home was supposed to be comforting, a place filled with so much warmth you could drown in. Instead, in this house, on this property, nothing drowned him more than his own sorrows. Happiness was a word crossed out in his dictionary. Health was never there to begin with, and love was simply an inexperienced task he tried to pursue in other people.

Home wasn't near to be found. Home was a place or a person to him.

It was living hell.

His body was beyond exhausted. His heart sat heavy in his stomach as nothing seemed to work out for him.

He was an idiot. A pathetic one.

An idiot who denied all the help he was offered, fearing the worse from the people who positioned themselves higher than him. Like a little mouse in a cat's grip.

So when Hajun had offered to help, he felt his body tremble at the mere thought of his parents finding out. He didn't want to get punished anymore. He wanted them to just see him like their actual son, a son whose sin shall be accepted and embraced cause that's what parents shall do. Yet his parents never did.

It was the fear of the moment, but even his own sinking heart couldn't expect any remorse from his parents. Not even his pathetic brain could pray and hope for the world to do him justice.

Hearing the sound of a roaring vehicle screeching its tires against the surfaces of the asphalt made his body flinch as he ran to his window. Upon seeing a bike with a sleek design, a matte black coat, and lines that glowed subtlety. Without a doubt, he recognized the presence of a familiar person who sat calmly on the seat of the bike, staring right up at him with a phone against his ear.

And that's when his phone started vibrating in his pockets, slipping his hands into the pockets, the pick up the device, and mimicking the same positing as the man outside.

"Do you want me to come up and get you, or are you finally going to prove to me that you aren't a wimp?" Hajun's voice spat out, his arms crossed over his chest.

Jeongin glared across the street, knowing he surely didn't have the bravery to climb down his window. But he refused to let the degrading get to him, huffing as he exhaled deeply.

"I-..what if my parents find out I'm gone" he mumbled, biting onto his thumb as he glanced back at his door to make sure the cost was clear.

"I don't see their cars in the driveway. Maybe they aren't home?".

"I can't use the front door even if they aren't home-".

"Boy, just climb out of the damn window. I'm not that patient" Hajun exclaimed, pointing at him from across the street.

"Give me a minute" he sighed as he put the call on hold.

He ran to the side of his closet to pick up his backpack, packing a bit of clothes just in case, along with his charger. Leaving the note, he prepared, for the instance if his parents were to find out he was gone. Sighing heavily once again, he sucked up a final breath before climbing over his window, holding onto the tree outside his window for stability. Slowly climbing his way down.

As his feet hit the ground, he was hit with a wave of adrenaline. His body shivered as the air hit the skin on his neck, causing goosebumps to appear down his spinal cord. His eyes blinked a few times before finally jogging up to Hajun, who awaited him impatiently on the other side.

"Have you ever sat on a bike before?" He asked, only to receive a small shale of his head.

"I thought you brought your car" he mumbled, waiting for instructions on how to get onto the vehicle. Afraid he might end up breaking something.

"Just climb up behind me. When I take turns, lean to the same side as me. And don't talk, I hate backpackers who talk" Hajun explained, tapping a small space behind him before grabbing onto the handles.

Jeongin followed the said instructions, quickly positioning himself, unsure of where to hold on to.

"Just wrap your arms around me".

Jeongin complied. Dropping his breath when Hajun accelerated out of the neighbors' driveway, driving fast down the road. He shut his eyes tightly as he held his breath, trying to comprehend the wind blowing in his face and the tension in his muscles spiraling.

The adrenaline rushed through his body as he tightened the grip around Hajun's waist. Feelings his eyes tear up along with the sound of the roaring motorcycle going way too fast for his liking.

He thought about how bad this of an idea this really was. He had just gotten home, and he was already taking off, fleeing from his parents. He wondered how bad this would end, worrying that everything would continue to crumble from here.

As the minutes flew past them, they managed to get down town central city. And spotting the hospital building from afar brought back sudden memories, feeling bitter upon the thought of that building that shook him to the core. It really didn't matter anymore. He tried his best. He failed. He was a failure.

"Wanna go to my house?" Hajun exclaimed loudly, looking behind him to see the younger boy contemplating that decision.

He did have a good time last time he was with Hajun. He felt oddly safe with the other, compared to how he did in school.

Maybe it was because he personally knew him better and has gotten to know him possibly better than Hajun's own friends.

"I'd like that" he responded with a brief nod, looking ahead of himself again to spot the light changing from red to green, immediately tightening his grub around the other again, as Hajun proceeded to take off.