Stay Junlin | h.jl✓

•TWENTY-ONE•

I decided to spend the night at my home, I missed my family so much. We spent the whole day talking, catching up on everything my departure did not allow me to share. My father got too sleepy and started to snore on the couch, I followed my mother to the kitchen and started helping her with cleaning the dinner plates.

“So dear, have you found the man of your dreams?”, my mother teased then chuckled.

“Mom! No, I’m just single”, I said as I wiped the rinsed plate she handed me then placed it the cabinet.

“Well okay but I bet there’s someone you must like”, she teased again.

“Well….”, I started to say, “never mind, it’s a far fetched dream”, I said.

My mother closed the tap then looked at me while wiping her hands on the apron, “oh come on, tell me about him”, she insisted.

“well…he’s a good person, he’s nice, friendly, goofy, talented, passionate……Chinese”, I said nervously.

“Wow, sounds like quite the catch and Chinese are often handsome, is he?”, she chuckled and whacked me with a towel playfully.

“Well he is….but I don’t know if he can like someone like me”, I said.

“Just….be yourself, be original, don’t try to be who you’re not, it’s better he sees the real you and love you for yourself”, she said then hugged me. “I’m tired dear, I have to go”, she said.

I smiled, “Go on mom, I’ll finish up here, good night”, I said.

She looked back at me then waved, “good night sweetie, we’re glad you’re back”, she nodded.

“And I’m glad to be back mom”.

___

I made my way to my room, I had missed my room very much. I threw myself on the bed, it was larger than the one I slept on at the apartment, I looked on the walls, there posters of singers all over. It reminded me of my past.

My phone rang suddenly, I looked at the caller ID, it was Nicole! I picked up with an excite tone.
“Hi Nicole! Girl I miss you!”, I said, “guess where I am”.

“Hey Medrin! I miss you too! Oh no, don’t tell me you’re at Junlin’s house!”, she said.

“Junlin’s house? No! I’m at home! My parents’ place”, I said with a chuckle.

“Wow you’re home?! That’s great, it took you long enough girl! If you were at Junlin’s house I would have yelled at you”, she said.

“Why? Weren’t you the one blubbering on and on about me and him becoming a couple because he’s such a nice guy?”, I teased her.

“That’s’ because by then I didn’t know his true colors! I thought he was a nice guy!”, she said.

“What? Junlin’s not nice now? Why are you saying so?”, I asked with concern.

“He’s a player with a capital P! You almost fell victim to his crooked ways!”, Nicole shouted.

I sat up as I felt my heart skip, “what? What did he do?”, I asked.

“He was making moves on Violet the youth group founder’s daughter! He even texted her to sneak out of the house at night to hang out with him! She also said he hangs out in clubs in disguise! Disgusting right! His album launch has also been canceled because of this scandal”, she said, “girl I am glad you did not fall for him”.

I slowly put the phone away from my ear, I was very hurt. Was the Junlin I knew a phony? A fake? Was I slowly being led to a trap as well? I lay on my pillow and felt tears flood my face. I could still hear Nicole on the line calling my name and asking me if I was still there. Then finally she hung up.

I had to call Junlin, I wanted to hear from him so much, I pressed his contact but sadly it went straight to voice mail, “Hey this is Junlin, I can’t take your call right now. But nevertheless, leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, just wait for the beep”. I removed the phone from my ear then went straight to the internet.

I browsed Junlin’s name and the links that came were all related to the scandal. Teens in Times’ member caught in controversy, TNT’s Junlin not so innocent, Teens in Times angel shocks the audience, Teens In Time’s Junlin has album canceled after scandal”, I threw the phone across the room. I hugged my pillow in tears then went to sleep.

The sun rays shone through the window, it was morning. I managed to get some sleep but the minute I woke up, the thoughts of Junlin’s controversy flashed in my mind. I was stressed.

The door opened and my mother came in with a tray of breakfast, “good morning Medrin, here’s some breakfast”, she said with a smile.
I put on a fake smile then took the tray from her, “thanks mom”.

“You don’t look so happy dear, you can talk to me” he said as she sat at the edge of the bed.
“It’s….it’s that boy I told you about, a rumor is flying around that he is not what he appears to be, he’s a heavy partier and a player according to them”, I said.

“Well, do you believe it?” she asked.

“I….don’t know mom. I’m confused”, I said in a low tone.

“Well don’t you think he deserves the benefit of the doubt? You have to properly investigate instead of just taking everything you hear”, my mother said.

“But they know him better”, I said.

“Wrong Medrin, they think they know him better and since they think they know him better you also think that they know him better. You get it? Sometimes you need to find the answers for yourself”, she said.

“So….what should I do mom?”, I asked.

“I suggest you go and get the answers straight from him, then you can know where to go from here”, she smiled.

I nodded then gave her a hug.