The Curse || 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕦𝕟𝕘 ||

TWENTY FOUR

Jisung was now sitting next to his mom in his bedroom, whilst minho was still present, sitting on a chair in the end of the room, minding his own business on his phone with airpods on, he was there for mental support, just like jisung requested, well at least that's what he assumed. (He couldn't listen, minding his business overall)

The youngest asked his mom if she had any problems with her husband, what it was like living with him, and so many other questions, when haneul felt pressured, she finally revealed the truth.

"before you moved out, he was acting perfectly fine with me, but after that, he became weird, ignoring me all the time, i thaught that it was fine and that he would probably open up eventually, until i found out he started drinking, i couldn't bring it up, he always avoided me, but it soon came to the point where he became an extreme alcoholic..and, I'm sorry to tell you that sungie, but it's really frustrating whenever he drinks that i prefer him actually avoiding me now.. well at least he is not drinking while you two are here"

Jisung was shocked from the news, it's not like he thaught any higher of byungho but he was just surprised that his mom had to deal with it all alone without even telling him about anything.

"i had a heart attack when i found out he was cheating on me yesterday.. I'm not even sure what to do anymore.."

Seeing his mom's sad and broken expression teared his heart "i actually was going to tell you about the cheating issue, he's actually been doing that since the beginning, please don't panic.. sorry for not telling you"

A slight frown traced haneul's eyebrows, "the beginning?", Jisung knew that what he did was wrong, he was persuaded that he hid everything for her own safety at first, but then again, how can he not be guilty for hiding such an important matter from his mom?

"Why didn't you tell me..?" Her voice was unexpectedly calm and soft, which made jisung feel even guiltier, he wanted to say it all, all of it.. but that was the hardest part, it was like words got stuck in the end of his throat, even tears couldn't trace their way on his cheeks, he was ashamed enough for hiding so many things from her, he wouldn't allow himself to cry, not now.. he was a crybaby as it is for most situations, he even pitied himself for running away from his problems by shedding pathetic tears.

Gulping away his anxiousness, jisung took a deep breath, more determined than ever to narrate everything from the top, and he did. Spilling everything about the assaulting issue, the cheating one, as well as the threatening words byungho had said so many times.

Haneul didn't say anything, listening carefully to her son's words instead, and she, too, felt guilty and stupid that all of that passed above her head, her only son, had to deal with all these horrible experiences, and it's because of her foolish mistake to marry a man she thaught she knew, but actually didn't.

"I'm sorry sungie.. i could've been a better mom to you.."

"No.. why are you saying that?"

"Because i married him, you-"

"No- its not because of you i swear!" Jisung clenched on his pants, it wasn't his goal to make his mom suffer even more by telling her about that. He also somehow felt like now was the best time to tell her about the only thing he never thaught he would actually want to inform her with, that obviously being his curse.

"mom.. i need to tell you something important, its about me..", she slightly tilted her head, waiting for her son to continue, "in kindergarten you told me i was very popular, and everybody loved me.. also in primary school.. you used to say that you were very proud to have your son be liked by everyone, but its actually not that simple.."

Jisung found himself silent after that, he simply didn't know how to start, as it sounded like such an unbelievable and childish thing to announce, he could feel a warm hand land on his, only averting his gaze to see his mom's sweet and comforting smile.

"Keep going, don't worry"

"..would you believe me if i said that.. i have a..a curse?"

"A what now?"

"A curse"

"Oh a curse"

"Yeah"

"Ok.."

"You don't get it do you"

"Yeah, what's that supposed to mean"

After a few minutes of trying to explain the issue he was dealing with, haneul finally spoke up after a while, "so people feel some kind of attraction towards you.."

Jisung nodded

"and its mostly a bad thing.."

He nodded again

"So you're telling me that you live with a curse, and it was what pushed byungho to harass you?"

"Yeah.. being said like that it sounds ridiculous, but i swea-"

"No i believe you.. but how about your friends? You sounded so happy when you said you made new friends, aren't they attracted to you? What about hyunjin? Chan? Oh gosh felix is your cousin-"

"No- not everyone is affected mom!" Jisung let out a giggle at his mom's remark, even though it was his fault for not giving a proper explanation.

"I was indeed happy, no one in my group of friends is affected..so they see me for who i actually am", seeing the sparkles in his eyes, haneul felt some kind of relief.

Jisung felt like a big weight he's been carrying finally vanished through thin air, he also felt relieved that nothing was separating him from his mom now, she knows everything and he hopefully does too.

"What about.." she discreetly pointed her index finger towards minho's direction, to which jisung let out a light giggle, "no, not even him", his mom gave him a suspicious look,"to be honest, he does look like he's affected, I'd be cautious if i was in your shoes", a little blush painted the boy's cheeks, is it really that obvious?

"Um..well- you see.." he signaled for her to come closer, so she did curiously, lending him her ear, just a second after that, her excitement took the better of her.

"I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON BETWEEN YOU TWO! He looks at you exactly the way you look at cheesecake!!"

"Mom-!! Quiet down he'll hear you" the now flushed boy whispered, creating every incomprehensible movement with his hands.

A low chuckle could be heard from the end of the room, meaning only one thing, minho heard her. He suddenly turned over, removing an airpod from his ear, smiling from ear to ear.

"cheesecake? You never look at me the way you look at cheesecake, I'm hurt!"

"Are you two pairing up against me or something?!"

"I'm so proud of you, you grow up so fast!!" Haneul squeezed jisung between her arms.

"Mom!! I can't breath!! Agh- hyung! Listen to your music!"

Minho let out a satisfied giggle, and did what he was told, haneul finally let go of her son after praising his taste in men, which obviously embarrassed the boy even more. After they calmed down, jisung returned to the main subject, and the whole point of their conversation.

"So.. are you still thinking of staying with a cheating, pedophile, alcoholic husband?"

"...obviously not"

"Good!"

"Don't worry about me now, I'll do what has to be done and fill in the divorce papers, just concentrate on your studies"

"Ok mom"

Hey were reunited again with a hug, a soft one this time.