j.a.n.g.m.i • jayhoon

e.l.e.v.e.n

".. Thank you for visiting me again,"
His mother softly smiled, the sounds of the heart monitor quiet over her voice. "I was thinking you two forgot about me."

".. We would never forget about you,"
Jay shakes his head, crossing his
arms as he leaned against the wall.

Niki had been rushed home by a
very angry Sun prior.

"I've been busy with work, I'm sorry
mom," Jake sat beside his mother, holding her small, frail hand with both of his. Reassuringly rubbing shapes on her skin with his thumb. "I
promise Jay and I will visit more
often. No need to worry."

"It's okay Sweetheart," She shakes her
head slightly. "At least I know you're
working hard. I hope your boss isn't too hard on you. How's working at Lotto? I wish I could see your office."

Jake pursed his lips before smiling.
".. It's great," he says, "I've been getting my work done."

Jay stayed quiet, looking down at
his feet. Biting his tongue for Jake's
sake.

"What about you, Jay?" She looks
at the silent man against the wall.
"How's teaching?"

"I'm good, it's good. The kids this year
are polite-"

"Are you thinking about maybe settling in?" She accidentally cuts him off, but Jay still listens. ".. Marrying?
Starting a family?"

"Mom," Jake doesn't raise his
voice, he could never. He only looks
at her with wide eyes, "... Mom,
please."

"You've stuck around my son for four
years," She says, covering her mouth to harshly cough. Her throat dry. "You've done so much more than anybody could do for him even me. You gave him more happiness than I ever saw in years."

Jake leaned over to grab a tissue,
and Jay pours a cup of water beside her bed. The two helped the woman, though she persisted she was fine.

"..So what do you think?" She asks
Jay.

Jay held the cup in his hand. "..
I've always wanted to start a family,
get married, grow old," He sighs gently, "But you know us. Jake and I still have work to do."

She laughs with an after wheeze,
clearing her throat. "You two shouldn't be married to work, you should be married to each other"

Jake groaned, covering his face in
embarrassment as he sat back down in his seat. Jay could only chuckle
and shake his head.

Jake's mother grabbed Jay by his hand, and with sudden seriousness: "You're the only man I trust with him. That man who came into his life before you did, I don't want him to go through all of it again. I don't want my son to be hurt ever again."

"Please, promise me you'll never let
my son get hurt" she says, holding
his hand with both hers. "You can't be
compared to that man who broke my
boy's heart. Please take care of my son."

Jake glances at Jay. ".. Mom, leave him be. It'll never happen again. You're scaring him"

Jay looked back at Jake before
facing his mother's pleading eyes, and
with a firm nod:

"..I will, I promise."