Boy across the street (KSM/HHJ)

two

Seungmin PoV

I went home after I was at Minhos. His parents weren't home, so he invited Changbin and me to come over after school. We talked about a few things, the two older ones smoked a few cigarettes again, which annoyed me a little. But I got a beer which made it better.

We knew that all of this could harm us, but we didn't really care. We will grow out of this phase. Also, I only drank and didn't smoke. We just had to somehow distract ourselves from our problems at home. I know it's not the best way to do so but still.

Minho's father hasn't spoken to him for half a year after he came out. His father has always had his own peculiarities and was a huge asshole to his child.

Changbin's parents should have divorced when Changbin was younger, then he wouldn't have to see them together anymore. The two couldn't stand each other, yelled at each other every day, let their anger out on their children, mostly at Changbin, which got to him.

And my father... he was special, he got drunk a lot. After my mother died, he promised me to do everything better but he didnt. I was glad that he just left me alone and didn't bother me.

As I put the key in the keyhole and unlocked the door, I heard someone across the street doing the same. I glanced over my shoulder and could see a woman. Hyunjin's mother. She always looked quite stressed. I didn't know what her job was but it made her tired. Hyunjin's father hardly came home as I observed.

I'm starting to sound like a stalker. But I'm not. Hyunjin happened to live in the house across from mine and it was a coincidence that my window where my desk was and I where sat everyday faced the front door and a part of Hyunjin's room.

I finally opened the door yelling that I was home and went upstairs to my room. I threw myself onto my bed and let out a loud sigh. I wish life was easier.

For a long time I sat on my bed thinking about what my life would be like if my mother hadn't died, what it would be like if my father didn't drink. I also thought about what it would be like without Minho and Changbin and what it would be like to be friends with Hyunjin.

I sat down and strolled over to my desk where my computer was. I sat in my chair, put on my headset and started playing a game. As the game loaded, I looked over at Hyunjin's room. One side of the curtain was pulled a little in front of the window, but I could still see in well enough.

He had rearranged his furniture once again. He did that often, once his bed was in front of the window, then the wardrobe, then flowers, he kept rearranging his room and it still looked cozy every time.

The older one was sitting on his bed, drawing something in his notebook, and suddenly his mother burst into his room. I couldn't quite tell from that distance, but her posture looked like she was angry.

She yelled something and Hyunjin tried to talk to her normally but when it wouldn't stop he got up from his bed, dropped his notebook on it and yelled at her as well. He was taller than her which would scare me. But she was his mother so that probably didn't scare her that much.

And suddenly, out of nowhere, she slapped his cheek. It didn't look like it was a light slap as Hyunjin flinched and clutched his cheek.

His mother herself looked surprised and tried to dissuade him from leaving the room. Vain. The next moment I saw him run out the front door and into the back alley next to my house.

What should I do now? Should I do something?

After a brief discussion with myself, I took off my headset and rushed out of the house. But I forgot to put my shoes on, so I walked on the dirty floor with my white socks. "Why am I doing this?" I murmured.

I strolled down the back alley, turned left, and could see him sitting on the ground in the corner. His gaze was focused on the floor, so he didn't notice me yet.

"Are you crying?" I asked as I walked closer to him. I didn't know how to deal with such situations. In comforting I was never so good. Maybe one day I would get better.

He looked at me, no red or swollen eyes. "I saw you run out of your house and I was wondering what happened," I said standing close enough in front of him.

"Just family problems," he said, taking his eyes off me. "Do you want to talk about it?" I asked what else should I have done.

Inwardly, I pulled my hair and screamed why I couldn't deal with situations like this.

Hyunjin said nothing, his eyes fixed on the ground again. Maybe I should leave him alone. But something in me didn't want that, something in me wanted to help him and comfort him.

"Uhm, do you want to be alone or do you need company?" He shrugged his shoulders. It was as if a completely different person was sitting in front of me than in class today.

Deciding not to worry about him anymore, I turned to walk away. I walked a few steps and suddenly I felt a sharp pain on my heel.

"Fuck," I cursed, lifting my foot up to see what I'd stepped on. A splinter of glass, it wasn't a small splinter, not one that was difficult to get out with tweezers because it was too small. No, that was a big splitter.

"Everything okay?" I heard Hyunjin say behind me in a worried voice. "No I've got a friggin' piece of glass in my foot," I snapped at him. Not because I was annoyed by him, but because my foot hurt.

"You live right over there, right?"

"Yes."

Hyunjin stood up, stood in front of me and wanted to give me a piggyback ride, but I just put my hand around his shoulder, which he did the same and I said: "I can jump on one leg."

I jumped next to Hyunjin while holding onto him and he helped me walk. "Are your parents at home?" he asked which made me shake my head. I lied. My father was at home but he was sleeping off his high and he hated being disturbed.

"Okay then let's go to my house and my mom will help you get the splinter out," he said, walking in the direction of his house. "But you just got into an argument with her," I murmured, whereupon I caught a glimpse of a small smile on his lips.

"I don't care as long as you are fine."

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