MATCHSTICK [PJM]

4: Potential

FLASHBACK

Jimin sat near his study table as he continued to do his homework. He turned around to check for his sister quietly sitting in her corner with headphones on.

It was just another evening after school. The sun was setting earlier than usual as bright orange rays lined up on his sister's table. He watched her wince as they hit her eyes. His chair however was in the shadier spot of the room.

"You okay? You wanna sit here?" he asked but she shook her head in response.

It was her who gave him that spot in the first place. Maybe this was her way of taking care of him.

All they could do was take care of each other.

Just then his mother came to his side with a cup of tea and set it on his table. She silently brought out another chair and sat next to him.

"How was school? Is it all easy?" his mother asked as she relaxed into her seat. Jimin nodded.

"Yeah, it's fine. It's the beginning of the year so everything's going slowly," Jimin responded as he continued to turn pages of his textbook.

"Good. It's your last year of high school. This is an important year. You can't afford to have any distractions."

Jimin nodded again.

"Yeah, I know."

A couple minutes of silence went by. Jimin curiously looked up at his mother to see her staring off at the distance. He noticed the black circles around her eyes, the wrinkles on her forehead.

He knew she was not happy. Once again, Jimin was scared to find out to what extent did her unhappiness stretch to. What were the consequences? Are there any consequences? Did he have anything to worry about?

"You okay?" he asked wanting to comfort her. His mother blinked to look at him and waited a beat to smile warmly. A smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I'll be fine."

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No, no. You do your work."

Jimin still stared at her, not happy with her response. How the hell was he supposed to do his work with all the tension that lingered? She had no one to confide in except him.

If she didn't talk to him, she'd just bottle all of it in. It worried him that she'll just explode.

"How's dad?" Jimin cleared his throat before asking.

His mother sighed as she patted his hand, "I don't know. You'd have to ask him that."

She then rested her gaze on his sister. With an attempt to change subjects, she initiated another conversation.

"Your sister just finished college and she's still hasn't found work," his mother glumly stated. Jimin instantly knew where this talk was going. She turned to him as she fixed him in with her stare.

"You have potential, Jimin. You are going to carry this house forward. Never lose focus," she spoke. Jimin sighed as he nodded once again.

And just when he was about to return to his work, he heard the smallest of whispers.

"You're the only hope here after all."

A/N:

What'd you think will happen next?

Thank you for reading.