Heart's Promise

Chapter 2

Joe was banging on his door and calling out. Jin groaned in frustration and covered his ears with his pillow.

"Five minutes." He mumbled as he got up and rubbed his eyes. He yawned as he walked to the door and opened it.

"You're not ready?" Joe asked, incredulous. "We're going to be late!"

I'll be down in five minutes." Jin yawned again. "Go, eat something."

"Mom will be upset if you skip breakfast again." Joe said. "Come on, let's eat together."

"Whatever." Jin's eyes hardened as he turned away. He didn't like to be reminded of the fact that he still shared a house with his mother. She tried her best, but he refused to even look at her if he could help it. "I'll come." He shut the door in Joe's face who stepped back just in time. He shrugged and then skipped down the stairs, almost falling.

Downstairs, their mother was waiting at the table.

"Where's your brother?" She asked.

"He's late. He hates waking up early." Joe said as he sat down. "Are you leaving again today?"

"I am." She sighed. "I will be back next week."

Joe nodded in between mouthfuls of food. Jin came down the stairs, just as Joe finished.

"Let's go." Jin called out to Joe, who picked up his bag and joined his brother at the door.

"Why don't you eat something?" Jin looked at his mother who was standing next to the table, a plea in her voice.

"There's no time." Jin looked at his watch, studiously avoiding her gaze. "I'll get something on the way." He strode out the door, Joe behind him.

"We still have a little time." Joe shrugged once they were in the car. "You could have stayed and had something."

"I try not to be in the same room as her." Jin said.

"I don't understand." Joe frowned. "Why is it that you hate her so much? Because she let Grandma raise us when we were young?"

"There are a lot of things you don't know, Joe, things you don't want to know." Jin snapped. "And it is going to stay that way, so stop asking questions!"

Joe huffed and looked out the window. The rest of the ride passed in silence.

"You look worse than yesterday." Ren commented as Jin walked into class and dropped into his seat between them.

"Did Joe make you use any more Disney princess umbrellas?" Mark asked, eyebrows raised, cracking a smile. Jin shrugged.

"What's wrong?" Ren asked sitting up, putting a hand on Jin's shoulder. "Are you alright?"

"My mother is back home." Jin said, not looking up. "She wanted to have breakfast with me." He scoffed.

Mark and Ren exchanged a look over Jin's head. They were familiar with Jin and his strained relationship with his mother, despite not knowing the reason for it.

"I can't do this anymore." Jin sighed. "Can I move in with you, Ren?" He looked up at Ren.

"What?" Ren was taken aback. "Um, sure. I don't mind having a roommate."

"I don't want to stay at home anymore." Jin put his head back in his hands. "Once I graduate, I'll get a place of my own and bring Joe with me too."

"You can come over anytime." Ren nodded. Both Ren and Mark knew better than to ask Jin why he was so averse to seeing his mother.