Healing

XXXIV - inappropriate

I hope you enjoy this chapter, where Jinyoung keeps healing his soul little by little.

Bel, xx

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Dinner with the Wangs goes by in a mix of laughter and loud conversation. Jackson's mother is so much like him that it's easy to get swiped under their charm. Even Jackson's father arrives at some point, who is more poised but who easily laughs at anything his son or wife says. Everyone is so kind to Jinyoung that he doesn't feel like going home and he just wants to stay a bit longer where he can be fully himself without judgement. But dinner is long over and they have to return home, Jaebeom's mother too tired to stay a minute longer. He walks out with them, not minding her slower pace. When they are in front of Jaebeom's building, Jinyoung stops to say his goodbyes.

"But it's already so late," Jaebeom's mother comments, her expression twisted in worry.

"But the trains are still going so I'll be fine," Jinyoung tries to reassure her, smiling as confidently as he can.

She exchanges a look with her son before turning her attention to Jinyoung once again.

"Why don't you stay over? It's so late and we have a guest room you can use," she offers and Jinyoung can't hide his surprise at her words.

"Oh no, it's not necessary. It's not that late."

"It'd leave me at more ease if you stay over, and I'm sure my son would also be happier if you don't have to leave yet," she adds with a conspiratorial grin that makes Jaebeom scoff and blush at the same time.

Jinyoung can't help his own chuckles at Jaebeom's embarrassment for being figured out so easily. In all honesty, Jinyoung would prefer staying over, even if it's a bit awkward to think about staying at his boyfriend's place when his parents are there.

"If it won't be a bother, then I'd love to. Thank you," Jinyoung finally agrees and sees that way Jaebeom's smile widens as his mother claps.

"Fantastic. Then let's go up."

Jinyoung follows them again until they reach the flat he remembers. He walks in, taking off his shoes and stepping into guest slippers. He watches how Jaebeom helps his mother to the sofa before he comes back to lead him to the guest room so he can drop his bag.

"What about your father?" Jinyoung asks as they leave the guest room to join his mother again.

"He's on a business trip, so it'll just be us for now, which is better," Jaebeom answers, and Jinyoung nods, knowing how tense his boyfriend's relationship with his father is.

Once they are back in the living room, Jaebeom offers his mother a cup of tea, and he also extends the invitation to Jinyoung; so while he's in the kitchen, the younger man is left alone with Jaebeom's mother. Even if she's been nothing but kind to him, Jinyoung can't help feeling a bit nervous if Jaebeom isn't next to them.

"So what do you do, Jinyoung?" She asks, her voice soft and void of any judgement.

"For now, not much. I've been focusing on recovering after an accident I had last year," he explains. "But as I've been doing much better, I'm thinking of getting a job while I figure things out."

"I'm glad you're doing better after the accident. Some recoveries are slower than others."

"Yes, although my recovery has been more psychological. Thankfully, I wasn't left with serious physical sequels. A very small degree of paralysis in one arm that barely bothers me and a weaker body," he explains and watches her sympathy in her expression. He knows she was also in a coma and that she struggles with sequels of her own accident, so if there's someone who understands, it's her.