Distant Luminosity | Hanjoo

Chapter Eighteen

Mr. Kim asked if I wanted a ride home after school, but I declined. When I arrived home, I spotted a car in the driveway. This could have only meant one thing.

"Not now," I gulped, "please, not now."

I went around back, in hopes to avoid my mother. After successfully sneaking in through the backdoor, I bumped into a tall, very masculine man. He turned around and looked down to me. "Hey, Hansol. I've heard a lot about you." I glanced over to see my mother vigorously stirring away at a pot. "Your mother and I are getting dinner prepared. Wash up and be down in ten minutes."

I whimpered and darted down the hallway to lock myself in the bathroom. Who was that? Why were they here? Why was my mother home for once? Was she going to kill me finally? Would he help her hide my dead body?

No, of course she wouldn't kill me. She's not dumb anymore, I hope.

After a few minutes of wallowing in my own fear and despair, I realized there was no way out of this and that I'd have to go out there sooner or later. That was when I worked up the energy to go out there with no expression, only to keep my mother or whoever else from thinking bad.

"Hansol sweetie!" My mother squealed and hugged me tightly. I wanted to push her away but, that'd only end in tragedy.

"Hello." I said with a monotonous voice.

She pulled away and attacked my bare face with kisses. I won't forget even the smallest glare she made towards the cuts. I would have worn my mask, but I know she'd complain as to why I'm 'hiding from her' and asking 'what she did wrong'.

She gestured to the seat across from her and got situated in her chair as I went to mine. I looked to the right of her and accidentally made eye contact with the man from earlier. He smiled sweetly to me. That smile can say a lot of things.

"So, how was school today?" Mother asked.

"Okay." I slightly grimaced at the food in front of me, not wanting to take a single bite.

She chuckled. "Don't worry, it's not poisoned or anything." What a liar.

"I'm not hungry." I flinched when my mother raised her hand, but she only pulled the plate closer to her.

"Suite yourself," she smiled, "I don't mind seconds."

I reminded myself how fake Mother can be, and why I shouldn't ever trust her of anything. Too bad I was stupid enough to fall for that years ago — look what I did to myself.

"Your mother and I have some great news," the man suddenly spoke, "we're engaged."

Fucking fantastic.

I shook my head a bit, mumbling a "that's awesome" as I stared into the tablecloth. Just how many times was Mother going to try and remarry? Let alone the fact I don't know if that guy was just as fake as she is.

Around the time everyone was finishing dinner, I was surprisingly able to hear my phone ring from my bedroom. "Excuse me." I said quietly as I scurried to answer the call.

"Hello–?"

"Hansol, hey!" It was Byungjoo, nearly screaming into my ear.

I was excited but scared to show. "Hey, where were you?"

"About that, I was suspended recently." What? "I know you're probably confused, but I basically beat the shit out of one of my friends Friday afternoon."

"Why?"

"I, uh, found out he stole something of Jiho's and, uh."

I clicked my tongue in annoyance of the guy stealing something valuable. "The stolen money?"

"Yeah, that." He sighed on the other line. "Both of us were suspended for about a week, but I returned the money to Jiho."

Over the silence breaking out in the call, I debated if I should tell him that my mother was home and I'm probably limited on the phone. To my luck, I was beat to it.

"Hey, do you wanna come over? I can pick you up."

I anxiously glanced around the room, not sure of which I should choose; go with Byungjoo and skip out on being with my fake mother, or stay here and suffer the chances of dying. That's a one-way decision, honestly.

"Yeah, sure." I sighed, scared to what Mother and whoever that man is to scold me.

"Cool, see you soon!" He hung up and I went to look for a bag to pack my things into.

When Byungjoo got here, he called me and let me know of it. There I was in the hallway, trying to sneak past the two adults. Thankfully, the dining room is on the opposing side of the kitchen, so I managed to sneak out the backdoor quite easily without being caught.

"What's with the other car?" Byungjoo said when I got in.

"My mother and her fiancé." I rolled my eyes and clicked on the seat belt.

He hummed and reversed into the road before heading away to his house. Although, halfway through the ride when we were at a stoplight, he asked me, "Do you want to go to the park?"

I nodded.

And so, he turned and eventually pulled into a parking lot with very few other cars. We got out and walked down the paved path, it leading us to a flowery field with a river nearby. I watched as Byungjoo sat crisscross somewhere and sniffed some of the flowers. I sighed, peaceful, and laid down beside Byungjoo, resting my head on his lap.

"How was school, Hyung?"

There was no point in hiding the truth from him, so I let it all out. "Some boys messed with me and I'm still the joke of the school, but other than that, it was great." He took hold of my hand and brushed his thumb across my covered palm.

"They didn't hurt you, right?" He asked.

"No," I shook my head against his thigh, "but I did have a panic attack in the hallway, thus everyone making up more nicknames for me." He laced his fingers with mine.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help."

I felt bad for his guilt, so I tried to shut it away. "It's not your fault. I deserved it, really."

His other hand was drawn to lightly hit my shoulder. "Don't say that, you didn't deserve it."

"Sorry." I whispered softly, knowing I shouldn't have said that to him, even though I believed that.

He leaned over and bit down on my mask to slide it down prior to pressing his lips against mine. Ah, the soft touch always made the butterflies in my stomach flutter about. 

When he broke the kiss, he grinned, which I'm sure was because I was blushing like crazy. Although, the grin didn't last long and I raised an eyebrow to him as he leaned back. "What's wrong?"

It took him maybe a minute to answer. "I don't know, I just — I don't know if we're, like, a thing or if we're just friends." I couldn't help the confused look I gave him, but I think I understand why he's that way.

"Well," I drifted my eyes to the clouds above, "do you want to be a thing?"

"I'd love that, honestly, but only if you want–"

"Then, we are a thing." I smiled up to him and watched as his face lit up with red.

–

- sqUEALING -

it's 6:30 here and i'm surprisingly up, like how

s/o to my sister for giving me an idea on this