Yesterday's Devil

Chapter 7

Jongin

"Mom, it's me," I announced with a loud voice. "I got the groceries you asked me to buy."
I kicked my shoes off before walking into the living room, dragging the bag with me.

The woman was sitting on a chair with her feet on a footrest. She looked up at me and took off her glasses she used while reading. "Thank you sweetheart."

"And I got a little gift for you too," I smiled and walked into the kitchen to get rid of the heavy bag. "It's nothing big," I said and handed her a rectangular object wrapped in paper. "You'll never guess what it is," I joked as I took off my jacket.

"I love it when you bring me books," she spoke as she unwrapped it. "How was work?"

"The usual fine," I took a seat on the small couch and watched her. "We have this new guy and I think he's kind of creepy."

"What do you mean?" She turned to me with a confused expression."

"He doesn't talk much and looks at you like he's always judging whatever you do or say." I tried to explain it to my mother.

"Maybe that's just an attitude," she suggested and placed the book on the coffee table. "He's your age?"

"I guess so, why?"

"No particular reason," she pursed her lips into a horizontal stripe and turned the tv on. A sign she didn't want to talk anymore. I sighed and stood up, making her look in my direction. "Are you leaving already?"

"I have a lot of thing to do," I lied and grabbed my jacket. I hated this from her, I knew this behavior too well. First, letting me know she wanted me to leave and then act like it wasn't true.

Ever since dad had died she somehow blamed me for it, even though I had obviously nothing to do with it. He was killed. Beaten to death with a lead pipe.
It hurt me to know how she felt towards me.
We both know how horrible my dad was and still she choose his side.

"Bye sweetheart," she said in a high voice and waved at me.

I didn't reply and closed the door softly behind me as I stepped outside. I was used to these short visits, but it still came as a surprise every time.

I unlocked the door from my car and plumped down on the seat. As soon as I started the engine the radio immediately came to life, music blasting through the speakers. I turned down the volume before driving off.

Sometimes I wondered why I still did this. I should move on, but if she couldn't let dad go, I couldn't to.
He was nothing but a bastard, but mom kept pushing those memories away and replaced them with the few good ones we had.
She even calls me a liar when I tell her she's just denying it.

I hadn't realized my eyes were tearing up, making my vision become blurry. I quickly wiped them away and focused on the road again. "Stop it, Jongin." I said out loud. "Stop constantly reminding yourself."

When I arrived at my apartment I was about to jump out of the car as my ringtone went off. "Hello?" I asked, pressing the phone against my ear."

"Jonginnie, are you home?" Chen's voice sounded through the device.

"Sort of," I replied and looked at the few raindrops that were sliding down the windshield. "Why?"

"I'm coming over," I heard a door closing in the background. "I'm on my way."

"Why are you coming?" I asked with a chuckle.

"Well, because I want to, I'm bringing some snacks too. Fancy a movie night?" He asked, already exciteding about his own proposal.

"Definitely. See you." I hung up and tapped the phone against my lips. I just kept sitting in my car, looking at the people that walked by, wondering what live they lived. It's funny how people often are very obvious about how they feel. The way they walked, the way they looked. It was all easy to read.

"Yah, are you gonna sleep here?" Chen's voice startled me as he tapped on the glass. His smile immediately brightened up my mood.