Cripples | yoonmin

Uninvited

UNINVITEDChapter 1

Recently I have been noticing a strange man. First time I saw him, he was sleeping in the corner of the subway station, cheeks laid on the cold soot black floor, a wheelchair by his side. It amazed me how easily he could sleep on the hard ground, and in broad daylight. He even snored lightly, in a way that was strangely soothing. Since then, I've been seeing him on the exact same spot, with his headphones always over his ears, doing literally nothing but sleeping.

Many times, I thought about bothering him. Maybe ask him some questions to quench my own curiosity. But every time I try, he never seemed like he was in the mood for talking. His expression were always harsh, as if irritated and hateful at life.

But most of all, there was something incredibly broken in his eyes. He was crippled from the inside and out, and it scared me.

I told myself that I have no time to mingle with the homeless anyway.

***

"Excuse me?"

A strange boy approached me today. I have seen him before. Many times I caught him being approached by flirtatious girls. Now up close, I understand why girls see him as such a eye-candy. His features are sharp and eye-catching, his body is well-built, and his face is impossibly clear of any imperfections.

"Yeah?"

"Hi!" His said, voice perked up. "Uh so my name is Park Jimin-"

"Don't care."

" Oh... sorry about that. Anyway I was just wondering..." The words died in his throat, and he rubbed his arm with uncertainty.

"Go on, I don't bite."

His arms flailed defensively. Clearly he doesn't have as much confidence as he seems. "No! I never thought that-"

Annoyed, I grunted exasperatedly, "What do you want."

"Right. Sorry. I just think it's a strange question to ask, and maybe a little disrespectful..." He squatted so that he wasn't looking down upon me, "but do you happen to live here?"

"Yes." I answered coldly. "Is that it?"

"No, no... I haven't got to the weird and... disrespectful question yet." Jimin laughed nervously.

I sighed. "What is it?"

"Can I live with you?" Jimin smiled awkwardly, then frantically began to rant. "I-I know it's extremely strange for me, a complete stranger, not to mention a financially stable looking guy, to suddenly ask to live on the floors of the subway with you-"

"Mm-hm, mm-hm, yeah I totally get it."

Jimin's eyes lit up. "You do?"

I smiled as kindly as I could. "Oh yes. I understand that you're nuts, and that the only place you should living is the hospital." I slipped my headphones back over my ears, and immersed myself into the song, trying to ignore him. Thankfully he left peacefully, and for the next few days I was back to a normal routine of doing nothing.

***

"Excuse me?"

I was shaken awake by Park Jimin again. This time he came with a plump backpack, three hats over his head, and a envelope in his hand.

I glared at him angrily. "Seriously?"

Jimin beamed triumphantly. "I think I know why you turned me down!" He paused, expectantly waiting for my reply.

"Besides what I told you about being crazy?"

Jimin waved a thick envelope in my hand, and grinned. "I need to pay rent." He pulled out a thick wad of cash from the envelope, neatly held together by two rubber bands. "Judging from the quality of the estate, it should be free to live here. The only thing I must pay for is your privacy. Since you're a nice person-"

"Which I obviously am." I spat sarcastically.

"I'm thinking maybe we can make a deal. How about 100 bucks a month? I have enough to pay for my whole life."

I sighed and rubbed my eyes. "I don't think you thought this through properly."

"Pardon?" Jimin blinked with confusion.

"How are you gonna get food? What if you get sick? How are you going to survive?"

"The same way you do." He answered naturally. "I'll do everything like you. You'll teach me right?"

"Find someone else to teach you. I don't know the ways of the homeless people." I patted the floor around me. "I just sit here and... that's really it."

Jimin pouted, and stomped his foot. "But I wanna stay with you." He whined.

I crossed my arms skeptically. "Do you even know me?"

"Of course I do!" He exclaimed, as if offended "You're the Min Yoongi, the one who-"

"Okay that's it. Leave right now, and never come back. Even with a million dollars, you can't buy this corner."

"But-" Jimin looked upset, but then a idea popped in his head. You could see it in his teardrop shaped eyes, the energy of someone who lived a good life. "Can I at least visit you?"

"Oh my goodness." I muttered breathlessly. 

A crazy rich kid, who dreams of becoming a homeless person, wishes to barge into my life.