Begin #1 » j.jk ✓

i

"m-mom.."

my eyes widened in surprise, staring at the sight of the old woman standing at the entrance of the convenience store. my grip on the items, lisa was going to buy, tightened. although i didn't notice lisa already staring at me curiously, i could see her through my peripherals, staring back at the old woman.

"she's your mother?" the way she asked me that so enthusiastically left me speechless. i didn't know what to do, what to say while i was in front of her.

slowly, her steps started getting closer, and closer, and closer, until she stopped in front of the cashier. her smirk still plastered on her face, her forehead folded with wrinkles and her hair still as bristly as ever. she took one more step, close enough to let me breathe in the strong scent of soju coming from her breath.

"so you work here now?" the smirk was now replaced by an unidentified expression; her hand reached up to my face, gently caressing it. i knew i had spoken too soon of her changing, because the moment she brought her hand away, a slap was planted on my cheek. "bastard."

lisa gasped at the situation she just encountered. tears started falling down my cheek, adding to the pain where she had slapped me. even though i wasn't able to see, i knew it already became red.

"lisa, get out."

i could feel her eyes on me, her head shaking. "no, jungkook."

my mom looked in her direction, her eyes going from head to her toe. an indescribable aura engulfing the room.

"and who might you be?"

lisa looked her straight in the eye, confidently stating: "i helped jungkook."

mother's left eye twitched in annoyance. "how dare you even be here? i'm his mother." she let out a dark chuckle, went back to looking my way. "well, serves him right to work this way. after all, you were never a help in my life, anyway. i don't have to waste any more money on you."

as soon as she turned her back on me, lisa was already about to charge at her, but i stopped her by holding her forearm, shaking my head without saying a word.

"i don't get it. that's not how mothers are supposed to be, kookie." she protested. "mrs. jeon," i gulped nervously when mother heard her being called. "i may have not known jungkook for a long time as you do," she walked towards her until they stood just a feet from each other. "but i know how kind-hearted and hard working jungkook is. he doesn't deserve to be humiliated. i hope you find it in your heart to forgive yourself and start over to be kinder to him-accept him."

lisa.

mother scoffed loudly enough for everyone near the street to hear. shaking her head in disbelief of the situation, she continued to walk away after saying, "who needs a son like that? he should be begging for forgiveness for running away from home after i destroyed his useless things."

lisa looked back to see me still frozen in place, tears continued falling. i was near to breaking down, but not like this. not while lisa is still here.

"kookie-"

i raised a hand as a signal for her to stop from coming near me. she did.

"i-i don't want anyone to see me like this.. p-please, leave.." i covered my eyes with my forearm, trying not to sound too obvious of bawling until she left.

hours later, the original cashier lady came back, exhaustingly hanging her coat and bag by the knob of the office. "phew! well, i had fun. how was the first day, rookie?"

i put up a smile and nodded humbly. "it was.. okay. not much came by, but i think it's a fair amount." she went to the register and started counting money, her eyes signifying approval.

"not bad for a starter." she quickly gave me a big thumbs up, "see you tomorrow, you're good to go. oh! also, thank you for taking over my shift."

i grabbed my coat and went outside. looking up at the starry night sky, i began thinking to myself-'my mother disowned me today. what's new, really? i figured, at some point, she was planning to, anyway. lisa even got to see how humiliated i was being slapped in front of her.'

i let out a heavy sigh, about to walk back to the clinic, but suddenly i saw lisa leaning against the glass window of the store, still carrying the bags she bought for dinner tonight. "lisa? wha- how long have you been standing out here?"

she gave me a casual shrug, "eh. it's nothing. i mean, what kind of a friend would i be if i left you in such a weak state, right?" she seemed to be struggling in carrying such a heavy-looking bag. so before she could move, i snatched the paper bag from her and started walking ahead. a subtle thank you kind of way.

"ya, kookie, i can do that myself." she tried getting the baggage back, but i wouldn't let her; raising it higher so that she wouldn't be able to reach it.

she huffed in annoyance, admitting defeat as she decided to walk ahead of me, instead. "suit yourself. thanks." she whispered the last message under her breath. i smiled upon her as we were closing to home.

"lisa, i'm sorry about.. what happened earlier. my mom is.. different from the usual mothers you see, i guess." i placed the bag down on the counter when we reached home. she looked back at me, dropping the keys to the clinic, rushing towards me, giving me a big hug.

i tried making her get off due to my embarrassment. "lisa- w-what are you doing?"

"just let it all out. you can lean on me, you know that."

i didn't know what to say. nor do i even know what to feel regarding the situation. if this were looked at a different way, it would look as if she just confessed to me. but i didn't care. i know (i think i'm the only one who knows) how caring lisa really is, as a friend and as a helper to her patients.

i let my arms down, gently resting my chin on her shoulder. just hearing her sigh in relief already had me reassured that i was..cared for. that someone actually cared i was alive.

-

a/n : hmm,, as much as i want to let this story get longer, i think this is going to last for about 3-5 chapters more. so hope you're ready for some plot twists + for book 2 ;)

as always, please comment down below what you think of this update, thank you !

posted : 06.25.17