small words || jeongcheol

38: a change for the worse.

"Good morning, Jeonghan," said his step-father as he came down the stairs that morning. The older man had his glasses atop his head, a coffee mug in one hand and a science magazine in the other.

"Morning," Jeonghan replied, rubbing his eyes.

"Hungry for breakfast?" the older asked. "I could cook something?"

Jeonghan shook his head with a slight smile. "I can get my own breakfast. Thanks, though."

"Alright. There's still coffee in the decanter if you want some," said his step-father, moving out of the kitchen doorway so that Jeonghan could step past him.

The long-haired boy gave a yawn before nodding and entering the kitchen, his step-father going off to the living room. jeonghan was still in his pyjamas; sweats and a hoodie. His room had felt really cold last night, and he had struggled to fall asleep in the strange environment. That, and Seungcheol had crossed his mind more than a few times whilst he was trying to sleep.

"So you're awake," his mother remarked as he passed through the doorway. He flinched; he had been too lost in thought to even realise she was standing there by the refrigerator.

"Good morning," he said quietly, trying to sound at least a little enthusiastic.

"I hope you eat more than yesterday," she said pointedly, "or have I been wasting my money for you to lounge around some house all day and be waited on hand and foot?"

Jeonghan resisted the urge to groan loudly. "You would know that it's nothing like that if you actually bothered to visit me," he drawled, crossing the kitchen to help himself to the leftover coffee.

"I was told you didn't want to see me," she said with a look of disdain.

"Were you surprised?" he commented.

"I'm meeting friends this morning," she told him, although he really couldn't care less, "So you'd better eat something for breakfast, I'll be back for lunch."

"Family meal times, really missed those," he muttered after she turned her back and left the room. "And I am getting better," he added, more to himself than to anyone else. He just wasn't hungry, talking to his mother always seemed to kill his appetite.

"Jeonghan?" his step-father called, some time later that morning.

"Yes?" Jeonghan replied, appearing at the top of the stairs. He peered around the corner, auburn hair flicking to one side.

"I was wondering if you'd like to come out for a bit," the older man suggested. He rolled his magazine in his hands, as if he felt awkward asking. "Maybe go into town for a coffee?"

Jeonghan blinked. "Um, okay," he answered, somewhat surprising himself.

"Oh," said his step-father, eyes widening momentarily behind his glasses. "That's great. Are you ready to go now? Or do you need a few minutes-"

"We can go now, if you want," Jeonghan said, coming down the stairs in blue jeans and a white sweater.

"Are those new clothes? I didn't recognise them," his step-father remarked as they went outside to his car.

"Yeah, Seungcheol helped me pick them out," Jeonghan said without thinking. He bit his lip as he got in the car. Seungcheol hadn't texted today. Maybe he was busy? Maybe the other housemates were causing trouble? Maybe-

"Who's Seungcheol?"

"What?" Jeonghan stammered, realising that his step-father had already started driving.

"He's my nurse- one of the nurses," Jeonghan caught himself. "At the house."

"Oh, I see," said the older, "Was he the lad who dropped you off yesterday?"