snow ; changki ◯ ON HOLD

11

hello y'all, sorry for the big gap in updated; I had revision/exams to do but they're out of the way and I have too much free time on my hands, so expect more updates hehe :)

The night surrounded him like a thick, chilly blanket, the dark sky so clear stars were visible in the distance. Changkyun produced a deep breath, watching the fog float away towards the streetlights as he rounded the final corner to the estate his Mother lived at.
After grabbing his keys, he blew warm air into his clasped hands, opening the door and letting it close as he made his way upstairs.

His eyes eventually raised to open the door, where he was met with an eviction notice. He harshly ripped it off, marching towards the office downstairs, slamming the yellow letter on the counter. "What is this about?"

"You're several months behind on rent," the man on the other side of the glass replied monotonously. "it's your final notice."

"To round up 165,000 won in two weeks?!"

"Yes. Before you get evicted."

He scoffed. "Do you people get off on making everybody's life difficult."

"I'm just doing my job, sir."

"Whatever," he said. "I'll get you the money. Just give me more time. I'm doing as much as I can."

The man leaned closer to the glass with a smile, which faded in seconds. "Two weeks."

Defeated, Changkyun made his way back upstairs, this time softly opening the door. He peered around the empty apartment, eyes following the light shining from the kitchen, his mother sat with a mug before her. She grinned tiredly. "You should be resting."

"I will, I'll stay here tonight." He walked over, pulling her into a warm hug.

"Scary, huh? The notice on the door," she chuckled. "I'll take care of it. I'm gonna pick up some extra shifts, but the car is gonna have to wait to be fixed."

"No, I'll help too. Where's Hyunjung?"

"She's been picked up," his Mother responded, sitting again as she slid a letter to him. "this is for you."

He eyed the folded letter sceptically, reaching for it. His eyes scanned the words; printed, not even typed. "What does he want?"

"To see you, and Hyunjung."

"Why now?" He hissed. "He's never been around before. I don't want him around now either."

"Changkyun, he's your Father-"

"I don't have one," He replied quietly, throwing the letter in the bin. "I only have you, and Hyunjung. And that's enough for me, Mom. I don't need him."

"Okay, my love," she sighed gently. "have you eaten, should I make you something?"

"Yeah. I had some food after my shift. I have another one tomorrow. 10 hours; I'll go right after my lecture - hey, don't look at me like that, I'm okay." he smiled.

"It must be difficult, you must be so tired."

"Mom, I'm not. I promise, it's okay," he smiled, preparing his own mug of tea. "not long to go now, just need to finish next year and then I'm all set to start a stable job. We can hold it out until then."

"You make me very proud, Kyun," She grinned. "you should go and rest."

"Rest? It's so early; should we watch a film?" He suggested. "All I need is a shower and a good night's sleep to get back on track. I can withstand a movie."

It was true; no matter how hard his shifts had become, they were always bearable when he came to compare them with the other ways he'd earned money before, as tempting as they may seem now. He'd pushed it out of his mind, but now more than ever, it was back, and it was winning the battle.
Not even the film or the shower could get his brain thinking right, so in order to silence his thoughts, he bypassed his room and head for his Mother's instead; and laying down & slipping his phone under the bed in hopes he wouldn't do anything stupid. She turned over at the movement, pulling him into her arms before placing a kiss on his head. "Goodnight, Changkyun."