Class 3 Romance (bxb)

Ha Joon - An Errand

Ha Joon stared at the notebook on his desk as he pushed his glasses back up on his nose. There were only a few usable pages left. His parents wouldn't buy him one. While they had yet to take his notebook and pencils away, they refused to give him any direct help. He would have to spend his own allowance. While he didn't have much money saved away, he always had a little to spare for his art. It would wipe him out as he hadn't planned to need the money this soon. He had thought it would take longer to finish filling up his current notebook, but one afternoon at Woo Jin's had inspired him.

As promised, or threatened, depending on the point of view, he had created a new character. A purple octopus that impeded his flaming green lion. Every time the lion was on the verge of doing something amazing, the octopus came out of nowhere, limbs flailing, sticking to everything in sight. He had not yet shown the drawings to Woo Jin, but found his heart beat a little faster at the idea.

"Ha Joon, breakfast." A sharp female voice called from the front room.

With a sigh, Ha Joon closed his notebook. His chin dropped to his chest he trudged out of his bedroom into the living room.

"Hello Mother, hello Father." Ha Joon gave a slight bow as he slid into his seat at the dining room table. The same seat he'd sat in for the last 15 years. His mother served the same simple meal she served almost every morning, the exception being birthdays and certain holidays. In the same bowls, on the same plates, with the same glasses, year after year. If Ha Joon closed his eyes, he could reach for everything without a second guess to what it was. Next would come the same questions that Ha Joon considered answering before they said a word.

"Have you finished your homework?"

"Yes, Mother."

"Did you do any extra credit?"

"There were none this week, Father. We finished exams two weeks ago. It's too early for the teachers to hand out extra credit."

"How were exam-"

"They were fine Mother. You asked that last week. I was in the top percent in all my subjects."

"Right. Right. And your homework, it's finished?"

Ha Joon swallowed hard to keep himself from sighing out loud.

"Yes, Mother, I finished my homework. I did it last night."

"Of course."

"Maybe today you should study ahead. Prepare for the upcoming exams."

It was a good thing the chopsticks in his hand were made of metal instead of wooden or he might have snapped them in two.

"Actually, Father as exams have just happened I was thinking of calling my friend to see if he would like to hang out."

Both of them stared at him across the dining room table, food halfway to mouth. His mother's mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish out of water. His father blinked at him over and over. Ha Joon couldn't remember a time he had stunned his parents into silence.

"Mother, Father, may I call my friend?"

"Y-You have a friend?" Ha Joon tried hard to brush off his father's question as simple curiosity into his life. But he knew it for what it was. It surprised his parents that he mentioned a friend. He couldn't ignore the ache in his chest.

"Yes, I do. And I would like to hang out with him today. May I?"

His mother bit her lip as she stared at Ha Joon. "You say you've finished your homework, and there are no exams coming?"

"Yes, Mother," Ha Joon sighed.

"Fine. I'll allow it. Just don't get into any trouble."

"Don't worry, Mother. Woo Jin is the last person to get into any trouble."