Saturday-
*WHAM* the man fell off the couch and flat onto the floor. "Ugh" he groaned as he lifted himself from off the hardwood floor. Today was Saturday and luckily for him he didn't have to work today. The man got up and stretched while looking around. It didn't look like the kid had searched through his things for money so that was a good sign. He walked over to the kitchen, scratching his head and stomach while letting out a yawn. As he got into the kitchen, the bathroom door opened and the boy stepped out looking at the man with surprise. "Mornin" The man nodded at the boy while rummaging through the fridge.
"Ah" The man stopped and turned to the boy "What's your name kid?" The boy's eyes went every which way as if he was trying to come up with something. The man sighed and walked over to the boy and held out his hand, "I'm Yoo Han-bin, but people around here call me Mark."
The boy looked around for a second before bowing and shaking the man's hand. " Kim Nam-gi, or Owen"
The man smiled at the boy while repeating his name, "Kim Nam-gi, I'll call you Owen then, it's easier to remember" he smiled then turned and continued to make himself breakfast. Owen just stood there not knowing what to do until Mark turned around with two bowls of cereal and handed one to him. He followed Mark to the kitchen table and slowly sat down, he wasn't hungry so he just kinda stared at the cereal floating in the bowl. Mark turned to Owen and started asking him questions, "Do you go to school around here?" Owen slightly shook his head and turned away looking down at the table. Silence sat between the two of them for a while. Mark didn't know what to do to get the boy to talk to him so he muttered the one thing that was on his mind."Who's Jennie?"
The boy looked up and his eyes widened as he looked at the man with shock and anger mixed in his expression.
"I really don't mean to pry but while you were in the shower last night I was just cleaning up and your um, note fell out of your shoe." Mark coughed and swallowed hard, he knew he shouldn't have brought that up but he didn't know what to say and his mouth moved before he thought it over. Owen hit the table as he bolted up from his seat. He bowed to the man and started heading towards the door.
Mark got up from the table so fast he hit his knee as he lunged for Owen's arm. "Wait! I'm sorry don't go, I know I'm just a random stranger that is just prying into your business but I want to help you kid." Owen stopped walking and turned to face Mark who was rubbing his red knee.
"Why would you care." He stared at Mark with rage in his eyes. Mark sighed while resting his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"Look kid, if I didn't care you wouldn't be here right now. I should've just continued on with my life like I had never seen you standing on the edge of the building but you know what, I didn't. Something in me triggered to run a help you. There has to be more under there than what I read in that note." The boy was clenching his fist. It started shaking a bit as his eyes started to water. How long had he waited for someone to say that to him? How long had it been since someone really cared? He couldn't remember even if he tried. Mark felt Owen shake and saw the tears starting to roll down his face and pulled him into a light awkward hug.
"Listen kid, I don't know what you've been through but, you can tell me. I'll do my best to make you're life less miserable, and when that happens and you're happy enough to be on your own... I'll leave you alone, that sound like a deal?" Mark bent down to look the kid in the eyes however he avoided eye contact. Mark gave up and eventually stood up and grabbed his wallet. "Well, I need to go grocery shopping, you can either come with me or be dragged along." He chuckled to himself at that statement however he was dead serious. After what he saw last night there was no way he was leaving his kid alone, especially in his own apartment. Owen wiped his eyes and nodded.
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YOU ARE READING
As Days go by
Roman d'amourMark is walking home after a hard day at work when he looks up to find a boy standing on the edge of his apartment building. Who was this kid and why was he here? Mark usually minds his own business but something about this boy made him want to help...