Stay (Topp Dogg) {Published on Amazon}

Part 9

Monday

When my classes finished, Kidoh came to pick me up. He turned the music down in the car again.

"So, we're going to go somewhere fancy. You need to wear something nice," he informed me.

I sighed and slumped my shoulders. "I don't have anything nice to wear, though."

"Then go shopping with Yano. He needs to buy some clothes. I'll give you guys money."

I shook my head, no. "I can buy my own clothes and my nephew can buy his own."

He leaned in closer to me as he drove. It made me nervous. "What if I steal your clutch so you can't buy anything?"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You wouldn't." He nodded his head. "Yes I would." I rolled my eyes.

"Fine, I need five hundred."

He looked taken aback and pressed on the brakes a little too hard at the stop sign. The car behind us lurched.

"Why five hundred?" I smiled at his shocked voice.

"If I'm going to get my little cousin a full wardrobe, that costs a lot. Plus, if I'm going to get myself a decent dress I need at least one hundred dollars."

Kidoh sighed and looked at me through the corner of his eyes. "Can't you go to a thrift store? Yano can just wear used clothes, can't he?"

I shook my head. "My nephew only gets the best."

"Then he can wear my clothes! They're the best in Seoul!"

I raised a brow at him. "Well, not really, but I try."

I giggled. "Then I guess I'll be buying my own clothing," I said.

He smiled and turned the music back up, signaling the end of our conversation. Shortly after he turned it up, he turned it back down.

"What about school? Yano still goes to school, right?" I nodded my head. "We have to transfer him to a new high school nearby your house. I think it would be better if he just continued to live with you until he graduates." I spoke my mind and didn't think about how Kidoh would react. It made me nervous thinking about how he would feel about what I said.

"Hyein, I don't know if I can take care of that kid for another year." We reached the apartment and he parked his car.

I looked at Kidoh before we got out. "I need you to take care of him. I know my mom can't, and I know I can't. We can barely afford my drugs from the pharmacy. How are we going to clothe another kid?" I raised my brows at him and he finally turned to me.

"Fine, but he's getting a job too. Plus, I'm going to be like a father to him. I won't let him be a lazy bum."

I smiled at Kidoh's words. "Thank you, I appreciate that."

We both got out of the car and ran up the fire escape.

When we entered the house, Yano was on the couch, watching television. His laugh echoed around the room and it made me smile. It's difficult to believe he's still only a senior in high school.

"Yano, c'mere! Kidoh and I need to talk to you." Yano turned around in his seat. "Yes, Aunt Hyein?" He asked. I pointed to the spot next to me on the kitchen floor. "Come here" I shouted.

He walked over slowly. Yano looked down at me, with a fake pouty face. "When did I become a dog, Hyein?" He asked me. I narrowed my eyes at him. "You call me Aunt Hyein. I'm your aunt," I emphasized the importance of the word aunt, then sighed.

"You're going to go to school again. Kidoh and I are going to arrange things. You should be going back next week.," I told him. He groaned, "But I hate school." I snickered. "You're going to hate me a lot more after I tell you this." Yano made eye contact with me again and furrowed his brows. "You're going to stay here with Kidoh and Xero until you graduate high school."

Kidoh had been standing there the entire time, listening to our short conversation. He finally decided to churp in. "You need to get a job if you're going to stay. You have to learn how to support yourself. I won't be buying you any of you're clothes or special things you want, you have to do it yourself. To start you off though, I'm giving you 300 dollars to buy some new clothes. You can't be wearing my clothes anymore."

It was as if we ripped Yano's soul out of him. His eyes went big. The boy looked back and forth from Kidoh, to me. "Seriously?" He asked, absolutely astonished. I smiled and met his eyes again. "You're eighteen, you can do it." I patted his shoulder and made my way back to the door where my shoes were.

"Come on, Yano, lets go shopping," I called out to him. Kidoh and Yano made their way to the door. I looked at Kidoh and gave him a light hug. "I'll see you later." He gave me my keys that were hanging in the kitchen. I grabbed them and swung them around my finger. "Thank you, I almost forgot those." He smiled and brought me back in for a hug.

"Aunt Hyein, come on! You can hug him later!" I giggled and said my goodbyes to Kidoh. Then Yano and I left for the mall.

A.N

The song I chose to go along with this chapter is Angel by Yoo Mi Rae ft. Tiger JK and Bizzy. Please check it out and thank you for reading!