𝐡𝐞'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐲 | 𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐨

24

After our conversation, Yoshi bought me another cup of ice cream. It was supposed to be mine since the first one I got melted but Yoshi ended up eating most of it. We even argued about the flavor of the ice cream because he wanted to get mint chocolate while I wanted to get strawberry. I never tried mint chocolate before so I was hesitant to get it but Yoshi was able to coax me into ordering his desired flavor. Guess what? I shouldn't have listened to him. Mint chocolate tasted like toothpaste and I didn't enjoy the ice cream at all that's why I'm still kinda happy that Yoshi ate most of it because it would be such a waste to just throw it away.

"I need to rethink about this again." Yoshi said. We're walking hand in hand down the street. We left his car on the public parking space in front of the ice cream parlor. We decided that we can still save this date by strolling around the area. To be honest, I am still not familiar with this place even though I lived here for ages.

"What?" I asked. The air between us is rather comforting. It wasn't the awkward type that we had we when first met as classmates and even when our encounter at the convenience store.

"This relationship." He sulked. He faced me, his lips turned into a pout. "I can't believe you didn't like mint chocolate when it's the best ice cream flavor!"

I looked at him amused. He's whining like a little kid. I laughed because you wouldn't even know that he can be as dangerous as he wants to. I sometimes forget that he's in a gang. Looking at him now, he's just a regular 20-year old boy.

"Wow, I can't believe you're saying that. Is this how it goes? Mint chocolate over me?" I quirked my eyebrow and crossed my arms across my chest.

He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I froze when he planted a sweet and lingering kiss on the side of my head. "Of course, it's always you. I would choose you over everything. That's how much I love you."

I love you. It sounded so foreign but at the same time it sounded so right.

"Hey, are you okay? You suddenly stopped walking." I was brought back to reality when Yoshi spoke. I turned to him and gave him a big smile.

"Can I take you somewhere?" I asked him. "I want you to meet someone."

---

Yoshi silently walked beside. He didn't ask any questions. He just let me lead him to the place.

"Here we are." I said as I stopped to brush away the leaves that fell on the marble. "Hi, Mom. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come here often. I was so busy with school and stuff. I hope you understand."

I sat on the cemented box outline that enclosed my mother's grave. I picked up the remaining leaves that were lying around. I pulled out the candles that we bought on the way to the cemetery and lighted them up, placing them in front of the cherubim sculpture that acts as my mother's guardian. I also put the flowers beside it.

"Hey, come sit beside me. I want to introduce you to my mom." I told Yoshi who was still standing on the side, watching me. He then walked towards me and made himself comfortable on the seat next to mine.

"Mom, I want you to meet someone." I excitedly said, as if my mom can hear me. Well, I know for sure that she's listening to me from heaven. I know that she's always watching over me. "This is Yoshi, mom. He's my boyfriend."

I suddenly felt the tears building up and threatening to fall. Almost immediately, Yoshi pulled me close and began to whisper sweet nothings to try and calm me down. I trembled as I began to sob hard. As much as I try to deny it, the fact that I still miss my mom after all these years is embedded through my soul. I still cry for her. I still miss her touch, the way she would envelop me into a tight and warm hug. The way that she would assure me that everything's going to be alright. The way that she would tell me that she loves me. I love you. My mom was the last person to say those words to me and mean it before Yoshi came.

"I miss her so much." I cried harder as I grip Yoshi's shirt. "I miss her everyday. I wish I could turn back time and bring her back to me. She was the only person I could call my family but she was taken away from me. She was a good person. She was the sweetest. She was my refuge and strength. She protected me from my father. She always looked out for me. I wish I was able to do those for her too but I was just a little kid. I couldn't do anything except watch my Dad hurt her. She would get beaten instead of me. She basically put her life through hell to protect me. That's how much she loves me."

"If you don't mind me asking, how did she die Mirae?" Yoshi cautiously asked. I know he was testing the waters, careful not to offend or hurt me in any way.

"She died of cardiac arrest." I answered. The memory of the night when the worst event in my life happened is still vivid. "It was the first snow for that year. My mom and I were playing in front of the fireplace. We were laughing and goofing around. But I knew something was wrong. You see, I was a smart and attentive little girl. I knew that my mom would wear long sleeves not to fight the coldness but to hide the scars and bruises that she got from my father."

I stopped for a moment to calm myself.

"My father went home drunk like he always does. My mom immediately attended to him. She took off his coat for him and even prepared tea for my father but he didn't want that. Instead, he asked for another bottle of whiskey. My mom declined and told him to just go to sleep. That's when my dad lost it. He lashed out at my mom and slapped her across her face. I cried so hard. I approached him and tried to stop him but he pushed me to the side making me hit the table. My mom rushed towards me. My arm was bruised and my back got hurt. I remember seeing my mom get mad and went to my father and slapped him. That's when everything turned crazy. They fought and fought until my mom fell to the ground, clutching her chest."

I gritted my teeth in anger as I remember the next thing that happened.

"My mom was helpless. I wanted to run to her and help her but my back hurt so much that I couldn't move. My dad looked her at and told her to stop the act then he went to their room, leaving us behind. My mom looked at me and gave me a huge smile even though she was struggling for breath. I was screaming and crying as I watch her suffer. I wanted to help her. Her eyes slowly began to close but she was able to tell me she loves me so much before she lost consciousness."

My mother didn't die of cardiac arrest even though that's what the doctor told us. She died because my father killed her. He made her suffer. He made us suffer and I will never forgive him for that.

"You're a strong girl, Mirae. You're a brave girl. I'm proud of you, baby. I know your mom is so proud of you too. Look at how you've grown into this wonderful lady despite those circumstances. Your mother loves you so much." Yoshi whispered, his voice cracking at the end. I looked up and saw tears in his eyes. I gently placed my trembling hands on his cheeks and wiped away his tears.

"I should be the one doing that." He joked. "I love you, Mirae."

I smiled at him. "I love you too."

"Why aren't you scared of me, Mirae? I am in a gang just like your dad. Aren't you scared that I might turn into him?" He suddenly asked.

"I-I don't actually know. I admit that I was scared of you before. You always look cold and snobbish. Then, I found out that you're in a gang. I know that I should be scared because you might be another version of dad but I wasn't. There is something about you that made me believe that you are not going to be like me dad, that you are far from him. You will never become like him, right?"

"I promise, Mirae. I will never be like him."

He then turned to look at my mom's grave.

"Hello, ma'am. I am Kanemoto Yoshinori and I am your daughter's boyfriend. I know I may not be the ideal man for your daughter since I am part of a gang but I can assure you that I will take care of your daughter. I will love her as much as you loved her. I will make sure she doesn't get hurt. No one will ever touch or hurt Mirae from now on, not under my watch. I will try not to make her cry... you know she's a crybaby right? I will make sure she eats well. I will make sure she doesn't forget to drink her vitamins and to have a complete sleep. I will treasure her the way you've treasured her. Don't worry ma'am, your daughter is safe with me. I'll treat her as my family."

I couldn't help but to jump into his arms and hug him tight. I buried my head into his chest while he caressed my back. We sat there in each other's arms. We were too focused comforting each other that we didn't realize that the first snow for the year have fallen.