WATERCOLOR || Remake

Solemn Hearts

"I used to be friends with Jisung's mother. I was his father's half-sister. We went to college together, you see," Casey said solemnly. Jisung winced, gripping his leg. He didn't want to hear this, not again. As for Changbin, he was curious. This was a small taste of getting to know Jisung even more and understanding what type of facade the male was portraying. Changbin sat on the edge of his teacher's desk, resting his sore ankle.

"I also knew Changbin's parents; we went to the same university. Changbin's mother, Suzy, was beautiful; Joong was head-over-heels for the lady." She chuckled lightly. Changbin rolled his eyes, and Jisung scoffed at his guardian, who was reminiscing about her past.

"Anyways, the night of the accident, I received not only one but two calls from the police and Joong. Joong was at the hospital, and Jisung's parents had my name down so she could make an emergency contact. I crumbled that night, rushing to the hospital. Jisung was on a stretcher headed into surgery. They didn't have much of a choice but to ask me for approval to save his life. His parents were dead upon impact. Suzy was in critical condition."

"That- I didn't know my mother was still alive." Changbin interrupted.

"She was barely holding on. She passed while in surgery; her injuries were just too severe." Casey wiped her eyes.

Changbin wasn't sure how to feel now. He felt bad for Jisung sitting in the chair, looking like he was ready to collapse. His skin was palish white, and he was biting his lip to prevent tears from slipping. He could see the boy digging his nails deeper into his jeans, and Changbin reached for his hand to try and comfort him. Jisung had flinched, swatting his hand away and standing fast, knocking the chair down.

"The semi-driver got away with little to no injuries, but Jisung-" Casey stopped her words. She wasn't sure how to express that night without falling apart even more.

Jisung stormed off after his aunt's comment hung in the air unfinished. He obviously wasn't ready to hear it or relive that night, for that matter. The worried shouts from the art room faded to his ears. He picked up his pace, throwing his hood up, and he began to feel shaky. He wanted out of the school. Get him to his safe space. Jisung's glazed eyes shifted around, and he saw people staring at him. After slamming open the front doors, the sun started beating down on the boy, becoming extremely warm under his black hoodie. Changbin hobbled after the boy when Miss. Young nodded her head to follow him.

"Why don't we sit and talk?" Changbin tried to get his attention as he continued walking away painfully. Jisung thought about his parents, wishing they were by his side. He didn't look back at the raven-haired man following him still. He wanted to say Changbin finally started to give up as he waited for the city bus, but Changbin stood awkwardly beside him, not peeping a word. His presence was little to none. So, it didn't bother Jisung more than the thoughts of his family. Once the bus had come into view, Jisung stood up straighter as it rolled to a stop, climbed on, paid his fee, and sat in the back corner. Watching the outside world whiz past at what felt like slow speeds but was faster than what it would be doing if he walked to his desired destination.

Changbin sat quietly, still right beside the blonde, afraid of leaving the younger one alone. He was still not making a sound. He closed his eyes. Not knowing what he was going through now, he chose to continue walking and follow the blonde.

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The bus dropped both boys off by the graveyard entrance. Changbin slowly made his way off the bus as well. Jisung stood staring at the washed-out blue gates, with green vines and stone pillars that accented the dark red brick that created a baseline wall, before taking a breath and walking into the yard, not really caring at this point if Changbin was following him. Secretly, Jisung hoped he got the hint and that Changbin would leave because talking wasn't how he did things. Showing speaks louder in terms of what he's lived through.