Surprisingly, it didn’t take Jongin too long before he could walk normally again with no limp. Only about a week later from the incident with his stepmother, in fact. All seemed well. He acted the same way as he always did; cocky, full of confidence, and frank. And besides that brief smile he shot at Kyungsoo that day, there was no difference in their relationship nor any change the way he acted toward him.

However, less than a month later, he showed up to school with yet another limp…and sunglasses on his face. He was tight lipped and grim as he sat down at their table during recess.

“Why the heck are you wearing sunglasses indoors? And you’re limping again?” Chanyeol stared.

“Tripped.”

“So you’re covering up your injury with sunglasses? If you trip shouldn’t it be your nose or something?”

Jongin ignored Chanyeol as Sehun appeared. He took one look at Jongin and started laughing.

“You look like such a poser right now.”

“Shut up,” Jongin mumbled.

Chanyeol shot Sehun a mischievous look and Kyungsoo knew they were up to no good. In a flash, Sehun was up on his feet and pulling Jongin’s arms back as Chanyeol snatched the sunglasses off Jongin’s face.

“WHAT THE !” Jongin yelled.

There was silence from the table. Some nearby students that heard the yell had turned to peer curiously at Jongin. His right eye was an ugly bruised purple and red. It was slightly smaller than usual due to his swollen eyelid. It looked quite painful but the expression in both his eyes was anger. He glared at them, fists clenched and teeth gritted.

“What on earth happened to you?” Kyungsoo gasped.

“ you guys,” Jongin snarled, yanking the glasses back from Chanyeol and stalking out of the cafeteria.

The gang gave one another looks and grimaces.

“You two went too far,” Joonmyun shook his head.

“Jeez I didn’t know…he’s usually such an I just wanted to get back at him…” Chanyeol trailed off.

“Eh, I’ll go talk to him,” Sehun shrugged and went off in pursuit of the angry boy.

Kyungsoo wondered if that horrendous black eye was the result of Jongin’s stepmother again. He supposed he would be living at the jimjilbang again. Based on the injury, it wasn’t likely Jongin would be going home anytime soon. Considering that most previous injuries he had ever noticed about Jongin had never been very prominent, it seemed like something big had happened.

Thoughts of Jongin’s black eye drifted in and out of Kyungsoo’s mind the rest of the day. He couldn’t help but feel worried. Jongin didn’t show up for lunch. Sehun stated he couldn’t find him during recess and was completely ignored during class. The teachers made him remove his sunglasses and he did so reluctantly with a permanent scowl on his face the entire day. Needless to say, there were plenty of whispers and rumours spiralling throughout the school regarding his black eye. There was supposed to be practice after school for the talent show but Baekhyun decided to cancel it.

“Jongin won’t show up anyway,” he shrugged as he headed off to the bus stop with Chanyeol.

Joonmyun waved goodbye in a rush for soccer practice, leaving Sehun and Kyungsoo standing at the school gates.

“Where’s Jongin? Doesn’t he usually go home with you?”

“I don’t know where he went. He didn’t show up for last period and wasn’t at his locker. He probably just went home or something. I’ll call him later tonight. See you,” Sehun replied before walking off.

Kyungsoo made up his mind. He was going to the jimjilbang to find Jongin. He wasn’t too sure where it was, but then he remembered the direction Jongin walked toward that night at the park. He had said it was near, so it couldn’t have been too difficult to find, right?

Sure enough, there was a jimjilbang only two blocks over from the park. He stepped inside and bowed at the ahjusshi behind the counter.

“Hello there. How can I help?” He greeted Kyungsoo and the boy bowed in response.

“I was wondering…do you know Kim Jongin?”

The man’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Yes I do. How do you know him?”

“Um…we’re sort of friends?”

“Well, he told me he’d be back tonight but he’s not back yet. Do you want to sit down and wait for him here?”

“Oh. Sure.”

“What’s your name?”

“Do Kyungsoo.”

The ahjusshi quickly fetched a wooden stool and handed it over to Kyungsoo before serving a customer that just walked in. Kyungsoo watched silently before the man spoke again.

“Were you the one that wrapped his ankle several weeks back?” He asked as he counted some bills.

“Yes, that was me.”

“That was very kind of you,” he paused, bills in hand, “It was a good thing you helped secure it. He came yesterday night rather dishevelled, the poor kid. I helped fix him up the best I could. I’m a little nervous that his leg got worse. It was still healing, after all. Told him to go to the hospital to check on it but he refused.”

“Still healing? Isn’t it all better?”

“He had a small fracture. It takes a good six to eight weeks to fully heal, and obviously it hasn’t even been a month. From the looks of it he received another blow there. And now he has a black eye too.”

“Do you know…what happened to him?”

“He mentioned something about his brother. I’m not too sure. He never likes to talk too much about himself. I’ve got a boy almost his age so…when I see him like this I can’t help but feel bad for him.”

“Have you known him for a long time?”

“I knew his mother before…you know. She worked here part-time for a good eight years or so. He was often here after school sitting on the stool you’re sitting on now, doing his homework. Of course, when he got older he didn’t come here as much. But during the past year he has come more often in the evenings. More often with an injury or two than not. Almost every month he spends a night here.”

“I didn’t know he was here this often…or that he got injured so often.”

“I’m not too surprised. The boy doesn’t like to talk too much and tries to keep his injuries quiet. I don’t think I know anyone who can put up with pain quite as much as he can. Sometimes I have to force him to show me where he’s hurt. Usually his injuries are covered up so you can only imagine how surprised I was seeing him walk in here with that black eye. He’s a good boy though. Polite, kind, and helps out around the jimjilbang to make up for his evenings here. He says he’d feel bad otherwise, since I’ve helped wrap him up so many times,” the ahjusshi chuckled.

A number of customers entered then and another employee moved over to the counter to speak into the ahjusshi’s ear. He nodded in response before turning back to Kyungsoo.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to go to the back to do some work now. You make yourself comfortable, alright? Hopefully Jongin will be back soon.”

“Yes of course. Thank you,” Kyungsoo bowed.

The man returned a warm smile before he headed into the back, and Kyungsoo remained seated, staring at the automatic doors, waiting for the return of a limping boy.

--

“What are you doing here?”

Kyungsoo had dozed off in his seat. He rubbed his eyes and blinked to see Jongin standing in front of him, scowl on his face, sunglasses in hand. He stood up and cleared his throat, spotting the small hand on the clock on the seven.

“Um, I remembered you said you went to a jimjilbang whenever stuff happened so-”

“So you stalked me.”

“That’s not called stalking. I just wanted to make sure you were ok-”

“I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine. You disappeared and you looked so pissed off the entire day.”

“Does it matter?” Jongin asked flatly, “I just don’t need people staring at my ing eye all day like I’m some zoo animal.”

“I’m just…a bit worried-”

“We’re not friends. Stop pretending to care.”

“You’re an , you know that?”

“No . I already told you last time. I’m an by nature. And I’m not going to treat you differently from before.”

“I’m trying to be nice! And I’m not pretending at all! You’re limping again and that black eye looks terrible.”

“I can deal with myself. Just go back to the library or go home to your mom like the mama’s boy you are-”

“At least I have a mom I can go home to!” Kyungsoo shot back.

There was silence as the words sunk in and Kyungsoo winced. That was far too harsh.

“Sorry I didn’t- ”

“Just leave,” Jongin turned and limped toward the men’s changing rooms.

Kyungsoo quickly grabbed his backpack and followed.

“That wasn’t supposed to come out of mouth.”

“Oh, so then I suppose that was supposed to stay in your head just like how you thought it.”

“I didn’t mean it like that!” Kyungsoo replied exasperated.

Jongin suddenly stopped and turned around, causing Kyungsoo to bump into him.

“How did you mean it then?”

Kyungsoo had no words as he scrambled to think of something to say.

“Tch. That’s what I thought,” Jongin turned back around and started moving away.

“It just slipped, ok? You just act like a complete jerk when someone is trying to be nice to you. All I’m trying to do is make sure you’re ok and you go and insult me! It pissed me off. That’s all.”

“You owe me nothing to bother with me. And I owe you nothing either,” Jongin responded, back still facing Kyungsoo as he slowly shuffled to the changing room.

“Is that how you’re like with the ahjusshi too? He’s so worried about you and you don’t tell him anything!”

“That is different. I…I know he’s worried. But I have no obligation to tell you anything.”

“You told me last time.”

Jongin paused.

“I…I’m not really sure why I did,” he admitted, “But that was a one time thing. So just leave me alone.”

Kyungsoo opened his mouth to speak as they entered the changing rooms but was interrupted.

“And don’t follow me into a shower stall!” Jongin warned.

Kyungsoo sighed and moved back outside. The boy was determined to get Jongin to spill the beans. He had a gut feeling that something bad had happened, and he was not going to let it go so easily. Especially after he accidentally said something so hurtful.

--

“Seriously? You’re still here?” Jongin rolled his eyes when Kyungsoo reappeared in matching blue jimjilbang shirt and shorts.

He had been sitting on a towel while tapping away on his phone when the wide-eyed boy had settled down next to him, towel wrapped around his head like a lamb head.

“Your leg. It doesn’t look so good,” Kyungsoo pointed.

It was clearly swollen but no bruising could be seen due to the elastic bandages wrapped all around his ankle and secured around his foot. Jongin didn’t respond. He continued to stare at his phone.

“Jongin!”

Both boys looked up to see the ahjusshi walking over, smile on his face.

“Your eye is looking a bit better. Here, a hardboiled egg for your eye,” he handed the egg over in a towel.

“Thank you ahjusshi,” Jongin replied politely, accepting the egg.

“And some sikhye for both of you, on the house,” he smiled broadly, setting down two cups full of the sweet rice drink.

Both boys gave their thanks as the man continued.

“And it looks like Kyungsoo here found you. He came since after school and waited for you. He was falling asleep! If that’s not a good friend, I don’t know what is.”

Jongin shot a glance at the other boy as the man patted Kyungsoo on the back.

“Well, back to work for me. Let me know if you need anything!” The ahjusshi walked off.

Kyungsoo reached over to grab one of the cups and carefully secured his towel hat better into place.

“Congratulations for always making me feel like I owe you something,” Jongin commented as he applied the egg in a towel to his eye.

Kyungsoo crossed his legs and took a sip of his sikhye.

“I’m sorry for what I said. Honestly. I really didn’t mean it.”

“I get it. Whatever. Not like I’m not used to hearing stuff like that. Heard plenty of worse things yesterday.”

“Did…was it your stepmother again this time?”

“Probably would’ve been easier to deal with if it was just her.”

“The ahjusshi mentioned your brother…”

“That ahjusshi…telling people my life story. I need to stop talking to him.”

“He didn’t even tell me much. He doesn’t seem to know much. He just said you mentioned your brother.”

“Brother. Ha. It’s that woman’s son. He punched me and stepped on my leg. Normally he doesn’t get physically involved but…” Jongin trailed off.

“But…what?”

“But nothing. Point being, he’s a who decided to step on my leg after his of a mother smashed a golf club there not too long ago. I’m pretty sure he’d be glad if he knew it was broken.”

“If it’s broken why is it not in a cast?! You should be using crutches!”

“It’s just a small fracture…”

“That was before it got stepped on. You didn’t go to the hospital, did you?”

“Hate hospitals. There’s no way in hell I’d go unless I had absolutely no choice. I spent more than enough time there with my mom.”

“Go to a clinic then? You need to check it out.”

“It’s fine…”

“Do you really want to run the risk of it getting infected or something so that you can never dance again?”

Kyungsoo struck gold with that one.

“Fine. I’ll go tomorrow. Happy?”

“Not really. Honestly, I don’t understand why you don’t go to the authorities or something. This is abuse. Child abuse, actually. Since you’re not of age yet.”

“Are you insane?” Jongin stared.

“I think you are. You’re being used as a human punching bag every month and you do nothing about it.”

“And what the do you think I should be doing then?”

“Go to the police!”

“If you haven’t noticed, I live with them. What am I supposed to do after I report them? Go home and face them everyday after they get arrested and fined or something?”

“At least you’ll stop being abused!”

“You’re ing stupid.”

Kyungsoo gaped.

“You think it’ll get better? It won’t. It’ll just be worse.”

“It can’t possibly get worse.”

“You want to bet? And worst of all? My dad will give even less of a . He’ll hate my guts for ing around with his family.”

“You’re his family too!”

“I WISH I WAS!” Jongin shouted, punching a fist against the floor.

People turned to stare and Kyungsoo looked around nervously. They began to talk amongst themselves again and he sighed.

“You’re still his son, right?”

“Then why don’t you get it? He’s still my dad. No matter how much my mom and I went through…and how wrong he was…and how little he gives a about me…he’s still my dad. And even though he doesn’t make much effort to care about me, there’s still that teensy amount of care that does exist. And I don’t want that to go away. I don’t want to destroy what little I have, and I don’t want to make it harder for him to care about me, albeit how little it is.”

“…I just…it really seeing how you can’t do anything. Is it really worth all…this?” Kyungsoo gestured toward Jongin’s leg and eye.

“You just won’t understand. You grew up with a nice family. Your parents love you and they love each other. The biggest fight you all probably have had was what restaurant to go to for supper.”

“Okay we’ve had worse than that-”

“Boo ing hoo. It can’t have been anything like this. And I already told you last time. I get why they hate me and hate my mom. I’m like a blotch on their seemingly perfect lives. My mom and I had no idea, so ultimately it was my dad’s fault for being a lying cheating bastard. But we did cut into their family,” Jongin removed the egg from his eye.

“Then don’t blame yourself.”

“I don’t. I know it’s not my fault. And you know what I learned from all this ? I never want to get married or start a family. Looking at what happened to my mom and I…and looking at their family? They’re so fake. It disgusts me. In front of others they put up this front, pretending to be a perfect family and I’m some servant’s son living there because of their kindness. But behind all that they argue all the time. Their son is just a useless piece of that sleeps around and parties all his money away with no achievement in life except the notches on his bed post. And their daughter spends more time at a spa or salon than in school.”

“I assume you said that to them…resulting in your injuries,” Kyungsoo replied, setting down his cup.

“ that.”

There was silence then. Kyungsoo wondered if that was the reason why Jongin was so frank and straightforward. Because he hated lying and people pretending to be something they weren’t. So he said what he thought, without restraint or any smoke and mirrors. Ironically, he had become a person that pretended to be someone he wasn’t in his desire to get away from the likes of his so-called family. He acted cold, uncaring, and downright mean even to those that tried to care. But he really was just a little boy who wanted to be loved…

“You’re afraid to get more hurt,” Kyungsoo whispered under his breath.

“What?”

“Oh. Nothing.”

Jongin stared at the other boy for a bit, who just looked at the floor poking his straw back and forth inside the cup. A rare look of curiosity spread across Kim Jongin’s face. This kid. This owl kid that was older but looked like he was 12. Why did he bother asking? Why did he show up at the jimjilbang? Why did he even care?

Most of all, why did he himself even respond to Do Kyungsoo, and tell him so much about his life?

--

The day after that, Jongin went to the clinic as nagged by Kyungsoo and the ahjusshi. He was given crutches. Kyungsoo almost wanted to go with him, but one glare from Jongin told him that it was crossing a line. An invisible line that Jongin seemed to draw around himself so that no one could step in. If he didn’t get close with anyone, then when they ditched him or left him behind, he wouldn’t get hurt. It was his own protective barrier.

Kyungsoo didn’t realize it before. But now he noticed so many things about Kim Jongin that he hadn’t seen before. Jongin adored dogs. He enjoyed fried chicken, and hated pickles in his burgers. He wrinkled his nose when he was confused and there was always a bracelet around his wrist that Kyungsoo assumed had been his mother’s. And that protective barrier? It only seemed that Sehun had the rare opportunities to occasionally cross the line. They had that type of friendship where they pretended not to care about each other or know much about one another but in reality, they likely knew one another like the back of their own hands. One couldn’t help but wonder how they came to have such a relationship, especially based on Jongin’s personality.

And Kyungsoo told himself that he wouldn’t be able to break through that barrier. That he shouldn’t even bother to cross the line or attempt to gain some of Sehun’s status. But he couldn’t help it.

He found himself becoming more and more drawn in.

A/N: Longer chapter today. Had a nice long weekend; had two lovely evenings with friends and went out of town for the day yesterday. I have another nice long weekend coming up! I swear, on the first day back to work after a long weekend, my desire to stay home and not work increases exponentially.