As Jongin is waiting infront of the room he had been told, the anticipation inside almost kills him.

The ticking of the clock on the wall behind him gets louder and louder with every minute passing by.

He stares at his hands and notices they're trembling almost unnoticably.

Shaking his head the slightest, he puts them into his pockets.

There's no need to be nervous right now, all he really should be feeling is pure relief and happieness over finally being able to see his mother again.

But as destiny takes it's toll on Jongin again, he is put outside the room waiting, again.

The doctor said, he would be checking on his mother first to see if she was really in condition for recieving visits.

Alltogether he had sounded pretty much positive but knowing what kind of luck is always on his side, Jongin slowly starts to doubt his positive expectations.

„Mr. Kim?“

„Huh??“ Jongin startles in his seat, looking at a young, handsome doctor infront of him.

„Y-Yeah?“

The doctor smiles warmly at him, pointing to the light blue door with his slender hand.

„You may visit your mom now, she is stable enough by now.“

„R-Really?“, Jongin asks excitedly with a huge grin on his face.

The doc nods with another stunning smile, then excuses himself, leaving Jongin with a weird mix of awe and excitement.

He almost doesn't dare to put his hands on the door knob as the long and strainingly awaited opportunity of seeing his mother again suddenly sits infront of his feet.

He presses down the latch with his heart beating a thousand times faster than usual.

His breath becomes unsteady as he enters the room with a thousand questions in his head.

But all of them subside within seconds as he spots the all too familiar face searching for his eyes.

„Mom!!!“

As he spots his mom, Jongin couldn't hold his emotions.

He storms off to the white bed, ignoring the massive amount of appliances besides it and hugs his mother as tight as he can.

„Omg mom, you can't believe how happy I am to see you!! Are you ok? Are you still in pain?“

His mom hugs back gently with her arms bandaged and smiles at Jongin with the most warmhearted smile he had ever seen.

„Don't worry about me little rabbit, I'm ok. Feeling like a weekload of work but I'm fine.“

She hugs him another time.

„I'm glad to see you.“

Both spend another long moment in a tight embrace before Jongin slowly backs away, his expression changing to a more bitter one.

„You know that's not the only reason I'm here.“

His mom nods understandingly, her expression changing as well.

„I know sweetheart. I'll tell you everything I know. But I can't remember everything in detail though.“

Jongin eyes his mom with a stern expression in his eyes.

„Did he do it?“

Upon his question, the female averts her eyes slightly insecure.

„That's all I need to know. I knew he was up to no good. Mom this is the time to finally get him into jail.“

His mom still averts his gaze, nervously chewing on her bottom lip.

„Jongi it's actually not that easy, he-“

„Yes, it IS that easy mom!! He shot you and you almost died. This is more than a good reason to get his into jail!“

„Jongi listen.“

The boy looks up at his mothers face, which is now stained with tears streamng down her face.

„I don't know if he's the one who shot me, I was sleeping when all of this happened. I couldn't make out any faces or what exactly was going on. Chances are high I just got into the crossfire.“

Jongin gapes at her in disbelief.

„ … You're not tryna tell me you won't be reporting to the police?“

„Jongi I-“

„Mom you even told me on the phone that they had weapons and were up to something fishy! Now finally man up and do something against this bastard, he has surely been torturing you long enough!“

His mom averts her gaze again in shame.

„Jongi I'm afraid there's not much we can do without proper evidence.“

Jongin still stares at his mother in disbelief.

„But mom we have to try. Should all of this go to waste without even trying? Your wounds and pain, should all of this happened for nothing?“

Jongin could the the puddle of tears forming in his mothers eyes.

That's when she speaks up with a very quiet voice.

„ … I'm afraid Jongi. I'm so afraid this'll happen again if I do something. I'm afraid he'll shoot me again if everything doesn't turn out the way we planned it. Forgive me, I'm a coward.“

She buries her face deep within her hands while speaking but Jongin could still hear the silent sobs emitting from the petite woman.

As he watches his mother trying so hard not to cry, his heart begins to ache painfully and he instantly regrets his harsh words.

Without saying anything, he takes her in his arms, gently the soft hair while whispering: „I'm so sorry mom, I should've known how hard this is for you. I'm just so happy you're still here breathing.“

He leans back searching for his mom's eyes.

„You don't have to do something you don't want to“, he mumbles in a deep voice while gently wiping her tears away, „but you won't get a better chance to get rid of him ever again, unless he shoots you again but I doubt he'll keep you alive next time.“

His mom heaves out a desperate sigh.

„I know litte rabbit, I know .. but still …“

„You don't have to answer me right now, but I'm sure police is coming soon and you'll have to give a statement. This time you can't run away.“

Mentioning the police evokes a slight tad of panic in his mothers eyes and he clings onto her blaket even more than before.

With a voice so quiet that even Jongin sitting so close to his mom has trouble understanding, she speaks up: „I don't know what to do Jongi …“

That's when Sehuns handsome face flashes in his mind and he remembers the offer he gave past week.

With all the seriousness he could muster, Jongin says: „Well first off, I could get you outta that crappy apartment. Away from him.“

This time, his mom's expression changes from desperate to utterly confused.

„W-Well how do you plan on doing that?“

Trying hard not to blush, Jongin continues: „It's all in the bag already.“

„B-But how?“

A small smile rushes over Jongins face as he watches his mother staring at him with wide eyes.

„You remember my arts teacher? Mr. Oh?“

A deep crease appears on her forehead. „I think so … what does he have to do with this?“

Jogin exhales deeply. „Well he offered to let us live with him in his house as he heard about what happened. All you have to do is agreeing.“

Almost as if in a daze, his mom continues gaping at him with open and her eyes filled with a thousand questions.

„Y-You're not trying to make fun of me right now are you?“

Jongin shakes his head with hands up in defense. „Why would I in such a serious situation?“

As the words slowly start to make sense to his mom, Jongin could see another puddle of tears forming in her eyes again.

„You can't believe how happy I am right now. All I have been worrying about the past days was how to get you out of this apartment without us having to sleep under a bridge.“

A warmhearted smile finds it's way to Jongins lips and he hugs his mom tight.

„You worry way too much about me. Start worrying aout yourself will you?“

Under tears, she manages to let out a small laugh, wiping her face dry.

„You're an angel my little rabbit. But you're your fathers child after all.“

She smiles at him and Jongin has to try hard not to blush in slight embarassement.

„Mom!! This is not the time for-“

„Come here“, she laughs and cuddles the younger lovingly.

Later that day, Jongin calls up Sehun to tell him about the past events and his mothers decision about moving in.

While being happy about getting away from that bastard, Jongin still couldn't shake off the awkward feeling he has when thinking about moving in with his teacher, despite him promising not to let anything slip into public.

They agree on getting their stuff in the afternoon and get everything done before his mom is released from hospital.

Sehun promised to come with him in case his stepdad is home as well and concious enough to take notice of him.

With a wave of relief washing over him, Jongin puts down the phone.

Perhaps things were about to get better after all.

Wassup little cuppiecakes? :D

I hope you're doing fine and enjoying fall as much as i do right now (trying not to fall ill again .___.)

Watch out for yourselfs not to fall ill as well :D In case you do, I'll provide another chappie to read when staying in bed ;) 

I'll most likely will be updating with shorter chapters because I don't have much time to write right now but I still want to keep you entertained =)

So as always, let me now what you think ;)

And have a great weekend with loads of sun <3

Love you <3