Chapter 10
Don't Look BackOne of the best things about Mir, at least Joon thought so, was the fact that he was always so willing to do anything. Perhaps it could be passed off as courageous or open minded, but Joon respected him for never disagreeing with anything. Sure, it could get annoying when they were trying to decide what to eat for a snack or what to watch on television, and he would choose something and Mir would instantly agree, even if he didn’t like it. But Joon knew the truth, he understood that Mir came from a household where he didn’t get to enjoy the pleasures of everyday life. Mir just wanted to fit in and be accepted by someone; he was lonely. Annoying as it was that he couldn’t voice his own opinion on little things, Joon thought Mir was very sweet.
It came in handy when it came to their oh-so-often sleepovers that were happening on nearly a daily basis now. After Hyojin had banned Mir from sleeping on the couch, the boy had taken to sleeping on the floor next to Joon’s bed, but October had ended and it was well into November. The temperature was dropping each day and the nights were getting colder, and Joon decided that it just wasn’t fair that he got to sleep in a warm bed while his best friend got the hard wood floor.
Sighing softly, he rolled over in bed and peered down where Mir was laying with his eyes shut.
“Mir, come get in bed,” He said, holding open the blankets. His thoughts were confirmed when Mir smiled in relief and scrambled up to get in next to him – Mir was cold and uncomfortable down there. But he didn’t argue, as always, about having to share a bed with another boy, much to Joon’s relief.
“Thank you, Joon. But I was okay on the floor, I’m used to it,” Mir informed him, snuggling under the warm blankets and letting the warmth flow through his body like summer breaking through a cold winter.
“You’re used to sleeping on the floor?” Joon inquired, furrowing his brows quizzically. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Mir bit his bottom lip and nod, and an uncomfortable feeling filled his body.
“I don’t have a bed. Just a mattress. But it’s okay, money’s tight at home. I know my parents are trying really hard to find jobs,” Mir lied, closing his eyes so he wouldn’t have to see Joon. He’d always thought that if someone watched you while you lied they could read your thoughts.
The room was silent, save for the sound of their breathing, for a few minutes before Joon rolled over to face his friend, propping himself up on his elbow.
“But you said that you’re parents were alcoholics, Mir. Where do they get the money for that?” He pressed on, wanting to get some answers.
Mir snapped open his eyes as his blood ran cold, not sure how to answer that. He didn’t know what to say, but Joon couldn’t know the truth. What would he think of him if he knew that his parents sold drugs? Still, this was the ghetto and Joon saw that kind of thing ha
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