Work Text:
“I’m going to be away for a week. Can you make sure Jinah’s okay while I’m gone?”
You should have asked a favor in return instead of just agreeing to Jinwoo’s question, because something is driving you crazy. You’re not sappy enough to say you can’t live without your boyfriend, but it’s starting to seem like there’s no alternative explanation.
Jinwoo’s been gone for a grand total of two days and you’re pacing around his apartment, feeling antsy and irritated for reasons you can’t name. You stop in the kitchen and lean forward to bump your forehead against the wall, pressing your head into it and turning around so your back is against something solid.
Jinah pops out of her room. You tilt your head over to look at her. “Yes?”
“You’ve been doing that for the past half hour or something, just go for a run,” she says.
“I went out today already. And it’s dark out.” You close your eyes and bonk your forehead on the wall again.
“Okay, well. If you say so.” She almost-closes her door before changing her mind and opening it again. “You look like a dog who’s lost its owner.”
“Hey!” You lunge for her. “First of all, rude.”
She dodges your grab and laughs. “I’m kidding! Jinwoo’s more of the dog than you, I’ve seen how he runs around in circles to try and get you happy. I swear he’s trying to—”
“Trying to what,” you say, blocking the living room door. Jinah looks down at the phone in her hand. “What were you going to say?”
“Nothing.”
You wait. Jinah stares at you. You stare back at her.
“Did your brother bribe you not to tell me something?”
Jinah snorts. “No, I just have eyes and self-awareness.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Hey! Get back here, you!”
A few days later, the weather decides to mirror your feelings and keeps it chilly and cloudy all day, as if too irritated to come out and rain but annoyed enough to make sure everyone knows about it. It mostly clears up by evening, but you only crack the window open to air out the kitchen instead of opening it all the way as you usually do.
You keep looking at the door while drying the same dish you’ve been holding for the past five minutes, as if the apartment isn’t empty. Your phone hasn’t received any messages from Jinwoo in a week and Jinah hasn’t come home from school yet.
You: Jinaaaaaaaaaah what do you want for dinner
[Delivered 4:56pm]
The laundry machine beeps. You throw the dish towel onto the counter and go to clip up the clothes, too restless to do much else. Maybe staying inside too much is making you stir-crazy. Maybe you should go for a run after this or something.
Your phone buzzes when you’re about to throw on a jacket and your shoes and go walk around, laundry be damned.
Jinwoo (6:46pm): sorry i was gone for so long
Jinwoo (6:48pm): be home in a minute. Jinahs w me
Jinwoo (6:49pm): lots of stuff to explain but my moms back
You pause in the middle of pulling on your shoes. Jinwoo doesn’t talk about his parents much, which suits you just fine since you also don’t have to. The only thing you know about his mother is that she’s been in the hospital with Eternal Slumber for a while now.
You: ??
You: is she asleep or?
[Delivered 6:52pm]
God damn your stupid out of contact boyfriend, when will he come home from the war (the local hospital not even half an hour from your building).
A second thought hits you halfway through hanging the laundry up on the balcony rack. If his mother is awake, will she approve of your relationship with her son? You grab your phone again.
You: Jinwoo
You: answer please
You: is your mother ok with us going out
You: should i sleep at my place tonight??????
[Delivered 7:08pm]
You start pacing. Maybe you should take out your piercings? Or try and use a hat to cover your bleached hair? You open the bathroom and turn on the tap, wetting your hands to try and smooth down the messy cowlicks. Does Jinah have hairspray? You open the cabinet to check. She does, so you smush your hair down and give it a few spritzes. It doesn’t help much. Maybe you’re supposed to blow dry it? But it’s dangerous to have fire or excess heat near aerosols, right? Damn, this is all so confusing.
“We’re back!” you hear Jinah yell. You drop the hairspray can and wince as it bounces loudly off the edge of the sink, then onto the floor.
“Eh? What’re you doing in here?” Jinah pops up behind you when you’re crouching to pick it up. “Is that mine?”
“Probably,” you say, standing up, bonking your head on the sink, and immediately sitting back down on the tile. “Ow!”
“What are you using hairspray for? Is it supposed to be date night tonight?” she says. “Oh, I get it. Because my brother’s back, right?”
You give her a look. “Hey, I don’t judge,” she says. “You take him and sleep at your place sometimes, I’m not stupid. Thanks for sparing me.”
“It’s not for Jinwoo,” you say, stomach settling heavy in your gut now that reality is here. You feel like a kid again, scared and helpless.
Jinah pauses for a second then crouches down to look you in the eyes. “Wait, what’s wrong? Shouldn’t you be happy your boyfriend’s back?”
“Jinwoo isn’t the only one who’s back,” you mutter, trying not to cry.
“Me?”
That does get you to laugh, as abrupt and choked as it is. “Of course it’s not you.”
“Then who— Oh,” Jinah says. “Are you worried about Mom?”
The gentleness in her voice makes you choke up some more. You nod. Jinah reaches for the hairspray in your hand and takes it from you. “It’s okay,” she says. “She hasn’t even met you yet and she’s already said she has a second son.”
You press your lips together and try not to cry. “I promise it’ll be fine,” Jinah says. “Can I help you up?” Her hand hovers in front of you. “I know you don’t always like people touching you, but is it okay this time?”
You accept her hand and pull yourself up slowly. “Hi,” Jinwoo says, peeking in the doorway. His mouth twists in an interesting way when his eyes find your hair. “For me?”
You laugh again, more relaxed this time. “Yeah, you wish.” Jinwoo grins at you, leaning forward and pulling you into a hug. You return it with your free arm.
“Missed you,” he whispers into your ear, pressing a kiss to your temple. “Sorry I was gone so long.”
"You’re an awful boyfriend,” Jinah says, spraying him with the hairspray. He sputters, swiping his head. “Don’t even try to deny it! [Y/N] hasn’t been sleeping well since you’re gone, I could hear him pacing in the living room all night!”
“Oh, shit, I thought I was being quiet,” you say, feeling sick again. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re not the one who should be apologizing,” Jinah says. Jinwoo rolls his eyes at her.
“I said I’m sorry already.” His hand rests against your shoulder, pulling you in close to lean on his.
“Not just for leaving! Couldn’t you have given him at least a little warning about Mom? He was trying to get his hair all neat and everything!” She flings her hands around.
“I was a bit distracted,” Jinwoo responds.
“How many times do I have to tell you to give some warning before you arrive? You were terrible with knocking before entering rooms when you were younger,” a new voice says.
Jinah looks up. “Mom? Are you sure you’re okay to be standing up so soon? The doctor said—”
“It’s fine, Jinah,” she says, turning to you and holding her arms out. “Jinwoo’s told me all about you. Please, call me ‘Mom.’”
“Oh, don’t cry,” Jinah says, throwing her hairspray onto the couch and squeezing your hand. You try and talk and explain that it’s not a bad crying but you can’t.
Jinwoo’s mom seems to understand when you lift your head up from Jinwoo’s shoulder and reach out with the hand Jinah’s clinging to, stepping forward to wrap you in a hug full of unfamiliar affection. Jinwoo wraps his arms around both of you and Jinah wriggles her way in, evidently delighted from the way she squeezes between you and her mother.
“You’re crying now, too?” Jinwoo teases her, but even he shows no signs of wanting to leave. You’re not crying anymore, not really, but still soggy around the eyes.
“We’re all crying, now shut up,” Jinah retorts.
Jinwoo’s mom tuts. “I thought I raised you better than this,” she says, joining in the playful ribbing. “[Y/N], I’m terribly sorry for my children’s behavior. You fall asleep for four years…” She ends in an over dramatic sigh, shaking her head. “Thank you so putting up with all this.”
“I’m the one who should be thanking you,” you say. “Mom.”