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His mother has always been kind and loving to not only Jisung and his older brother, but to their friends as well. Ever since he could remember she had a beaming smile on her face; her hair ever changing in color would always compliment her warm eyes; the smile lines would always remind him of her cute grin even when her face was relaxed.
When he was young, and even to this day, Jisung was fairly small in size; don’t get it wrong he’s not tiny, but height was probably one of the few things he was lacking. Smaller than all the boys in kindergarten and on the playground, he would more often than not get picked on. He could endure it for the most part, not particularly fazed by the comments on his appearance or personality, which was more on the bubbler and hyperactive side. However he could never allow anyone talk to him in a degrading manner just because he loved his mother- calling him a sissy and a momma’s boy wasn’t that much of an insult, but the spite in his bullies’ voices made rage flow through his then tiny, scrawny body. Jisung wasn’t stupid, he knew he could never win a fight, but he was also raised right, and would never involve the boys’ mothers the way they involved his. So he tried the next best thing- witty comebacks every now and then, that would just shut them up for the time being. And it worked, for only a little while that is. Or more specifically, until the kids found out his mother was a single one raising two boys, one almost out of kindergarten and one older, already in high school. And no one in their family was ashamed of their situation. Jisung’s mother had no problem talking about their father- they still kept in touch; they talked, he helped raise the kids, they went over to his house quite often, the four of them would have dinner like civil people once every two months- bonding as their mother called it. It’s just, by their parents’ words, they fell out of love with eachother.
“Things like this happen, my love” he remembers his mother telling him, “and that is okay. As long as you have love for yourself, and people you can depend on, everything can and will be okay.”
So when the kids started calling his mother names because of his lack of a “stable family” Jisung decided he couldn’t do this anymore. He got up and next thing he knew, his tiny fist was pressed in the owner of those hurtful words’ mouth. Only after he heard the piercing scream did he realize what he had done.
“Oh, boy” Jisung quietly mouthed to himself when he saw that he managed to knock his front tooth out of his gums. In his defense it was barely hanging in there. “This can’t end well”
So when Jisung got home with a bloody nose and a tooth in his hand, that his mother realized wasn’t his, he was sent to the washroom to wait for her but was surprised by a visit from his brother instead.
“What on earth happened to you, woodpecker” his brother, Jonghyun, sighed as he filled a glass bowl with warm water, before wetting a washcloth he would use for his brother’s bloody nose.
“Nothing much, fell during recess” he lied with a fake smile plastered on his still bloody face “kinda knocked out my tooth though.”
“Buddy,” Jonghyun sighed again, though this time a faint smile apparent on his features “you know your teacher called and said you had a fight with that Yang kid. Also dad drove you from there, meaning you had to leave early.”
It was Jisung’s turn to sigh.
“Will you tell me what really happened? Mom, dad and I are really worried. And I’m sure if Callie knew what was going on, she would be worried too.” Jisung let out a short laugh at the image of their cat sending worried looks his way. At the sight of his brother’s smile, Jonghyun visibly relaxed while still remaining gentle with the washcloth on his younger sibling’s face. “I can only help you break the news to mom if you tell me the truth, you know?”
“I know” Jisung looked up to his brother “Hyungwoon badmouthed mom and said we don’t have a stable family” he finally confessed, though his voice was much quieter than before.
“Hey, you know you shouldn’t listen to whatever people say, right? We have each other, we love each other and that’s what matters? Or am I wrong?” the older had a faint smirk beginning to appear. He knew his brother couldn’t deny what his maybe a little disfunctioal family preached. He knew most divorced parents didn’t have the same dynamic as his, but they had managed to stay friends and Jonghyun knew it wasn’t only “because of the kids”. His parents respected and treated each other like equals and he would much rather have their parents be friends than constantly fight.
“You’re never wrong, hyung” Jisung smiled at his brother, but his smile disappeared as quick as it had appeared “but I hate people talking like that about mom. She’s so loving and caring. She treats everyone with so much love and it’s not fair that people talk like this about her. She must be hurt.”
“Oh, believe me, she is not” a new voice came from the doorway. Their mother smiled at her sons “She has two beautiful boys that she loves more than life itself and nothing and nobody can bring her down.” Jisung beamed at the response and Jonghyun softly laughed.
“I’m sorry mom” Jisung softly apologized, feeling his mother’s hand brushing back his messy bangs.
“I know, my love” she took the washcloth from her other son’s hand and dipped it in the water again, before cleaning Jisung’s split lip she just noticed. “That’s why you’re grounded and not going out for a few days after kindergarten and helping me with housework.” The younest in the room was about to complain when his brother gave him a warning look. “Of course mom” he sighed in defeat, but hey, it was only fair. He also wouldn’t have any chance of running into Hyungwon outside of kindergarten. Just a few more months and he would start school and wouldn’t have to deal with Hyungwon.
“Mom, in fall when I start school, will Seungminie and Hyunjinnie be with me?” he asked, as if he had forgotten the whole reason his family was together in the bathroom.
“I’m pretty sure they will be in your class, Jisungie.” Jisung squealed in happiness as he imagined his school days with his best friends. They were in different kindergartens because the two boys lived a bit farther downtown, but they constantly met in the park where their mothers took them.
If fall could come sooner.