One thing they had noticed about Ijin, was that he was rather protective of everyone. But he wasn't like an overbearing parent or anything. If he thought they could handle whatever situation they found themselves in, then he would let them handle it.
But it was when he thought they needed help, that was when he would step in. At the same time, if he thought they deserved it, then he would let them struggle. Like the time Jaehyung had told a kid off, only for the boy's very intimidating father to go and ask what was the problem. That was when Ijin just shrugged his shoulders, practically telling his friend 'Sucks' and didn't offer any help. However, the moment the conversation became physical between the two, that was Ijin stepped in (Especially since it was the father who had become physical first) and made sure that Jaehyung wouldn't be hurt.
It was comforting to know that if anything bad happened, Ijin would be willing to help them as much as he could. Even more so when Seokju and Yeona tagged along, as Seokju often just followed Ijins lead when it came to confrontations.
Sure, he was a little bit of an ass when Ijin didn't help them escape a situation they had caused, but they knew that while he was around, none of them would get badly hurt. he watched for everyone like that. Ijin might have exhausted the others when it came to his below-standard social skills and references, but he carried his own weight in that aspect.
"How many eggs do you think we'll need for the cake?"
Hyeokjin pondered over it for a few seconds. It was his cousin's baby shower, and since they had owned a bakery when his mother was still around, they had been commissioned for the gender reveal cake," Hm…How big did she want it again?"
His father hummed as he put a carton of heavy whipping cream into the cart, his graying hair laying limply against his wrinkly forehead," She said that it was going to be a small party, so let's make one big enough for 30 people."
Hyeokjin hummed, his eyes lingering on his father's gray hair (Gray hair that his mother had caused prematurely) before he answered," Let's just get a dozen, we'll come back if we need more."
"Sounds like a plan." The air was tense between the two of them, the both of them subtly looking around, watching the women around them as they continued their shopping.
His mother had been released mere weeks ago, and despite the fact that she wasn't allowed to be in the same city, they were still on the lookout. Paranoia was starting to set deep in both of them.
All of a sudden, his father wrapped an arm around his shoulders, and brought him down to his height," Don't worry," He said simply, ruffling his son's hair," She been doing her check-ins, she's not anywhere close to us."
He just sighed and indulged himself in some physical comfort as he leaned against his father.
"I hope it stays like that."
He leaned in closer to the screen, his tongue peeking out of the corner of his mouth as he tapped away at the keyboard. He could hear the others tapping away on their keyboards, all of them trying to come out on top of the online game as Yeona showed just how much they had improved.
The air was filled with frustrated groans, and shouts of victory filled the café as their team came out on top. He exchanged laughs and grins with the others, all of them scolding or praising each other for the moves and actions they did.
Hyeokjin barely noticed Ijin excusing himself to the bathroom.
But he, as well as everyone else, noticed the message that came a few minutes after he left, while they were waiting for him to come back so they could start the next round.
G.I Joe: we got a problem.
G.I Joe: Put on your headphones and pretend everything is okay.
Exchanging looks, all of them were uneasy as they joined the video call. Putting on their headphones as Ijin had requested.
Ijin was holding his camera under his head, the only thing they could see was his jaw and shirt. Based on the tile in the background, they could tell that he was in the bathroom. He didn't give them any greeting, the only thing he said was," Do not look, the lady in the blue shirt has been watching you Hyeokjin. She's sitting a few rows away from us. Brown hair, roughly 1.5 meters tall, early to late forties."
He felt his face pale.
He knew exactly who he was talking about.
He exchanged glances with Jaehyung, who looked just as worried as he felt. The others gave them odd glances, but he focused back on the phone, latching onto his friend's words.
Ijin looked back down at the camera and frowned at them, "Hide your face if you can't control your reactions. Do you know her?"
Listening to Ijin's command, he ducked his head down, trying to look like he was focused on his computer screen rather than fighting the rising anxiety in his stomach," Does…does she have a scar on her neck?" Jaehyung held onto Hyeokjin's forearm. It was silent for a few seconds, the only thing they could hear was the sound of Ijin opening the bathroom door before he confirmed it.
"There's a scar on the right side of her neck. Who is she?"
Jaehyung was a better actor than they previously gave him credit for," oh yeah, we know his mom, she was kinda a bitch when I met her." They could tell that with the exception of Jaehyung, who had been the one who helped him realize that he had done nothing wrong regarding his mother's love, everyone else was confused.
But they moved on," I thought you said she was in jail?" Ijin asked. And while they had no idea what was going on between Hyeokjin and his mother, they knew that it was serious.
Forcing his voice to be light, he said," Oh. She left a few weeks ago. But I was pretty sure she wasn't allowed to come back to school." Aka.
His mother was not supposed to be there.
Ijin moved into action almost immediately.
"Yeongchan and Yeona, come to the bathroom and call the cops. I want you out two of the way if anything happens. Seokju, stay there just in case she tries to get to Hyeokjin. He would have to walk past her to get to the bathroom, so its best for him to stay there. I'll slip out and keep an eye on her. Is there anything we should know?"
He swallowed thickly, thankful that Jaehyung was stepping up and covertly telling Ijin important information, "I heard she was expelled for attacking someone with a box cutter? Do you think she carried it on her all the time?"
Even when everything was harmonious in their small family, his mother had always had a habit of carrying scissors and box cutters in her purse. Though she had never used them against himself or his father, she would often use them against people who were starting to annoy her.
Considering the fact that he and his father had greatly pissed her off by reporting her for child abuse, to the point where she was yelling death threats for destroying her 'ideal family dream' there was no way in hell she was there for a hug.
He felt bile rising from the back of his throat.
He knew that Ijin and Seokju could handle themselves, but that didn't mean he wanted them to get hurt because of his problems.
"Calm down Hyeokjin," That brought the teenager out of his thinking, staring down at the phone as Ijin boldly said ," I won't let anything happen to you."
And for some reason.
Ijin's words, combined with Seokju sitting right next to him after switching seats with Yeongchan, made him feel better. He didn't feel relieved, but he did feel marginally better knowing that his friends got his back.
He sighed, and gave a single nod of his head, truly and honestly grateful that he had such good friends.
Ijin spouted off more orders, orders that he was too busy texting his father to listen to. Yeongchan and Yeona went off to the bathroom, leaving just the three of them at the computers.
He kept his head down low, trying his best to pretend that everything was okay as they waited for authorities to arrive.
The sound of a siren approaching made him look up.
That was his mistake.
He had looked towards the door reflexively and made eye contact with the last person he wanted to.
She made eye contact with him. Her eyes were as dark were ever, and her dark brown hair was starting to reflect her age.
His mother smiled at him, the same smile she would use when she tucked him into bed, and the same smile she used when she blamed him for her anger.
Her hand was in her bag, and now that he was older, there was something about her smile that just made his brain scream 'wrong' at him.
She took a step forward, her hand pulling something out of her bag. But within a second, Ijin was disarming her. Ruthlessly pinning her to the floor as he forced the box cutter out and away from her hand.
The ruckus made everyone look at Ijin, and Hyeokjin could see some older men approaching Ijin and his mother, planning to intervene in what looked like a case of a teenager beating an older woman.
His mother quickly proved them wrong.
"I'll kill you!" her voice was shrill, the high pitch of her voice making everyone flinch at the volume," I just won't break your arm this time!" She was staring right into his soul.
There was not a single ounce of motherly love in her eyes. The only thing he could see in his mother's eyes was seething hatred.
" I'll kill you and your stupid father!"
He felt his face pale again, and his knees started shaking.
Soekju stood in front of him, blocking him from his mother's point of view as Jaehyung had a grounding hand on his shoulder.
He wasn't sure how long he was hiding behind Seokju and Jaehyung, all he knew was that by the time he came out of his panic-induced haze, his father was wrapping his arms around him.
His father was babbling too fast for him to understand what he was saying. He had to push his father away and firmly say," Dad," the older man looked thoroughly stressed," I'm fine. She didn't hurt me," He looked around, quickly his friends who were standing off to the side," My friends kept me safe."
That only made his father start a round where he was profusely thanking them, moving on to do the same to Seokju and Ijin when he was informed that they were the ones who kept him safe. The two teenagers blushed at the thanks, and they were only saved due to the police officers taking his father to the side to be better informed about the situation with the sociopath.
They stood in a circle awkwardly, Jaehyung standing next to him as the others just stared at him.
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, almost melting under their stares as he meekly said,"…I guess you guys want an explanation…"
"That's fine," Seokju said simply, looking firm in his words, much to Hyeokjin's surprise," If we can deal with him and his secrets," Seokju said while pointing at Ijin with his thumb," We can deal with yours. You don't have to tell us."
Everyone nodded along with his words, all of them respecting his right to privacy.
The support his friends were showing made him smile, as well as the respect for his privacy.
"Thanks."
He really did have good friends.