Jump Start [Yeonbin]

~Co-signed~

I pointed to one of the pictures. A class photo of some sorts.
"You were adorable."
I smiled to a red faced Soobin, who was busy looking mortified at the sight his childhood pictures. He hummed, with a tight lipped, embarrassed smile.

He headed towards the kitchen, dark wooden cabinets with a weird combination of yellow tile. His bare feet making a tapping noise on the floor. A tall dark haired man stood over the sink, scrubbing at a pan with three plates of scrambled eggs in a line on the counter. Soobin tapped his shoulder, drawing him out of his distraction, he glanced up, our eyes met, and agitation swept over his father.
"Dad, this is Choi Yeonjun."
Soobin gestured at me, and I gave him a small wave, making my way into the kitchen. My head pounding with pain every time I took a step. His eyes narrowed at me, I held my hand out to him, offering a handshake. He less then politely declined my offer, simply glancing at my hand and back to my face.

"What are you doing here, anyway?"
His face was stoic, and intimidating. I stammered over words, I didn't quite have an exact explanation of why I was in his home.
"I guess I was- I just got sick last night."
I said, glancing at Soobin from over his father's shoulder.
"I don't believe you."
He stated calmly.
"But what I believe doesn't matter here, now does it?"
I didn't answer him, Soobin tensed, jaw clenching.
"But if I hear one thing,"
He pointed at me, finger too close to my face for comfort.
"You do one thing to wrong him,"
He tilted his head twords Soobin.
"I'll knock that head off your shoulders."
Soobin nodded his head, I took this as a hint and I followed, nodding mine intently. He spun on his heels.
"Anywho, are you two hungry?"
I wasn't. But I sure as hell wasn't going to say no.

Soobin made his way to their small dining table, followed by his dad sitting next to him, and me across from them.
"How's your mother, Soobin?"
His dad asked sipping at his water.
"She's okay."
He whispered a response, his father looked slightly taken aback, seemingly, this wasn't a regular answer from him.
"I'll check in on her after breakfast."
His dad said dropping the conversation. Soobin hummed.
"I need to run him back to his... Uh, car."
He lied, his eyes staring at mine. Pleading with me to not correct him, as though I had planned to.

The rest of the meal was awkwardly quiet. I finished my portion, it actually made me feel better. Significantly better. Soobin gave me an insincere smile, his eyes quickly darted twords his father silently pointing at him, and back to me with an eyebrow raise. He let out a heavy sigh.
"Alright papa, I'm going to run him back to his car, I'll be gone for a bit."
His father's eyes thinned.
"You'll have to be back to take care of your mother tonight, right?"
Soobin nodded promptly jaw held tight.
"Good. Be careful, kiddo."
Soobin stood, gesturing me to stand with him. My head still felt woozy, the room warping in my hungover mind.

Soobin slammed the car door.
"Fucks sake!"
He said with an agitated grumble, turning his key in the ignition while his car coughed and stuttered to a start.
"Sorry about my dad, he's just-"
Soobin huffed.
"Worried?"
I asked, tapping my hand on the top of his thigh in a hopefully comforting manner.
"Worried, but- but it's more then just being worried it's... It's nothing. Actually."
He put his car into drive and sped off.
"It doesn't sound like nothing."
I said quietly. I hoped to get him to talk. I wanted to hear whatever he had to say.

He sighed.
"He's just so contradictory. One night he'll say I need to get out more and the next he's mad that I wasn't home."
He slammed on his brakes as a light turned red, my seatbelt catching as I leaned forward.
"And everything- it's just, it's all my job. Everything's my job and my responsibility. And then he tells me to go be a normal young adult, but how am I meant to do that when he's mad when I do."
He said aggressively, rubbing a hand over his face.
"And then it's fucking insane when I have to tell my friend I can't go out because my dad won't let me. He treats my like a kid but he wants me to act like an adult. I don't fucking get it."
I stayed quiet, he didn't seem like he wanted or needed me to answer.
"And I know it's out of love and concern. But fuck. Can't I just be normal for once?"
I pressed my lips together, I didn't have a response for him. He let out a huff.
"I'm sorry."
He said quietly, no louder then a whisper.
"It's okay."
I gave him a quick smile, trying to assure him I didn't mind his slight outburst.
"I'm just, stressed."
I nodded. I didn't know if I was allowed to press for more information, I took a gamble.
"Is your mother sick?"
I asked gently, as sweet as I could make my time sound. Soobin's eyes welled with tears the second I finished my sentence. He gave me one nod as confirmation. I stayed silent. He stayed silent.

Until he took a sharp, shuddering gasp.
"She has something wrong with her brain. They don't know what it is. I doubt they ever will. But I know it's..."
He trailed off, quickly wiping away any tears that escaped his eyes.
"Yeah. It's just a lot. It's been a lot, for five years."
I struggled to come up with an answer. I could only come up with cliché, non helpful answers. Like 'I'm sorry', or anything else along those lines.
"I'm always around if you need anything, Soobin."
I settled for this. It wasn't what I wouldn't say, but I didn't know what I wanted to say.
"I appreciate that."
I smiled sweetly as he pulled up next to my bike.

"Uhm, text me when you make it home."
He said as I opened my door. I nodded. A silence hung in the air, be took a breath, like he was going to speak, but ended up closing his mouth.
"We should get dinner tomorrow. My treat, as a thanks."
I said standing up, Soobin hummed.
"I'd like that, Yeonjun."