THREE (2/2)
Chanyeol, not wanting to be out beaten, said, “I ate two whole bowls too!”
“You’re a big boy too, Chanyeol!” Sunyoung said, “Anyway, let’s get started on the art. Who remembers what we did last week?”
The loud trio’s hands shot up in the air. Sunyoung laughed and called on Jongdae who eagerly answered, “We drew what we wanted to do when we grow up!”
“Yes!” Sunyougn said, “excellent memory, Jongdae! We drew what we wanted to do whenvwe grow up right? And we drew it using chalk and pencil. Well today is a similar project. It’s a painting of yourself 15 years from now. We’re gonna use the pallet and mix colors to paint a picture! Don’t be scared to let your imagination loose and your dreams reign freely, okay?”
“We get to use paint?” Jinri asked shyly with sparkling eyes. Sunyoung nodded, “Yes! Jongin, can you help me pass out the paints to the tables.”
Jongin begrudgingly listened as the kids started eagerly painting. Jongin decided to try corrupting the emo kid for the last time. So he sat next to Sehun and said, “So… what you drawing there Sehun, buddy?”
Sehun was silent for a little bit before he replied, “A rocket.”
Jongin just nodded as he said, “Why are you drawing a rocket?”
The little boy was silent as he painted his picture. Jongin would’ve thought Sehun was ignoring him, but the boy suddenly said, “I want to go to the moon.”
Jongin couldn’t help but a scoff a little as he said almost mockingly, “You want to go to the moon?”
Little Sehun just nodded his head, “I’ll be an astronaut.”
Jongin shook his head, “Do you know how ridiculous that is?”
Sehun stopped painting and for once looked up and made eye contact with Jongin. The little boy had deep, empty eyes, kind of mirroring his own.
“Why?” Sehun asked.
“First of all,” Jongin started, “Do you know how hard it is to even be an astronaut? They’re not really sent out into space anymore and use robots and stuff instead. You have to study your butt off. Not just study a lot, but ONLY study to get the best grades to get into college and to possibly have a chance at NASA. And even IF you do become an astronaut, the chances of you flying successfully to something as large as the moon is very very slim. Do you really think that flying to the moon is a good thing for you to draw? Isn’t that too far of a stretch.”
Sehun’s brows furrowed as his eyes became misty. He glared at Jongin and said, “No. Sunyoung said that-”
“Well, don’t believe what she says,” Jongin replied, “I don’t want you to end up hoping and dreaming and then end up sorely disappointed in life.”
Sehun’s glare remained on his face as he said, “Liar.”
Jongin shook his head, “I don’t lie.” He pointed at Sunyoung who was talking to Soojung. “She lies.”
As if on cue, Sunyoung looked up and saw Sehun in a tense situation with Jongin. She started walking over to them as Sehun glared at Jongin, “No. You’re the liar!”
“Sehun, what’s going on?” Sunyoung asked with concern. She looked over at Jongin who just nonchalantly shrugged.
“He said that I can’t go to the moon. That it’s a stupid dream to have!” Sehun said, tears almost spilling, “Is that true, Sunyoung? Were you lying to us? I can’t go to the moon?”
Sunyoung’s face softened as she said, “No, Sehun. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”
“That’s not what this guy said.” Sehun said, quivering to keep himself from crying. Sunyoung looked over to glare at Jongin who just looked around, pretending like none of it was his business.
“Sehun-ah,” Sunyoung said soothingly, “You are completely able, okay? Are you listening to me?”
Sehun nodded as he Sunyoung patted him on the back, “You are able to do anything and everything you want. Don’t easily give up because someone discourages you, okay?”
Sehun stiffly nodded. Sunyoung looked over at Jongin and said very curtly, “A word outside please.”
The kids were all just staring at the two interact. Sunyoung left the room and Jongin begrudgingly followed suit. Well, looks like he finally aggravated the girl enough. She had her back turned him, facing the wall, as Jongin approached her. Sunyoung abruptly turned around and said in a tired tone, “Was that really necessary?”
Anger, Jongin can handle. Yelling, Jongin loves that stuff. Even punches and kicks from a girl, Jongin can handle that. What he did not expect was to come face-to-face with her crying face. Jongin blinked, taken aback by the tears that fell down her cheeks.
She sighed as she wiped the tears away and brushed her hand through her hair.
“Look, Jongin,” Sunyoung said softly, “I know you don’t like me. I’m not sure why, but I am certain that you aren’t very fond of me. And I’m really okay with that. I don’t mind you making fun of me, ignoring me, yelling at me, whatever. I can handle that. But like I already told you, they’re just kids. Little kids, hoping for a future. Dreaming about the things they can achieve and become.”
Jongin started feeling a little bad about himself. This wasn’t exactly the response he was looking for per say. But Jongin felt the need to defend himself so he retorted, “It’s better they be disappointed now than devastated in the future when they realize they dreamed too big for them to achieve anything.”
Sunyoung glared at him, tears collecting again, and said, “They are already disappointed with the world. Jongin, they don’t have a family. They’re orphans. At this young age when they should be so full of life and love and energy, they already lost hope in people. What they need is encouragement to keep living and to keep dreaming and to find a purpose in their lives, not people telling them that they can’t achieve their dreams. Why can’t you see that?”
Jongin didn’t say anything back. Well, damn, now he felt like a big jerk. Sunyoung sighed exasperatedly and said, “Forget it. Just… maybe you should go back for today.” And with that Sunyoung walked back into the classroom, leaving Jongin standing outside. Alone.
And he felt like shit.
--
“You look extra down today,” Yunho said to Jongin as the staff members ate their dinner together at one of the table.
“Did something happen?” Victoria asked, concerned. Jongin shook his head, “No, everything’s fine.”
Sike. Everything was not fine. The only thing consuming his head was the image of Sunyoung crying and a constant debate questioning if what he did really was wrong. After their dinner, Yunho and Victoria went out on a love-dovey date, leaving Henry and Jongin in charge at the orphanage. The children were scrambling around, playing, while Henry and Jongin were cleaning up the kitchen area.
“Yo, Henry,” Jongin started, “Why are you here at the orphanage?”
Henry blinked and smiled, “Are you asking questions about me? Wow, Jongin, you care about me!!”
Jongin grimaced and said, “Jumping ahead there. But I’m just curious.”
Henry shrugged, “My parents died when I was young, so I didn’t really know what was going on. I got adopted by Yunho’s family and they treated me very well. Yunho especially. He’s truly like a blood older brother for me. And so, I want to be around these little kiddos and show them… well, they’ll be just fine.”
Jongin nodded and mumbled to himself, “I guess it was my bad then.”
“Sorry did you mumble something?” Henry asked. Jongin scratched his head, “Well, I may have made a mistake and I may have made Sunyoung cry…”
Henry’s friendly face suddenly turned deathly as he said, “You WHAT?”
Jongin put his hands up defensively, “I mean… I didn’t mean to. I was just trying to tell Sehun the cold harsh reality of life. It aint easy.”
Henry’s face softened as he let out a sigh, “Harsh cold reality isn’t what these kids need.”
Jongin ran his hand through his hair as he was fighting the conflicting feelings inside himself. Why was he becoming a softy? Who cares about the little orphan kids, the staff people here, and definitely the way too emotional Sunyoung?
“You should apologize.” Henry’s voice brought Jongin out of his thoughts.
“What?”
Henry smiled, “You should apologize to Sehun. And Sunyoung, of course.”
Jongin twitched at the thought, “Henry, us Kims don’t apologize. It’s not in my blood.”
“Well,” Henry said, “You can try now.”
Jongin grumbled and groaned and kicked a random chair sitting around.
“Whoa, please, Jongin,” Henry said, “Not the chairs.”
“Sorry,” Jongin mumbled. He saw from the distance Sehun building something with legos alone in the corner. Damn. He can’t do it. Frustrated, Jongin just got up and said, “I gotta go get some fresh air.”A/N: Hi guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. We are finally making some progress in Jongin's character development. LOL. It's a slow and painful process for our main hero. Anyway, hope ya'll drop by and leave a comment about what you like and don't like. And don't ya'll worry, Ljoe will be integrated more into the story as the plot thickens! WHOO! With that, I AM DONE WITH FINALS!!! WAHOO! Until summer school starts... but anyway. Please please please, let me know what you guys think and drop by and say Hi. Thanks! ^___^