Kayeon

Chapter 2

Kat was in the kitchen, fixing lunch, when she heard the front door open and was expecting her son to come give her a hug, as was their usual tradition, when she heard his voice.

"Hi, mum!". He greeted and afterwards, she heard his footsteps, as he made his way up the stairs, then a soft door slam, and everywhere was silent again.

Kat sighed and reached for a napkin, wiped her hands clean and turned off the cooker. She needed to have a talk with her son.

***

Kayeon skipped the last three classes, and spent the whole time in the library, trying to read and digest more books and articles on werewolves. Actually, if she was to be truthful to herself, she didn't need to read about no werewolves, cos' she knew literally everything about werewolves, being in that niche of writing for years now, and a famous one at that, only that people didn't know she was cos' she was a ghostwriter. She was anonymous. She had a pile of books on the library desk, which she had been reading, and based on her evaluations, judging by her newly discovered traits and distinct senses, she's afraid she just might be turning into a werewolf gradually. And as she walked down the street back home, hours after the school's closing hours, she noticed a Black sleek Audi that slowed down beside her. The window winded down to reveal Ella's face.

"Hop in". Ella barked. She most time does, so it wasn't new to her, just that she doesn't seem to deserve such a cool look as hers, as it contradicted her voice. But then, she could be really friendly whenever Emma and some of her other few friends come visiting or whenever they all connect through calls.

Maybe she was like that with her cos' they really never got along with each other, but that was the very least of her worries now.

She got into the car and shut the door.

"Hey! Be careful with my door". She snarled.

"I didn't beg for a ride. Don't raise your voice at me". Kayeon shot back. Ella gave her a sharp death glare, while Kayeon turned her eyes away from her. She wasn't ready to battle words with her. Not today.

Ella was a pretty good driver, and so, they got home in no time.

Kayeon managed to mumble a thank you, unlocked her side of the car, got out and slammed the door shut, this time harder.

"You're insane?" Ella yelled, but Kayeon didn't budge, didn't even turn to look at her.

Kat had been knocking at Donnie's door for hours now, but still, wasn't getting any positive response.

"Donnie?" His mum called exhausted. "Please open up. I'm dead worried about you". She begged, hoping each time, that he would yield and open up the door he had locked from inside.

"Mum, I'll be fine". She could hear him sniff. "I just wanna be left alone". He replied again. Kat sighed. That had been his reply for the past two hours she's been at his door.

It was around 7pm at night, when he eventually opened up the door and her jaw dropped at the sight of her son. Hos eyes were swollen and streaks of tears that had already dried were all over his face, indicating that he had been crying. He was still in the same cloth he wore to school.

A tear dropped from his eyes again as he mouthed the word 'mum', his voice croaky.

"Come on, baby". She summoned softly. "Come here". She said, her hands open, ready to pull him in a hug, as she tried hard not to tear up herself.

He collapsed into her arms and she pulled him into a hug, with him wrapping his arms around her tightly and sobbing onto her shoulders, while she ran her hands through his hair and let him bury his face in her neck for as long as he wanted to.

She withdrew her hand from his hair for a split second to dab at the tears that were starting to make their way out of her own eyes.

He stopped sobbing gradually. His sobs turned to muffled sounds after a while, as he slowly stopped crying and just stood there still hugging his mum tight, not letting her go or reducing his grip on her for a second, while she kept running her hands through his sandy blonde hair, which was now widely tousled.

Even though they had said nothing, he felt relieved in that moment, and he slowly loosened his grip on her.

Kat reached for his face, and wiped what was remaining of his tears away with her hands.

"I'm sorry, Love". She whispered quietly.

He wanted to tell she needn't be sorry cos' she wasn't at fault anyways, but he seemed to have lost his voice from crying too much.

Kat had always been this way- very apologetic and humble, even when she wasn't at fault and had absolutely nothing to do with whatever the person was passing through.

She was apologetic when Donnie's aunt husband, Josh, had died, been sorry all of the times her husband- Donnie's father had beaten her up and locked her up for days for no just reason, been remorseful when the police had apprehended his dad and sad all of the many times they locked him up, even when his actions always landed her in the hospital. Had been sorry when Jas- his younger sister had a C in her Arithmetic exam and felt terrible about it, is still mournful and unhappy that dad is serving his jail term for attempting to kill her. She was just sorry for so many things. And here she was again, feeling sorry for him hurting.

Kat took Donnie's hand in hers and together, they walked to her own room. She turned on the lights and closed the door behind them.

Donnie sat on the edge of her bed, his back against the wall, facing his mum, who had also sat across him. They both sat in silence for a few minutes before Kat spoke up.

"Are you ready to talk about it now?" She asked, looking into his eyes, her face full of concern. He didn't respond. "Do you think you're ready to let me in yet?" She repeated, this time, lifting up his jaw with two of her fingers so their eyes could lock.

"Yes". He nodded.

"Alright then. I'm all ears". She said, urging him.

"It's Kayeon, mum". He started with a low tone.

“Kayeon?" His mum repeated worriedly, fear seizing her.

"What about her? Is she okay? Is everything alright with her?" She rushed out.

"Mum". He dragged. "She's fine, but then” he continued. "I don't think everything's alright with her and I feel it's starting to take a toll on our relationship". He said sadly looking up to look at her. He had been staring at his right foot.

He could hear her sigh with relief before she spoke again.

"Okay...go on".

"Mum, Kayeon's changed these past few days. I don't know what exactly is up with her, mum. I'm scared. I don't seem to be a part of her life anymore. She's almost completely withdrawn from me. She doesn't talk, neither does she tell me things any more. Kayeon is chatty and would barely keep calm when we're together, but that's changed too. Everything’s changed". He spilled out in one breath and stopped for a moment to catch his breath, then he continued slowly.

"I'm so worried about her. I'm trying to get a hang of it all in here, but, everything's not just making sense". He paused. "But then, mum, what if..." He trailed off and she could tell whatever it is he wanted to say was scary for him.

"What if Kayeon's fallen out of love with me?" A tear dropped from his eye and Kat reached across for his hands, holding them in hers.

"I don't think I'd be able to handle it. I don't, mum". He confessed, his voice breaking, and tears cascading down his cheeks freely in quick torrents.

Kat watched as the tears flowed down his eyes, he looked lost, miserable and confused and it took every ounce of strength in her, not to cry too.

"Have you tried to talk to her about it at any point?" She asked, her voice low and cool.

"Mum! She's not talking. She's not f*****g talking to me. I've tried to". He stated.

"Hey, love! Calm down, okay? It's fine. I understand how you're feeling right now and trust me, we've got this. Okay?" She paused, then continued. "But then, we'd need to calm down and think things through, and find a logical way for you both to have a talk. That's the most important thing right now- communication".

"How the hell am I gonna do that, mum? She ain't even..."

"Talking to you, right?" She cut in.

He nodded.

"You shouldn't bother about that right now, love". She smiled, running her slender hands through his hair.

"You should try to freshen up now, you look stressed. Come downstairs for dinner, and get some sleep. Okay?" She said, standing up. She gave him a brief peck, and planted a kiss on his forehead.

"I'd be downstairs", she said and walked out the door.

Donnie collapsed into his mum's bed, then stood up and walked the little distance to his room to freshen up and join his mum downstairs for dinner, which was the supposed lunch earlier.

They both ate, with his mom trying to cheer him up the whole time, and honestly, it worked, cos' it helped him feel a whole lot better. His mum was his go-to therapist anytime.

He soon finished his meal and after a few minutes kissed her goodbye.

"I love you, son". She said softly as he walked up to his room.

"Love you back, mum".