Fearless Voyage | Soonhoon

The Promise

Sipping her bitter coffee, the lady tried to act all mighty as she could. She hated coming to hospitals. It ruined her image. Her freak of a son ruined her. Saying she was ashamed of him was an understatement.

Suddenly, her phone's ringtone went off. Snatching it out of her faux-leather purse, she glared the caller's ID, then frowned.

"Hello?" She answered in a cold tone.

"Miss Kwon?" The raspy male voice inquired. It was Doctor Kwang.

"That's me." She confirmed, a bit annoyed. She couldn't even drink her coffee in peace.

"About your son... He still didn't turn up for today's session."

The call was cut off as the lady got up from her seat, clenching at her purse in rage, heels clapping menacingly on the tiled floor.

****

Hoshi was still hugging the little boy when reality hit him. All of a sudden, his grasp around Woozi loosened and he backed away, anxiety rapidly filling his body. The pink-haired boy stared at him with a frown.

"Hoshi...What's wrong?"

"Shoot!" The said boy started panicking. "Shoot! Shoot!" He suddenly paced towards the door but turned back to Woozi before leaving. "I am really really sorry..." He said an honest voice, still looking worried. "I had an appointment with Doctor Kwang but I completely forgot. He turned the doorknob. "I need to go, but I will come back tomorrow." He lifted his pinky in the air. Woozi did the same, slowly a bit taken aback. Something smelled fishy. "Promise." 

"Promise." The smaller one replied hesitantly. 

On that note, Hoshi exited.

But Woozi was determined to follow him. Because his new friend's attitude was definitely out of place. So, as fast as his frail body could possibly manage, he sat in his wheelchair and proceeded to follow the route Hoshi had logically taken.

****

Hoshi was running as fast as could in the corridors, but he didn't manage to go really far when he was met with the silhouette he dreaded the most.

"Mother..." He whispered in awe. The lady was standing in front of him, lips pressed in a straight line, face not showing any emotion. But Hoshi wasn't dumb. He could feel the burning rage in his mother's eyes.

"Hoshi boy." The woman hissed in a false honey tone, which gave the boy the creeps. "Where were you?" She faked concern. "Dr Kwang waited for you."

Hoshi didn't reply as his eyes automatically fell on the tiny numbers inked in his mother's skin, right above here clavicle. Since Woozi didn't have anything, he couldn't help but to check if she still had them too. The hope that had blossomed in his chest immediately shattered into pieces when he saw it.

His mother's death date. It was still there. Tattooed on her epiderm.

However, his attention was quickly brought back as something violently collided with his cheek, sending him flying to the ground, the abused flesh throbbing painfully as he brought his hand to it. With shocked eyes, he met with his mother's impenetrable gaze.

"Stop it." She hissed between her gritted teeth, eyes more hateful than ever. Her snake-like voice sent shivers down Hoshi's back who was still dumbfounded and sprawled on the ground. "Stop being such a freak! Just stop it!" She started screaming, throwing her purse at her son, hitting him straight in the face. "Why are you being such a freak?! Why can't you simply be normal?" She grabbed her purse back, not forgetting to kick Hoshi's hand away at the same time. "So you're saying you can see people's death date?" She scoffed spitefully. "I am sure you're dying for me to leave this world, aren't you? You're a freak, that's all! Wishing for your mother's death to such an extent! Freaks like you shouldn't exist. Hence, you ought to behave. I'm kind enough not to throw you on the streets. What a disgraceful freak!" She spat, curling her fingers tightly around the boy's wrist and fiercely pulling him up. "Let's go, you freak." She ordered, once again tugging at the staggering boy without a single glance of concern for him. 

Hoshi was trying to follow as diligently as possible, his short legs struggling to keep up with her quick pace. He could still feel his cheek burning up from the blow. Biting hard on his lower lip, he struggled not to cry. She wasn't worth it. Furthermore, she was right.

He s a freak. 

But her words still hurt. Nonetheless, his heart was still strong, and they didn't get to it anymore. At least not as strongly as they used to.

However, he wasn't prepared for what he saw. 

When they turned a corner, his gaze locked with a shocked one.

He was here, flabbergasted. 

Hoshi's already shattered heart finally gave out, symbolically. Woozi had heard everything.

The hurt boy lowered his head in shame.

Now he would be definitely classified as a freak.