Yoongi opened his eyes to the sun already streaming through his window. He could faintly hear his alarm going off under him.

"Shoot, I'm late," he says to himself.

He rushes to class and arrives in time to see Jennie standing outside the room. "You're waiting for me?" He asked perplexed.

"We have to talk after school. It's important. Meet me at the gym." He reached out to mess with her hair, but to his dismay, she backs up ready to avoid him.

"Don't touch me! You used to be a nice boy Yoongi. What happened?"

The disappointment in her voice was palpable. He wonders if she remembers him from when he used to sit next to her in third grade. Probably not. He is so different now. She was the prettiest girl in school and Yoongi was the shiest boy in the whole school. He loved it when she spoke to him but all he could do was nod his head and stare into her big eyes. It's kind of hard to be friends with someone you don't speak to so they remained acquaintances. Sitting so close but never really bonding. Yoongi vowed to change but by the time he did, he had no thoughts of the nice girl he once knew.

Once he sat in class he stole a glance in her direction but this time she didn't look back. Her face was serious and determined. He would not meet her. Not today. It was his mom's birthday and he wanted to go see her. Maybe she would remember him this time. His mom was more important than this girl that was occupying his thoughts. 'He no longer had a crush on her,' he thought, 'that was the old me.'

After school, he rushed out to catch the bus eager to go see his mom but the persistent Jennie suddenly stood in his way. "Where are you going?" She asked annoyed.

"I can't talk today Jennie. I have to go somewhere."

"Wait this won't take long." She whined.

"No, I'll miss the bus."

"Can I go with you?"

"No."

She followed anyway.

He looked at her annoyed. "I said no, Jennie. Why do girls like guys that treat them badly? Go away!"

She sat next to him. "I don't like you when you treat me bad! I can tell that something is wrong and I want to help. What's going on with you? I'm not going to leave you alone till you tell..."

Before she could finish he kissed her gently on the lips. "Do you really want to know?" He says softly letting his guard down.

"Yes, something is going on with you. I want to know what it is and why you hate me so much."

Feeling sad and conflicted, he stared at her and thought how he feels differently about her. 'Now that I've gotten to know you better I don't want to hurt you.' He thinks. 'As time passes by I still can't seem to tell you why It hurts me every time I see you. Because I realize how much I need you. I'll tell her something but not everything.'

"Today is my mom's birthday. I'm on my way to see her," he finally says after a long pause.

"Oh!" Her face brightens. "I'll tag along. If you're mean to me, I'll tell her what you've done."

Yoongi pouts thinking of his mom and starts to cry. He doesn't want to cry in front of her but he can't help it. It's a very emotional day for him. He's tired. Tired of holding it all in. He misses his mom very much.

Jennie is surprised at his reaction. "Yoongi, Did she pass away?" She says softly holding his hand. "I'm so sorry... I didn't mean... "

"No, ... she's not well though. Her mind is gone." He interrupts.

Before she can ask any questions, Yoongi gets up. "This is the stop."

Jennie follows him off the bus a little hesitant to intrude but wanting to be there for him. Yoongi wipes his tears on his sleeve as he leads them. They walk in the lobby, the click-clack of their shoes echoing in the mostly empty space. A receptionist looks up from her computer. "Good afternoon. Whom are you visiting?"

"My mother, Mrs. Min," Yoongi says as he hands the lady his id. The lady hands them visitor tags to stick on their clothes. They walked down a long hallway until they found the right door.

Yoongi says, "Wait here, please. I'll get you in a few minutes."

He takes a deep breath and walks in. The room is filled with heart balloons and flowers. He walks straight to his mother's bed. She is sitting up staring at the balloons.

"I think she likes them." His father says.

Yoongi turns his gaze towards him. His dad looks happy today but he looks so fragile and sick that it's hard to see the man he once was and it breaks Yoongi's heart.

"How are you doing? Dad."

His father nods his head and smiles. "Look who is here honey. Our baby boy came to see you."

His mom actually looks at him but with a blank face.

"Mom," Yoongi whimpers getting closer he hugs her. Yoongi starts to cry not letting her go. His mom doesn't really hug him back but it still made him emotional. He wants his mom to be herself again. She used to love him so much. His dad tries to pull him away to comfort him but Yoongi pulls away.

"No, father."

Yoongi's tears flow freely and sobs shake his body. He feels even worse for pushing his father away.

His dad walks out of the room not wanting to shed tears in front of Yoongi.

"Oh, ... hello miss," he says to Jennie that was still waiting outside the room.

"Hello, sir." Jennie bows.

"You must be Yoongi's girlfriend. He told me he likes the prettiest girl in school. It must be you cause your beautiful."

"Thank you, sir," Jennie says blushing. "Nice to meet you." Jennie doesn't think it's her. She's never hung-out with Yoongi before and probably never would if it wasn't for his bold move. He was a mean bully but she now realized there was a reason for this now violent boy with a glare that could make a bigger person quake in their boots. Min Yoongi was an enigma that she needed to unravel.

"I'm glad Yoongi brought you to meet his mom on her birthday. Go inside with Yoongi."

"Are you sure it's okay?"

"Yes."

I opened the door and my heart went out to him. I saw the pain in his eyes as he hugged his mom. I look at her too but her expression was blank. I now understood why he had changed. It must have been a terrible thing to go through. He looked like a lost little boy. I walked over to him and hugged him. I wiped his tears and kissed his cheek. Then I looked at his mom and spoke to her as if she was fine.

"Hello, mam. I'm Jennie nice to meet you. I know your son from school. He's my friend and I want you to know I will watch over him till you're better."

"Jenny, she doesn't understand." Yoongi interrupts.

"Sure she does. She just isn't ready to respond yet." I looked over at his mom for a moment it seemed like she might have smiled. "I wanted to wish you a happy birthday. I hope you feel better soon so you can tell me stories about him when he was little. I like your son very much."

Yoongi is surprised by her words. 'It's not true,' he thinks. Just then a worker came in with a tray of food for his mom. Behind her, Yoongi's dad was holding a little chocolate cake with sprinkles and a lit candle in the middle. His dad started to sing happy birthday. Yoongi tried to smile but he broke down again covering his face. He went into the bathroom so she wouldn't see him. Yoongi's dad blew the candle and put the cake down. Then he asked me to take a picture of him and his wife with the cake. I took the picture and went to knock on the bathroom door.

"Yoongi are you okay now?" I asked through the door. After a few moments, he opened the door. I hugged him and gently pulled him towards his family. His father offered us the cake he had sliced as he fed his wife.

"Yoongi your girlfriend is very nice."

"Dad, ..."

"Thank you, sir." I interrupt him.

Yoongi looks at me and I wink at him.