Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Just Another Day ❯ Volume Three, Chapter Thirteen: I Want to be a Man ( Chapter 13 )

I Want to be a Man

-Jin-

I am not a child anymore. I want to be a man. My dad died years ago. It's just been mom, Be, and me. Our grandparents live too far away. Sure, we have an aunt and uncle. But we don't see each other much either. Yeah. I didn't have many idols growing up.

Soon seems nice. Broken but nice.

“I want to know how to be a man,” I said after the lecture. Soon turned to me.

“What?” he asked.

“I don't want to be a kid anymore,” I said. I couldn't make it much clearer than that. Soon tilted his head.

“How old are you?” he asked.

“Seventeen,” I said.

“Wow,” he said. I frowned. Now he's doing it too. No… Don't look at me like that. I'm not a kid. Soon patted me on the head.

“Do you take care of your family?” he asked.

“Yeah…” I said. Soon smiled at me.

“Then you're doing it already,” he said. “You are a man.”

“That's it?” I asked.

“Yes,” Soon said. Somehow, I felt disheartened to hear that. That's not good enough. There has to be more. I was about to speak when the cab pulled up. Soon and I got in without a word. Oh right… I was supposed to call mom when we left. I pulled out my phone. I waited as the other line rang.

“Hello?” mom asked.

“Hey, mom, it's me,” I said.

“Did you finish the lecture?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said.

“How was it?”

I nodded. “Pretty good.”

“I see.”

“We're heading home.”

“Okay. See you soon. Love you. Bye.”

“Bye.” I hung up the phone. I turned back to Soon.

“Is that really all?” I asked.

“Hm?” he asked. I shrugged and shook my head.

“I don't feel like a man,” I said. “I don't know what I'm doing. I don't think I'm doing it right. Can't you help me?” Soon gave me a sympathetic smile. Oh no. Not this again. Please don't look at me like that. I'm not a kid. He patted my hand.

“Of course,” Soon said. I blinked at him.

“Huh?” I asked.

“I will be a mentor to you,” he said. I didn't know what to say at first. I nodded without a thought.

“Yeah. Sure,” I said. “Thank you.” I bowed my head. I still didn't feel like I was any closer to be a man. But this would have to do for now. I stared out the window. My mind faded into empty space.

Be a Man