Mrs. Wilkins

For a moment Kai stood absolutely still, his body frozen where he stood. It was like someone else had taken control of him and stopped him from moving. Even though he was quite shaken, Kai pulled himself together as best he could, clearing his throat before he spoke.

"Mrs. Wilkins, Jinn….Jinn is…is not here.", he stuttered terribly.

A momentary smirk made its way onto Mrs. Wilkins face, one similar to that of her sons, a dimple appearing as well. "Yes, I know that he works for me after all. Will you continue to stand there like a lost puppy, or will you invite me in?", she responded, irritation in her voice as her expression returned back to that infuriating poker face, Kai could now see where his boyfriend got it from.

"Uh yes, please come in.", said Kai backing up to let Mrs. Wilkins in and the woman walked past him with her nose slightly turned up, the strong smell of sugar vanilla following her as she went into the apartment. Closing the door, Kai stood with his back toward Mrs. Wilkins for a mere second, doing his best to hold it together. Jinn never mentioned that his Mother would be dropping by and honestly, he didn't know what to do.

As Kai turned around, Mrs. Wilkins was sitting on the couch glancing around for a second before she directed her gaze back to Kai. Smiling awkwardly, Kai just stood there, feeling like the lost puppy that she had mentioned earlier.

"Why don't you get me some water?", Mrs. Wilkins suddenly said, slightly rolling her dark brown eyes.

"…", not saying anything, Kai nodded, walking behind the couch and hurrying his way into the kitchen. As Kai opened the fridge, he took a deep breath, puffing out his cheeks and letting the air out softly and slowly. Kai felt stuck, he couldn't exactly just disappear and leave Jinn's Mother sitting in the living room by herself and he couldn't exactly just make nice with her either. Kai knew that Mrs. Wilkins would never accept him, so it was just plain uncomfortable to be around her, and to be honest, he was kind of scared.

Pulling his phone out of his back pocket, Kai quickly swiped to unlock his phone to text Jinn. The man was probably quite far away, but at least he would know that his boyfriend needed saving.

"Have you gotten lost? My water please.", Mrs. Wilkins raised her voice a bit to get Kai's attention as she saw him just standing in the fridge with the door open.

Startled a bit, Kai quickly grabbed a bottle of water, closed the fridge, placed his phone down on the counter and turned back toward the living room where Mrs. Wilkins was sitting staring at him. With another awkward smile, Kai made his way back into the living room, cursing at himself internally for putting his phone down, he needed to finish texting Jinn, he needed help?!

As Kai made it to the living room, he handed Mrs. Wilkins the bottle of water and she took it, wasting no time to open the bottle for a swig. Nervously, Kai stared down at his pigeon-toed feet, it being so quiet he could actually hear the sound of Mrs. Wilkins swallowing. Closing his eyes for a moment, Kai decided he had better go back to the kitchen to grab his phone, but a knock sounded on the door. Snapping his eyes open, Kai made a dash for the front door, praying to God that it was Jinn.

Quickly opening the door with a hopeful expression on his face, Kai was disappointed to see that it was only the desk man from downstairs delivering his food. "Mr. Pak?", the older man said with a smile.

"…", Not saying anything, Kai nodded, forcing a smile to the polite desk man that really didn't have to go out of his way. Taking the food from the man's hand, Kai nodded once more before closing the door and turning back around to see that woman still sitting there with that same look on her face.

Walking back over, Kai placed the bag of food on the coffee table, just standing there with his hands in his sweatpants, he honestly did not even know what to do with himself at this point.

Taking another sip of her water, Mrs. Wilkins closed the bottle, placing it down on the coffee table and let out a sigh, "sit down dear.", she said not bothering to look at Kai who was still just awkwardly standing there.

"…", not saying anything, Kai placed himself down on the couch, having no choice but to sit next to Mrs. Wilkins since she was sitting on the middle cushion.

For a moment, Mrs. Wilkins stared at the man sitting beside her, he was fiddling with his fingers and shaking his right leg, to say that he was nervous was an understatement. "How long have you been back in the US?", Mrs. Wilkins suddenly asked.

"About four months, I came back at the end of November.", Kai responded, his voice soft as he continued to stare at his hands on his lap.

"Why?", said Mrs. Wilkins." And Kai quickly glanced over for a moment before he looked back down at his lap.

"I…I didn't…that's not where I belonged.", Kai stuttered, his voice going even softer.

"So, I take it you think here with my son is where you belong?", said Mrs. Wilkins and you could hear the judgement in her tone.

Again, Kai looked up at Mrs. Wilkins, intending to speak, but she spoke again before he could.

"How old are you?"

"I just…I just turned 27.", Kai stuttered again, why couldn't he get himself together?

"What of your Mother and Father? Your family's income and history?" said Mrs. Wilkins, was this was some kind of interrogation?

"I was adopted, I don't know anything about them.", Kai responded.

"Right, Jinn did say that, how do you know that you are Korean than?"

"I had blood work done to determine my heritage."

"I was told that you can speak Chinese, Japanese and Korean? Why did you learn all three languages?"

"Because I young and I had the opportunity in college. I wanted to feel some sort of tie to places I might be apart of.", said Kai, closing his eyes for a moment.

"So, you're an adopted over achiever, always having to outdo yourself to outweigh your emptiness, figures.", said Mrs. Wilkins, and with wide eyes, Kai glanced at Jinn's Mother for a moment. Was it really necessary to say things so cruel?

"What about your adoptive parents?"

"I don't keep in contact with them.", said Kai directing his attention back down at his hands, that were now balled tight.

"Why not?", said Mrs. Wilkins, grabbing her water bottle for another sip.

"They weren't very good people.", Kai responded, doing his best to remain calm.

"I see. My husband tells me your appendix nearly ruptured, are you well? Can you even take care of yourself?", Mrs. Wilkins continued.

"I'm fine…I'm fine, I can take care of myself.", said Kai, his voice faltering, as his right leg began to shake even faster.

"Hmm.", said Mrs. Wilkins, letting out that condescending noise she always made, Kai hated that.

"If you get another job offer elsewhere, would you take it again?"

"I wouldn't."

"Why not?", Mrs. Wilkins questioned.

"Because I…because.", Kai stuttered, afraid to get the words out.

"Because you love my son?", said Mrs. Wilkins finishing his sentence for him.

"I do.", Kai responded, keeping his view fixated on his lap.

"Jinn loves you too much, I have never seen him such a mess after a breakup.", Mrs. Wilkins responded.

Finally looking up, Kai turned to Mrs. Wilkins and his eyes began to water. "I promise I will never hurt him again; I love him too much!", Kai said firmly, finally feeling a slight bit of courage that he hadn't had since Mrs. Wilkins arrived.

"Hmmm." Mrs. Wilkins hummed again, putting her water down on the table. "If you love him so much, why did you leave him over a year ago?", she continued, her eyes fixated on Kai awaiting his answer.

Directing his attention back to his hands once again fiddling on his lap, that little bit of courage that Kai had found was on its way out the door again. "I…I uh…I was not confident then.", Kai stuttered.

"And what about now? What happens should you loose confidence? You'll just run away, again right?", Mrs. Wilkins questioned, her voice sounding tense.

"No! I won't! I know our relationship doesn't mean a damn thing to you, and I know that I'll never be good enough for your son, but I won't leave him ever again! I don't care if you like me or not!", Kai shouted, turning toward Jinn's Mother with tears in his eyes. Kai had, had enough, he was tired of her condescending attitude, her judgement, belittling him every chance she got, the woman was just plain mean!

With a familiar smirk on her face Ms. Wilkins directed her attention toward the water bottle on the table, picking it up and taking a sip before placing it back on the table. "Well, then I am glad to hear that you are here to stay.", she suddenly said.

"Huh?", Kai said confused, did she really just say that?

Taking a deep breath, Mrs. Wilkins let the air out slowly before speaking, "I know that I have not been friendly towards you, but it is my job to make sure that someone will be strong enough to be at my son's side when I am no longer here."

Surprised, Kai stared down at his lap before responding, "I understand…it's just that…", Kai began, but Mrs. Wilkins interjected.

"No dear you do not understand. You see, I have had cancer for a while now and things have taken a turn for the worse."

Snapping his head toward Mrs. Wilkins, Kai stared with wide eyes, unsure what to say.

"You are pretty, yet you are not a woman so you cannot bear my grandchildren, and the best thing that you can make is fried chicken to fill my son's stomach. You most certainly are not great at making a place homier or you would not have allowed my son's entire apartment to be filled with white with no accents of color and that is just depressing.", Mrs. Wilkins chuckled.

"Mrs. Wilkins I…", Kai spoke, but he was again cut off.

"But Jinn loves you, so that is enough.", said Mrs. Wilkins, showing Kai her pretty smile for the first time, her eyes teary as well.

Staring back at Mrs. Wilkins, Kai's pretty almond shaped brown eyes began to water. He hated that it had to be on these terms, but this woman he had long ago assumed was just cold-hearted had finally accepted him!

As the two sat, the doorknob suddenly turned and in walked Jinn, looking down as he stepped out of his sneakers. "Babe, how many times do I have to remind you to lock the…the", Jinn began, but his voice faltered, stuttering and stopping the moment he saw his Mother sitting there on the couch.

"Hello sweetheart.", said Jinn's Mother standing up as well as Kai.

Walking over, Jinn eyed Kai intensely and then his Mother back-to-back, the look on his face certainly showed that he was panicking on the inside. Reaching out her arms, Mrs. Wilkins hugged her son, Jinn hugging her back. "Uh…Mom, what are you doing here?", Jinn asked, trying his best to access the situation without having to ask.

"Am I not allowed to visit my son's home? Besides, I came to town to go to my favorite bakery since you never bring any cheesecake when you visit." Said Mrs. Wilkins as she turned her back to her son to pick up her pocketbook and as she stood, she smiled while holding her finger to her lips, and Kai understood what she meant. "Well, Kai do not miss another family dinner, I will be on my way.", said Mrs. Wilkins, giving her son one last smile, before she made her way toward the door of the apartment.

"Hold on Mom, I'll walk you out.", said Jinn slipping on his shoes so he could catch up to his Mother although he was staring at his lover the whole time, what the hell had happened while he was gone?

"…", Seeing that Jinn was flustered, Kai forced a smile, nodding and silently saying that he would be fine until he got back. Letting out a sigh, Jinn flew out the door down the hall after his Mother, closing the door behind him.

When Jinn was gone, Kai flopped back on the couch letting out a heavy sigh. Not only was he going to have to make up a story about what he and Mrs. Wilkins had talked about, he was going to have to keep to himself the fact that the love of his life's Mother was dying.