Danielle throws another teddy bear against the wall, trying to vent her anger after her mother took away her phone and locked her in her room, not allowing her to attend the family barbecue. Through the window, she hears happy conversations and laughter, which drives her crazy.
Everyone is having a great time eating yummy food, and she sits locked in her room, unable to look at the blue-colored walls any longer.
Her mother chastises her for last night, while Jin attends the barbecue, previously admonished by his father to pay attention to the time he returns next time.
Why is it that she is the one who has to torment this abnormal woman, who is not even her biological mother? And what about the fact that thanks to her, she is provided with a roof over her head? Recently, she even stopped giving her pocket money, which means she can't buy herself anything new.
The 14-year-old hides her face between her knees, trying to think of a way to leave the room before she goes crazy with boredom.
She energetically raises her head and looks wide-eyed toward the door when she hears the sound of a key turning in the lock.
It seems to her that the man who enters shines with a golden glow. At that moment, he looks like an angel. Her guardian angel.
— Jin — she says in a tearful voice, in her mind thanking heaven that she has someone so wonderful beside her.
— Did you think I would let you sit locked in a room all day? Your mother is just steaming with anger.
The teenager looks at him with curiosity in her eyes.
— What did you do to make her angry?
— My grandparents asked where you were because they wanted to meet you. She lied to them that you were vacationing at your aunt's house. It was the perfect moment to rattle her, so I spoke up to make her stop lying and revealed the truth to my grandparents. They found that your mother was behaving very harshly. Rather, she did not make a good impression on them.
— But you plunged her... — Danielle smiles broadly, pleased that Jin can rub this witch's nose in every time.
The boy sits down next to her on the bed and smiles cheerfully.
— I can't look at her, so I'm going to keep belittling her until I leave this house.
— I'm afraid to stay here without you.
The 16-year-old sees the panicky fear in her eyes. The thought that soon she won't be able to count on his help terrifies her.
— I won't be able to leave Horace Mann in the first semester, but you can visit me every weekend.
— It sounds like you're going to jail — she replies to him in a grim voice.
— Well, if you don't look at it.... a boarding high school resembles a prison.
He tries to make her laugh, to make her feel better, but Danielle's face is still moody.
— I love spending time with you, Jin. It makes me sad when I think of being left here alone.
He tilts his head, thinking that currently, Danielle looks cute. The gaze she looks at him with is purplish and innocent.
— Cheer up.
— I don't feel like it. — He presses his lips together, but Jin does not give up and unexpectedly attacks the girl, tickling her stomach. The 14-year-old bursts into loud laughter as she is overpowered by him. — Okay, I give up! — she shouts in an amused voice.
She lies down on the mattress and looks at his smiling face, realizing that she won't give him up to anyone for any reason. He is the only man who cares for her, protects her from all the evils of the world. He is closer to her than her mother. She can rely on him, she is sure he will always help her.
— Should we go down to the garden? My grandparents are waiting for you. — Danielle lifts the corners of her mouth upward. — I'm just begging you... act like a sweet fourteen-year-old.
— And don't I behave?
He crinkles his eyebrows and after a moment shakes his head.
— Seldom.
*
August 31, 2011.
Danielle is a tough person who does not shed tears even during a sad movie, but currently she wants to cry. She strenuously holds back her tears, hastily blinking her eyelids.
The day she dreaded the most has arrived. It is today that Jin is going to Horace Mann.
She watches with sad eyes as he packs his belongings into his suitcase, looking happy. He is the only person in the world who is happy that the end of summer vacation has come and school starts tomorrow.
— Stop being sad, or you'll eventually ruin my mood. — Jin glances at her out of the corner of his eye as he folds his pajamas into a cube. He sees that the girl has tears in her eyes and fights them strenuously.
— These two months I have become very attached to you.... I can't imagine not having you at home when I get home from school. I won't have anyone to talk to.
— Maybe this is the perfect opportunity for you to get closer to your mother?
Her eyes no longer glaze over from tears, but burn with fire.
— Are you serious? You yourself hate her and pity me for living with her for fourteen years, and now you tell me to befriend her?
The sixteen-year-old shrugs his shoulders.
— In that case, start fighting her. Don't let her get in your head. My absence is an opportunity for you to train yourself to fight the tiger.
— You are persuading me to do wrong....
— Behind the sweet mask you wear on your face is a little monster. It's a matter of time when you gain courage and shed that shell.
She bursts into artificial laughter.
— But you are a genius. Your speeches, they make me start thinking differently.
— Exactly, if we are talking about thinking.... I have a request for you. — The 14-year-old is not sure what he could expect from her. — If you get bored, start studying. You'll improve your grades, by the way, you'll please your mother at least a little.
The teenager hopes that he is joking, but his face suggests that he is grave.
— I'd rather stare at the wall for several hours out of boredom than open my books. There's nothing worse than pissing on boring topics — she replies grimly.
Jin rolls his eyes.
— Are you really not thinking about the future? I understand that you are only fourteen years old, but I decided at your age that I would get into Horace Mann at all costs, well, and I fulfilled my dream.
— How can you dream of getting into school? — Danielle wrinkles her nose, looking at him as if he were an alien. — I dream of finishing my education. It makes me sick to think of having to go back to a kennel full of barking dogs tomorrow. The only thing that comforts me is that people there love me for my perfect appearance. — He puts his hands to his face, smiling charmingly. — They treat me like a princess.
— And because of this, you are getting worse and worse. — The boy closes the suitcase. — You don't have blue blood flowing in you, so you'll be left with nothing if you have this approach to life.
She snorts under her breath.
— My life sucks anyway. I don't have very high expectations for the future. — Her lips take on a sad expression as Jin grabs her suitcase and heads for the door. — Do you have to go now? — She asks, hugging her knees with her hands. She places her chin on them, looking like a sad child.
The 16-year-old smiles at this sight. He puts down the suitcase and steps back to put his hand on her head. He tousles her hair, asking her not to cause too much trouble.
— And this is your goodbye?
— I'm not going to say goodbye to you because I'm not leaving for the other end of the country. I'm sure you'll show up at Horace Mann next weekend.
He is about to leave the room, but Danielle breaks from her seat and stands in front of him, not letting him touch the door.
— What's the matter? You're acting like a puppy that doesn't want to let its owner go.
The girl does not respond. She simply embraces his waist with her hands and presses her face into his chest, not hiding her sadness.
— Do you promise that I will remain your favorite, even if there are cool chicks hanging around you?
Jin reciprocates the hug, smiling at these words.
— Your courageous attitude never ceases to surprise me.
— But do you promise?
Danielle is terrified by the thought that some girl might take her place, yet he is the only one who cares about her and can protect her from the whole world. He is the only one she trusts.
— I'm going there to study, not to pick up chicks. Besides. I'm very demanding when it comes to girls. Not everyone can impress me.
These words reassure her.
— May you stick to this because I promise to raise hell on any monkey who dares to look at you.
— I wouldn't dare take your words lightly.
*
This is the largest room in the boarding school, but the sight of four beds does not make Jin happy. He realizes that a good atmosphere will depend on the people who will be his roommates. If some idiot hits, nothing will be able to improve his mood.
The boy chooses a bed under the window. He intends to put his suitcase on it, but someone warns him. The large bag flies across the room and lands on the pillow.
The 16-year-old looks over his shoulder and spots a boy dressed in a black hoodie.
— I was the first. — He shrugs his shoulders, boldly looking at his peer in the face. — First come, first served. Any tactic is good to win.
Jin snorts under his breath. He is not going to give way to him. He entered the room first, he is entitled to decide, and this moron will not brazenly shove his way in.
— Maybe in your middle school it worked, but here we are setting new rules. — He takes his bag in his hands and throws it into the middle of the room. — I'm stubborn and won't let go. We can even beat each other over this bed. — His attitude impresses Joseph. The boy crosses his arms over his chest and smiles slightly.
— I think we'll get along.... — He drags, picking up his bag from the floor. He throws it on the bed closest to him and walks over to his new roommate. — I respect people who can stand up for themselves. I am Joseph. — He extends his hand, which the 16-year-old squeezes in greeting.
— Jin.
— Are you here of your own free will or sent by a stubborn father? — Joseph puts his hand in his hair and runs his fingers through his bangs.
— Brought by a dream.
— Impressive. — Jin has to admit that his smile is friendly, maybe it won't turn out so bad after all? — I had no right to choose. My father sent me here by force. The only thing that comforts me is that my friend is starting her second year here. Perhaps it won't be so bad.
Jin rests her elbows on her knees and looks at her new colleague.
— I, too, hope that people will be reasonably tolerable.
— You have the looks that will make you number one here. — Jin raises his eyebrows, confused by his words. — I'm not coming at your guest, I'm just saying what I see.
Another roommate enters the room. With a kick, he closes the door behind him, grinning his teeth in a silly smile. His hair is uncombed, frayed in every direction. In his hand, he holds a bright pink bag with rabbit ears on the edges.
— Hello, new colleagues. — He raises his hand in greeting, to which Jin awkwardly answers him.
— Great... One more and we'll be typical movie roommates. A handsome guy, a charismatic guy, a weirdo, and an asshole.
— I'm not a freak! I'm an original! — The newbie defends himself, looking offended. — This bag belongs to my little brother. In a new place, you have to stand out somehow.
— And without this bag, you stand out — mutters Scott under his breath.
Even then, they did not know that their first awkward meeting would turn out to be a long-lasting friendship, and that the walls of Horace Mann would preserve all the events that would take place in the future.