Page 34 of Damian & Jun: Episodes 1-4
“He never talks about them.” Damian rubbed his eyes. “I think his mom either died or disappeared when he was young, and he got scouted shortly after that by BBB3.”
“Father still in the picture?”
“Don’t think so. He’s always said he doesn’t really have family and that Yohei and his other bandmates are his family.”
The trees rolled past the windows for a while. Damian realized he had cell service once more when his phone dinged. He looked down. Fuck. Dalia, again.
He grimaced and looked away, his thumb reflectively rubbing against his index finger. “Richard.” He held his phone out.
Richard took it. “Five-day block?”
“Yeah.” He couldn’t look while Richard set up the block. After five days, Dalia would be on about something else. And blocking her meant she wouldn’t wear him down until he snapped back and got dragged into her bullshit. It wasn’t like their father liked her any better than his other two kids, but for some reason, she still hung around him.
He sighed and let his head fall back on the headrest. “I should block her forever.”
“But you’re waiting for that call.” Richard handed back the phone.
“Yeah.”
“And if it comes?”
“I still don’t know. I know I’m not going back. I know the problem is bigger than me. I just… I don’t know.”
“Pearsen can run another check, put an investigator out there, try to get an eye on the kids.”
“Even if they look healthy enough, they’re still being abused.” Damian rubbed his face. “It’s just not anything that the authorities will interfere over.”
“We save the ones we can, Damian.” Richard set a hand on his arm, firm and assured. “Deana is out. You helped her. And now we have Dana. You helped her. And Collin is free now.”
“I know. Just thinking about all my nieces and nephews and what she’s putting them through makes me feel like I’m still back there, like I’m failing them.”
“You are not failing them. Your sister is. And their fathers. You’re breaking the cycle. You and Deana both. Those kids are not your responsibility.”
“They’re family.”
“They’re not family you have legal access to protecting.” Richard had said all this before, but he said the words with the same patience and compassion he had been using since Damian was seventeen, sitting in a precinct in handcuffs.
“It’s hard, sometimes, especially now seeing Dana and thinking about Armada, Howser, and the rest of the kids. I’m glad she has a better life, but sometimes I look at her and I see how much support she needs and what it takes to take care of one kid that’s been through so much, and I selfishly hope that call never comes.”
Richard laid his hand over Damian’s wrist and squeezed. “It’s not all on you. And Linda and I asked for Dana because we had the resources and the ability to help her, emotionally and financially, not just because she’s a relative. Just because we could make that choice doesn’t mean you should be bracing yourself to make the same choice.”
Jun
Jun drowsed against the wall behind the cash register, wrapped in Mi Hi’s winter coat. They’d hung his hoodie and jacket up in the back to dry. His shirt had also been wet, and in the end, she’d lent him her coat to wear until they left for her flat. It smelled nice. There were animal hairs here and there. Having a pet wasn’t something he’d ever been allowed to have. He played with a couple of them, rolling the black and white length between his fingers.
“That’s from BoBo.” Mi Hi looked down from her perch on the stool over the register.
“Cat?”
“Yep. My street urchin. I rescued him from behind a dumpster.”
Jun made a face.
Mi Hi nodded back. “You just can’t with some people. But the vet got him all squared away. You’ll see him soon. Only three more hours on my shift. Want anything else to eat?”
Jun hesitated. He could certainly eat more, but she’d already gotten him two milk teas and a big ramen bowl with a pre-boiled egg.
