Fifteenth

Kyungsoo

My parents weren't exactly giving me the silent treatment, but it was more like an awkward silence mixed with a lot tension. I would have tried to talk to them, but I felt like it would just end badly so I didn't. Instead, I just continued to focus on my studies while spending as much time with Jongin and Taeyoung as I could. I knew my grades were the thing they were most worried about, so I figured as long as I kept them up, there was really no reason for them to be upset with me.

"So, are you gonna tell me what's wrong or do I have to tickle the answer out of you?" Jongin asked me one day at lunch. I just laughed, looking down at my food for a minute.

"It's just my parents," I said. "They're giving me this awkward silent treatment like they expect me to crack under the pressure of their disapproval. It's just frustrating."

"Well, I'm sure they just want what's best for you," he said, turning away and propping his elbows up on the table. "If I were them, I probably wouldn't approve of me either."

"Hey, don't say that." I nudged him and made him look at me again. "They're just judgmental because you don't come from the same socioeconomic background. They would rather have me be in a relationship with some rich, spoiled person who treats me like crap than with someone who actually treats me well. That's just how they are and they won't change any time soon. And if they force me to choose, you know I'll choose you."

"Yeah, but you shouldn't have to even think about that," he said with a small shake of his head.

"If I do have to, it won't be your fault, it'll be theirs," I continued. He just sighed and I wrapped my hand around his. "I have no intention of letting them or anyone else break us apart." A faint smile pulled on the corners of his mouth as he laced our fingers together. 

"What am I gonna do if you keep making me fall in love with you?" he said, the familiarity of his words making me chuckle.

"I guess you'll just have to love me forever," I replied. 

Kai

The closer the date got, the more anxious I became. I wanted to call Lay and back out, but even that could end poorly if I wasn't careful. I wanted to tell Kyungsoo, but then he might insist he goes with me or some other alternative that would put him in danger. I kept telling myself that I should just do this one last favor and then come back and everything would be okay.

We had just finished our study session and I was waiting from him to come out of the bathroom downstairs so we could say goodbye. Unluckily for me, his dad came down the stairs and sort of paused when he saw me sitting on the couch.

"Oh, hello, sir," I said formally, bowing after I stood.

"You must be Kai," he said with no particular tone in his voice, resuming his steps.

"Yes," I replied, too afraid to sit back down.

"Kyungsoo talks about you a lot," he said as he came to stand near me. I just nodded my head. "I'm sure he's also told you about our concerns."

"He has," I said, my voice slightly shaky from my nervousness. A brief silence passed before I got the courage to speak again. "Look, with all due respect sir, I love him and have no intentions of hurting him like you may think I do."

"I'm sure you do," he said. I looked down at the carpet below my feet. "That's why we're willing to try to accept his choice. After all, he is growing up now. All I ask is that you don't get in the way of his future. He's worked hard to get where he is."

"I would never do that, sir," I said maybe a little bit frantically. "I just hope he lets me be a part of his future." I saw the faintest of smile appear on his face before Kyungsoo coming down the stairs caught my attention.

"Dad, you didn't say anything rude to him, did you?" he said, his voice coming out as a slight whine.

"No, we were just making small talk," he said. 

Kyungsoo turned to me. "He didn't say anything rude to you, did he?" he asked again.

"No, he really didn't," I said with a chuckle. He exhaled a little, still looking doubtful but nodding anyway. He walked me outside and said goodbye to me before making sure I got in the taxi. We waved to each other before the car pulled off. I let my back relax against the seat and closed my eyes. 

Everything would be okay.

Kyungsoo

Later that night after I had finished the rest of my homework, I came downstairs for dinner, only to find both of my parents with their eyes glued to the television.

"What's wrong?" I asked I walked over to stand next to them.

"You need to end things with Kai," my dad said in a serious tone.

I sighed. "Are we really doing this again? Why can't you just accept our relationship?" I asked.

"This is why," he said, pointing to the news program on the television.

"We come to you tonight with a break news story. Local police have just released details on the drive-by shooting that occured earlier this afternoon. According to the sheriff, the only victim was 18-year-old Kim Jongdae, who was shot in the chest by a single bullet. The high school student was rushed to the hospital, where doctors are working to stabilize him. The police do not know if the victim was struck on purpose, but they suspect that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."

I could physically feel my heart stop beating. My breaths had become shorter. My parents looked at my shocked face. I couldn't believe it. Chen was shot. But as I got a clearer view of the screen, I realized I recognized the neighborhood where it happened.