Twenty-One

Kyungsoo

I had only been asleep for about an hour when I heard a soft ping on my window. Furrowing my eyebrows in confusion, I got up and pulled back the curtains, seeing Kai standing by the front door.

"Kai?" I questioned, now even more bewildered. I swiftly got out of bed and went downstairs, opening the door. "What are you doing here this late? How did you even get here?" 

"I stole my mom's car," he said matter-of-factly. "I just...I needed to see you." 

There was something in his voice that made me begin to worry. I wanted to ask him why, but I figured he probably wouldn't want to talk about it. At least not right now.

"Come inside then. It's kind of cold out here," I said, holding the door open for him. I closed it once he was inside, watching him slide his shoes off. "It's safe to say your parents don't know you're here then."

"No. I snook out after they went to bed," he replied. I gave him a worried look and he just sighed. "I know I shouldn't be here, but I just need you right now." 

The sad look in his eyes confirmed to me something was wrong. I just didn't know what.

"Okay, I guess you can stay the night," I said, forcing a smile despite all my worries. He smiled a little and then we both went upstairs, getting under the warm covers of my bed. He wrapped his arm around me, letting his arm act as my head rest. 

"You know that no matter what happens I'll always love you, right? Nothing would ever change that," he said suddenly. His question to catch me off guard, but nonetheless, it made me happy.

"Yeah, I love you, too," I said softly in reply. 

"And that no matter how far apart we might be one day, I'll never stop loving you?" 

At this point, I was becoming more suspicious. "Yeah."

"And that no matter how many other people come into my life you'll always be the only one for me?" 

I waited a few seconds to say anything that time. I didn't know what was up with all these question suddenly, but they didn't give me a good feeling.

"Yeah, I know," I said. "But why would you ask--"

"Good," he cut me off, holding me tighter all of a sudden. 

Whatever was bothering him, he clearly didn't want to talk about it. So, I just tried to forget about it and enjoy my time with him. I never knew when he could be taken away after all.

Kai

The date I was supposed to be leaving was getting closer. Everything was official. The school knew and I was officially crossed off the list of graduating students. I still hadn't told him. Just the thought of telling him and breaking his heart broke mine. I think it was all just happening so fast, too fast. I wanted to make every happy second we had together last.

"I can't believe that," Xiumin said. He was the first person I told. "What kind of parents force their child to move because they fell in love?"

"My kind of parents," I said. He looked at me and I sighed as he shook his head.

"Did you try to convince them they were being irrational?"

"Yes. I tried so hard. I even said I'd break up with him. They just can't see the normal in a guy being in love with another guy." He let out a frustrated sigh in response. "But right now, I'm just trying to find a way to tell Kyungsoo."

"You still haven't told him?" he questioned. I shook my head. "Jesus, Kai. You're screwed."

"Gee thanks for telling me something I already know," I replied.

"Seriously, he is either going to be super pissed, super sad, or both."

"I know." I sighed in distress. "He's gonna hate me."

"I mean, I don't think it'll go that far, but maybe if you explain the situation well enough, he'll understand."

"Maybe. I just can't stand the thought of me breaking his heart, especially when I don't want to."

"Well, the longer you wait, the more hurt he's going to be, so you might as well pull the bandaid off now," he said. 

Xiumin was right. I couldn't not tell him, but I also felt sick to my stomach telling him. 

Kyungsoo

Kai came into school later than he usually did one day and I was relieved when I saw him walking towards me.

"I thought you died or something. Where were you?" I asked in a concerned tone.

"I overslept. Sorry, babe," he said as he kissed my forehead.

"Well next time let me know that before I have a panic attack," I said, earning a chuckle from him. He interlocked our fingers tightly. Tighter than usual. "Is something wrong? You've been acting really weird lately." 

He got a nervous look on his face as he turned to me. "Can we go somewhere and talk?" His abrupt question made my heart start racing in fear. I tried to cover that up as I nodded and he took me to the music room. 

All sorts of bad thoughts ran through my mind. Maybe he wanted to dump me. Maybe I was too much of a burden on him. Maybe he didn't love me anymore. But how could he just stop loving someone in a matter of days?

We entered the music room and he shut the door, letting go of my hand. He was silent for a few passing seconds before he spoke.

"I don't know the right way to tell you this and just know that if I could do anything more to stop it, I would," he started, only making me more nervous. "I-I'm leaving."

I lowered my eyebrows in confusion at first because I didn't quite get what he was saying. "What do you mean?" I asked.

"My parents transferred me to a Christian boarding school somewhere." At that second, my heart stopped. I started breathing heavily as tears started to form in my eyes. "My parents found out we were still seeing each other." I turned around in order to hide my tears. "Kyungsoo, please, I know you're upset." I heard his footsteps nearing me. "Please talk to me." I shifted to face him again, this time with my eyes flowed with tears.

"You promised," I said, my voice shaking. "You promised you'd never leave me." He sighed as he began to tear up as well.

"I know I did. I know. But I can't do anything to stop this. My parents won't budge," he responded.

"So? You could have stayed with me or Xiumin or someone else. Anything besides this. A-And why didn't you tell me before? Is that why you came over to my house in the middle of night a few days ago? You could have told me then."

"I wanted to, but I didn't know how. Plus, I thought I could get them to change their minds or something." I looked away again, only to have him grab my hand.

"You said you loved me and that you'd never let something like this happen," I said. 

I was aware he had no control in this situation, but what else was I supposed to say and feel besides angry and betrayed? 

He clenched his jaw tight and turned away from me. "You are the first person I've ever loved, Kai," I went on. "You were my first everything. What am I supposed to do now? Just forget about you and move on?"

"I don't want that," he said. "You're the first person I've ever loved too. You think that I want to leave you and risk you finding someone else? Because I don't." The tears were racing down my cheeks at this point. "Please don't cry." His voice got softer as he walked closer to me.

He pulled me into a hug once he was only a few inches away from me. I didn't have the strength to hug him back though.

"Please try to understand," he said into the crook of my neck. "I love you so much and if I could stop this, I would give anything. But I'm completely powerless." 

I knew that, but I didn't want to accept it. I pulled back from the hug and just stood there for a minute, my chest heaving up and down.

"Please don't hate me," he pleaded softly.

As much as I tried, I couldn't bring myself to look at him before I walked out.

Chanyeol

I was just hanging around the hall with Baekhyun, Luhan, Tao, and Chen when I saw Kyungsoo rush past us. He didn't even stop to say hi, which was weird for him. I looked over when I saw Kai standing at the entrance of the music room. I put the pieces together quickly enough after that. 

"I'll be right back," I said before going after Kyungsoo. 

I pushed the bathroom door open and almost instantly heard sobs. I walked in farther, letting the door slam shut behind me, and saw him sitting up against the tiled wall with his legs hugged to his chest. He looked up at me with red, tear filled eyes. I went over to him and sat next to him before wrapped my arms around his body.

"He's l-l-leaving," he stuttered, trying to control his sobs. I was confused for a moment, but after a moment of thought, it was easy for to figure out what he was talking about. "He's leaving me and it's all my fault."

"Shhh," I whispered, pulling his head to my chest. "It's not your fault. You know the way Kai's parents are. They're the problem, not you." 

That didn't seem to bring him any comfort, though, as his sobs only picked up speed again and he gripped on to my shirt tightly. I hugged him tighter and moved my hand up and down his back gently.

"I'm taking you home, okay?" I said after a few minutes passed, slightly looking down at him. He just nodded against my chest, still crying but not as violently anymore. I detached myself from him and helped him up from the floor. I kept an arm around him as I picked up his backpack and led us out of the bathroom.

"Is he okay?" Baekhyun asked once we got back into the hallway. "Kai told us what happened."

"Not really," I said. "I'm just gonna take him home. I don't think school is any place for him right now. I'll call you later." He just nodded his head and then Kyungsoo and I left the school.