Twenty-Two

Chanyeol

He was quiet during the entire ride back to my house. He was just resting his head against the glass as he peered out of the window. This situation was new to me. It was the first time in my life that I didn't know how to comfort him or make him feel better. I didn't know what to do.

Once I parked and turned the car off, I got out of my side of the car. He didn't move, so I walked around to the other side and helped him out again, not even bothering to bring our bags inside. I took him right up to my room once we were inside and he tucked himself right into my bed. 

"You feeling any better?" I asked with a light sigh as I stood up straight. He just hummed sadly from under the covers and I let out another sigh. "Just get some rest and I'll come check on you later, okay?" I saw the covers move a little, telling me that he had nodded. Then, I turned off the light and shut the door behind me. 

I felt really bad for him. I really wanted to be mad at Kai for making him cry, I knew couldn't. It wasn't his fault his parents were making him move. What I wanted even more was to be able to help them, to somehow make the pain go away. But I couldn't even do that. 

Kai

I was an asshole. Everything was out of my control, but somehow, I still felt like the bad guy. Maybe I was. I should have told him earlier. But he still would have been just as upset, right? The outcome wouldn't have been any different and it certainly change my parents' minds. That's what I tried to tell myself. 

"How many times do I have to tell you it's not your fault?" Xiumin said during lunch. I sighed and sank down in my chair. "If anyone is to blame, it's your parents."

"Then why do I feel like shit?" I questioned with an unconvinced expression on my face.

"Because you made him cry by telling him really bad news and probably shattered his heart," Luhan interrupted. 

Xiumin shot him a glare. "That's not helping anything, Luhan."

"No, he's right," I said, turning everyone's head. "I ruined every chance I had. I should just give up and dig myself a hole to die in."

"Don't speak like that," Baekhyun said from beside me. "You dying wouldn't help anything."

"Then what the hell do you suggest I do?" I said as I faced him.

"I suggest you just hang on," he said. "Just move away for however long and then come back after graduation."

"That would be a good plan if he ever wanted to talk to me again, which he probably doesn't," I said. 

"We all know he's not actually mad at you for anything besides not telling him sooner," Baekhyun continued, turning his body toward me more. "You both are powerless in all of of this and the only person he can really take it out on is you. I'm sure he doesn't blame you for this."

"Yeah, and the wound is fresh, so it hurts more now than it will in a few days," Luhan added with a few nods of his head. "I'm sure if you just give him some space and then reach out, he'll talk to you. I think he'd regret not being able to say goodbye to you."

I sighed and sat back in my chair, staring down at the floor. "I wish we didn't have to say goodbye at all."

Kyungsoo

When I woke up from my slumber, I was at Chanyeol's house. I sighed a heavy sigh and dragged my hands across my face. It wasn't all a dream. It was real and it happened. 

"Oh, you're awake," Chanyeol said, peeking his head in the room. "My dad made dinner if you're hungry." 

I forced a faint smile and nodded. "A little," I said meekly. 

"Did you sleep well?" He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed. I shrugged, rubbing my face again. He just exhaled. "I know you probably don't want to talk about what happened right now, but I'm always here whenever you're ready to talk."

"Okay," I said with another forced smile. He smiled too and then started to leave the room. But all of a sudden, another, much larger wave of sadness came over me.

"Wait," I said right as he was about to open the door, causing to spin around and face me. "Don't go please. I don't want to be alone." No words came from his mouth for a while, but eventually a smile formed on his face.

"Okay, I guess dinner can wait," he said. 

A tiny smile tugged at my lips before he walked back over to the bed. I scouted over so there would be room for him on the bed and he lifted the covers. He laid down with a light sigh as he pulled the comforter back over our bodies. After a few more silent minutes, I shifted my position so that my head was laying on his chest. I could feel him tense up, prompting him to put his arm around me.

"I miss him already," I said, tears beginning to collect in my eyes.

"I know," he said in a soft, comforting tone. "But you should talk to him before he leaves. I think it would hurt a lot more knowing you let him go without even saying goodbye." I looked up at him slightly and he just smiled.

"You think he hates me?"

"As if he could ever hate you. He probably hates himself more than anything. Well, maybe not more than his parents." I sniffled to hide the incoming tears, letting out a small chuckle at the same time. He turned a little to wipe the few tears that had escaped. "Everything will be okay. I know it will be," he continued as he began stroking the strands of hair on my head.

I would have liked to believe that, but I couldn't. Nothing about my life felt safe anymore.