Withered - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

"Oh Mina you're wearing red too," Said the Cub. The graduation already over and now we're getting ready for prom night and he's in my house waiting for me to get ready. I clutch my purse as I walk to the living room and examine him. My
"When did you start wearing red?" I ask staring at him looking confident and ummm stunning.
"I like red"
"No, you don't"
"I really like red"
"Go and change! We can't go like this" I complaint. He's wearing a solid red suit with a plain white shirt and black bow tie. Exactly match my red dress.
He scoffs in disbelief "Why should I change? You should instead!"
"I'll take time!" I need another hour if that happens.
"Nope, you change"
"You change!"
"You"
"Chaengie change!!!!"
"Arrggh. Fine! You better ready when I arrived" He groans, going back home to change his clothes. I chuckle at my winning. I get myself some soda while waiting for him. Soon, he arrives wearing a black tuxedo with a navy vest and tie. I like this one more actually. *cough*
"Mom, we'll get going" I reach my mom and kiss her forehead. My parents also getting ready because they will be having a dinner and reunion party with their friends then spend the night in grandma and grandpa house. While my sisters already went out with their friends too.
*  *  *  *
The Prom night starts off with dinner at a luxury hotel arranged by a professional organisation. I start my entrance into the dance with my date and we greet people as we walk through to the ballroom. I can see some of my classmates who swap their school uniform for an elegant evening dress and high heels. Boys that are usually only seen in jeans and trainers when not at school dress up in a suit with a tie and smart shoes.
I don't dance because I injured my ankle this morning after my ballet class, that's why I wear kitten heels. I ask Chaeng to find someone else to date and dance with him but he refuses and suggest us to play lego on the round table. I can't believe he actually brings a small box of lego house sets where he hides in Hyun's car. So, here we are, completing it together instead of dancing the light and soft musical pieces.
For about two hours, we finally finished it and so far I'm having a night that I'm satisfied with except that I can't dance. At 11:00 pm, an administrator speaks on the microphone and says that it's the time for the prom court king and queen to be announced. I'm nominated as on one of the queen but I refuse, excusing myself with my injury while actually, I don't fancy standing on the stage with all eyes on me, it makes me nervous. Chaeng is also nominated, he wanted to refuse too but I force him to join the line-up. Defeated, he gives me that annoying face then walks to the stage.
"First, Willow High School's prom king... Son Chaeyoung!" The administrator says. I grin and claps my hands as I watch him be given a crown and sash that he will have to wear and receive a gift which is a French Bordeaux red wine. I find it funny because Chaeng doesn't drink not even wine, he has a really low tolerance for alcohol. Everyone cheered, it's not a surprise actually. Chaeng is really popular around the school. The average funny, cool, perfect looking guy you see on the television. He looks at my direction, I can sense him internally screaming at me for forcing him to join the nominees. He then sits on the throne while the queen is crowned. I think her name is Sakura, my fellow Japanese.
The king and queen pose together for the official prom photographer to take a photo of them. Then they both make a short speech thanking the staff members or organizing committee for putting on the prom, and acknowledge the vendors like the DJ and the hotel that is hosting the event.
After the ceremony officially ended. The music starts to change from classical to EDM. It's as loud as thunder that made the cutlery on the tabletops rattle. Neon lights flashed everywhere like police sirens, but much more colourful. It's getting to wild for me to handle, people are dancing crazily, shouting mindlessly.
Chaengie who's talking to his friends excuses himself and walks to me then lean into my ear "Wanna go home?" He whispers. I nod my head.
Soon, we arrive at my house and I rush to my bedroom to change into comfortable clothes, my penguin onesie since it's now eleven sharp. While Chaeng gets himself a glass of water."Are you leaving?" I ask him as he takes his car keys that sit on the dining table.
"Yeah, Oh! you're alone right? Are you going to be fine?" he raises his brow as he wears his dark brown shoes.
"I'm fine"
"You know, If you ask me to stay. I will" he states staring at me as I look down playing with flippers.
"I'm okay," I say. Yeah, nothing could go wrong right?
"O-Okay. I'm just saying but the other day when I slept in the living room watching football with father. I caught something like a black figure standing beside the stairs, so you know be car-------"
"Ya--yah. Don't scare me" I jump out and I held his arms tightly, looking around the living room.
"Say it"
"Eh?"
"Say it mina ya"
"Umm……..stay……..please," I say almost like a whisper.
"What? Didn't hear you"
This guy really. Urrgh. I swallowed my pride "Stay, please~" I mimic cutely. Bye pride.
"Okay, " He smiles and walks back inside, rest himself on the couch. He then asks me if I can cook because we don't have a proper meal for dinner. So, I cook a simple dish, ramyeon. He goes to one of the guestrooms or you can call it his room because he always stayed here, he has some spare clothes there and everything he needs. We finish our food after he complaining about me being bad at cooking but end up eating all of it. Geez.
We finish the meal and get ready to sleep. Both are in our respective room. I turn in the light bud keep my table lamp glowed soft orange. Sleep pooled on my eyelids as I'm slowly drifting to dreamland, but why? Why!? Is it have to rain. Even thunder. THUNDER. I quickly shit my eyes hides under the blanket, flinch with each thunderous boom. I'm washed by sweat, cold and frightened, even the night is encroaching quickly, adding to the gloom. Unconsciously shriek with every flashing light finding myself crying. With each tense breath, I force herself not to hyperventilate. The key to this is preventing the fear escalating into an all-out panic.
"Mina?"
Soon, I feel a pair of hands wrapping around my waist, back hugging me. Startled, I quickly wanted to turn around but stop when I heard Chaengie's voice, that deep and hoarse voice soothing me. I sigh in relief, a hug of strong arms that tells me he's with me and will protect me. My human shield.
"You still afraid of thunder huh? I won't do anything. Don't be so tense. Or should I go?" He removes his arms but I caught it and shake my head. Placing it back around my waist. The feel of his body so close to mine soothed me more than I ever expected. We stay like that for a while before he starts to speak again.
"Mina, do you remember when I said I'll go to America"
I nod.
"Looks like I have to go early than expected.………. This Monday" he adds My eyes widen as I turn my body to face him. He only smiles at me, a sad smile. I want to scold him and get mad but it's not his fault and we already talk about this. So, arguing just a waste of time. I sigh and cuddle closer to him smelling his scent as I bury my face into the crook of his neck. Without realizing I'm crying again as he stroke my hair calming me down. We stay silent and he held me tighter. I think he also cries because I feel water drop on my forehead. With that, we fall asleep in each other's arms.
*  *  *  *
"Chaeng?" my mom call out to him who's playing Go with dad in the living room while me, I'm watching my favourite cartoon. Pingu pingu~~tot tot. It's Saturday, so he spends his time here instead of going out with his brothers or friends. Unnies is in the cinema, they wanted to tag me along but I refuse why? The timing is not right.
"Yes, mother?" Chaeng answers.
"You'll be going tomorrow right? Why so early?"
"Yes, I don't really know the detail about it. Dad only called me and asked if I can get there as soon as possible"
"Have you packed your stuff?"
"Later tonight. Why mother?"
"Let me help you to pack your things. I also want to see my other two sons. They don't come here lately. Is there anything wrong?" My mom asks as she sits beside me. Seriously mom. How come you not notice the reason? of course, because of two brilliant daughters.
"They just a bit busy" Chaeng reasoned. I wonder if he knows what is going on with Tzuyu, Hyun and unnies. I spare him a glance, Nah I don't think he knows anything. He looks stupidly clueless "Are you coming, mother?" He asks.
"Yes, wait for me let me change first then we'll get going"
"Okay"
My mom walks to her room while I laugh at Chaengie. He surely has no idea what he just got into. "Chaengie…haha you doomed," I giggle. He still doesn't get it and just look at me with a furrowed brow.
"What do you mea-- Oh shit!!"
"Don't curse son." Dad interrupts.
"Sorry, father. Umm, I need to go the washroom haha" he says awkwardly then runoff. I shake my head and divert my attention back to the shows.
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"Please pick it….pick it up Hyung" Chaeyoung keep biting his nails as he calls his older brother.
[Chae?!]The other line answers.
"Dahyun Hyung!! What?! Why is it so loud. Lower down the volume Hyung!! Don't disturb our neighbours! For nth time!" Chaeyoung shout-whisper not wanting Mrs Myoui to caught him. He waits until it is dead silence.
[Okay okay. Now what?]
"Listen, mother will come and if she sees our house condition. We'll be dead meat. Please clean the house and just do anything, please. I don't want to die so soon."He pleads.
[Wait what?! She always visits by the end of the month. Why so sudden!?]
"Just…..Hyung stop talking and start cleaning the house. I'll try to steal time so better get it done before we arrive" Chaeng ends the call when he heard Mrs Myoui calling for him. He then drives Mrs Myoui to their apartment. The Cub stares intently as they stand in front of his apartment's door. He gulps and pushes the bell.
"Chae, why are you ringing the bell?" Mrs Myoui asks.
"Ah, hahah I just like the sound of it" He nervously laughs and presses the bell again "ing~ ring~" He sings. Chaeyoung hopes that the sound warns his brothers that they have arrives and the brothers are prepared enough.
"You're acting so weird. Come on" Mrs Myoui enters the passwords code and drag Chaeyoung inside the house as he calls for the other two kids.
"Oh! Mother! So sudden?" Dahyun panted as he pulls Mrs Myoui into a hug so does Tzuyu.
"You silly kids. Why is it hard for me to see both of you these days." Mrs Myoui scolds as she pats Dahyun head. "Wait? Is that" Mrs Myoui adds as she gets near to something that half shown under the couch. Chaeyoung quickly picks it up putting it inside his pocket claiming it his handkerchief.
Mrs Myoui has that suspicious look but then shrug it off "Alright. I bet you haven't eaten right?" said Mrs Myoui as she walks towards the kitchen after examining the house. It looks clean like super clean and she only nods her head and praising them.
"Tell me, who owns this?" Chaeyoung gritted his teeth and turns to his Hyungs, keeping his voice low. He lifts the 'handkerchief' he picked earlier and shows it to his brothers.
"Haha. Me?" Dahyun raises his hand while laughing awkwardly.
"Why would your boxer be in the livin---"
"Son!" Mrs Myoui shout from the kitchen
"YES!!" they answer in unison and rush towards their mother.
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We're at the airport in the afternoon. All of us. The entire place is buzzing with people. Outside the airport, there are cars and taxis. People are rushing around with huge suitcases and bags. It feels really awkward because of these four. They didn't talk to each other but just stealing glances.
We enter the building and find seats. Talking about random, while I'm here still consumed by sadness. Soon, a man appears that Chaeng quickly recognize. The man bows and gestured him. The Son's stored their private hangar in this airport same as us. Chaeng turns to us and smile
"My flight. I need to go" He start hugging my parents and my unnies, but notice the glare Tzuyu and Dahyun thrown to him. He just cluelessly grins while I'm holding my laugh.
"And to my best friend" He hugs me tightly and we stay for few minutes before I pull out because he needs to go. He takes my hand checking whether I'm wearing the bracelet. I never take it off after we fight because of it. He reaches my face and wipes the tears that I don't notice falling. Geez, why am I crying again? But he really going to leave. For the first time, he will not be there for me anymore, beside me. Please let this be the first and last.
"Umm, Mina?" he calls still holding my hands as he looks down.
"Humm," I sobs.
"I have something to tell you"
"Yeah?"
"I……I actually"
He let out a heavy and long sigh before he met my eyes then smiling showing his deep dimple.
"Nothing. I'll tell you when I'm back"
We bid our last goodbye before he enters the gate and left.
What is it you want to tell me Chaengie?