THE BLEEDING HEARTS PROGRAM

FIFTEENTH TUTORIAL

Raphael felt underdressed.

Even more so when he entered the restaurant. Everyone clearly was dressed in expensive clothing and here he was in his job interview pants and a dark green sweater. His white air forces were clean but clearly out of place.

"Oh my gosh, Raphael," Junya cheered as soon as he saw the other. He left his uncle and father mid speech as he practically ran to Raphael. Jaehyun and Yejun shared a look as Jaehyun filled up his cup again. "How did you know what today was? I can't believe you came- it's not even a tutorial day."

"Your mother invited me but, I would've came if you had invited me too. You have my number so you can always invite me. Even when it isn't a tutorial day."

"You can sit next to me." Junya's eyes sparkled as he grabbed Raphael's sleeve. "You're my guest of honour."

"I thought that was my seat Jun," an older man complained. "I always sit next to you- it's our tradition-"

"He'll be okay," Junya ignored his uncle brushing him off. "Uncle Yejun is dramatic but, he'll get over it. We told them not to do tasting portions today so, you'll love it."
...

Junya took Raphael around the whole room introducing him to every family member. Raphael laughed to himself a few times because it was like he was showing off a celebrity.

Junya's aunt kept teasing him and Raphael found it adorable how he blushed and pouted about it. He even started frantically denying his aunt's accusation of always talking about Raphael.

"If it's all praise, I don't care," Raphael assured smiling fondly at Junya.

"You two are adorable," Alzira swooned as Raphael laughed. Junya didn't find it funny but, he was relieved that Raphael didn't have a bad reaction to his aunt's teasing.

"Are we ready for the first course," one of the waiters asked politely as the table quieted down. "We have a lovely entree waiting."
...

"You eat so well child," Junya's grandma complimented Raphael with an impressed smile. "That is a very good trait - a sign of health in our culture."

"Thank you ma'am."

"Open my gift next Junya, even if you don't want to sit with me, I've put a lot of thought into this."

"Uncle Yejun, you're embarrassing me," he muttered accepting the box.

He unwrapped it slowly to reveal a watch with grey and nautical colours. Raphael knew it was expensive because he never saw a watch come in a big wooden box.

"Oh, another watch... I'll use it well. Thank you uncle Yejun."

"Junya that is a Nautalius! Do you know the resale value of this? I broke the bank finding this for you," Yejun rambled. "You brat- do you know how rare a Tiffany edition one is?! You do this every year!"

"Because every year you give me a watch! I don't anywhere and I have a phone to tell time! What do I need them for?!"

"It's a collectors item! If you're ever broke, you can sell this for money!"

"Broke," a few people around the table mumbled in confusion. "Maybe in a few lifetimes... not this one," Alzira added bitting her steak.

"My grandson? He doesn't even know what that means," Junya's grandma mumbled under her breath.

"Geez you don't want a Patek," Raphael asked surprised peering over to look at the watch. "It looks expensive though... It's really cool, don't you think? It's an investment piece or so people say."

Raphael had never seen a house on someone's wrist, he was quite impressed.

"He gets it! I almost had to get it illegally! It's a Tiffany edition- what are you doing?"

Junya clasped the watch on Raphael's wrist. The watch sat prettily on the boys wrist and it felt... amazing.

Raphael didn't think he was materialistic but an expensive watch on his wrist made him feel like the rappers or the athletes.

Lowkey... he liked it. Maybe he could look into being a sugar baby or something.

"Jaehyun raised a trick," Alzira hollered as her and Boram burst into laughter. "I guess he's just like his dad."

"I don't know what a trick is... so I'm not offended," Junya smiled proudly as Jaehyun smiled at his oblivious son. He didn't look like it but, maybe he was a simp by nature. "It looks good on you Raphael."

Jaehyun tried to hold it in but Yejun's dumbfounded face was getting him. Along with Jitae almost falling off his seat from laughing so hard.

"What about the bag you brought Raphael? Is it for me?"

"Oh, yeah, it is," Raphael responded sheepishly. "You got a lot of great gifts so mine won't seem that great but I hope you like it."

"I'll use it well," Junya beamed grabbing the gift bag. He took out two boxes from the inside and his eyes immediately lit up.

"They're like big globes and they light up. One is the solar system and one is the galaxy like night lamps - pretty cool that they make things like that huh? Because you said you wanted to be an astronaut."

Junya looked at the two boxes like they were bars of gold. His eyes sparkled so much.

More than when his grandma had announced she had brought him a small island.

More than any gift he'd ever received.

Nair sniffled as she saw the look on Junya's face. All she wanted was to see her son happy. Especially when they had such a rough year with Junya being in and out of hospital more often and him seemingly losing all hope.

To her, Raphael was literally sent from heaven.

"This is so cool," Junya teared up sniffling a bit. "I'm going to take such good care of it- I'll treasure these."

"Yeah," Raphael asked using his sweater sleeve to wipe his eyes. "Don't cry in front of your dad and uncles though - they'll kill me."

"I've never gotten a present from a friend before," he sniffled, "I just don't know what to do."

"Say that you'll use it well," Raphael smiled stretching his hand to caress the back of Junya's head. "To avoid cultural misunderstandings."

Raphael had never seen someone cry and look so pretty before- it was so sick that he liked Junya's crying face.

"Alright it's been five seconds! Move your hand! You think I won't catch a case- he's my son!"