Thanksgiving was always hectic, my mom always made way too much food.
"CJ and Sehun, come set the table!" Sehun threw silverware onto the table, leaving it for me to actually set.
"Hey! I'd appreciate it if you'd actually help me."
"I'm waiting for Luhan to get here."
I sighed and finished setting the table. The bell of the front door rang, "Luhan!" Sehun turned around.
"That's not my name," Yixing said, confused.
"Sorry, Yixing, I thought you were somebody else."
"Clearly."
"CJ!" My mom shouted again. Ah, thanksgiving, where I suddenly become my mom's personal assistant.
"Yes?"
"Take all of this food to the table."
"By myself?"
Yixing peeked his head into the kitchen, "Can I help with anything?"
"You can help me take this food to the table."
"CJ, no, he is our guest."
"I don't mind," Yixing helped me carry the food to the table.
"It smells good," Luhan came through the door with Victoria. We were only missing one person now. I still wasn't even sure if Tao was coming or not.
I sat at the table in between Sehun and Victoria.
My mom checked her watch, "Well, it's six, I guess everyone can start eating," She looked at me. I shrugged.
"Thank you for having us Ms. Choi," Victoria said.
"Of course," my mom smiled.
Luhan started eating. I looked at him, "You have to wait for the adults to start eating first."
"Whatever," he continued to eat.
"Luhan, have some manners," I'd never heard Sehun stand up to Luhan because of his rude attitude, but I was glad he did, and I thought that he should more often.
Luhan rolled his eyes and stopped eating. He waited until every adult had started eating - including my extremely slow grandparents- and then started stuffing his face.
The doorbell rang, indicating that somebody had come in, "I'm so sorry for my tardiness, I had to run some errands."
"Why is he here?" Luhan asked me with a mouth full of turkey.
"Our mom invited him," Sehun answered.
Victoria grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear, "He's wearing normal clothes. Don't you think he looks so hot like that?"
I ignored her.
"No worries, I'm glad you could make it, please have a seat, Mr. Huang," My mom smiled.
He bowed his head respectfully, "Please, you can call me Zitao."
"Can I call you Zitao?" Victoria asked. Was she seriously flirting with him at the dinner table?
Tao ignored her and made himself a plate.
"Is this your new boyfriend, Nabi?" My grandma asked.
"No, mom, this is CJ and Sehun's teacher, Zitao, he teaches Chinese."
"Whatever."
"How about we all go around the table and say something we're thankful for?" My dad suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement. He looked at my grandma to start.
"Well, I'm thankful that Nabi's new boyfriend got to come and I'm thankful that Jisoo and Sehun know they're related now."
"She has dementia," I whispered to Tao.
My grandpa was already asleep so we skipped him and went to Victoria, "Um, I'm thankful for this amazing meal and I'm thankful to be able to go to school in Korea."
"CJ, you're up," My mom looked to me.
I glanced at Tao, then back at my plate, "I'm thankful that everyone got here safely, I'm thankful for my family, and I'm thankful for the food," I looked at Sehun. He pretended to be asleep like grandpa, but my mom wasn't having it.
"Oh Sehun! Tell everyone what you're thankful for, right now."
"I'm thankful for food, family, and friends."
It was Luhan's turn now and he looked nervous, "I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to be here in Korea. I'm thankful that I have such a good, um, ..friend, like Sehun."
Sehun smiled at him, he smiled back, my dad looked at them weird.
It was Tao's turn now, and I listened better than I listened in class, "I'm also very grateful to be here in Korea, I'm thankful that I get to help my students learn and grow. Also, I'm thankful for this beautiful meal."
Sehun put his arm around my shoulders, "You're thankful for us, right Ta...Mr. Huang?"
What kind of bullshit was Sehun trying to pull, saying something like that in front of my parents.
"Of course," Tao smiled, "I'm thankful for all of my students."
Why did it hurt my feelings so much to be put at the same level as other students?
My dad laughed, "Yeah right, these two are the worst trouble makers, they're probably something you're not thankful for."
Tao stifled a laugh, but mostly he just looked uncomfortable. I felt bad that he was even here in the first place. Yixing also looked uncomfortable, like he was itching to leave.
I looked over to him, "Are you okay?"
He showed me his phone with a text message open.
Junmyeon: Want to come over? I have something sweet for you
I looked up at Yixing. He was blushing like mad. I laughed a little, "Well, are you going to go?"
"I don't even know what that means," I whispered in Yixing's ear what it was that Junmyeon meant. He started blushing more, "Well, should I go? I've never done anything like that before."
"If you don't want to do that, just tell him."
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just that I'm afraid I wouldn't know what I'm doing."
"Maybe he could show you what to do."
"Would it be rude for me to leave?"
"Just wait until after you finish dinner."
Yixing nodded and started eating again. I looked over at Tao, who was glaring me. I looked away from him.
"CJ, go get the pumpkin cupcakes out of the fridge and hand them out."
I went into the kitchen. How did she trust me with cupcakes? I brought them out and handed them to everyone.
Yixing stood up with his cupcake, "I have a class I need to get to."
"On thanksgiving?" My mom tilted her head.
"Um, yeah," He bowed twice, "Thank you for having me," He rushed out of the door.
Eventually everyone else left too and I went up to my room after helping my mom clean up.
Tao: what's with you and Yixing?
Me: nothing, he's gay. He's also dating his professor
Tao: that's good, so you and him get along then lol
My mom came in, "So you and Yixing get along pretty well," She smirked, "He's only a year older than you."
"I don't want to date boys right now, mom."
"Fine, I just thought you two looked really cute together earlier."
I nodded and hid under my covers, my mom left.
Tao: your family is cool, by the way.
Me: whatever
Tao: they are, I'd like to get closer to them one day
Me: you're a sweetheart. I'm tired
Tao: go to sleep, princess
Me: fine, goodnight.
Tao: love you :)
Me: love you too
Tao: By the way, I'm thankful for you.