When I woke up I felt rested. I frowned at first, since it was something I haven't felt for so long. I turned around and looked at the clock in the nightstand next to the bed and found out it was 11am. How did I even manage to sleep for so long?
I stretched and got up. The corridor was empty and the house in general was really quiet. When I arrived in the kitchen I found Seonghwa sitting on a chair, reading something on his phone.
《Good morning》 I said
He looked up and smiled.
《Well, good morning to you too sleeping beauty》 he teased
《I'm sorry I didn't mean to oversleep》 I replied
《I'm only joking》 he said 《I'm glad you managed to sleep》
《That bed was too comfortable for my own good》
He chuckled and got up from his seat.
《What do you want to eat?》 he asked
《I'm not hungry. If you have it, can I just have some tea?》
《Sure》
Minutes later he put the mug in front of me. He stood there, leaning on the counter, eating an apple.
《We're meeting at Wooyoung's house in less than an hour》 he said 《Would you like to come with us?》
I nodded, shyly.
《I probably own you all an explanation》
When we finished our breakfast, we both went our separate ways and washed up and got changed. Then we got in the car and headed to Wooyoung's house. When we arrived in front of the house, my mouth fell open. That wasn't an house. It was a huge villa. Seonghwa chuckled at my reaction.
《Didn't you know his family is rich?》 he said
《Yeah... but I didn't think they were THAT rich》 I replied
We got off and entered the house. Seonghwa guided me to the living room, where all the boys were already gathered. The room had three couches surrounding a small table, and there was a huge television hanging on the wall. In the corner of the room there was also a piano and a pool table.
When we entered the room and they turned to us, they all looked surprised to see me. I guess Seonghwa didn't tell them I was coming.
《Y/N!》 said San, excitement evident in his voice 《We've haven't seen you in a while》
《I know》 I replied 《And it's only my fault》
《Are you okay?》 asked Yunho, probably sensing my anxiety
《I want to tell you something》 I said 《Something about myself that I've never told anyone before》
《Are you sure you want to tell us?》 asked Yeosang, to make sure I was really okay about telling them something so important and private. I nodded in response.
When all of them were sitting on the couches, I started telling the story.
《My dad likes to spend every night in a different pub, wasting away all of our money in gambling. One day, when I was 11 years old, some people came home looking for him and destroyed our house. That's when we found out about my dad's problem. Soon after that my mom asked for a divorce and took me away with her. The fact is, that my mom didn't bring me with her because she cared about my well being, but because she wanted me to become successful and give her the luxurious life she thinks she deserves》 I said 《Since that day I slept only a couple of hours every night, because I was too focused on studying to do anything else. My mom was always next to me, and she used to slap me every time I got distracted or every time I said I was hungry or tired》
I sighed sadly at the thought.
《A couple years ago she found a new job that payed her a lot more than the previous one and she started going out and have fun almost every night and most of weekends. She likes her life outside so much, that every time she comes back home and sees me, she thinks about the fact that she has to pay for my education and for my food, that she has to bare having me in the same house》 I continued 《I was born because my parents weren't careful enough. She never wanted to have kids, and she likes to tell me that I'm not wanted every day. She yells at me all the time. She tells me I'm a disappointment, that I do nothing to repay for the things she does for me. She forces me to study and gets angry if I don't get an A+. Most of the times she doesn't even want to see me and she forces me to leave the house》
《Do you remember the night before you were accused of breaking the school's tv?》 I asked Hongjoong, and he nodded 《I was at school because I was looking for a place where I could sleep. That night, in fact, I sleep in the gym》
《That's what happened yesterday night too》 I said to Seonghwa 《That's why I was wandering around in the streets, without a jacket nor a phone. She kicked me out like I'm no one》
《She can't do that》 said Mingi 《You could get hurt》
《Yeah, well, she doesn't care》 I replied 《Actually, I'm sure she hopes every time that I don't come back》
《It's not legal, you should tell someone》 said Wooyoung
《It's not that simple》
《Is your mom the reason why you avoided us for the past days?》 asked Jongho
《No》 I said 《I was avoiding you because I felt guilty. I feel like I'm just using you to unwind and take a break from my life. I can see that my sadness effects you too, and I don't want to be a burden to you, or change your mood》
《You're not a burden》 said Seonghwa 《You know the stories people tell about us, so you must also know that we are never friendly with anybody. If we are spending time with you, it's because we really want to》
《We enjoy your company》 said Yunho
《You're actually a really interesting person》 added Mingi 《And you're also fun to hang out with》
I smiled sadly, and a tear fell down my eye. San got up from his seat and hugged me tight.
《We really care about you》 he said
I hugged him back, sobbing in his shoulder.
《From now on, if something happens you have to tell us》 said Hongjoong 《If you are sad we will cheer you up, if your mom kicks you out we will give you shelter, if you need help studying we can study with you》
《We're all bad students》 intervened Jongho
《We can still try!》 replied Hongjoong, exasperated because of his younger friend's remark
《Thank you》 I said, slowly calming down
San hugged me once more then let me go.
《Where are you staying now?》 asked Yeosang
《She's staying at my house》 replied Seonghwa
《Do you need anything?》 asked Wooyoung 《Food? Clothes? Money?》
《I'll probably need some clothes, but I'll try to go back home tomorrow, at least to see if I can take something from my room》 I replied
《In case you won't be able to, just tell me》 said Wooyoung 《We can always go shopping》
《Thanks, but I don't think we'll need to do that》
Wooyoung shrugged. He looked excited about going shopping, it was kinda funny.
《Should we do something now?》 I asked 《You know, have fun》
《How about we just spend the day here?》 asked Yunho
Everyone agreed that it was a good idea, so we prepared for the intense day of fun. Wooyoung had a wii, so we moved the couches and the table away, so that we could play. We also ordered pizza and Chinese food.
We started with playing Mario kart. The boys were really competitive and since Yunho was winning almost every time, I had to meddle various time to save him from his friend's rage. Then, to calm the nerves, we played just dance. They were really energetic and they were probably used to playing so much, but I wasn't, so after I while I stopped playing and sat on the couch, to recharge a bit. After a while San sat next to me.
《They don't want me to play》 he said, pouting
《Why?》
《They say I cheat every time》
《How can you even cheat in Just Dance?》 I asked, amused
《Exactly!》 he said
I chuckled. He was so cute.
《Well sucks for them》 he continued, still pouting 《I get to stay with you, while they don't》
After he said that he laid on the couch and put his head on my lap. I looked at him, surprised.
《Can you play with my hair?》 he asked
I started playing with his hair and he closed his eyes, enjoying the moment. I kept doing it, watching the other boys, who were still playing. After a while some of them noticed us.
《Ya! San!》 yelled Jongho 《Aren't you being too bold?》
The other boy opened his eyes and looked at his friend, annoyed.
《You're only jealous that it's me and not you》 he replied
Jongho shook his head and went back to the game. But it wasn't over yet for San. Wooyoung approached him right after he closed his eyes again, and started tickling him. San jumped, and when he noticed it was Wooyoung, he got up from the couch and chased him around the house. I laughed at the scene.
During the night we decided to have a marathon of a series of movies. We played rock paper scissors, so that the winner would choose the films. Wooyoung wanted to see 007's movies, Jongho wanted to see Fast & Furious, and so on... But in the end Yunho won, and we had to watch all of Harry Potter's movies that night.
When we finished the last movie, it was almost dawn. We didn't even saw the end, since all of us fell asleep. When we woke up the next day, it was afternoon.
Seonghwa gave me a ride to my house and from outside I could tell my mom wasn't home. I quickly went in and put my clothes in a bag and took my phone. Then we went to eat to a fast food with the rest of the boys, and at the end of the night I went home with Seonghwa and slept in my new room.
The next morning I woke up early and Seonghwa's grandma prepared breakfast for the both of us. Then we got ready and went to school. I had to admit, that staying at Seonghwa's house wasn't bad. The place was nice and calm, the bed was comfortable and his grandma was sweet and caring. That place felt more like home than my real house.
When we parked in the school's parking lot and got off of the car, Yeosang and San were waiting for us.
《Good morning》 I said
《Hello!》 they both said, smiling brightly
The three of them wanted to walk me to class, but first I had to pick something up from my locker, so we all went there.
《Did you have breakfast?》 asked Yeosang
《Yes》 I replied 《Seonghwa's grandma is making sure that I eat》
《Good》 he replied
San, next to me started talking 《I was thinking that maybe tonight we could-》
He stopped and I looked up at him, just to see him looking at something with an angry expression. I looked in that direction and saw my locker. There were photos on it. There was a photo of me and Seonghwa in front of his house, one of San laying on the couch with his head on my lap, another one of me playing games with them, and one of me laughing with Mingi during yesterday's dinner. But the photos weren't much of a problem. The problem was the "KQ Fellaz' slut" written all over my locker.
《Who was it?》 asked San, furious as hell
No one around us answered
《I asked who was it!!》 he yelled
He was so angry, that it was scary. I wasn't the only one who thought so, in fact a girl shyly took a step forward.
《It was Minha's group》 she replied, almost in a whisper
《I'm going to kill them》 he said to himself
《I'm coming with you》 said Yeosang, equally furious
《No guys, don't-》 I tried to say, but they were already walking away
《You can't stop them》 said Seonghwa
He was still next to me, and looked calm. But just because he was able to control himself it didn't mean he wasn't angry as well. Just by looking at his eyes I could tell he didn't like this either.
《Let's go somewhere quiet》 he said, noticing that everyone was looking at us
Everyone around us was whispering to each other, glaring at us. He grabbed my hand and guided me to the rooftop. On the rooftop there were old desks and chairs piled on one another. Seonghwa took two chairs and we sat down.
《Are they going to find them?》 I asked
《Definitely》
《What are they going to do when they find them?》
He looked at me with that look that said "do you really want to know?". I didn't ask twice. I wasn't really ready to know the answer.
《How did they even took those photos?》 I asked 《There were even photos of us in Wooyoung's house》
《They probably followed you around》 he replied
《That's sick. Why would they do that?》
《I don't know》 he said 《But we're not gonna let them do this to you again. They shouldn't even dare to pick on you》
What he said made me feel safe, but at the same time it scared me. What were they willing to do, to protect me?
We stayed there in silence for a while. After some time he spoke.
《Do you want to go back to class?》 he asked, knowing how much I care about school
《No》 I replied
Then Seonghwa got a text.
《It looks like they found them》 he said 《The boys are gathering at Wooyoung's house》
He got up and I got up with him.
《I'm coming with you》
I followed him out of the school and we got in his car. In a couple of minutes we arrived at Wooyoung's house and entered the place. Mingi, Yeosang, Yunho and Wooyoung were already there.
《What happened?》 I asked, anxious
《We don't know yet》 replied Wooyoung 《We split in two groups hoping to find them faster. We know Hongjoong and the others found him, but we don't know what happened》
Right after he said that, the door opened and Hongjoong, San and Jongho entered the room. Their faces and hands were full of bruises. My heart was beating so fast that I thought it was going to explode.
I walked to them and tried to get closer to Hongjoong to look at his bruises, but he stepped back. I stopped, confused.
《Why are you here?》 he asked, harshly
《I wanted to know if you were alright》
《We're fine, don't worry》 he said, trying to walk past me
I grabbed his arm and made him stop.
《No, you're not fine》 I said, then I turned to Wooyoung 《Do you have a first aid kit?》
《Yes, just give me a second》 he replied, leaving the room
《Sit down, all of you》 I told the three boys
《I said we're fine》 repeated Hongjoong
《And I said to seat the hell down!》 I snapped, angry
They looked at each other, surprised, and sat down on the couch without saying anything. Wooyoung came back with the first aid kit and gave it to me, and I started treating their bruises.
《Why did you do this?》 I asked
《They dared to call you slut》 said Jongho 《Those fuckers asked for it》
《I don't care what they call me》 I said 《I don't care about anything but you guys》
《Still》 said San 《They should know that you're off limits》
《They just needed a little reminder》 added Hongjoong
《Please, don't do this again》 I begged 《I don't like seeing you hurt》
《We can't promise that》 said Mingi
I turned around and looked at him. He looked apologetic.
《I know it's not fair of us to ask you to be okay with this, but if it happens again we will do it again, and you can't do anything to stop us》 said Yunho 《It's how things work》
I sighed and kept treating the bruises. When I finished I put everything back into the first aid kid and threw away the rest. Then I went back to the living room and sat on the couch, next to Hongjoong. He looked at me. It seemed like he was almost scared to talk to me.
《Are you okay?》 he asked, softly
《I don't know》 I replied 《I seriously don't know what to do with you guys, and it makes me feel so useless》
《You're not thinking about leaving us, right?》 asked San, getting defensive 《I mean, you already knew we were like this. You can't change your mind now》
《I don't want to leave you》 I reassured him 《It's just that it hurts to see you like this》
San looked a bit relieved, but he still wasn't completely calm.
《I really care about you》 I said 《You're the family I never had》
Hongjoong put his arm around my shoulder and put me closer to him. I smiled sadly at him.
《Let's stay together for a while, okay?》 he said 《Let's just get distracted. This was too much for just one morning》
We all tried to do other things, to get what happened out of ours mind, but I just really couldn't forget about it. No matter what I did, I couldn't stop thinking about the fact that they were willing to get in trouble and hurt themselves because of me. Is this what I really want? Maybe I'm really not good for them.