#Tae's POV…
❝My parents are getting a divorce,❞ I told Kookie blatantly.
I thought back to this morning. When I stumbled into the house, my papa looked anxious and frantic.
⁍ ❝Taehyung, your father, and I are splitting up,❞ he told me. ❝You need to stay somewhere else for the week. If you can't stay at the Jeons' then I'll call your aunt. I love you, and your appa is leaving on Friday.❞
❝Papa, what's going on?❞ I had asked him.
He shook his head. ❝It just isn't working out.❞
I knew this wasn't true but shrugged and turned to the door. Suddenly overwhelmed with a new emotion, I ran back and hugged him tightly. ❝I love you, Papa.❞ ⁌
✁・・・
I looked up and Kookie's face had paled. ❝Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, that must explain why you've seemed so off today.❞
❝It's not your fault. And anyway, you've helped me so much.❞ What I said was true. I don't know what I would've done without him.
❝Is there anything I can do?❞ Funny how he asked that after already having done so much. But I still needed to ask one thing.
I gulped and began. ❝My Appa moves out in a week. My papa asked if I would be able to stay with you until then.❞ Hoping I wasn't asking too much, I looked at him.
His eyes were softly lit and expressed kindness. ❝Of course! I'll let my parents know, and I'm sure it'll be fine.❞
❝Thank you,❞ I replied as I hid my tears.
❝Hey, Hyungie?❞ I looked at him. ❝It isn't your fault either. Don't blame yourself. And I'm sure everything is gonna be fine, they will not separate, they will be together, it's just this time or moment is not good for your parents. They will come together.❞
❝I know, I know...it just...it feels like it is sometimes,.... Wait really they're gonna be together, together.❞ I responded before hearing him fully and sometimes I wonder if it is my fault anyway. But I will believe him.
More than anything I didn't want Kookie to think I was weak. But crying isn't weak, is it?
❝Well, I'm always here for you, okay?❞ He was always so sweet and understanding.
❝Okay.❞
•
🌳🐓🌳
•
Once we arrived at Kookie's house, he immediately asked his papa if I was permitted to stay with them until Friday.
❝Yes, of course you can!❞ He replied thoughtlessly. Like I said, kind people indeed.
I smiled at him. ❝Thank you, so much.❞ He returned the smile before Kookie dragged me off to work on homework.
❝Already?❞ I asked with a laugh.
He rolled his eyes. ❝I'm serious! We have to get this done; it's due tomorrow.❞
❝Okay, okay, I'm coming,❞ I replied. Classic Kookie. Always puts his schooling first. It was admirable though. No wonder he's so intelligent.
We worked together on the history packet for a bit less than an hour, until we were both finished. To no surprise, he was done before I was but had written way more.
❝How do you do that?❞ I asked, innocently curious.
He seemed confused. ❝What?❞
❝How do you just know exactly what to write and exactly what all the answers are?❞
❝I...I don't know. I pay close attention, I guess,❞ he replied.
❝You'll have to teach me sometime,❞ I joked.
Kookie gave an evil-looking smile and proceeded to whack me with a pillow. We burst out laughing over the silly little act. And then our faces were inches apart. I looked over at him, from his sparkling eyes to his pink lips. With a sudden burst of confidence, I kissed him. Except this time felt more natural than the last. I placed my hand on his cheek as he kissed me back softly.
After starting to love him, I have felt, he was so easy to love. He made me feel safe. He made crossing a road feel like an adventure; with his hand on the small of your back. He laughs at things easily, he is soft, gentle, and kind. He listened to the words, and to my silence.
We were both leaning against each other supporting each other up.
He puts his hands on either side of my face, and the room falls away. I haven't gotten so lost in our first kiss before. And then, the space between us explodes. My heart keeps missing beats and my hands cannot bring him close enough to me. I taste him and realise I have been starving. I have loved before, but it didn't feel like this. I have kissed before, but it didn't burn me alive. Maybe it lasts a minute, and maybe it's an hour. All I know is that kiss, and how soft his skin is when it brushes against mine, and that even if I did not know it until now, I have been waiting for this person forever.
When we separated, I felt a small smile growing on my face, Kookie blushed. We both were huffing because of a lack of breath.
❝I hope that wasn't, like, obstructive or whatever,❞ I said quietly. Had I overstepped?
He laughed. ❝No, it wasn't. If you hadn't initiated, I probably would have.❞
I shook my head sarcastically and sighed. How in the world can I manage to score this...this iridescent boy?
❝You're really amazing, you know that?❞
❝Oh my God, this is so cheesy,❞ he replied.
He made a fair point. ❝I'm sorry,❞ I apologised teasingly. ❝I couldn't help but point out the obvious!❞
Kookie rolled his eyes. ❝C'mon, let's go check on the chickens.❞
❝Uh oh,❞ I replied. This was not good. I didn't want to bring up, you know, the egg thing. ❝I think they probably hate me.❞
❝Are you sure you just don't want to get... what was it...salmonella?❞ The question was serious, but he said it in a humorous tone.
I dramatically pretended to swoon. ❝Your chickens are going to kill me!❞
❝Very funny. Ha ha ha.❞ He seemed annoyed. ❝We should actually go outside now.❞
Whoops. ❝Okay, I should probably apologise to them all, anyway.❞
We shared a laugh. Outside, I could tell that he really did care for his chickens, and it bewildered me how one boy could be so passionate about so many different things. He surprises me every day.