Chapter 22
Your eyes, they tell
"You'll be fine! It'll all be okay! Let's just walk and then we can tell them."
Tae hyung was trying to calm me down now. He knew how nervous I was as graduation day - the day we've finally been waiting for is here. With that all my excitement was going down the drain.
Is this it? I'm so excited to be on my own. My dad has called multiple times saying my job is there, training is ready - he's so excited to have me work for him, teaching me all about how to run the company. I don't know how he would feel about me after this.
We decided we were gonna graduate, be happy and forget it all. Then we'd seat our parents together the next day in our little dorm, and tell them all that was going on.
We have it all ready to go - the jobs at Joon hyungs dads company, we signed off on the apartment - we put down a deposit from the money Tae hyung managed to save up. He didn't want to use my money since it wasn't my money but my parents, Joon Hyung helped too. He didn't want anyone to know but he knew how important this was for us. Him along with the rest of the hyungs wants us to do this, finally come clean and be free. They've been so amazing through out all of this!
I'm ready to be free, I am with all my heart. I can't handle the thought of our parents hating on us. I haven't told mom this plan of ours because I know she'd talk me out of it. She mentioned to me a couple of months back that she would tell dad about it when the time was good. I was okay with that plan until I realized there's never a good time to tell your Asian dad that you are in fact gay.
All these thoughts were clouding my mind. I was gonna join my parents at the hotel they reserved so Tae hyungs family can spend time with him in the dorm. We wouldn't see each other until after graduation and he was calming me down before hand.
"I'll be okay. Are you okay? You always make sure I am good and never show me when you're not good. Does that make sense?"
"Kook! I am good! It'll be good. We are officially starting our lives, together! This is a good start for us. No matter what happens tomorrow, I don't care because, we are in this together!"
"Together!" I repeated
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"Jeon Jungkook"
"Kim Taehyung"
As both our names were called I could hear the hyungs more than anyone screaming and cheering us on. As I walked back to my seat from getting my diploma I could see all of them with their phones, snapping pictures and videos of me. Smiling and cheering me on. I know they did the same to Tae Hyung. As the ceremony came to a close and crowds started scattering again - I waited for my person to come find me.
Through the crowds I could see him walking through with his black graduation attire. I knew he was wearing the suit I got for him under it. The suit I had to beg him to take because he was a business man now and needed a good black suit. The suit he didn't wanna take because he's always so humble and doesn't need riches, but I wanted him to have it. It's a little graduation gift from me.
I watched as his confused gaze turned into his boxy smile rather quickly as he spotted me. He ran to me holding onto me tightly in a hug.
"Congratulations grad!" I exclaimed holding onto him tightly
"Congratulations baby!" He whispered pulling away, "I wouldn't be here if you didn't nag me to study with you all day long!"
"You can pay be back by being with me forever!" I winked
"Kookie! Taeee!" I could hear Jin hyungs distinct voice even in the midst of this loud crowd.
We both turned around smiling, knowing exactly who it was and where it was coming from. The hyungs were running to us with our parents following closely behind. Weird, I always thought I'd hug my mom first but she knew my weirdo hyungs had full guardianship over me and she was totally okay with it and I could tell as she and Tae hyungs mom both watched in adoration at the hyungs and us.
They ran over hugging both of us together in a tight hug or squishing might I add? We both groaned as we were unable to breathe between all their love.
"Okay guys move! The people that gave birth to them might want to get in on the hug thing!" Joon Hyung strictly added pulling a very emotional Jin Hyung off of me. Who was tearing up now.
"Son!" My mom exclaimed making her way over to me, grabbing me tightly - "I am so proud of you always, my son!"
"Good job son..." my Dad added, "now we can really get you ready." He put his arm around me- "You know I worked as hard as I did knowing you'd take over and make the company even better." I felt my stomach turn as guilt took over. It made me wonder if I was throwing away everything my parents ever worked for - for love. It felt unfair to them. Then again I couldn't help but think that if they didn't love me for me, I shouldn't force that.
"Thanks Dad... business wasn't that hard. Don't act like I became a doctor or something." I said not being able to meet his eye
"To me, this is better than a doctor. My son following my footsteps! It's my dream!" He exclaimed hugging me tightly
My eyes met with Tae hyung who was smiling at his parents adoring him, hearing every damn word of what my father said. You know how I know that? The guilt I saw sweep on his face, it was sudden, almost unnoticeable as he hid it behind that smile of his. I looked at my hyungs as well while I was in my dads embrace, they all pushed out a smile for me. I knew what they were probably thinking. Finally I looked at mom, she was forcing a smile nodding at me agreeing to God knows what. I wondered if she felt guilty knowing my secret, her face sure didn't show it.
I looked back at Tae hyung giving him an assuring smile! I wasn't sure what kind of face I had before but I wanted to make sure that this one gave him the assurance that I was okay.
I think for the first time in a long time I was starting to feel okay. I never questioned if I was ready to risk it all for him - I questioned how my feelings for my parents would change if they didn't accept us after this.
I wondered how Tae hyung who adored his parents can live without them. He's the son that worked multiple part time jobs so his parents didn't have to spend a dime on his education. The son that put school on hold to work like a slave to get his family back on their feet. I wondered if his parents could just reject a gem like that.
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It was the next day. We were sitting in our small dorm room, nervously. Yesterday was filled with celebration and happiness. There were photos being taken of us until we were seeing spots from the amount of flash our eyes. The hyungs asked if we wanted them to join and we politely declined. We didn't need them to be dragged into this and frankly if this turns ugly I didn't want them to be here to see that. Our moms were bringing everyone coffee as the rest of us sat around the couch - Tae hyung and I on the love seat away from the rest of them.
"No thank you, Mom. I am good."
"No coffee?" She asked concerned, "is everything okay honey"
"Yeah what did you guys want to talk to us about?" it was Tae hyungs Dad. He was quiet, calm and absolutely relaxed most of time - I look at my dad and see the opposite as he's quick to anger and will yell at me without hearing me out on anything. I don't have a relationship with my father unlike Tae hyung who is close and lovely to both his parents. We made sure to sit away from our Dads, I especially made sure Tae hyung sat away from mine.
"Yeah son, anything! You guys are worrying me." My father added
"Jungkook... what are you - " my mom added looking quiet a bit concerned now. As if she knew but she didn't want to
"I - ah..." I started to say. I could feel the tension. I could hear my heart beating out of my chest. I tried to slow my breathing thinking it would have some kind of affect to how I could feel my heart beating through my ears now
"I'll do it!" Tae hyung offered. I looked at him. I adored him. I loved him. He always was ready to do it so I didn't have to. Someone who always looked out for me so I didn't hurt. I always feel like I don't do enough for him. I could feel the tears filling up my eyes as my vision became blurry and I could see the blank expression turn into a fearful one on his face. As if he was scared I would get up and run away from him. I have been acting like I would be the boyfriend who would get up and run away when things get hard like this. I only wished I could be strong enough like he has been, I only wished I acted tough about this whole situation especially in front of him.
"Not this time... babe!" I added, causing him to raise an eyebrow at the sudden nickname. I didn't expect it either
"Mom, Dad, Aunty, Uncle..." I started to say. I could feel all eyes on me, I could feel my face burn up and my eyes continue to tear up in frustration. I aggressively wiped my tears away, and took a deep breath.
"What is it honey?" Taes mom asked worried
"I need you guys to hear me out... all of it. I need you guys to take a moment and think about it before you react. Promise me that?"
I waited for an answer as I stared at the blank expression in all their faces. My moms eyes started to get glossy. I looked at her for something...anything, as if I needed her approval. I wanted her approval. I kept staring at her as she nodded and smiled for me to go on. That was all I needed. She made her way to come sit on the arm of the couch so she was next to my dad, and begin to hold him, tightly.
"We promise son!" she said making sure her voice didn't crack. Making sure she didn't sound weak for my sake
Everyone else nodded along. Tae hyungs mom gave me a smile as a way to calm me down. She was good at that, I adored her for that. He definitely got his smile from her.
"Tae hyung and I have been friends for so long now, and you guys know that. More than anyone, Moms - you guys know how close and inseparable we are." we earned a smile from
our moms
"Well... for the past three years now, we have figured out that we loved each other more than friends and brothers." I waited for anything to happen, nothing did. I could feel Tae hyung stiffen next to me
"What do you mean?" his dad asked looking as confused as my dad
"I mean.... we started loving each other as more than friends. We've been dating for the past three years and we lov-"
"You what?" my dad screamed as he was trying to get up the couch being held down by my mom.
"Baby hear him out, okay? Don't get mad..." she tried to assure him but he wasn't budging
I knew how mad he gets but I didn't wanna care anymore. "Dad, I love him!"
"No Jungkook! No you don't!" He exclaimed. I could feel the tears in my eyes again, completely flowing out now - unstoppable. I knew he would react like this. I was so certain of it
"Uncle. You don't understand!" Tae hyung begin
"No you listen to me, I don't know what the hell you did to my son but I didn't raise a -"
"Uncle don't finish that!" Tae hyung added
"You guys raised an amazing man! I never ever liked men before him, and I know it was the same for him. When we found out our feelings for each other, we totally forgot to think of what society would think or what it would do to our parents images, and for that we're sorry. I will not however apologize for falling in love with someone just because society will hate me for it. I know we may never get your blessings uncle but... I love your son. Dad..." he looked at his father eyes welling up with tears now - "Dad please try to understand. I know how hurt you must be feeling right now! I am sorry for not thinking of you guys but I won't be sorry for falling in love with him, I never will be." He reached down and grabbed my hands in his holding me tightly. Tears were falling out of both of our eyes now as I smiled at him.
"Love you!" I mouthed for him to smile at brightly at me hiding his sadness
I looked over at our parents. My dad being angry as ever, my mom doing the best to make him stay seated and helping him to stay calm. Tae hyungs parents had no reaction. Their faces were blank. They weren't saying anything.
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A/N: Ahhhhh we're almost nearing the end this story! Hope everyone likes it so far!