two sides of the coin

After that day, Kai and Taehyun decided to spend their time with their family until it's New Year. Taehyun hesitated at first since he knows how Kai fears his parents.

Taehyun and Kai had an endless argument until Taehyun decided to agree with Kai, he doesn't want to get the argument too serious.

"I wonder what he is doing right now. It's been two days since we separated." Taehyun murmured to himself, lying at his bed. At the thought, he quickly snatched his phone from his side table.

hueningie <3

hey hueningie, what are you doing?
sent 9:45am

i'm kinda bored, lol
sent 9:45am

i assume that you're asleep or busy playing. Haha
sent 9:45am

hi tyunnie, i was just cleaning my room. it was a total mess.
sent 9:50am

i'll clean my room first, i'll try to call you later.
sent 9:52am

Taehyun smiled, he turned off his phone then placed it once again at his table.

"Should I study today? Mama isn't asking me to help for New Year's celebration.." the elder muttered, he stood up then dashed to his study table.

His study table was neat, pens organized, some highlighters and books placed beside the lamp.

"Since I'm bored, let me just study for a bit and wait for Hueningie's call," Taehyun smiled, pulling a pen.

As he was about to reach for a book, his mother called him.

"Taehyun-ah! Help me here, your brothers are out to buy some ingredients." Mother Kang yelled, which was immediately heard by him.

The latter giggled, he placed back his pen where it belongs then stood up, running down stairs.

"Yeonjun, clean these now." Mother Choi growled, emphasizing the word "these" so Yeonjun could get up immediately and clean his mess.

Unfortunately, Yeonjun and Soobin was caught off guard by their parents, laughing lovingly at the living room.

Without a time to explain, mother Choi shouted and kicked out Soobin from her household. The situation was embarrassing for Yeonjun, even Beomgyu and Kai was embarrassed.

"And who told you who can bring your friends here? You and Kai is unexceptionally stupid aren't you?!" Mother Choi scowled, throwing newspapers towards Yeonjun who was picking up some chip packs.

Father Choi was at his room, actively having it with someone who he met at his work.

"Choi Beomgyu, Kai Kamal Huening, get down here!" She shouts, her arms crossed.

Kai and Beomgyu immediately run downstairs, Beomgyu almost tripping because of the ties of his boots.

"You two, I told three of you to stay indoors while Christmas, what did you do huh?! Breaking rules now?" Mother Choi shouted, every words she was saying was emphasized, gnashing her teeth.

Kai lowered his head, stopping his tears to fall down. Beomgyu on the other hand, felt angry but scared at the same time.

This was a normal practice at their household, mother Choi shouting, scolding and sometimes hurting them. It's like it's been engraved to them that this thing happens every single day.

"I'm doing these for your own good, I don't want you to be like those teenagers. Carelessly doing things." Mother Choi's tone immediately changed into a calm one, his glares soft.

The three didn't bought this, the last time she gave this look was them being manipulated.

"Listen to your mom, this is for the goodness of your future." She gently said, smiling softly as if she is a good mother.

Kai's heart was beating loudly, his tears still stuck on his eyes. He cannot endure the shouting, yelling and hurting. He cannot stand his brothers' being hurt.

"Beomgyu and Yeonjun, why don't you be a good example for Kai, hmm?" Her tone is now becoming angry, her glares shooting daggers to two of them.

"Fuck, she's gonna come for me."

Kai thought, tugging the hem of his shirt. He was holding it tightly, he was genuinely scared.

"And you, Kai, why don't you start socializing more? Why don't you be more open?" Mother Choi spoke, anger still evident in her tone, trying to cover it with her soft demeanor.

The three didn't spoke which made mother Choi livid. She grabbed a thick layers of newspaper, rolled it then threw at Beomgyu at Kai.

After, Mother Choi went to her room, slamming her door.

"You can go upstairs, Kai." Beomgyu softly noted, cupping his brother's cheeks. Kai's eyes were still watery, tears threatening to fall down. Beomgyu wiped the unshed tears by his thumb and smiled softly at Kai.

Kai nodded as a response, then went up to his room.

"Are you okay, Yeonjun-hyung?" Beomgyu asked, worried. As Yeonjun heard the question, resentment filled his system.

"He shouted at Soobin, I'm not okay." Yeonjun responded shortly, tying up the black plastic filled with trash.

Beomgyu frowned, "I'll take this, go talk to Soobin-hyung." Him pulling the bag of trash from Yeonjun. The other didn't budge, instead he sat at the tiled floor and laugh dryly.

"He will hate me, I don't need to talk to him right now." Yeonjun replied, tone sad. He stood up, walking outside to throw away the trash.

Kai was silently crying at his room, his heart was beating so fast as if it's leaving his ribcage.

He kept on crying, his breath was rigged, choking up as tears flow down his cheeks.

"What should I do? Should I call Tyunnie?"

Kai thought, he was hesitating. Because as he spoke, it was noticeable that he cried or still crying.

"But it hurts, I want to hear his voice."

They were doing well yesterday, Soobin and Yeonjun talking to him, Beomgyu also joining them to have fun and watch some movie.

He reluctantly grabbed his phone, then searched for Taehyun's contact.

He ringed his phone but there was no response, he tried calling him once again but no one answered.

"He is busy, given the time that New Year is coming close."

As he was about to put his phone away, it suddenly ring. It was Taehyun, calling him. He answered it in an instant.

"Hueningie! I'm sorry I didn't got to answer immediately." Taehyun spoke from the other line, "it's okay," Kai's voice was trembling, it was noticed by Taehyun immediately.

"Are you crying, Hueningie? If so, why? Something happened?" Taehyun asked worrily, "it was her again," he replied, his eyes getting teary again as he mentioned.

Taehyun sighed, sadly, "I know you're going through a hard time, I'm sorry that I'm not there to hug you." The elder spoke sadly. It made Kai's heart cheer a little bit, a thought of him and Taehyun cuddling entered his mind.

"It's okay, Tyunnie. I'll.. I'll just meet you at New Year, is it okay?" Kai questioned, although they aren't allowed to go out at New Year, he still wanted to see him.

"Sure Hueningie! You can spend your time here." Taehyun replied, beaming. Just by Taehyun's tone, Kai knew that the other was smiling brightly.

"Can you sing for me? I'm quite stressed." Kai requested, also confessing what he was feeling. Taehyun giggled on the other line.

"Sure sure, anything for Hueningie!" He giggled, then cleared his throat.

As Taehyun started singing, Kai slowly placed his phone beside him, his eyes slowly closing.

"Tyunnie... I'll sleep a little bit.." Kai muttered, enough for Taehyun to hear. He doesn't want Taehyun to stop singing.

He heard Taehyun giggle, still singing on the other line, indicating to agree on his statement.

As Taehyun finished singing, he heard the sheets rumbling.

"Sleep well Hueningie." He spoke before putting down his phone. He doesn't want to end the call, unless Kai is awake.