Chapter Nine

"Hold me tight or I'll punch his face," Yangyang whispered, glaring at Lucas who's smirking at him. "I would even gladly help you." Ten whispered back.

Taeyong heard the two so he secretly pinched them, "Can't Saturday be truce day?"

"Hey, take a seat." Jaehyun was smiling when he caught their attention.

A small restaurant they chose was just near the academy, even though it's weekend— there are only few customers inside. A waiter connected two tables so the group would fit.

Taeil and Doyoung are like having their own world while scanning through the menu. Johnny and Ten were glaring at each other, Yangyang and Lucas were doing the same.

Yuta's at the corner, looking at them one by one. His eyes stopped at Taeyong and Jaehyun who's casually talking. Poor Taeyong. He sighed.

They ordered food, and started eating when it arrived. "Congrats to Jaehyun, by the way. For taking the first place." Johnny genuinely smiled at his friend, but he smirked at Taeyong- as if he's teasing.

Taeyong felt uncomfortable, he suddenly felt something isn't right. Especially when he saw Jaehyun unbothered while eating.

Ten noticed it, "Yeah. Congrats to Jaehyun, for betraying my friend." The last words were just whisper and thank God no one heard.

"What did you say?" Johnny asked but Ten just sarcastically smiled.

"But, no hard feelings right, Taeyong?" Lucas asked and gave Taeyong a smirk like Johnny's.

Yangyang put down his spoon and fork just to clenched his fists under the table. He gazed at his hyung— Taeyong's actually smirking back.

"Of course. It could be just a one-time experience, congrats Jaehyun." he went back to eating but he felt stares on him.

No one expected that, even Jaehyun's jaw dropped. Taeyong sounded.. competitive. Jaehyun also gulped silently, he kinda feels threatened. But this is what I want, him— being competitive.

On the other hand, Taeyong was actually trembling inside. It's not the words he wanted to say, he's actually happy for Jaehyun. But they triggered me.

"Congrats, Jaehyun!" Taeil suddenly loose the tension between everyone, thanks to him.

Yuta also helped, "Try tasting this, it's good." And he forcefully stuff Johnny's mouth with a bread, the appetizer he didn't eat.

The lunch finished and everyone decided to part ways. Doyoung and Taeil went back to the dorms, the four assholes didn't mind walking back with any of them. Taeyong, with the two foreigners, chose to go to the nearest arcade to waste time.

But the red haired guy was actually spacing out until the rest of the day. His thoughts are a mess again, he doesn't know what he must feel or what he must react based on what happened at the restaurant.

"I got a serious question," he muttered out of the blue. Yang and Ten looked at each other before facing Taeyong with a confused face, "What?"

"Do you think Jaehyun's playing with me?" Then he bit his lower lip. Ten pouted and clung onto his arms, "I don't wanna judge, but it's actually obvious.."

Yangyang rolled his eyes while crossing his arms, "He's trying to be close to you cause it's easier to steal your spot that way." Unlike Ten, Yangyang was too straightforward.

Taeyong sighed. For the past days he's been with Jaehyun before the monthly evaluation, it wasn't that bad— the younger acted like he's really a sincere friend. Or Taeyong was just too kind to notice that backstab?

"Should I let him steal my spot?" Taeyong wasn't sure why he asked that. Ten and Yangyang frowned, "You basically gave up the spot for him a month ago, duh." The Thai tsked.

"You're asking..." Yangyang paused. "Are you, perhaps, considering of competing against him?" The younger was a little excited with that thought.

Taeyong just shrugged as a response.

Jaehyun befriended him with motives, and he felt betrayed and offended. Not that he wants to take revenge or what, maybe he just wants to prove Jaehyun wrong?

He lied, he said he'll play fairly. He deserves to be proven wrong. Watch me win against him from his own game.

**

Monday came and Taeyong woke up on the wrong side of the bed, he doesn't feel good about today.

His first class will be at 10, Doyoung's already gone when he woke up. He took a quick shower before going out of the dorms.

He hasn't entered the main building of APA yet when Kun approached him. New trouble? He frowned at the thought. He was peace for a month, he didn't expect that there are still students framing him up—

"Lee, chill okay? You're not in trouble." Kun let out a soft chuckle, Taeyong just sighed out of relief. "Then, why..?"

"Oh, the school director is asking for your presence."

The relief he felt faded away immediately. It's not just even the guidance counselor, it's the freaking school director that wants to see him! But why?

He's not sure what to feel so he just followed Kun. He still got 30 minutes before his first class would start anyway.

Kun stayed outside and told him to enter alone, so he did. He wasn't even two steps inside when someone caught his attention. "Mom."

He didn't expect her to he here, he thought his mother would be away because of work for 6 months— it's been only two.

Taeyong gulped as soon as he made an eye contact with his mom. The woman is already in her early 50s but she's so beautiful that she looks like she's only in her mid 30s, not just the face but also the body— as if she never got pregnant. It's part of the genes, as anyone would say.

But the pretty woman isn't smiling, her expressionless face remained the same until Taeyong got to take the seat in front of her, he's just facing the floor to avoid his mom's eyes.

Mr. Jung, the school director, noticed the tension. "Uh, Taeyong, your mom is here to pick you up." He smiled at the boy. "You don't have to stay at the dorms anymore, you'll be given a special exemption."

Taeyong looked up with his shock face, his mom rolled her eyes before standing up. "Thanks, Mr. Jung." Last words before walking out of the office.

Mr. Jung nodded to the boy, Taeyong smiled and nodded back before following his mom.

"Mom!" He called, trying to catch up with her. "What was that? What does it mean?" He asked as soon as he got walk by her side.

Her mom stopped walking and faced him with creased forehead, "We'll talk at home, you'll ride at my car. About your things, I'll ask someone to pick it up."

The whole ride was quiet, but Taeyong can clearly see the word disappointment on his mom's face. They arrived at the house, it wasn't a mansion but it was big.

As soon as they got in, his mom told the maids to leave them alone at the huge living room. "Explain this." Taeyong gulped while looking at the paper his mom slammed at the table.

It was his monthly evaluation grades. His mom probably also know that he only got the second place, that explains why she looks so disappointed.

"I'm sorry.." Taeyong uttered.

"Sorry? Do you think I need that?" Her voice is starting to raise, "Would your sorry do anything? Can your sorry make me proud? You're a huge disappointment right now. Thank God I was the one who found out about this first, if your father— Oh, hell! I don't even wanna know what he'll do!"

Taeyong lowered his gaze. I disappointed her. He didn't know his mother would be home, if he only had known.. then he could've done better.

No, he should've done better.

"You know how busy your father is as a Surgeon in London, I'm also busy handling your grandfather's hospital in China. We only get home once or twice a year, and this is what would welcome me? Are you for real, Lee Taeyong?!"

Yes, he came from a family of doctors. He's also an only child. Ever since he was a kid, his parents always wanted him to be the number one- he must be the first place. He must ace every subject, he even joined all— when I say all, it really means all— all the clubs in middle school.

In highschool, he was forced to be enrolled in a dance and vocal classes. He was also forced to learn more than 10 instruments, he joined and aced all the sports his school has.

Was it hell? No, not really.

He enjoyed most of them, those were his comfort zone whenever his parents are away. But it was tiring, the pressure arises tooz

A kid like him is the kid you'd expect to be competitive, but he wasn't. Thank God his teachers didn't taught him to be like that, they taught him to enjoy every field.

Which he really did.

As soon as he finished highschool (without friends), he was expecting his parents to send him to a medschool. But he was wrong. He was sent to a performing arts school, he was confused at first however a therapist said to his parents that it's the field he was best at.

What does a therapist know? How did the therapist concluded that shit?

But he just let them do what they want for him. That's how his life goes anyway— he'll do what they want and make them proud. Disappointing and disobeying them is the least thing he would want to do.

"Are you listening to me?!" He was gained back to reality cause of his mother's voice. "I said, you'll be staying here instead of the dorms. You must be having friends there that's why you're neglecting your studies."

Taeyong wanted to talk back, but it would just make his mom more disappointed so he remained in silence. He just ended up nodding.

"The reason why I'm home is this," she handed out another paper. Taeyong looked at it and he almost lost his breath.

It was an online med school.

"You could study med and performing arts at the same time, right?" He could feel the expectations on his mother's tone. He just slowly nodded once again.

"You wouldn't have to study both at the same time if you start being a trainee, I don't even know why you still have to turn down the offer last year."

—
note : this is unedited. expect more typographical and grammatical errors. thank you.