Chapter 27

"The day of apologies"

Taehyun had one foot on the ground and one foot on the pedal of his bicycle, while he stood outside the Choi family's house, impatiently tapping his finger on the handlebars.

Then suddenly, Taehyun heard the sound of a door opening and he immediately looked up and locked eyes with Yeonjun, who looked back at him with a startled expression.

"Hey," said Taehyun, feeling really awkward all of a sudden, lowering his head in embarrassment. 

"Hey…" replied Yeonjun and finally took a step forward, closing the door behind him, "what are you doing here?"

"I… I thought maybe we could ride our bikes to school together," said Taehyun, his voice stuttering in the process. Yeonjun walked over to his bicycle and swung his bag over his shoulders. He slowly dragged the bicycle towards Taehyun and then looked at him with an expressionless face.

"Sure…" said Yeonjun and swung his leg over the bike, ready to take off.

"Actually!" said Taehyun all of a sudden and Yeonjun looked at him again, "I also… wanted to… apologize." Yeonjun let out a sigh.

"And why is that?" asked he, still looking at Taehyun without a hint of emotions showing on his face.

"Because… I was stupid," started Taehyun, trying his best to look into Yeonjun's eyes, even though what he wanted the most, was to lower his gaze to the ground, "I promised you nothing would change even though I started dating your sister. But I broke that promise, I avoided you just because I was mad at Yoo Jin Noona. I am sorry, can you forgive me?" The two boys stood in front of each other without saying a word, the atmosphere turning more gloomy than before and Taehyun felt his heart beating faster while he anxiously waited for the judgement. 

"Sure… I will forgive you," said Yeonjun and Taehyun's face immediately lit up, "But, if you pull this nonsense on me another time, I will literally punch you."

"That sounds fair enough," said Taehyun, the relief showing in the tone of his voice, "anyway, it seemed like you wanted to talk to me about something the other day. What was it?" Yeonjun suddenly looked over his shoulder and then moved his bike closer to Taehyun, whispering:

"Not here, let us talk about it during recess."

***

After what felt like an endless morning with boring classes, the bell finally rang and Taehyun ran out of the classroom, heading directly towards Yeonjun's classroom. He heard Kai calling out to him in the background, asking if he wasn't going to the Cafeteria, but he didn't have time to stop and answer. He had already spend all morning wondering about the mysterious subject Yeonjun wanted to discuss with him, and he wasn't going to wait any longer.

"Taehyun?" said Yeonjun surprised when he saw Taehyun standing outside his classroom, panting after running the whole way there, "you are fast."

"Yeah…" said Taehyun and finally stood up straight again, "you said we could talk during recess. And if we want to be able to eat any lunch before the afternoon classes begin, I had to be fast."

"You are probably right," said Yeonjun, "come on, let us go outside."

Even though it was already spring, the wind was still cold and the boys regretted not putting on more clothes before going outside, but it was too late now. There wasn't enough time.

"So…" said Taehyun after a while of silence, "what is it?" Yeonjun looked at Taehyun without saying anything, instead he reached into his pocked, pulled out his phone and unlocked it, looking like he was trying to find something. After a few seconds, he handed the phone to Taehyun and he curiously looked at it. His eyes skimmed over the email from BSB entertainment, and after he finished reading it, he looked up with a stunned expression on his face.

"Yeonjun… this is… this is…" 

"Yes, I got accepted to an entertainment company," said Yeonjun, looking proud.

"That is amazing, you are amazing!" said Taehyun excited, "when are you going to start as a trainee?"

"If I start as a trainee," corrected Yeonjun and Taehyun looked back at him in confusion.

"What do you mean 'if' you start?"

Yeonjun quickly explained the entire situation to Taehyun, about his parents reaction, how they agreed to let him do it, but then retracted that statement later on. How he had been mad at Yoo Jin, because he felt like her relationship with Taehyun was making matters worse. And how they made up later on and Yoo Jin promised to help him convince their parents.

Taehyun listened to each and every word without interrupting, until Yeonjun was done speaking and he looked at his friend for help.

"Woah, you have had a lot on your mind, I am sorry I haven't been there for you," said Taehyun, "but to be honest, I kind of envy you."

"Envy me? In what way?"

"Just, that you have something you feel so passionate about."

"What about you? Weren't you aiming to go to Art School?" asked Yeonjun.

"Yes, that is what I decided to aim for, but I could just as well have chosen something different," explained Taehyun, "I want to go to Art School, but even if it doesn't work out, I would feel content with another career path instead."

"You are right, that isn't how it is for me at all," said Yeonjun, "this has been my dream for a really long time, I can't imagine doing anything else. I want to dance. I want to perform. I feel like… like I was born to do this."

"See, that right there, that is why I envy you," said Taehyun and Yeonjun rolled his eyes.

"It doesn't really matter if you have a dream, when your parents won't let you pursue it."

"Don't you think they will come around?" asked Taehyun, "and Yoo Jin Noona said she would help you, didn't she?"

"She did…" said Yeonjun and felt his stomach twist when he remembered how he spoke to her that day.

"I am sure you two will figure out a way to convince your parents," said Taehyun, "everything will be resolved somehow, but while it lasts, please try not to take it out on Noona, she is having a hard time already."

"Yeah yeah," said Yeonjun annoyed, "don't go all 'boyfriend-mode', when you are supposed to be 'best friend-mode'."

"You are right, I am sorry," said Taehyun and laughed, "I guess I am still having a hard time separating the two. I hope you will bear with me." Yeonjun just let out a sigh, but then a smile appeared on his face.

"Don't I always?"

***

The house was quiet while Yeonjun walked up the stairs and down the hall until he was standing outside his older sister's bedroom door. After taking in a deep breath, he gently knocked on the door and immediately heard Yoo Jin call for him to come inside.

"Hey, it's me," said Yeonjun while he entered and Yoo Jin got up from her bed, walking towards her brother.

"Hey," said Yoo Jin and tried to act normal, but their quarrel from a few days ago, still lingered in her mind.

"I… I spoke to Taehyun…" said Yeonjun, "he apologized to me for acting immature, but I think I have been acting immature as well." Yoo Jin looked at her brother and swallowed.

"That day, when our parents told me I couldn't become a trainee, I said some really mean things to you. How you didn't really care about Taehyun, and how you were ruining my opportunities. But I know it isn't your fault, and I know you truly do care for Taehyun. Any fool would be able to tell… I was just… sad… and frustrated."

"I know," said Yoo Jin, "I would have been too." Yeonjun looked at his sister with a relieved smile.

"And Yeonjun," continued Yoo Jin, "I know… I know it hasn't been easy for you after I moved back in here. We have been getting on each other's nerves and my relationship with Taehyun, didn't really make things easier. But I hope you can look past it, because I really want to help you and be there for you."

"I know you are here for me, even if I say otherwise sometimes," said Yeonjun with a smile.

"Good," said Yoo Jin, "then let us go." Yoo Jin took a step forward, walking towards the door to her bedroom while Yeonjun looked at her in confusion.

"Go?" asked Yeonjun, "go where?" Yoo Jin turned around and looked at her brother with a mischievous smile.

"Downstairs," said Yoo Jin, "so you can tell our parents that you will sign the contract and start as a trainee."

"W… What?" stuttered Yeonjun, while he watched his sister walk out of the room. Left behind, dumbfounded, Yoo Jin suddenly stuck her head inside the room again.

"Well, are you coming or not?" Yeonjun looked at Yoo Jin and then finally, took in a deep breath and looked back at his sister with newfound determination.

"I am coming."

***

Yeonjun was sitting down at the Cafeteria table, carefully slurping down the rest of his juice, while Taehyun sat across from him, intensely staring into his eyes.

"So…" said Taehyun and Yeonjun put down his empty juice box.

"So?" asked Yeonjun, well knowing what Taehyun was referring to and Taehyun sighed deeply.

"What did your parents say? Were you and Noona able to persuade them? Are you going to start as a trainee? Just tell me already!" Yeonjun let out a laugh, seeing his best friend freaking out in front of him.

"Alright alright," said Yeonjun and Taehyun leaned in closer, waiting for him to continue. Silence overtook the atmosphere and for a moment, time stood still.

"I signed the contract," said Yeonjun and Taehyun held his breath, "I start as a trainee next month."

"Are you serious?" yelled Taehyun and gained the attention of almost everyone else in the Cafeteria, "how did you manage to change their mind so radically, so fast?"

"I have to give most of the credit to Noona," said Yeonjun and looked down at the table with a smile, "even though our mom nearly lost it when we brought up the whole thing about me being an idol again, Noona didn't let her get the last word at any time. And every time I got nervous and wanted to give in, she gave me the confidence and helped speak my case."  

"Woah," said Taehyun, imagining the two siblings standing by each other.

"Yeah, she really gave all the right arguments," continued Yeonjun, "in the end even my mom couldn't find anything left to say, and that was when my dad entered the discussion."

"Your dad?" asked Taehyun and Yeonjun nodded.

"Yes. My dad usually try to stay out of discussions like this, because he knows he can never go up against our mom. But he actually stood up yesterday and took our side."

"Really? That must have made your mom annoyed?" asked Taehyun.

"I think she was more surprised than annoyed," said Yeonjun, "but he gave a valid point, so she couldn't really say anything against it."

"What did he say?" asked Taehyun curiously.

"He said, since they already gave their permission earlier, they shouldn't back down now," said Yeonjun, "he said, instead they should show me a little more trust and let me try it out. So after hearing him say that, my mom finally gave in, but she said she still expected me to do well on my finals in High School."

"Never mind that, it is amazing you actually convinced them!" exclaimed Taehyun, "think about it for a second… you are going to become an idol."

"Trainee…" corrected Yeonjun in a calm voice.

"Oh stop it, would you? Just for today, let us celebrate and dream," said Taehyun, "just say it. You are going to become an idol!" Yeonjun looked at his friend and then took in a deep breath, whereafter he said loud and clear:

"I am going to become an idol!"

Hello everyone!

It seemed like most arguments got resolved in this chapter and I hope you liked it. Relationships aren't easy, whether it is between siblings, friends or lovers. You will always hurt each other and argue, but when you need each other, you will look past all that and stand by each other.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I hope you are doing well wherever you are. Take good care of yourself and stay safe!

Love, Annalise~