VLIVE | j.jk

t w e n t y - t h r e e

mia had explained everything. the conversation lasted all the way into dinner that night where the family ordered pizza again. mia explained vlive, the wishes and their new goal, the sneaking around the house, the police, kayla the army, twitter, carl. her parents admitted they struggled to completely grasp it but after their son had showed them the video on twitter, it was starting to make sense.

"so are you off the hook?" mr. valesquez asked worriedly, stealing glances at jeongguk who's face was red in being the center of attention.

"not exactly," mia confessed. "the police aren't going to be looking for me anymore but i know army will either actively on twitter or maybe they'll drown out the noise and look for me in person. i don't know what anyone knows. but at least i don't have any social media. there's shouldn't much on me."

"okay ya, enough, i don't want to talk about this anymore. let's finally eat," mrs. valesquez sighed, waving her hands as of trying to wave the problems away.

"finally," daniel exclaimed, reaching out across the table to the stacks of boxes of hot pizza. but mia was quick to slap his hands. he looked up at his younger sister with confusion. "what are you doing?!"

she rolled her eyes, "jeongguk first! he hasn't had any full meals." jeongguk hid a smile. but it quickly went away when daniel shot him an angry look with his eyes.

"oh my gosh, how did he even eat? you kept him in the room and starved him?" mia's mom asked in shock.

mia shook her head frantically. "no! i fed him don't worry. it's just i didn't get to feed him as much as i could to avoid suspicions."

"ugh," mrs. valesquez sighed. jeongguk looked at her expectantly as in for permission to eat first. she nodded. "bueno, take as much as you want mijo. you need all food you can get."

"gracias," jeongguk says. mia's heart fluttered at the sound.

as he digs in, everyone begins to dig in giving time for mr. and mrs. vasquez to think of a plan as they munched on the cheesy saucy pizza. they whispered amongst themselves and sometimes didn't even have to say anything except look at each other or gesture around the house. (jeongguk wondered if they had telepathy powers.)

maybe their daughter was off the hook, but the police was here hours before. they probably didn't get the memo that there was a change in suspect. but still! they were not safe. they couldn't possibly stay here. especially if they have a...mission? a wish, rather, to complete. why her daughter would ever wish for a connection, she didn't completely understand. sure, she'd had her share of idols when she was younger but there was a line between fan and artists and mrs. valesquez never intended on breaking the fantasy or meeting her heroes. what was it about jeongguk, then?

mrs. valesquez wiped her mouth with a napkin, glanced at mia and her new friend and cleared her throat. everyone at the table looked up.

"you guys can't stay here."

mia's eyes widened as she and jeongguk shared a look. his heart sank. "ma! you can't kick us out! it wasn't my fault—i mean it was, but not like intentionally, you can't kick me out! i pay bills too!"

"not as much as me!" daniel added in there to be annoying.

"mija, relax," her dad chuckled. her eyes softened, and she sinked back in her chair.

"look, we know that but we also know that they could find you," mrs. valesquez explained, "they could find where we live. that's not safe and if you guys aren't here, then it would be harder to find you."