Off Key

#17

More as the week went on, the boys got antsy. They couldn't wait for the party but were also nervous. "Hey Chan, I don't think any of us have asked but where are your parents?" Jeongin asked drinking his water bottle. The guys were all currently practicing in Chan's back house again.

"Oh, well, they're in Australia right now. They've been there for a couple months now." Everyone all thought of how lonely Chan must have been during all these months. Chan saw all the guys faces and sighed, "It was rough the first couple of months but I'm fine now, don't worry." They nodded their heads but still skeptical.

"Uh, question, for Chan and Hyunjin." Minho said getting everyone's attention. "Has anyone been approached by Ryujin?" Hyunjin raised his hand. "Yeah, she's pissed because we're from different social groups, throwing a party together." Chan was confused.

"What? Why does that matter?" "That's exactly what I said." Hyunjin said giving Chan a high five. "Yeah, she told me the exact same thing." Minho said sitting down. "She hasn't talked to me, only Yeji." Chan said.

"People are really curious about the group Stray Kids. That's good right?" Felix said holding his bass guitar. "Yeah, of course that's good. It means they want to see us." Seungmin said, reassuring him. "We're pretty much prepared, we just have to practice all the songs perfectly." Minho said.

Everyone agreed with Minho.

After a couple more hours all the boys decided to head to their own homes.

Felix and Minho were in a rush. They had lost track of time and needed to get home to get ready. Their mom had a special dinner planned tonight and wanted all of her kids to be there.

"Okay, when we get home, I'm showering first. You take long showers." Minho would've argued with the younger but didn't have time for that so he simply agreed.

Hours later, they both had finished showering and were getting ready. Chaeryeong just had gotten home, and rushed to her room to change.

They all heard the doorbell ring and rushed downstairs. "Okay, we have a guest for our dinner." Ms. Lee said holding the door. "Who is it?" Felix asked. "He's my boss, and he also brought his son, he's about your guy's age, so be nice." Ms. Lee said eyeing Minho who rolled his eyes.

She opened the door and gave a hug to the man and welcomed them inside. Behind the man, was someone that they all recognized.

"SEUNGMIN?!"

~~~

Changbin got home and was in a good mood.

His mood dropped once he entered his house and saw his mom and dad in the kitchen with broken glass on the floor. "What happened?" He looked his mother up and down, seeing no cuts nor bruises. Changbin's dad wasn't abusive but the way they would argue sometimes, sounded like he would slap her.

"Everything's fine. Just your idiot father here dropped a glass." Mr. Seo scoffed. "Me? I wouldn't have dropped it if weren't for your lazy ass." Mrs. Seo got angry. "My lazy ass?! You must be talking to yourself because I know you're not talking about me!"

Changbin went up to his room, without his parents noticing. The yelling didn't stop after that, as a matter of fact, it got worse.

He tried blocking them out but once he heard glass shatter again, he got up immediately.

He opened his door to try to hear any cries, or something, but all he heard was more yelling. Later after that he heard the front door shut. And there he goes.

Changbin started hearing his mom wailing for her husband to come back. Every time. He came back always, but they fought every time, resulting in him leaving again. It was a cycle. A cycle Changbin had gotten used to ever since he was 10.

He got up and went to the bathroom to take some sleeping pills, knowing that if he didn't, he would stay up all night crying probably. Soon after he took them, he went back to his room and knocked out.

~~~

It was awkward. For the most part.

Chaeryeong knew Seungmin through Felix, Minho and Changbin who has mentioned him a couple times but she mostly knew him from Lia. She sat next to Lia in a class they both had and would mention Seungmin a couple times.

"So, are you all friends with each other?" Mr. Kim asked trying to break the silence. "Um, we're friends sir." Felix said being polite. "Sir, no offense but I have to ask, why are you here?" Minho said. Chaeryeong made a look to Minho mouthing the words 'be nice' while Felix kicked his ankle under the table.

Seungmin realized that they didn't know what was going on. "Guys, you really don't know?" He said asking. The three just shook their heads. "Well, that's what we wanted to talk about." Ms. Lee said while grabbing Mr. Kim's hand.

"We're dating."

Minho, Felix and Chaeryeong all looked at Seungmin looking for confirmation, who only nodded his head, meaning yes.

"So, you all are step siblings. Not officially since we aren't married but there's something else." Ms. Lee got even more excited.

"They're moving in!"

Minho, Felix and Chaeryeong once again looked at Seungmin for confirmation but found that Seungmin was equally as surprised.

"Oh. I didn't know that." Seungmin said telling the rest. "Well, congratulations." Felix said giving a small smile. To be honest, they didn't know how to feel. "I'm glad you all already know Seungmin, and he knows you all. We'll all get to know each other soon." Mr. Kim said giving a bright smile.

It took all of Minho's strength to not storm off, and create a scene. Chaeryeong and Felix knew exactly how Minho felt so they didn't want to give much reaction.

Seungmin noticed Minho's depressed mood, and noticed Felix texted him saying that he'll explain tomorrow.

After Mr. Kim and Seungmin left. Minho went upstairs and slammed his door. Felix and Chaeryeong went rushing up to his room and opened it. Minho had just got done changing and walked past them. "Hold up, where are you going?" Chaeryeong asked. "Out." Is all Minho said before shutting the front door.

Chaeryeong got worried on where he could go but Felix knew immediately where he was going. "He'll be fine. He'll come back later." Chaeryeong wondered how Felix could be so calm but decided to trust him.

"So what do you think about the whole..thing." Felix asked. Chaeryeong sighed, "I don't know. I guess happy because mom's found someone new." Felix agreed with that. They were all feeling the same thing as Minho but it was worse for Minho and Felix probably.