*** COMPLETED *** Until the World Explodes (Han Seoul-Oh)

Chapter 17: "I've got a surprise for you later."

"You did WHAT?!" My dad's voice echoed through the kitchen. "Audrey, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"I dropped out of medical school," I repeated calmly, watching my mom's face fall. "It doesn't make me happy anymore, not that it ever did."

"Then why did you continue to pursue it every semester?" My dad asked angrily, understandably so, trying to make sense of this mess I'd created. "You were so happy to go."

"No," I said suddenly, watching him as his eyes remained frozen on me. "You were so happy for me to go. I never wanted to go to med school. I never wanted to be a doctor or a vet. I never wanted any of this."

He rubbed his hands over his face, turning around and pacing as he tried to process his perfect daughter, screwing up her life so badly. If only he knew the half of it.

"Is it because of the boy you've been seeing?" My mom asked as my dad's head snapped and turned towards me. I froze in my spot. "He's one of Dominic's friends."

I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat as my dad turned all the way back around.

"You've still been hanging out with that criminal and his friends after I told you not to? And now you're dating one of them?" He laughed, rubbing his face again. "This is unbelievable."

"I've been 'hanging out with them' since I was 13. You guys were never home to let me in the house or even be the parents I needed you to be," I snapped, all of the anger I had built up inside of me suddenly pouring out. "Dominic has been more of a fucking father figure than you ever have and ever will be. And his name is Han, stop calling him a boy. And a criminal."

"He is a criminal, Audrey! All of them are!" My dad snapped, shaking his head. "They are all wanted criminals."

"I don't really care if they're criminals or not. They're nice to me. They treat me like family. I feel like I belong with them more than you guys," I spat. "Just because you're a criminal doesn't mean you don't know how to be a parent."

He rolled his eyes, laughing quietly as he shook his head. My mom was unsure of what to say. She always lets my dad talk, so that was not surprising in the least bit.

"Everything we have ever done for you was so that we could provide for you. You have a beautiful place to live, nice clothes, we paid for your school. You have everything you could ever want, and you're throwing it away for a criminal?" My dad questioned me. "Is that what you want?"

"Paying for school and buying me nice things doesn't make up for your absence," I said as I watched the fire in his eyes burn. "Financially, you were there, but emotionally, when I needed you guys the most? Not even close."

He shook his head, gripping the back of the chair that he'd been leaning on. I could tell he was trying his best to stay calm.

"If that's how you truly feel about the way that we raised you, then leave. Go be with those criminals you think care for you so much," My dad spat. "You ungrateful little bitch."

"Adam!" My mom shrieked in horror as she watched me gather my things and head upstairs to pack a bag. "Stop her!"

"No, don't stop me," I said as I stomped up the stairs to my room.

I wasn't even sure of what to pack, to be honest. I stuffed a duffel bag full of clothes and a couple pairs of shoes, and in my backpack, I stuffed my laptop and iPad. I wasn't sure if I was going to need those either, but I didn't want my parents snooping through my business with Han and everyone else. Before I stepped out of my bedroom for the last time, I stopped to pick up Han's t-shirt that I slept in the night before, stuffing it in my backpack.