𝔹𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕐𝕠𝕦//_[𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧]

31:ꜱᴛᴀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴ

Please vote and comment. Long ass chapter.

"So...you sure you straight?" Lorraine asks. 

"As straight as you can be with ya mum fightin' COVID with no medical help," she shrugs.  

Chan rubs her shoulders. Lorraine frowns before perking up. Usually that means she has some an idea that makes her and Althea look like idiots but still end up having fun regardless. Though she's not sure how keen she is on looking like a fool in front of Stray Kids. Or more specifically Chan. 

"What if we play Just Dance to cheer you up? I know y'all have a Wii." 

"Mum would know you here."

"You could just say you asked for help since you were anxious-"

"Niños!"

The shout rattles the house and Althea stiffens before bolting. Her feet skid against the floor before darting toward her parents' room. Lucas jumps the couch and the siblings run through the halls like their asses are on fire. The boys make various confused noises but neither sibling acknowledges them.

They throw the door open and start slurring their questions together. Camila shrieks when they enter and waves her hands frantically for them to calm down. 

"¿Mamá, qué pasa? Do you needa go to the hospital?" Lucas frets. 

"No-" Camila coughs and the siblings wince at how it scrapes her throat. "I just...wanna apologize for being so selfish."

Althea deadpans. "Mum...your reasoning is legit selfless. Whatever Dad say-"

"Tu padre didn't say anything bad. He just reassured me that there will be moments where only one of us can provide for you. And it's up to the other, and la familia completa to support the other."

"Okay good," Althea sighs. "Go rest. I know the bitterness of the Cerasee woke you up but the effects ain't gone through ya system yet."

"Bueno pero quiero preguntar algo."

Lucas and Althea exchange a confused glance. "What is it?"

"Why were several figures standing at my door when Althea came with the tea?"

'Mierda!'

Lucas and Althea exchange nervous glances. Their mother stares sternly at them and Althea knows her chancletas are sitting right beside the bed. She has ample ammo to get what she wants if they don't decide to talk. Althea knows she told JYP about her knowing as an insurance policy but she didn't expect to utilize it so soon. 

Lucas shoves her forward and Althea would've punched him in the nuts had it not been for the way Camila's eyes narrowed. She swallows thickly, says a mental prayer, and lowers her head. 

"Mum I....been helping Lorraine house a K-pop group," she murmurs. 

"Althea Rochelle Santiago-Knowles, I may be-" Camila gets cut off by a coughing fit but that doesn't stop her. "-ill right now but don't lie to me."

"Mum I know it sounds crazy but ine lying."

"She ain't," Lucas pipes up. "I just started helping her this week and they legit."

"You really expect me to believe that?" 

The skepticism in her tone shines through and Althea purses her lips. She takes a deep breath and calls everyone to come. She can feel the awkward silence as their footsteps approach and Camila grabs the chanclas with purpose. 

Chan oddly enough is the first to enter. He's physically leading them into her mother's room. Probably to act as the spokesperson. His eyes flit to hers in understanding and she really wants to reach out to him. Just in case it's the last time she can before her mother possibly calls the police.