King's Gambit (LGBTQIA+)

Chapter 14

8:17 A.M, Xuân House
Sunday, February 15, 2020
Third Person POV

It was the day of Jamie's funeral. Jake wasn't excited obviously, but he did feel kinda relieved since he would no longer have to dread about today. Jake put on his suit jacket and fixed his hair. Normally he would get ready with Jamie, but Jamie was gone now. Jake tried his best not to cry. He needed to be strong for everyone else around him. Jake was eighteen now. It wasn't like when he went to his grandfather's funeral. Now Jake was a man, he had to be a man for Jamie. Because Jamie never got to be a man.

Jake finished getting ready and went downstairs. His dad was wearing the same suit he was but with a white flower in the front pocket. Mrs. Xuân was wearing a black dress and sheer gloves. Mr. Xuân came over to talk to his son. "Hey," Mr. Xuân said. "Hi," Jake said in sorrow. "Are you okay," Mr. Xuân asked hugging Jake. "I'm fine," Jake answered. Jake could feel a tear about to leave his eye. Before it could, Jake hit himself to stop crying. Mr. and Mrs. Xuân was stunned.

"Jake! Calm down," Mr. Xuân exclaimed, "it's okay to be sad." Jake calmed himself down. "Okay," Jake replied. Jake's parents went ahead and got in the car. Jake put on his shoes and joined them. Mr. Xuân started the car and pulled out of the driveway. And then the three started driving to Jamie's funeral.

9:15 A.M, Funeral House

Mr. Xuân pulled up to the funeral house. Jake got out of the car first. He walked into the funeral house where he saw Jamie's casket. Jake stepped towards the casket. He didn't open it, he just put his hand on it and whispered. "Promise that when I die, you will come and find me," Jake whispered. Mrs. Xuân walked up to Jake and put her hand on Jake's shoulder. "What were you doing?" Mrs. Xuân asked. "I was talking to Jamie," Jake answered.

Mrs. Xuân put her hand over Jake's. "You really miss him don't you?" Mrs. Xuân asked. "Yeah," Jake said looking down. "I do too," Mrs. Xuân replied. More of Jake's relatives came in and took a seat. There was everyone from toddlers to elders. Jake took a seat next to his dad. "Is the funeral starting?" Jake asked leaning on his father shoulder. "Not yet," Mr. Xuân answered. Jake looked at his younger cousins who were playing tag. He knew they were too young to understand what was going on.

Jake was about their age when his grandfather died. Jake at the time didn't know what was going on. He only knew after his father told him. Jake remembered that night like it was yesterday. He had to cry himself to sleep that night. He will probably have to do that tonight too. The funeral started and everyone sat down. Mr. Xuân stepped up to the podium next to Jamie's casket. "Good morning everyone," Mr. Xuân said, "today we gather here to remember the life of Jamie Xuân. My other son Jake would like to say a bit on Jamie's life."Mr. Xuân stepped down and handed a piece of paper to Jake. Jake stepped up to the podium.

"Hello everyone," Jake said. "Jamie Xuân was the youngest child of the Xuân family. In the time he was alive, Jamie had a multitude of achievements. He was a black belt in karate, a Boy Scout, and an excellent gymnast. Jamie was homeschooled his whole life due to a mental disability he had. Everyone told him he wouldn't be able to keep up with others, but not only did he keep up, he exceeded them. And even though he didn't live long, Jamie achieved a lot in his 13 years of life." Jake went back to his seat next to his parents.

This is going to be the most painful two hours of his life.