BARCODE
I'm grounded.
How the hell am I grounded at nineteen years old? I have an ID and l can sleep out if I darn well please except my saying that gets me smacked on the shoulder by a slipper.
"As long as you live in my house, you live by my freaking rules," my mom hisses, smacking my shoulder with the slipper once more and I look down to hide my tears.
Fine, she has a point but still...
I've been such a good son to them for years. Not hanging out with the wrong crowd or drinking. I got good grades at school and listened to my elders and seniors. I never even got into a fight with anyone in my life but when I stray once, I get this kind of treatment?
"I did nothing wrong," I say stubbornly.
"You disappeared into the night without telling anyone of your whereabouts. You think I haven't noticed how much you've changed these past few months?"
I look up to stare at my mother in confusion. "Changed, how?"
"Always wanting to act like an adult. Let me tell you, boy, you are still wet around the ears and know nothing about adulthood."
Well then, how the fuck will I know if they keep me on such a tightrope. Everyone in my age group is out there already living the life and doesn't have to report to their parents about every little thing they do and...
I want to rebel.
Damnit, I am too old to rebel against my parents but at least I can stand up to them and let them know I am old enough to do these things but... I can't make myself speak.
They care, I tell myself. They are only doing this because they care about you.
"You can't ground me. I still need to meet my friends," I tell my mother. "At least give me a curfew, I promise this will never happen again."
I can see she is ready to say no when my father steps in. "C'mon honey, you know how boys are when they get to that age. If you lock him at home, he will develop antisocial skills, and then becomes a... a... introvert."
He says the word like it's something dirty getting him a "Hey" from my introverted sister who is lounging on the sofa not helping at all. I can't believe she doesn't chime in to say a word in my defense.
"The point is," my father continues, unfazed by the glare my sister throws his way. "My point is Barcode is a good boy. He made a mistake once, he's growing. Just give him a curfew."
I watch as the wheels turn in my mother's head before she nods. "If you are not home by nine pm, you don't want to know what I'll do to you."
They care.
They are doing this because they care.
"Okay," I tell her, excusing myself when my phone vibrates in my pocket. "It's Apo." They both nod at me to leave and I grab my backpack, exiting the house even as I put my phone to my ear. My parents like Apo and always invite him to family events. They credit him for taking care of me during the Kinn Porsche shoot and taking care of me like I was his real brother.
"Code, I'm outside your home. Let's go grab lunch."
His words send me stopping in my tracks. I was going to find a way to meet up with Mile now that I can't meet him at night and as much as I love Apo, I hate him a little for spoiling those plans.
I can hang out with Apo any time but with Mile... I only have a few days left before we end our arrangement but there is nothing I can do now.
I spot Apo the second I step out of the gate to see him leaning against his car with sunglasses pushed up on his nose. He smiles and waves in my direction, his expression bright.
"Hi," I say to him when I climb into his car. "I didn't expect you to show up."
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I should check up on you."
My brows wrinkle in confusion. "What? Why?"
"Well, I called Mile last night and he told me you were sleeping at his place. He said something about getting hurt by your crush and needing to get away for the night."
Oh, Mile must've forgotten to tell me that bit. His excuse for my sleeping over at his place is actually a good one. I never would've come up with something like that on the spot.
"Yeah... uhm, my crush is dating someone else."
"Poor kitten-"
"Don't call me that!" I cry out, cringing so badly at the sound of Apo calling me Kitten. I spent the night hearing the word moaned into my ear as Mile slid his thickness in and out of me, his hands pleasured me as he used the name on me. The sound of it on someone else's lips sounds weird.
"Why can't I call you Kitten?"
"I... I... Aaah" Shit. unlike Mile, I don't know what to say when put on the spot. "I just... don't call me that."
He nods but I can tell my sudden outburst has raised a few questions. We stay silent for the rest of the drive and soon, we're pulling up at an expensive restaurant. "Jeff booked a table here," Apo says and my head turns to him in confusion.
"Jeff is joining us?"
"Oh, I didn't tell you?" he says absentmindedly, tapping his phone and dialing Jeff's number. "Hey bro, we're here." I watch him speak to Jeff, nodding and humming in turn before turning to me. "Jeff said he's already here."
I nod and climb out of the car, following Apo into the restaurant and we are shown to Jeff's table except he is not alone. Bible and a bunch of other guys are there as well.
Everyone is there except the one man I actually want to see.
"I had no idea the guys were meeting up," I tell Jeff as I sit down next to him.
"Oh, it was a last-minute thing. We heard our little Code had his first heartbreak and we wanted to comfort you," he says and the other guys nod, giving me sympathetic looks.
You have to be kidding me.
No way everyone showed up here to comfort me from losing a "crush", right? That would be ludicrous except they are serious.
They share stories of their first crushes and heartbreaks over lobster. Everyone gives me advice on how to move on by focusing on the future and not the past. I sit there blank-eyed, soaking in everything like a sponge and when they are done, it's already six in the evening.
Apo drops me off at my house and I find Song waiting for me outside my home. He waves at Apo and they take a selfie together before Apo leaves.
"Where did you run off to, Barcode, we were all worried about you."
It's eight P.m. when Song finally leaves for home, turning down my mother's invitation to stay for dinner.
They care.
Everyone is coddling me like a child because they care.
Then why the hell do I feel like running away? Why do I look out my bedroom window and daydream about sneaking out and disappearing into the night?
