I Can't Live Without You (Sequel)

Chapter Two

  Spiced vapor rose from the frying pan and filled the kitchen with its enticing aroma. Kuroo added the meat to the vegetables. A satisfying sizzling sound came from the chicken as he stirred the chunks in the sauce. The kitchen counter was covered with different spices and chopped up ingredients. The dark-haired boy had a passion for cooking and was really good at it. His glance darted from the meat to the boiling rice every once in a while.

  That evening, him and Kenma were eating dinner with both their parents. They had cleaned the apartment until it was spotless, threw away any useless things, and placed forward all the things that showed they were living healthily together. Kenma set the plates on the table and laid the utensils meticulously. His heart was throbbing, his guts were in a ball and his mind kept wandering off.

  The ticking clock tormented the high school graduate and the setting sun only increased his stressful thoughts. He stood behind the bar separating the kitchen with the dining room. His warm cheek pressed against the cold graphite. The sound and smell of cooking meat helped his breaths slow down. Kuroo turned the stove off and placed a glass cover over the pan, letting the meat and vegetables simmer until their parents arrived.

  The spiky-haired boy turned around and saw his boyfriend moping on the bar. He crossed the small kitchen and rested his crossed arms over the dark rock. His fingers twirled in a lock of Kenma's hair and he smiled.

  "Your hair will soon become black again. Are you going to dye it blond again?" he remarked laying next to the boy so that their noses were almost touching. Kenma stared at him anxiously and shrugged.

  "I don't really know... It'll be weird when they won't be blond anymore but I think I'll keep them black like before," he replied not very sure if his conclusion. Their casual conversation helped Kenma free his mind from his concern. Kuroo pecked his partner's nose and stood up.

  "Of course. We can always ask the others what they think in case you're not very sure," reassured the tall boy. "Are you ready? They should be coming soon."

  Kenma raised his head and nodded. He trudged out of the living and dining room, locking the bathroom once he entered it. He splashed water on his face and tied the front of his hair back with a hair tie. Sighing deeply, he stared at his reflexion. With a motivating inner monologue the boy was ready. He ignored the tossing and turning of his entire insides and stepped out the bathroom after tugging on his shirt.

  Kuroo was waiting in the hall with a supportive smile. He had taken his apron off and changed into a plain white shirt, rolling the sleeves up to his elbows and showing off his athletic forearms. He hugged Kenma, resting his chin on the shorter boy's head.

  "It's okay, it's gonna be okay," he whispered rubbing his boyfriend's back. The younger sighed and clutched onto Kuroo dearly. He said nothing and hung onto him. They remained that way until the sound of their doorbell pulled them apart. The black-haired boy grinned pinching Kenma's cheek. He went to open the front door as his boyfriend nervously waited in the hall.

  Bright smiling faces appeared and laced their arms around Kuroo. Both fathers stood behind their wives with straight faces. All four guests stepped in and kicked their shoes off. Mrs. Kuroo leaped onto Kenma and embraced him dearly.

"Kenma! It's been so long," she declared joyfully. The blond nodded and offered a shy smile. His own mother clasped his face in her hands and deposited a peck on his nose. He scrunched up his face and twitched his nose afterwards.

  "Hey sweetie," she murmured lovingly.

  "Hey mom," replied Kenma smiling a little wider. He suddenly felt much relieved. His parents were the same as always. They greeted him with love and care. The warm ambiance spreading through their home relaxed him and invited everyone to a cordial conversation.

  Each couple sat opposite of each other, the fathers facing one another as well as the mothers. The hosts brought the food from behind the bar onto the dressed table. They served everyone and sat themselves on each end of the dinner table. The apartment filled with loud discussions and laughs. The lively spirit lasted well through the night. Their meal finished, the plates were gathered and placed in the sink.

  Kuroo proudly deposited the desserts Kenma and him had prepared. The families delightfully dug into the sweets, humming in appreciation as the treats touched their tongues. Everyone was enjoying themselves and a convivial silence spread through living room, sometimes interrupted by the clanging of metal against the porcelain dishes. The tall volleyball player raised his eyes from his plate and met the unsure gaze of his boyfriend. The small blond looked around anxiously and seemed to plead with his stare.

Coughing a couple times to catch the families' attention, Kuroo waited until all eyes were on him. His breaths became shaky. His smile trembled and twitched. His eyes darted to every face gawking at him. He was unsure. A spilt second spent in Kenma's gaze managed to suppress the nervous antics. They communicated through facial expressions and with an insecure nod the setter confirmed one last time.

Kuroo shook his head blinking, and put up a wide cheerful grin. "Right! Um," he searched his words as the adults stared at him with mirroring smiles. Kenma's mother twirled her fork over her lips as she focused on Kuroo. Her husband laid back on his chair, an arm passing around her shoulders. The boy's own parents softly studied him awaiting his message.

"So... I–...We...have something to say to you..."

A quick peek was shot to Kenma who shrunk in his seat trying as hard as he could to keep his eyes on Kuroo. It was obvious the teenager was fearful but Kenma hadn't noticed it until then. He was so absorbed in his own panic he forgot they were both facing the same thing. His mind cut off anything unrelated to the boy in front of him. He focused on supporting Kuroo so that their secret could finally be shared.

The parents patiently waited for the black-haired boy to continue as their smiles remained on their aged faces. A long breath swept out of Kuroo's mouth. Both he and Kenma knew the hardest part was to say it aloud. They knew as soon as it was said, relief would engulf them. The acceptance would blow away the past anxiety and trouble and all would be good, with nothing changed.

"Kenma and I are...together... And we have been, for...for a year and a half..." confessed the middle blocker.

The dining room fell silent. The adults' expressions stayed frozen. Their smiles slowly turned into a flat line and they gawked at each other. Glances were shot from one another then fell back on their sons.

Kenma inhaled deeply and bit his lip. It was done. The highest peak was reached. All there was now was to tranquilly slide down the mountain. He was persuaded that a pat on the back and a smile would be enough. Then the conversation would continue normally.

However nothing came. The table was still speechless and the tension grew heavier. A perplex aura surrounded all of them. The young teen frowned looking at his hands on his lap. It wasn't supposed to be like that. Where were the "congratulations on finding someone" or the "we're glad you're happy" speeches? After all those years of promised unconditional love, where was it when he needed the most? Year after year, day after day, Kenma's parents reminded him that whether he would become a successful volleyball player, a rich CEO, a brilliant professor, or a salesman, they would always love and support him.

If that was true, why weren't they shouldering him? They told him they would always be proud of him, that they would always protect their only child—the light of their life. So where was the help when he talked to them about the one thing he couldn't choose or change? What was so wrong about loving someone? He quickly began questioning all the promises his parents had ever made him. If they couldn't accept him for having feelings for someone, how could they accept him as a person?

Kenma's mother shifted awkwardly and turned to her son who was seated next to her. She smiled softly and caressed his forehead. Kenma looked up and felt his heart being stabbed. She was smiling, but not the smile he wanted to see. It was a dubious, pained, and unconvincing smile.

"Sweetie... What exactly does he mean by that?" she inquired tilting her head warily. His father glared at him also hoping their son would clear things and laugh it off as a poor joke.

What do you mean "what does he mean by that?" It means precisely what he said! There's nothing to comprehend, nothing to misunderstand. There's just something to accept, shouted Kenma in his mind. All was clear, or so he thought. Hard stares protruded him as they were waiting for a reply. But Kenma had none to give.