I Can't Live Without You (Sequel)

Chapter Three

  "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.

~*~

  The tension was unbearable. Kenma was unable to swallow without his throat clogging up. His heart ached and his stomach tightly contracted. His breaths were blocked by rough pulsations vibrating through his chest. His fingers twisted around each other, his sweaty palms slipped over one another. Every pair of eyes were strafing him mercilessly.

  Kuroo was just as lost as he was. They hadn't expected their parents would think that something so important to them was only a joke. They began questioning so many of their passions and priorities, wondering if they actually had any value. Their love was something they couldn't help. Something which they had accepted long ago. And they wanted their parents, the most important pillars of their lives, to know and rejoice their feelings. How could they possibly explain that their relationship was not a prank but something as real as their own marriages?

  Finally Kuroo's father snapped. He slammed his fist on the table making the cutlery jerk. He faced his son with a raging scowl as the entire table ogled him.

  "What does this mean? Why are you silent?" he roared, his eyes squinting until they were barely slits. "Is it true? This isn't a joke then? Tetsurō! Answer me!"

  The black-haired teen breathed slowly and remained stood. He gathered up the little of his confidence and bravery, and calmly faced his father.

  "No dad. It isn't a joke. We wouldn't take something as serious as this so lightly, and we'd hope you wouldn't either," he replied.

  Kenma stared in awe at the boldness his boyfriend showed. His gaze fell onto his mother who immediately whipped her head around. Her face was contorted in disgust and bewilderment. She tilted her head and raised an eyebrow, enticing Kenma to explain himself. The frightened boy clenched his fists and straighten his back.

  "He's right," piped up the setter. "We are together. We love each other. And we want you to know. You don't have to do anything, we'll continue living as we have been up to now. We just want to have your understanding and support."

  His mother closed her eyes and raised both eyebrows in disdain. She shook her head and flicked her hair back. Her husband remained silent with a seething frown. The confirmation of his fears was more than he could handle. He too slammed a hand on the table.

  "How is that possible?"

  Kenma jolted back. He looked confused and terrified. "How is w-what possible?"

  "How are you in love with a boy?" his voice snarled at the words "in love" and "boy".

  "I-I don't know... I can't explain love, I don't think anyone can..."

  Kuroo's mother fanned herself dramatically. She gazed at her friend accusingly and pointed to the pudding head at the end of the table. "I always knew something was wrong with your son. Letting him play all day long on those mind-controlling games was a poor choice. He was bound to turn bad."

  The woman facing her gasped. She pursed her lips and glared. "How dare you! Kenma turned out fine. It's obviously Tetsurō who influenced my son. He probably threatened to hurt Kenma if he didn't go along with his revolting little scheme."

  "How do you explain him moving with Tetsurō? And confessing as well?"

  "Like I said, your son threatened mine. And there's clearly some Stockholm syndrome going on here!"

  The once silent living room burst into arguments and offends. Every parent defended their child accusing the other. They tried to find ways to avoid the fact their sons were "in love". They pushed the thoughts away finding excuses as ridicule as ever. Both concerned boys stared at the fights in horror. They listened to their parents curse at each other and insult them. They were discussed as if they were malfunctioning human beings, their defect consisting of having sentiment.

  The shouts and screams were soon blocked out by Kenma's mind. He tried his best to keep the burning tears in the back of his eyes. His head hurt from the verbal assaults. He felt so pained, so betrayed. When he—when they—had decided to open up to their parents, to pour their hearts out, to reveal their cumbersome secret, they had expected to be welcomed with warm and accepting smiles. They had wished for it to be simple. They had only wanted everyone to be happy. Now all they wanted was to go back in time and never speak of it.

  Out of the blue, Kenma's mother stood up and grabbed her son by the arm. She hauled him to his feet and dragged him away from the table. "I won't take any of this any longer. We're leaving and taking our son away from your... your... your fag of a child!"

  The Kozume family left Kenma and Kuroo's shared apartment against the younger's will. He shot a last glance at Kuroo and whimpered, the tears finally streaming down his face. His boyfriend's face was devastated and appalled. He was so scared for his sake, for his future, for their shared future. Kenma was crushed seeing that broken man slump in his chair, surrounded by his fuming parents. Just before the young blond slipped away in the hallway, Kuroo glanced up and met with Kenma's gaze. He was defeated. He had nothing to say or sign. He stayed limp and followed his partner's leaving figure with an empty stare.

  Things were bad. They both knew it. Their situation was grave and seemed hopeless. The ties between themselves and their parents were thin. That simple event had turned their worlds upside down.

  The door slammed shut and Kenma was pulled down the stairs to the parking lot. His face was glistening with tear streaks. His eyes were pleading, pleading for mercy, forgiveness, understanding. Anything that would let him be the same with his parents as before. They approached their car and his father unlocked it. He was ordered to sit in the back. He obeyed.

  As the engine started the setter feared the car ride. He anticipated the arguments, the accusations, the raised voices. He worried about what they were going to say, what he would have to reply. But there was one thing he dreaded far more than having to explain himself. He apprehended more than anything that the way back home would be spent in utter silence.