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Aunt Miyeon was a very uptight lady, her history as a flight attendant was what had taught her to be so put together. Her dark hair was always tightly curled and hanging around her face neatly, lips smothered with pink lipstick. She wore only dresses and small kitten heels; her perfume smelled of citrus. Whenever she visited, she would always place her bible in Hoseok's mother's hands and tell her how 'blessed she was to spend time with you'. His parents would roll their eyes when she turned away to pinch Hoseok's cheeks. 

Though she was such an uptight stereotypical church lady, Hoseok had not expected her to pack her things and drop her job to come live with him. She was part of some intense religion, one that Hoseok wasn't entirely sure how to pronounce. Catlickism? Catthawlisisisism? KitKatism? He wasn't sure. His mother and father had repeatedly talked about Aunt Miyeon behind her back, about how she was much too devoted. Neither of his parents had bothered taking him to church, the two parents only fretting about missing mass when it was a special occasion like Christmas. It wasn't a big part of his life until Aunt Miyeon started to live with him.

Everything was happening so quick after that night. First Aunt Miyeon, then his neighbors began sending fruit baskets out of pity. It wasn't bad at first, but soon after a few weeks of receiving nothing but tin-foil covered pots of hot dish, he realized how empty all of their apologies were. While these people had known his parents, the didn't know them. They didn't know him. Heck, even Aunt Miyeon didn't really know their family. Not in the way Hoseok did.

Hoseok hated it. He hated now having to go to church every week, he hated the cold brownie dishes he got from the family next door, he hated his parents for leaving him.

He hated himself for kissing Jimin Park, his childhood best friend.

"It's my fault. I did this. They died because I kissed him didn't they? Boys aren't supposed to kiss other boys. That's what Jimin said, and that's what Aunt Miyeon said, and that's what everyone says. It's wrong and it's all my fault!" He sobbed, face shoved deep into his snot covered pillow one humid summer evening. His aunt had run to the store to get toothpaste leaving the 12-year-old alone in the house. His small chest heaved as he cursed himself for being bad, his fit of self-hatred slowly coming to an end. Hiccuping, Hoseok pulled himself out of bed to get a glass of water from downstairs.

As his heavy feet hit the wooden steps, a sharp knocking noise came from the front door. Sighing, Hoseok ignored his thirst and made a beeline to open the door. On the other side of the frame, the Park family stood.

They had a fruit basket in their hands. A pity fruit basket.

Within seconds Hoseok was imagining the conversation that would follow next. "Oh Hoseok we're so sorry to hear about what happened! We hope you're doing fine now sleep well if you need us just call us."  At this point, pretty much every genuine apology felt fake.

"Hoseok, I'm sorry all of this happened." Jimin's mother cooed, hugging her son's friend tightly. She smelled like fresh grated ginger, though her skin felt like leather. He knew she was a heavy smoker, he had witnessed it many times while staying at their farm. "Adults are always here if you need to talk, y'know? It must be so hard."

"Mmm." Hoseok hummed, droning out her rambling. She released him from her embrace and gently nudged Jimin forward. Hoseok raised his eyebrows in surprise. Jimin hadn't spoken to him after that night. Not after the kiss, and not after the news of his parent's death spread.

"Sorry..." The small boy mumbled. "Uhm... yeah..."

Really? That's all you have to say?

Mr. Park soon sliced through the boy's awkward silence, his gruff voice echoing loudly in the night.

"I know this might be hard, since you just lost your family boy, but I was paid to sell our ranch. I'm afraid Jimin and the rest of us are going out of state... It's about time I retired from farm work to be a family man."

Wait, what?

"You're leaving?" Hoseok gasped, looking at Jimin. "What do you mean you're leaving?"

"There's a good private school in Wisconsin that we have the money to pay for now that the farm is sold. Jimin'll be attending there so he can get a half decent education." Mr. Park answered for his son, running his hands through the smaller boys hair.

Now Jimin's leaving because you kissed him. You're disgusting.

"I'm sorry Hoseokkie, but I'm sure we can stay in touch and write to eachother!"

Even with the barrage of fake pity and apologies he had dealt with for the past week, he really wished that Jimin's words that night would be genuine. Deep down however, Hoseok knew they were empty promises. 

-

i wrote this in one sitting and it's really hot in this room so i'm not going to sit here and edit this so jsut take it. take it you heathens.

also! be my friend;

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