After Effects (Falling Blossoms) Kyung Hoon x Heechul

Effects- Chapter 1

*Flashback: Kyung Hoon is 16 years old*

Kyung Hoon sat with his older brother in the living room as he heard yelling in the kitchen. His brother, Heechul was innocently playing his toy car making whooshing sounds.

"All you care about is gambling! You never cared about the kids!"

"I gamble for us to make a living! It's at least better than you and your little dusty shop!"

"My 'dusty' shop is better than your little gambling! You are the reason we are still living in poverty!"

"If you don't like it so much, I'm leaving this shitty place! I much rather live with my friends and not worry over our kids!"

"You brat, you never cared about the kids since the very beginning!"

"You were the one who never cared about Heechul!"

Heechul flinched when he heard his name, he pulled on Kyung Hoon's shirt sleeve.

"Eomma called my name right?"

"She was just talking about making your favorite dinner tonight." Kyung Hoon lied.

"Oh... I want to eat kimchi and rice!"

Kyung Hoon rubbed Heechul's arm, he knew that after today, their lives were to change.

And so it did. Their mother left that evening after making kimchi and rice. Their father was left to take care of the kids.

~

Kyung Hoon sat in his desk in the afternoon two months after his parents' divorce. He was thinking about the financial crisis his family was going through while paying for his education.

"Kyung Hoon. I'm asking you a question."

Kyung Hoon flinched. His teacher was putting him on the spot for a math question. He didn't know how to answer it so he kept silent.

"Pay attention next time."

That dismissal, he walked slowly to the office. He stopped at the front door and hesitated to knock. What would his dad think if he found out that he dropped out of school? He knocked anyways.

"Come in."

Kyung Hoon waited for a bit before finally being able to meet with the headmaster. He tried his best not to choke when explaining his financial situation.

"I see. We can offer you a waiver if your situation gets really bad. I hate to send a student off because of these situations."

"It's okay, I already made my decision. I have to work with my abeoji's (father) shop in order for our family to live."

"You are a brave young man. I hate to see you leave but if this is your final decision, I'll have no choice but to grant it. If you decide to come back, just come see me again."

Kyung Hoon bowed and left the office. He felt sad but relieved at the same time that he didn't have to go to school anymore. He didn't have any friends anyways.

~

Heechul greeted Kyung Hoon with open arms when he got home. Heechul was in the middle of building blocks. Kyung Hoon was relieved to see him and joined him while waiting for his father to return from the shop.

It was later that night when their father returned from work. Kyung Hoon had already fixed dinner for the whole family before his father got home.

"Abeoji, I made dinner for you."