Dancing On Thin Ice // KTH

Chapter 16

Carmela licked the mango ice cream off the plastic spoon and looked up at the yellow umbrella over their round table. It was a hot and sunny September day, and the customers at their cheap but favorite ice cream place were numerous today. Carmela and Jules sat at a table that was near the sidewalk, and they chatted as people rode bikes and cars happily along the road. 

"How's your job going?" Jules asked, sitting cross-legged in her chair across from her, spooning her raspberry sundae.

"It's great so far. It's not exactly how I imagined it though, but oh well."

"Hm? Why, what's up? Is that guy still messing with you? What's his name again?"

"Taehyung. Nah, he's not as bad as he used to be." Carmela replied. He didn't really talk much at all during practices. He didn't seem like the quiet type at all, but maybe he was just super focused on the dance practicing. The boys and her did laugh around once in a while, but Roxana would usually bring them back to business.

"That's good then. I woulda given him a pile of shit if he was still yelling at you for no reason." Thank God for that.

"Haha, I know. How's the fam? I haven't seen your step-dad in a long time. Where the hell has he disappeared to?"

"He's um... I guess away on a business trip somewhere. He'll be back in a couple of days though."

"Right, doesn't he own like a huge ass company or something?"

"Yeah, something like that. I ain't too sure though. But I don't really give a shit where he's at."

"Hm."

"He literally just dropped his son off with us like we were some kind of fucking daycare. He barely visits. He barely even talks to mom."

"I've only seen him like once. Koman's his name right?"

"Yep. Hosi and him moved from Korea like ten years ago, I think. Around the same time dad died from cancer."

Carmela put the bowl of ice cream down on the table, and set her elbows on the table, fiddling with her silver chain bracelet.

"Jules, do you... do you dream about your dad?"

"Dream about him? Nah, I don't think so. I mean, maybe I do, can't remember though. Why?"

"I don't know, I'm jus-"

Suddenly, loud whooping voices and blaring car honking, were coming from the road, and everyone sitting outside at the café turned in their seats to see what was going on. Carmela and Jules exchanged a confused look and peered at the road too.

"What the fuck?" Carmela said as she looked. Her heart thudded with surprise.

The boys, all seven of them, were riding their bikes down the road, whooping and laughing around a black car. It honked and drove slowly, trying not to crash into any of the crazy sneering boys. What the hell were they doing? Carmela stood from her seat and walked from the table to the sidewalk, waiting as they neared. Hm. Wait... six of them were laughing but... was that Jin? He was in the back, trying to catch up to the others, with a panicked face. She narrowed her eyes and looked closer at the driver of the black car and saw that it was a young woman. 

Hosi laughed out loud and turned closer to the car window.

"Hey Maddy! Why don't you come out? We just wanna talk! More importantly, Jin here wants to talk to you!" The guys laughed around Hosi and Jin slowed his bike even further.

Carmela clenched her teeth into a scowl. What the- were they fucking serious? HA! How- HOW DARE THEY!

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU GUYS ARE DOING? LEAVE HER ALONE YOU CRAZY CREEPS!" She screamed from the sidewalk.