Counting Stars ✓

nineteen

"There's a concert coming up," Rune said, sitting across from King - the two of them enjoying their date. Date. Gosh how he loves the word. True to what they agreed on, the two of them began to go on several different dates, enjoying their time getting to know one another.

They had laid low about the whole situation, but Rune knew people were starting to catch on with the fact that King now joined him and his friends for lunch, and they were always seen arriving and leaving together.

Ryu and Cherry, who were clearly bitter, made sure to try to spread words about them, too. Luckily his fan club came in handy by defending them and preventing any big rumours from breaking out.

King raised his brows at his statement. "Are you talking about the one P'Gem told us about? The one that was postponed for another two months?"

"Yeah. Are you going? You're a Baifern fan, right?" he recalled King only ever being to a Baifern concert. Truth be told, he didn't often listen to the girl's songs. She was talented, and had beauty - heck, she even followed him on Instagram despite his feed mostly being about photography and sometimes, pictures of those close to him. But her music wasn't simply his style.

King crinkle his nose. "I do think she's talented but..."

"Ow, it'll be our first concert together. Let's go," Rune insisted, flashing a toothy grin. King laughed at how excited he looked. Despite the gnawing feeling urging him to say no, he simply said, "I'll think about it."

King's phone buzzed. Frowning, he pulled it out and felt his heart drop.

| Mother |

Come see me right away

Okay, Mother.

"I have to go," King said, getting up and taking out his wallet. Rune frowned at the sudden shift in King, wondering who and what it was that made him look so worried. Paying for the meal - which Rune had initially wanted to pay for, but was a step too late - they left the restaurant. "I'll drive you back."

"What happened?" Rune looked at how tense King was. His expression was so cold, so withdrawn. Much like the first couple impressions of the boy. And so unlike the ones he's been presenting the last couple of months.

"My mother wants to meet with me today." The thought didn't scare him as much anymore. But it didn't mean it didn't make him uncomfortable or nervous. He had made sure not to cause any troubles, or give any reason for the media to attack him. So he truly couldn't understand why she suddenly called for him.

He knew it wasn't going to be about the company. His mother didn't like him getting involved in her work, and she certainly didn't like King getting involved with Kaew's work either.

Remembering the situation with Kaew, King felt his blood run cold. He wondered if she had tested him that night when she arrived crying, or maybe she got caught with her plan. It wasn't easy getting anything past by his mother.

"Let's go to see your mother," Rune suggested, placing his hand on King's lap. "I'll stay in the car and wait for you."

He didn't know if King had a bad or good relationship with his mother, but judging by the look on his face, he knew something was about to happen. And he wanted to be there for him in case it was bad.

"You don't-"

"Let's go," Rune urged. "Trust me."

Taking a quick glance at Rune who flashed him a determined look, King nodded and quickly switched the direction he was going in.