straight 》 yuwin

13

"What do you mean, 'never'? I want to meet your parents!" Sicheng whined, pouring himself a bowl of cereal.

"Trust me, you really don't." Yuta muttered, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "They're horrible, awful people."

The Chinese laughed, putting a box back in the cupboard. "They can't be that bad! They raised you, and you're not horrible."

"No, Sicheng." The older clarified. "Anime raised me. My parents just happened to live in the same house."

The younger rolled his eyes, abandoning his breakfast to wrap his arms around the Japanese. "That explains your theatric and dramatic tendencies."

Yuta gasped, pretending to be hurt. "I think you meant that it explains my striking visuals and loveable personality."

"You're only proving my point." Sicheng said, laying his chin on the older's shoulder. "Now why won't you let me meet them?"

"Because Sicheng," Yuta sighed, taking a bite of his breakfast. "You are happy and sweet, and my parents tend to make people the opposite."

"But that's unfair! You got to meet my mom!" He whined, squeezing the boy tighter.

The Japanese thought for a moment, holding the hands around him. "Fine. Maybe one day."

Sicheng cheered, and was about to speak again when Yuta's phone buzzed. The older took it out of his pocket, and all the color drained from his face when he saw the caller i.d.

"I'm sorry, I have to go."

_________________

"Where have you been, young man?" Those were the first words Yuta heard when he opened the front door.

"A friend's." He mumbled, not even looking at the woman with her hands on her hips.

She scoffed. "A friend's? Me and your father are very worried about you, Yuta. Aren't we dear?" She looked to her husband, who was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper.

"Mhmm." He sounded, not even looking up at his wife.

She didn't seem to notice her spouse's indifference. "First we get a call about you getting detention, and now you're failing math? What are you even doing in there all day?"

Yuta knew exactly why he was failing math. Because he was distracted by a certain someone, but he did not mention that to his mother.

"Then you spend the night, who knows where, without even calling?" She pointed a finger at her son. "I've said this before, Yuta. But if this keeps up, we may have to change schools. I don't like the influence those friends of yours have on you."

The boy groaned, now looking at his mom. "What are you even talking about? My friends have zero influence on me! Anything I do is my own choice."

Her eyes narrowed. "You may say that, but something has been different with you these past few weeks, and I want to know why."

Alarmed by her son's sudden silence, she questioned him more rapidly. "Are you doing drugs? Did you join a gang or something? Did you have a kid with someone? Are you in trouble with the law?"

Tired of the interrogation, Yuta groaned and put his head in his hands. "What? No! You want to know what's different? I got a boyfriend!" He suddenly laughed, a frown on his face. "It's nice to know you think so low of me."

Both of his parents were silent at his outburst. His father put down the paper, and his mother crossed her arms. "A boyfriend, huh?"

Yuta nodded, undaunted by their reactions. "Yes. His name is Sicheng."

"So now you're keeping secrets from us? How long has this been going on?" His father questioned, his eyebrows raised.

Yuta backed down a little, realizing his mistake. He had never meant to tell his parents about the Chinese. "Just a few weeks."

"Ah." His mother sighed, a sick smile on her face. "There's the source of all this trouble."

"What do you mean?" Yuta said, wary of the proud look on his mom's face.

"I mean that ever since you got with this boy, your life has been going down the drain." She put her hands back on her hips. "I don't want you seeing him anymore."

Her son scoffed wjth a smile. "Yeah, no that's not gonna happen." His eyebrows raised. "Why do you even care? It's my life!"

"Because, Yuta!" She exclaimed, taking a step closer. "Anything you do paints a bad light on us! If anyone finds out about your actions, they'll think we don't have any control over our own son! We'll be the laughing stock of the neighborhood!"

Yuta gasped, practically yelling at this point. "They would be right! You don't have any control over what I do, especially who I choose to be with!"

"Is that right?" She asked, turning to her husband.

"You forget, boy." His father spoke, his face cold and stonelike. "We're your parents, and you'll do anything we tell you to."

The boy watched with wide eyes as his mother leaned closer, a satisfied smirk on her face.

"Say goodbye to your little boyfriend, Yuta. It's over."