Minhyuk Park

The bell rang and I quickly jumped out of my chair, nearly sending the desk flying. I followed the mass of students fleeing the classroom, racing through the white halls.

"Hyuk," someone called out behind me. The familiar voice made me grin as I spun around to find my brother leaning against his locker. He fell into step next to me as we traveled down the hallway towards the doors. He was graduating this year, but that only brought us closer.

"Going to the mall again?" His bleached hair fell across his face as he swung an arm around my shoulder.

"Fuck yes," I replied as we maneuvered around slower classmates. Why are you fuckers so slow? Aren't y'all excited??

"Sounds fun," Minseok paused, "Omma is making tteokbokki." He winked, knowing full well that was my weakness. The spicy chewy rice cakes with some fishcake and hard-boiled eggs were literally enough to make me melt.

"Kay."

"Tell Santiago I said hi!" My brother called out over his shoulder, heading over to his own girlfriend. My parents liked her a whole lot better than the last one. Angie's so sweet, too bad my brother's a dumbass.

With my face flushing bright red, I raced back over to my locker.

To my surprise, I found that Becky was already waiting for me, hands on her hips.

"It's Steph's turn to drive the car," she raised an eyebrow as I groaned.

Steph's father had gotten a car for Steph and San to share. Unfortunately, Steph drove like a fucking maniac and when it was her turn to drive. We have no idea how that moron passed her driver's test. San, on the other hand, drove like a normal person. He had almost failed his driver's test for driving too slow on the freeway.

"Hey! The law's already against me. I'm not gonna test it!" was his generic response.

Nevertheless, we always had to plan an extra ten minutes when it was his turn to drive.

"Come on let's go." Becky impatiently as she tapped her foot as I rummaged through my locker.

I quickly shoved my folders into my backpack and slammed the door shut. I hurried after Becky mentally preparing myself for the car ride. Why couldn't we just drive my fucking car? It's not like the siblings even go to our school, we could meet there! I had almost caught her when someone grabbed my hand. Santiago stood there grinning like an idiot.

"It's Friday~," he sang, "we have all weekend!"

"Yes I know~" I sang back before becoming serious. "Now let's go before your sister leaves without us."

We pushed past a group of chatty girls and went out into the bright sunlight. A horn blared across the parking lot causing people to turn their heads in annoyance. Steph sat in the driver's seat of the car grinning like the Cheshire cat. Becky sat next to her in the passenger seat looking less than thrilled.

"Hurry up lovebirds!!" Steph screeched, "The mall has a sale today and we have to get there first!"

"I got it," San grumbled, "You've been talking about it all week."

We barely had time to climb in the back of the car and buckle ourselves in before Steph zoomed out of the parking lot. I quickly shrugged off my school jacket, opting instead for the denim one at the bottom of my bag. The car skidded around the curb and we almost hit a rather frazzled blonde lady. Becky gave an apologetic smile and waved towards the driver. Steph appeared to be oblivious to the person she had just cut off, even after they flipped her off. After we turned left we came to the truly terrifying part of our drive.

The roundabout.

No one in their right mind would go through at 45 miles per hour. Clearly, Steph was not in her right mind.

"Now remember Steph," Becky said nervously as we approached the stop sign much faster than anyone would recommend "Do NOT turn left."

"That was one time!" Steph laughed as she once again cut off another driver.

"And don't go straight through the red light." San kept his eyes shut, looking pale as he always did when Steph drove. Still, it was nice to sit so close to him. I merely rested my head against his shoulder as I scrolled through my email.

"I would never do that!" San made a small squeak of protest at that statement.

"We're taking my car next week," I shouted. No way in hell am I getting fucking arrested.

We miraculously made it to the mall without Steph killing anyone. There was a close call with a stray cat though. My arm was also very sore from San clutching it the entire ride. Steph seemed oblivious to our ashen faces as she skipped into the nearby store. That goddamn moron.

"Never again." San was breathing heavily and his hands were still shaking.

"You say that every time," Becky smirked at him before trailing after Steph.

We begrudgingly walked into the clothing store. San dragged me over to a selection of shirts and selecting two, which quite frankly looked exactly the fucking same to me. The girls were laughing at a dress made entirely out of fake fur.

I smiled, turning back to San.

It was nice to see Steph so happy after... after what?

A pit in my stomach grew. Something is very fucking wrong here.

"What's wrong? Your mom invited me over to dinner again tonight." San had appeared behind me, "She said something about making duck-boky?"

"My mom likes you?" The pit in my stomach grew, There was no fucking way my mom would be fine with me being gay. Shit.

"Of course," San answered with a laugh "Who wouldn't?" He smiled in a way that made my heart flutter.

This can't be right.

I felt tears well up in my eyes as my smile began to crack.

"This isn't real is it?" I asked, softly.

"Of course not," Becky said as she turned around. A thin red line appeared on her neck and the nearby skin began to peel. Blood trickled down her clothes as she smiled at me.

"As if we would hang out with a...," Stephine sneered while looking me up and down.

"Fag." San snarled. He then took a step toward me, his face marred with disgust.

I can't breathe.

This isn't real.

This isn't real.

"Park wake up right now!" Someone was shaking me.

I shot up and nearly smacked heads with Steph, tears spilling down my face.

"You were screaming in your sleep," she glared, "you're going to get us killed."

"...sorry," I mumbled, I couldn't meet her eyes.

"It's fine." She glanced over her shoulder to where San was sitting. He was staring off into the tree line. He didn't even look in my direction.

"Fag."

The dream tore through my vision as I choked up.

I turned away from Steph, trying to fall back asleep.

"Fag."

"Your gay ass killed my cousin."

"Who would love you?"

"How could we have been so cursed?"

"You are no son of mine."

"Disgusting."

I shut my eyes, pushing the thoughts away.

That's a problem for tomorrow's me.