Chapter 10

When Gold claimed that he can't wait for Monday, he meant that he's excited to see Kolya cheer for him while he performs, but as he scans the crowd right before he steps up the stage, he realizes that he hates Mondays.

Kolya isn't true to his words. How can he wish Cleo's partner  'good luck' when he's not even around?

They're right when they said that all men do is lie.

"Oh, God! I'm nervous!" Cleo clasps her hands together as she looks up at the sky. She closes her eyes too because direct sunlight hurts her eyes and well, she's praying to God for her not to fuck this performance up.

"Damn! We're next!" Gold's best friend speaks again, sounding nervous.

Cleo likes to showcase her talent a little too much. She rarely gets nervous, however this day is different. This is her first time dancing a different genre in front of so many people. She believes that ballet is the only performance she can slay.

She's wrong. At least this is what Gold thinks. "Don't be. You're a great dancer. We can do this."

Of course the two of them made up. Cleo can never stay mad at her best friend even though Gold is the most annoying and egotistic person she has ever met.

"Aw, love you! I know you'll do well too!" Cleo kisses the golden boy's cheeks.

It didn't make him feel better, though. Not when the person he likes to cheer him up the most is not around.

Just...where the hell is Nikolai?

"You guys are up in three..." The stage coordinator starts the count down. "Two...One. Go!"

The pair steps into the stage upon hearing the go signal. Loud cheers erupt, Gold is pretty sure he even heard the screams of his classmates.

Their presentation only lasted for less than five minutes. It's funny how they practiced for long hours just to perform it in a very short period of time.

Is it worth it?

Definitely. Despite Kolya's absence, Gold can say that he's pretty satisfied with his performance since Jasmine and Cleo's mother really go out of their busy schedule just to watch their children dance.

"I must admit, that was quite a show." Jasmine smiles a little. It's the kind of smile that she rarely flashes since it's reserved for a really, really impressive event.

"Thanks, Jasmine. I gotta admit too that it only went well because your son pushed me so hard. God, he's so meticulous!"

The famous soloist looks at her son who's silently chewing his food beside her. They're at a restaurant to celebrate the success of the pair.

Using his peripheral vision, Gold sees his mother waiting for him to tilt his head. He does, raising his brow curiously. Jasmine is smiling down at him, however it isn't like a proud expression. It's more like a 'Really? Interesting...' kind of grin. It is as if she is certain that Gold is keeping a secret.

"Well, honey. I believe you worked just as hard as Gold did." Giana blurts out. She refuses to let Jasmine claim the first spot all the time. It's enough that Gold's mother is more famous than her.

"Your mom's right. Actually, I admire you. I don't know how you manage to be a good student while being in a romantic relationship..."

"Mom..." Gold's jaw tenses, looking at Giana then back to his own mother.

The golden boy isn't sure how Jasmine found out about this. It is evident that Giana doesn't know that her daughter is in a relationship. Her facial expression says it all. Her eyes are dilating and her jaw drops on the floor.

"Oh, please, Jasmine. You're obviously better at juggling things than me." Cleo smiles mockingly at the soloist. The former isn't like her mother. Giana lives in Jasmine's shadow, Cleo doesn't.

Gold's mother raises her brow, urging Cleo to elaborate.

"Well, I just can't help but notice how busy you are with your career, but here you are, still able to be the best mother! Isn't that right, Gold?"

The golden boy kicks his best friend's foot under the table. He hates that Cleo knows him well. Gold never told anyone how his mother treats him, yet his best friend is aware just how shitty Jasmine is. She's obviously mocking the soloist's parenting skills.

"Well, honey. I believe Giana is just as loving and sweet as am I to Gold." Jasmine marks, copying Giana's statement.

"She is!" Cleo wraps her arm around her mom's shoulder.

Giana only smiles. Gold, on the other hand, subtly rolls his eyes. The night is still young. He's sure that this dinner date will become more awkward.

It makes him wonder: why is the universe so cruel to him? Can't he even catch a break? Why does he have to be best friends with a girl who turns everything into a fight? Why does he have to have a mother who always sabotages things?

Most importantly, why is he upset at the wrong things? Here he is, having an awkward dinner with women who hate one another, but his stupid mind can't stop thinking about the fact that Nikolai lied to him.

He's lost it and frankly, it's hard to blame him. The golden boy feels as though the only person who genuinely supports him is Nikolai. As much as it's hard to admit, he is aware that Jasmine only watched his performance because she wants the world to know that Gold takes after her, that she plays a big part why her son is this good.

Gold received a text message from his father. Doctor Adana simply said Good luck, son. Cheering for you!

It's not he doesn't appreciate it. However it lacks feelings. The golden boy can't even remember the last time his father wished him luck in person.

Gold is sad and annoyed because as it turns out, Nikolai is just like the rest of the people around him.

What he didn't know is that Kolya's dilemma is way worse than what he feels right now.

"Halmeoni, you're working too hard!" Nikolai says with a cute whine in his voice.

"Aigoo, our little Nikolai is worried about me!" Beth is lifting a heavy perishable box. She places it on the floor just so she can pinch and kiss his younger grandson's cheeks.

"But that box is heavy!" Kolya pouts his lips, stomping his feet on the ground. "Let me do it for you..."

"Andwe!" This is the Korean word for no way. "I can carry this by myself. Just go. You'll be late..."

"It's fine. We don't have classes today." The grandson rolls the sleeve of his uniform.

Today is Monday. The accreditation agency will be at school all day so the professors will probably be busy. Students are even encouraged to watch the presentations of school's representatives. The visitation of the accreditation agency is different when they're at Morello University. Students are allowed to have fun, unlike in some academic institutions where students act as though they're under a strict probation. It's fake. 

Gold will perform at around 5pm. This just means that Kolya can go to the university a little later. It's only 6:50 in the morning, anyway. He will help his grandmother and Noah to unload their harvest first.

Mr. Cruz delivered the crops straight into the Park's doorstep. Kolya hears that the farm is doing well these days. It looks like everything is turning great for them, especially for Noah. The older brother is working hard too. He manages the harvest right after Mr. Cruz delivers it. Halmeoni sells more than half of it in the public market while Noah uses the remaining crops for the food he makes.

"Hey, aren't you supposed to be in school?" Noah questions as soon as Kolya squats to pick up the box of lettuce.

"Nope. I'm a free man today." The dongsaeng replies, causing his hyung to raise a brow.

"Are you saying school feels as though you're in prison?"

Kolya snatches another box from his brother. It makes him wince to see Noah carrying heavy things. Doctors said he can't go beyond five kilos.

"No, but looking at you carry this feels like hell." Kolya shows off his muscles by juggling the two boxes in his arms.

Noah chuckles, playfully rolling his eyes.

"I'm fine, baby bro." He proves this by lifting a heavier box.

Kolya gasps when his hyung stumbles on his feet. The older brother is the real show-off here. No matter how hard he tries, he still can't hide the fact that his body is weak.

The younger brother then wonders how many people say 'I'm fine' and 'It's okay,' just to prove that they're strong?

Noah isn't doing this to pretend like his strong.  The truth is, he just doesn't want to inconvenience other people with his weakness. He didn't want to be a burden—especially not to his loved ones. People got enough shit in their own lives. They don't deserve more problems.

Beth is just like her older grandson. She doesn't want to be a nuisance that's why she hid her condition. She chose to suffer silently. She keeps on pretending as if she's alright—just like what she's doing now.

"Not now..." Beth breathes in heavily while trying to calm down. Kolya is probably right. She might have worked too hard because suddenly, she can't breathe.

"H-Help..." Pain is everywhere: stomach, neck, upper shoulder. Beth is sweating a lot too. It feels as though she's about to vomit.

Kolya and Noah are busy bickering outside so they can't see what is happening to their grandmother.

Regret. Why does regret come at the end of the day? Why is Beth so stubborn? She regrets pushing herself too hard. Her doctor warned her about this, but she never listened.

"N-Noah..." Beth whispers, looking out of the window and trying to reach out for her busy grandson.

Noah didn't look back. He was too late. Kolya was too late. Beth collapses on the floor, losing her consciousness.

It's the loud thud that causes the two brothers to run inside. Their grandmother accidentally hits the lamp before she falls on the floor.

"Halmeoni!" Noah sees her unconscious guardian first. Ignoring the pain on his back, he instantly carries the old woman into his arm.

Nikolai doesn't have enough time to protest. Beth is probably more than one hundred forty pounds. It's above Noah's limit, but it's not like he can do anything. The hyung is quick on his feet.

"Kolya, back seat! Now!" Noah demands after quickly but gently laying Beth's body in the back seat of their pickup truck.

The younger brother immediately hops in to attend to his grandmother. Noah then starts the vehicle. They're in a hurry that they forgot to close the tailgate of the truck, causing some of the crops to roll down.

It's their least concern as of the moment. Bringing Beth to the hospital is their top priority. Luckily, Cornelia Hospital is just a few blocks away from their street.

Everything happened so fast that Kolya doesn't even remember half of it. The medical staffs transferred Beth to a stretcher and then they brought her in the emergency room. He and his hyung stay at the lounge, patiently waiting for the doctors or just anyone to tell them what the hell just happened.

Kolya knows nothing. The only thing he's sure of is that he's a fool for believing that things are doing okay for them. Good moments are fleeting moments—distracting you from the truth that the world is actually full of suffering. That no matter how kind you are to your neighbors, no matter how much money you donate in the church, no matter how positive you are, life will still manage to fuck you up.

Nikolai sighs.

He missed breakfast. He missed lunch. He missed Gold's performance. He missed the shooting star that just crossed the sky.