Chapter 10: Parent Fight and Care

That evening, Jihoon felt a tight knot of anxiety gripping his stomach as he waited for Seungmin to arrive. He had spent the last few hours pacing around his room, anxious about their upcoming conversation. Would they be able to clear the air? Or would the tensions from earlier spill over and ruin their friendship for good? Just as he was lost in thought, the sound of a knock on the door jolted him from his reverie.

"Hey, Jihoon! It's me," Seungmin called through the door. His voice was slightly muffled, but Jihoon could hear a note of uncertainty under the playful surface. Taking a deep breath, Jihoon opened the door, revealing Seungmin leaning against the frame, his eyes bright yet cautious.

"Hey," Jihoon replied, stepping aside to let him in. Seungmin stepped into the room, his posture tight, picking up on the tension that lingered in the air.

"Mind if we sit?" Seungmin gestured toward Jihoon's desk chair.

"Yeah, of course," Jihoon replied, feeling the slight weight of his heart press more heavily against his chest. They settled down, the moment of silence stretching between them like an unsaid agreement to approach this delicately.

"I'm really sorry for earlier," Seungmin began, rubbing the back of his neck. "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable."

Jihoon nodded, his fingers fidgeting at his side. "I'm the one who overreacted. I didn't handle it well."

Seungmin leaned forward, his expression earnest. "Look, I just wanted to have fun. I thought we might enjoy each other's company outside of school. But I didn't realize it made you feel pressured."

"I guess I was scared that if we did pursue..." Jihoon rushed through his thoughts, "that maybe it would change everything between us, and I'm not ready for that."

"Change can be good, you know?" Seungmin replied gently. "I care about you, Jihoon, and I think you're worth taking a risk for."

Before Jihoon could respond, a loud crash echoed from downstairs, followed by the sound of raised voices. Jihoon's heart sank as he recognized the familiar sound of his parents arguing. They had been fighting more frequently lately, usually about financial issues or their work schedules, but each time it happened, it felt like a dark cloud hanging over the house.

"Uh, I'm sorry," Jihoon said, glancing toward the door. "I didn't think they would be fighting right now."

Seungmin noticed the worry on Jihoon's face. "Hey, it's okay. You want to listen and see if everything's alright?"

Reluctantly, Jihoon nodded, and they both got up, shifting closer to the door. The shouting continued, each word stinging like a slap. They could hear the frustration and anger boiling over; Jihoon's stomach churned at the thought.

"I can't believe you would make such a reckless decision! Do you even think about how this affects us?" he heard his mother's voice rise in volume.

"Quit talking down to me! I'm doing my best under circumstances you can't even begin to understand!" his father shouted back.

Jihoon's heart raced, each note of anger piercing through him. The warmth in the room faded, and the once-comforting atmosphere felt cold and alien. He felt a surge of emotion and stepped back from the door, unsure of what to do.

Seungmin noticed and placed a comforting hand on Jihoon's shoulder. "Hey. They'll work it out, alright? You know they usually do. Want to talk about it?"

Jihoon looked into Seungmin's eyes. His friend's presence was grounding in the midst of chaos. "I just... hate hearing them fight. It feels like it's never going to stop."

Seungmin nodded, pulling Jihoon away from the door and leading him back to the desk. "You know, it's okay to feel overwhelmed. It doesn't define you or how you handle your situation. Just like today-we had a rough moment, but it's not the end of our friendship."

Jihoon swallowed hard. "It feels different when it's family, you know? Like, if I can't fix them, what does that say about me?"

"Don't think that way. You're not responsible for their happiness. People fight, and that doesn't mean they don't love each other," Seungmin reassured him softly. "And focus on yourself-what do you need in moments like this?"

The sound of frustrated voices quieted down, replaced by low murmurs. Jihoon felt a sense of relief wash over him but constantly feared it was temporary. "I want... I want to be able to talk to them, to feel like we can confront issues together," he finally admitted.

Seungmin's expression softened. "That's understandable. You're brave for wanting to face it. But remember, you also deserve to take care of yourself through it all."

Just as Jihoon was about to respond, his mother's voice rose again, now mixed with tears. "I don't want us to lose everything we've built! I'm scared..."

The sudden shift tugged at Jihoon's heartstrings, sending waves of empathy crashing over him. "I just want them to be okay," he said, voice trembling.

Seungmin's hand gripped Jihoon's shoulder reassuringly. "Then maybe you can be the one to approach them when things settle down. They need to hear from someone who loves them, even if it feels difficult."

They stayed quiet for a moment, letting the atmosphere settle. Jihoon felt strangely comforted by Seungmin's presence. The weight of the argument faded slightly in the background, even as the emotional residue still lingered.

"Thanks for being here," Jihoon said finally, his voice quiet. "I don't think I would've handled this well alone."

Seungmin smiled gently, "What are friends for? Just remember, we're all a work in progress, including your family. Change can take time, but you're not alone in it."

A sense of understanding settled between them, reinforcing the bond that they shared. For the first time that evening, Jihoon felt empowered to process his feelings. He glanced over at Seungmin and saw not just a friend, but someone who genuinely cared.

As they waited for the noise to die down, Jihoon understood that life's challenges wouldn't vanish overnight. But with Seungmin by his side, he could face whatever came next-not just with courage, but with hope for tomorrow.