☼ The Take Off ☼

 

Taeyang was lying back on his bed, his phone in his hand and his arms stretched out over him. He read his sister’s text again and again, trying to think of the message he would reply with.   “Mom and Dad haven’t completed the rent for this month, do you think you can send in something?”    The answer was always “sure”, “no problem” or “how much?”    His parents had clearly stated that if he was going to over his life by choosing music, then he had no place in their home. Yet, they accepted the money he made from his lousy part time job without thinking it twice. He could stop, but he had always been an obedient and fair son. His parents had sacrificed a lot to raise him and he just felt like he was repaying them, even if they didn’t want to hear from him unless he finally come to his senses and decided to pursue and more promising and successful career.    It was a frustrating situation, but he dealt with it as best as he could.   Honestly, after the anger he felt for TOP dissipated, he was thankful for the trip. It gave him a break from his overnight shifts and his feeling of constant drowning.   He made the choice to worry about his reality after the trip.     “You up?” He heard TOP’s sleepy voice from the other side of his door and looked at his phone screen.    It was 4:30am.    “Yeah” Taeyang answered, throwing his legs to the side and reaching down for his shoes. He had been awake since 3 and he was more than ready to leave. He picked up his phone and finally texted his sister back, telling her that he would deposit the money later today. After pressing send, he shut off his phone and grabbed his bags that were by his door.    When he stepped out of his room he heard TOP shuffling in the bathroom. “Hey, I’m going to start loading the stuff” “Okay. My stuff is out in the living room and the keys for the rental are on the kitchen counter” “All right” Taeyang grabbed the keys and as many bags as he could, then headed downstairs to the parking lot.    When he found the right car, he furrowed his eyebrows at the 7 seat Ford Explorer.   Why do we need a big car?    Taeyang shrugged it off and closed the trunk, then headed back upstairs.    “Why’d you get a 7 seater?” He asked TOP when he entered the apartment and saw his roommate picking up the left over bags. Taeyang reached for the last backpack and glanced up at TOP, who was staring at him as if he had just witnessed Tae magically appear in front of him, “I forgot to tell you didn’t I?” Tae straightened up and raised