It was snowing in Beijing and the ground was layered with a thick layer of the white snow, making everything look eerily empty and bright. His parents had come to the airport to meet him, their faces smiling and happy. He had said goodbye to the other EXO-M members, who would be driving back to their individual homes around the country and was soon reaching his childhood home, free from managers and fans and stress. 

~

The house had changed slightly, the walls had been painted in a different colour, furniture had been replaced and the kitchen had been completely redecorated. However, the house still smelled like the lavender air freshner his mum had been buying since Luhan was a kid, childhood pictures lined the walls serving as memories of his carefree childhood and the grandfather clock still ticked, the only sound in the usually quiet house. 

His room had been tidied but was otherwise the same. His Manchester United posters were stuck everywhere on the walls, multiple shelfs of video games on the white walls. His old Playstation was in a corner and his closet still had the football jerseys and basketball shorts that Luhan used to wear as a teenager. He set his suitcase down in the corner and collapsed on the springy bed, taking comfort in the familiarity. He sighed deeply, feeling content. He was flicking through his wardrobe, trying to find any comfy clothes (his suitcase was filled with fashionable and uncomfortable clothes his stylist had given him). He settled on grey basketball shorts and a baggy white shirt. He slipped on a grey hoodie over the top and he was done. The clothes smelled clean and fresh and were ironed perfectly, probably his mum's doing.

He was looking through the video games that he had when his mum's voice reached him from downstairs, telling him dinner was ready. He smiled. He was back home. 

~

"How's everything going back in Korea?" His dad asked him with concern as they ate dinner. "Good. EXO has gotten very popular." Luhan smiled. Luhan's mum nodded excitedly. "We know, your faces are everywhere!" His mum exaggerated. His dad put his fork down before smiling at Luhan through his glasses. "We're very proud." The man said. "You know I was never sure about this idol business but, you seem to be doing well." Luhan grinned back. "Thanks dad." He tried not to feel guilty as he imagined how his parents would react if he told them about wanting to leave. They don't know how bad it gets though, the stress, the pressure...

He cleared his throat. "I kind of have something to tell you both." He announced. They glanced at him questioningly. "Go ahead." His mum said. I want to leave EXO. "I'm gay." Luhan said instead, the confession sudden and unplanned by even himself. His dad, who was currently drinking, nearly spit the water out. His mum just smiled. "Yeah, well, obviously." She said lightly. Luhan gazed at her in confusion. "What do you mean? Did you know?" He asked her. His mum nodded. "You're too pretty to be straight." His mum said bluntly. Luhan gaped at her. "Their is no connection between my looks and my uality!" He protested. His dad made a disgusted noise. "And you called yourself manly." He added. Luhan turned to him. "Even you?" He asked incredulously. His mum laughed a little. "We're only joking Luhan!" She comfortingly patted his arm. "He's not manly though." his dad said but was silenced by Luhan and his mother's joint glare. "You're taking this surprisingly well." Luhan admitted. "I wasn't sure how you would react." 

His dad scoffed. "It's not exactly a surprise." His dad muttered. His mum nodded. "Was I, was I obvious?" Luhan asked in a whisper, feeling worried. Luhan's mum nodded. "You are always more closer with your guy friends than any of your girlfriends." She commented. Luhan winced. "That makes me sound like a creep." He whined. His dad opened his mouth but Luhan beat him to it. "Don't say anything mean dad." He warned. 

His dad shrugged in response, beginning to eat again. "So that's the big announcement?" He asked Luhan, looking bored. No. "Yeah, basically." he said casually, shoving a dumpling in his mouth. His mother leaned forward. "Luhan, do you have a boyfriend?" His mother asked suddenly. Luhan almost choked on the dumpling at the abrupt question. His mind immediately went to Minseok. But then again, they hadn't put a label or anything on their relationship. Did he count? "I'm not sure." He said truthfully. His dad stared at him with a confused look. "What do you mean you don't know? You either have one or you don't." He said bluntly. "I do have this guy I like-" Love "and he likes me back. We've been on a few dates-" One "but we haven't really put a label on our relationship. So, yeah, I'm not sure if it counts." He explained. His mother leaned back. "Well, do you want it to count?" She asked. Luhan nodded. She shrugged casually. "Then it does." She said simply. 

"Who is he?" His father asked after a while, when they were washing the dishes altogether. Luhan swallowed nervously. "Uh, he's, a fellow member." He mumbled. "What? I can't hear you over the water, speak louder." His mother said. Luhan glanced up. "It's an EXO member." He said loudly. Silence followed the confession. "Is it that Baozi guy you're always talking about?" His dad asked. Luhan flushed. "I don't talk about him all the time." He protested. "So it is him!" His mum said excitedly. Luhan's dad handed over a wet plate to Luhan to dry. "Do the managers know?" His dad asked. "I can't imagine them agreeing to the relationship." 

Luhan shook his head. "No one really knows. Just the members and this one.. dude. But he's not saying anything." Hopefully, he added silently. His dad nodded. "Are you going to be keeping it a secret?" His dad asked. Luhan shrugged. His dad let out a breath. "Don't do anything stupid." His dad said, turning back to the plates. 

And that was it. 

~

Luhan spent the entire trip playing soccer with his childhood friends and watching Chinese movies with his parents. Being an only child, Luhan had been used to the quiet atmosphere of the house when his mum took her afternoon naps and his dad was at work. But he had changed. Living with 11 other (rowdy) boys had changed his nature and he found himself almost missing the members. 

Especially Minseok. He felt strangely alone without the boy by his side. He could survive though. Before, back in the Growl era, even a few minutes without his precious Baozi would drive him crazy. But now, he was able to go on for a few hours without even thinking about the boy. He would be playing a game of soccer with his friends and not think about Minseok at all but afterwards, when someone mentioned coffee, he had been reminded of the boy in Korea and would feel almost guilty for forgetting the boy. 

There was really nothing to be guilty about. He was allowed a few hours off. He was allowed to focus on other things. So why did he feel so guilty?

~

The week was over quickly and Luhan was soon leaving his parents again. They were both strangely calm about the goodbye, though his mum's red eyes suggested she had been crying the night before. "Introduce us to Minseok soon, huh?" His mum said, her voice forced to sound cheerful. Luhan nodded. He didn't remember what was said next and he said his goodbyes rather distractedly, realizing that he would be with Minseok soon. He was just about to leave, a manager waiting patiently out at the driveway for him when he turned back around. He walked to his parents. "Mum, Dad, I love Kim Minseok." He said, his voice rushed. His mum smiled sadly. "Then don't let him go." She said, ruffling his hair. Luhan's dad nodded. "Be manly, for once." He said, trying to lighten the situation. Luhan smiled. "I'm always manly." 

~~~

GUYS I AM SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED I HONESTLY CAN'T WRITE ANYMORE----SORRY!
Today was so tiring oh my god. 

I still have to do workkkk

Sorry!

Thank you for commenting and subscribing! Bye!