Bambam's POV

A night without my mother in her bed is hard. I think I couldn't close an eye at all. This morning, there's school and it's really the last thing I want to do… When I get out of my room, Jackson is already gone. I notice someone's left me a little something on the kitchen's table: a cup of tea. What an idiot. It's probably cold now. There's also a little note next to it: "Tea is good for energy, so drink some! — Jackson, the cool man who knows how to make tea~" I chuckle and I really appreciate the gesture. Even if, indeed, it's cold.

Once I made all the way to the school by foot (of course, I don't have anyone to drop me off), I arrive in front of the school. As every morning, I sneak between all the rich students who all seem to have their group of friends; meanwhile, I only talk to Yugyeom. Yugyeom is a bit younger than me. He's calm and sensitive, I like to hang out with him even if we don't have that much in common, because he doesn't snob me like everyone else. 

He's actually sitting on a bench in the building's court. Alone. Not surprising, we are each other's oly friends. I quickly join him.

"Hey Pimook," he greets me. 

"Hey, what's up?" I ask him, trying to seem vivid.

He's no that vivid either. That's why he simply stares at the horizon and answers:

"Ah… In general? I'm okay I guess. You?"

"Um…"

Should I tell him about last night? Yeah, he's kind of my best friend. Well, it's not I have a choice.

"Actually," I continue, " last night, um… my mother had a health thing. She's in the hospital now."

"Oh, dude… I'm so sorry… She deserves better than this… Life is so unfair to the kindest people."

He's always philosophising. (A.N: does this word exist? In french you can say philospher but idk) But his word give me a bit of comfort. 

"Yeah, I'll go see her after school. I hope she's fine," I add.

The bell rings and I feel school's negative energy taking over me. Although I'm a good student. I just don't like this school's athmosphere. Only rich snob people here.

I'm sitting at my usual place, in the back of the class, next to Yugyeom. I always try to not get noticed by the other students, because they always bully me. Speaking of the devil, here's Jaebeom, another rich's son, with his side kick Jinyoung.

I see that sometimes,  the latter tries to stop Jaebeom from bullying me, but he's way to stubborn. The two eventually joint heir seats and I'm glad Jaebum doesn't talk to me.

The whole day goes by very slowly and I don't think I've absorbed even an ounce of information today. My spirit is too preoccupied by my mother's faith. I've only thought about going to the hospital. Jackson told me he'd pick me up after class.

"So… Five minutes left," declares the professor. "We're going to note the homework. On Monday the 30th…"

Yugyeom turns to me with a panicked look on his face. What? I probably missed something. 

"You'll present your group projects we talked about!"

A group project. I hate group projects. I hope we can at least choose partners, as Yugyeom is my only friend. But of course, the teacher announces that he'll assign us someone the next day. I only have a little chance of being with my only friend. Jesus… What if I end up with a snob rich kid, like for example everyone in this damn school? This thing is already stressful enough. 

But when ringbell is heard, I get myself together and remember my mother. Jackson will be in front of the school at any moment. I should hurry and leave Yugyeom behind. He'll understand, I'm sure. My mother, she can't wait.

When I quickly leave the classroom, I hear him calling me but I ignore him and rush out of the school. I see Jackson's expensive looking car in front of the building, drawing the attention of other students. Hell yeah, they must be surprised to see me, a simple poor person, get into that car. But I recall: it's not the time to brag. 

"Hey Kun!" Jackson greets me as I get in. "How are you?"

"Eh, just like someone whose mother is in the hospital," I answer before realising my insolence. 

"Ah, um… sorry. So! Let's go! Ms Bhu is waiting for us!"

I look out the window and see Yugyeom leave the school with a bovin look. He sees me in the car with Jackson, I'm sure, because he looks at funny, but it makes me smile. 

"So, how's school? You're in ninth grade, right?" he asks. (A.N: I don't know any other scholar system than the swiss one, so imagine it's the same in Hong Kong and Switzerland… This might be a little hard to understand D:)

I chuckle lightly. Do I really look 12?

"Oh? ninth graders are 12? Sorry, I don't really know this new system, haha!" apologizes Jackson.

"I- I said that out loud? Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude…"

"What, no! It's alright dude! Stop apologizing all the time!"

I think I'm blushing… Maybe I'm 12, after all…

"I'm actually an eleventh grader, by the way," I say to change the subject after an awkward silence.

Well, it was awkard for me. Jackson doesn't look nervous. He's always so full of energy.

"We're there!" he exclaims after a while.

He goes out first and opens the door for me, like a gentleman. I quickly get out and he understands I'm a bit in a rush, so he follows me in the building. When we arrive in front of my mother's bed, she's awake and smiles at me. Jackson is almost shyly hiding behind me—is it reverse day?—and I rush towards her. 

"Mom! You're okay?" I ask her, holding back a tear.

"Oh, yes. You know your old mother is way stronger than she looks. It was only a little !" she reassures me.

My eyes widen. 

"You had a heart attack?" I ask her with a cracked voice.

"Oh well… You know, nowadays, those things happen all the time," she answers a bit embarrassed.

"No! no, mother, you need to be careful… I won't let you overwork again."

I turn to Jackso, who's leaning behind me, without talking (for once).

"Jackson, would that be a problem for your parents if she worked less?" I ask him.

He has a lost expression and mutters something without answering my question.

"Please? You'll talk to them?" I try to ask cutely.

"Ah, yeah, of course!" he eventually exclaims. "Haha…"

"Don't worry about me, boys! I'm still only 45!" my mother comments with a tired voice.

"That's not—anyway," I say.

I smile to her and she takes me in her arms warmly. Then, she whispers something to my ear…

"Jackson is a lucky man!" 

I step back in shock. Ah! how could she say such a thing? I feel myself blushing again like the main character from a shôjo manga and I don't even dare to look at Jackson. My mother is a big fan of romantic novels and everywhere we go, she always ships people. But I didn't expect that!

"You okay?" Jackson asks, seeing I'm embarrassed.

"Oh? yeah!"

I hear the door open and a nurse appears in the room. 

"Visits are over, get out of here!"

After I say goodbye to my mother, we get out of the room and back to the car. Once we're inside it, he tells me that whenever I want to see her, I can ask him to take me there. 

"Thanks…"

He's… really nice.

Mark's POV

Arya has invited the three of us over tonight, as usual—she really likes sleepovers—and I'm going, because at least I can escape my parents, even if I have to parade in a dress in front of the girls. Speaking of my parents, I'm having dinner with them right now. It's pretty quiet, as always; we aren't very talkative in this family. 

"Honey," finally says my mother, "are you ready for Selma's wedding?"

"Of course he is," answers my dad for me without even looking up from his plate. 

He's really good at making everything awkward. My mother looks down, and sometimes I suspect she's a bit scared of him. Who wouldn't be? 

"I'm going out tonight," I announce suddenly.

"With a girl?" immediately asks my father who finally decides to look up.

"Hum… yeah?" I reply even though I know what he meant.

"Good."
 

* * *

At Arya's place, the girls are already there and I hear them gossip and laugh. When I get in without even knocking—we're that close—, I can feel their meerkat gazes staring at me. They are ready. I am ready too. Ready to face my fate.

"Mark!" calls Suzy who's now standing up. "We have a selection of dresses we'd like you to try."

"That sounds nice," I reply with a smile.

Then, they proceed to dress me up like a mannequin and to turn me around to see what I look like better. I have to admit, this dress suits me pretty well…

Jackson's POV

Ah, he's so cute. I can't ignore it. What kind of monster wouldn't find him cute? (A.N: Wait wait wait this sounds creepy why did I write this. I didn't realize at the time their age difference could be a problem, since Bambam in this story is 16 and Jackson is three years older than him. I'm sorry if I offended anyone, I wrote this a long time ago and what I'm posting on here are all translations. Should I suddenly change their age and put the real ones?) Satan himself, probably. 

"So, um…," I say. "The wedding's soon, huh?"

"Yeah, I mean, it's kind of tomorrow," shyly answers Kun. 

"TOMORROW?!"

I turn to him and almost lose control of the car, just like in movies, but, upon seeing the passenger all panicked, I get myself together. 

"Y-Yes! Tomorrow!" confirms Kun with fear in his eyes. "Jackson, please look at the road!"

"Oh! yeah, sorry!" I apologize immediately. "Looks like they give away licenses to anyone, huh? Haha!"

Jesus… I'm out of control. But this "tomorrow" thing makes me worry. I thought the wedding was in, like, a month! 

After a little while on the road, we finally arrive in front of the house, ans suddenly, our roles come back to our minds.

"Who will take care of the house while my mom is at the hospital?" asks Kun while getting out of the car.

"Oh, we'll figure it out, don't you worry! So, um… You're coming to the wedding or what?" I nervously ask.

Nervously. Me, Jackson Wang. Shame on me.

"I don't know if I'm even invited," he answers. "Why would I be there? Selma never liked me."

I friendlily tap his shoulder to comfort him. It's true that this is rude to him every time she sees Kun, but I also know that Viviane wants as much guests as she can get, to show her family's fame among our circle of acquaintances.

"Well, we can bring somebody, you know…," I say hesitantly. "So, I'm taking you…"

"What? But—"

"Hep hep hep! You need to think of something else, so no excuses."

I don't know what I'm expecting, and I don't know why I want to go to a wedding with Kun, but I know my parents aren't going to stop me, so why not? Besides, if this can shock some rich snob people, then I say yes.

Bambam's POV

I'm kind of nervous about this wedding, because I'm going to have to confront all those snob looks on me and also because I'm going with Jackson, and, to be honest, things are weird these days between us… Anyway, my biggest concern is of course the fact that my mother is in the hospital at the moment and that she could—ah, I shouldn't think about it. Let's think of something else. Yes, let's think about the wedding with Jackson. I mean—ah, someone help me!

To "think of something else", I decide to take a little nap, but the room is cold and dark, and overall empty without my mother's presence, which makes me uncomfortable. I feel my phone underneath my pillow vibrate. I forgot it was even there. I check what's happening, and I'm not surprised to see a message from Yugyeom: "Dude, why did you leave without me? You're not angry, right?" I laugh softly at his sensitivity and decide to call him, because I need something to do and hearing the voice of a friend could help me.

"Hello?" he asks as soon as he picks up. "Pimook? Is that really you?!"

"Um, yeah, who else?" I answer.

"Listen, I-I don't know what I did to hurt you, but I want you to know that I am so sorry and—"

"Yugyeom, I'm not mad at you. My mother needed me, so I had to hurry…"

"Oh… So… You… We're still BFFs?" he asks with a weak voice.

"Of course you silly!" 

We talk for a little while, until the door of my room is opened. I sit up like a meerkat immediately, with my phone still on my ear. Of course, Jackson appears like a ghost. I catch myself letting out a little surprise scream. 

"You're okay?" asks Yugyeom who heard it.

"Um… Yeah, it's just Jackson. I'll call you, okay?" I reply, troubled.

After hanging up, I keep an eye on Jackson who approaches my bed, before sitting down with me, like I am a patient he came to visit. 

"Sorry I'm disturbing you," he apologizes, scratching the back of his head.

"It's okay. You… need something?" I ask as shyly as always.

"Yes! I mean, no, I just wanted to check on you. I mean it must be hard to be separated from your mother like that… If it were me, I would have appreciated to have someone to support me, you know?"

I nod and smile softly. He's really kind, you wouldn't think he's even sillier than me. (T. N: There's no real translation for this word. Maybe simpleton?)

"Anyway, I don't want to bother you for long… I just wanted you to know that if you need someone… Jackson's here! Oh! and I told the school you wouldn't be there tomorrow, because of the wedding. Good night!" he says before exiting the room.

"Good night…"

It's indeed pretty late. Seems like I won't be there to see who's my partner for the group project tomorrow.

* * *

A.N: Sorry for taking so long to update, it's just that translating isn't as fun as writing! I'll try to speed up a bit though! Bisous~