Chapter 04: Is it a bird or a plane?

5pm in the afternoon, the classes ended without much of a problem arising and ended on how it usually does. Also, it seems that the officials found out how the two students leaving the school grounds during their class through the CCTV placed throughout the school grounds after seeing their suspicious activity minutes after they leave the canteen.

The two troublemakers make their way through the road as they eat their favorite street foods, fish ball and kikiam with special sauce.

"Ain, will there be a shooting star event later? I think it's been three months since that event, right?"

"I think so since I heard that this might be the biggest shooting star event throughout history and many would anticipate how it escalated. Around eleven pm or twelve midnight is when it starts said by the reports."

Cain jumps at excitement after all he predicts that he would be able to see it this time because the reporter this morning just said that the weather will be clear and there is only a low percent that today would rain.

"Well, it's not like my problem and it's too troublesome to think such a thing since the exam is nearing."

"Shut up your mouth since I'm sure you would not study seeing your behavior and attitude, you lazy bum."

Out of embarrassment he unconsciously slaps his back, slightly hard since you could hear some sound of cracks after he slap him.

As they venture towards the vendor street cart Ain and Cain foresaw a group of girls heading towards them.

Although both of them are strangers to each other, Ain strangely blushes as he stares at a certain girl, laughing in the middle as they march to the street cart.

"Ohh it seems that the little boy now has a crush so, who is the one that makes you blush like that?"

He said as he laughs joyfully in front of Ain, though he didn't answer his question he immediately notices that he keeps staring at a certain girl positively chatting with her friends thus, seeing through his dear friend easily.

"You are really easy to read since it's exactly written on your face. Should we approach her, she seems approachable."

"N-No, I think she is busy right now." Said by he whilst trembling in embarrassment.

Ain tried to escape from the scene however the obstinate friend of his was about to tease him and immediately shouts that he has a crush on the girl in the middle, making jump out of shook and hastily covering his mouth with his greasy hand.

Thank goodness for Ain that she doesn't seem to notice them, making look relive and sigh for a brief moment.

He then dragged his friend, Cain out of the street cart whilst doing a little scene while doing so, many customers look at them strangely and might be thinking what they are doing in the middle of the street.

Embarrassed, they hasten their pace and reach a somewhat secluded road. Houses filled it left and right. Although it was quiet it didn't freak them out as they are very familiar in this neighborhood.

"Ain, what is there to be embarrassed for when you just have to confess your feelings. So why are you so shy about it?"

"It's not like you would understand me... Well it doesn't even matter anymore since I will soon join the military for the next three months."

"Oh, I forgot about that. So it's about time, right. Did you by any chance be approved and get permitted to go there? Also Ain, what is wrong with you it is not like you need it since you are a good grade and friendly and Dimwit."

"So,what's the point of joining when you could just go with a normal way like ROTC or do have any reason to join. "

Silent descends. The two teenagers wearing their school uniform stays at still, staring each momentarily. Cain ceases his step and asks him if it is related to his family problems, which he claims that it's unrelated to that and this has nothing to do with that.

He understands that he needs to pry anymore about it but, he knows Ain doesn't have any choice since their voice is more important than his.

"Does it bother you?" He muttered while staring at the floor.

"Of course, how could I overlook it when my brother is acting like this throughout the whole time."

This makes him smile a bit for the moment since he truly has someone to lean on. A brother who would be there when he is down.

With gloomy eyes they look up at the end of daylight whilst stopping their pace.

They stared... and stared at it from the beginning till its end, both of them didn't speak a bit and let the day finish.

"It is beautiful right? the world has changed by a lot since shooting stars became prominent or whatever it is called, I did not know if it was a sign of ominous..."

he states while looking at the vast sky. stretching his hand he then continues to speak to his friend with low pitch and encouraging tone.

"But, all I know is that this world is much more pretty and free like those birds, they are liberating joyfully while seeing the red dyed clouds. What a truly wonderful world we live in, we are not supposed to be tied and fly like those birds, don't you think, Ain?"

"All of a sudden?" Ain interapted him with a surprise expression.

"So, I want to flock your wings like them and shout whatever is bothering you since you are making me quite distressed.

Another silence prevails between them. Both of them are awkward as to what he has been spitting.

"What the hell are you saying, so cringe. oughh." Ain spots his cheesy comment with disgust and disbelief.

but all in all, they both agree and wish that what he says will come true however since they live in a society, it might just be a wishful dream.

Without a way to deal with the awkwardness they decide to split there and head home early as they have a class tomorrow morning.

After Cain said goodbye to his friend he ponders on what exactly happened to him, though he had already a gist on it he is still concerned about him as a friend.

Blankly walking to his home as he persists to overthink about the situation Ain is right now, not realizing he already passed through his house.

"What I've been doing now, it is not like it's my problem so why would i overthink about it since it is out of my boundaries and just another burden for me."

He enters through the door after he leaves his shoes on the cabinet and hastily goes to the sofa where he meets his mother sitting there watching her favorite tv show, the famous Korean variety show running man as she tidy their clothes.

Cain was about to greet her mother however she cut him off at the same time getting a hanger from the clothes she is currently tidying.

"I heard that you cut your class today from your adviser, is it true?"

Although she didn't sound that much mad, Cain instinctively realized that something was wrong and immediately fell on his knees to beg for forgiveness, however his mother has set her mind already and her resolve will not change regardless of what he does.

***

"Cain did you ever know what kind of work we do to just earn some handful of money to get you the school you want and this is what you pay for us?"

Cain can't answer her questions and remained silent for the whole time.

After the mother and son communicate at the sofa, Cain receives another earful nagging which of course, just disregards him and instantly forgets about it.

But, regardless of what he did he knows that it was a disappointing action for his parents since they work so hard that his father rarely goes home.

He also knows that he is a dirt bag and a burden on this household that he questions them why they are still keeping him here in their family.

Cain just guesses that they pity him or it's just the motherly love is just overflowing that they can't leave him alone.

"Although it's probably my mistake but why do you keep expecting me to do something I can't even put my shoes there. It's not that you anticipate that I would be able to join that honor student." he mutters quietly as he was badmouthing his parents.

he seems to grown some backbone since his parents didn't punish him that much and just do it mostly with verbal warnings as they didn't want their child to experience what situation they are in the past however, this also results an improper attitude and disrespect towards them.

It takes some time for him to say what he truly wanted to voice out and relax his temper for a bit. Since it has been a hectic day for him he decided to just breathe his temper while his mother prepares their dinner quietly in the kitchen.

Thirty minutes later his father arrives at what it is typically scheduled for since he leaves the office at the range one to two in the morning before sunrise and that is when they are on a holiday, which is a very unusual event for them.

Despite the fact that he also brings back his research to home they are still satisfied with the fact that he is home and that is all that matters for now.

Around seven quarter, Cain and his family meet up on the dinner room whilst changing the channel of the television to news channel to see what are the events that happen or what is the weather for tomorrow morning.

"What's wrong with you two, did you fight earlier?" Cain's dad said nonchalantly while holding an old newspaper.

His mother on the other hand said in monotone that her son was caught sneaking out with his best friend to play some games at the computer shop

Cain tried to retaliate by saying that the security is so loose that anyone could sneak like him if someone put their mind on it like he did.

Thus, he thinks someone too cut the class after they left the school grounds so there is no need to push entirely the blame on him.

After even before he said this his mother was already at her limit, and with that push she stood up on the table and calmly excused herself before leaving the room.

"It looks like you really cross the line this time, huh?" said by his father as he slurps the noodles deliciously.

"I guess it is really on our genes to be like this, huh? Since I too, was like that however..." he pauses to wipe the dirt on the side of his mouth before continuing.

"how dare you waste our money for you to just slack off, did you really think that money is something you can just pick on the ground?"

His father states without stopping for a moment and continues to lecture him on the spot making him uncomfortable as the food he is eating feels like a sand, it is tasteless compared earlier that he wanted to leave the room but can't since he is still receiving a lot of nagging from his father.

At that time he truly wanted to leave as he still didn't fully recover on the previous scolding however, he can't since he will face something more terrible if he is going to leave thus, he listens to them till his ears bleed.

"Did you understand, Cain?"

"Yes, I understand it..." he hopelessly states to his father, tired form the nags he receive from today.

When they are about to finish their dinner the reporter says something that catches Cain's attention the most.

The topic about the optional for the additional training that is said will help gain additional points for college scholarship ability tests since it will determine if you would be able to advance to college or what university will you be attending, basically life and death situation since you have to put your life on the stakes to this.

Having this opportunity obviously a lot will take it granted and ask their parents to permit them, this confuses some of them since thus their perspective was split into three.

One of them thinks their child will eventually join the military as a reserve so what's the point of joining it early as their body might not be able to withstand the training and some believe that it is for the better of their child as it could affect their son dedication and control.

While some think that this is beneficial for application at the university they wanted to enroll in.

While some of them decide not to mandate much and let them think of it themselves.

"So, what do you think about this, I think it is very beneficial for you since you already fit your body and this might help you work out more."

"Dad I probably don't need to join this since I would like to focus on the exam."

"Is that so but, are you sure you won't regret it. I will give you time to think about it so make sure to make a decision by next week since that is the last free time I have this month."

Cain nodded silently and continued to finish his meal. While heading to go his room his dad states that he should make up his decision now since he would not be able to return for a while and he might lose his chance to join.

He heads to his room on a slow pace, thinking what would he do now. Looking at from the balcony his quiet neighborhood, a buzzling city with countless honk of cars at the vicinity.

It looks exuberant yet, why does he feel melancholy whereas he has supposed to be having fun with his friend, chatting with him all night, going back at home late, and getting an earful by his mother since he violeted the curfew and then repeat it again.

"Wait, why did I even worry about him when I just met him 2 months ago, and why did I even think about joining that when there is no benefit for me there."

His heart skips a beat as he remains standing on his current position. As if the time slows down for a moment and tingling sensation tickles him, goosebumps is all he feels.

however this will just be his feelings since he had been with him for a bit of time and he enjoys accompanying him as he is a friend and brother.

So, thinking about this makes him not to rush his choice but at the same time there is someone who is saying that it is not worth it and acts like he is a brother of Ain since he loathes him for some reason.

A lot of time has already passed yet he can't still decide what choice he will do so he just lets tomorrow him solve the problem for him and lazily lays down on his comfy bed whilst scorching on the feedback blankly.

Continuesly watching random videos about people dancing in front of a camera, doing strange and gross yet oddly entertaining him.

He continues to repeat the same action without caring about anything that happens to his environment and solely focusing his energy on himself.

A strange group of blazing light was seen not just far from his apartment, it is so shiny that in mere seconds the night looks like a day on the onlookers at the street

All of them were mesmerized by its beauty and momentarily forgets what they are doing and just continuously staring at the trail of that thing.

It's a memory that they would never forget in their lifetime as the beauty it showed slowly diminish onto the skies.