even the unknowns ; chenji

bon voyage

chenle

For their big bon voyage, Grandma and Nanny Park made a goodbye banner. Like, a literal banner. Half of it goes slack as Grandma yanks Jisung into a hug so aggressive that his bones audibly pop.

"My darling," she says. "I've been so happy with you here! Text as soon as you get back. Are you sure you had enough to eat?"

"I definitely had enough. I didn't really have a choice."

"That's what happens when you step into my house looking like a broomstick! You were so fat when you were a baby, I don't know what went wrong!"

"It's like he's a vampire," says Chenle.

Jisung clamps down on a smile and smacks Chenle's arm. He doesn't get a chance to retaliate — Grandma drags him into an equally forceful hug.

"My brave Chenle," she says. "What will you do now?"

"I think I'll just... hang out for a while. Follow Jisung around."

"How the times change. You're the one who used to march around with Jisung like a little puppy on your heels." She pulls back to pinch his cheeks. "Good. Change is good. Come back soon — in the summer next time! You've both got to work on your constitutions."

They're wearing scarves this morning. For reasons. "You're right. Thank you for taking care of us, Grandma."

Her eyes go misty. "Oh, just leave before you break my heart!"

She basically shoves him toward Nanny Park. The other side of the banner comes down. Her flannel shirt smells like sawdust, vanilla and weed.

"Ready to go home?" she asks.

Chenle makes a vague kind of sound. Because yes, he can't wait to schlub around in sweats and curse freely again. But an inescapable shit show is waiting for him, now doubly alarming because he's had his phone on airplane mode since last night. It's like the calm before the storm, or the light show before an asteroid ends all of humankind. No big deal.

"Sure," he says. "Looking forward to coming back though."

"Good. We'll get reacquainted. Oh, and these are for you two."

She plops a box full of Tupperware and plastic baggies into his arms, then another into Jisung's. Food. So much food.

They heft the boxes — and their backpacks, and a pointedly silent Nibbles in her kennel — from the front entrance to Chenle's car. They turn to wave, and the grandmas wave back, then disappear inside the building with their arms linked.

"Let's be like them one day," says Jisung.

"Deal," says Chenle.

Nibbles clears her throat from the backseat. "I beg your pardon. Evidently my imprisonment is of little import to you."

"Sorry," Jisung says. "Grandma was worried about you being left behind. The kennel was the only option."

"I could have done without the game of chase."

"We only chased you because you ran away."

"Yes, whatever. Let me out now."

Chenle leans on the car door. "Yeah, nah. Think we'll keep you in there a bit longer."

"Do not antagonize me, Zhong Chenle, I have only just learned to tolerate you."

"Okay, okay." Jisung reaches in to jiggle the latch. "You're free as a bird."

"I resent your simile. But thank you." She steps out and stretches herself over the seats.

"Mother!"

The kittens — well, cats, now that Chenle really looks at them — leap down from a tree to the pavement. Nibbles jumps out and stands in front of them, a little too tall, a little too stoic.

"This means farewell, offspring," she announces.

"We have something for you, Mother," says Yoon. "A parting gift."

Jiji steps forward and sets a mangled bird at Nibbles' feet.

Her voice swells with pride. "Thank you. I have a gift for you as well. Jisung, would you empty your pocket?"

Jisung puts his hand in his pocket and yanks it back out again, hurling his jacket onto the pavement. "Holy shit — you put a dead freaking bird in my pocket?"

"It would have been confiscated otherwise. Don't be so squeamish." She worms into his pocket, drags out another snarl of feathers and presents it to the kittens.

"We thank you much, Mother. Will you visit?" Scion looks up at Jisung and Chenle. "All of you?"

"If these two will so kindly deliver me," Nibbles replies, "of course. For now, it's time I return to my home, and you remain in yours."

"We will miss you, Mother. Life will be different without you."

Nibbles draws herself up, though her tail has gone totally limp. When she speaks, her voice is thick. Emotional.

"You will be my kittens long after I leave this place. For that I am eternally grateful."

She goes about grooming them for a while. Chenle and Jisung stand by, giving them a bit of privacy. Chenle takes Jisung's hand. (He's been doing that more. Whenever he wants to. Which is a lot.)

Jisung smiles at him. "Okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

Once the kittens have cleared the way, sat themselves on the curb, they get into the car and pull out onto the street. Nibbles is perched on the console between them.

Jisung elbows her gently. "Okay?"

She seems to consider it. Takes one last look back at the parking lot. She nods. "Yes. Indeed. Onward, younglings. We shall move onward."

Chenle rolls down his window as they turn onto the highway, taking a deep breath, letting the wind fill his chest. They'll move onward, and it's terrifying but it's awesome, because here he is, holding Jisung's hand, and suddenly even the unknowns are beautiful.

end of book three~
thank you for reading!
and look out for book four.....
bye!