Warm Mornings
831 Words
CHAPTER 20
(Kai’s POV)
Kai woke up slowly to silence.
For a second—
He forgot what happened last night.
Then the memory returned immediately.
The office.
His father’s voice.
The disappointment.
Kai quietly stared at the ceiling above his bed while exhaustion still lingered heavily in his body.
His arm still hurt slightly.
But honestly—
The emptiness inside his chest hurt more.
Slowly, Kai sat up from the bed and glanced toward the clock beside him.
Early morning.
The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
Carefully, Kai stepped out of his room and walked downstairs.
And immediately—
A maid greeted him softly.
“Your father already left for work, Young Master.”
Kai froze slightly.
Then unexpectedly—
Relief washed through him instantly.
Gone.
His father was already gone.
Kai quietly lowered his gaze.
“…I see.”
The tightness in his chest loosened slightly for the first time since yesterday.
No shouting.
No criticism.
No cold stares this morning.
Just silence.
Peaceful silence.
And suddenly—
Kai knew exactly what he wanted to do.
Cook.
The thought appeared naturally.
Like breathing.
Cooking always calmed him.
It always made him feel lighter somehow.
Even if he had to hide it.
Kai quietly walked toward the massive kitchen at the back of the mansion.
The moment he opened the doors—
Warm sunlight spilled across the counters beautifully.
And someone was already there.
His mother.
Kai blinked.
Mrs. Hyung stood near the counter wearing a soft cream cardigan while preparing ingredients quietly.
Then she noticed him.
And immediately smiled warmly.
“There you are.”
Kai froze slightly.
That smile alone already made something inside him feel lighter.
“…Mom.”
“Good morning.”
Her voice sounded gentle.
Safe.
Completely different from his father’s sharp coldness.
Kai quietly stepped inside the kitchen while his mother carefully studied his face.
Then her expression softened slightly.
“You didn’t sleep well again.”
Kai looked away automatically.
“…I’m fine.”
His mother sighed softly.
That answer again.
She walked closer before gently brushing his messy hair back carefully like she used to when he was younger.
“You don’t have to pretend in front of me,” she whispered softly.
Kai’s chest tightened painfully.
Because somehow—
Those words almost made him cry again.
His mother noticed the faint bruising along his arm immediately.
Her expression fell.
“…He got angry again?”
Silence.
Kai hated this part.
He hated seeing sadness appear in his mother’s eyes because of him.
“…It’s fine,” he answered quietly.
But she already understood anyway.
She always did.
His mother gently held his hand for a second before smiling softly again.
“…Help me cook?”
Kai blinked.
Then quietly—
“…Really?”
“Of course.”
And just like that—
The heaviness inside him eased slightly.
Cooking with his mother always felt different.
Warm.
Comfortable.
Peaceful.
Like the kitchen became its own little world away from everything painful.
Soon, soft music quietly played from the speakers while sunlight filled the kitchen warmly.
Kai carefully tied an apron around himself while his mother handed him ingredients with a smile.
“Can you prepare the strawberries?”
Kai nodded immediately.
“…Okay.”
For the next hour—
Everything felt calm.
His mother hummed softly while mixing batter.
Kai carefully decorated pastries beside her.
The smell of vanilla, butter, and fresh bread slowly filled the kitchen beautifully.
And for once—
Kai felt happy.
Real happy.
Not forced.
Not temporary.
Just… comfortable.
“You cut them too neatly again,” his mother teased softly while watching him arrange strawberries perfectly.
Kai blinked.
“…Is that bad?”
“It’s cute.”
“…Mom.”
She laughed gently.
The sound immediately warmed his chest.
Kai quietly glanced toward her while continuing to bake.
His mother always smiled like sunlight.
Soft.
Patient.
Kind.
Completely opposite from his father.
Sometimes Kai wondered how two people so different could even love each other.
Then suddenly—
His mother carefully placed a warm pastry onto a plate before sliding it toward him.
“Taste test.”
Kai blinked slightly.
“…Already?”
“Mhm.”
He carefully took one bite.
Sweet.
Warm.
Comforting.
And suddenly—
Kai realized something painful.
This kitchen felt more like home than the rest of the mansion ever did.
His mother smiled after noticing his expression.
“Well?”
Kai looked down quietly at the pastry in his hands.
Then softly—
“…It’s good.”
But honestly?
What really felt good—
Was being here with her.
No pressure.
No expectations.
No fear.
Just warmth.
His mother gently touched his hair again while smiling softly.
“You smile more when you cook.”
Kai froze slightly.
Because he didn’t even realize he was smiling.
Then slowly—
A small real smile appeared again anyway.
And for the first time since yesterday—
Kai finally felt like he could breathe properly again.
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