Chapter twelve(12)
828 Words
Chapter 12
After leaving the bus station, his mom ordered a ride to take them home.
The ride was quiet.
Hyun-woo sat by the window, watching the familiar streets pass by. He hadn’t been home in a long time, and although he tried not to think too much about it, a small sense of comfort settled in his chest.
The moment the car stopped in front of their house, Hyun-woo stepped out and stood still for a second, taking in the familiar sight of home.
The small house looked exactly as he remembered it—the old wooden windows, the flower pots his mother always insisted on keeping by the entrance, and the little bench beneath the mango tree.
He let out a quiet breath.
It’s been a long time.
His mom walked around the car and looked at him carefully.
“You’ve lost weight.”
Hyun-woo chuckled.
“Mom, it’s school stress.”
She frowned slightly before reaching for his bag.
“Mom, I can carry it.”
“With this hand?” She glanced at his injured hand. “You shouldn’t be carrying heavy things with it.”
“But—”
His mom gave him a warning look.
Hyun-woo immediately stopped arguing.
“Okay.”
She smiled in satisfaction before they both walked into the house.
The familiar smell of home-cooked food immediately filled the room.
Hyun-woo looked toward the kitchen.
“You’ve been cooking?”
She nodded.
“I started before I left to pick you up. You know I’m not letting you come home without eating a warm, homemade meal.”
A smile spread across his face.
“I missed your food.”
He pulled her into a hug.
“Let me help you finish up.”
“No need. Go and freshen up and get some rest. I’ll just make the rice, and dinner will be ready.”
“If you insist…”
He yawned.
“I’m tired anyway.”
His mother smiled.
“Go.”
⸻
A few minutes later, dinner was ready.
Hyun-woo was already seated at the table when his mother brought out a large bowl of rice and placed it in front of him.
“Here. Eat.”
He stared at the portion.
“Mom…”
“Eat.”
“This is too much.”
“It isn’t. You’re a basketball player. You use a lot of energy when you play.”
She placed a piece of meat into his bowl.
“And I know you don’t eat properly at school, so allow me to use this opportunity to feed you well.”
Hyun-woo sighed before picking up his spoon.
“Yes, ma’am.”
Just then, the front door opened.
His father walked into the house still wearing his work uniform.
“Is Hyun-woo back yet?”
He asked as soon as he stepped inside.
“Dad.”
Hyun-woo immediately stood up to greet him.
“Welcome home.”
His father smiled before walking toward the bathroom to wash his hands.
“How is your hand?”
“It’s getting better.”
His father nodded and returned to the dining area.
“How is school?”
“School is fine.”
“Fine?” His mum asked
Hyun-woo looked at her
“Yes.”
His mother raised an eyebrow.
“You went all the way to university and came back with only one word?”
Hyun-woo smiled and took a sip of water.
“Mom, you haven’t changed one bit.”
His mother frowned.
“What do you want me to say?”
Before she could answer, a familiar voice came from the doorway.
“She wants you to talk about the city, your friends, your classes, and everything else.”
Hyun-woo’s face immediately lit up.
“Hyung!”
His older brother walked into the house with a smile.
“Look at you. You’re a grown man now.”
“Anyone hearing you would think you’re older than me by fifteen or twenty years.”
Hyun-Soo joked.
Dong-ho laughed.
“Maybe I am.”
He pulled out a chair and sat down.
“So, how is school? And that your best friend… what’s his name again? Min-sung? Min—”
“Min-Seo.”
“Oh, yeah. Min-Seo. How is he?”
“He’s fine. He asked me to say hi to you.”
His brother nodded.
“Tell him I said hi too.”
Their mother looked at both boys.
“You two, come and sit down and eat before the food gets cold.”
The brothers finally sat down.
For a while, the dining room was filled with the sound of spoons against plates and the occasional laughter.
It felt peaceful.
It felt familiar.
Hyun-woo looked around the table and smiled.
After spending so much time away from home, he hadn’t realized how much he had missed moments like this.
After a while, he glanced toward the doorway.
“Where’s Nuna?”
His brother looked at him.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD