“Oh how I missed my beautiful baby! Don’t worry, Mummy’s back and won’t be leaving you. Not in a million years.”

Mum was my bangs ever so gently and drawing circles softly on my forehead with her slender fingers.

I smiled and rolled around under the duvet, not wanting to wake up from this dream.

“Ew, her eye is half open! Who even sleeps like that?”

“Shhhh! You’re going to wake her up!”

I opened my eyes slowly as the Sunday morning sunshine hit my face.

These voices were so familiar and as I lifted my head up from my comfy pillow to see who they were, a large, grinning face jumped forward and invaded my eyes.

“Yah such a big face!” I screamed, pushing it away.

“Surprise!” I rubbed my eyes and saw a familiar blonde haired boy waving his hands from side to side.

I turned to the side and opened my eyes fully, grinning as I realised I wasn’t dreaming.

“Mummy! Oh my gosh, it’s not a dream!” I squealed as I instantly jumped into her arms. She hugged me back very tightly and kissed me all over my face.

“I’m so sorry I couldn’t come earlier!” Her voice was quivering and I held her head to my chest, we were embracing like we hadn’t seen each other for years, even though it had only been a month.

Just then, Jackson wrapped his arms dramatically around the both of us.

“Awwwww! All we need is Dad to make us a happy family! I’m going to cry!” Jackson slapped our arms lightly as he pretended to wail.

As much as I was pissed off that he came, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Ya Jackson, do my Dad and Uncles even know you’re in my room? Do you know what they would do to you?” I turned my head to him, still holding Mum. 

“Let them come! I am invincible, no one will defeat me!” Jackson was still playing around, even though I was being dead serious.

“Of course they know he’s here as well!” Mum laughed to me, she thought I was joking too.

“How and when did you guys even get here?”

“We landed in Korea hours ago and the first thing I did was rush here!” Mum pulled me back in for a hug, “Minnie, aren’t you eating properly? You’ve become so skinny, I can only feel bones!”

I chuckled, “Since when was I eating properly in London? They’ve all been stuffing me with food every chance they get!”

Mum tried to laugh, but I instantly knew she was faking it as she changed the subject.

“Well whatever the case, I am here to stay! Ruiji and I have decided to get married in Seoul and instead of being thirteen hours away; I’ll only be a couple of hours from you!” She explained with joy.

I turned to Jackson who was now exploring my room as we exchanged awkward smiles.

“Oh, that’s nice,” I tried to be supportive as I was plaiting my hair back, still sitting in my bed.

“We have so much shopping to do! You’re going to be my bridesmaid and Jackson will be the best man! Oh this will be exciting! We’re hoping for a summer wedding, all of Ruiji’s family can easily come from China that way,” Mum jumped up in excitement as I sighed.

“School’s fine, thanks for asking,” I said with frustration.

Did she just come to my Dad’s house to talk about her new marriage?

I wasn’t even surprised to be honest, this was typical Mum. She was always lost in her own glamorous world to give two bollocks about me.

She immediately sat down next to me and I felt a weight from the foot of my bed as Jackson too sat down, noticing the annoyance in my voice.

“I’m sorry hun, how is everything? You must’ve made loads of friends, Jackson told us about the car incident, and it was terrible!”

I glared at Jackson who was sniggering, when I remembered he was signed under JYP Entertainment.

“Ya, Jackson! How is your training going?”

He had a blank expression as he came closer to me, bending his head.

“Don’t even ask me about it, it's such a mess. I couldn’t stop crying for weeks!”

I was about to feel sorry for him when Mum interrupted my thoughts.

“He’s lying, it's going great! They loved his dancing and rapping skills so much that they’ve given him a proper contract!” Mum laughed as Jackson shouted in exasperation.

“You little liar, that’s so daebak! Woah, so you’re going to be a kpop star, eh?” I elbowed him playfully.

“Daebak? Oh gosh, you’ve become so Korean in such little time,” Mum sighed as though it was a bad thing.

“Mum, please don’t ruin my mood so early. I need to wash up, what’s the time and where’s everyone else?” I stretched, got up out of my soft bed and checked my phone.

 It was nearly 11am, everyone would be awake by now.

“Why are you asking about them? They’re obviously in the house because it’s theirs,” Mum replied with annoyance.

“Who let you in? Are you sure they know Jackson is here too? Halmeouni wouldn’t approve of him being here you know,” I informed them as I went in my en suite bathroom.

I heard Jackson laugh as Mum stood behind me.

“Your Dad let us in actually, and he’s already met Jackson. I’m glad that you’re happy, but it seems as though you don’t want us here?” She asked with a hint of sadness in her voice, leaning against my door.

“It’s not that, it’s just things are different now,” I replied, now brushing my teeth.

“I heard that you have a boyfriend?” Mum asked all of a sudden as I choked in surprise.

I spat out the toothpaste, “What? Who told you that?”

She chuckled, “It must be that little boy you were close to all those years ago, right? And you aren’t doing a good job of hiding it, no one wears any old necklace to sleep.”

I put my hand on my chest and realised I was still wearing Taehyung’s necklace.

I rinsed my mouth and looked at her through the mirror.

“It’s none of your business,” I regretted it before it even came out of my mouth.

She looked taken aback and shocked at my sudden coldness.

I sighed and turned to her, “I’m sorry Mum. I’ve just been really stressed lately with coursework and school pressure. I’m taking it out on you when I shouldn’t.”

She didn’t say anything but nodded and pecked my forehead as Dad had just come in.

“Good morning Minnie, or should I say good afternoon!”

He beamed to Jackson and Mum, “Lunch is ready, and you mustn’t leave without eating. It’s not me saying it, Mum and Dad want you both to stay. It’s an order.”

They exchanged smiles as Dad put his hand on Jackson’s shoulder, “Come and help us lay the table, young man.”

Jackson immediately turned to me, mouthing ‘help’ as I chuckled and looked back at Mum who smiled and left the room as well.

I was definitely missing something, Halmeouni was being very hospitable to Mum even though she was divorced from Dad. If anything, it was shameful and dishonourable to even have her in our house.

I decided not to over think it as I took a hot shower and jumped back on my bed to check my social networking sites.

Just then, a no caller ID started ringing.

“Hello?” I said as I picked up.

The person at the other end was silent and a couple of seconds later, I heard heavy breathing.

“Hello? Who is it?” I asked again.

Again there was nothing, just deep breathing.

“Answer me, who is it?”

They cut the line.

That was so strange, who was ringing me on a no caller ID and not saying anything? Hardly anyone had my Korean number.

I knew it wasn’t Taehyung because he was still fast asleep. Even though he must’ve been knackered from the talent show last night, he still completed his night shift and called me from the supermarket at 1am and told me he’d get home early this morning.

It was probably a stupid prank call, or wrong number.

The day went really slowly as I joined everyone for lunch. Uncle Hwijae and the twin uncles had prepared a Korean BBQ with the family grill they had just bought as Jackson started playing with Seoeon and Seojun.

I was shocked to find out that Halmeouni wanted to apologise to Mum in front of everyone for the years that she was cold to her. Halmeouni also took a liking to Jackson, calling him a genuine and handsome young boy as I rolled my eyes.

I knew Halmeouni was doing this just in case she was worried that she’d fall very ill soon and not get a chance to rectify any mistakes she thought she’d made in her life.

God forbid anything happen to her though.

Halmeouni and Aunt Jeong then asked Mum to stay with them for the whole day and I nodded in agreement too, so Mum couldn’t refuse.

Neither me nor Jackson knew what was going on, or the true meaning as to how they could be so nice to her at such short notice, so we went to the balcony and started chatting to kill time whilst looking on to the beautiful view of the mountains.

Eonni had already left for Seoul and I knew she’d be extremely busy, so I didn’t bother messaging or calling her.

Later on, all of the men including Dad went to Daegu city for some political business and Jackson hadn’t anything to do, so he decided to disturb me in my room.

I desperately wanted to finish the written part of the citizenship project by tomorrow, so I’d have time to do my other coursework’s, but Jackson was lying on my bed, laughing loudly at random YouTube videos and jumping up to show me them every now and then.

Before I erupted from frustration, Aunt Jeong came in and saved the day.

“Minnie we need help making the kimchi, there’s too much to do for the three of us.”

“Aunt Jeong, I really need to complete my school work, it’s due for tomorrow!” I whined at her.

Jackson was still sniggering at the videos, so I threw my pen at him, but it bounced off my headboard.

“Get him to do it! Halmeouni likes him anyway, so they will have a chance to bond,” I replied as Aunt Jeong laughed.

“Okay come on then, we’ll need a strong pair of arms to cut the cabbage and carry the boxes of kimchi once we’re done.”

Jackson turned to me for help, “Why are you guys even making so much kimchi at home?”

“Our kimchi has always been famous all over town and because its electoral season, Halmeouni specially makes loads of it and bribes the other grandmothers to persuade their children and grandchildren to vote our party. It’s a clever plan to win many generations over,” I explained, but couldn’t stop laughing at Jackson’s worried face.

“But, I’m not even Korean!” Jackson complained.

“Ya, you want to be a kpop star, so this will help your discipline. Up you get, you shouldn’t refuse your elders,” Aunt Jeong sternly said as Jackson got up and trudged to the door, giving me evil stares on his way out.

I stuck my tongue out and he hurled a nearby paper at me, but it flew and landed inches in front of him.

“You’re such a fail,” I laughed as he shrieked and slammed the door behind him.

I emptied out my s