They arrived exactly on time. Excitement filled your whole being as soon as you saw them both walking out of the glass doors. Not noticing you immediately, you waved your hands up in the air and called them. The wide smiles that appeared on their faces made you feel incredibly happy. It was as if you were seven years old again and was rushing to your parents as they came home from work.   “How’ve you been, sweetheart?” Your mother asked as she hugged you. She looked at you with loving eyes and you planted a kiss on her cheek.   “I’m doing well, ma.” You smiled as she encased your face in her hands and continued to stare at you.   “It’s my turn now.” Your gentle-voiced father lightly extricated your mother’s hold on you and scooped you in a tight hug. Encircling your arms around his shoulders and burrowing your face on his neck, you felt like a child when he lifted you up. “My baby girl is back in Korea by herself.”   “I still can’t believe it, pa. And you haven’t been here in years as well!” He let you down then and then his eyes fell on Park Ji Ho standing a little bit behind you. His eyes widened as soon as he recognized the younger man.   “Ji Ho-yah!” He hugged Ji Ho who looked flustered. “How are you, my boy?”   “I’m okay, abeoji. Both you and eomeoni look like you haven’t aged at all.” Ji Ho grinned and your father patted his shoulder—seemingly more amused than ever. Your father had liked him ever since. It was because you were an only child and having Ji Ho close by when you were living in Seoul years ago made him warm up to the younger man very quickly.   “And you’ve grown up quite well.” Your mother said as she patted his cheek. “I remember how skinny you were before. Look at you now!”   “Thank you.” Ji Ho’s embarrassment was endearing and your mother fussed over him for a few moments after that.   Your father kept an arm around your shoulders as the four of you started walking. You carried your mother’s bag as Ji Ho insisted to wheel her luggage.   “I’m going to eat a lot. Don’t stop me.” Your father eyed your mother warily. She clucked her tongue in disbelief.   “Then don’t complain if you feel sick afterwards.” She replied and you chuckled.   Your parents had always been like that but they had been together for over two decades already. They had you when they graduated right after college. And they managed to become successful in achieving their goals. Your father was an anthropologist who traveled a lot to do research in linguistics. And your mother used to be an architect but pursued the academe a few years ago when your parents finally settled down in Vienna after years of living in different countries. They stayed in that city while you spent your young adult life in Cologne.   “How are the paintings?” You asked your mother as all of you finally got inside Ji Ho’s car. Your father sat in the passenger’s seat.   “We kept what you wanted to keep in our house. I’ve donated a lot and then the others are still up for sale. Have you been receiving money in your bank account?” You nodded your head. You were surprised to know that some people were interested in buying your artworks. Your mother had a friend who ran an online art shop and had some of your paintings up for sale. In the past month, you had received an ample amount of money in your account to help in setting up your life in Seoul.   “How’s work so far?” Your father asked and you went on to share stories the whole ride from Incheon to the city proper.   Having dinner with your parents would always be one of the things you treasured the most. Growing up, they always made you join in their conversation. If they were talking about work, they would ask about school and your friends. They would make you share about your progress in your art and music, and other things you were interested in. All the while, they kept their focus on you and always encouraged you to do what you liked. Maybe that was the reason why you never had an urge to rebel when you were younger. You realized that you were incredibly lucky for having such loving and supportive parents.   Your father kept to his word and ate a lot. That got him a scolding from your mother when you were making your way to the hotel. They were in their 40’s—still young… but your mother was starting to become health-conscious recently. Even when you were living away from them, she would often remind you to eat properly and to start learning cooking. When you raised that during dinner, your mother fawned over you like you were a toddler.   “My dear daughter is finally learning how to cook!”     You and Ji Ho made sure that your parents were checked in at their hotel in Samseong-dong before leaving. You would spend the whole weekend with them before they fly back to Vienna. They still had work and you as well. No matter how short their visit was, it was enough that they were there with you.   “Your parents are still the greatest.” Ji Ho said as he was driving on the highway. He kept smiling the whole time and you casually pinched his cheek. “It hurts!”   “Would you like to be adopted, you big puppy?” You grinned and Ji Ho looked at you from the corner of his eyes—his smile seemingly faltering.   “I’m not sure about that.”   He didn’t say anything for a while and kept his gaze on the road. When the silence became unbearable, you started talking about your plans with your parents for the weekend. Ji Ho suggested more places to visit and restaurants to eat at. He even offered to drive you all around but that was too much so you refused—knowing that your parents would love to experience commuting around Seoul again.   Once you’ve reached your apartment, Ji Ho cleared his throat and in a hesitant voice asked, “How was the Bigbang concert?”   You looked at him—a bit surprised that he would be curious about it. “It was fun. Why did you ask?”   “Well… I’m pretty sure G-Dragon or T.O.P had met with you already.” He chuckled but you could feel there was something off with his demeanor.   Trying to sound casual about it, you replied honestly. “GD invited me to the after-party and I got to meet a lot of artists there.”   Ji Ho’s eyes narrowed and his voice was suspicious when he asked, “Are you sure that’s it?”   What’s up with him?   “The next evening, Seungri invited me to his new club and I met his friends there.” You kept things general and Ji Ho didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Chuckling, you hit his arm. “Why are you so curious?”   Ji Ho rolled his eyes then. “We’re talking about Bigbang here.”   “And?”   “And? They’re famous!” he sputtered making you laugh out loud.   “Extremely rich as well.” You added and that seemed to annoy him even more. “Well, I haven’t been in contact with any of them in almost two weeks. They’re very busy people. I think they’re having a fan meeting in Macao this weekend.”   You hadn’t even thought of them while you were spending time with your parents earlier. Come to think of it, now that Ji Ho had mentioned them… the heaviness in your chest came back. You didn’t exactly have a good two weeks following the night Seung Hyun dropped you home. And you still had your pride not to be the first one to contact him. The only thing you could do was to busy yourself with work and learning how to cook. Your co-workers were all too glad when you would sometimes bring simple dishes you made. Distractions were important when you live alone.   “How did your meeting with Top go?” Ji Ho prodded and you eyed him. “What? I’m just really curious.”   “It was okay! We talked. That’s it.” You didn’t want to talk about it.   “Why are you getting angry? I’m just asking. Geez…” He pouted. “You’re so secretive.”   “It’s for the better.” You replied absentmindedly and then Ji Ho’s face became serious all of a sudden.   “So you’re really hiding something.” His voice deepened and his eyes bore into you. Strangely, you felt guilty—guilty for keeping things from him… the person who always stood by your side when you needed help and comfort. But then you felt uncomfortable talking about it at the moment.   “Drive safely.” You quickly hugged him and then exited his car.   That night, you couldn’t sleep as your mind conjured thoughts you were not yet ready to entertain.     “You should definitely buy this bed.” Your mother said as she assessed the queen-sized bed for the longest time.   It had been over an hour since you arrived in a furniture store. Your father had been roaming around on his own—probably busy looking at desks—and your mother had been adamant that you get furniture then and there and have these delivered to your apartment. The items were a bit pricey but you could see the quality of each was top-notch. And your mother had been raving about the functionality of the bed she chose because it had storage below it. When you knew you wouldn’t be able to argue with her when it came to this kind of thing, you found yourselves talking to the owner who was actually supervising the store at that time.   “I really do think everything’s expensive if I buy the bed, couch, and the dining set right now. I will be broke in the next few months.” You whispered to your mother nervously as the female owner led you to a small office behind the transparent glass walls.   “Pay for the couch. I’ll buy you the bed and your father will buy you the dining set.” Your mother replied and you sighed.   “You’re very lucky to have extremely generous parents.” The owner said as she sat behind her desk and pulled out documents. You noted that she was probably in her mid or late 30’s and looked graceful with her petite frame and shoulder-length black hair. Her face was sharp and angular but her kind eyes softened her features.   “I’m just worried she would continue to sleep on a futon and eat at the kitchen counter.” Your mother quipped and that made you blush.   “I’m actually planning to buy furniture even before you came here.”   “You’re lying.” She rolled her eyes and that made the owner chuckle in amusement.   Once your father entered the small office, your mother coaxed him to buy the dining set. And with slightly more force, your father relented. Documents were signed and three cards were swiped.   When you were about to leave, you saw something that made your heart stop for a second.   On a blank wall inside the small office, a medium-sized painting was displayed for curious eyes to see. You knew that piece… you had described it so thoughtfully in a hotel room in Tuscany. The chaotic black scribbles over subdued colors… as if a child made it.   “I think it’s great. It’s Choi Seung Hyun as a painting.”   “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” The woman asked and your attention went to her—your hands getting colder by the second and you felt your throat getting dry.   “It is. I—I recognize the artist.” You managed to say and her eyes widened in surprise.   “Really?” She smiled and then turned to look at the painting again. “I really love it.”   “My daughter paints as well.” Your father said as he walked over to the painting and studied it closely. “How did you get this painting, if you don’t mind me asking?”   The answer made you pale as you clutched the ends of your shirt. “Someone bought it in Cologne and gave it to me a few months ago.”   “Cologne?” Your mother gasped. “My daughter lived in Cologne.”   “Really?” The woman’s voice went a bit higher as she regarded you with warm eyes. “I know that there are so many great artists there. I’m so glad to have met one.”   “Thank you.” You muttered—unable to find your voice as words suddenly rang inside your head.   “I have a present for you. A friend told me it’s like me so I know you’re going to love it.”   “You miss our dates that much?”   And you knew she was the one.   Feeling as if your heart would drop from your chest at any moment, you bowed your head politely and said, “We have to go now. My parents still need to do a lot of things.”   “Thank you very much. You might want to check our new designs next time.” She grinned as she handed you a calling card. You bowed again before rushing outside the store.   Looking at the card in your hand, you saw the name written on it and it was the same name you had seen when he ans