When Kyungsoo and Chanyeol flee down the street. Mom returns from the kitchen, frowning as she puts the pancakes for breakfast. 

‘You know,’

‘Know what?’

‘That you are bossing the boys.’

‘They are just immature boys. When I was their age, I got into way too much troubles. And I don’t want them to repeat the same mistakes I have made.’

‘You should let them explore!’

Slightly taken back by the outburst, dad puts down his fork and traps himself in another thought bubble.

‘As you see, we are not entirely sure if Kyungsoo is alright?’

‘He already stopped fantasising sea creatures. And he is meeting new friends and going out. You promised me that Kyungsoo will stop visiting the therapist as soon as he is alright. And I do not see how is he not alright now. Right?’

‘Right,’ Tone soft, underlying a hint of uncertainty, he continues. ‘I do not need to go to work today. We have the microwave patent and it will be out in the market after some safety tests.’

Nodding, mum eats her breakfast, ‘I have night shift today. So you need to cook the dinner today.’

‘Do you think...’

‘Yes?’

‘That the mental institution is lying to us?’

Furrowing her brows, she takes a sip of her bitter coffee. Sunlight flickers through Kyungsoo’s diary upstairs, lighting the words in golden hue. 

‘What for?’

‘Money,’ he states, as firm as he announces a scientific fact. 

Mum sighs into her pancakes, staring into knots of syrup on the pancakes. ‘By the way, the Parks’ water plumb is malfunctioning again. Honey, do you mind fixing it?’

‘I am just off work, only to take up another job? Wow, what a life. I feel so wanted,’ dad jokes while getting up to take the tool box. 

Mum kisses him on the cheeks, smearing some syrup too. ‘I know my honey is the best.’

‘Better than Billy?’

Looking upon her confused face, ‘your bestie’s husband. Mary’s sweetheart, Billy? You always say he is the best, caring and getting a high pay.’

‘Oh! Look who’s jealous! Of course my honey is better. You are better than all the men in the world, second to none. Wait, my baby boy, Kyungsoo is better than you.’

‘I thought my sweetpie only loves me!’

The golden veil of sunlight looms over mum’s face, dad remembers the day they got married. Without the marks of age on their bodies, still slender, like a willow. But no, they are reclaimed by time, old and clumsy are they. Now, the tension of adulthood loosens and he feels like a kid again, life blooms on mum’s face, the veil falling. The mirth of bells resounding in his ears, crisp and sweet. Kissing his sweetheart goodbye and watching her slowly disappearing down the road, he instead sees birds skipping past the pebbles. 

He washes the dishes and cleans the house. When the clock strikes ten, he changes into his blue collar, with the tool box, he knocks on the creaky door. 

‘Hi! Mr Do! Come on in!’ Mrs Park welcomes he in. ‘Thank you so much for fixing the plump. It has been leaking for a week or so.’

Wordlessly, he sets to work. The mechanics of a water plump is simple but requires quite brute strength. So, it is barely eleven when he finishes but drenched in sweat. Feeling slightly light-headed, he has the urge to burst the windows open. The white paint glares at the living beings, and Mrs Park finishes fumbling with her silver wear. 

‘Try using it now, it should stop leaking.’

‘It is running smoothly now! Thank you so much!’

Trying his best not to sound nosy, he asks, ‘When did Chanyeol moves in? I have never heard you having offspring, ah, i mean descendants, no no, I mean son.’

Mrs Park waves his embarrassment aside, while Mr Park barks, ‘Park Chanyeol is our son! Shut your stupid mouth.’

‘But he’s never lived with you.’

Mr Park is silent, lashing into another silence, too preoccupied with the crystalline sunlight to even notice Mrs Park talking. 

‘When Chanyeol is bo