Chapter 49: Home

     It had been months since Baekhyun had last seen his parents. He had made obligatory visits at Chuseok and the New Year and paid respects to his family and Jaehee's, but he kept his trips home short, to less than a day if he could. He had work, he claimed, and had done so since the day he was hired. The office, after all, would never complain at his presence.

     It was a white lie, like many things in his life. But there was a limit to how much of is family he could tolerate. Ever since he'd had a paycheck to claim independence, he'd maintained what he considered a healthy distance.

     The day was still young after parting ways with Jaehee, and so he had lingered a while by the river, before catching a train to his parents' neighborhood in Bucheon. He did not call in advance. It was the weekend and there was no guarantee they were home, though knowing it lent him little comfort.

     Though it was a trek, he could walk from the station to his parents' house. Bikers whizzed past him as he walked down one winding street to the next, and the low skyline here reminded him why he'd wanted to leave. He had wanted to climb mountains, not fill the same footprints as a thousand men before. He had wanted to be more than just a number fading into obscurity, leaving no mark or memory.

     His childhood home rose within view, an old house that still boasted traditionally styled roofing. He pushed open the gate and approached the front door. Rapping on the outer door, he rang the doorbell once and called out to see if anyone was home.

     Scuffling noises preceded the click of a latch and slide of a door. His mother gaped at him but before she could pull him into her arms, he dropped to the ground in a deep bow. He was not the filial son she would be proud of.

     "Baekhyun-ah, what's all this," she cried and lifted him up, and pulling him against her chest. His head cleared the top of hers, and he could see into the house. His eyes quickly scanned for the presence of his father.

     "Why didn't you call?" She asked, holding his arms, and looking up into his face with such worry it made his gut twist. "I would have made something nice for you to eat."

     "It's okay, eomma," Baekhyun mustered a wan smile. "It was a last minute decision to come."

     She nodded though she clearly didn't understand, and ushered him into the house. It was as he remembered it - clean, somewhat plain, the way his father preferred it. His mother guided him to the sofa and sat him down. "Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She reached up to touch his face but he turned his head away, pretending to clear his throat. 

     "I'm fine," he reassured. "Where's father?" The very word was awkward on his tongue.

     "He's upstairs in his study, oh let me go get him--" Before he could stop her, she'd gone up the stairs and called out to his father. He heard a door open and a gruff, annoyed voice. 

     "Baekhyun's here!" She called up, before coming back down. "Wait just a moment, Baekhyunnie," she stuck her head into the living room before bringing out a few cups of juice. It was peach, his childhood favorite.

     "How have you been? How is Jaehee?" His mother asked, eager to hear all about his life. He opened his mouth to answer, but he closed it when his father appeared. He rose, dipping him a deep bow and waiting until his father sat to reclaim his seat. 

     "I've been okay," he said neutrally, the same answer he'd given ever since he was small. "Jaehee is fine as well." He drew a deep breath. "Actually, I came to talk to you about that." His palms were clammy where they rested on his thighs. "We've broken up."

     A stunned silence followed. His mother sputtered, shell-shocked. "What happened, Baekhyun? Did she do something?"

     "No!" He was quick to silence any such notions. "She didn't do anything wrong."

     "So you messed it up," his father said, and it wasn't a question. "Couldn't even keep a woman long enough to get married."

     Baekhyun set his jaw and inhaled a slow, measured breath before trusting his voice. "I'm taking care of the expenses, any lost deposits or booking fees. You'll have nothing to worry about."

     "What-- what are we supposed t