Haneul’s POV

“It’s here?” I asked, staring at a house that stood alone.

Junhyung nodded.

“You never told me you lived in a mansion and that you’re freaking rich.” I said.

“I’m not rich. Besides, this land belongs to my great great great no idea how many great grandfather. Its like handed down generation by generation. We just renovated it to suit our liking.” He said.

“So, everything here, is yours? I mean, your family.” I asked, looking around.

The house looked like it stood on an island instead of a plot of land.

Junhyung nodded.

“Wah~ It must be amazing to grow up here.” I said.

“It is, honestly. We had lots of fun and memories here.” He said as he opened up the windows to let fresh air in.

Despite the modern exterior, the interior was totally different. Most of the furniture was made of wood, making the entire house smell really pleasant. The inside was a mixture of traditional and modern, but it was not messy at all. In fact, it blended really well.

“WOW!” I exclaimed.

He smiled slightly and patted my head.

“I knew you’ll like this.” He said.

“How did you know?” I asked, challenging him a little.

“You and your liking for traditional and old stuff~” He said.

“It’s call vintage!” I said.

“Fine, vintage.” He laughed.

“It’s a little dusty in here, isn’t it?” He said.

“Yea. But what do you expect after being absent for so long?” I said.

He just laughed and shrugged his shoulders.

He took me around the house, wowing me at every place he introduced. He even had a library at home, I am really amazed. While other house have one living room, they have two; one bigger and another smaller, and they were of totally different concept. The kitchen is the kind of kitchen every mothers wanted. The house is so huge that I think if he left me alone, I would end up getting lost. Everything about the house is just amazing. It is definitely luxury living. I could picture him running around the house when he was younger, amusing himself at every corner. And my conclusion is that his family really loved wood. 

“This is paradise!” I yelled.

“This was paradise.” He corrected me.

“Aww~” I hugged him.

“I’m fine.” He smiled.

“I’ll show you my room.” He said.

I nodded.

My jaws dropped when he pushed open his room door. His room was simple, yet stylish. It is so 'Junhyung' and definitely, huge.

“Your room is bigger than my entire house.” I said.

He looked at me with a 'you think I have never been to your house' look.

“Is this a recording studio or what?” I laughed, pointing to the corner of the room where all his musical stuff stood.

He just laughed and went off to dust his bed.

“Sit down.” He said.

I sat down beside him, still looking around his room.

“It’s daebak.” I said.

“It is.” He said softly, lying down beside me.

I turned to look at him but he had his eyes closed, arm resting on his forehead.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He nodded.

He showed me photos and told me many stuff about himself and how he and his brother always played at home, smashing stuff and getting chased around with a cane by their mother. He also told me where and how they would slide away whenever they sense trouble.

"There was once my brother and I locked one of the relatives we really dislike in the toilet. The fellow yelled and screamed as thou she was possessed. My father knew it was us, but because he didn't like the person too, he just kept quiet." He said.

“You were that naughty!?” I laughed.

He nodded, laughing as well.

"And then we got whacked, all three of us, by my mother and her cane. It was so scary. But she ended up laughing at well." He said.

“Then how is it that you’re so different in school? You can always use your wittiness on those bullies.” I said.

“I have a reputation to keep. Correction, I have six persons reputation to keep. How is it that I can just go around doing stuff as and how I like it?” He said.

“But it doesn’t make sense for you to be bullied like this.” I said.

“Things were better with Seungho Hyung.” He said.

“I don’t have a reputation to keep, I’ll bully them back for you.” I said.

“Silly.” He pinched my nose lightly.

"Let me have this." I said, taking one of his toodler photo.

"Take it." He smiled.

I kept the photo in my wallet and we continued to tour the house.

“WHAT IS THIS!? A ROOFTOP SWIMMING POOL!?” I shouted when he pushed open the door.

“Yea.” He said.

“But why is it empty?” I asked, staring at the huge empty hole.

“I don’t breed mosquitoes as a hobby.” He said.

“Oh.” I laughed, feeling quite stupid.

“What are you doing!?” He shouted when I jumped into the ‘swimming pool’.

“How often do you get to do something like this without having to struggle with the water?” I shouted, lying down.

“It’s really dirty!” He shouted back, climbing down as well.

“Come!” I said, pulling him to lie down beside me.

“See!” I pointed up at the sky.

“What?” He asked.

“Look! Use your heart and enjoy the sky! How often do you get to look up at the sky from somewhere lower than ground level?” I said.

“You’re really interesting.” He mumbled.

“Nah~ I just have nothing better to do.” I laughed.

We looked up at the sky, making out shapes in the clouds.

“Why not you move back and give this house some life?” I said to him.

“Life? It died the moment everyone left.” He smiled.

“Jun ah.” I rolled on my stomach, propping myself up on my elbows, looking at him.

“Hmm?” He pat my head.

“You miss this place, don’t you?” I said.

“Honestly, I do. Of course. I grew up here. But what meaning would it hold for me to live here alone?” He said.

“They might come back.” I mumbled.

“You said it right. They might.” He said.

I cupped his cheeks and kissed him before standing up.

“Let’s go.” I said.

He nodded, raising his arms, indicating for me to pull him up.

I smacked his palm and walked off.

“YAH!!” He shouted, still in the same position.

“Stop being a baby!” I said.

He pouted and sat up. I went back in and held onto his hand, pulling him along.

As he locked up the door, he looked pretty upset.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Yea. Just that, it’s like.. I don’t know. I feel weird.” He said.

“We can come back here as and when you like it.” I said.

He nodded and we got into the car, driving back out. We chatted and bickered with each other until he suddenly stopped the car.

“What is it?” I asked him.

He was staring outside, as thou he was in shock.

“Junhyung, what is it?” I shook him slightly.

“Umma.” He mumbled before rushing out of the car.

“YAH! WAIT!!” I got out and ran after him.

He kept running, but I had no idea who he was chasing. He dashed into a sea of people, if not for his outstanding blonde hair, I would have lost him. I followed him until we arrived at an alley.

“Umma~” He kept mumbling as he looked around.

“Where? Junhyung! Where!?” I asked, looking around.

“I saw her! I saw her!” He said nervously.

He was shaking and biting his lower lip; an action I realize he always does whenever he is nervous.

“Stop it! Stop biting yourself!” I hugged him.

“I swear I saw her!” He yelled.

I hugged him to calm him down. He almost calmed down when he screamed again before pushing me away.

“UMMA!!!” He yelled.

The woman across the road did not turn back but instead quicken her pace.

I watch in horror as Junhyung dashed across the road, totally unbothered about the car speeding in his direction.

“YAH! YONG JUNHYUNG!!!!” I yelled. I almost caught him but I missed by a step.

For that split second, I felt my heart stopped. My blood ran cold and I couldn’t breathe. Fortunately for him, he was fast enough to escape being knocked down. The car skidded to the side. The driver cursed at Junhyung who obviously couldn’t hear anything. He got out of the car, charging towards Junhyung, wanting to bash him up.

“Please. I’ll pay for whatever damages. I’m very sorry. He didn’t mean it.” I said, shoving a stack of money into his hand.

“HE IS YOUR BOYFRIEND!? TAKE CARE OF THAT NUT CASE!” He yelled, but did not take the money.

I bowed to him in apology before searching for Junhyung.

“UMMA!” I heard him shout as he ran in front of a middle age woman.

She indeed looks familiar, like I have seen her somewhere but I couldn't recall.

I stood at a distance, not wanting to interfere.

“Umma!” He called again, a slight smile creeping on his face.

“Sorry, but I don’t know you.” The woman said.

Junhyung’s smile fell.

“I’m Junhyung! Your son! It’s you, Umma! I know it is you!” Junhyung shouted.

“Sorry.” She shoved Junhyung towards the wall before hurrying away.

Junhyung ran after the woman, but she kept pushing him away. She even threatened to call the police if he continued. Junhyung sat in the middle of the pavement, yelling for his mother and crying like a lost child. I ran up to him and hugged him tight.

“It’s okay. Shhh~” I hushed him.

“It’s really her! I will never forget how my mother looks like! How can she forget me! I am her son!” He cried, shaking like a leaf.

He took out his wallet, showing me his family photo. Now I remember. I even complimented on how pretty his mother is and he proudly said she is beautiful.

I looked around and my eyes caught someone peeking at the corner. It was her. I stared hard at but and she quickly ran off when she saw me. Why? How could she shove him away like this if he is really her son? Don't she even miss him? Junhyung should be the one mad at her for leaving him, not the other way round. And if she was out to push him away, then why linger around still after that?

“Shhh.. It’s okay.” I said, pulling him up.

“I saw her. I saw her. I saw her.” He kept mumbling.

We made our way back to the car.

“I’ll drive.” I told him.

He nodded robotically and headed to the passenger seat. The only thing he said throughout the whole ride back was ‘to the bookstore please’.

I tucked him into the blanket at the basement. As I was about to leave, he grabbed my hand and looked at me with teary eyes.

“Yes?” I asked, squatting down to wipe away the tears that threatened to flow.

“I didn’t see wrong.” He said softly.

“I know.” I said.

“Is it possible for a mother to forget her own son?” He asked.

“I… I don’t know.” I mumbled.

“Am I a disgrace?” He asked.

“You’re not!” I snapped.

“Then why?” He cried.

“I’m so sorry.” I said, hugging him, letting him cry until he fell asleep.

Why do good things never seem to come his way? It is like they were on the way to him but suddenly decided to make a turn and leave. Why does so much pain have to happen to someone who deserves all the happiness in the world? Why is it so unfair? Why can’t I comfort him like I am supposed to?

“Be strong, Baby.” I whispered, kissing him on his forehead before leaving him to sleep. 

***

The House

Living Room One (Bigger)

Living Room Two (Smaller)

Another part of the house

Kitchen

Bathroom

Library *love this ><*

Junhyung's Room

Rooftop (Picture the pool without water yea ^^)

View from Rooftop

Don't be surprised that it doesn't match, because it wasn't supposed to be. These are like ten different places, 
I just tried to blend them in my head, which is weird, I know. Just know that his house is luxurious :)

And he met his mother! Uh oh ><