It was good to be back.   How long has it been since he was home? Probably a good year or so, the last time he’s seen the vast and beautiful Chicago was Christmas the year before, and as far as he could remember, that was the only time in a long while he’s ever awarded himself a true holiday. Now that he’s been busy gearing up for his debut he figured he might not have another chance to visit home in a while, so he took the opportunity once they were told to spend a few weeks of break before the big day arrives, and boarded the first flight he could find back to America.   “It sure is good to be back.” Johnny muttered to himself as he sat in his windowsill, staring particularly at nothing but admiring the green grass of their front yard, the pear tree he used to climb up on when he was small, and just about their friendly neighborhood. All those months he spent in the basement of SM Entertainment surely took a toll on him and finally he got the space, air, sunlight and freedom that he was desperately craving for.   A bright smile slowly crept up to his face; somehow he got a feeling that today would be exceptionally wonderful. He looked at his wristwatch and saw it displaying half an hour pass seven o’clock in the morning. Usually, he would be doing a few rounds of jogging or hitting the gym before training starts, but today he could forget all about that. He was going to do whatever he wanted. So he hopped off his seat and happy trudged downstairs, smelling the wonderful breakfast his mom was cooking and thinking to himself of how long has it been since he had home cooked meals, but before he could reach the kitchen the pleasant ding of their doorbell caught his attention, stopping his steps.   Who would be doing business with them this early in the morning? He thought to himself.   “John, will you answer the door for me?” he heard his mom call amidst the searing of the bacon she was frying.   “Got it.” He answered but was already directing himself towards the door and without hesitation, opened it to see who was their visitor in this early morning.   The moment he had yanked it open, a pair of huge doe eyes greeted him and as if time slowed down for a fraction of a second, he saw them slowly curving up into pleasant crescents accompanied by a bright smile. “Good morning, Mrs. Suh!” she happily chimed but was taken aback when realized an unfamiliar face was staring back at her. “I—I’m sorry,” she had began to stutter as her ears slowly heated up to an obvious redness, “Is Mrs. Suh around?”   Johnny simply blinked before looking back to check if he’s mom had come but saw no one behind, “Mom someone’s looking for you.” He called before turning back to look at the girl once more. Her eyes were the first things to captivate him again, there was no doubt this girl has Asian ancestry, but why are her orbs so light almost as if they’re … grey.   The atmosphere was nothing but awkward and it was probably the longest half a minute of her life so she cleared , wanting nothing but to rid herself of the sudden predicament she had got herself into first thing in the morning. “If she’s busy then can you please give this to her?” she slowly spoke, bringing forth a box decorated in pastels.   He almost knocked himself in the head. How could he be so rude? He had totally forgotten to introduce himself. This girl is probably one of their new neighbors that had moved during his absence and of course, it would already be a given that she would not know about him. “I’m sorry f—” he was about to apologize but then he suddenly heard his mother merrily greeting, completely cutting him off. “Alex!” she had said, “I see you have met my son.” Then she emerged from his sides donned in a cute pink apron and held unto his waist in one arm, the other holding a spatula.   If he wasn’t such a giant then these two women wouldn’t look like midgets beside his towering height, but since he is his mother was merely as tall as his chest and the visitor, he figured must be called Alex, was also no taller than her. Nonetheless Alex smiled once again, happy to have finally seen the person she had came for. “Good morning, Mrs. Suh,” she repeated herself, “good morning.” then she turned towards John as well, flashing him an equally beautiful beam.   “Are those muffins?” said Mrs. Suh as she reached out for the box of pastels and the girl happily handed it to her, nodding her head. “Oh thank you so much, dear. You see John,” then she turned towards her son, “Alex here is kind enough to give us muffins every week saying that she made too many for herself. I insisted on paying her because these are absolutely tasty but she always refuses.”   The girl shook her before answering, “It’s really nothing, Mrs. Suh, and my grandmother would like you to have them anyway.”   “Did you bake these yourself?” asked John, taking the box from his mom.   She cutely nodded her head once again, “My grandma loves to bake so I accompany her every time. We always end up making too many so the rest goes out to the neighbors.”   “Cool,” he answered and figured this must be the perfect time, “I’m Johnny by the way, sorry for not introducing myself earlier on.” said he as he extended his free hand for a shake.   “I know.” She answered, grinning sheepishly, and for a moment he had thought maybe she knew him through SM Rookies but then she said, “Mrs. Suh talks a lot about you. Nice to meet you, Johnny, I’m Alex.” They shook hands for a few seconds before letting go.   “I’m glad you two have finally met,” said his mom, “I think I’ve told you about Alex a couple of times through the phone, John. She should be at least familiar for you. Wait, why don’t you join us for breakfast?”   “Oh no, I couldn’t intrude.” Answered she, rather quickly, “I have to catch up to my part time job anyway.”   “Ah that’s too bad, I’d like for you two to hang out and get to know each other more.” Mrs. Suh probably didn’t mean for her words to have a different color in it, but it was already too late and the two teenagers happened to find themselves in yet again another flustering scenario. “You see, you both are of the same age,” she continued to blabber, oblivious of the situation, “and John will not be here for long. I’d like you to make a lot of friends while you’re still here, dear.”   “Mom, I’m not twelve.” Said he, muttering as he hid his face behind his slender fingers, yet nonetheless softly eliciting a chortle. Alex followed suit, glad that he was witty enough to brighten the situation.   “What?” the mother asked, expression clearly indicating she doesn’t understand what was going on.   “Stop it.” Johnny mouthed, taking ahold of his mother’s shoulders as he continued to chuckle, “Let’s not hold Alex any further. We don’t want her to be late to her job.”   “Wait, what? Dear, I don’t understand.” Said his mother, prying his hands off, “She’s not twelve, she’s your age.”   He could only plant his palm upon his forehead whilst the two share a few more laughter; sooner Mrs. Suh had joined them even though she didn’t really understand what was funny for the youngsters. “Maybe some other time, Mrs. Suh.” Alex was the first to speak after a while, “But I really have to go.”   “Alright, I won’t hold you for long.” Said the older woman, “Thank you for the muffins, honey!”   “No problem!” she happily answered as she made her way. “I’ll see you guys around!”   “Bye, Alex.” Said Johnny as he waved his hands before her.   When the mother and son was finally back inside their abode, Mrs. Suh wasted no time and elbowed his son, “She was that girl I have been telling you about.” She had said in a little squealing voice, almost sounding like a teenager.   “What are you talking about mom?” he answered, but giggling to himself.   “That pretty girl I kept telling you about.” She continued, taking the pastel colored box from his hands, “Her father is US Army Special Forces and her mother is Korean, didn’t you notice her beautiful eyes? I couldn’t take my eyes off her when she first knocked into our door. She had recently graduated high school a