The Shinee boys had left their apartment for their mini vacations, a week with their family.

Back to his hometown, Key took this golden opportunity to go to the cemetery to visit his beloved grandmother; he would sit there, telling her about his career, the new countries he had visited, how different their culture was from their own, the things he liked the most, the awards they won, and most importantly, tell her that he had fell in love.

He knew that, somewhere, his grandmother was listening to him, smiling.

He knew that that woman was an open minded person, a fighter with the heart of an angel, she would support his choices in life to the fullest.

He missed her, he couldn’t help but let some tears fall from his face every time he returned to the cemetery but he knew that she was all right wherever she was, and that she would always watch for him.

For a few days, Key stayed home and called some old friends, surprising them. It felt good to relax like this, no cameras, no schedules, no nothing.

However, on the very second day his father left the city to work and his mother, being a nurse had to follow her busy schedule, leaving Key alone at home.

Yes, this is what felt to be back at home. He wasn’t expecting his parents to have time for him; they didn’t when he was a kid, that wouldn’t change now and he was aware of that. It hurt him though. In the past he would stay with his grandmother and he wasn’t left alone completely, but now…

The silence was killing him. He didn’t like silence, living with the boys made him get used to screams, shouts and loud singing…

This house felt cold, lonely and dead; worse, it didn’t feel familiar. It felt…odd.

He had spent nights in hotels that felt cozier than this home.

Everything in here felt so formal, so strict. His parents were rich, so it was normal for them to have a decent home, the fact was, it could be decent but still comfy, but no, there were no photographs, no bright colors, and no life.

His phone vibrated in his pocket and he smiled. Well…at least now he had a very nagging boyfriend that wouldn’t leave him alone. He took the pink cellphone out and stared at it, chuckling.

From:Gorgeous Dinosaur <3

Keeeeyyy! I want to go back home! That demon wants to poison me! I miss your food!

Key rolled his eyes. By demon he was most likely referring to his sister, he knew she couldn’t cook, he had tried to teach her once…and she didn’t explode the whole kitchen because he happened to have water next to him. He felt sorry for Jonghyun.

To:Gorgeous Dinosaur <3

Eh? You only miss my food? You men are pigs. Go learn to cook your own food. KekekexD

He typed his response quickly and didn’t bother to put it back on his pocket, he kept staring at it and seconds later, he got his response.

From:Gorgeous Dinosaur

Yeobooo! You know it’s not like that! I love you thiiiiiiiiiiiis much! :D

Key smiled, that guy could be cheesy even through the phone. Incredible.

From:Gorgeous Dinosaur <3

But you know what? I’m going to try to do something, it can’t be any worse than her cooking. >o< Okay! Pray for me! Buhbyeeee ma love!

Key’s eyes widened. Jonghyun in the kitchen? Now he was genuinely worried, he didn’t know who was worse, Jonghyun or his sister, both of them could only cook chaos and destruction.

Key stood quiet, in the middle of the dark living room, thinking.

Talking about chaos…his mother had told him once that she was thinking on selling his grandmother’s home but…

He had nothing against really, he was realist, she was gone and her house wouldn’t do much without an owner, so he could only agree with it. But he really wanted to visit again, he knew that by his mother’s lack of free time the house could be mostly just like his grandmother’s left it.

Key smiled, an idea popping in his mind.

He was going to clean it. That house didn’t deserve to be left abandoned like that; that house was the opposite of his own, it was bright, colors everywhere, it irradiated energy and happiness, warmth…

Key ran to his mother’s office and searched for a very old pair of keys.

After a while, he finally found them. Wow, it had the same keychain too, a small stuffed turtle that he had bought for his grandmother’s birthday when he was little.

Key didn’t lost time; he filled one of his family cars with cleaning items and drove off.

It took him half an hour to get there and he smiled to the view. This felt like home.

He got out of the car and left his things by the door, searching for the keys in his pocket. He looked around while he was at it, noticing that the grass looked like a forest, he needed to cut it too.

Click.

Key pushed the door open and frowned. Gosh!!! It smelled!

Key’s eyes widened. His mother didn’t bother to open that door since his grandmother had died for sure! It wasn’t supposed to have this odor!

She had died almost three years ago now, and she never visited her own mother’s house?!

Deciding to stay calm, Key sighed and pulled out a mask, tying it on his face.

“Okay! Let’s do this!”

Far away from Key, in Seoul, a dark haired actress was arriving home after a tiring photo shoot.

Shin Se Kyung was a perfect model and she really did her job beautifully, no one could say the opposite, she was very professional and focused, however, out of the spotlights of the cameras and flashes, the young woman had a secret.

It started months ago when she started to suspect that something was going on with Jonghyun and Key. After the horrible incident in the SHINee apartment, the girl declared war to the rapper purely out of hate. But now…the hate grew into disgust...and jealousy.

Months ago, she rented an apartment in front of the band’s building. She needed to know what was happening in there, why Jonghyun started to treat her differently, why he lost interest in her, why he wouldn’t reply to all of her texts and calls. He was polite all the time but…too formal. She felt like he was talking to his mother and not to a beautiful, attractive woman.

One day, she entered the building next to theirs and grabbed her binnacles. She knew that what she had been doing was a bit extreme and probably obsessive and she really did felt like a stalker but…she got her answer.

It was a shocking sight. For weeks, she never saw anything abnormal and she really thought of letting them go but one day…she saw it.

Jonghyun was in the sofa watching TV and Key came with a bowl of por, it was natural for two friends to do that, what wasn’t normal was the fact that Key rested his back in Jonghyun’s chest and the older male wrapped his arms around his waist, kissing his neck.

That wasn’t fanservice. They didn’t knew that they were being watched, so why..?

Then they kissed…and her world crashed down.

Jonghyun was kissing a boy. Another male. And it didn’t look like it was the first time, the boys kissed like it was the most natural thing in the world. So disgusting!

Key…had tainted Jonghyun. He messed with his head, he wasn’t gay! He wasn’t like that and she was sure of it! Jonghyun liked women!

She had to do something…

Anything.

Jonghyun was going to go back to normal again. And she was going to make him hers.

Yes, that was the correct way, she was a woman and he was a man. Key had no chance against her.

The actress smiled to herself. She had an idea.

Yes, Jonghyun was going to be hers…

Key groaned, his back aching, but let out a huge smile.

He looked around, satisfied with his work. The house wasnt that big so it didnt take much to get it clean. He had opened all the windows, letting the smelly house be filled with fresh air and sunlight, the small, cute kitchen looked like new again, he had picked up flowers and put them in jars too, spreading them all over the place.

He remembered how he used to watch his grandmother cook in that small old stove and try to understand what she was doing and how. She used to be an awesome cooker and Key had always wanted to be like her, he wished to bake cakes like she did; tasty, perfect looking cakes.

They used to spent a whole day in the kitchen, she never got tired of teaching him new things and she never ran out of patience with him, correcting all his mistakes and make him see where he had failed and why.

He smiled to the memory.

Yes…this was a cozy home, bright and colorful…small but pleasant. So full of happy memories.              

He took out the yellow rubber gloves and looked to the stairs in the hallway. There was only one room left to clean, his grandmother’s room. He thought he would be stronger, that it would be easy enter that room again, but it wasn’t. It hurt.

Slowly, he pushed the door open, looking into the darkness of the room.

He shivered. He felt scared even.

He knew that he wasn’t supposed to feel that but…he felt so weird…

“You’re not a little girl Kibum.” He told himself loudly.

He let his hand slip to the wall, finding the light switch, turning it on.

His heart skipped a beat. He wasn’t expecting this.

The room looked likeit had been used just now.

The covers in the bed were messy, like someone had just woken up in there, a dress was on top of a chair too, and he remembered how the old woman used to put the clothes she wanted to use on the next day in that same chair.

It felt like…she was still in there, alive.

He knew she wasn’t though. She had died in a Sunday morning, and that explained why the bed was still messy.

Key felt his fists tighten. No one had entered that room since her death… not even her own daughter…his mother.

How could that woman be so cold…?

He loved his mother but…he had to say the truth, he loved his grandmother more. The old woman had been a fighter, a true mother for him, his real mother.

He knew how rebel he was in the past, how he had shouted and how mean he used to be, and she never gave up, never let go of him, never left him alone…like his mother did.

Key closed his eyes and opened them again, trying to shake memories out of his head. He wasn’t there to cry, he was there to make his grandmother happy again, he knew she was watching him.

He went to the window and opened it, brightness filling the room, making him see dust more clearly.

Fifteen minutes later, the bed had new sheets, the floor was shining and the air wasn’t so thick like before. He was about to clean the glass of the mirror when his phone rang.

He took off the gloves and grabbed the vibrating cellphone. “Hello?”

“Keeeeeey! I made it!”

Key winced to the loud shout in his ear. “Yaaah! Don’t scream like that!”

He heard Jonghyun chuckle in the other line. “Sorryyy. I’m just so happy! I can feed myself!”

Key smiled to his lover’s proud voice. He could imagine the older boy grinning on the other side.“Yeah? What did cook?”

“A sandwich!”

…

Key slapped a hand against his face. He was dating an idiot. “You’re kidding right?”

“No, no. I really did it! It was yummy too! I’ll make you one when we get back home!”

Key sighed, sitting on his grandmother’s chair by her desk. “Jonghyun…a sandwich is the most basic, easy, ridiculous thing to do. It’s not even cooked, that’s hardly a meal. Go eat something more before you starve yourself to death.”

“Key…let’s go home early.” Key could tell the boy was pouting now. He was so obvious.

“Eh? What for?”

“Aren’t you bored in there?” Jonghyun asked, sighing. “I’m bored to tears…”

“I’m cleaning my grandmother’s house. No one entered it since she died…” Key said in a icy tone.

Jonghyun gasped, his voice suddenly sounding serious. “Really? Your mother didn’t-”

Key shook his head. “No, she didn’t. I can’t believe how cold she is, it doesn’t seem real.”

“I’m sorry baby…”

Key looked around, letting out a smile. “It’s all pretty and shiny now though. I made a good work on it, I need a long bath before this too, I must smell and I can see dust in my hair. So gross…”

“Come home with me and I’ll help you bathe.” Jonghyun said in an overly innocent voice.

Key smirked, catching his boyfriend’s real intentions. “Right. You’d probably get me dirtier than before.”

Jonghyun chuckled. “Oh you bet.”

Key blushed and shook his head. “Oh god, I’m not having this kind of conversation in my grandmother’s room.”

“Eh? You’re in her room?” Jonghyun sounded ashamed now.

Key nodded to himself and palmed his tummy. “Yup, It’s the last thing to clean, then I’ll go home, I’m starving.”

“Hurry then, I don’t want you sick.”

“Same goes to you, eat something decent. Only god knows what you put in that sandwich.” Key laughed.

“Cook it for me. Let’s go homeee.”Jonghyun made a childish voice, making Key chuckle. Jonghyun could be so cute sometimes. He loved it when he pouted, looking like a child whose mother didn’t gave him what he wanted.

“You’re in your home already.” Key pointed out.

“Our home.”

“It’s the boys’ home too, it’s not really ours.” Key chuckled.

“Then let’s buy one.”

Key blinked, his heart stopping for a few seconds. He…wait, what? “W-What?”

“I want to live with you Key.” Jonghyun said in a determined voice, surprising Key.

Oh my god.

Was this for real? Living with Jonghyun…? He had never thought of that...

Have a home of their own..? Wow, it sounded really weird but…a good weird…

Key felt his lips grow a smile. “Are…are you serious about that?”

He heard a nod. “I want our privacy. I love the boys, they’re our family but…I really want us to have our own home…like a real couple…”

Key wiped the tear that had escaped his left eye and let his hand rest against his forehead. Was this really happening? Jonghyun was that serious about him…that would look like they were…married, right?

Oh god! He felt so happy right now…

“-and have my dirty ways with you in the kitchen, in the living room, in the-”

Key gasped. “YAH! You dog! That is why you want to move out?!”

Jonghyun chuckled and made a husky voice, making him shiver. “You know it’s not, but think about it…you’d be in the kitchen, baking a cake…then I’d get out of the bath still wet and I’d wrap my arms around you, kissing your neck, moving my hands lower…”

“Jjong-”

“I’d take you right there, on the table, making you wear only an apron…” He could tell that Jonghyun was probably his lips now, showing that playful tongue of his. That tease.

“Is this some fantasy of yours?” Key asked, smirking. “I never knew you liked my apron so much.”

“Don’t laugh at me. I really miss you.” Jonghyun made his whiny voice again.

“Kim Jonghyun let go of that phone and help your sister outside.” A male voice was heard in the distance. Jonghyun’s dad’s voice.

“Just a minute dad.” Jonghyun replied.

“Now.” The older male’s voice was heard again. Key stayed quiet. The last thing he wanted was his dad know that he was currently talking to hi-

“I’m talking with my boyfriend.” The singer said casually.

Key’s eyes widened and his hand flew to his mouth, covering it in shock. Was he trying to piss his dad off on purpose?!

“NOW!” He heard the door slam loudly. Crap.

Key bit his lip, worried. “…You’re still fighting? You told me you had talked to him...”

He heard a nod. “I did and we’re fine, he just…he’s not taking this well. Us, I mean.”

Key sighed. “You provoked him just now; you could have said that you were talking to a friend or a girl…”

“Yah! I’m not telling the things he wants to hear. I’m not letting you go so he better get used to it, I’ll always tell the truth, you know I hate lies.” Jonghyun said in a very serious voice.

“I know, I just…I feel bad for making you fight with him.” Key whispered. It really broke his heart, he didn’t want Jonghyun to fight with his family over him…family was a really important thing and he knew how he loved his…

“Kibummie…you were the best thing that happened to me, never feel sorry.” Jonghyun seemed to read his thoughts and he couldn’t help but smile to that.

“Jonghyun!” Jonghyun’s dad yelled in the distance.

The singer groaned. “I have to go now, I’ll call you later.”

“Okay.”

“Love you Key!” Jonghyun shouted, probably wanting his father to hear it.

“Love you too.” Key chuckled to his boyfriend’s childish actions.

He hang up and smiled to the phone. Whoa…

A warm feeling burned inside his chest, making him shiver all over. Jonghyun was fighting for him, fighting to make his family accept him no matter what, and on top of that…he wanted to live with him. Like a real couple he said.

Key always said that he wanted to marry first, and he wasn’t lying, but now…he knew he couldn’t marry Jonghyun, he was a male after all, but he could move in with him…that almost meant the same thing.

The rapper smiled, a real honest happy smile.

He loved him, he loved him so much…

Key shook his head, still grinning, he knew he was looking like a school girl but he really couldn’t help it. Jonghyun made strange things to him.

He put his phone on the desk and started to stand up when his eyes caught a glimpse of paper.

Key looked to the desk, beside his phone was an envelope with a pen beside it.

…Was his grandmother writing a letter just before she died..?

Was that possible?

Should he look…?

Not resisting to his curiosity, Key grabbed the envelope and pulled out the sheet inside. It was his grandmother’s handwriting, he remembered it.

She had her very own style to write the le- wait…that letter was meant for him…? Yes, he read his name right. His grandmother had been writing a letter to him…!

‘Dear Kibummie,

Grandma is getting sicker day by day and I know my days by your side are coming to an end, I feel it inside me. And I feel like I need to tell you something that it was hidden from you for a long time now. Your mother never told your dad, only me and the doctors know about it, but your mother never wanted you to know, but I really feel like you need to.

When your mother had you, you came to this world in a very special condition, but the doctors kept it as a secret since your mother was their friend.

I don’t feel like I’m the right person to tell you this, so I’m letting you have a phone number, a name and an address.

Maybe I’m just worrying about nothing, but I’d like you to visit the doctor that operated you when you were a baby, his name is Jung Dongwook and fear not, he’s a good friend of mine and a good person. You can trust him Kibum.

Remember that your mother loves you, so anything she did, she did it to protect you. I still think it was a mistake keep hiding this from you but you are growing into a fine young man and you’re filming Hello Baby, and…I can’t help but wonder. It’s only right for you to know this.

Visit the doctor, let him tell you everything you do not know.

Be happy Kibummie.

I will always love you,

Your halmoni’

Key was confused. Inside the envelope was a piece of paper with an address and phone number on it.

Operated? He had been operated as a baby? Why? What for?

He wanted to go and question his mother about it but…she was the one who didn’t told him in the first place, so she would probably deny everything. He needed to find out what was all this about. Why was this such a big matter?

His head was starting to hurt…

This didn’t make any sense…

He stared at the number on the paper for two minutes before grabbing his cellphone again.

“The number you dialed is no longer avai-”

Gah. No luck for him. Well…this letter was meant for him in a few years ago so it was normal for this man to change his number meanwhile.

He stared at the address, it was in Seoul.

He couldn’t wait. He was too curious. He needed to find out what all of this was about…!

He nodded to himself and pressed some familiar number on his phone, putting it on his ear.

“Key? Missed me already?” A happy voice was hear on the other line.

“Jjong, I’m going back to Seoul earlier.”

There was a long pause before he could hear a squeal. “Eh? Really?! When?”

Key looked at his grandmother’s letter.

“Tonight.”

PLEASE WATCH THE TRAILER IN THE FOREWORD PAGE