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I remember when I was little, mother always told me, to not talk to strangers.

Because mom said that, strangers are bad people, and they would take me somewhere far, far away, from her.

But the stranger that I met on that day was different.

She was kind, understanding and she didn’t judge me, or my tears, when I hid myself at the hallway.

To me, that stranger is a beautiful stranger.

<<>>

It was almost a week since the interview, and I had yet to receive any news, phone calls, emails nor confirmation letters from the firm. Waiting was a torture to me – and I started to lose hopes. But mom told me that, as long as the time is still ticking, and as long as we’re still breathing, hopes should not be forgotten.

Maybe, mom was right, from the very beginning.

It was a Saturday morning when I went to check the mailbox, which was attached, closely to the front door of our home. I twirled each of the letters, and in a quick glance, I read the address written on the letters. I saw our electric bill, water bill, and a home décor pamphlet for mom – and then I saw a letter, with my name, written on it, Lee Howon.

With an uneasy feeling, I unfolded the letter and read it to myself quietly.

Dear Lee Howon,

Congratulations on your new position with the Sunshine Firm. I’m sure you will be an asset to the staff, bringing your experience and organizational skills as well as your easy going personality.

I swung my arm forward and grinned happily. Then I ran upstairs to get my mom.

Finally, my dream was no longer an untouchable, lifeless dream. Mom? This is for both of us.

<<>>

I was typing my job acceptance letter on my laptop, that night when I thought about giving a call to Changsub – to inform him about the little good news of mine. I grabbed my phone and dialed his number, one that I remembered by heart, and I held the phone to my ear, when I heard the familiar calling tone.

“Hello… Hoya-oppa?”

I halted at whatever I was doing. The voice wasn’t Changsub’s and it was the voice, that I found myself missing for the past few days – and a voice that somehow made my heart beat a little faster.

“Bbom?” I made a guess, with my instinct.

“Ahh, yes it’s me.” She replied, as she chuckled at the end of the line. “Are you looking for Changsub-oppa?”

I smiled. “Apparently, I am. Where is he, by the way?”

“Changsub-oppa left his phone at my flower shop.” She added with a sigh. “He’s a bird-brained sometimes.”

I laughed lightly at her remark, and as I glanced at my watch, I had only realized that it was almost seven o’clock in the night. I remembered how Bomi once told me that her shop would run its operation hours as early as 9 in the morning and closed around 6 in the evening.

“Are you still at your flower shop?” I asked, with a slight frown.

“Yeap.”

“Alone?”

“Sadly, yes.” She sighed again, this time – it sounded a little louder. “Changsub-oppa said, he’s going to fetch me up as soon as his appointment ends, which I don't even know when.”

“Ahh, I see.”

I paused for a while, and cleared my throat before replying, “Do you mind if this purple guy, accompanying your sad loneliness at the moment?”

She burst out into a laughter, and I found myself giggling too, as I plopped myself onto my bed.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked, mimicking an annoyed tone. A failed one, to be honest.

“And how does that purple guy is going to accompany me, when he's in Busan and I’m in Seoul?”

“Umm.” I pondered for a bit, before returning, “Through this phone call? Well, let’s just talk, at least until Changsub comes and fetch you.”

That night, the phone call lasted longer than I expected it to be. Bomi filled me in with her never-ending complaints about Changsub, and I just quietly listened as I sketched and scribbled something down on those blank white papers – sometimes, I found myself writing her name – for no particular reasons. I told her about my good news, and I could hear her shrieking on the phone, clapping as she congratulated me and promised me that she would treat me a lunch.

I told Bomi about my mother too and of how close we were. She was perhaps, one of those very few people – I would share things and open up to, especially, when it was in regards of my mother.

We talked for almost an hour – until Changsub finally came and fetched her.

Perhaps, it was her voice or just her invisible presence to me, but that night, I closed my eyes to sleep with a peaceful lullaby tangling somewhere in my heart.  

<<>>

It was my last night in Busan and I found myself unable to sleep, even after hours of staring blankly on my room’s ceiling. I even tried to count the stars too, but each time I would finish counting, my eyes or perhaps, my mind wouldn’t allow me to enter my dreamland.

I rested my arms on top of my chest, I rolled over from one side of my bed to the other, and I did try to listen to my music player, hoping that I would doze off somewhere in between of my favorite tracks – but somehow, I did not.

My flight to Seoul was as early as eight o’clock in the morning, and I shouldn’t be late for it.

I gazed off for a while, when it hit me that I won’t be seeing my mother as much as I used to anymore – at least, until my flight would take off tomorrow. That thought - tugged my heartstrings.

You see, one of those many things that I used to do when I was little was to sneak in my mom’s bedroom in the middle of the solemn night, when I couldn’t fall asleep or when nightmares would visit me and I would quietly sleep beside her.  

Mother wouldn’t mind that – because she always says that she would be there to catch me when I fall.

I turned the doorknob of her room as silent as possible, not wanting to wake mother up from her sleep. Then, I slowly walked and approached her, as I adjusted myself lying beside her, tugging the blanket closed to envelop both of us from the gust of wind. It had always been, just the two of us, listening to the sound of our breathing, creaking through the lonely nights.

“Hoya-ah?" She murmured in a low whisper. I guess, she got awaked.

"Yes, mom?"

"It’s been a while since you sneaked in. Good night, son.” She said, as she my cheek with the back of her hands.

I snuggled closer to my mom’s back.

A single tear glistened on my cheek, as I closed my eyes. “Good night too, mom.”

i'll ship homi through goods and bads /uglytears/ (gif credits to apiniteu)

kirakirashahida: i'm struggling between my homi feels and hocole feels too ;~~;

kiwiyu: i love, love homi too sobss.

dinobunny: hahaha yknw ur comment made my day. i ship hoya/mom too lmao.

pinkiepromise: d'aww no need for apology, and mummy sure knows the best ^^ 

CisumAmethyst: are you sick? aww get well soon ^^

Pistachio: i'm wondering who sent the message too lol XD