Chapter 67 – [Interlude – 2]

[So-yul]

Countless people spread before me as I exited the immigration gate.

People waving to welcome long-unseen loved ones. People eagerly counting the moments until someone arrives while holding sketchbooks.

Among them were those watching anxiously. Probably because someone hadn’t appeared despite it being their arrival time.

Of course, there was no one here to welcome me.

It would be the same at home with no one waiting.

Father was uncomfortable with my existence. Mother scolded me saying everything was because I was lacking. Even if I went home like this, no one would welcome me.

I just wanted to become an excellent pianist.

Really, if I could just get my parents’ approval for this one thing, it would be enough.

Sometimes I even felt like I was abandoned alone in this vast world.

At times, watching children who grew up in normal families, I felt envious.

No, actually I could probably become like that anytime if I just had the will.

If I just gave up piano, my parents would probably look at me too.

…When I was driven to such weak thoughts, Woo-jin’s face always crossed my mind.

Woo-jin who came to comfort me backstage after the arts festival ended.

And even that day when he hugged me tight on the bench while whispering love as rain poured down.

“Hehe.”

A tiny laugh burst from deep in my chest.

When someone cheered for me this hard, I almost got caught up in needless worries.

Getting me up when I fell. Supporting me when I collapsed. Having a boyfriend who’d always lend his shoulder when I wanted to lean on him. What kind of nonsensical thoughts was I having?

I shook my head hard to clear away the anxiety in my heart.

My steps forward were more energetic than ever before.

As I looked around after leaving the airport, my phone suddenly rang.

There shouldn’t be anyone calling me at a time like this. Could it be from my parents? Or maybe a friend bored from break starting wanting to chat.

Expecting this, I took out my phone, but there was an unexpected name written there.

The name of my first ever boyfriend… Woo-jin.

“Pfft.”

I covered my mouth and let out a small laugh.

People walking around glanced at me, but I didn’t even care about that now.

Of course I felt excited enough to want to jump in place.

Just after thinking about Woo-jin, suddenly getting contact from him. Maybe we had some kind of telepathy between us.

But… I couldn’t honestly show my happiness.

Because showing that I liked him was still a bit embarrassing. Because for some reason I got shy the moment I tried to say it. Because my cheeks turned bright red and my lips wouldn’t easily part.

I wanted to keep it hidden until I got used to these feelings at least.

Ahem ahem. I cleared away my smile while needlessly clearing my throat.

Though it might be selfish, I always welcomed Woo-jin expressing his feelings.

So I decided to tease Woo-jin just like before we dated.

I wanted to constantly stimulate my boyfriend until he finally couldn’t hold back and showed his love for me.

For that, I tried to answer the phone as emotionlessly as possible.

[“Hello?”]

[“Ah, hello? It’s me. Min Woo-jin.”]

[“Yeah! Hi!”]

Hearing his voice again after almost a day.

When I answered while hiding my delighted feelings as much as possible, a snicker came through the phone.

[“…Seems you’re happy hearing my voice?”]

[“W-what?”]

T-this wasn’t supposed to happen.

I hesitated after being struck right in the vital point. My face heated up after having my true feelings exposed from the first words.

Knowing I shouldn’t answer happily, I unconsciously spoke in a bright tone…

But Woo-jin digging into this without missing it was too much too.

I felt like complaining that if he was this perceptive he should have confessed earlier.

[“Well, never mind that. So? Have you arrived in America now?”]

Sensing my hesitation, Woo-jin changed the topic.

Inwardly grateful, I put on a blunt tone again.

[“Yeah. I just got out of the airport.”]

[“Oh really? Good timing then. I called with some extra time thinking you might be busy with immigration.”]

[“Hmm~ So you thought about even that?”]

When I teased back in retaliation, Woo-jin paused briefly then:

[“Of course I think about it. I’m your real boyfriend now.”]

[“…Ugh.”]

Saying he’s my real boyfriend now.

He really says such cringy things. I wonder if Woo-jin just has no sense of embarrassment.

Rather, I ended up making incomprehensible sounds from getting shy myself, so it felt like I was completely beaten.

Finding my reaction amusing, Woo-jin just kept giggling.

[“So are you heading home now?”]

[“Yeah. Since I want to play piano soon, I’m going straight there without stopping anywhere. I can get there quickly taking the subway alone.”]

[“Hmm.”]

Making a dubious sound at my answer, Woo-jin:

[“I don’t know much about America, but is it really okay going alone? You’re not just forcing yourself to say it’s fine when it might be dangerous?”]

Asked this question full of concern.

Hehehe. I couldn’t help laughing at such a cute question.

Really such a worrier of a boyfriend. Though not quite at the level of growing up there, I’d lived in America quite a while. I could protect myself just fine.

I deliberately puffed out my chest as I answered:

[“It’s fine, dummy. Really quick, and there are lots of people around.”]

[“…Well that’s good then.”]

Woo-jin muttered somewhat awkwardly.

Meaning it was the perfect timing to tease him.

[“What? Could it be you were worried about me?”]

When I asked probingly, clear hesitation came from Woo-jin.

He even made mumbling sounds like “uh, um, err” several times.

He always shows such amusing reactions so I want to keep teasing him. But seems Woo-jin still doesn’t know this fact.

While I was smiling with that small sense of victory.

Woo-jin’s voice came through the phone:

[“…Of course.”]

[“…What?”]

[“Of course I was.”]

Woo-jin answered firmly then quickly:

[“You’re my most precious girlfriend. Of course I’m worried you might get in danger somewhere. If I could have my way, I’d want to hold you tight and never let go.”]

[“…W-what are you saying.”]

Really what on earth is he saying…

My face turned bright red as soon as I heard it. I bit my lips hard from endless embarrassment. My cheeks heated up so much they felt like they might steam.

How can he say such things so calmly? I wonder if he secretly practices reading books or something.

The teasing role was always supposed to be mine.

Instead, it feels like I’m the one being teased now.

[“You really…”]

[“Huh, what? Are you mad? Did I say something wrong just now?”]

When I couldn’t help but grumble thoroughly, Woo-jin asked in quite a confused tone.

[“I don’t know, dummy.”]

[“What?”]

My boyfriend asking back as if not understanding.

Really such a dummy.

…Both me and Woo-jin, we were both the same.

◎

“Ah.”

“Oh.”

When I finally arrived home and opened the front door, Father was standing there.

Father who’s often out due to being so busy. Since he works all day even at home, I hadn’t expected to run into him right away like this. I couldn’t help feeling somewhat flustered too.

Seems Father felt similarly flustered. Soon his gaze turned sharply elsewhere.

Deep awkwardness was clearly felt in how he scratched the back of his head.

As expected, he must still find me uncomfortable.

Then I should at least greet him warmly.

“I’m back, Father.”

I greeted him with a gentle eye-smile.

Father nodded seemingly displeased and just left a “Oh, yeah” before immediately turning to walk away.

For a moment, my chest felt like it froze.

Though I’d received cold responses from Father countless times. Though I understood it couldn’t be helped. Though I thought I was completely numb to it already. Seems it still cuts the same.

Maybe I unconsciously hoped he might welcome me since it had been a full 3 months.

I felt utterly foolish.

I entered further inside wearing a bitter smile.

“You’re back.”

And there, Mother was sitting.

As soon as I stepped into the living room, Mother shot me a sharp gaze.

Unlike Father there was no sense of distance, but that actually felt even scarier to me.

“…I’m back.”

My voice came out tiny from being completely deflated.

Perhaps this seemed disrespectful to Mother. Soon Mother’s eyes grew even sharper.

“Han So-yul. You should greet properly. What are you doing?”

“Ah, I’m sorry. …I’m back, Mother.”

“Yes.”

When I bowed my head deeply to greet her, Mother turned her head with a lukewarm response.

Usually she would have added more words. Fortunately it seemed she would stop at this level today.

Along with feeling relieved… I felt sad at myself for being relieved just by this.

I might burst into tears if I stayed here longer. I thought I should quickly escape to my room.

Having such thoughts and trying to walk to my room.

“Han So-yul.”

Mother suddenly called to stop me.

I turned to look at Mother with my whole body stiff.

Mother was looking at me while maintaining her cold gaze.

The surrounding air felt like it was freezing. Though it was summer, my body trembled.

Just what was she going to say?

When the atmosphere became like this, Mother always delivered important words. It had always been that way so it was certainly true. I expected this time would surely be the same.

Anxiety suddenly swept over me. I even had the illusion I might lose the happiness I’d barely gained. My heart pounded heavily and my mind felt like it was going blank.

Finally Mother’s lips slowly began to move.

I listened for the words that would follow.

“From next semester…”