Overdrive | NCT ✅

23. "Don't get pregnant"

"Why is it so cold?" Lucas asks as his breath steams up.

"That's England for you," I say drily as we stand in front of the housekeeper's house.

I put my arm through Lucas' as we walk towards the front door of one of the many houses on the terraced road.

"I can't believe she lives opposite your house," Lucas mutters.

"Neither can I, she definitely didn't live this close when I used to live here," I say, and I knock on the door.

"By the way, she speaks mandarin," I add as the door opens.

The housekeeper instantly smiles delightedly when she sees me.

"Jieun! You came! And who's this?" she asks, and I smile at her.

"This is Lucas, he's my boyfriend. How have you been?" I ask her.

"I've been good. You should both come inside," she says.

"Oh, sorry but we've come straight from the airport and it's been a long day," I say.

"Of course, I'm sorry. You need to rest. I'll give you the keys right away," she says, disappearing for a couple of seconds.

She comes back and hands me the keys, and I hold onto them tightly.

"I'm sorry to hear about your father. He made sure I kept the house in good condition ever since the accident, so it's the exact same as you left it," she says.

"Thank you," I say to her.

"Your welcome," she says, and we turn around and walk out of her gate.

"Exactly the same? After ten years?" Lucas asks quietly as soon as we're out of earshot.

"Apparently," I mutter, my heart racing from the nerves.

We both cross the road, and I pause outside my gate, staring at the house.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Lucas asks, and I nod as we walk through the gate.

I walk up to the front door and slot the key in the lock. It twists easily, and I place my hand on the cold door handle. I push down the handle, my heart racing, and the door opens. I walk into the familiar porch and open the door to the hallway. My breath catches in my throat at the familiar staircase facing me, and I place the keys on the table next to the wall in the hallway. There's still a picture of me and Mum. I'm eight years old in the photo, and we took it at a theme park. A smile creeps onto my face as I pick up the frame and stare at my mother's face. I haven't seen it in so long, and her face started to fade in my dreams too. Lucas puts a hand on my shoulder, and I look up at him.

"I can't wait to see the rest of your photos," he says, grinning, and I can't help laughing.

If it wasn't for Lucas, I'd be crying right now. I put the frame back down and roll my suitcase into the front room, turning the light on. There are more photos on the mantelpiece, and I cringe when I see them. Lucas walks over and picks one up, laughing.

"You used to be so chubby," he says, and I snatch the picture from him.

"Shut up. I bet you were even fatter," I say, but I'm grinning.

Lucas looks at the rest of the photos.

"You look a lot like your mother," he says.

"Yeah, I do now, but back then I looked like a freaking potato," I say.

"You still are a potato," he says teasingly, and he jabs his finger in my waist, making me jump.

"Oi!" I yell at him, laughing.