Yeji's POV
I woke up from my sleep, feeling really sore. My eyes were teary and I assumed it's because sometimes my eyes waters even when I go to sleep.
I opened my eyes and searched for the presence of my wife, surely she told me last night she'll have to return home and come back in the morning so mom took charge to look after me the whole night.
Looking through the glass window, I saw it's already daylight and anytime soon Ryujin would show up to me, kiss my forehead and feed me my breakfast like she used to since I woke up.
I was alone in the room when I woke up, so I concluded I was only searching for the presence of company. However, I was eager to see Ryujin.
I didn't know I would instantly search for her presence and her smile at this morning, but I did look for her.
"Eomma.."
I saw my mother approached, I quickly called her when she walked into my room. I fainted a smile, but suddenly pouted when mom didn't even bother to smile back.
Her faced looked so down and her eyes were swollen. I knew something was wrong, so I immediately asked.
"Are you okay? Is there something wrong?"
My mom didn't say anything, neither looked into my eyes. She just gestured her palm towards me indicating that I should cut it out. But I was too worried not to ask once again.
"Eomma, what's wrong?"
She just sat, not replying to me. I heard her sniffled which gave me a concerned look. Knowing my mother, I know she rarely exposes this part of herself, she rarely shows herself crying, and the fact that she is holding back her tears rather than letting it out makes me even more perplexed and frightened.
"Honey, do you wanna have breakfast now?" I heard mom asked, still not looking at me. I heard her shaky voice. I know she's just changing the subject to avoid answering the question.
"It's okay, I think I'll just wait for Ryujin to return. We'll have breakfast together, like we usually do." Even though I was still concerned by my mother's unexpected emotion, I answered to her in a nonchalant tone.
Mom sniffled again, this time more forcefully, but she tried not to show it. I know she's already sobbing and will simply be trying to stop herself, but I couldn't help but worry.
"Eomma, why are you crying? Can you please tell me what's wrong?" I uttered, louder this time with my concerned face. "You can tell my everything, please.."
"This is not the moment to ask that, Yeji. I suppose you need to eat. I'll help you with your breakfast. You don't have to wait for Ryujin to join you."
"Wait, eomma, why are you avoiding my questions? Can you just answer me? You're making me nervous," I said, pouting even more as I straightened up.
I heard my mom sighed, still not able to look at me in the eyes.
"Honey, I- uh just had an unexpected call from Lia..."
My eyebrow raised, still worried. I waited for mom to keep going. I grow even more concern about her as she keeps talking.
"What happened during the call? Why are you crying? What did she say?" I asked, still waiting for her to keep going.
"It's uh- an important matter. B- Bad news."
Now I was even more anxious, more worried than I had ever been before. I couldn't move because my entire body felt closed. I'll pass out if it has anything to do with Lia or anyone else I perceive to be my loved ones. If something bad happened to my loved ones, I wouldn't be able to manage it.
