Affection's Facade

When love arrived

Elera's first person 

"He truly adores you, you know," his mother murmured, joining me as we both watched Tae-hyung and Hae-mi from a distance. The two were engrossed, sharing a tender moment while painting. Hae-mi, with a glint in her eyes, delicately dabbed paint onto his cheek. Laughing, he playfully reciprocated, marking her face as well.

Turning my gaze to his mother, I felt warmth spread across my face, a soft smile playing on my lips. "I know," was all I managed, touched by the depth of her observation. Her hand gently brushed against my shoulder in a comforting manner, as if confirming her sentiments.

"Why don't we take a walk?" she suggested,. I nodded in agreement, appreciating the gesture. "Don't miss too much for us," she playfully said as we walked out.

A light chuckle escaped me, my heart lighter. As we walked out through the estate, she glanced up at the dimming sky, the hues of sunset casting soft shades of orange and pink. Her hands clasped together behind her back, she moved with a grace and elegance.

For a while, we simply enjoyed the ambiance, allowing nature's mural to envelope us. When we approached a particularly beautiful section of the garden, she motioned to a stone bench. "Why don't we sit?" she proposed. We settled down, taking in the blooming flowers that danced in the gentle evening breeze.

The silence was broken by her soft humming. Recognizing the tune, my eyes brightened. "I really love Sung Si Kyung," I remarked, nostalgia evident in my voice. She offered a knowing nod, a shared appreciation between us.

"The day you played that song with Tae-hyung," she began, a faraway look in her eyes as she revisited the memory, "you two were sitting outside, right by the gate. After that day, he hummed that tune endlessly, echoing it throughout the house."

A soft chuckle escaped me as I visualized the moment. She hesitated slightly, taking a deep breath as if bracing herself. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you, something I regret," she confessed.

Perplexed, I furrowed my brows, awaiting her explanation.

"I'm not sure if you recall, but there was an instance when Tae-hyung's father was... less than kind to you. He tried to remove you from our home," she continued, her voice laced with remorse. "Instead of confronting him, of defending you, I asked you—a young child at the time—to understand and forgive his temperament, asserting he meant no harm."

As her words sank in, I inhaled deeply, the weight of the past pressing on my chest. Looking at her, there was no anger, just an acknowledgment of a past pain. She met my gaze, eyes filled with genuine regret.

"I had nearly forgotten that incident. I always believed you acted with the intention of easing the situation," I responded, my voice softening.

She let out a deep, melancholy sigh, her eyes distant, lost in memories. "Yes, I tried to. But it wasn't the right way to handle things. At that time, I should've stood up to him. If I had been stronger, perhaps I could've shielded Tae-hyung from many hardships. Yet here we are, and I owe you both an apology and my gratitude."

She paused for a moment, collecting her thoughts. "Before we moved, Tae-hyung had become... distant, stubbornly shutting himself away. I feared he was going to quickly become his father. Then, as if by magic, the girl next door had him pouring his soul back into art. We initially thought it was So-yeon who had influenced him. In the world of affluence, there's an unspoken joy in discovering your child connecting with someone. And though his father feigned indifference, it became evident that it was you who truly held his heart. You were special, someone, he wanted to protect." She hesitated, the edges of her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "My son wasn't one to cry or show weakness. Even during confrontations with his father, he'd remain stoic, biting his lip in defiance. But the day his father raised his voice at you..." Her voice trailed off, her gaze fixated on her fingers as they twitched in her lap. "Tae-hyung stood up to him, demanding respect for you. Despite the repercussions, he voiced his sentiment again, as if he was unmoved. He may have had a rough exterior, often returning home with bruises from school fights, but with you, I saw a gentler, kinder side of him. You brought out the best in him," she confessed, her voice choked with emotion.