Unconditionally (BOOK 3)

Long Time, No See

Felix's POV:

I've mentally prepared myself for the worst possible outcome. Something like this looks good on paper, but when it becomes reality, it's terrifying.

Before I was put into the foster home, my relationship with my grandparents was much different from what I had with my actual parents. I'd say they're the ones that truly raised me to be the person I am today - someone who doesn't take life for granted and loves unconditionally. I've had some bumps in the road along the way, but it happens to the best of us.

I don't know how they'll react when they open the front door. Will they recognize me immediately? Will they tell me I shouldn't have come? So many thoughts were swarming through my head, I didn't know which ones to believe.

Hyunjin had the idea to rent a car while we were here rather than take Ubers everywhere. The original plan was for him to come inside with me. But now that he can stay put, it's what I'd prefer. I'm already enough of a shock on my own, I don't want to drag him into this if it goes south. But even if it doesn't, this is a moment with my family that I need to do alone. Thankfully and unsurprisingly, he understood immediately. He's been supportive since the very beginning with this and I'm so grateful. He truly is the best.

"Is this it?" Hyunjin asked, looking at the modest home.

"Yeah." I answered quietly. All of the memories that I made here were coming back to me at full speed. Fortunately, majority were good ones. But it didn't lessen my anxiety the way I had hoped.

"Just text me if you want to leave or you want me to come in, okay?" I turned to Hyunjin and kissed his lips softly. He's nervous too, I can tell.

"I love you."

"I love you too, angel. It'll be okay."

I nodded and opened the door, walking up the driveway alone. My heart was pounding out of my chest and my hands were shaking. Nothing has even happened, yet I already feel as though I'm about to cry. I rang the doorbell, then took a deep breath once I heard the familiar sound.

"Coming!" I heard my grandma say from inside. When she opened the door, she looked as if she had just seen a ghost.

"Hi...grandma." I bit my lip, trying to contain my emotions.

"Felix? Is that you?"

She remembered me.

"It's me." I nodded, constantly wiping my eyes.

"Oh my god." Her voice was shaky as she lifted a hand to her mouth. "Oh my god." She repeated, sounding more in disbelief. "Honey!" She called out behind her. "Come inside." She then said to me and closed the front door.

"Is everything okay..." My grandpa's voice trailed off once he noticed me, being in a similar state of shock. "You look like my grandson, except all grown up." He pointed to me and came closer.

"Honey, it's Felix." My grandma and I both immediately thought he was going to faint so we helped him sit down. "We never thought we'd see you again, I can't believe this. You've gotten so big, how old are you now?"

"I'm 23." I nodded.

"It's been so long." She started to cry, which only made my emotions uncontainable. She wrapped her arms around me and held as tightly as she could. "We've missed you so much, sunshine." The childhood nickname only made my cries grow stronger. I didn't want to be this emotional in front of them, but I realize now that the task would've been impossible. "You came all this way from Korea?"

"Yeah, how'd you know I was there?" She pulled away and wiped away my tears, trying to comfort me.

"Because we had gotten into contact with your adoptive family, didn't they tell you?" I felt an instant pit in my stomach. But for the sake of a heartwarming reunion, I'll save the drama for later.