All Your Lies | Yoon Jeonghan

CH 36: His Return

[ Regret Could Do So Much ]

The cars were seemingly zigzagging in front of him, and Jeonghan had to readjust his eyes for more than several times to the luminous, fuzzy city lights; deeming that alone, it was difficult to make anything out, and yet, his phone began to ring from a call, his inebriated reasoning compelling him to take it.

He transfered the call to the car's speaker, answering without making the effort of acknowledging who it was.

"Jeonghan?", The sound of his Mom's voice on the other line, it was like getting poured with a bucket of ice-cold water, waring and evoking, alleviating the fog in his head.

It was a little later then when guilt began to consume him, words stuck in his throat, unable to speak anything to his Mom with his situation, the realization knocking more than a little sense into him.

He was drunk and driving the last time his Mom was upset with him when she happened to find out, not to mention the heights he took just so he could take his car key back, he swore to never do it again, and right then, as his Mom was calling, he was doing it again. So at the right and perfect time.

"Can you come home?", His Mom's voice was trembling, in a way that he had never heard from her before.

Jeonghan ran his palm down his face, attempting to withdraw himself of the dizziness that was gradually occupying more of his head, his other hand on the steering wheel. "Is everything alright, Mom?"

His Mom's pause just made him more uneasy, not realizing that he was already second guessing. "Your dad— he got into an accident and. .", His mind was crystal clear all of a sudden, sounds were nonexistent save for the ringing in his ears that has came to pester his brainwork instead. "And his secretary called, and. .and—." , Jeonghan could easily understand why his Mom just couldn't say it. Who could ever?

"It's alright, Mom. I'll come home, okay? We'll talk.", Without making any considerations, nor having any reservations, Jeonghan stepped on the accelerator harder, compressing it until it was just flat beneath his push.

He had no idea why he was giving death a chance for himself, but he just needed to get home fast.

His parents' house was always silent, cold in spite of any weather, somber no matter what time of the day nor how illuminated and crowded it was, the house was an embodiment of what Jeonghan would not want for a home. And he dreaded every moment he stepped in there. Every time he knew that his Dad would be there expecting him.

And yet, at that unfamiliar moment, all that he could think about was running up to the front door, getting there, making silent bargains with the universe, that if he could just get there sooner, certain things wouldn't happen. Or if anything, be different.

He shoved the front door open, immediately seeing everyone gathered in the middle of the living room, standing in a way as if they were unconscious about doing so, their faces tell that their minds were on one thing.

His Mom was the first one to notice him. "You're here, Jeonghan.", and all together, Victoria, who had both her hands on his Mom's shoulders, comforting her, and Seungcheol, who was in the middle of a phone call, tend their gazes to him.

Up until then trying to fend off the aftermath of alcohol, Jeonghan cleared his throat as he walked his way up to them.

And it was just awfully silent, as if nothing was happening. Or nothing substantial had just happened. Like they all just gathered there to stand still and be in each others quiet presence. Like they were all lifeless themselves.