PRECIOUS - PARK SEONGHWA

37

The morning sun streamed through the window as Seonghwa sat at his kitchen table, savoring a cup of coffee. The meeting with his mother had been cathartic, and for the first time in weeks, he felt a sense of hope.

His phone buzzed with a message from Jongho who had been quietly keeping an eye on Siyeon's situation.

*Hey, you better be free now. I have something important to discuss about your mom's house.*

Curiosity piqued, Seonghwa called Jongho immediately. He arrived to find him already waiting, a serious expression on his face.

"I've been doing some research, and I found out that your mom's current house isn't as safe as we thought."

Seonghwa's brows furrowed with concern. "What do you mean?"

Jongho leaned forward, lowering his voice. "It turns out the neighborhood has been experiencing some trouble lately-break-ins and other incidents. I know your mom's been through a lot, and I think she deserves a fresh start somewhere safer."

Seonghwa nodded, absorbing the information. The thought of Siyeon living in an unsafe environment was troubling. "You're right. She shouldn't have to worry about things like that."

"I've already started looking into some options," Jongho continued. "There are a few places in quieter, more secure areas that could be a good fit for her."

Touched by Jongho's initiative and care, Seonghwa felt a renewed sense of purpose. "Thanks, Jongho. I really appreciate you looking out for her."

Jongho smiled. "We're all in this together. Plus, I know how important it is for you to ensure she's safe and comfortable."

Over the next few days, Seonghwa and Jongho worked together to find a new home for Siyeon. They visited several properties, considering her needs and preferences. Finally, they found a charming house on the outskirts of the city, nestled in a peaceful neighborhood with friendly neighbors and a lovely garden.

Seonghwa knew it was the perfect place for his mother to start anew. With the paperwork finalized, he arranged a meeting with Siyeon to share the news.

When Siyeon arrived, Seonghwa led her to the house. Her eyes widened in surprise and delight as she took in the surroundings.

"Seonghwa, what is this?" she asked, her voice filled with wonder.

"It's your new home, Mom," Seonghwa replied, smiling. "Jongho and I found it for you. We wanted you to have a safe and happy place to live."

Tears welled up in Siyeon's eyes as she looked at her son, overwhelmed by his kindness and generosity. "I don't know what to say. This is more than I could have ever hoped for."

Seonghwa hugged her tightly, feeling the warmth of their renewed bond. "You deserve it, Mom. I want you to feel secure and happy."

As they explored the house together, Seonghwa felt a sense of fulfillment and joy. Helping his mother find a new home marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives-a chapter filled with hope, healing, and the promise of a brighter future.

_________________________________

It had been days since Seonghwa and Y/n last spoke. Every moment they spent together in the same room now was filled with an uncomfortable silence. They avoided eye contact, their words clipped and formal when they absolutely had to speak.

Seonghwa sat on the couch, mindlessly finishing his work on his laptop, while Y/n moved about the kitchen, her movements stiff and robotic. Every time their paths crossed, they found a way to step around each other, as if touching would break the fragile truce they'd silently agreed to.

Hongjoong had noticed the growing awkwardness between them. He had been watching his two friends, seeing how the argument about Siyeon had driven a wedge between them. He knew Seonghwa well enough to understand that he wasn't handling things as openly as he should. And Y/n? She was trying, but she clearly didn't know how to bridge the gap either.

One evening, Hongjoong and San decided it was time to intervene.

He invited them both to the meeting room under the pretense of an urgent matter. He could feel their hesitation as they arrived separately-Seonghwa with his hands in his pockets, Y/n nervously adjusting her hair.

San broke the silence. "Alright, enough. You two are killing me with this awkward tension. It's time to talk."

Seonghwa glanced at Y/n, his expression hard to read. Y/n shifted uncomfortably but didn't say anything.

"Come on," Hongjoong insisted, crossing his arms. "You guys can't keep ignoring each other forever. This situation with Siyeon has been tough, I get it. But that doesn't mean you two can't work through it together."

Seonghwa sighed, finally speaking up. "It's not that simple, San. I don't know what to say anymore."

Y/n, who had been avoiding his gaze, looked up. "Neither do I," she admitted softly. "I feel like anything I say or do will make things worse."

San shook his head, exasperated. "That's exactly the problem. You're both assuming the worst. You need to stop avoiding each other and actually talk."

There was a heavy silence before Seonghwa finally looked at Y/n. "I don't want to keep fighting," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "But I just... I don't know how to move forward. I feel like I can't trust anything right now."

Y/n bit her lip, her eyes welling with tears. "I didn't mean to hurt you, Seonghwa. I thought I was doing the right thing, but I realize now that I was wrong. I should've been honest from the start."

Seonghwa sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I needed to know about my mom, and you kept it from me."

Y/n wiped away a tear. "I was scared, Seonghwa. I didn't want to hurt you even more by bringing her into your life before she was ready. I know I made the wrong choice, but I never meant to break your trust."

San watched them, sensing that the breakthrough was coming. "Look, you both care about each other. That's obvious. You just need to stop acting like this is some unsolvable issue. You're both hurting, and that's okay. But avoiding each other isn't going to fix it."

Seonghwa looked at Y/n, and for the first time in days, he allowed himself to soften. "I forgive you."

Y/n voice trembled. "Thank you."

Hongjoong gave a satisfied nod. "Then talk it out. No more hiding, no more avoiding."

Seonghwa took a deep breath. "I'm willing to, if you are."

Y/n nodded, her eyes filled with hope. "I am. I really am."

As the tension began to ease, San leaned back, a small smile on his face. "See? That wasn't so hard."

Seonghwa chuckled lightly. "Thanks. You always know how to push us in the right direction."

"Someone's got to keep you two in check," Hongjoong said with a smirk.