Steal His Heart - Hyunlix

Trip Down Memory Lane

Disclaimer: Hyunjin focused chapter. No Hyunlix plot development.

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The rest of the car ride to the house was silent. Hyunjin didn't want to deal with conversations anymore and his mom was trying not to stir the pot.

As soon as his mom pulled into the very familiar driveway, Hyunjin paused and furrowed his brows. There was another car in the driveway. A car that did not seem familiar at all to him.

"Is someone else here?" Hyunjin asked his mom cautiously.

All he got in return was a coy smile. "I have a surprise for you.. well two surprises." She mused.

Hyunjin furrowed his brows suspiciously and tried to prepare himself for whatever could be behind that door.

His mom was rushing toward the front door and waited impatiently for her son to join. The artist, however, was perfectly content with his slow pace as he grabbed his bag from the trunk. He had no interest in finding out who else he was about to have to make small talk with. Maybe they could try again tomorrow when he has had some actual sleep. Was it his fault? Yes. Small talk was not the reason he came here though, and his mom didn't seem to be in a rush to tell him why she suddenly wanted to be a happy family.

He prepared himself best he could before walking up to the door and standing behind his overly excited mother. She unlocked the door and opened it. There was nobody waiting on the other side but he heard sniffing by his feet and his face brightened up immediately.

"KHAMI!" He greeted with genuine excitement as he crouched down and pet the dog he hadn't seen in almost ten years.

After a couple of hesitant sniffs, Khami's tail started to wag furiously and he jumped up Hyunjin's leg with happy barks. The artist happily scooped the dog up and made a disgusted face when Khami started to lick his face. Despite the old age that was evident through the patches of gray fur on his coat, Khami was still the little menace he always was.

The actually happy reunion didn't last long before footsteps could be heard coming down the stairs. Khami's ears perked up and he tilted his head before starting to wriggle in his hold in attempt to escape. Hyunjin didn't take it too personally, Khami had never really been a cuddler. He barely tolerated it for the artist's sake, even now that his owner was older and much bigger than he used to be the last time they were together.

Hyunjin set the chihuahua back down on the floor, watching as he ran over to the stairs to greet the silhouette that just emerged.

"Jinnie... this is your second surprise." His mom smirked.

"Huh?" Hyunjin asked in confusion before the man turned around.

"Ah, come on, bud, don't tell me you forgot about your old man!"

Hyunjin's eyes widened in surprise and he furrowed his brows. "Dad?" He asked in genuine confusion. It's not that the idea of his dad being here was such a shocking one, he just hadn't heard the voice in a very long time. Sure, his dad showed up to his graduation. But it wasn't like he spent weekends with the man, so even back then it wasn't a sound he was used to hearing.

His father chuckled and walked up to him, the smile on his face widening as he took in his son's appearance. "Look at you, man!" He practically cheered with pride. "I'm glad you got the height gene from me." He mumbled softly as he nudged Hyunjin in the side.

The artist cringed internally at the awkwardness of it all. The cringe turned into genuine suspicion when he saw his dad smile charmingly at his mom.. a look he hadn't seen in years.