By The Window | YeonBin

twenty nine

Soobin wiped his palms on his jeans for what felt like the millionth time. He was standing in front of Yeonjun's house, his heart pounding in his chest. The summer evening was warm, but the heat that he felt had little to do with the weather.

Why am I so nervous? Soobin thought, taking a deep breath and staring at the front door.

It wasn't like he'd never met a parent before, but this felt different. This is Yeonjun's mom. And she actually invited him over. It wasn't like he could say no to that. But still, his hands wouldn't stop shaking.

A flashback suddenly played in his mind, from earlier that day at lunch.

It had just been the two of them at their usual spot. Yeonjun had been quiet, even for him, and Soobin had noticed the way he kept fidgeting with his hands. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yeonjun spoke up.

"Hey, um... Soobin," Yeonjun started, not quite meeting Soobin's eyes.

"Hm?" Soobin glanced at him, curious.

"My mom... She asked if you could come by the house tonight. For dinner."

Soobin's heart skipped a beat. "Your mom?"

"Yeah. She... kind of insisted."

Soobin blinked, processing the request. Then, without thinking, he replied, "Yeah, sure. I'd love to."

Now, standing outside the house, Soobin was questioning his earlier confidence. He rang the doorbell before he could talk himself out of it.

The door swung open, and Yeonjun appeared, his eyes widening slightly when he saw Soobin. Before Yeonjun could say anything, Soobin blurted out, "Do I look okay?"

Yeonjun blinked, momentarily taken aback by Soobin's uncharacteristic nervousness. "Yeah, you look fine. What's with you?"

"I don't know," Soobin admitted, running a hand through his hair, "I've never done this before."

"Done what?"

"Met the mom of someone who..." Soobin trailed off, cheeks flushing slightly, "you know."

Yeonjun's lips twitched, amused. "You're nervous."

"Am not."

"Are too."

Before Soobin could protest further, the sound of footsteps approached, and Yeonjun's mom appeared in the doorway. Her smile was warm and inviting, instantly making Soobin feel a little less like he was going to pass out.

"Oh, Soobin! Glad you could make it," she said cheerfully, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she glanced between the two boys. "Is everything alright?"

"Yes, ma'am," Soobin managed, trying to pull himself together. "Thanks for having me."

As they walked into the house, Yeonjun's mom led them to the dining room, where the table was set with a variety of dishes that looked as delicious as they smelled.

Before they sat down, she paused, turning to Soobin with a more serious expression.

"Soobin," she began, her tone gentle, "I want to thank you. For everything you've done for Yeonjun. I know he doesn't always say it, but... it means a lot to me. You've been there for him when he needed someone, and that's something I'll always be grateful for."

Soobin's raised his eyebrows slightly, caught off guard by her sincerity. He glanced at Yeonjun, who was suddenly very interested in the floor, his ears tinged pink. Soobin swallowed, trying to find the right words.

"It's nothing, really. Yeonjun... he's important to me. I'm just glad I can be there for him."

Yeonjun's mom smiled warmly, her eyes softening as she looked at Soobin. "You're a good boy, Soobin. And you don't need to be so formal with me. Call me 'Imo,' okay?"

Soobin blinked, feeling a lump form in his throat. "O-Okay... Imo," he stammered, feeling an odd mix of embarrassment and warmth.

She gave him a satisfied nod before turning her attention to the table. "Now, let's eat before everything gets cold."

As they settled at the dinner table, Soobin couldn't help but notice how homey the house felt, a stark contrast to the nervous fluttering in his chest.

They dug into the food, the awkwardness from earlier fading as they all began to relax. But just as Soobin was starting to feel at ease, Yeonjun's mom dropped the bomb.

"So," she began, her voice casual but with a hint of teasing, "how long have you two been together?"

Both boys froze mid-reach, Soobin choking on his own saliva as Yeonjun nearly dropped his chopsticks.

"W-We're not—" Soobin stammered, his face turning bright red.

"Mom!" Yeonjun shot her a mortified look, his own cheeks burning. "We're not... It's not like that."

His mom raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying herself. "Oh? My mistake then," she said innocently, though the small smile tugging at her lips suggested otherwise.

Soobin shot a helpless look at Yeonjun, who just shrugged, clearly embarrassed but trying not to show it. The tension from earlier was quickly dissolving, replaced with a strange mix of comfort and awkwardness.

They continued eating, with Yeonjun's mom throwing in occasional teasing comments, making both boys squirm in their seats. But the more they talked, the more Soobin started to relax, especially seeing Yeonjun handle it with that quiet grace of his.

By the end of the meal, Soobin was laughing along with Yeonjun's mom, the earlier nervousness long gone. It wasn't as scary as he'd imagined, and he was grateful for the warmth that Yeonjun's mom exuded. She clearly cared for her son, and that care extended to him in a way he hadn't expected.

After dinner, as they were clearing the table, Yeonjun's mom turned to Soobin one last time with a soft smile. "You know, you're welcome here anytime, Soobin. And next time, bring more of that smile of yours instead of all that nervousness, alright?"

Soobin's face lit up, feeling a surge of warmth in his chest. "I'll do that, Imo. Thank you."

Yeonjun, watching the exchange, couldn't help but smile to himself. Turns out his mom had a way of making everything feel right, even in the midst of all the chaos.

As they finished tidying up, Yeonjun turned to his mom. "Mom, I'm going to go out for a bit with Soobin. Just for a walk outside."

She gave him a knowing look but didn't say anything, just nodding with a smile. "Alright, you two. Don't stay out too late."

"Okay," Yeonjun replied, grabbing Soobin's arm and pulling him towards the door.

As they stepped outside into the cool evening air, Soobin let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. "That wasn't so bad," he admitted, glancing at Yeonjun.

Yeonjun chuckled, nudging him playfully.

"Told you she'd like you."

___________

a.n.

*whiff whiff* do you smell that?
This book is ending 😔🤚