Beautiful // Nomin

~61~

After stopping for some Subway for lunch, Jaemin took Jisung directly to the place where their old home was. According to online sources, they're old parents hadn't moved anywhere since the years past. 

Saying that driving around through their old local community wasn't bittersweet would be a total lie. Some things had changed, but some things were exactly the same and nostalgia brought in those memories of their childhood that had actually been incredibly pleasant until Jaemin had come out. 

The car had become quieter and quieter as they had gotten closer to their destination, and by the time they'd entered the neighborhood, it was completely silent. Then they pulled up to the old house. 

It was ever as grand as it had always been. Parking on the side of the road, Jaemin took a moment to take the beautiful house in. It honestly reminded him of Jeno's house. He couldn't believe that this was where he'd still be living if it weren't just for the fact that he was gay.

Jisungie began to sniffle and cry, and Jaemin reached over and held his hand. "You need a moment?" he asked softly, to which the younger boy nodded. 

As Jisung took his time, Jaemin observed the status of the house. There were no cars in the driveway, but of course one might be in the garage. He really hoped that only his "ex"-mother was home, and not the father. Jaemin knew that the former had always loved him, but not the latter. 

----

Kim Aecha was sitting at her kitchen table, one hand holding her tea mug, the other scrolling down her laptop for new houses on the market. She was the only one home, her husband out teaching students at their university. 

She got up to put her mug in the sink when a house servant came to her and said that there were two boys at the front door who asked if they could see her. "Should I let them in?"

Aecha frowned, thinking that she shouldn't be having such guests over at this time. "No, I'll come see," she replied as she walked over to the slighted front door and opened it. 

She looked up to meet the faces of two tall, handsome young men, and her jaw dropped as she realised that they were the beautiful works of her creation. 

"Hello, Mrs. Kim," the older greeted politely and the two boys bowed to her. 

No! It felt strange to her ears to hear her precious sons call her something she'd be called by a stranger. 

They were supposed to be her sons, not any other random boy on the street. 

Her sons. 

The woman began to break down and cry as she saw how her Nana and Sungie had grown up to be. The two figures in front of her stood hesitantly, unsure of what to do next. Then Jisungie's dried tears started to come again, and he began to cry as well. 

"What are you two doing?" their mother scolded through sobs. "You should come hug me!" 

The invitation was what her sons were waiting for, and they took no further moment to embrace her as she spread out her arms, trying to hug them both at one time. 

And after all the years of searching and waiting, Aecha's heart finally settled down in peace. 

Her sons were alive, and they'd finally come home. 

----

As grand as Jaemin's old home was, the university campus that now loomed in front of Jeno was absolutely grander. 

He felt a relief that he wouldn't be facing his parents everyday now, but still a heavy responsibility of the girl Kiara standing right next to him. 

They were quiet as they walked over to the administration office to sign in for the works-studies program that they'd applied for. 

As they waited in line, Kiara broke the silence first. "Jeno, you really didn't have to-" 

"It's okay," Jeno immediately cut off, not wanting to revisit the past. Wasn't the purpose of life to go forward, not dwell on your mistakes? 

"Why did you change," Kiara asked softly, quickly adding, "I don't mean it like it's a bad thing, I just, you know, we were so different just two weeks ago." 

The tired eye bags on his face were evident as he finally turned to face her and make eye contact, something he hadn't been able to do up until now. "I'm changing for our parents, and for our future, and for...you." 

He answered in a gentle voice before hesitating a split second and placing a light kiss on her forehead. 

Kiara eyes widened, unexpected. Even before the whole fiasco, Jeno hadn't shown that much affection in public. 

"J-jeno, I don't care what our parents think, if you don't really have feelings for me, then it's okay-" 

"No, I do," Jeno interrupted a second time. "I'm sorry for cheating on you," he whispered to her regretfully. "I'm sorry that you have to end up with me after I dumped you for...someone else. I'm really sorry that I let him get between us." 

He was trying, he was trying so hard to please his parents and love his girl again. 

Today was just the first shaky baby step, but that was okay. A small step was still a step. 

And somewhere, somewhere down the road, their relationship would eventually heal to turn into what it should be.