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"Seong Hwa, can I come in?"
"Hold on, mom!"
A few minutes later, Seong Hwa finally opened the door to his room.
"Come in, mom. Sorry, I was just getting dressed."
Seong Hwa's mother walked into her son's room and took a seat on the bed that was still neat and untouched.
"Seong Hwa honey, come on. Sit with me for a while."
"What's wrong, mom?"
Seong Hwa asked as he took a seat next to his mother.
"I just want to talk to you for a while, honey. For the past 2-3 weeks, I've rarely been able to talk to you. I even got to see you today only because of your birthday celebration, dear. Don't you miss me?"
"Of course I miss you. It's just that my work has taken up so much space in my schedule that I don't even have time for anyone."
"Did you get enough rest, honey? Do you want me to talk to your father? You know I can talk to him about this, right?"
Seong Hwa puffed out his lips and cheeks.
"No, mom. I get enough rest. It's just that I just don't have time for others."
His mother sighed, gently stroking her son's hair.
"Honey, you have to take care of your health."
"I take care of it very~ well~"
Seong Hwa hugged his mother's waist tightly.
His mother smiled at the behavior of her (only) child in her small family.
She couldn't imagine what would have happened in her life if Seong Hwa had never appeared in husbands and her's bleak childless life.
The sudden presence of Seong Hwa when he was still a baby in their house really brought a ray of happiness that the couple never imagined would exist.
"Seong Hwa~"
"Yes, mom?"
"Are you happy with your life?"
His mother asked, hugging while rocking both of their bodies.
"Of course I'm happy, mom. I got the career I've always dreamed of. I have friends that I've loved since I was a child and most importantly, I have you and papa who loves me."
"Seong Hwa, you know that's not what I meant, right?"
"If that's not what you meant, then what do you mean, mom?"
Seong Hwa asked, pretending to be stupid as if he didn't understand the question his mother was asking him.
"Seong Hwa, are you happy with this engagement?"
Seong Hwa just fell silent listening to the question.
Of course, he could have expected that this question would be addressed by his mother, considering that his mother knew the real problems of his heart and feelings.
Only, he didn't expect the question to be asked so soon.
"Of.. course I'm happy."
"Don't lie to me, Seong Hwa."
His tears fell.
He tightened his arms so that his mother could not see his now tear-filled face.
"Seong Hwa honey, I don't want you to do this for anyone. So, I ask again. Are you happy with your engagement with Hong Joong's brother?"
"What else can I do if I say I'm not really happy, mom?"
"Break off this engagement immediately."
"Mom.."
"Seong Hwa, you've loved Hong Joong since you were in school, honey. So, why did you suddenly decide to marry someone you never had your heart set on?"
"Hong Joong doesn't love me, mom."
"Hong Joong loves you and you know about that fact."
"He doesn't come forward and express his wishes like his brother."
His mother sighed, knowing how right her son was.
"Seong Hwa, have you ever talked to him about this? He already promised you, didn't he? He wants to marry you, honey."
"We were both still children then, mother. He will definitely not mention that again. Maybe, he is embarrassed when he remembers his stupid proposal to me."
"Honey..
"Mom, I love Hong Joong but I don't want to betray Bum Joong's efforts to be with me-"
"Even if you're not really happy?"
"I'll be happy. It's just.. it'll take some time.. Besides, papa seems very happy with this engagement."
"But you're not happy."
"I'll be fine as long as I see papa happy, mom. So, I hope you're happy with my decision too, can you, mom? Seeing you both happy is one of my ways of returning the kindness to you both. Taking care of and protecting me like your own child is not easy, is it? I have put a lot of burden on you both. So, seeing you both smile on top of everything I do is the most beautiful thing in my life. Thank you, mom.
"Seong Hwa, stop talking like that. I don't like hearing you talk like that. You are our son. No matter what happens, you are our son."
The sound of the two people's sobs filled the room.
"Seong Hwa.."
"Yes, mom?"
"You should live happily."
Seong Hwa nodded, receiving a kiss on his forehead.
