the penthouse

29 | not going back.

" see you today at nine, at your grandparents' house, bring a notebook and a pen, maybe some different markers ! if you see this message after nine, then we will not be able to rehearse today. i have an appointement with a recording company later. "

ji-yoo looked at the message mark had sent her. she could not sleep, not after the party. while it was extremely fun and she enjoyed it, it also made ji-yoo realise that she was not able to sleep after such things.

it was still barely six in the morning. her grandparents from her mother's side lived a little further away than her high school, which meant that she needed to leave a little earlier than she would have liked.

it was not too great for her to visit them. seeing how little they mentioned mark and his passion for music, as if he was a taboo topic in their family, ji-yoo wondered if she would be treated the same. though, she had the other side's support.

her paternal grandparents were extremely proud, hearing that she found joy in playing the piano. it was amazing news, because her grandmother had been trying to make a teenage sicheng go for music, as his hobby.

ji-yoo got up from her bed. she was sure that sicheng and yeri were not awake, due to the fact that they had to stay until the end of the party. but, she had to let them know that she was going to practice with mark.

she made her way to her parents' bedroom. the door was not closed, and ji-yoo could see that sicheng's side of the bed was empty. she slowly pushed the door a little more, and was met with her mother sitting on her side, scrolling down on her phone.

" ji-yoo, you woke up ? " yeri got up, walking towards her daughter. ji-yoo pulled her mother into a hug, as the two had not been able to see eachother since arriving at the party, due to ji-yoo going to her grandmother and having a conversation with her.

" i have. it was really nice, last night. " ji-yoo smiled. she held onto yeri's hand, and she could guess the fact that her mother had not been awake for long. " actually, uncle mark left me a message. he wants to meet at nine, to start the piano lessons. "

" that is wonderful ! " yeri replied to her daughter. " do you want me to tell your father to drive you there ? he is taking a shower, but i can go and tell him. at what hour are you supposed to meet mark ? " she asked, as ji-yoo looked towards the bathroom door.

" at nine. there is still time, do not rush dad. you know he likes to take his time in the shower. " ji-yoo let out a laugh. yeri nodded, her smile still plastered on her face. " we are meeting at my grandparents' house. his piano is probably there. "

suddenly, yeri's face dropped. from the previous smile she had on her face, yeri's expression turned into a dissapointed one. ji-yoo wondered what had made her mother react like that. did she dislike her parents that much ?

she knew that yeri did not really get along with her parents, but kept obeying them. that happend until she met a then well-known troublemaker sicheng, who changed her whole life. ji-yoo could guess her grandparents were never happy when yeri got married at nineteen.

" oh, then, good luck. if your grandparents ask anything about.. whatever plans your uncle has, pretend like you did not hear anything. " yeri explained to ji-yoo, who did not really understand. " or, tell them you have no idea. "

ji-yoo nodded. what plans did her uncle have ? she surely did not talk to mark about his future plans, and instead kept mentioning her passion and what she wanted to do. but, if yeri told her to do something, she was going to listen.

" anyway, whenever you are ready to leave, tell your father. he will get out of the shower, he will not stay in there for three hours. well, i hope. " yeri continued to look at the bathroom door, as both began to laugh. " i need to call someone. "