Lingering Feelings. {Completed}. + Book 2

Chapter 8 :

At the table, Jae-Yoon's mom, noticing something, was horrified. She started to check her son's neck bit by bit.

"What happened to you ? Did you get into a fight ? Was it with Sang-Hyun ?"

She sounded worried. The mentioned person just cleared his throat and looked down towards his food the moment he noticed the smirk his sister gave him from across the table.

"Kids playing around, he ?" Chae-Young commented followed by a little giggle.

"I hope it's nothing serious."

The innocence Jae-Yoon's mom was showing was genuine and pure, almost too precious to be true. Sang-Hyun's older sister, wanting to stir up the fire, said in an unexpected way :

"Maybe he just got himself a girlfriend, who knows ?" She winked at her little brother who stomped on her foot. "Aïe. Sang-Hyun, why would you hurt this sister of yours ?"

She knew what she was doing and it pissed off her brother who didn't find an excuse other than telling them that it was a mistake. He had murder on his mind but calmed himself down when seeing how uneasy his best friend looked.

"He doesn't. We were just messing around and I wanted to get on his nerves. So... Yeah."

He tried to save the situation his sister had embroiled them into but he didn't know if it was effective or worse. But surprisingly enough, they didn't comment on that and continued to eat. He understood by this silence that they were judging him. He felt uncomfortable but he could've done anything just for the silver haired man's well being. After a little while, it was Jae-Yoon's dad's turn to speak up.

"So... Sang-Hyun. How was England ? Did you spend time with Jae-Hee ? You must've had since you were living with our kids' grandparents, isn't that right ? I remember how your departure was so sudden without any explanation that your dad had to practically beg us to help him to find a place for yourself and we came up with the idea."

It was news for Jae-Yoon who hadn't been made aware that he wasn't leaving in a random place but instead in the same house as his twin sister. He stopped chewing on his food, gazing mindlessly at his plate who stopped emptying itself.

Sang-Hyun looked at his best friend with a saddened expression, not knowing how to respond. He reached out to his lap, pressing down on it under the table as a way to reassure him. He didn't know what for but he disliked the way he surely was feeling right now and if he could just ease his unspoken sentiments, he was willing to give it all.

"It was beautiful. Jae-Yoon's grandparents took really good care of me. They were amazing and Jae-Hee was similar to how I remember her to be. Kind and generous. Just healthier. She seems to do better."

"She is."

Said proudly her mother looking at her husband. They seemed both delighted by the news.

"So were there any conversations about marriage between her and yourself ? I remember her swearing that she would be your wife in the future."

The father laughed at this memory which made Jae-Yoon even more upset. But he didn't say anything and didn't move at all. He was just, discreetly and under the table, picking on the skin next to his nails in a nervous way.

"Not really. I don't think she feels that way anymore, we were just kids back then."

Sang-Hyun tried to ease the atmosphere by politely declining the subliminal offer while holding the silver haired man's hands for him to stop doing that.

"Oh... Is it maybe because you have someone else ?"

Asked Jae-Yoon's mother, curiously. Sang-Hyun simply laughed it off and nodded his head as a no, squeezing his best friend's hands.