Written In The Stars (B×B)

Chapter 26

Eunho unlocked the door by punching the pin in the electric lock. The door opened with a ding noise and when he entered he expected to see his mother but to his dismay, she wasn't there.

"She isn't at home yet?" Eunho checked the clock and it was 6 pm. "Maybe she is still at work. That's sad, I wanted to tell her all about the trip" Eunho sulked and pouted.

He then went to freshen up. He kept the dirty clothes in the laundry and clean ones again in the cupboard and other things at their respective places.

Then when he got hungry, he went downstairs and saw food was already kept for him in the fridge with a note from his mother.

I might get late today. Eat it after heating and wait for me ;)

He smiled, pulled out the boxes from the fridge, heated the food in the microwave and ate it while watching something on the television. As he finished eating, he heard the door unlocking and saw his mother entering the home. 

Taehee entered, swaying ever so slightly, her cheeks flushed. She smiled when she saw him.

"Mom, I am home, and welcome back," Eunho grinned and hurriedly hugged her. Taehee reciprocated the hug and placed a kiss on his head. Eunho sniffed wine from her.

"Welcome home, Eun. Missed you so much. How was the trip?" Taehee asked, her speech slurred. She put the car keys in the bowl and removed her heels. Her moments were sloppy and uncoordinated. She was clearly drunk.

"It was fun. Mom, did you go to a party?" he asked, eyeing her party dress, now-smudged lipstick and, right there by her ear, a faint hickey.

Is his mother... dating someone?

"Oh, yes, yes. I went to an office party, and it was so fun," she couldn't even make proper sentences. She was totally out of it.

Eunho wanted to ask if she met someone who gave her a hickey but this was probably not the best time. He will ask her tomorrow. For now, she needs to rest.

"I am glad you enjoyed it. I think you should sleep now" Eunho held Taehee by her shoulder and helped her reach her room.

Taehee stomped her legs and sat on the bed with a pout. "But Eun, I want to dance more" she with in a disgruntled whine.

Eunho chuckled at that. He has seen her drunk before and every time she becomes like a cute baby. It's hilarious. "Sure. You can dance as much as you want tomorrow"

Taehee resisted for a bit but nodded her head, obeying her son. As Eunho bent down to help her lay down properly, his locket sprung out of his collar.

Taehee's gaze latched onto it, her hazy and unfocused eyes sharpening. With a suddenness that startled him, she reached for it, her fingers brushing the cracked pendant. Her expression twisted, a flicker of anger darkening her face.

"Why is your necklace broken? How did it happen?" She demanded in a raised enraged voice.

"What?" Eunho was taken aback by her sudden questioning. "Wait a second". He moved back, removed the necklace from his neck and saw the pendant by keeping it on his palm. The pendant was cracked, a thick crack marring its once-smooth surface. The pendant felt different, the colour was faded and something was off.

"Huh? When did this happen?" He questioned himself shocked. His forehead wrinkled, frown rested between his eyebrows and mouth opened. He doesn't remember when it happened. He was sure it had been fine before the trip, but somewhere along the way, it knocked on something that cracked it but he couldn't remember.

"How can you be so careless, Kim Eunho?" Taehee asked standing up from the bed. She folded her hand over her chest.

"I asked you to care for the pendant and you couldn't do one thing right? Do you even know how expensive and important it was? Money doesn't grow on trees, Eunho. You are grown up so you should act like that" Taehee yelled, gritting her teeth. Her voice— loud, cold and cutting— had a bitterness Eunho had never heard.