Between the Lines | Riize Wonbin

Chapter 51: A Mother's Blessing

The sun shone brightly as Juhee and Wonbin made their way to her home, the air filled with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. Juhee had mentioned that her mother had been feeling a bit better lately, and she was excited for Wonbin to finally meet her. It felt like a significant step forward in their relationship, and she hoped her mother would see how much they cared for one another.

As they entered the house, the familiar scent of home—freshly brewed tea and the faint hint of her mother's cooking—wrapped around them like a warm embrace. Juhee's mother was sitting in the living room, a book resting on her lap, her face lighting up at the sight of her daughter.

"Juhee, dear! You're back early!" Her mother smiled, then her gaze shifted to Wonbin, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "And you must be Wonbin. It's so nice to finally meet you."

"Hello, Mrs. Myung," Wonbin said, his voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in his stomach. He stepped forward, extending his hand. "It's an honor."

"Please, call me mom," she replied, shaking his hand warmly. "I've heard so much about you from Juhee. She speaks highly of you."

Juhee felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. "Mom, you're embarrassing me," she laughed, but the warmth in her heart grew. She knew that her mother's approval meant a lot to her, especially given everything they had been through.

"Not at all, dear," Eunha replied, her tone gentle. "I'm just happy to see my daughter with someone who cares for her."

After a brief conversation filled with pleasantries, Juhee excused herself to the kitchen to prepare some snacks, leaving Wonbin and her mother to chat in the living room. As they talked, Eunha decided to seize the moment.

"Wonbin," she began, her expression turning serious. "Can we talk privately for a moment?"

"Of course," he replied, sensing the weight of her tone. They moved to a quieter corner of the living room, away from the bustle of the kitchen.

"I wanted to speak with you about Juhee," Eunha said, her voice low and earnest. "She's been through a lot recently, especially with my health issues. I can see how much she cares for you, and it brings me comfort."

Wonbin nodded, his heart heavy with the knowledge of Juhee's struggles. "I care for her deeply, Mrs. Myung. I want to be there for her."

Eunha's gaze softened. "I can see that. She deserves someone like you—someone who will support her and be there when she needs it. But I also need to tell you that it's important for you to be honest with her. She's had enough pain in her life; she doesn't need any more secrets."

"I promise I will," Wonbin assured her, feeling the weight of her words.

Just then, Juhee's younger brother, Jaehyun, entered the room, catching the tail end of their conversation. "What's going on?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Nothing much," Eunha replied, a small smile returning to her lips. "Just talking about how wonderful your sister's boyfriend is."

Jaehyun smirked and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "So you're the guy who's been stealing my sister's heart?"

Wonbin chuckled, feeling more at ease. "I hope to, at least."

"Hope? Shouldn't it be a definite thing?" Jaehyun teased, glancing between them. "If you're not sure, I can give you some tips on how to win her over. It involves bribery with food, lots of it."

Juhee rolled her eyes. "As if you'd know anything about relationships, Mr. Rebellious. How's that going for you?"

Jaehyun shot her a cheeky grin. "Better than you think. I might just have a girlfriend now."

Juhee gasped, feigning shock. "What? You? With a girlfriend? When did this happen?"

"Just last week," Jaehyun shrugged, trying to play it cool. "We're keeping it low-key, you know?"

"Oh really? Low-key or are you just trying to hide it because she's actually a fictional character?" Juhee teased, crossing her arms with a smirk.

"Very funny, Juhee. But no, she's real. Her name's Yuna. We met at the university fair," he replied, his tone slightly defensive.

"Yuna? You didn't tell me! What's she like? Does she know how much of a pain you are?" Juhee fired questions at him, eager to learn more.

"Hey! I'm not a pain!" Jaehyun protested, crossing his arms in mock defiance. "I'm charming and debonair."

"More like annoying and immature," Juhee shot back, laughing. "Remember when you got us both grounded for a week after that prank with the fireworks?"

"Come on! That was a total accident! You can't blame me for the whole neighborhood losing power," Jaehyun defended, his expression turning serious.

"Not to mention the time you tried to teach me how to ride that bike, and I ended up crashing into that tree! Mom was so mad!" Juhee continued, her voice playful but edged with frustration.

"Okay, but I was just trying to help!" Jaehyun exclaimed, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "And besides, you should've listened to my advice instead of trying to show off!"

Wonbin watched the bickering with amusement, a smile creeping onto his face. It was nice to see them so comfortable with each other. He couldn't help but admire the way they interacted, their banter filled with love and rivalry.

"Whatever, Mr. Charming. At least I didn't get caught sneaking out of the house that time," Juhee shot back, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

Jaehyun's face reddened slightly as he stammered, "That was one time! And I told you to keep quiet about it!"

"Oops, too late," Juhee teased, her laughter ringing through the room.

Eunha watched them with a smile, her heart swelling with pride. "You two are impossible," she said, shaking her head.

"Yeah, because you're the one who raised us," Jaehyun said, rolling his eyes. "Clearly, you have no idea what you're doing."

"Hey! You both turned out alright, didn't you?" Eunha replied, her tone light but firm.

Juhee turned to Wonbin, her expression softening. "What about you? You're not going to tell me all the embarrassing things you've done, right?"

"Not a chance," Wonbin replied, grinning. "But I'm sure I could share some stories about your sister that would make you laugh."

Juhee narrowed her eyes playfully. "Oh really? Care to share?"

"Maybe later," he said, glancing at Jaehyun, who looked ready to defend his sister's honor.

Jaehyun crossed his arms again, a challenging look on his face. "If you have anything good, you better make sure it's too embarrassing, or I'll have to step in."

Wonbin chuckled, feeling the camaraderie in the room. "Don't worry, Jaehyun. I wouldn't dream of embarrassing her too much."

Juhee laughed, but then turned serious. "Okay, enough teasing. I really want to know about this girlfriend of yours, Jaehyun."

"Yeah, tell us! Is she pretty? What does she like?" Juhee prodded, her curiosity piqued.

Jaehyun shrugged, his confidence returning. "We both like the same music, and she's super funny. She makes university a lot more bearable."

"That's sweet," Juhee said, genuinely happy for him. "I can't wait to meet her!"

"Yeah, we'll see if you can handle her," Jaehyun replied with a cheeky grin. "She might be too cool for you."

"Whatever," Juhee said, rolling her eyes again. "You're just scared I'll outshine her."

"Dream on, sis!" Jaehyun retorted.

As they continued to bicker, Wonbin watched them with a smile, his heart warming at the sight of their playful banter. He felt grateful to be included in this family dynamic, even if just for a moment. It was a stark contrast to the heaviness that hung over them when they first arrived.

Later, as the sun began to set, casting a warm glow throughout the room, Juhee caught Wonbin's eye. He smiled softly, a silent promise passing between them. They would face whatever came next together, fortified by the love and support of those who mattered most.