It All Started With A Creepy Mail ⚊ Yang Jungwon [#4]

✗ forty four ✗

⚊ chapter forty four

The sun was just beginning to rise when Jillian brought me into her house. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee and something sweet, probably from the kitchen where her mom was always busy, as Jillian had told me. I wasn’t nervous exactly, but there was a strange flutter in my chest, as if meeting her parents this time felt different.

It wasn’t just a casual encounter—I was being properly introduced.

“They’ve met you before,” Jillian had reassured me on the way here, her voice light, though she kept glancing at me to check if I was okay. “But this is different. Mama and Papa are really excited. You’ll see.”

The warmth of her hand brushing mine made me relax a little, but the moment we stepped inside, I realized she wasn’t exaggerating.

“Ah, Jungwon!” her papa exclaimed, standing from the couch with an open smile. Her mama followed quickly, wiping her hands on her apron. “Welcome back, hijo!”

It was like being swept into a hug even before anyone touched me. They both smiled so warmly that my nerves melted away.

“Come, come in,” her mama said, leading me into the living room. “You must stay for the day! Jillian’s been talking about how you’ve been getting along, and we’d love to catch up.”

I barely had time to sit down before Jillian’s cat, Ming, appeared out of nowhere, her kittens following closely behind. They circled my feet like they were inspecting me.

“Wonwon’s been waiting for you,” Jillian teased, crouching to pick up the smallest kitten. “He’s named after you, remember?”

I laughed, feeling a bit shy but honored. “He looks much healthier now.”

“All thanks to you,” Jillian said, smiling.

The evening carried on with stories that made the house feel alive, even though Jillian’s family had only moved in a few months ago. As her mama and papa led me around, showing me their favorite parts of the house, it was clear they were still settling in.

The walls were lined with a mix of freshly hung family photos and boxes stacked neatly in the corners, waiting to be unpacked.

“This is our little corner of the world for now,” her papa said, gesturing around the cozy living room. “We’ve moved so often, but home is where the family is, right?”

I nodded, touched by the sentiment. “Jillian mentioned you’ve lived in many places.”

“Oh, yes,” her mama chimed in, her eyes lighting up. “We’ve lived in Macau, Hong Kong, and, of course, back in the Philippines. But Seoul felt like a good place to settle for now. It’s closer to everything Jillian needs.”

As we spoke, her papa suddenly remembered something and pulled out a stack of photo albums from a nearby cabinet.

“You should see some of the places we’ve been,” he said with a grin. “Jillian’s been all over the world, and she doesn’t even realize how lucky she is!”

The albums were thick and worn, each one a treasure trove of memories. Her parents flipped through the pages eagerly, pointing out photos of bustling streets in Hong Kong, glowing casinos in Macau, and serene beaches in the Philippines.

“This one is from Manila,” her papa said, showing a photo of a vibrant marketplace. “One of our favorite places. We were visiting Jillian’s grandma here.”

Her mama’s hand lingered on a photo of baby Jillian sitting on her grandma’s lap, her tiny face bright with curiosity. “This is my favorite,” she said softly.