Frozen Memories➔ps.ff

Chapter 28

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Sunghoon slowly opened his eyes, the light from the late afternoon streaming through the blinds of his apartment. He groggily checked his phone, only to see that it was already almost 4 p.m. 

He blinked a few times, his mind still hazy from the late-night drinking session with Heeseung and Jay. They had stayed up talking for hours, exchanging stories, but it was the first time in a long while that he felt so open, so vulnerable.

He groaned, rubbing his face, before glancing over at his apartment's clock. He had wasted the whole morning away, but it didn't matter—he needed the rest. 

The past few weeks had been exhausting, emotionally and physically. After the unexpected encounter with Sarang at the airport, it felt like his entire world had shifted. Everything he thought he had buried was resurfacing, and it was hard to ignore it. But now, it was time to move on with his day.

He stretched and threw on a t-shirt and jeans before heading to the kitchen to find some leftover food. He knew the other members would be gathering soon for dinner, and he wasn't about to miss out on their usual hangout.

As he sat down, devouring the food in front of him, his other teammates wandered in one by one, laughing and joking like they always did. They spent a couple of hours talking about the recent schedules and goofing off, their conversation lighthearted. 

But Sunghoon couldn't shake the feeling that something was still off—like a missing piece he couldn't quite find.

It was then that he decided it was time for a change of scenery. He couldn't spend the entire day in his apartment. He needed to see his mom, the one person who had always been there for him, even when everything else in his life felt uncertain. 

He excused himself from the group and grabbed his jacket.

Before he left, he swung by a nearby florist, picking up a bouquet of his mom's favorite lilies and a box of the food she loved. It was a small gesture, but he knew it would mean the world to her.

The drive to his mother's house was quiet, and Sunghoon let his thoughts wander. His mom had always been the one person he could count on, the only constant in his life after everything had fallen apart. 

He knew she had been struggling after the accident, but hearing from Yeji earlier that day had lifted his spirits a bit. She had called to say that she would be back tomorrow for the event on Friday night. Yeji was always so busy with her own life—fashion shows in Paris, making a name for herself in the fashion industry. Sunghoon smiled, imagining the souvenirs she'd bring for him.

As he reached the gated entrance of his mom's house, Sunghoon felt a sense of calm wash over him. The house was big, comfortable, but also had a sense of warmth and familiarity. The housekeeper greeted him with a polite nod as she opened the door, and Sunghoon made his way straight to the living room.

His mother was sitting in her favorite chair by the window, the soft golden light of the late afternoon casting a gentle glow on her. She was reading one of her novels, her calm demeanor a sharp contrast to the chaos he sometimes felt. The nurse sat across from her, quietly working on some papers.

"Mom, I'm here," Sunghoon said warmly, walking over and handing her the bouquet and the food he'd brought.

She looked up at him with a soft smile, her eyes brightening at the sight of the lilies. 

"Ah, my favorite," she said with a gentle laugh. "You always know how to cheer me up."

Sunghoon smiled, his heart swelling with affection. He sat beside her and helped set the food on the table. They ate together, chatting about various things—mostly mundane, everyday matters, but to him, it felt comforting. They hadn't had a moment like this in a while.