HERO [✓]

Chapter 13

Hyunwoo was greeted with a huge hug from his father when he unlocked the door. 

"Hyunwoo-ah! Your mother and I were worried sick! You disappeared for a whole month!" His father wiped away a few tears of relief as he enveloped his son in a warm embrace.

Hyunwoo hugged his father back guiltily. "Sorry, dad. I had to tend to something urgent and didn't have time to contact you and Mom." His father waved his hand. "It's okay, you don't have to apologize. Your mother and I know that you're a busy young man with your own lifestyle, so you can't be around us all the time."

Hyunwoo walked into the living room and saw his mother sitting serenely on the blue bean bag, her hands folded across her lap. "Hyunwoo-ah, come here and let me take a good look at you." She gestured for him to go over.

As his mother tidied his hair, she tutted in disapproval. "You're a big boy now, have you thought of finding a nice girl for yourself?" She patted his cheek softly.

A girlfriend? Hyunwoo blinked hard. I've never ever thought of finding a girlfriend. In fact, I don't think I've ever shown any interest in girls.

In fact, he believed that he had been homosexual for the most part of his life.

"Hyunwoo?"

He snapped out of his thoughts. "Yes, mom?" His mother chuckled softly. "I asked you if you ever thought of finding a girlfriend," She paused to pick up a photo frame, "All your friends from high school have girlfriends, you know?"

Hyunwoo nodded sheepishly. He wasn't really interested in getting into a relationship with any member of the male gender at the moment, let alone a girl. All he wanted was for his parents to live and good life.

Girls are idiots anyway. He was reminded of Sihyeon, who he hated for the most of his life for constantly pulling a disappearing act, especially when the situation called for the whole family to be together.

He wasn't ready to tell his parents that he wasn't as straight as they thought he was, so he kept quiet and put his bags down. "Have you heard from Sihyeon?" His father asked while handing him a glass of cold water. Hyunwoo shook his head.

He didn't care much for his sister. She's probably off to swing with her gang. He realized that he was beginning to despise Sihyeon more these days. I know it's probably biased of me to hate her because she's part of a gang, but that's exactly why I hate her.

His father sat down slowly on the sofa beside Hyunwoo. "I really wished that sister of yours would start learning from you and start coming home more often." Hyunwoo wasn't exactly sure how to reply, so he remained silent.

He studied his parents from head to toe. It occurred to him at that they were getting on in their years. His mother's hair was speckled with grey, and wrinkles he never once noticed was becoming more prominent on his father's face. He felt his heart ache for them.

"I'll find her once I'm back from work, I promise I will. Once I find her, I'll talk to her. I can't promise anything, but I'll try my best." Hyunwoo gave his mother a small peck on her cheek and patted his father on the back, as a gesture of reassurance.

He headed to his small bedroom and began packing his luggage. My room is tiny compared to Kihyun's. He smiled as he pulled out a towel from his cupboard. But it's just as cosy.

Dragging his luggage out of the front door, he turned to wave goodbye to his parents. See you in a few days.

-