HERE COME THE REGRETS

O N E

Wonwoo was cooking some beef and vegetable stew when she heard loud dull thuds of what seemed like heavy footsteps came running down the stairs and muffled mumbling of a heated conversation from two teenagers. She wanted to reprimand them but the sound of a car engine paved all the way from the garage and she knew too well what it meant.

"BOYS!" she exclaimed, lifting the ladle from the pot and adjusted the stove to low before she approached the two boys who stopped from their tracks with heads turned to their mother. They both have guilty looks on their faces with eyes widened in surprise and with that look on their mother's face, it only meant bad news. "How many times do I have to remind you to refrain from running down the stairs? It's dangerous?!"

"But mom..." the 14-year old Chanyul whined as he was caught in between racing with his older brother, Jeongin, aged 18, who was already at the shoe rack, picking up large blue slippers, and telling their mother about what was going on. "Hyung will get that additional 20 bucks again," he stumped his feet and pouted at his brother who was already giving him a victorious look.

Wonwoo was confused why his younger son was whining about having 20 dollars all of a sudden when they both have more than enough for the day's allowance, but it didn't matter to her – she just continued her sermon. "What's with you and the race for 20 dollars? 20 bucks won't pay your hospital bills when you have your legs broken for that silly race! If you want an increase on your allowance, all you need to do is ask. Goodness!"

"I suggest you stay right at the door when you arrive from school and wait until dad comes, perhaps," Jeongin kidded as he wiggled his legs out of excitement.

"No fair!" the younger teen stumped. "You live in a cave directly at the head of the stairs!"

"But you're the one with the longer legs, that makes us even," the older brother mocked.

"Well, that's not even the point! – " Wonwoo was about to continue her muttering when the front door rang unlocked and revealed a tired but happy Mingyu, with his bag on his back and a coat on his arms."

"Hi Dad!" Jeongin exclaimed, welcoming home the prominent male figure with an arm stretched and the other holding his slippers.

"Well someone's excited," the man said to him smilingly he handed his coat and bag, making the younger drop the blue slippers and jump in gladness. The other brother could only scoff and mutter.

"Gyu, can you please stop this game with them? It's not good to hear a couple of heavy, large-footed teenagers, running down the stairs like a pair of water buffalos craving for a bloody mud pit," Wonwoo was already saying those things breathlessly, but Mingyu only smiled at his wife and kissed her forehead.

"It's just for this time, babe, lighten up," Mingyu called calmly.

"Do you think compromising their safety is fun?" she said furiously. "I understand you three are adventurous, but it's not fun anymore when one of you gets hurt from a slip or a fall because of a stupid game worth 20 dollars!" She looked at her children and spat, "Jeongin! Chanyul! Clean up the table and prepare them for dinner!"

"Are you on your period?"

"SHUT UP AND FRESHEN UP! DINNER IS ALMOST READY!"

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Dinner was relatively quiet knowing that after this afternoon's event, Wonwoo would still be furious. Chanyul, munching on his beef, was looking at his brother, as if giving him a telepathic message. Moments later, the older looked at him and exchanged mouthed answers, but Wonwoo wasn't one who would blindly turn an eye on things like these, especially on secret messages.

"Talk to me, Chanyul," she said flatly, staring with a pissed off face on the curtain behind Mingyu.

Chanyul was moving his eyes to his brother and dad, hoping that they'd back him up but to no avail. "Uhm... mom..."

"Mmm."

"The school announced earlier this morning about an International Math and Science camp which will be held 2 weeks after the end of term," the matter gained both his parents' attention and attempted to continue. "Teacher said it's going to be attended by high schoolers from Asia like China, Malaysia, and the Philippines. This year, it will be hosted by Korea and it will be held in Seoul University for two straight weeks." He breathed.

"It's not mandatory, teacher says," Jeongin added as he gulped down a large amount of water and placed his glass back on the table. "It doesn't even guarantee additional points since summer classes aren't included in the cumulative perspective of the grading system at the present school year, but I think it will be advantageous if we should attend."

Mingyu nodded, "sounds good, don't you think, babe?"

"Do you want to go?" Wonwoo, now going soft on her sons, looked at them and then to her husband.

"I don't want you boys to go there just for the sake of academic compliance," Mingyu added. "It's an international scholastic event: anything you see, meet, and experience there will be an opportunity."

"Not to mention bragging rights when you win on contests from time to time," Wonwoo said.

"I want to go," Chanyul answered softly, turning his head slowly on his brother who was just about to finish his bowl of soup.

"Seunghan said he'd go, so I will go too," Jeongin replied.

"Fine, that's settled then," Wonwoo sighed and gradually a smile appeared on her face. The boys were pumping their fists in victory as their smiles got wider and wider than ever.

"But you have to make good of your performance for the rest of the semester, okay?" Mingyu notified. "I don't want you to go boasting to your friends that you're attending the international camp and jeopardize your grades because of excitement."

"Exams are in the next two weeks and say hello to vacation," Chanyul said cheerfully as they got up the table and collected their plates, walking to his hyung who was donning thick yellow gloves onto his hands.

"You think they'd be fine?" Wonwoo asked Mingyu discretely as they both went to the living room and sat on the couch, reaching for the bowl of nuts in front of them.

"They're already at an age when they need to explore the world a little more and mingle with other kids like them, they'll be fine," he reassured.

Wonwoo knows it was time for them to slowly let go of the kids but there was something inside her that was definitely bothering her. She doesn't know what and she doesn't know why; she just does. Picking up a piece of cashew nut and took it to her mouth as she pressed herself onto her husband, she knew she needed help; and help was just one phone call away.