Irresistibly Innocent Love

Christian: Horrors of a Mother

It was just as I remembered it. Nothing more, nothing less.

The roads, the scenery, the people with their bustling demeanour, nothing has changed. But being sent here in these pretences... Just didn't sit right with me. Or maybe it was the midnight sky that caused these feelings to foster within me?

I called over a taxi and immediately showed the address that I would be heading to. To my understanding, I would be going back to my old house, where my mother and my brothers were. Not that I had anything against them but...

Staring into the Seoul landscape, the memories all came flooding back. Memories of fights, memories of sacrifices, memories of losses. All this that had groomed me into the heir for the corporation.

Time flew by fast. Suddenly, before I even realised it, I had already reached my old home.

I paid the taxi driver and stepped down from the car. Then, I set my first foot in that godforsaken old home.

Clack. Clack. Clack.

My footsteps echoed through the halls of the fine but old mansion. The mansion where he was molded. No, not he, because he eventually became me, so should I say I instead? Yes, that's right, where I was molded.

Slowly but surely a figure appeared in the distance, tapping a cane as she walked.

We stared at each other for a few seconds. The tension has not yet been absolved, as I can clearly tell.

"Mother?" I spoke up cautiously.

"Looks like my son has come home."

She then started walking towards me and embraced me. However, it was an embrace that contained neither warmth nor comfort. It was one that had years of built up tension. But for now, I would humour her. I wrapped my arms around her as well.

"Your father already told me about what you did. That was great work."

"It was nothing, mother, merely what I just had to do."

I then followed her inside, where she gestured me to take a seat. I obliged. Children may call their mothers 'mom' or 'mama' but I will always refer to her as 'mother'. People can think what they want but it will not change the fact that the word 'mom' is already alien to me since a long time ago. Since that happened. I couldn't complain but I just had to take things as they are and face up to the real world. That was what I have been trained all my life to do anyway. That was the only way I could prove to be worthy as the heir.

She then walked towards the nearby cupboard and took out a glass and jug of water. As she was doing so, she spoke up.

"So, you'll be living here again then I suppose," she said flatly.

I stiffened up. Wow, such a welcoming response. But it is as expected. I didn't come here not knowing what would happen when I did arrive back at this place I used to call home.

"Yes, of course, with your permission."

To any outsider, this exchange between mother and son would be bizarre. To the family, however, this was something of a day-to-day routine.

She smiled. However, I could see that she was hiding a tinge of unsatisfaction in that smile.

"Of course I would, dear, you're my son after all."

She sat down, place the glass in front of me and poured me some of the water from the jug. I then slowly drank it. Mother was smiling all the while.

"Well, since your father will not be here, you'll have to live by my rules." She continued.

"Of course mother."