GIDDY ✓

DODICI

[ 1983 ]
the start of summer & the start of love

DODICI

Kyong and Juwon's mother has a routine of hiding her sentiments.

she puts on a vigorous persona that shows she is stable and able to live a gleeful life without the need of anyone. but as we all know, personas are artificial and their mother has days when she isn't okay.

the young woman packed her bags, her home and forced her children to do the same, before they abandoned the town that caused her suffocation. her husband who left their family was in every glimpse she took around the town and she couldn't stand to think about him anymore. so she created a latest start in Italy with a dauntless smile and her lovely sons.

but today was a day where the persona had fallen and the mother of two was crying, physically curled up into a tight ball as she let out what she was truly feeling. it was a continuous, regular breakdown due to her anxiety and monthly panic attacks.

Kyong emerges from his bedroom when hearing his mothers heartbreaking sobs. he stops at the bottom of the stairs to see Juwon standing there, staring at a hollow spot on the floor composedly.

Kyong whispers, standing beside his dejected looking, older brother. "i thought she was doing okay." he admits, needing reassurance.

Juwon squeezes Kyong's shoulder. "just a small relapse."

and Kyong nods in understanding. relapses never last brother- Juwon has said in the past and he was right. this is something that won't last.

so the brothers both walk together, opening the door to the living room with hugs and sympathetic smiles- wanting to be there for their best friend.

a knock on the door interrupts the family and Kyong leaves the room, opening the door to see his abrupt girlfriend- his mood turns sour quickly.

she kisses him immediately, holding his face with her palms pressed against his cheeks. Kyong doesn't have a chance to react or say anything because his lips freeze against hers. he lets her kiss him as he stands there awkwardly.

Kyong tries. "hey i need to-"

but she continues to kiss him, not allowing him to speak.

"Alaya listen-" Kyong forcefully pushes his girlfriend back. he moves them to stand outside, on the porch, closing the front door behind them. "i think i should spend tonight with my family ... alone." it's what he needs, she isn't. it's uncomplicated.

his girlfriend moves away with a look of disbelief as expected. "what? you promised!" she bawls, not caring about Kyong's family.

Kyong's also in disbelief. "promised you what? sex?"

she groans, stepping back. "yes! you inconvenient asshole." she mutters and he feels embarrassed.

Kyong's voice remains quiet, vile as he tries to reason with her. "we have sex every time we see each other." it's true. when they first started dating, he didn't expect her to be so pleasure driven. he sometimes feels trapped and he knows he shouldn't feel that way with a lover.