summer lovers | seonghwa.

三つ - three.

AERA’S POV.

closing the door behind me, the smell of sweet lavender took over my nostrils. i turned my heel around to meet the view of the well old fashion decorated living room. the antique victorian wallpaper on the wall that was almost peeling off had a ton of portraits hanged.

some obvious ones were san’s pictures when he was young, wearing a winnie the pooh t-shirt with a diaper on. smiling while walking pass by the rows of furniture, potted fake plants and miscellaneous decor, i came to halt when something caught my eye.

there was a wall that was all dedicated to the choi family framed pictures but there was one particular picture that made me confused. it was a picture of san’s father and a woman along with baby san in the middle with a pacifier. the woman’s face was ripped and torn apart, making me hard to identify her face.

either way, the woman was wearing a wedding dress as the white puffy dress and hints of the long veil from behind popped out from the dark picture. it felt eerie.

“is this san’s mother?” i mumbled still staring at the family photo. now that i think of it, san never told me about his mother. i would always see his dad but not his mother while growing up. the car rides , picking up from school , festivals , events... his dad would always be there.

i sighed and looked around again until i heard laughter coming from the right which leads to the kitchen area. i walked over to the on-going laughter to meet two figures standing facing each other.

“ohhh! look at my grandson, it's been thirteen years since ive last saw you! why didn't you visit me during christmas? grandma's been waiting!” the small old female tugged the male’s shirt. she was smaller than him, her greyish white hair tied up to a bun and wearing nothing but a simple green floral gown along with house slippers. she was also holding onto a wooden cane with her right hand.

“ah im sorry grandma..but dad’s been pretty busy lately with his work, he recently got off to America for a three years stay.” san replied scratching the back of his neck.“plus i couldn't afford a car because–”

“are you telling me my grandson is broke?!!!!! is this why you decided to stay at your grandma's house?!!! don't you have a job?!!!!!” the facial expression of his grandma looking above at him made san looked petrified asking him questions that he had trouble answering back.

i, myself, couldn't contain the laughter that i was trying to hold onto so i immediately burst into a small laugh which gave away the tension. the mad grandmother was now looking at me with a surprised look. san in the other hand slapped his forehead and sighed.

“grandma, this is lee aera. she's the girl i told you about before” he briefly introduced me to woman infront of him as i made my way to the both of them, bowing. “nice to meet you mrs. choi, im san’s bestfriend” i said and immediately san’s grandma gasped.

with her free hand she pinched my cheeks and wiggled it around, “of course i know who you are! thank you for joining san for the stay, i appreciate it alot!” she giggled and stopped pinching. i winced in pain and rubbed my cheek bringing myself to stand straight up again.

i took a glance at san and he was looking down at his feet, biting his lower lip drowning in his thoughts. i know what the look on his face meant. i wanted to ask but i didn't want to bother.

is he okay?

“sannie, i thought you said she was your girlfriend?” grandma asked looking up at san which made san coughed, shaking his head multiple times.“hahaha... girlfriend as in girl-friend grandma! hahaha... you're so hilarious!” san shook his head while rubbing his grandma’s back avoiding eye contact from me.

his cheeks were flushed and i could tell there were beads of sweat starting to drip from his forehead which made me chuckled.

however the sudden reply made his grandma pursed her lips and raised a brow. exhaling, she slapped the back of his head making him let out a loud ‘ouch!’ .“next time be more specific! you know that im old and new to this girlfriend or boyfriend thing you kids labeled yourselves!” she scolded.

“y-yes grandma....” he obeyed.

****

as time goes by, the three of us stayed up late talking in the living room. most of topics were all about how san’s grandma ended up outside of the city. she explained that she grew up as a florist’s daughter with no siblings and the condition her family used to live was poor. which led to arrange marriage that she wasn't quite fond off.

she explained how she ran away from her family and escaped the city’s borders without anything to bring. soon, she married with san’s grandfather and had san’s father and his three other siblings.

which reminded me of the family portrait. i wanted to ask but i knew it wasn't the perfect time to disturb a moment like this.

“he was the head chief in the military, serving the country well until he passed in 1999, a day before san was born” his grandma ended it off with that, showing us an old picture of her passed husband which strongly resembled just like san.

“look at that, he has san’s features isnt he such a good looking man?” she giggled and ruffled the boy's black hair next to me.“im sure he would be so energetic if he's here, he would've showed you his favourite books to read” she continued.

my eyes lit up holding onto the glass full of tea tightly. “can you lend me those books? i would love to read them”

“of course of course! ill send it to your room later! oh and about your rooms..” the woman took both of our hands and looked at us straight in the eye while smiling.“your rooms will be at the second floor, there will be two doors side by side. san, you should know your old bedroom and san please guide her to the guest room.”

for a moment, san wanted to say something but at an instant he sealed his lips shut. his eyes lowered down as he looked at his hands before he looked at the old woman’s hand grasping on his. he lifted his his head to meet his grandma’s face that seemed to look if she was guilty.

she smiled softly and san smiled back acknowledging it would do no good if his emotions took over him.he quickly jumped up and grabbed my hand. “come on lets go!”

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