Doodles || hjc.

◐ thirty-one ◑

Breakfast was uneventful. Mrs. Hong only asked us questions about the current happenings in our life, interviewed Jaehyun (as she only knew of his existence today), checked up on our academics, adult talk, yada yada.

Jaehyun, however, was astonished that I am the daughter of the owners of Han Corporate. "You're rich? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't feel the need to. And besides, you know what school we go to, don't you? Students there are either hella rich or hella brilliant. I happen to be on the first caregory," I deadpan. "I thought you were smart."

"It sure is a privilege to be rich," He sulks. Bomin tries to comfort his hyung.

After breakfast, Mrs. Hong calls me out to talk privately, to which I cautiously agreed.

We go inside her once familiar room - now dull and empty. Maybe it was because of her deceased husband, or how it wasn't as occupied as before, or a completely other reason. Still, a soft smile paints my lips as I see the few picture frames hanging on the wall even if some were removed.

"How are you?" Mrs. Hong breaks the silence, setting her bag on the bed. "It was long since I've talked to you."

"I'm...doing okay," I pause as I think of a response. "I wasn't as lonely as I was before."

"I can see." She sits down on the bed, also beckoning me to sit down beside her. "What...guy friends you have there."

I just laugh. "I think they're a fun bunch. I honestly did not expect becoming close with them."

"You and Joochan...?" She trails off, as if she is suggesting something. And I almost instantly got what she was trying to say.

Flustered, I shake my head vehemently. "Oh, no, no, we're friends."

"Still friends?"

"Just became friends. Again."

She sighs deeply, as if disappointed. "After I heard from Joochan that you two were alone in the house, I just thought that there was already something going on between you two. It's about time you two got togeth-"

My cheeks go hot as I yelp in embarrassment, trying to stop her from continuing. "Mrs. Hong! They might hear you!"

"They might as well listen! I don't want them to charm you any further. If you ask me, I would want it if you and Joochan really end up marrying each other. Wouldn't that be nice? We'll be family."

"I-I..."

"It's not as if you like Bomin and that Jaehyun man, don't you?" She raises an eyebrow.

I couldn't think of a response. Well, how should one reply to that?

Mrs. Hong clasps her hands together, satisfied. "I always knew you've liked my son." She leans in closer, grinning softly. "I bet he also doesn't realize that he has feelings for you, too."

"Mrs. Hong, you can't say that," I respond, playing with my fingers. She's getting my hopes up.

Slowly, she takes both of my hands in hers. "Call me mom. We're too acquainted for you to address me formally. And I already consider you as my child. You can drop the formalities."

I blink in shock, and I'm at a loss of words yet again. Memories flood inside my mind, fleeting moments of my parents that I treasured badly made me remember that I was lonely in my home, but now I can say I've found a home outside of my house. Tears start to reach my eyes and I wipe them out while smiling a bit. "Okay...mom."

She pats me on the shoulder. "That's more like it." She stands up, going to the huge vanity mirror adorning the almost blank wall. "Anyway, that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about."

"I'm very sure you called me not just to pair me up with Joochan," I giggle, every bit of sadness I felt just seconds ago already fading away.

"That would be a conversation for another day, a conversation I'm looking forward to," she replies back. She reaches for something on one of the mirror's built-in drawers below. "Catch this."

Before I could even digest what is happening, a bulky black pouch almost as big as my forearm is thrown over to me. "What's this?" It's kind of heavy.

"While my maids were cleaning out our manor, they almost threw it out but I told them not to. I kept it with me the whole time. I didn't have the opportunity to bring it to you since we've moved years ago so I'm giving it to you right now. You can open it when you get home."

◐

"Hey, Joochan, where's the restroom?" Jaehyun questions, palms behind his head, bored. "I can't think of anything to do."

"And if I show you where it is, what were you going to do anyway?"

"I don't know, maybe steal some of your rich-kid products."

Joochan facepalms. "Then why are you saying it to my face?"

He shrugs in response. "Because I'm a gentleman."

"It is boring," Bomin sighs in agreement, ignoring Jaehyun's antics. "I want to go to noona."

"What are they even talking about, anyway?" Jaehyun asks.

Joochan shrugs. "Beats me." His hands struggle to search the remote control on the large sofa. After finding it, he turns on the television in search for a Netflix show to pass the time.

"Say, Joochan hyung," Bomin starts, "Ever since your father has...passed away, are you and auntie planning to go back to your old house? I missed that place, that was like, the biggest household I've ever been to, but it was nothing compared to the mansion near yours."

"You mean this isn't huge enough? And you have more houses?" Jaehyun sulks in the distance. "Screw you, rich people and your several residences. You collect properties as if they're seashells on the beach."

Ignoring Jaehyun's mumbling, Joochan replies, "Mom and I haven't talked about it yet. But now that there's no one living in there, there's a chance we'll likely move back. And I'm sure mom would love it, since Minhee's living across, too."

"Wait, what?" The junior exclaims. "You were neighbors with the Han family?"

"Does that mean you two knew each other before?" Jaehyun adds.

Joochan pauses before answering. "We were kinda...close."

"Really? You never told me you had a friend before! I thought you were incapable of making friends!" Bomin exclaims. "And it was noona?"

"I did not tell you because it wasn't worth mentioning anyway. And it's a long story." Joochan sighs, he ruffles his hair, slightly annoyed.

Joochan didn't really want to tell as it was a sensitive topic for him. His childhood memories reminded him of how he suddenly left Minhee when they were kids, and when news got to him that Minhee's parents passed away due to an airplane crash a while after leaving, it made him feel more guilty. She already lost her one friend and then her parents die? He could not imagine what Minhee had gone through.

Jaehyun sensed his classmate deep in thought, so he stands up, yawning. "I'll just find my way to the bathroom." He immediately leaves the living room.

Bomin, oblivious to the tensed expression of his cousin, crosses his arms. "Hey, hyung, tell me more about noona when she was little."

"Won't it kill you to stop prying?" Joochan glares at the boy. "You're annoying."

A chill travels down Bomin's spine. He zips his mouth, dismissing the topic and does not bother his cousin for the whole time they were lounging.

◑

ah finally i finished this chapter

i know it took a loooong time to upload this chapter BUT i finally mapped out how the story would progress, how many chapters, and how it will end (my writing style is kinda messy and impulsive so this was a first)

i hope you all enjoy this update! <3