Dark Shades x Seonghwa FF

Chapter Thirteen

Back in Seonghwa’s neighborhood, Hyosonn and him walked into his aunt’s house, who was delighted when they finally arrived.

“I was beginning to think you had canceled,” Aunt Hee Young said with a laugh, grinning when they entered the home. She came to give Hyosonn a strong and firm hug. Then she greeted her nephew with a hug, and he kissed her forehead.

“She had things to do at school before joining me to come here,” Seonghwa lied smoothly without his expression showing he wasn’t saying the truth.

Only Hyosonn’s cheeks could maybe give her away, but his aunt didn’t notice.

“Well, I am very happy that you are here. I have dinner ready. Just got to get Dae Eun,” she murmurs with a smile.

“I’ll get her,” Seonghwa says, and walks to her and what now Hyosonn knew it was also Aunt Heeyoung’s room that they shared together. Now she knows why there was another bed that’s an air mattress.

“Hope you have an appetite, Hyosonn. Seonghwa definitely eats plenty. He just doesn’t like to so me and my mom can have more on our plates. We just try to get by, you know. It’s probably not what you’re used to seeing but—“ Heeyoung said with a sad smile.

“Whatever you made, no matter what, I am very grateful and will enjoy it. You’re hard-working and that’s one of the reasons your nephew and I admire you a lot,” Hyosonn assured her, moving to the small dinner table.

“You’re such a sweet young girl. How is it that my nephew hasn’t made you his girlfriend? Or are you getting to know each other?” she teased, and Hyosonn blushed.

“Just friends,” she murmured, and saw Seonghwa wheeling Halmeoni Dae Eun, putting her in front of the table.

Hyosonn greeted her with a bow, smiling warmly at her. Dae Eun took her hand and had a surprisingly strong grip, squeezing firmly and also smiled.

“I am so glad that you came to visit, Hyosonn,” she murmured.

“I am happy to be here,” Hyosonn replied, squeezing back.

She took her seat on the short part of the square worn wooden table, Seonghwa sat on the long side beside his grandma, and his aunt placed the small and big pots in the middle of the table. She sat across from Hyosonn, to serve everybody.

It was kimchi, a mix of noodles and some sausage to compliment. There was water to drink, and that was just fine.

They said grace before eating, which was something Hyosonn didn’t expect Seonghwa to say it, and she found that action so heartwarming from the person she never thought would even say an ‘amen’, let alone a whole prayer.

When they could begin eating, she took a sip of her food and her eyes widened at the delicious flavors.

“Wow, this tastes amazing, Heeyoung. You cook so good,” she complimented, her taste buds popping.

“Aw, thank you, Hyosonn. I try. And I’d learned from the best of the best: Dae Eun,” Heeyoung giggled softly, and her mother smiled widely while eating.

“It’s delicious, like always,” Seonghwa says with a smile, also slurping from his noodles with kimchi and sausage using chopsticks.

His grandmother began telling them stories of all sorts of things, like her childhood, of Heeyoung, and even of a young Seonghwa. He was very mischievous and would do pranks on his grandma. Hyosonn was a fit of giggles like the grandmother and his aunt.

She was really enjoying the storytelling, and his flushed face with him sheepishly smiling. It was the most relaxed he’d ever seen him, and being naturally him without trying to seem like someone else much tougher. He would respond with defense to his actions, and end up laughing as well when his grandmother playfully retaliated.