𝐁𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐬 • 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠

8. The Ties That Bind Us

That night was the first night Seonghwa ever slept over at Yeosang's house.

Yeosang had ended up calling his own parents after Yunho had left and Seonghwa was taking a shower. He told them what was happening and they were more than happy to offer shelter to Seonghwa and his mother.

Yeosang's mum was actually quite fond of Seonghwa's mother and they had been out for coffee many times after they had first met at Seonghwa's party Yeosang hosted. So Mrs. Kang wasn't welcoming a stranger into her home, but rather a friend and her son, and Mr. Kang wasn't fussed, happy to do anything to make his family happy.

Over the coming week Seonghwa and his mother slept in the Kang's spare bedroom. It was strange having Seonghwa in his home, but even though it was under sad circumstances it was also kind of fun. It was nice having new faces around.

Yeosang and Seonghwa would leave for school together and come home together and they'd spend their evenings working on homework and then chatting about random things while they watched tv curled up on the couch: The meaning of Life, why caterpillars turn into butterflies, whether you should put milk or cereal into your bowl first.

They grew closer, but they also weren't their usual school selves since their parents were always lurking, so no thigh games or butt slapping. That being said even if they had the confidence to do such things in front of their parents they wouldn't have, Seonghwa wasn't necessarily at his 100% since he was sad because his life had been turned on its head.

All of their possession had been taken, and the Parks house as it turns out was seized too. The only things they had were the items in the laundry basket, Seonghwa's school bag and two hastily packed bags of clothes courtesy of Mrs. Park.

They were able to salvage some more things later on before they were completely evicted but they didn't have many possessions to begin with, so there were only a very brief amount things left that they could take.

Losing their home and it's homely contents certainly didn't help Mrs. Parks depression.

It became clear for the Kang's that Seonghwa's parents marriage was hanging together by a couple of threads, Mrs. Kang was fragile and the weight of loss and uncertainty of hers and Seonghwa's future weighed heavily on her shoulders  and as they were about to witness, those threads that tied together what little Mrs Park had left were about to break.

Mr Park went practically radio silent, only a couple messages here and there to Seonghwa to check in and ask if he was safe. But as distance ensued between Mr and Mrs Park, their marriage was on thin ice, when Mrs Park finally snapped so did the ties that bound their marriage.

Mrs Park no longer wanted to be with Mr Park and she had left divorce papers in the remnants of their prior household with instructions for her husband to sign them and return them to her lawyer. A letter showed up shortly later at the Kang residence with confirmation that the divorce was indeed finalized.

Yeosang's family were thankfully there to catch Seonghwa and his mother as they fell. The Kangs were there for support and advice, and had generously loaned Seonghwa and his mother money so they could set up in a new apartment and get back on their feet.

Both protested at first, but eventually they had accepted the loan promising to pay pack every penny in time, and no matter what, they did indeed pay back what was lent, even if it came in very small increments.

Mr Park eventually returned, he'd set himself up in the shack in the middle of nowhere somewhat pulling himself together as he reflected on his actions that broke his family.

Seonghwa saw him every weekend or so for fishing trips. He loved his dad hence why he chose to see him, but Seonghwa deep down would admit to himself that it was easier not having his father there everyday in his life.

Without his father it was easier to save money, and the fear they held that their money would be gambled away disappeared. Their life wasn't perfect, they still struggled, but it was easier.

Yeosang, during this time, did everything he could to take care of Seonghwa, ensuring he did what he could to keep the older afloat.

Their bond had deepened greatly over the course of these events, but Yeosang was still in denial of his feelings.

Yunho and Yeosang still remained good friends, but there connection had shifted greatly since Yunho had met Seonghwa in person.

Yunho had started contact Yeosang less than usual which bothered Yeosang. But in reality Yunho was just putting some space between them in order for he himself to move on.

Yeosang was blind to the feelings Yunho used to have and the decision Yunho had made, and the distance Yunho was making was only making Yeosang pine for Yunho more. Yeosang would support Seonghwa, but it was always Yunho he wanted.

Yeosang still kept all his feelings to himself, but little did he know Yunho was now keeping his new growing feelings to himself.

Yeosang was completely clueless on everything that was happening right up until Christmas 3 years later in year 11, when everything suddenly slapped him in the face.

A/n And now let's propel a little into the future!!