Within These Shadows || Park Chanyeol/Do Kyungsoo || Book 1

12

"Yes eomma, it's me, not my ghost. Now, please, stop hugging the living soul out of me or you'll actually turn me into a ghost!"

Just as Mae had promised, she came to visit her parents the next weekend. Her mother held her close and tight the moment she got inside the house, as though she might disappear the moment she blinked. Even though she was seeing her child only after a month, it felt like forever.

"Arassda, arassda! (Okay, okay!) You've grown up too much that eomma's hug isn't nice to you anymore." Mrs Ahn said.

"Eomma! I didn't say it wasn't nice! But you were suffocating me!"

"Arassda! Where's Jayline-ah?"

"She's with her mom. She said she'll come over before lunch."

"Okay."

"Appa, how are you?" Mae moved on to hug her father.

"Uri yeppeun ttal! (My beautiful daughter!) I'm doing good. How are you? How are classes?" Mr Ahn hugged Mae tightly.

"I'm okay. Classes are okay too; pressurizing but I can manage." Mae smiled.

"Geurae? (Is that so?) I'm proud of you, sweetheart. You must be tired from the journey. Go up in your room and take rest. I'll call you down before lunch." Mr Ahn patted Mae's head affectionately.

*

PCY: How's the weather in Changwon?

ASM: It's great; not too cold. Very pleasing.

PCY: It's nice here in Seoul too. DO and I are hanging out at my place.

ASM: Jay's with her mom now, but she'll join us for lunch. It's so nice to be home, without a worry about assignments or quizzes.

PCY: It really is. Hey, I gotta go. DO wants me to play my guitar. He wants to sing this song that he's been practising for a few days. I'll ttyl?

ASM: YOU CAN PLAY GUITAR? WOW! THAT IS SO COOL! :o

PCY: Yeah...I can. Hehe.

Mae could already picture Chanyeol laughing nervously in that text. The boy was too humble to admit his talents. Just like how two days ago, she got to know that he played basketball for the university team, and that he was a great player. He didn't tell her himself; rather, she saw him at the court, playing a game and even winning it.

ASM: You've got to play on campus one day. I wanna hear you and DO sing.

PCY: Alright. :D Ttyl then! Take care, Mae! Say hi to Jay for me!

ASM: You take care too! Bye!

Mae sat up on her bed when Jay entered into her room.

"Waseo? (You're here?) How's eomeoni?" Mae asked.

"Hmm, she's okay. She misses you." Jay crashed on Mae's bed.

"I'll visit her in the evening."

"You can visit her before leaving for Seoul tomorrow."

"What's the problem with today?"

"There's no problem; thought tomorrow would be better. That's all."

"Hmm. Yah, I was just talking to Chanyeol and you know what I learned? He plays the guitar! And DO sings!"

"Who's DO?" Jay gave Mae a confused look.

"His best friend. I think it's a nickname. I don't know his full name though."