𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 - 𝐒𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐠

"I Keep Going Back For More"

"Seonghwa, can we talk?"

What a hilarious way to initiate their conversation.

Weren't those the same words that messed everything up last time?

Seonghwa nodded his head slowly regardless, standing up from the bed. His mother's thin smile grew as he stepped closer to the door. Before he could fully open the door and step out with his mother, Mrs. Park took the chance to engulf Seonghwa in a tight hug, drowning him in her rose perfume scent.

"I'm sorry, Hwa," she sobbed quietly as she rested her forehead on his shoulder. "I'm so sorry I made the choice to avoid you." Mrs. Park continued to sob.

Seonghwa remained silent as he let her words sink into his skin, processing themselves and administrating in his head. Was this really happening? Was it really? Or am I still laying hopelessly in my bed? He thought to himself.

"I'm so sorry I behaved the way I did. For God's sake, you're my son! My son!" She tightened the grip around his waist. "And I had the audacity to behave like a cold stranger to you, my dear, have you ate?" She pulled herself away to cup Seonghwa's face. "Are you hungry?"

Seonghwa nodded slowly, "But it's alright, Ma. I can make something for myself, don't worry-" But Mrs. Park waved her hands in the air, grabbing him by the wrist and taking him down to the kitchen.

"You make something? Honey, all you've been eating in ramen and Chinese take-out. Come on, we're having dinner together." The two walked down the stairs as Mrs. Park exclaimed. "I give birth to such a wonderful person and treat them like shit!"

"Ma!" Seonghwa laughed, but between all the complaining and tears from his mother, he couldn't help but smile as his mother was finally starting to take him in as her child once again.

The two spent the next hour laughing and talking as they prepared dinner. The warm feeling of comfort was slowly returning between the two as the minutes passed. Seonghwa was just about to serve the food on the plates when the sound of keys jingling coming from outside of the front door caught his attention.

His father had arrived.

Seonghwa glanced at his mother from the corner of his eye, noticing that his mother began to smoothen her apron out of nerves. Did she not discuss this with dad?

"Jiwoo, I'm sorry I'm home so late. They didn't tell me I would have to work overtime until I was just about to-" Mr. Park stopped in his tracks as he came face to face with his wife and...

his son?

"Oh, honey, you're home! We were just about to serve the dishes for dinner. Will you be joining us?" Jiwoo walked around the counter and went over to hug Juwon, whose eyes remained on Seonghwa.

It was as if it Juwon was simply staring at a ghost and not his own son. He felt confused, startled, frightened almost to have seen the bond between his wife and Seonghwa return to normal.

She actually did it-

"Is that a no?" Jiwoo asked, but her tone seemed rather harsh.

"No, no," Juwon shook his head and turned to face his wife. "I'll gladly be joining." He forced a smile.

"Perfect!" Mrs. Park pat Juwon's shoulder. "We'll be downstairs waiting for you."

Juwon nodded, his smile thinning. He quickly excused himself and made his way upstairs, heading towards the bathroom to shower and spend the next hour leaning against the cold tiled wall.

"We were to harsh on him?"

"Juwon, he's our son! How could we avoid him like this?"