Seobin stood in the entry of the Kang home, unable to believe he was here again. At this point, he had almost expected to go the rest of his life before stepping over that threshold again. And when he had it felt as if he were walking into a strange dream.
Where everything was different and still the same.
The indoor slippers didn’t fit his feet and there wasn’t a single extra hanger in the closet for his coat.
Same antics, nothing had changed.
It still didn’t feel like home.
And yet it was in every other sense of the word, what people would call it.
Because it was the house he had lived in and grown in.
A lady he didn’t know came around and grabbed his suit jacket and he gave it to her with a small bow. She ushered it off, and he remembered that they had a back door, with an extra closet where they kept the kitchen storage.
Even my jacket has no place here.
It didn’t even hurt; it was more amusing than anything else.
The air was heavy and stifling. Despite the wide-open two-story-tall entryway, it was stifling.
‘It feels wrong being here.’ He thought with a sigh.
A warm hand fell on the middle of his back, and he turned to meet those pretty blue eyes he loved. Hansol watched him, his eyes filled with love and understanding as if he could sense what it was Seobin was going through.
“We can leave anytime you want, even if it’s right now.” He whispered.
Seobin couldn’t help but crack a smile despite the pressure that felt like it was closing in on him. “Is that because you are scared, or because I am?” He asked.
Hansol blinked like a wounded puppy.
“The inference, how dare you.” He said, covering up his nerves with humor.
“It’s both. I’m so nervous I might cry.” He whispered.
Seobin nodded. “Me too,” he whispered back.
He wrapped his arms around Seobin, and Seobin turned to accept the hug fully.
“How does it feel being back home?” Hansol asked.
“This isn’t my home. Home is with you. This is just the house I grew up in, with people I know very little about.” He responded, and it wasn’t a lie either, this would never be home.
He thought that coming to that realization just now would hurt, but it made him feel even more settled and resolved than before.
Hansol rubbed his back soothingly, and Seobin relaxed into it.
He didn’t know where or who he would have been without Hansol. And he was so lucky he didn’t have to know what that future looked like.
“I am so happy you are here with me, honey.” He said, using the little pet name he liked to do when the two of them were being sweet and comely together.
Hansol squeezed him tightly. “Aiyoo, don’t be so sweet, my heart is melting.”
Someone cleared their throat, and it echoed through the whole entryway, because of the large tile walls. Seobin looked up past the industry chandelier but didn’t let go of Hansol. Instead, he pulled him closer, becoming even more possessive.
‘I don’t care if you don’t like us hugging in your entryway. I will not cave and give in to the pressure of what you want. I am my own person.’ He thought.
Seobin felt Hansol’s hands start to drop and pulled Hansol’s arms back up with his hands and supported them under his arms so he couldn’t lower them back down. He turned his head and glared defiantly at whoever had dared intrude.
“Welcome…H… back.” His father said awkwardly.
‘Had he heard all of what they had just said? Sound carried well in the entryway. Good, it’s time they both figure out I am not some kid to be controlled anymore. I am independent of them. We have no ties anymore. Me being here is a courtesy.’ He wondered.
“You two can come on inside. Everyone is waiting in the backyard.” He said.
Seobin raised an eyebrow at that.
“Everyone? Who is everyone?” Hansol whispered.
Seobin kept his arm wrapped around Hansol possessively but followed his father through the foyer and straight out to the back of the house. Which opened onto a large back and courtyard.
There was a pond filled with Koi and a large fountain that shot out water at a forty-five-degree angle, and the sound of the constantly gurgling water was a pleasant background noise to break through the chatter.
Seobin kept his composure as five faces turned to meet him. But he felt Hansol shake a little under the pressure.
‘An ambush? Why are aunt and uncle here?’ But his eyes lit brightly when he saw his sister.
“Arein! You are back from the States!” She giggled, got up, and ran around the table towards him. Seobin reluctantly let Hansol go so he could give his little sister a proper hug. This was the first time he had seen her in two years. She hadn’t been back to South Korea in all that time.
She nodded. “Mhhm, I heard they were dragging your sorry butt back here, so I had to come to see you. There is no way you can come home without me.” Arein stuck her tongue in her cheek and surveyed Hansol with glowingly bright eyes filled with mischief.
“Aww, he is so pretty and cute. Are you an idol?” She asked.
Hansol shook his head no. “No, I am a chef, pastry. A pastry… I do. I help Seobin at his cafe.” he stuttered out nervously. Seobin ruffled his hair gently.
“He does a great job at it. He is still in pastry school, and he has two more years left. But he is a natural.”
“Ah, I suddenly see why you switched from art to cooking. If I had such a pretty classmate, I would want to switch too.” Arein said.
“Your eyes are just stunning, Hansol. And I love your hair!” Arein squealed with delight.
Seobin noticed some movement out of the corner of his eye and saw his aunt’s lip curl in disgust. She had leaned inwards towards his mother, and the two were whispering something to each other. Their faces filled with displeasure.
“It’s a very nice cafe. You are more than welcome to come over sometime.” Hansol said.
Arein chuckled. “Of course, I would love to visit my brother and his boyfriend at their quaint little store. I hear from reviews the desserts are to die for, and with you making them. I bet with your slightly foreign look and Seobin’s rugged, handsome look. You guys are probably packed into the ceiling with girls all the time.” She commented.
She leaned forward conspiratorially. “even if they have no chance of catching those pretty eyes of yours.” she said, not so quietly.
Seobin covered his mouth with his hand to do his best to hide his smile.
She was, as always, direct and a force to be reckoned with.
Hansol laughed and opened his mouth to say something back, but his mom’s scoff halted everything. Cutting through the noise like a knife. Even the fountain sounded quieter suddenly.
“Ugh, Arein! How can you talk like that? What does it matter if your brother is handsome if it’s a complete and utter waste? He can have a million girls hanging off his every word and it still will do nothing for the future of this family.”
“Did you even think about that? About the future of this family? Honestly, how did I raise such an ungrateful person?” she sneered.
Arein swirled around. “I have lived in the States for two years, and honestly, Mom, the world is progressing quickly. It’s not like here, here we still have to catch up on our thinking. There are too many people left like you. Who thinks in such an old wrong way? Love is beautiful, and it isn’t stuck to opposite genders. You don’t have to understand it, but you should accept that even if you cannot understand Seobin Oppa. Even if you cannot understand his feelings, you should at least accept them. Heck, why does he even need acceptance? It’s common in some places. So commonplace that it would be the same as if I were to bring a boyfriend home. Don’t you think you are being an old stick?” she snapped.
“Arein, it’s okay. If we are making them uncomfortable, we can go. But I won’t stop holding the man I love when he feels nervous about being in new surroundings.” Seobin said.
“Mom!” Arein snapped, angrily.
“Their love is as beautiful as diamonds. They went through so much just to be shaped into the beauty they are now. Do you have to try to crush their spirits? They came here for Papa. We all did. The least you could do is let Papa talk before you go off and start scaring them both away. It’s been two years since I have seen Seobin Oppa. If you scare him off before I even get a chance to connect, I will go back to the States and not come back here ever again.” Arein snapped.
Seobin bit his bottom lip. The last time he had seen Arein, she was already pretty strong-willed, but it seemed to be that living in the States had given her the wherewithal to be very forward with her behaviors.
“That’s right, he came for his father. So what right does he have to be making a scene before Dad can even say anything at all? And just what kinda child did I raise that is making matters worse? Did the states really change you that much?” She said, standing up and pushing her chair out.
“I’m sorry Seobin, Hansol, don’t be mad, okay? The world is still changing, it just takes a bit of time. You can’t pick who you are related to. It’s not your fault, Seobin.” Arein said nose flaring and eyebrows pinched down in anger. she patted him on the arm and he had to do his best not to tear up. His little sister wasn’t that little anymore.
“Calm down, calm down, everyone.” His father said softly. Holding up a hand to calm the waters.
Seobin turned to look at his father; who was smiling gently. But he could see how awkward he was feeling behind that smile.
‘At least he is trying.’ Seobin thought. ‘I’ll give him that.’
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