“Woah… Come kids. Come inside.” Chul-ho’s mother greeted as Jae-mi and Iseul entered her room guided by Chul-ho.

She was a fine woman nearing her 50s. With a pleasant voice and a kind smile.

She was lying on the bed and Chul-ho went on to sit at her bed side.

“How are you ma’am..? Chul-ho said that you were alright but you’re still in bed-” Jae-mi asked her, confused and worried.

“Ahh… No no…” She laughed as she quickly stood up from her bed as Chul-ho and Jae-mi came forward to help her.

She raised her dress a bit to show Jae-mi the small fracture in her ankle.

Iseul grew shocked at that as she went, “Oh no. Granny got a band aid. Granny is hurt.” and looked at her with a worried face and a pout.

“Oww…” She laughed hard at that. “Yeah… It’s a band aid but granny is healed, sugar.” She said looking at Iseul.

“How is it now, ma’am?” Jae-mi asked her concerned.

“It’s fine. It’s fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore. I was just reading a book lying on the bed. Not like you think. Ha ha.” She said holding the book she was reading till the moment they stepped inside the room.

“Oh… That’s a good thing, ma’am.” She said.

“Yeah, I think so......... And stop calling me ma’am. It sounds way too formal please. You’re Chul-ho’s friend, right? Call me mother.” She said and that definitely was an order. Daughter zoning her as soon as she saw her.

“Oh, okay ma’a- I mean Eomeonim.” She said a little awkwardly and bowed.

[Eomeonim/ Eomma is a korean word that means mother.]

She firmly nodded her head in a ‘That’s right’, with her eyes closed. And then, went on to ask, “Where is he? Where is my son?” She demanded looking behind Jae-mi and Iseul.

“I’m here!” Chul-ho spoke making her divert her attention towards him.

“No. Not you idiot. My other one.” She said earning a frown from him.

“I have 2 sons. And the second one has grown very big that he doesn’t even feel the need to visit me anymore.” She said with crossed arms and down-turned lips which indicated how annoyed she was.

“Granny, are you asking about my dada?” Iseul asked her clueless.

“Yeah… Him. Where did he go leaving you, hmm? Such a bad boy!” She whined.

“Dayun said that she had gone to their old office or something? I’m not sure though. I don’t know why they’d go there, this early in the morning.” Jae-mi spoke thinking. “Who knows… They could be having fun together somewhere.” She squinted her eyes thinking even harder. A million possibilities of what they were doing crossed her mind.

“Really aunty? Did momma and dada go to play games in the park leaving me?” Iseul asked her, pouting disheartened. For her 'fun things' meant, playing in the park. And when she's not a part of it, she'd be heartbroken.

To which Jae-mi nodded sadly, feeling bad for her, saying, “Could be, Iseul.”

Looking at that, Chul-ho’s mother stepped in to say, “Oh don’t worry, Sugar bowl. Granny would take you to fun places. We can leave them and go together.” She groused.

After discussing about what Dayun and Insoo were doing so early in the morning, Chul-ho's mother decided to just call him and ask him directly. And proceeded to take her phone.

And right at that moment,

Came the subject of their topic, Insoo! Rushing through the door.

With Dayun quietly following him behind.

“Eommaaa… How are youu? I missed you.” He came running to sit beside her with one of his arm around her shoulder.

…

But his excitement was met with annoyance.

“What? Are you not happy to see me?” He asked her looking at her displeased face, the smile slowly leaving his face replaced by a confused look.

“What- What did I do? Why are you both mad?” He asked after noticing that Iseul too was sulking at him.

He looked back and forth between the two of them, having no idea what he had done as he slowly took his hands off her shoulder.

Dayun too was very confused at the sight of an angry Mrs. Choi, sulking Iseul, evilly smiling Chul-ho and a shrugging Jae-mi.

“What happened? Tell me!........... Iseul… Why are you sulking?” He asked them wanting to know the reason they were giving him the cold shoulder.

“You’ve come to our town after such a long time. And yet, the first place you went was to your office! It’s always work, work and work for you! Don’t you care about me anymore?” She turned her face to the other side angrily.

“Ask him, mom! Ask him what was so important than meeting you!” Chul-ho screamed whistling excitedly watching the drama unfold. “Shut up! You’re no better!” She mercilessly cut him off, yet the latter shamelessly smiled unflinched, enjoying the drama.

“Mom- But I-” Insoo tried to say something when,

“You’re bad dada. How can you leave me and go to play games with momma? You broke our team cunt- cont- contract!” She whined struggling to pronounce the last word with a frown of her own making Insoo blink his eyes several times.

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

“No, Iseul. I didn’t- I didn’t go to play games.” He told her still confused and turned towards Chul-ho’s mother who also treated him like her son.

He took a moment to understand why they were acting this way and then slowly spoke explaining,

“Mom… We went to the office just to get some gifts that Dayun left there when she shifted……… And I really wanted to see you yesterday but I was too tired to visit. Else, I’d have already come to see you yesterday.” He said sincerely.

When she didn’t turn her face even after several seconds, he hugged her softly. “Mom… You know I love you, right?” He whispered to her. “I came here just to see you. What is more important to me than meeting my special woman, hmm? So, I’m asking my mom to forgive her stupid son’s sin. And I know she would because she’s suuuch a sugar candy.” He spoke softly and kissed her cheeks.

“Ohh… You’re such a sweet-talking brat, I hate you!” She said sulking.

“I know you don’t.” He said placing his head on her chest as she took him into her arms, giving his head a hard but kind stroke, smiling.

“How is your leg?” He asked moving away from her and looking at her ankle. “Oh, it’s fine. Doctor said, I can remove them in a week.” She answered.

“Oh, that’s a relief…” He told himself. “Yet why would you be so careless?! Shouldn’t you take care of yourself more? You never mentioned it when we talked over phone. I was very worried when Chul-ho told me.” He told her.

“That’s why I didn’t tell you, you’d be worried. And you’d be busy too, with your company and stuff.”

“Those things don’t matter mom.”

She laughed at that. “Okay. Fine. Fine. I should’ve told you.”

He nodded and “Don’t make me worried again.” He said. Then, he looked around the room, having suddenly remembered something. There was another person that was angry with him. Iseul.

“Where did Iseul go?” He asked looking at Dayun who eye-signaled him the place behind the cupboard where the little girl was sitting holding her knees, upset at being ignored.

“Ohh…” He quickly got up, walking towards her. Laughing at the way she was acting, Insoo kneeled in front of her,

"Iseul ah..."

No reply.

But he continued, “We didn’t go to play games, little one. Trust me. We just went to your momma’s ‘This place’ that you never liked to go. Why would I go to play without you?”

“Really? You just went to that boring place? You didn’t play games?” Iseul asked in a low voice, to confirm.

“Yes!” Insoo responded as he made her stand up holding her hand. “Didn’t we agreed to play together. Why will I break our team Contract? And don’t be so sad, we can go to the amusement park next week if you want!”

“Really?” Her eyes grew wide as she asked him in surprise.

Insoo laughed at that. “Really.” He reassured looking at her excited reaction.

But, “Why is Iseul sad again?” He asked noticing Iseul’s face fall after a moment.

“I’m hungry.” She let out pouting. Which made Insoo laugh again.

Before Insoo opened his mouth to speak,

“Yeah, it’s getting pretty late. Come and have breakfast kids.” Mrs. Choi announced getting up from her bed.

“Yeah! I grew hungry watching their drama. I’m leaving.” Chul-ho said getting up and making his way to the dining room. “Yeah… Too much drama isn’t healthy.” Jae-mi followed him.

“As if you both aren’t walking dramas yourself.” Dayun mockingly said making the other two laugh as she joined them in their little walk to the dining room with Iseul tailing behind her.

Insoo too was about to join them when,

“You look happy.” Mrs. Choi commented looking at him.

“Yeah… I’m happy. It’s been a long time since I came to our town. Of course, I’d be happy.” He said smiling brightly at her.

“No, not that.” She remarked making Insoo pause. “You look happy with Dayun and Iseul.” She let out softly.

Insoo’s smile slowly left his face at that. “Mom. I-” He struggled to form words.

“You like her, don’t you?” She asked.

“What? No… No… We’re just- She’s just- my- My friend.” He denied quickly making the woman opposite to him raise one of her eyebrows, glaring.

“Okay. Okay. I admit. I might have a- little- crush on her. But- but nothing like you think.” He spoke super fast, bringing his thumb and index finger in a ‘C’ to visualize the ‘little’ part, ignoring the tiny voice inside his heart that accused him for lying.

“Why don’t you tell her?” She asked.

“Mom… You’re taking this way too seriously. Like I said, it’s- it’s nothing serious, really. I’ll get over it.”

“Why?” She asked a long and confused ‘why?’ “It’s not wrong to like someone…………. About Chul-ho, I’ll somehow get him to settle down with one of the girls he has dated or whatever he calls that. But it’s you I’ve been worrying about. I’ve never really seen you date someone. And I don’t want you to stay like this forever.”

“Mom, please. You don’t have to worry about all those things.”

“Don’t tell me what I can do, young man.”

Insoo gave up at that.

“Mom…………… It’s just- What if- I” He struggled to speak properly.

He took a moment to think as he took slow breaths and heaved a heavy sigh, before he spoke, “Mom, I’m just a little unsure and confused about things at the moment. I’m sorting them out. So, please, don’t worry about me, will you do that for me?” He reassured giving her a gentle smile and a quick hug before leaving the room while she just watched him leave not speaking anything.

~

~

Dayun’s POV,

We sat in front of the dining table that was decorated with a lot of delicious foods made by their mom. I learned that, most of them were Chul-ho and Insoo’s favourites.

I guess, Insoo and Chul-ho gets this treatment whenever they visit. Both at Insoo's grandparents’ house and Chul-ho’s parents’ house.

Damn, if I get treated this way every time I visit my hometown (except I don’t remember having one) I’d go there every week just to eat these drool-worthy foods. They look deliiiicious…

“Wait till they come!” I said hitting Jae-mi's hand that was about to sneak inside one of the food bowls. “Ahh… These are making me hungry.” She complained, rubbing her stomach.

“I’m hungry too, momma.” Iseul followed Jae-mi with a pout of her own.

“Aargh! What even is taking them this long to come?!” Chul-ho stood up slamming the table as he marched his way towards the room.

But when he was about to get out of the dining room, Insoo entered. “What took you so long bro? We’re starving!” He spoke annoyed.

“Just had a little talk. Sorry about that.” He told us and proceeded to take the empty seat beside Iseul, while I sat at her other side. Their mom too came inside shortly after. “Sorry for making you wait kids.” She excused herself.

“It’s okay. Let’s start now!” Jae-mi said clicking her chop sticks together rapidly.

“Wait- But where’s dad? I didn’t see him.” Insoo asked looking around and then at Mrs. Choi.

“Finally… Someone acknowledges my existence in this house.” The person in question entered the room right at the moment to hear him ask that. “Just had a little work in the backyard.” He said.

And all the attention turned towards him as he walked to wash his hands.

“You’ve finally decided to visit us?” He joked simultaneously pulling a seat next to his wife and opposite to Insoo, smiling at him.

Then, without waiting for his reply he proceeded “So, how are you son? How’s life and work?” He asked Insoo taking his own chop sticks that were near his plate.

“Smooth dad.” Insoo replied. “Not much things to talk about.” He further added.

“Mmm Hmm…” He hummed taking a bite. And all of us had already starting having the food hungrily.

Like every meal here, this one went nice too.

Mr. Choi asked Insoo everything about his work and other things. He also asked about Insoo’s father. I learned that Chul-ho and Insoo's fathers were great friends too. All of the members in their family was, actually. And just like how Insoo shared a special bond with Chul-ho's mother, Chul-ho was close with Insoo's grandparents too.

Apparently, Insoo’s father, Moon Seung, was not in the town. He has been working in Columbia doing research on vegetation of Amazon forest or something?

I never knew Insoo’s father was into those things. I have seen him a few times before when he came to our company. But never really got to talk with him.

To each one of Mr. Choi’s question, Insoo answered carefully and cautiously.

From the way Chul-ho and Insoo acted around him, clearly showed that they both were kinda afraid of him.

He must be a very strict father but oddly paired with a weird sense of humour that you wouldn’t know he joked, unless you carefully pay attention to his words. Even then, after knowing that he joked, you wouldn’t be able to laugh because he has such a sharp gaze that you start to feel like it’s a crime to laugh in front of him.

On contrary, Mrs. Choi was veryyy sweet and lovely just like Insoo’s grandmother. She has this aura of love around her that anyone near her would start to feel loved and cared about.

Over the dinner I got to talk a lot with Mrs. Choi. And I really love her!

So, Insoo has 2 dads and a mom, huh?

Good for him.

“So, boys… Are you up for a fishing match?” Chul-ho’s father asked hitting the table.

“Fishing match?” Chul-ho asked him.

“Yeah… I want to know if you both have improved at all.”

To which Chul-ho groaned, “Hmph…. You bet, we’ve grown a lot dad!” He challenged.

“Yeah… We did. We could even win against you this time!” Insoo followed him, slamming the table.

Everyone here has the habit of slamming tables… *sighs* Poor thing.

…

And that’s how the pleasant morning led to a competitive evening.

~

~

We went back to Insoo’s grandparents’ house. And Insoo’s grandfather was already getting his old fishing rod cleaned and ready to go fishing. He was coming too.

Not only him, almost all the people of the town are coming.

This is the thing about small towns and villages. They do everything together. They know how to have fun together and make everyday interesting in one way or another.

I learned that this was an annual thing. To have a fishing match in the town. They do this every year.

“Where is Insoo? Is he still upstairs?” Insoo’s grandfather asked me, and then looked at the stairs.

We were to go to the lake by 4 in the evening. It’s 3:30 and Insoo hasn't gotten ready yet.

I was helping Insoo’s grandmother to pack things to make barbecue. And stopped my work in the middle when he asked me that.

“Yeah… He’s searching for his fishing rod, I guess.” I answered him.

“Ah… That boy. He should’ve asked me first. I kept it inside the luggage under his father’s green table. He wouldn’t find it for sure.” He spoke to himself but also loud enough for me to hear.

After a moment of thinking “Can you help me child? Tell him where his fishing rod is. It’s a little hard for me to go upstairs.” He asked for my help.

“Oh, don’t bother. I’d tell him............ In the luggage under his father’s table, right?” I asked him one more time before I started walking upstairs.

“Yeah… Green one.” He told me from behind.

“Got it.”

Why does he specifically mentioned the colour? Does his father have a collection of coloured tables or-

Damn-

I got the answer to that question of mine as soon as I entered the storage room upstairs.

His father indeed had a collection of tables. There were a lot of colourful tables. Red, blue, green, yellow and what not?

Such a weird collection…

And there I spotted Insoo searching near the cupboard.

“Are you still looking for your fishing rod?” I asked approaching him.

To be continued…