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Even more embarrassed I finally walked out of my room. The best idea was probably to get some wipes from the bathroom.
But I hadn't even closed the door properly when Sunghoon headed up the stairs right towards me and I flinched in shock. I can't even remember if I stopped walking as well.
âWhat?", he asked. âIs Heeseung in your room?".
My heart stopped for a second out of fear.
âHe's not in mine, so...".
âYes, he is. Why?", I pressed out and made my way past Sunghoon carefully. He started laughed as if I'm stupid. âIt's been over one hour since he got here. What on earth were you doing so long?". His eyes wandered up and down my body.
I am fucked!
Like what am I supposed to say?
Hey Sunghoon, just for you to know, I made out with your goddamn best friend while you were downstairs, watching soccer?!
Still. No words came out of my throat. Just a blank stare right into his soul.
"I don't mind...", he suddenly shrugged and walked straight towards my room.
"WE'RE STUDYING!", I almost yelled out. "He told me what you guys are doing in university and stuff. Pretty boring.", I tried to wave it off.
"Super interesting.", he shook his head with a face I've never seen that unimpressed. But it didn't stop him to press the handle down.
My body almost collapsed out of fear. "WAIT!", I made him stop again.
"What the fuck, Hyeona. I just wanna talk to him. Don't piss me off.".
I felt like I was close to burst out in tears. "You can't go inside! Not now!".
"What?", he turned around in confusion. "Why?".
"Because...", I had no idea what to say. "You just can't, Sunghoon.".
An indignant laugh escaped through his teeth. âYou're kidding me, right?". But not a single hint of smile appeared on my face. I was only staring at him, begging with my eyes that he would go away.
By now at the latest, he must have grasped that something is completely wrong here.
Sunghoon walked straight toward my door and pushed it open.
But before he was able to step one foot inside, I yanked him back. "I SAID NO! ARE YOU DEAF?". He looked at me as if I had lost my mind.
"Are you crazy? Are you goddamn fucking inside, or what?".
"HUH?". I gasped. "Do you even listen to yourself?"
"We were talking about your fucking birthday present, you idiot.". Heeseung suddenly appeared in front of us, making my heart drop in relief.
Woah, what a good idea!
"Do you really want to ruin the surprise for yourself? Then come in with pleasure.", he held open the door invitingly but my brother turned around to face me again.
"Why are you yelling around in the house like a maniac?", I winced at his angry voice. "I thought you two...", he sighed and eyed Heeseung. "Nevermind. I'm going to sleep now.". He said and pushed past the two of us and disappeared in his room.
Wait, what about his apartment? And his girlfriend?
Heeseung just shrugged and I nodded towards my room.
"Oh my gosh.", I buried my hands in my hair. "It's getting worse and worse.".
He sighed and wrapped his arms around me, hugging me tightly. "I know".
"I don't know what to do. One day I'm all for making it public, but then the next day I have doubts again because some shitty situation happens with Sunghoon. It's stressing me out!".
"We should ask your mom what to do.". Heeseung suddenly suggested. "She's clever and has good advices.".
He's right. My mother is probably one of the most understanding and loving people on earth. Don't ask me where my brother got his temperament. Probably from dad. He also hurt people just like that...
Okay, that was mean.
"I'm going to talk to her tomorrow.". I said and sat down on my bed again. "She will understand how confused this whole thing is.".
"I will come along.". Heeseung replied immediately. "We will tell her together, okay?". He reached for my hands , pulling me up again.
"But I'd better go now. I don't want another Sunghoon interruption again.", he laughed and kissed my forehead. "Bye"
"Bye".
***
Nervously, I walked up and down in my room. Mom just woke up a few minutes ago and started preparing breakfast in the kitchen. Sunghoon is out of house in university and Heeseung sat across from me in my chair and observed my stressed me, trying to calm me down. "It's not a big deal. Let's go down.".
"But what if she's angry?". I asked in a pained voice.
"Why would she get angry?
"I-I don't know. I'm just super stressed!". In fact, I didn't exaggerate at all. My heart beat faster than the bpm playlist I had for jogging, my hands were sweaty, and I'd had a queasy feeling in my stomach since last night that kept me up from sleeping.
I was relieved when Hee simply took matters into his own hands. "I'll talk, you listen, okay?". He got up from the chair, gathered me up on the way out into the hallway with a grip around my waist.
Why on earth was I scared? I already told my mom that I like Heeseung a few months ago. So it shouldn't be that surprising, right? But with every step down the stairs, I felt more like throwing up.
When I arrived downstairs, I saw her standing behind the counter brewing a cup of coffee. My feet immediately blocked.
"Go. Don't think about it.". He whispered and pushed me forwards.
"Hyeona! You're already awake, too!", a smile spread across her face. "Do you want a cup of coffee?".
"Oh! Heeseung, you are here as well.", she seemed surprised but not a single bit less happy than before. He bowed slightly and followed me towards the counter.
"We need your help." I said and she placed the cup on the black marble surface.
"You do? For sure. How can I help y...". Mom broke off in the middle of the sentence when Heeseung grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers.
"Oh...", her voice, which had been in such a good mood just a moment ago, suddenly turned serious. "Should we sit down for a minute?". She walked around the counter and nodded towards the couch.
We followed her and sat down on the opposite side. The silence was unbearable. In my head I was trying to come up with a good explanation, and Mom also seemed like she didn't know whether to start the conversation or let us go first.
"Okay. Mom. I know it sounds weird and you are probably confused as well, but we...", I hold on and corrected. "...I felt the need to talk to someone about this.".
Nervously, I started fidgeting with the ring on my finger. Just tell her, Hyeona. Straight forward!
"Hyeo and I are dating. For several months already.". Heeseung revealed what we had kept secret for so long. Anxiously, I glanced over at my mom. How would she react? "And we didn't know how to deal with it, because nobody knows about it.".
I held my breath quite a long time until her features softened.
"Well, aren't this supposed to be great news?".
I couldn't help but start smiling with relief. "Like, I don't understand it. What's the problem? I'm so incredibly happy for you two.". she nudged both our knees and Heeseung started laughing as well.
Fuck, that's it. It's finally out. After months and months of keeping it to ourselves.
"You don't mind?", I inquired to be sure.
"Why would I mind? You are two young adults who have found each other. There is nothing wrong with that!". Her words almost made me tear up. She's literally the sweetest. "Especially after you've been into him for so long, huh.". She winked at me and my heart almost stopped.
"Mom?!"
Heeseung cracked up next to me and I nudged his arm. "Shut up!".
"What about Sunghoon? He doesn't know about it yet, right?", she cleared her throat and went serious again. My smile dropped as well.
We both shook our heads.
"Well, he needs to accept it. There's no other possible way. I mean just because he's stubborn as hell? No, no, we accepted his girlfriend as well! Especially because Heeseung basically belongs to our family since 20 years, right?".
"So you think we should just tell him?", I asked her.
"You need to catch a good moment.", she said. "I know your brother can be very impulsve. But he's not a bad person".
Not a bad person?
Wait, let me review all the things that have happened in the past. Yep, he definitely has a personality disorder!
"He's just a bit...overprotective.", cut in Heeseung.
"Yeah, right!", mom confirmed.
"But he wouldn't like seriously hurt you - or me.", he glared over at me now. "You know it as well, Hyeo.".
Guiltily, I bit my lip. âYeah, probably.".
âWhatever you decide to do. Give it time! Don't expect it to be received positively by everyone, because it won't!
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