"Achoo!" you sneezed as the cold wind blew again.
You didn't have your jacket with you. You stayed outside at that lonely bench, overthinking about everything. You didn't mind the cold even if you're just wearing casual clothes that wouldn't warm you enough. You hugged yourself and shivered alone. You didn't want to go home because you wanted to avoid the realization that your Grandmother is dead.
"Here." said a familiar voice who surprisingly hanged a warm coat at your shoulders.
You looked at that person and it brought you a little happiness to know that it was Soonyoung.
He smiled at you, "What are you doing outside without bringing any jacket to warm you up?"
You looked away, embarrass of telling that you ran away from home.
"Were you crying?" he asked with full of worry in his voice.
You kept your mouth shut, not ready to tell the fact. Soonyoung sat beside you. He grabbed your left hand and handed the warm coffee he was holding.
"Drink it. It's untouched." He said.
You smiled as you felt the warmness of the coffee in your hands, "Thanks."
'He's nice', you commented. Thinking why he and Jihoon didn't get along.
"So why are you here? Didn't you know that it is very dark here and it's very dangerous girls?" He warned with his voice rising. "What if someone kidnapped you? Or raped you? No one can help you here."
You blushed because he's warning you like you're his girlfriend. You can really feel that he's a little upset that you're staying there in the dark corner of the street and alone.
"Then, I'm very sorry for staying here alone. Why are you even so upset? We're not even that close plus we only met earlier at school." You said drinking the warm coffee.
"I can't believe you!" He sighed loudly and brushed his hair up, "How about now we start becoming closer? Tell me why you're here? You looked like you are crying here alone."
You put the coffee you're drinking and smiled bitterly, "My grandmother just died. I ran away from home unable to face that reality. I just want a time alone."
He put his hand at your head then he gently pats it, "But you can't carry that all by yourself."
Your tears fell instantly, you slowly looked at Soonyoung. He gave you a comforting smile, "That's fine. Release your tears. On times like these people just need someone they can lean on and I'm here."
That moment, you were thankful and grateful that Soonyoung is there.
"I'm home." Lee Jihoon tiredly said as he arrived home.
"Welcome back." His step-Mom warmly greeted while preparing dinner at the kitchen.
Jihoon stared at her who is so busy preparing dinner. He sighed. 'She's really expecting that guy to join dinner.'
She stopped from chopping onions and looked at his step-son whom she noticed was staring at her. She knew what the boy, who she treated like her own son, was thinking.
"By the way, what's the reason you arrived late today?" she said destroying the boundary that was building up between them.
Jihoon put his bag on the dining table and sat at one of the chairs. He looked and smiled at his step-mom, nope, to the person who became his mother.
"I'm sorry for arriving late. I just stayed a little outside for fine air so I can compose a perfect song for the Festival." He said gently, "So don't worry anymore, I arrived safely."
His mother laughed lightly, "I'm glad you arrived home safely so please remove your bag on the table. How many times do I have to tell you that?"
"I apologize." Smiling, Jihoon picked up his bag but his mother suddenly appeared beside him and took the bag first.
"Before you bring this at your room let me check your written lyrics first." She said unzipping the bag.
Jihoon blushed, "Mom, no!"
It was too late for Jihoon to stop his Mom. She already found the notebook where he writes his lyrics and she started reading it already. Since he can't do anything anymore, he sat back down at his chair and covered his blushing face.
"So this is about the girl you like." said his mother who had a proud smile on her face because his son is now a man.
Jihoon nodded silently. His mother returned back the notebook and pats his head.
"I think it'll reach her." She said, motivating his son.
"Soonyoung's doing fine." Jihoon blurted.
His mother kissed him in the cheeks, "Thank you."
That moment was interrupted by the doorbell. The door went open; three persons came in, Jihoon's father, Seungcheol and lastly the one that surprise them all Soonyoung.
"Good evening Auntie." Seungcheol warmly greeted.
"Good evening." Even she's greeting back Seungcheol she was still looking at her real son. She wanted to cry and hug him. She missed him so much.
"Honey, look at who we found while walking on the streets. I'm thankful and glad that Soonyoung can join us for dinner." Jihoon's father happily said, until now he's not giving up. He wanted Soonyoung to accept him.
"Perfect timing, I can smell the food is almost done." Seungcheol said winking at his Uncle who he helped in meeting up with Soonyoung. He knew the route that Soonyoung always take so the two of them took that route so it would look like a coincidence.
"But before everything, Soonyoung was with his girlfriend earlier." Jihoon's father teased, he gently put his hand on Soonyoung's shoulder.
"You should've let her eat dinner with us." Seungcheol added the teasing to add more a friendly atmosphere.
"Yes, you should've. I can't believe you left her alone, a man won't do that." His step-dad said gently messing up his hair.
Soonyoung brushed off his hand looking at him annoyed, "She isn't my girlfriend."
"Let's eat! Is the dinner already cooked?" said his step-dad who is still trying to be happy even though deep inside he's hurt.
'This guy's attitude', Jihoon thought, avoiding being angry in order not to ruin their dinner.
Seungcheol sighed while observing his cousins, Soonyoung and Jihoon. 'How am I going to help this two become friends? Suddenly you popped into his mind.' He smiled. 'She might be a solution.'
"Achoo!" you sneezed.
"Look what happened to you?" your mother said looking at you with full concern.
After letting Soonyoung join his family for dinner, you already gave a thought about everything. You decided to go home.
"But you can't carry that all by yourself."
You wanted to cry again remembering those words. 'I felt so selfish keeping the sadness alone for me. I didn't even think about my parents who were also grieving. Do they need someone to lean on? I'm not the only one who lost someone.'
You hugged your mother who is beside you, "Mom, does it hurt?"
Your mother hugged you tightly, "Yeah..."
"You can lean on me if you want." You suggested, repeating the actions of someone.
"Thanks..." you heard your mother feeling comfort in her voice.
You released her from you hug and look at her from eye to eye, "Mom, we can do this plus Grandma won't be happy in heaven if she can see us crying and sad."
Your mother smiled at you, "You're right. She hates seeing us sad."