Flocks of a feather do flocks together sort of scenario popped out in his head out of blue.
The fact Jina noona got married to a more than 15 years old husband surely result that her in-laws would be in upper territory too. It wasn't like he hadn't heard that before about reality. It's just that he didn't give much attention earlier and it also slipped through his mind for a split second.
Instead of saying mom-in-law, the title 'grandma' sounded way better than it. Now that he realized it he wanted to correct some of his assumptions from earlier.
"Overall they looked nothing like in-laws but your typical Korean grandmas."
But who in the world was Newmoon to decide such things. All he could do was only play the reel inside his head.
She entered the house followed by Mrs. Song.
Newmoon helped a hand dragging their few pieces of luggage.
Before closing the door he sneaks out secretly and glances at the outer environment a bit.
"…"
~~~
Afterward, he made a quick green tea and breakfast for them knowing exactly the warning of her jina noona echoing into his background the mind.
Still, the hospitality of human nature comes first. It was his duty to serve them and whether they decided to eat it or not, it all falls to them. Overall he paid some respect to them.
He laid the teapot and a plate of breakfast and just when he was about to fly away Mrs. Kwon stooped him.
"Newmoon wait for a second!"
Newmoon halted with his eyebrows being raised in the pond of eagerness while his thoughts began to race and rapidly thinking about the more possibilities of the outcome.
"Sure Mrs. Kwon!"
He agreed politely.
"You don't have to be a formal Newmoon!"
Mrs. Kwon rest assured her in a delightful and calming tune still appearing relaxed and smiley as before.
Instantly afterward he flushed out in disagreement, "No No..! Mrs. Kwon, elders should be given respect-
"-We know we know!"
Mrs. Song butted in as she took a sip of the green tea.
It was his first time hearing her voice alone like that. Earlier she indeed spoke but got mixed up with non-other than Mrs. Kwon.
"Sure the elegant runs into their blood! Hmm?"
A voice said in a judgmental way inside his head.
While she continued, "But after all, we are the family, in the end, aren't we?"
"…"
"What was that?"
It was the only word that swirls in his head like a loop.
His expression fell into a daze.
However, he quickly became aware of his confused and dilemma expression and took a charge of it. He lowered his gaze slowly and smirk a bit as if he was shy, slightly touched, and yet hesitate too!!
He didn't say anything.
While it was Mrs. Kwon who broke the silent atmosphere.
"Absolutely. That's why from now on called me mommy! -the same term your sister referred to me as!"
By the time she had already opened her luggage actively while she was on a few talks. Not only that she even handed something hard yet soft to Newmoon's hand.
"?"
The first was a big white packet wrapped up with a large color of the line both horizontally and vertically. However the second was nothing like that. It was wrapped with exciting transparent materials. In one go it was clear that It was hella expensive. He observed with a deep eye relentlessly.
Newmoon passed out both huge packets and kept them on the down-floor with care. After being successfully handed out, Mrs. Kwon explained.
"Here take it! The first one is from your sister noona. And the second is my gift to you!"
As soon as he heard the second sentence he flinched out.
"Taking a gift from her? It has already been enough grateful that he has been taking the shelter but now this..if he accepts the gift then..is that becomes quite greedy. I mean..it-"
There his thoughts popped out like a short circuit overflowing in just a split second.
"Mo-
"-I don't acquire much knowledge regarding today's youth favorite things so I hope it suits your taste."
"-Nah Nah mommy I highly appreciate your gift. You remembering me is already enough for my presence. And on top of that receiving gift from you is my honor too!"
Newmoon sincerely thanked her and bowed too.
"oh-
Newmoon flinched as if he recalled something.
"Btw what would you like to have for lunch? I can make it quickly by the time you two would finish showering?"
"Never mind Newmoon! She always cooks for herself ever since I have come to know her."
Mrs. Song speaks out from the other side.
"You know, she is one of that type who doesn't let the power, money, and status change her true self, morals, and values!"
She smirks as she explained.
Yeah, indeed it was the truth. Just from glancing at her once, you would know what type of person she was. Although it was one thing nobody would fail to recognize the rich, elegant, and royal aura around her.
Maybe not only her but every rich person carries such an atmosphere along with them wherever they go!
Hearing her, Mrs. Kwon laughed a bit.
"Haha. It's a true Newmoon! Leave that to me! Anyway, I heard from Jina you're still studying. Perhaps freshman in college?"
"oh yes, mommy. Freshman year of XXXX university."
"Oh my!"
Mrs. Kwon raised an eyebrow as if she found it quite surprising?
"That's one of the old relatives of mine."
"Wait wait-
Newmoon questioned himself in his mind secretly,
"Is that university or the principal? How am I supposed to take it? Which one is it? The world sure is small huh?"
Meanwhile, Mrs. Kwon mumbled to herself enough to be heard by Newmoon though.
Now Newmoon could no longer resist but blurt out in front of her. He knew he would either feel regretful for not blurting it out or overthinking about it later on tonight.
"Mom, is it the principal of it or the university itself?"
"um. I guess both of them?"
"What? Both of them? I was at least expecting one of them but both?"
Newmoon's mind couldn't brag about it any longer too.
"It was the only university that it opened in our generations. Its reputation of acceptance was so high that only a few amounts of students were admitted. Among them, your father-in-law was one too!"
By the end of the sentences, her voice was calm and serene as if the name of her former husband resurfaced her old warm memories.
Newmoon quickly had all of her sixth sense, gut feelings, and never awaked before instincts now rose too.
Fortunately, before he could open his mouth, Mrs. Song added,
"Can't believe not only it is still there but magically it been popular even more. who's the founder/ chairman now? I bet that old man is no longer the one right?"
Although Mrs. Song looked like she was talking to Mr.Kwon but somehow Newmoon felt the pressure of answering her questions.
"Um. Mrs. song there is no doubt about it. There is this name called XXXX heir of the XXXX families group."
Newmoon had little knowledge about it. Of course, the rumors were one of the first things he had to thank. But just a basic nothing more or less than that.
Only then did he recall something.
He froze right on the spot.
"Wait- did I ever meet with the principal? Like how Jina noona had suggested?"
"…"
It was one of the rare moments where in the most desperate and important situations his overthinking brain cells got frozen up.
If he had then probably he had known or gathered some more information about it and had left a good start-off impression about him in the first meeting. But who would have known he would kick off such beautiful, easy chances like that.
Now all he could do was stand there in fronts of the couch like a dead body or statue. Secretly regretting his heart out.
"oh, I see!"
That was the only word Mrs. Song responds in a while.
While Mrs. Kwon stated firmly, "Good for them."
"Anyway, At what time do you have your classes today. Aren't we making you late perhaps? I heard from Jina too that your exam is coming nearer?"
Newmoon glanced at his watch and reassured them.
"Never mind mom today I am planning to stay at home with you two!"
"And as for the exam it will be held in the next 2 weeks later. Not a problem I still have a lot of time on my hands."
" oh my oh my!!"
Mrs. Song couldn't believe what she heard exactly.
While Mrs. Kwon drowned her brows a bit and her tone got a lot lower too.
"No, A brilliant student like you shouldn't be careless like that."
"Time and tides wait for no one! Go on. As for us we would be fine by ourselves rest assured."
If Mrs. song would have said the same things as her then there might be thin chances of his disagreement on that topic but the fact Mrs. Kwon straightly said it from her mouth forced Newmoon to accept it no matter what.
Cause he was been taught by their mothers,
"Never denied the words of elderly people!!"
And so he did.
"Alright. If you say so, mom. Let me know if you want to get something or if you're in trouble. I will head to college now."
He bowed.
"Oh lord, you worry way more than you should. We would be fine. We would be fine."
Mrs. Song clarified for the sake of Mrs. Kwon.
"Our relatives would be here later on. So relax. And focus on your studies. If something bad happens to your grade then what would we be saying to your noona? How are we gonna face her once we returned hm?"
"I get it!"
Newmoon understood what they wanted to say.
Then he walked to the room, placed down her gifts, and then directly decided to sprint off to college as soon as possible cause he honestly was running late.
Who wouldn't? He has been deciding that ever since he heard the news and remained there preparing his mentality. And now all of sudden he was ordered by the upper seniors to go to classes no matter what.
While they were busy resting, Newmoon quickly moved towards the exits.
"Btw Newmoon?"
Mrs. Kwon called her from a few miles away.
"Yes, mom? Is there anything you wanted?"
Newmoon instantly rushed at her in a few seconds, didn't even matter if he was tying his shoes at the entrance door.
"It seems like you are indeed late because of us!"
Newmoon shook his head.
"Why don't you go take our car from downstairs?
"??"
"There's our drivers there. If you want to travel alone then it's alright too! I think you would reach much faster in a car than by bus?"
For a moment he didn't believe what he had heard. A car? A car?
When the word car comes out it probably didn't mean like your typical car but a more lavish car that only a few % have in the country.
His heart raised higher even with the temperature there. And not only he could have a driver but he also had an open chance of riding it alone.
"My my!"
If Newmoon had a secret place to hide and buried himself then he would create an earthquake due to his yelling. But what could he do? So pity!
"Thank you for your concern but it's alright mom. I am already grateful for enough things but not any longer mom. Besides the traffic jam comes in between. The fact I have to go through the same lane and road no matter what whether I rode it on a bus or car doesn't differentiate anything at all."
Newmoon exclaimed honestly with a fine warmth of a smile.
"…"
Both of them fell silent for a while for some unknown reasons.
With a long pause, Mrs. Kwon answered,
"Okay if that's your decision then! Take care.!"
Upon hearing it, Newmoon's smile became even wider than before. He excitedly got out with sweet words,
"Alright, see you later mommy and Mrs. Song."
They both nodded as he left out.
Well, there were two-way exits for that building. One directly from the front and the other back. But who would have had known Newmoon would be found himself walking sneakily underneath the parking lot.
"No no I am not doing any stupid things..? I just want to peek a model of that respective car of which they were just talking about earlier?"
Newmoon was never a materialistic person.. not until one day ago too. But as though the fact he had been under the roof of such a golden tree that his vision got carried away by seeing the leaves of the golden tree subconsciously.
With a 'tip-toe' he finally reached there.
In just a glance he knew which was theirs.
A few miles away beside the corner of that parking lot, a black huge smooth like butter, BMW car landed there. Even from such a far, Newmoon doubted if his reflection would be caught in that car. It was dazzling and glittering like shiny pieces of the moon and stars. It was so unresisting and unbearable. Now, he successfully has developed new hobbies.
After seeing it, his head automatically drooped down in the ocean of guilt and he returned to his way.
~~~
Newmoon reached the front gate of his university and yet his mood was dead as hell. His head was laid even more down as if it was going to fall at any time now. Who knows when will it get beheaded?
"Maybe I should have given a go..once in my lifetime?"
He mumbled to himself as he grumpily walked around like a zombie.
"I should've thrown away my pride just for one time!!"
His eyelids drooped down touching the down eyelids almost about to get closed. The sun's effect was already there and now his sense of guilt caused it even more.
He halted in the middle of the road and aggressively talked to himself in a loud tone.
"No.., what I have done is right. No matter what the consequences are..one should never throw his\her pride, self-respect, and values."
"UM!"
Surprisingly he even rooted for himself and suddenly his mood was turned the whole upside down.
He sat on one of the resting benches on the way to their building And looked at his watch,
"God, I don't know what I was thinking or what got me when I seriously lied upright against their face and eyes."
Yeah and the moments later,
Only the crows 'Caw~Caw~' was sounded into an empty area.
Amid the pressure, social anxiety, and uncomfortable air in the sitting room, Newmoon unconsciously ended up lying and even pretended to be late too. When in truth he was sneaking into the parking lot for a car. And no way in the world would his driver be known about his university, and the students there too?
"Hmph. I should start practicing a driving lesson. Because of it, I couldn't ride a car even if it was just in front of me!"
Once again he regrets his decision no matter how hard he tried to make up his heart.
As it turned out that he was compelled to deny it cause he didn't know how to ride a car. And to cover up the possibilities of humiliation, shyness, and hesitation, he declined it weighing upon his heart secretly.
Now the fact he has 1 hour left before the actual class starts, he goes out for his phone.
"Oh, mo!"
5 missed calls from non-other than mom.
He had no idea about himself from the moments he got encountered them let alone about other trivial things like a phone.
He quickly gave a call to her.
*RING* RING*
Within just two rings his mom picked it up. Compared to the past, it was the highest record for mom to pick it up that soon if she was eagerly and desperately waiting for the phone call.
"Newmoon, has in-laws already come to the home for you being so busy?"
She indeed was the mother. When Newmoon wanted to talk straight to a point then he wanted to be like this.
No bragging and unnecessary ramblings.
"oh yeah!"
He answered lazily.
"So how were they? just exactly at what time did they arrive there? How did you welcome and show respect and hospitality? How did they behave as well as you! you sure didn't forget to bow in a first meeting right and not to tell about the manners as well? I have never seen you act like one too? And most importantly did you wash off the dust all around the house beforehand?"
In just a split second mom goes out in a rapper way that Newmoon too fell upon a deep shock. For the first time, Newmoon heard something strange way from mom's mouth.
It was the first time that she spoke in such a manner. The desperation she was holding expressed in her tone easily.
And in order hand why wouldn't she?
After all, Newmoon wasn't a type to be dependent upon and be relieved to be with too. So it was somewhat unstable from her perspective.
"Sigh. See? Even she doesn't count on me?"
A voice in his mind responded right away.
"Listen mom first of all.. calm down and listen to me first!"
Immediately afterward Newmoon explained the entire scenario to his mom.
~~~
"oh oh, I see now!"
Finally, mom understood it and let out a deep sigh of relief in mid-air.
"so, today I came to learn that you too aren't useless completely."
She brushed out into laughter as she teases a bit with a sprinkle of honesty.
"?"
Newmoon's jaw dropped right on the spot. His drooping eyelids now got widened like it never happened before. He opened his mouth and then closed his mouth,
"Woah, Mom!!"
He really couldn't believe what he heard just a moment ago. The words he had been doubting about actually turned out to be reality indeed.
"About- What?"
Mom's got paused in the middle.
After a quick short pause mom's voice sounded again.
"Newmoon listen I gotta go now. Nothing's gonna be finished properly if I am not there. Anyway, call me tonight when you're free. And about jina's gift too. let's talk later. Make sure to talk politely and take care of them properly."
And just like that mom hung up the phone making Newmoon fall into a dilemma.