The tension in the air was palpable as Hyuk and Reina stepped out of the room. Hyuk's house, usually quiet in the mornings, felt strangely heavy with unspoken thoughts. Reina followed closely behind him, her face composed but still carrying the weight of last night's events. Neither of them spoke much, but there was an understanding between them—things had changed.
As they entered the kitchen, Hyuk's mother, Sayuri, was preparing breakfast. The usual clatter of dishes seemed louder than normal in the silence. When she saw them, her eyes briefly flickered between the two, her expression neutral, though there was a glint of something unreadable in her gaze.
"Good morning," she greeted them, her tone even, though Hyuk could sense the subtle tension. Sayuri continued to prepare the meal without comment, but there was a heaviness in the air, a suspicion lingering just beneath the surface.
"Morning," Hyuk replied, trying to sound casual, though his voice came out a bit strained. Reina muttered a soft greeting as well, avoiding eye contact with Sayuri. The awkwardness was thick, and it seemed like neither Hyuk nor Reina knew how to break the tension.
As they sat at the table, Sayuri's gaze briefly lingered on Reina, as if trying to piece together the situation. Hyuk noticed but didn't comment, trying to keep his focus on the meal in front of him. Reina fidgeted slightly in her seat, clearly uncomfortable.
"So, Reina," Sayuri finally spoke, her tone light but with a hint of curiosity, "How long will you be staying with us?"
The question seemed innocent enough, but Reina hesitated. "Just... for a short while," she replied softly, her voice unsure. "Until I can figure things out."
Sayuri gave a slow nod, her eyes lingering on Reina just a bit longer. "You're welcome to stay as long as you need," she said, though there was something in her tone that suggested she might be wondering what exactly had transpired between her son and this woman who was so much older than him.
Hyuk's eyes flicked to Reina, then to his mother. He could sense the unasked questions hanging in the air, and though nothing was said outright, he knew his mother suspected something. But he wasn't going to explain. Not yet.
After what felt like an eternity of awkward silence, Sayuri set down the teapot and glanced at Hyuk. "Your father will want to talk to you later," she said calmly, "about what happened on your last mission."
Hyuk nodded, grateful for the change in topic. The memory of the battle with Shijen still hung heavy in his mind, but right now, it felt like a welcome distraction from the current situation.
"I'll talk to him after breakfast," Hyuk said quietly, feeling the weight of the room slowly lift.
Reina glanced at him, her expression a mix of gratitude and confusion. The conversation had shifted, but the awkwardness hadn't entirely disappeared. As they finished the meal in silence, Hyuk knew that this was only the beginning of the complications that would come from last night.