The next morning, Minhyuk woke up with a sense of urgency. He needed to find his father's university, hoping it would lead him to more answers. Still dressed in the same black jacket and cap he wore the night before, he set out, determined to figure out what was going on.
As he arrived in front of the campus, he immediately became the center of attention. His striking looks, especially his 190 cm height, caught the eyes of every girl passing by. Some whispered to each other, clearly assuming he was either a model or a celebrity. The attention was overwhelming, and Minhyuk felt a bit out of place, not used to such reactions.
He tried to avoid the crowd, but the situation was becoming harder to manage. Just as he was about to lose his patience, a familiar face appeared in the distance—Choi Hyunwoo. He looked as calm and indifferent as ever, but his presence was like a beacon of hope for Minhyuk.
With a few quick gestures, Hyunwoo made his way through the crowd, offering a way out. Minhyuk was grateful, and as they managed to escape the clamor, a single thought echoed in his mind, "Dad..."
Hyunwoo led Minhyuk to a small, cozy restaurant nearby. The comforting aroma of tteokbokki filled the air, and Minhyuk could feel his stomach growl. They sat down at a table, and Hyunwoo looked at him, his usual stoic expression masking his curiosity.
"Who are you, really?" Hyunwoo asked, breaking the silence.
Minhyuk hesitated for a moment. His mind raced, wondering whether or not to reveal the truth. But the words that came out were far from what he wanted to say. "I'm... I'm an orphan. I don't have anywhere to go," Minhyuk lied, keeping his voice steady. The weight of the lie felt heavy in his chest, but he had no other choice.
Hyunwoo nodded, seemingly unfazed. After a brief silence, he looked at Minhyuk and said, "If that's the case, you can stay with me and my parents. We have a guest room. You don't have to worry about anything."
Minhyuk's heart swelled with gratitude. It wasn't just the offer of a place to stay—it was the kindness Hyunwoo was extending to him, despite knowing so little about him. For the first time in what felt like forever, Minhyuk felt like he wasn't completely alone.
"Thank you..." Minhyuk whispered, a little overwhelmed. The idea of staying with Hyunwoo and his family felt like a new beginning—a chance to find some sense of stability.
As they finished their meal, Minhyuk couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. Not only would he be staying with someone who was offering him a home, but he would also have the chance to be with Hyunwoo's grandparents, who he assumed had a wealth of knowledge that could help him understand his past. It was the first step toward finding the answers he needed.
Minhyuk and Hyunwoo walked through a narrow alleyway towards Hyunwoo's house. As they arrived, Minhyuk was warmly greeted by Hyunwoo's parents, who treated him like family, making him feel at ease despite the strange circumstances. The kindness they showed reminded him of the kind of warmth he had lost, and it filled him with a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in a long time.
As they settled down in the living room, Minhyuk couldn't help but ask, "Where is your older sister?" He had hoped to meet her, thinking that perhaps she could help him with the confusion he was feeling.
Hyunwoo responded casually, "She's living with her partner now."
Minhyuk nodded but soon felt something was amiss. As he glanced around the room, he noticed that there was no sign of Hyunwoo's wife, the woman he assumed would be his future mother-in-law. The absence felt odd, and his curiosity grew.
"Where is your wife?" Minhyuk asked, his voice laced with concern, unsure if he had missed something important.
The room fell silent for a moment. Hyunwoo's parents exchanged uneasy glances, and Minhyuk felt a sudden tension in the air. They continued eating, but the silence grew heavier with every passing second.
Finally, Hyunwoo's mother spoke, her voice soft but firm. "She was taken by her parents... and they are caring for her there," she explained, but there was an undeniable sadness in her tone. It was clear this wasn't a simple situation.
Hyunwoo, who had been silent until then, added, "I'll visit her later... when I can." His voice was filled with uncertainty, as if he himself didn't fully understand what was going on.
Minhyuk's heart raced. He felt the weight of the situation pressing on him, and the mystery deepened. His mind raced with questions—why wasn't Hyunwoo's wife here? What was really happening?
Without thinking, Minhyuk blurted out, "I'll come with you when you visit her." His voice was determined, though the others seemed startled by his sudden decision.
The room went quiet again, and Hyunwoo and his parents exchanged confused looks. "You... want to come with us?" Hyunwoo asked, clearly taken aback.
Minhyuk nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I need to understand more about everything that's going on," he said, his voice tinged with urgency. "I need to know the truth."
Everyone in the room was surprised by Minhyuk's request, and for a moment, no one spoke. But despite the tension, Minhyuk knew one thing for sure: He couldn't let the questions linger any longer. He had to face whatever truths awaited him.
Hyunwoo's parents urged everyone to continue eating after the tense exchange. Though the atmosphere remained heavy, they tried to lighten the mood by making casual conversation. After the meal, Hyunwoo's father invited Minhyuk to sit outside under a small tent in their yard.
As they sat together, Hyunwoo's father began reminiscing. "You know, I used to be quite the troublemaker in my youth. I was clumsy, reckless, and always getting into mischief," he said with a hearty laugh. "To this day, I don't know how none of that rubbed off on Hyunwoo."
Minhyuk, without thinking, blurted out, "But I'm just like you—no, I'm even worse than that!"
Hyunwoo's father paused mid-laugh, raising an eyebrow. Then, he burst out laughing again. "Oh, really? Worse than me? I find that hard to believe!"
Minhyuk grinned but quickly grew nervous as he realized he might've revealed too much. Luckily, Hyunwoo's father didn't take him seriously and instead told more amusing stories about his younger days.
As they were chatting, Hyunwoo quietly got up and walked toward the gate without a word. Noticing this, Minhyuk quickly excused himself. "I'll be right back!" he said, rushing after Hyunwoo.
The Taxi Ride,Minhyuk caught up to Hyunwoo just as he flagged down a taxi. "Where are we going?" Minhyuk asked, sliding into the backseat.
"To her house," Hyunwoo replied quietly.
Minhyuk nodded, but his mind was racing with questions. "Her" could only mean one person: his mother in the past.
As the taxi started moving, Minhyuk couldn't help but fidget. He leaned forward, poking at the driver's GPS. "What does this button do?"
"Don't touch that!" the driver yelled, swatting Minhyuk's hand away.
"Sorry, sorry!" Minhyuk replied, grinning sheepishly.
A moment later, he leaned toward the window, accidentally bumping into Hyunwoo. "Hey, sit still!" Hyunwoo muttered.
But Minhyuk was too restless. "This seatbelt is weird," he said, tugging at it until it snapped loose. "Oops!"
The driver glanced at them in the rearview mirror, clearly annoyed. "Could you not cause trouble back there?"
Hyunwoo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Can you please behave for five minutes?"
"Fine, fine," Minhyuk mumbled, sitting back with a huff.
Arriving at the Mansion,The taxi finally pulled up to a massive mansion surrounded by a high iron gate. Minhyuk stared in awe at the luxurious property, his jaw dropping.
"So... this is her house?" he whispered, glancing at Hyunwoo.
Hyunwoo nodded silently and pushed the gate open. The moment they stepped onto the driveway, a sharp voice rang out.
"Stop right there!"
Both of them froze as a stern-looking older woman emerged from the house. Her expression was cold and disdainful.
"Don't even think about stepping foot on this property," she snapped. "You are nothing—just a poor boy with no future. How dare you think you can come here without shame?"
Hyunwoo lowered his gaze, his hands clenched into fists.
Minhyuk, however, wasn't one to stay quiet. "Excuse me?" he said, stepping forward. "Did you just call him poor? Did you just insult your own grandchild like that?!"
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Grandchild? What nonsense are you spouting?"
"Enough!" Hyunwoo interrupted, his voice strained. "I'll leave. There's no need to make a scene."
"Leave?" Minhyuk repeated, glaring at him. "Are you seriously going to walk away after she said all that?"
Hyunwoo didn't respond. He simply turned and walked back toward the gate. Minhyuk followed, fuming.
The Walk Back,As they walked down the quiet street, Minhyuk couldn't hold back his frustration any longer. "Are you really okay with this?" he demanded. "How can you let her talk about you—and your child—like that? Are you an idiot?"
Hyunwoo finally stopped and turned to face him. "Do you think I don't care? Of course it hurts! But I have to think about her. If I fight back, she'll be the one who suffers, not me. Do you understand that?"
Minhyuk faltered, surprised by the raw emotion in Hyunwoo's voice.
Hyunwoo continued, his tone bitter. "Her father is overseas right now, but when he returns, I'll do whatever it takes to bring her back. I know she's miserable in that house, and I'm not giving up on her. But I can't act recklessly and make things worse for her."
With that, Hyunwoo turned and continued walking, leaving Minhyuk standing there, conflicted.
"Hey, wait for me!" Minhyuk called out, running to catch up.
Back at Home That night, Minhyuk and Hyunwoo shared a room with two separate beds. As they settled in, Minhyuk couldn't help but smile at the odd sight before him. Hyunwoo was sleeping perfectly straight, like a soldier, while Minhyuk had sprawled across his bed in the most chaotic way possible, his head hanging off the side and his feet sticking up in the air.
"They really do look like father and son," Hyunwoo's parents whispered from the hallway, peeking in.
Despite the challenges of the day, Minhyuk drifted off to sleep with a sense of determination. Whatever it took, he was going to protect this version of his family—even if it meant turning their world upside down.