After quickly getting dressed, Lali and Gguk shared a knowing look. They couldn't afford to act differently, not with everyone waiting for them downstairs. Taking a deep breath, they left their room and headed down to join the family for breakfast. When they entered the dining room, everyone was already seated. Elora's eyes shifted over them, calm on the surface but watching closely. Lali could feel her attention even though Elora didn't make it obvious. She and Gguk acted like normal, greeting everyone and taking their seats, hoping to avoid suspicion. Breakfast had only just begun when a sharp voice suddenly broke the quiet.
"Elora, what is going on here?" The voice was strong and demanding. Everyone turned to see an older woman, around seventy, standing at the entrance. Though she leaned on a walking stick, she looked powerful and confident, with her head held high. Two younger people stood behind her, a man and a woman. Elora and Kavin stood up right away, as did Gguk's older brothers, Kwang and Soo. The others followed, with Gguk, Taeyang, and Mia respectfully calling her, "Grandma."
Lali, still seated, realized this must be the family's grandmother. The older woman's gaze briefly landed on her, and for a moment, Lali thought she saw something, almost like fear but it was gone just as quickly. The woman turned back to Elora. With a steady voice, Elora said, "Mum, let's discuss this upstairs" The older woman gave a small nod and turned to head upstairs, the two people following her. Elora and Kavin went with them, throwing a glance back at the table as they left. An uneasy silence settled over the table.
Lali felt a sense of mystery hanging in the air, wondering why the grandmother had arrived so suddenly. Kwang and Soo left the table with their wives leaving Lali, Gguk, Taeyang, and Mia the only ones remaining. The room was quiet but there was an obvious tension. Taeyang noticed the curiosity in Lali's expression and spoke up. "That's our grandmother," he explained, "the head of the Jeon family. She's been away resting, which is why you haven't met her until now. And the two with her? You've already met them. They're Aunt Cynthia and her husband.
They were at the party last night" Lali nodded slightly, taking in the information. Gguk looked toward the doorway, where his grandmother and the others had just left. "Why are they here so early?" he asked. "And why did Grandma look upset?" Mina glanced at the shattered windows around the room. "I think it has something to do with the storm last night" she said. "It was strange. Almost every window in the house broke." Lali stayed quiet, trying to understand everything. Something about this storm seemed to be affecting everyone and she couldn't shake an uneasy feeling about it.
Upstairs, in the quiet of the study, the older woman settled into a chair, her eyes sharp as she addressed the group.
"This storm was no coincidence," she began firmly, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "It wasn't just rain. Something more is at play."
Elora nodded. "We've been careful but there's no denying this. We've seen it before."
Cynthia leaned forward, crossing her arms. "I still don't believe she's the cause. She hasn't shown any signs"
Kwang responded thoughtfully, "Perhaps. But we can't dismiss this entirely. Nothing about last night was ordinary."
The old woman's gaze narrowed slightly, as if measuring the weight of the silence that followed. "Continue as we planned" she instructed, her tone final. "No assumptions until we know more"
They nodded in agreement, exchanging looks that hinted at more beneath the surface. Kavin added quietly, "We'll be prepared. If anything shifts, we'll see it soon enough." With that, they ended their discussion.
After breakfast, in their room, Lali stood lost in her thoughts while she helped fix Gguk's tie. As she adjusted the fabric, her mind kept wandering back to the storm, the way everything felt so intense last night. Suddenly, she felt a soft kiss on her cheek. It startled her for a moment, but it was gentle and her lips curled into a smile even if she was a little caught off guard. She glanced up at Gguk, who was watching her with a soft expression.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his voice warm and inviting.
Lali hesitated for a moment, her mind racing. "Do you think the rain last night has something to do with us?" she asked quietly, looking down at her hands. "I mean, we've been warned not to get close to each other... and not only did we ignore that but... we also..." She trailed off, unsure of how to finish her sentence, but her eyes were searching his for some kind of reassurance. Gguk grinned at her, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Well, there's one way to find out," he said. "I could pin you to the bed and we can get lost in each other again just like last night" Lali pushed him lightly on the chest, laughing. "Stop it Gguk. I'm serious"
"Now that I think about it, there was that thunder, the lightning and the rain, it was almost like it was reacting to us. She then sat on the bed, deep in thought. "when we were together, the thunder, the lightning, the way the rain sounded, it was like it was responding to us. "I don't know but it feels like every time…" She stopped, a little embarrassed but then went on. "Every time you moved inside me, it was like the storm outside got louder. Like something was responding" Do you think it's connected?"
Gguk sat down next to her, taking a moment before he spoke, his voice thoughtful. "It was a strange storm that's for sure. But maybe it's just a coincidence. Sometimes, nature has a way of acting up when people are feeling intense emotions. But I don't think we should worry about it too much. The storm is over, and we're here." Lali looked at him, still unsure, but his calm response gave her a little peace. She nodded, still lost in her thoughts, but feeling more grounded with him beside her.
Lali kissed Gguk on the cheek as he was about to leave for work. "See you later" she said, her voice soft but warm. Gguk smiled, his fingers brushing her cheek before he opened the door and stepped out leaving her in the quiet of their room.