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c h a p t e r  4

"Miso? Are you home?" My mother's voice echoed along the hallway.

My eyebrows furrowed, the scent of her cooking welcoming me. "Yeah." I called out, placing my shoes by the rack.

It was rare to find her cooking. Actually, it was rare to see her at home. Usually, when I get home from school, the house would be empty and she wouldn't arrive until late in the morning.

I headed towards the kitchen was greeted by a table full of food. "Woah. What's the occasion?" I asked, plucking a grape from its stem.

As I popped the grape inside my mouth, I heard the toilet flush and the door flew open. My eyes darted to mother who wore a sheepish smile. "Miso, this is Sang-hoon. I met him at the store." She introduced.

Store, huh?

A tall, middle-aged man stood next to my mother. He was wearing a white long sleeved dress shirt and some slacks. Only then did I notice the three sets of tableware and a blazer hung on one of the chairs.

"It's good to meet you, Miso. You're mother has told me a lot about you." He smiled curtly, resting his hand on my mother's shoulder.

I bow respectfully, muttering a small greeting.

"Come, sit! I'm almost done cooking." My mother exclaimed, getting back to the stove.

I shook my head. "Actually, I won't be joining tonight. I have to meet up with a classmate to discuss a project." I pursed my lips. "I just had to drop off a few things." I added.

"Can't you go after dinner?" I could hear the disappointment in my mother's tone.

I shook my head once more. "It's kind of urgent." I said, already backing away from them. "Have a nice dinner, though."

I lied.

I didn't have to meet up with a classmate.

And I certainly didn't want them to have a nice dinner.

•••

Finding her home was rare, yes. But finding her home with a man wasn't. This happened frequently and I almost always found a way to get out of the house.

I didn't know what to feel about it. My mother is single. Beautiful, no doubt. With her short, silky, brown hair, porcelain-white skin, and kind downturned eyes, it was easy for her to meet new people. But something about bringing a new man inside the house every other week just doesn't feel right.

I couldn't do anything about it since I wanted my mother to have every chance of happiness she could get. May it be with different men. It was a chance I was willing to take.

I tuck my hands inside the pockets of my hoodie before entering the nearest convenience store. "Tattoos, leather jacket, and boots." Minho snapped his finger at me.

Minho, the guy who worked at the counter is the closest to what I would call a friend.

After numerous visits to the convenience store, we somehow found a friend in each other and made it a tradition wherein he would guess what type of guy my mother had brought home.

"Quite the opposite actually. Suit and tie." I faked tipping an imaginary hat.

"Damn." He rings up my favorite ramen. "That's new." He seemed impressed.

Him treating me with my favorite ramen whenever he guesses wrong was also part of the tradition. I don't know why he suggested it since there was only a 10% chance he would win. So far, he won only once when he found paint splatters on my shoes.

"Yeah." I muttered, sitting down at my usual spot by the window. "I punched someone today." I changed the topic.

Minho poured boiling water on the cup. "Anything new?" He chuckled.

"It was a boy."

He gasped dramatically. "No." He poured the soup base.

I nodded.

"Look at my bad girl getting into fights." He placed the ramen cup in front of me. "Next time I see you, you'd be telling me all about your adventures inside the principal's office." He winked playfully.

I laughed at his comment. I liked Minho's company. He was funny, caring without being too invasive, and not to mention cute. He was like a big brother I never had. Too bad he was off to college, so I only had time to see him at night since it was his shift at the convenience store.

He sat down next to me. "Was he handsome?" He raised his brows suggestively.

"Really? That's your first question?" I shot him a bored look. "Not 'why in the world did you punch a dude?'?"

He shook his head dismissively. "I figured he deserved it. You don't punch people just for fun." He pointed out. "So, was he?" He faked a dreamy look.

I blushed, recalling my encounter with Hyunjin earlier. "No." I blew on my noodles before shoving it inside my mouth.

I hate how I'm having instant noodles while there's a literal feast inside my house.

Minho handed me a tissue. "Here's a tissue. You have a little bullshit on your lip." He sarcastically pointed at the side of his mouth.

I rolled my eyes and took it anyway. "Whatever. His handsomeness doesn't make up for the fact that he was a pervert." I grit my teeth.

"And the plot thickens." Minho whispers darkly.

"Shut up!"

He laughed. "What made you think he was a pervert?" He asked, anyway.

"He lifted my skirt!" I cried out.

"How dare he!" Minho cried dramatically, faking a gasp.

I frowned at him. "I hate you so much." I deadpan.

"I love you, too." He blew a kiss. "No, but, is it possible that it was an accident?" He suggested with raised brows.

I huffed looking out the window. "I don't know. He told me he wasn't the one who did it and followed me home, demanding an apology from me." I said.

"Did you?" He asked.

"No."

"Maybe he was telling the truth."

"Maybe." I frowned. "Ah, whatever. I don't think we'd be talking to each other again any time soon." I shrugged it off.

"Maybe." Minho echoed. "He knows your address, though. So, never say never."

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