By Zephyria After parting ways with Chae Doo-hyun Sunbae, I waited for the members in the empty waiting room. After talking to Doo-hyun Hyung, it was arranged that I had a fever and was taken to the hospital by the staff.
Probably, like Doo-hyun Hyung, the members would want to hear a proper reason from me. I was planning to explain based on the facts as much as possible.
I was so engrossed in thought that I noticed the phone vibrating late. I checked the screen and quickly answered the call.
“Mom? What’s up at this hour?”
—Tae-kyung-ah, will it be late when the recording ends today?
Mom’s voice was as bright as ever, but I quickly noticed the uneasy feeling revealed in it.
“I think I’ll be able to leave right after our team’s interview ends. Mom, is something wrong?”
—No, it’s nothing? I just wanted to see my son’s face and discuss something….
Without waiting, I immediately got up from the sofa and checked the time. Mom saying this to me meant that something important had definitely happened.
“Mom, I can go right now. Should I go to the cafe?”
—Huh? No. Just come home after you finish work.
I could feel Mom raising her voice on purpose, and my heart sank.
“I’m free right now. I can go quickly.”
—Really? Then… come home? Mom will go home too.
As I hung up the phone and ran out into the hallway, my heart started beating faster and faster.
I had been so focused on my work that I hadn’t taken care of Mom and Tae-min. So it wouldn’t be strange if Mom was enduring difficulties I didn’t know about all by herself.
What on earth could it be? Could something have happened to Tae-min? Ah, I should have called more often.
Anxiety reached its peak with the constant stream of worries and self-reproach. I couldn’t wait for the elevator and ran towards the stairs, simultaneously opening the taxi app on my phone.
Only at times like this, at moments like this, could I barely erase Sung Se-han from my mind. My vision became blurred, but I couldn’t afford to be exhausted.
I had to protect Mom and Tae-min, and also Sung Se-han.
“You’re selling the house?”
The first thing Mom said as soon as we sat down at the table was about selling the house. I couldn’t help but be bewildered by the completely unexpected situation.
“Mom, why suddenly…”
“Tae-kyung-ah, eat some fruit. Let’s talk while you eat.”
Mom kept putting kiwis into my mouth, so I reflexively opened my mouth and chewed diligently.
“Tae-kyung-ah, Mom is sorry.”
“No, why suddenly? What are you sorry for?”
When I widened my eyes, Mom smiled awkwardly as if she was in trouble.
“Actually, the cafe isn’t doing well, but Mom didn’t say anything all this time. I was worried you guys would worry…”
Mom spoke carefully, but I could only tilt my head in confusion at the situation I couldn’t understand at all.
Clearly, in the previous timeline, the cafe was doing well and even expanded to a building in a good location. Thanks to that, Mom had the leeway and even started hobbies, so I wasn’t too worried.
“Mom, why did you worry about that alone? You should have told me sooner…”
Until now, I believed that everything would be fine if I just worked hard and did my best. While I was living so comfortably, how lonely and scared must Mom have been, taking responsibility for the household alone without anyone to rely on?
I was living more immaturely than when I was eleven years old and thought I had to protect Mom and Tae-min. I hadn’t even noticed that Mom’s face was so shadowed.
“I’m sorry, Mom. I should have thought about it sooner…”
Suddenly, my fingers started trembling, so I hid my hands under the table.
“Mom, I’ll succeed no matter what…”
“Oh, Tae-kyung-ah. Don’t worry so much. It’s not like a big problem has happened. Mom didn’t say anything all this time because I was worried you guys would be so anxious.”
Mom’s hands diligently swept back my hair and stroked my cheeks.
“It’s just that they suddenly asked to raise the deposit for the store. If we sell the apartment, we can solve the deposit problem, and Mom still has some savings, so there’s nothing to worry about. Tae-kyung-ah, trust Mom and don’t worry about anything. Okay?”
This house is where Mom, Tae-min, and I, our family, started a new life. Even if we don’t find such meaning in it, the situation of having to sell the house we live in can’t be light.
Nevertheless, Mom doesn’t want to show us the difficult aspects of life. I could fully empathize with Mom’s feelings.
“Mom, don’t tell Tae-min yet. I’ll talk to him properly after the final exams are over.”
“Really? Okay. Tae-min listens to his Hyung well, so that would be good.”
Mom’s face was brighter as she smiled with relief, and my heart was pricked. I have to do well. From now on, I have to work harder to share Mom’s burden.
As heavy as my shoulders were, my heart also became heavy. I had to work harder for Mom, who had been bearing this weight alone until now.
“Mom, I’m going to sleep at home tonight and go back to the dorm early in the morning. Please make me something delicious for dinner.”
“Oh my, that’s great! Then should Mom show off her skills for the first time in a while?”
Mom’s face was much brighter as she got up from her chair. I was about to get up to help with the cooking when my phone vibrated in my pocket. I checked the screen and immediately answered the call, seeing Gun-woo Hyung’s name.
“Yes, Hyung. Is the interview over?”
The phone screen was cracked, but there was no problem using it, so I thought I should just use it for the time being. After all, I should refrain from immaturely receiving pocket money from now on.
When I returned to the dorm in the morning, Jeong-min had already finished showering. While I was changing my clothes, Jeong-min told me in detail about yesterday’s recording, but it was all stuff I already knew.
That Sung Se-han’s cover song, which was uploaded two hours late, had overwhelmingly won first place in the competition, and that Perfect Puzzle had chosen our Sky Blue as the representative song competition team.
I widened my eyes and pretended to be surprised at the facts that weren’t new.
“No, then all our practice has become useless!”
However, one thing had changed. I couldn’t sing ‘You Are,’ which Sung Se-han made while thinking of my song. Unlike the previous timeline, that song didn’t exist on Perfect’s debut album.
“It can’t be helped, Tae-kyung Hyung. It doesn’t suit our team, but we have no choice but to sing ‘Space War.'”
I ruffled Jeong-min’s still wet hair and headed straight to the bathroom.
Actually, any song is fine. If it’s Sung Se-han’s song, I want to sing anything.
*
Our team was busy with meetings all day long due to the suddenly changed competition method. But I couldn’t concentrate on anything because of a phone call I received in the morning.
Unexpectedly, I received a call from Kang Robin Sunbae. Without asking for my opinion, Kang Robin Sunbae unilaterally ended the call after notifying me that he would send a car for a dinner invitation.
I couldn’t help but feel complicated. Although I insisted on chasing after Sung Se-han yesterday, it was Kang Robin Sunbae who ultimately allowed it.
I already had a headache wondering what he would say to me now that he was calling me.
But time passed steadily, and at exactly 6 o’clock, the car sent by Kang Robin Sunbae arrived in front of the company.
“This is driver Jeong Min-gyu. I will take you to the hotel comfortably.”
“Hello. I’m Lee Tae-kyung! Please take good care of me.”
I arrived at the Century Hotel in a car with a driver as taciturn as Vice Manager.
From the moment I got out of the car, a man in a charcoal gray suit guided me. As I walked through the hotel entrance and lobby, I naturally recalled the time I had visited this place for the quest.
As expected, we boarded the private elevator and headed to the Athena Room, where Sung Se-han’s solo album celebration party had been held.
“Hoo…!”
Scenes from the past flashed through my mind as if they had happened yesterday, and my heart began to ache again.
“This way.”
After getting off the elevator, I followed the man’s guidance to the room on the right. We soon arrived in front of an oak-colored door. I turned my head to look at the stairs leading to the second floor.
I had met Sung Se-han on those stairs…
“Please go in. He’s waiting.”
While I was distracted, the man opened the door and waited for me. After checking the white shirt I had carefully chosen to wear, I entered the room where Kang Robin Sunbae was waiting.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Sky Blue Lee Tae-kyung…”
I was about to give a vigorous greeting at the door, but I couldn’t help but gape.
“Ah…!”
An oval dining table was located in the center of the spacious room. Kang Robin Sunbae and another person were sitting there.
It was Sung Se-han’s Auntie, whom I never expected to see again.