Boyfriends-In-Law | Jayhoon

Sunghoon trudged into the house, the bouquet of flowers hanging limply in his hand. His mom, who had been waiting for him to come home, greeted him cheerfully from the hallway.

"There's my handsome boy! How was the date?" she asked, her face lighting up with anticipation. She had always loved hearing about his day, especially since Sunghoon shared everything with her. She was not just his mother but his best friend, the person he could always rely on.

Sunghoon forced a small smile, shaking his head slowly as he held out the flowers to her. "Here, Mom. These are for you."

His mother's smile faltered as she looked at the flowers, then back at Sunghoon. "Oh, these are beautiful, but..."

He sighed softly, his shoulders slumping as he tried to find the right words. "I... I broke up with her, Mom."

His mother's face softened with concern. She reached out to touch his arm gently. "I'm sorry to hear that, sweetheart. Do you want to talk about it?"

Sunghoon shook his head slowly. "No, I... I just need some time."

Without another word, he turned and headed upstairs, his feet feeling heavy with each step. When he reached his room, he closed the door behind him and collapsed onto his bed, burying his face in the pillow. The memories of the evening pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.

For a while, he stayed like that, letting the silence of his room envelop him. But then, he felt a familiar, gentle nudge on his side. Lifting his head slightly, he saw his little white puppy, Gaeul, standing beside him on the bed, her big eyes filled with concern.

"Hey, Gaeul-ah," Sunghoon murmured, managing a small, sad smile. He reached out and patted her head, his fingers sinking into her soft fur. Gaeul seemed to sense that something was wrong. She sat down close to him, her face near his, as if she was trying to comfort him in the only way she knew how.

Sunghoon felt a warmth in his chest as he looked at her. "You always know when something's wrong, don't you?" he whispered, his voice cracking slightly. Gaeul didn't respond, of course, but her presence was enough to make him feel a little less alone.

They stayed like that for a while, with Sunghoon lying on his side and Gaeul keeping him company. Eventually, he knew he had to move, so he reluctantly got up and headed to the bathroom for a shower. The warm water cascaded over him, washing away some of the tension and sadness, but the weight in his heart remained.

After his shower, Sunghoon went downstairs for dinner. The meal was quiet, with him barely touching his food and zoning out frequently. His mom noticed that, her worry was growing with each passing minute. She didn't push him to talk, though. She knew Sunghoon well enough to understand that he needed time.

When dinner was over, and the dishes were cleared away, his mom gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sunghoon-ah, why don't you come sit with me on the balcony? Let's get some fresh air."

Sunghoon nodded and followed her outside, where the night air was crisp and calming. His father and sister were engrossed in a TV show, leaving them alone in the serene quiet of the balcony. They sat down on the old wicker chairs, the ones they had used so many times before when he was younger.

For a few moments, they sat in comfortable silence, listening to the distant sounds of the city and the occasional chirp of a cricket. His mom broke the silence first, her voice soft and soothing.

"Look at the stars, Sunghoon-ah. Aren't they beautiful tonight?" she said, pointing up at the sky. The stars were scattered across the dark canvas, twinkling brightly like little diamonds.

Sunghoon lifted his head, following her gaze. "Yeah... they are," he agreed, his voice barely above a whisper.

She smiled, a gentle, comforting one that made him feel like a child again. "You know, when you were little, we used to sit out here and count the stars together. You'd always try to count more than me, even though you knew it was impossible."

A small smile tugged at the corners of Sunghoon's lips as he leaned his head on her shoulder. "I remember... You always let me win, even though I never really did."

His mom chuckled softly, stroking his hair like she used to when he was a child. They stayed like that for a while, just watching the stars in silence, letting the memories wash over them.

Suddenly, Sunghoon broke the silence, his voice filled with vulnerability, "Mom... do you think I'm just a loser?"

She turned to look at him, her heart breaking at the sadness in his eyes. "Why would you say that, sweetie?"

He took a deep breath, the words spilling out before he could stop them. "I got played by the girl I thought was my girlfriend. My first girlfriend... I really thought she liked me. I feel so stupid."

His mom's expression softened as she listened. She gently cupped his face, making him look at her. "Oh, honey, you're not a loser. You just... uhm had your heart broken, and that's something everyone goes through at some point. It doesn't make you stupid. It just means ...you cared about someone."

Sunghoon looked down, feeling a lump form in his throat. "But I should've known, right? I should've seen the signs."

She shook her head slowly, still stroking his hair. "No, honey. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our feelings that we miss the signs. It's not your fault. You were just being yourself, and that's something you should never regret."

He nodded, trying to absorb her words, but his chest still hurt. "I just... I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust someone like that again."

His mom sighed softly, pulling him into a gentle embrace. "Maybe not right away. But in time, you will. And remember, maybe this didn't work out because there's something better waiting for you down the road. God has a plan for you, Sunghoon-ah. You'll see that one day."

Sunghoon felt the warmth of her embrace, the familiar comfort that only she could provide. He hugged her tightly like a child, feeling a little lighter.

"Thanks, Mom," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

She kissed the top of his head, holding him close. "You'll never have to find out, sweetie. I'll always be here, no matter what happens."

And so, they stayed there, under the night sky, with Sunghoon finding solace in his mother's arms, the stars above kept shining as the gentle breeze passed them by.

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Author's Note

Since I didn't kms I came back to update.
Sunghoon's mother in this chapter is my ideal mother btw. Idk, maybe I portrayed myself here.

I'm just so sad...

Gonna upload the next part tonight as well. Enjoy.