try-hard •sunki au•

sixty-four

[A flashback to when Sunoo went home after two years of living in the dorms...]

Sunoo's heart was beating too loudly in his chest as he knocked on the door of their old house. There was one familiar black car in the garage and an abandoned wheelchair beside it.

The door was finally opened by a woman who wore thick glasses and a worn out dress that made her look like she's too old when she's only in her late forties.

“Sunoo?” The woman stared at him from head to toe, eyes unbelieving.

“Mom,” Sunoo said, trying to keep the tears hidden behind his eyes.

“Oh my, Sunoo!” The woman cried, tackling him into a tight hug.

Sunoo forgot about his luggage and hugged back the woman he's been missing so much. He longed for this time to finally be back in her comforting arms.

He was welcomed with warm hugs and loving eyes, but Sunoo felt like there's something that's missing.

Her mother went back to the kitchen to continue cooking lunch meals while Sunoo stayed in the living room. He eyes the same big family picture hanging on the wall and the small ones containing pictures of him and his sister.

“Mom? Where's Noona?” Sunoo asked, walking to the kitchen.

“She's in the hospital,” the woman says

Sunoo nodded, unsuspicious. His sister was a licensed nurse, it's normal that she's in the hospital.

“How about...Daddy?” Sunoo reluctantly asked. “Is he still in service?”

The woman turned off the stove and looked back at Sunoo with a sad smile on her lips.

“He's been waiting for you to come back every weekend, dear. Ever since you left for college, your Dad always anticipates the day of you coming back home.”

Sunoo avoided his Mom's gaze as he felt tears welling up in his eyes.

“He sometimes even visited you in secret with your sister,” The woman walks closer to him. “Your Dad never forgets to celebrate your birthday and he refused to take another family photo without you in it. Your Dad always cleans your room in case, one day, you decide to visit us. He always has a stack of your favorite snacks...”

Sunoo felt the hot liquid staining down his cheeks.

“Your Dad...will be happy to know that you're finally back home,” the woman says, wiping off the tears in Sunoo's cheeks.

“Where is he?” Sunoo asked.

The woman sadly smiles.

Sunoo didn't get an answer to his questions, instead he was told to help pack the cooked meals because they're going to visit his sister at the hospital. Sunoo didn't understand then, that his father was also in the hospital lying in a cold bed with his body filled with different wires connected to different machines.

Sunoo couldn't take the view of his Dad half dead, half living. He breaks down in a non-stop cry until his Mom decides to take him back home so he could calm down. His sister also came with them so he could watch over Sunoo.

Sunoo was able to fall asleep after almost two hours of crying, but when he woke up he found himself alone in his old but clean and organized room.

That night, while everyone else was peacefully sleeping, Sunoo's mind was filled with negative thoughts. He even ended up hurting himself in hopes that it will take over the pain he feels inside his heart.