Once More, Love (MiChaeng 2Yeon)

39. On Display

"Here." Mina puts a pair of house slippers in front of her unexpected guest. "Use that. Chaemi— That kid sometimes leaves crumbs everywhere."

"Tha—" Chaeyoung even politely bows before putting his feet on the said slippers. "Thanks."

The dance instructor then slowly began walking inside to which the petite guy promptly followed.

However, as soon as they stepped into the living room, Mina was a bit startled when the bag of chicken that was previously in the painter's hand fell. Even the sealed ketchup pouches that are obviously far more than the normal count from the store scattered on to the floor.

The dance instructor quickly darts her eyes to Chaeyoung's direction and the moment her eyes see the direction where he is looking at, her eyes widen in realization of what is in her living room that caught the painter's attention.

"Umm— Chae— Chaeyoung." Mina quickly strides towards him. "Wait. Let me— Umm... Let me explain. This is—"

"Yeobo."

The dance instructor nervously clasps her hands. "Yeah?"

Chaeyoung slowly looks at the girl with tears suddenly brimming in his eyes. "I— I was expecting some casual pictures of us or some of my paintings inside your house, but— but why is our—" He bites his lower lip and scoffs in a contradictory face of both happiness and bewilderment. "Why in the world is our wedding photo hanging on your living room's wall?"

"Chae—"

"Seonsaeng-nim! You should see my room!" Chaemi excitedly jogs towards the two who flinched at his voice. "There are a lot of paintings I made there! Mommy put all of them in cool frames and—"

Mina and Chaeyoung suddenly changed their expressions like nothing was going on between them.

"Oh." Chaemi sees the pieces of packed sauces scattered on the floor. He immediately starts picking it up. "What happened, mommy? Why is the food on the floor?"

"Umm..." Mina rapidly blinks and wipes her eyes. "Teacher Chaeyoung slipped on the floor. I'll—" She quickly turns around and walks to the kitchen. Her voice almost cracked as she walked away. "I will just be in the kitchen if you need me! You two should manage picking those things up!"

Chaemi and Chaeyoung then diligently pick up the sauces and put it back on the bag. The chicken was fortunately wrapped in foil so it was neatly intact.

After everything is tidied up, the painter pats the child's shoulder. "I will bring this to your mommy first, okay? Wait for me here."

Chaeyoung was about to take a step but the kid quickly grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt. He faintly smiles as he looks at the boy. "Ne, Chaemi?"

Chaemi is already staring at him with worry. "Seonsaeng-nim. Is mommy not feeling okay?"

"Umm..." Chaeyoung looks down, maybe unsure how to lie to a kid who is giving him those adorable puppy eyes. "Do you— Do you want to... Then, do you want to go with me? And— and let's check on mommy?"

The child slowly nods. He just stays silent and is not letting go of the bottom hem of Chaeyoung's shirt.

The painter exhales deeply as he begins to carefully tread to where Mina disappeared seconds ago. When he got a glimpse of the dance instructor's figure, he spoke in an unnecessary yell to maybe give her a signal or warning. "Mina! I'm walking to the kitchen and Chaemi is with me!"

Mina's clearing of her throat was heard. Her back was facing the other two individuals who just entered the kitchen's area as she is seen wiping her face some more. She heaves in a deep breath before she turns around and faces the painter and her son, flashing a wide smile. "Hey."