To her surprise, Min Cheol replied almost in an instant: I am in my parents' house in Daegu actually.

Mae's fingers stagnated. Even though she dated him for a long time back in high school, they never got the chance to meet each other's parents. She doubted if his family even knew back then that they were a couple.

In her family's case though, she never really had the courage to bring his name up in front of them. She was too scared that they would judge his family for not being wealthy and noble enough. Even now, she is not sure how her family would react after knowing that the person she is madly in love with is an idol. After all, no matter how many people chase after these idols, the upper-class, especially the older generation, still held the thought that they are nobodies. They are not utterly wrong, though, if you consider the fact that they can ask a certain percentage of idols to serve them by spending a little money. Some of them even hold the power to control these idols' career.

Mae's impression of Min Cheol's parents paused at the fact that they never really supported him when he decided to pursue a career and, finally, changed their mind a year ago when they realized that he was good at what he was doing. She saw her brother once though, with whom Min Cheol shared almost everything.

Mae stared at the message Min Cheol sent her for a while when her mother decided to join her on the balcony.

"What happened between you and Yichen? Are you two fighting" her mother asked. She was holding a wine glass, the maroon liquid illuminating under the silver moonlight.

"We broke up," Mae replied as she turned her phone off and faced her mother.

"Did he cheat on you?"

"No, I just couldn't find myself to like him in a romantic way honestly."

"Why? I thought he is a decent one," Mae's mother paused for a while to take a sip from her glass, before continuing, as she narrowed her eyes, "Or do you have someone else in your heart?"

Mae didn't answer. She shifted her gaze to the garden that lay in front of the balcony, which was now shrouded in darkness, with only a few street lamps showing hints of the trees and flowers that was planted there.

"So you do." Her mother took another sip.

Mae breathed in, trying to gather some courage to continue this conversation. She then finally turned to her mother and asked: "And what will you do if I do?"

"Why are you trying so hard to hide him? What is he lacking that made you fear that I will not approve?" Her mother always had a way to read into things and learn exactly where the problem is.

"I am still single, mother. You don't need to investigate his whole family tree and history now. I will leave for now."

With that, Mae left the balcony. Being a social butterfly, Mae usually loved parties and other social gatherings. She always mixed with people rather easily and everyone loved being in her company. However, today, she wanted to be alone. She felt like she went back to the time she first broke up with Min Cheol.

......

Min Cheol sat on his bed, staring at the chat box. She wasn't replying, which was unusual. She is the type to initiate a conversation and keep it going even when they are out of topic to talk about. Even he adopted some of her habits – he had been talking striking up conversations with different artists these days. He felt like something was wrong with Mae, yet couldn't quite catch what exactly it was.

There was a knock on the door. Min Cheol casually looked at the door and sat up lazily. Moving like a sloth, he opened the door, peeking outside. He only opened the door slightly yet his brother did not complain as if used to this introverted habit of his.

"Mom prepared dinner for us," his brother announced.

Min Cheol nodded, closing the door and putting the phone in his pocket before leaving his room.

It was a rare scene for the Min family to have everyone surrounding the same table, having the same food. Usually, it was just three members without the youngest son, who would always be somewhere other than his hometown, working hard to make his dream come true.

Min Cheol's mother was very excited to have her youngest son around. She kept on placing his favorite food in his bowl, causing a small mountain to form. After all, it was not every day that she would get to see him.

Min Cheol's father, though, was slightly awkward around him. Being the one to oppose Min Cheol to chase his dream – even though it was out of pure concern and care – he spent his time to reflect his action. He could never say it out loud directly to Min Cheol, but he was indeed proud that Min Cheol got to prove him wrong and worked hard to become someone the younger generation looks up to. This old man often showed his love in a very reserved way, which could only be interpreted by his actions. It was no doubt that Min Cheol was this stubborn man's child – they shared way too many similarities.

"I saw that you got a decent result for your mixtape. It's called mixtape, right?" Min Cheol's father asked, picking up a piece of chicken with his chopsticks, avoiding eye contact.

Min Cheol gazed at him for a second before shifting his focus back to his food, answering, "Yes, did you listen to it, father?"

His father nodded, "Hmm."

"Aigoo, just admit that you are proud of him already," Min Cheol's mother nudged his father.

"Indeed, I am," his father whispered.

His mother shook her head, giving up on this old man.

Min Cheol probably wouldn't acknowledge it, but it made him happy knowing how proud his father was of him. It's true that his father's strictness suffocated him sometimes, but he would be lying if he denied that he ever wanted his approval when, in reality, he craved it.

A slight smile formed on his lips.

I feel like Min Cheol's parents is every Asian parent ever honestly XD So I just wrote it like that. Are your parents like this?