LEE SEUNG-MIN'S POV (one year ago)

,,How was school today?", my mother asks, placing a bowl in front of me on the table. I yawn and smile:,,It was okay but I'm tired." ,,Yeah, that's how life is. The older you get, the harder life gets. But you can do this, you're such a smart boy", my mom ruffles my hair and I laugh.

,,Yes, I guess...", I sigh and grab the chopsticks, starting to eat. Then I let out a satisfied hum, enjoying the taste of my mom's ramen in my mouth. ,,I also made Tteokbokki", my mom walks over to the sink and starts to wash the dirty dishes.

My face lights up:,,Thank you, Eomma! You're the best!" She chuckles and shakes her head:,,You only say that when I make you your favourite meals. Am I only the best when I satisfy your tummy?"

A laugh bubbles up my throat and I shake my head:,,Eomma, you're always the best." She laughs with me and turns around:,,I hope so.."

,,Eomma is always the best."

My dad's voice makes me look up and I see him standing in the doorway, looking at my mom with affection, making me almost feel jealous. I also want to love a girl like he loves mom..

I smile and continue eating my ramen. ,,We're going out tonight, so don't do something stupid, yeah?", my mom pats my shoulder and I nod. ,,I won't, don't worry!"

,,We love you, Seung-min!", my dad and my mom say in sync, making me chuckle.

,,I love you too, Eomma and Appa."

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,,Come on, this game isn't this difficult!", I say into the mic in front of me and I type on my keyboard. ,,Oh shut up! You're literally the one who is good at this game!", Heong-sil, my best friend answers, making me laugh.

,,Bro, I'm for real. This game is easy. Even your baby sister could play this better than you", I joke, earning myself a laugh from Heong-sil. ,,You're hideous, man", he says and we continue to play happily.

Suddenly the doorbell rings and I shrug my shoulders, ignoring it but the ringing won't stop. I raise my eyebrow and put my headset down. ,,Ey, there's someone playing a stupid joke on me, I'll be right back", I say into the mic, walking out of my room.

I start to slowly get frustrated at the penetrant sound of the doorbell and when I arrive at the door, I open it with more force than necessary.

When I see two police officers standing outside the door, my eyes widen and heat creeps up my cheeks. Jeez. How embarrassing am I?

The police officers and I look at each other for a while, the awkward silence making me shift from one leg to the other. Why do they look so stressed? Did I do something wrong? Was I too loud?

One of the police officers clears his throat:,,Can we come in?"

I swallow and chuckle awkwardly:,,Of course.."

I step to the side, letting both of them walk inside before I close the door behind them. Then I walk them through the hallway to the kitchen, telling them to take a seat. I sit down in front of them, waiting for them to speak.

Both of them exchange a worried glance before one of them starts to speak:,,I'm Kim Te-hyung and uh... We have come here to... Deliver... Bad news..."

I raise my eyebrow, feeling uneasy and I shift in my seat:,,Yeah?" Both of the police officers don't know how to spill the news but Kim Te-hyung looks up and sighs:,,We are sorry to deliver these news to you but your..."

,,Your parents died in a car accident a few hours ago."

Silence.

It takes a while until the words sink in, a cold wave washing over me, leaving me frozen and unfeeling, as though my body has turned into stone.

What? My parents? Eomma and Appa? They are... Dead? Dead? Not alive anymore? Is this a joke?

Dead. The word rings in my ear, sharp and cold. My mind rejects the information even as my heart begins to shatter. My gaze wanders down to my trembling hands, my chest tightening as though the air has been stolen from the room, my heart hammering painfully against my ribs.

I don't even hear what the police officers are saying, trying to make sense out of the situation.

My vision blurs as hot tears start to roll down my cheeks. I look up, my lips opening and closing but no word, no sound comes out. The police officers look at me with a worried expression.

,,T-T-This can't.. C-Can't b-be... T-True..", I stutter and wipe my wet cheeks with my cold hands. ,,I'm sorry.. I'm really sorry.. But it is true..", one of the police officers says, trying to sound calm.

The world blurs at the edges, fading into an indistinct hum. Everything feels far away, as though I would watch this all through a foggy window. The voices of the two men in front of me become muted, distant echoes. Nothing seems to be real anymore.

A sob escapes my lips.

How...? Why...? How should I live without them? I... I miss them already...