3 THE HAN FAMILY

Milan, Viale Padova.

Living in a small apartment on the 4th floor of a cheap rental was a poor Korean family, the Han family. A family of 5.

Despite their crippled financial ability, the Han family always had a smile on their face whenever they were in the same room together. The apartment had 3 rooms, a small parlor 2 bathrooms, and a little kitchen.

A very attractive – naturally tanned woman, 5'7" tall, stood in front of a stove in a small kitchen. She had a worn-out brown linen shirt on, tucked into her blue faded jeans trousers, and her black hair tied into a messy bun.

She had an apron on too. She put the fire on the stove out and breathed out in relief as she smiled at the covered pot. The woman raised the lid of the pot and inhaled the sweet aroma of the dish she had just prepared.

"Mom, do you need any help here?" She jumped a bit and looked behind when she heard a deep voice ask. "Ah, Noah you scared me a bit there, I didn't hear you come in. No, I don't need any help here. Where is your father?"

"He should be here in a few minutes."

He went closer to his mother, bent, and kissed her on her cheeks. She arched her neck higher and smiled looking at her 19-year-old son that was 6'0" tall.

Noah's hair was almost as thick, black, and messy as hers – both mother and son clearly didn't take good care of their hair. They had the same shade of chestnut brown eyes. He was just as attractive as his mother was, despite not being related by blood.

"How was your day mom?" He smiled and asked.

"It was alright, same as usual though. Some annoying and disrespectful customers, nothing new." The attractive woman replied whilst she served chicken pepper soup into 5 different plates and placed them on a tray. "How was your day at the construction site without your father? I hope you are not feeling sore?"

Noah removed his brown leather jacket and gently placed it on a wooden stool that was in the kitchen. He had blue jeans and a white inner shirt that stuck to his lean-defined muscles closely.

He walked towards the sink and turned the tap on, proceeding to rinse his hands. "It was fun and tasking as usual. Sweat, sand, stone, dust, and more sweat. Do you want to know how the sweat tasted when it mixed with sand?" He joked.

His mom chuckled. "Don't say such things in the kitchen or around me, Noah." She turned around and opened a cupboard that was above her head. She stretched her hand and grabbed a plastic salt cellar.

"You should go and freshen up a bit, you stink like sweat." Noah's mom said with her back facing him. "I will. Right after I wash these right here." He replied.

"I thought I told you that I didn't need any help here." His mom complained.

"If I have to wait for you to tell me that you need help before I help, then I wouldn't feel good as a son." He turned his head and winked at his mother.

"Don't worry mom. I'll be done in a few minutes, then I will go ahead and freshen up before dinner starts."

She walked to her son's side, raised her hand, and slapped the back of his head lightly. "Listen to your mother, Noah."

"Hahaha, don't I always? Kim Aera Sonny, you are already 40 years of age. Won't you let this loving and filial son of yours help you with just the dishes?"

He flashed a smile at her and continued to wash the dirty dishes in the sink. His mother only stared at him from the side. After a few seconds had passed by, she shook her head and sighed. "Alright then. Just be quick about it." She gave him a pat on his forearm.

"Sure thing." He said as his mom picked the tray that had bowls of chicken pepper soup in it and left the kitchen.

'Mom needs to learn how to take it easy. She works too hard, I worry about her health.' Noah thought.

"I'm home!!" Noah heard a girlish voice announce. It was his little sister, Han Ae-ri Sophia. Sophia is the last child of their family and has been for the past 14 years now. She went to her friend's house for a little birthday gathering. She was allowed to attend as schools were still on summer vacation.

Everyone in their house had an English name alongside their Korean name, and Noah also had a Korean name alongside his English name.

"Hello, mommy." Noah listened from the kitchen as Sophia greeted their mom. "My darling, how are you? Did you enjoy yourself today?"

"Yes I did, the red velvet cake was the highlight of the day. Mommy, I want to learn how to bake." The joy could clearly be heard in her voice as she spoke. Noah smiled, being happy about the fact that his sister enjoyed her day.

"As soon as I get enough money I will buy ingredients for you to practice with." His mother said. "Thank you, mommy," Sophia screamed out, laughing happily at her excitement.

"That's enough, go to the kitchen and help your brother with the dirty dishes. I asked him not to do it but he wouldn't listen to me. He even called me by my full name." Sonny feigned sadness as she sighed and placed her right hand on her chest. Her pretense earned a chuckle from Sophia.

"Don't worry mommy, I'll go talk some sense into my Oppa." She smiled and made her way to the kitchen.

"Oppa," Sophia called out as soon as she stepped into the kitchen.

"Here to talk some sense into me eh?" Noah smirked with his back still facing her. "Since you put some sense into my senseless head, you can come and take over now." He said and used a kitchen towel to wipe the water off his hands.

When he turned around, he cocked his head a bit and looked at his sister.

"What? Is there anything on me?" Sophia asked. She looked at herself feeling conscious about her dressing. "There is nothing on you, can't I just look at my pretty little sister?" He chuckled and left the kitchen heading to his room.

…

10 minutes later Noah exited the bathroom. His ear-length, coily black hair was still damp. He didn't care to dry it first before he made his way to the dining.

Upon arrival, he saw that his whole family was already seated and they were about to begin eating. He looked up and glanced at the clock on the wall, '7:15 pm.'

"I'm just in time." He whispered and sat down next to his elder sister, Han Ae-cha Isabella. She used her leg to hit his when he was seated.

She gave him a questioning look, and he looked back at her, also giving her a similar questioning look. "Aren't you going to say hello to your elder sister?" She asked.

Isabella, despite being a few months older than Noah, demanded that he showed her respect and listen to her orders.

She enjoyed bossing him around…

"Why should I do that?" He replied using the same tone she used to speak to him. "Well because it is called respect. Haven't you heard of it?"

"Wow, Ae-cha knows what respect is. I am genuinely impressed, I guess we should celebrate by keeping quiet and eating without speaking to her." Noah said sarcastically.

He picked a spoon up and drag a bowl of rice closer to himself. His mother prepared white rice, chicken pepper soup, and few vegetarian side dishes.

"Seo Bin, you are still angry that I took your money?" She asked the obvious.

Whenever they were around their father, they addressed their selves with their Korean names. He made it a rule in the house to do that. He didn't want his children to forget their origins just because they lived somewhere far away from their home country.

"Stole is the accurate word." Noah corrected. "If you had just asked I would have loaned it to you." He added.

"Come on, it was just €15. You have a lot more in your savings." Isabella defended. "That's not the point, for someone that loves liberation you should know why I am angry. Next time seek my permission." Noah cleared out.

"Yes, yes. I will ask you first next time. I'm sorry." She grinned and ruffled his hair a bit. "Hey, are you trying to get hair in my food?" He pushed his plate away and shrugged his sister's hand away. "Stop that."

"Accept my apology first."

"Okay, apology accepted. Now keep your hands away from my head." Isabella complied and ceased her attempts to ruffle his hair. "Good." She said.

"You owe me €15. I will be expecting it to be returned as soon as you get your next paycheck." What he said left her mouth hanging wide open.

His statement had Sophia and his Mom laughing.

"What sort of stingy brother are you?" She whispered. "Alright then, I will give it to you next week. Happy now?" She forced herself to say.

Noah smiled and said; "How was your day my lovely sister?"