The Heart Tells Part 2

So Shan's hands suddenly stopped on the softcover and proceeded to rest her hands on So Eun's head. Something like this didn't happen before, and he saw his Mother's expression changed in a glimpse before she put on a slightly warm smile. Instantly hiding her disturbed and worried emotions.

"Last night, you seemed to love the rain so much that we saw you playing around the field and feeling the rain." With those words alone, So Eun can vividly imagine the scenery he recalled the day before. Pitch darkness engulfing the whole sky, feeling satisfied when the droplets of rain had calmed his senses, and that was enough for his feet to let loose on the grass and feel the downpour on his skin. So Eun smiled at the memory.

"You are just a 10-year-old kid, we should just ignore the outside for a while and protect ourselves from any illnesses, right? It's hard to get a fever nowadays." So Shan enunciate, softly caressing his son's head. He just glanced at her, expression turning bitter.

She was hoping that his son would get her point, so she continued petting his head. But contrary to her mother's pleasing smile, So Eun's mood didn't reciprocate her warm feelings.

Because little did she know, he completely went on a different scenario. His mind was brought into a deeper mess, a subject that his parents have been avoiding since he was born. With that statement alone, So Eun had reminded himself again.

"Mom..." He spoke hesitantly, his fingers fidgeting underneath the duvet. So Shan hummed, and get the wet fabric before standing up.

"What is it?"

He tried to suck in the lump on his throat, also hoping that this time, his mother wouldn't just wave it off like it isn't important. So Eun was growing scared. But before his worries could stop him, he already voiced out the question;

"Am I not a human?"

He expected the way she flinched at those words. And felt his insides slowly drowning in discomfort.

So Shan was bathing the fabric in a basin, but then she proceeded to put it aside for a while and turned around to face So Eun.

This time around, he didn't expect the concern that appeared on her face. She restlessly came forward and sit beside the bed again.

"So Eun. I and your Father had made a deal after you were born. And since then, I have tried to prepare and apologize to you when the time comes." So Eun didn't understand her, but he let himself listen.

His mother took his small hands and fixated her eyes on him.

"And that deal was to keep it unknown until you reach the age of 15." She stated, utterly bothered by his son's burden about himself.

"But I will still answer your question." In the end, So Eun still straightened his head and anticipate it.

"You are a human, So Eun. That thing inside you proves that you are." So Shan ended the conversation with that, pointing at his chest. And a comforting gaze that is enough to make So Eun feel safe.

He sighed when he felt his tensed muscles calm down. Spacing out for a while when he tried to find out the thing inside him.

After a moment, that thing beats when his mother pulled him into an embrace, and only then he confirmed his mother's words.

That may be, this time, just for once, he wanted to believe that he's a human too.

~~~

The next thing he does when he woke was to lay on his bed for the rest of the day. Eat his breakfast and consume his medicines. If his mother weren't super overprotective of So Eun before--when he's healthy and devoid of sickness, today's a different case.

He obeyed to stay in his room the whole day until he got rid of his cold. All whilst daydreaming since he got nothing else to do other than rest, which he grew tired of. Being asleep for almost half a day just worsened his cold and headache.

So he laid his back onto the soft mattress, wiggling his foot restlessly, or sometimes gazing upon his windowsill, watching the servants watering the plants and medicinal herbs.

After bringing back his absent mind, staring at the flowers, So Eun got a fair view of their whole residence, which is nothing compared to the houses of the villagers outside. He contemplated and notice how their home was entirely different from any of them. Aside from the space-occupying the foyer, the green bushes, and plants occupying the back, the structures built are impressive and stunning, white wall paneling displayed as barriers between rooms. Bamboo trees supporting the striking canopy just outside their rooms.

So Eun, as a child, smiled at the thought of living in the most luxurious residence, he hopped down the stool and decided to browse books, because of the boredom he can feel tiring him out.

However, when his fingers barely touch the cover of the book, a giggle from outside snatch his attention.

So Eun turned his head to look at the windowsill outside and saw one of the servants ruffling a girl's hair. So Eun have no idea but his instincts told him to watch and listen, so he rushed upon the stool again and silently stare at them.

"Thank you for the flower, Mingzhu. I'll make sure to take care of it." The woman beamed at the child in front of her. Then their chatter became distinct when So Eun's attention drifted to something interesting. He stared at the single flower that the girl gave to the woman before looking back at their smiling faces.

After a while, So Eun didn't utter a word and lazily fell to his bed. Gazing at the ceiling with his arms wide open.

Tomorrow, hopefully, if his cold decided to leave him, he would try to bring a flower too.