36. Home Alone Together

"Yeon my son, we miss you so much! Is everything alright with you? Are you eating well? Are they treating you well and are you still having nightmares?"

Yeon couldn't help but smile at his father's endless questions. They hadn't spoken for a while and today, he couldn't take the silence anymore and decided to give him a call, only to find his parents had been anticipation for his call.

"Dad I'm fine...don't worry, they are nice people..."

"What about your fated mate? Did you two do the deed? It's been a while and you haven't updated us on anything? If you need help I have a couple of ideas you two can try that your mother and I usually...."

"Dad there is no need for that....we are ....still waiting for the right time..."

"Right time? What is right time? Yeon my son that fine young man showed every appropriate sign to warrant my approval. He cares for you, or perhaps are you still pushing people away from your life? He is your fated mate!"

Yeon could sense the agitation in his voice. Most of the people who didn't know his father well thought him as unapproachable and scolding, however, he was quite the opposite. Even though he meddled quite a lot in his children's lives, he was always present whenever he was needed. His mother was the one who was more scary. Silent, aways observing, calculating...when she got angry, she was scary that even his father couldn't calm her down unless he provoked him with his scent.

"He is almost done with collage...and he enrolled me back so I'm taking time to finish my final projects and attend online classes too..."

"Wow, you lucky one, I always knew you were the pride of this family."

There he goes again with the flattery, always using it to flatter whomever did as he told. "You always say that to anyone that makes you happy dad," Yeon pointed out, though he admitted to himself the flattery did make him feel nice. Maybe his father always knew it worked on both him and Mijin.

"Well I feel proud of you now so just accept it and don't put me down stubborn child! I'm proud of you. Your fated visits us often to check on us ...what a fine young man. He had invited us numerous times to join him as he goes to see you but we've turned him down multiple times. We do not wish to interfere with you two bonding....you see Yeon, I'm expecting to be a grandfather soon. If you give me a grandchild, you'll forever remain the pride of the family"

Yeon burst out laughing. He'd suspected something like this from his father who'd often spoke his mind without thinking. He may have taken it lightly but he was convinced his father meant every word. "Dad, you're putting a lot of pressure on me, but I'll do my best...I miss you a lot...I want to come home..."

"That is your home now until you two get married. Your mother and I are willing to do anything to make you two live happily therefore you must get along with your fated."

"But dad...,marriage is just too soon." First he'd wanted him to get pregnant and now marriage? What next was he going to demand? Besides, wasn't marriage supposed to come before having children? He knew his parents were quite traditional but never in his life had he expected his dad to be this open minded.

"In my time you were too late at your age especially if you'd already met your fated mate. Look son, do not feel like I'm pressuring you, I just want you to be happy. You've been given a chance at love and I want you to take it. Knowing you, you're probably giving Stannie a hard time..."

"Not you too dad, his name is Stan..." Yeon didn't want his parents to get too comfortable with Stan and calling him that would just mean it would be too hard for him to walk away when his parents had become used to have Stan around. Stannie? What the heck? His parents calling Stan the way his dads called him just sounded too pretentious.

"Well his parents call him that and we asked him if we could address him the same way and he was okay with it..."

Of course he'd say yes to them, while he'd reject the same pet name when it came to his own parents. "He said yes because of your scary face...besides, who wouldn't say yes in his situation especially if they were taking their son away from ferocious parents like yourselves, especially you dad."

"I know I'm grumpy but I'm not that scary. I'm quite friendly, that's why I run a successful gym."

"With your face, how could anyone fail to come for their sessions?" Yeon asked, reflecting on the day his parents had wanted to enroll him for physical education. Mijin had been the one that spoke on his behalf against it however when asked what he'd wanted to do, he'd said the first thing that came into mind and that was biochemical engineering. He had regretted not taking time to think about his future since he'd spent most of his time in the lab with no social life. His major had eaten into his bad habit of isolating himself, evenjhough he'd grown later to love his own space.

"Speaking of which, you need to start to work out son. Your fated is athletic and good looking. You two will match properly when you become like him."

Not again... "Dad I'm fine the way I am."

"I knew you'll say that son. Anyway, as long as you're happy I'm glad. Don't stay so quiet, call us frequently the way your sister does. We really miss you and if you miss any of your parents cooking, I'll be on the first bus to bring you anything okay?"

"Yes dad... and where is mom?" Yeon asked, wondering how odd it was that his mother hadn't come to grab the phone from his partner as she always did whenever he called.

"Sleeping at the moment. She took over from me so I'm just about to leave for the gym...in-fact I'm running quite late son..." Yeon head a female voice from a distance before his father informed him to accept greetings from Suzzie.

"Suzzie...she didn't leave?" Why was she still there? Mijin hadn't mentioned this before to him yet they spoke frequently.

"Of course not! She is still settling down in the country. Besides, your mother and I have no one to spoil so she is our daughter now. We are on a mission to find her a pair too."

"What?" 'These meddling pests never know where to stop,' Yeon almost wondered aloud. He was tempted to scold his dad but that would just be a waste of time.

His dad must have saw his son's scolding coming up so he thought it wise to brush off the conversation. At least, Yeon knew the current state and wouldn't be surprised if he were to pay an impromptu visit at home and find Suzzie there. "I thought Mijin told you? You two used to come home together. Besides, she considers this place her second home so we told her to stay as long as she can until she finds a stable job and is able to support herself. She also helps out at the gym from time to time. She loves muscular men...just like me..." Yeon's dad added, hoping his son would fall for it.

"Dad, mom is a woman..."

"That's why I like her more because she is a muscular woman haha! Don't go telling on your mother on me son..."

Yeon chuckled, contended to hear his father enthusiasm. Since that incident, he'd often worry about him a lot and seeing him worry for his future made Yeon anxious too, evenjhough he was the victim. Still, there was a good side to having Suzzie stay over. His parents were not lonely anymore and their attention was now shifted to bother someone else for a while.

"Okay dad. I'll keep your perverted secret and only used to blackmail you later."

"Spoken like your cunning sister...are you two even my children? Anyway, I'll get going now. Get along with your fated. He told us you grow handsome by day so be sure to not let him outmach your pretty face son."

"By dad!" Yeon hanged up, unable to take more of his dad's fascination of Stan. Come to think of it, who'd permitted him to visit his parents as he wished? Why was he working hard to win their favor? At this point, if he were to leave Stan after completing the marking, Yeon was convinced his parents would hate him. Shrugging, Yeon convinced himself it wouldn't matter. His parents loved him too much to choose Stan over him...especially dad. The idea was laughable though.

"You seem happy Yeon, who was that?" Dad Robin appeared at the door. Yeon often kept his door open, especially whenever Stan wasn't around. Since that incident, and after moving to a new place, his nightmares had increased and leaving the door open offered him a sense of security. Sometimes, he felt like the room grow smaller and smaller whenever the door was kept closed. Other times, he'd be okay keeping it closed.

"My dad...I missed him so I gave him a call... I knew they were worried about me. My sister told me to check on them."

"That's god of you to do that, Stannie never calls us unfortunately therefore I can't wait for him to have a child of his own so he can suffer just as much as we do...which reminds me, he came yesterday quite late so he is still taking a nap. We will be leaving for the clinic and have prepared everything ready for you two for breakfast. Stannie informed us you two will be gong out for lunch, that you two have plans and afterwards, he will be in-charge of dinner duty."

"What? We have plans?" 'What was this idiot up to thes time?' Yeon wondered.

"Yes Yeon. He seemed enthusiastic about it..anyway, Stannie brought a lot of ice cream for you as well. He said you really love the caramel flavor."

"Was he the one who told you I like ice cream?" Yeon asked, thinking of how it now made sense the fridge was alas filled with ice cream and how Stan's parents would feel bad whenever they forgot to replenish, evenjhough he didn't mind not having it once in a while. Besides, Yeon had thought it too big a coincident for them to know the exact flavor he fancied, evenjhough he'd never spoken of it.

"Of course, we are not sweets people as you've observed. It's always you and Elric that love such sweet things. Anyway, see you later. Take care my love." Sad Robin said, leaving after Dad Joss had called for him.

"Bye." Yeon responded and glanced downstairs, waving at Dad Joss who waved back, a warm smile on his face.

"Bye...tell me later all about your date with Stannie!" He exclaimed to which Dad Robin warned him to keep his voice down not to wake up Stan.

Suddenly, it dawned on Yeon...he was going to be alone again with Stan in this big house.

Shit!