6 Starry Starry Nigh (2/2)
Minhyun realized that he viewed Yoona as an escape from his loneliness. To him, she was his savior, the one that freed him from his bitter routine. The reason to why he smiled again was due to her presence.
But perhaps, just perhaps, the feeling was reciprocated on her side. He smiled for her, while she smiled for him. They both brought happiness to each other.
”Mini?”
He looked over. ”Yeah?”
Yoona bit her lip. Her eyes didn't leave the bright star. ”I never told anyone this but I know mommy was lying. Daddy doesn't have a star. She thinks i'm easy to fool.”
Her tears were uncontrollable. Minhyun's heart was in pain as he watched the girl explode.
”I miss him so much Mini.”
It was his first time encountering a sad person; he didn't know how to help them. Minhyun stopped for a moment to think. When he was in his darkest moments, what did he want the most?
A hug.
His arms wrapped around her tiny frame. Her head leaned against his chest as her tears began to flow like a waterfall. The affection between them started to heal them both. Slowly, but surely.
When she was finished, Minhyun used his sleeve to wipe the rest of her tears.
”Yoona,” he began.
”Yeah?”
He pointed up to another star. One that was right beside her father's. A sad smile filled his face. ”That's my mother's star.”
Although young, Yoona immediately understood the meaning behind his words.
The two shared the same pain.
He cleared his throat. ”Unlike you though, I never met my mother. I don't even know how she looks like. Not a single photo of her is in the house.”
Father never talked about mother. In fact, sometimes Minhyun doubted she existed. There was no sign of his mother ever living in his house. The only reason to why he knew she existed was because biologically, he could only be born between a male and a female. Once, when he tried to ask about his mother, father lashed out and hit his cheek. For hours, the markings of his hands lasted on his face.
For the first time, he saw emotions in his father's eyes. Regret. Agony. Anger.
There was no point in pondering about the subject further.
”Does your heart hurt too, thinking about her?” Yoona asked. She wrapped her arms around him.
Minhyun closed his eyes. Did he feel pain? In his mind, there was no memories of the older woman at all.
”No,” he said. ”I don't even know who she is. I think more than my mother as a person, i'm sad about the fact that I don't have one in my life.”
To his surprise, he felt a pair of lips on his cheek. It was a small peck, but the tips of his ears couldn't help but flush red.
”I'm sure she is watching you from the star like my dad is.”
Both of them didn't believe in the bogus the adults fed them but for that single moment, a spark of hope flickered in their hearts. They wanted to believe in the lies.
Minhyun chuckled. ”I hope she's proud of me.”
”I'm sure she is,” Yoona said. ”Minhyun you're one of the nicest people I've ever met. Any parent would be happy to have you as their kid.”
His heart felt warm. His eyes didn't leave the shining star.
Intentionally or not, the two children were constantly hurt by adults in different ways. Constantly slashed with cruel truths, creating scars in their hearts.
Minhyun was the victim of neglect. His father or the caretakers never showered him with love. Only coldness.
Not only was he ripped from affection, he was expected to mature quickly due to his path as the heir. The stress on his shoulders was something no child should go through.
On the other hand, Yoona lived with her separate parents. While her other friends happily lived with two, she was tossed between her mother and father. When her father passed away, she was only left with one. She could sense that her mother did not have the means to take care of her.
However, with each other as company, the two were able to heal. The laughter making them forget about the bad memories lingering in their minds.
”I love you Yoona.”
The words automatically came out of Minhyun's mouth. It was not his mind speaking but his heart.
”I love you too Mini.”