♡˗ˏ✎*ೃ˚ :Chapter twenty: :;

"What is unconditional love?
Someone asked me.

I looked at my mother"

Time had flown by quickly, appearing to move at both a leisurely and rapid pace, akin to the ebb and flow of the ocean waves meeting the shore. Binna had undergone a transformation, blossoming into a mature adult with two cherished children and a remarkable spouse who happened to be her first love. Initially intended as a brief journey to a foreign land with Cheong-ah and their father, they were misled into extending their stay for educational pursuits by their father. This shift posed a significant challenge for both Yoon sisters as they grappled with adjusting to a new language, customs, residence, educational institutions, and community, essentially starting their lives anew from the ground up.

Binna hesitated to part ways with her circle of friends in Korea, particularly upon learning of Yi-chan's unfortunate accident resulting in his hearing loss. She felt an intense need to support him during such distressing times and was reluctant to leave him alone. Despite her emotional attachment, her father made the decision to separate them, prioritizing other factors over her sentiments. It wasn't until several years later when Binna finished her studies and returned to Korea that she once again crossed paths with her true love. Eun-gyeol had departed, presumably to his own time, and Binna lamented the lack of closure in their parting. Nonetheless, she recognized a connection with him upon his birth, realizing that the mischievous and smiling boy she once knew was indeed her son from the future.

Throughout that period, Binna observed with curiosity the unfamiliar items in the guest room used by Eun-gyeol, noting his demeanor, speech, and overall peculiarity. There were moments when she questioned her sanity for entertaining the idea that he might have come from the future; however, as time went on and she witnessed his absence and birth, she began to comprehend the truth. Binna harbored no remorse for her choices; she was satisfied with the outcome of her life, and if given the opportunity to go back, she would repeat every decision.

Now as a grown woman, Binna alighted from the dark vehicle with grace, her pristine white high heels making their debut. She sported a tailored white dress and matching jacket, exuding an air of elegance. The photographers stationed outside the building snapped pictures without pause as Binna posed for the camera, also helping Cheong-ah, who was now a grown woman, out of the car. The strong resemblance between the two women in both looks and demeanor unmistakably indicated their sibling bond.

Cheong-ah gracefully conveyed her gratitude in sign language, radiantly smiling as she signed "Thank you." Her recently trimmed hair gently swayed in the breeze, enhancing her already striking appearance

"Have a pleasant time"the man at the front of both sisters remarked with a smile, using hand gestures to communicate. As times evolved, sign language became increasingly prevalent and easily understood. For Binna, this advancement was particularly comforting as it allowed Cheong-ah to communicate effortlessly

"We're already having a pleasant time, thanks to you" Binna expressed with a polite smile directed towards the young man before her, who responded with a shy grin as they both inclined their heads in a gesture of mutual respect

"Things are improving in Korea, too. Right?" Cheong-ah signed, looking at her interpreter, who nodded and smiled. She then turned to Binna and asked, "Right?"

Binna grinned and nodded, clutching a fashionable black designer handbag. Upon stepping onto the escalator in the building, she instinctively reached for the handrail to ensure stability. Approaching the top of the stairs, a smile illuminated her face as she caught sight of her two children eagerly waiting for her.

Binna's attention remained fixed on Eun-gyeol, who was engrossed in his phone. Upon her recognition, he hurried towards her, enveloping her with a display of affection that suggested a long absence. The paparazzi converged to capture images of the sisters, who had assumed control of their late father's business empire.

Binna's smile was filled with warmth as she tenderly touched her son's hair and returned his embrace. In that moment, she sensed the depth of emotion Eun-gyeol was expressing, almost as though he had been away from her for an extended period and yearned for her presence. This led Binna to deduce that he had recently returned from his journey to the past.

"Dont try to butter me up" Binna objected, taking a step back from the hug while still smiling "I completely disagree with your dad. I'm letting you be in a band under the condition you go to college. The moment your grades go down, the tour will be..." She indicated with a motion of her hand that he would face swift consequences, causing Eun-gyeol to cock his head to the side with amusement

Eun-gyeol looked upon his mother with admiration for a brief moment, revealing to Binna the profound love he harbored for her. He came to a realization of the depth of his affection for his mother and the challenges she faced during her upbringing, causing him to lament his previous desires for a conventional family. Despite this, revisiting the past imbued Binna with the strength and audacity needed to not stifle her voice - although deprived of hearing, she possessed the ability to communicate verbally, a significant accomplishment.

Binna's expression softened into a smile as she raised her eyebrows in amusement, upon being made aware of the paparazzi by her son, Eun-ho. She lovingly ran her fingers through his hair and glanced towards Cheong-ah, who responded with a sweet smile and signaled her intention to accompany her family. It was evident that Cheong-ah was blessed with an excellent husband and two lovely children.

"Get to your positions" Binna communicated in sign language to ensure Eun-ho comprehended, all the while directing with a cheerful expression, "Smile. Smile." Putting her hands behind her children's backs, she began to navigate them through the crowd of aggressive photographers

The trio navigated through the throng of paparazzi until they arrived at the main hallway, where Binna immediately noticed her beloved friends and greeted them warmly with a broad smile. The three men returned her smile with happiness, their expressions reflecting the joy of reuniting with their companion from childhood.

"You came. How have you been, Binna?"

"Was the traffic bad?" Binna asked with interest, her smile adding charm to her expression as she observed each of her companions closely

Hyun-yul signed, "Thankfully, no," prompting Binna to acknowledge with a nod. One of the essential duties that Hyun-yul and the others needed to undertake was to attain proficiency in sign language to facilitate communication with Yi-chan following his deafness resulting from the accident

"Ma-Joo will be late because of work" Si-guk quickly informed, subtly placing a hand on Binna's arm to draw her focus towards him, causing Binna to acknowledge with a nod of understanding

"You look so pretty today" Se-beom interjected with a smile, while the three men observed her with amusement from head to toe

"Just today?" Binna inquired playfully, elegantly spinning around to display her opulent attire

"Just today" Si-guk reiterated, prompting laughter from the group in delight. Binna then affectionately nudged him on the arm, relishing their engaging exchanges which never failed to bring her joy, even during her most challenging times

Meanwhile, Eun-gyeol observed their brief interaction from afar with a nostalgic smile, reflecting on the past. To him, they remained as the same teenagers from his earlier acquaintance, still dear to his heart.

- -

Binna examined the magazine she held in her hands as the expansive hall was engulfed in darkness in anticipation of the event about to commence. The stadium was filled with thousands of attendees eagerly awaiting the commencement of the presentation. Binna sat amidst her two children, patiently enduring the event in order to later retire home for rest.

"When is dad coming?" inquired Eun-gyeol to Eun-ho, who was positioned beside Binna, attentively observing the nonverbal communication unfolding between the siblings

Eun-ho motioned for quiet and proudly indicated the stage, where a spotlight illuminated. Binna's expression softened with affection as Eun-ho started shaking his hands from side to side, evoking a cherished memory. This was her method of clapping, the manner in which Yi-chan had instructed her to demonstrate encouragement in a distinctive and meaningful manner, prompting Binna to raise both hands and mirror Eun-ho's gesture.

Unexpectedly, Yi-chan made a grand entrance on the opposite end of the stage, prompting applause from the spectators and generating a buzz throughout the crowd. This left Eun-gyeol feeling a sense of wonder and amazement. Observing his father being admired and respected in a professional and esteemed manner by others was a novel experience for him, nevertheless, he couldn't suppress his feelings of pride for the accomplishments of both his parents.

"My dream was to become a rockstar, conquer the world, and steal a beautiful woman's heart" Yi-chan made a hand gesture as his sentiments were conveyed by the interpreter, eliciting a smile of amusement from Binna in response to his last remarks "However, I had to give up on that dream since I became deaf due to an accident. At first, when I lost my hearing, I was very afraid. I was scared, angry, and I was in despair. There was a time when I couldn't vocalize at all. But I gave up on giving up. Because for 18 years, I was exposed to sound. So I remembered them. And I could imagine them, too. And since I have lived another 18 years without sound, I believed I could create the most precious and beautiful sound"

Binna's smile held a touch of nostalgia as she remembered the obstacles Yi-chan had overcome in adjusting to total hearing loss. Through this process, he developed a deeper understanding of the challenges that came with being born deaf, showing empathy and solidarity towards Binna, mirroring the support she had previously shown him.

"In the end, I stole a beautiful woman's heart and..." Yi-chan stated, directing his gaze towards Binna and her children, causing her to blush and avert her eyes in embarrassment. Yi-chan then flashed a mischievous smile, eliciting laughter from the onlookers "I believe Goliath will achieve my dream of conquering the world" he confidently declared, receiving applause from the audience. Picking up the vibrant red electric guitar positioned behind him, Yi-chan skillfully began to strum it, evoking memories of his previous performances. As the music suddenly ceased, a look of confusion washed over the crowd. "That's all," he announced humorously, provoking another round of laughter "Seeing your faces, I think Goliath sounded good. I'll get off the stage feeling relieved, then. Thank you, thank you" he concluded with a slight bow, blowing a kiss to the audience before exiting the stage with a proud expression on his face

The actual event had commenced, and Binna was filled with joy as she witnessed Eun-gyeol's performance on stage with his band. The audience was thoroughly enjoying the intimate concert. Despite being unable to hear the music, Binna could feel the emotion and rhythm through her son's demeanor, reminiscent of when she would watch Yi-chan sing before. Observing her son's fervent singing and guitar playing brought her back to the days when she would observe his rehearsals with Yi-chan's band.

Binna's eyes gleamed with a mixture of pride, joy, and respect. She was genuinely thrilled that Eun-gyeol had revisited the past, as it had reintroduced contentment into her life, granted her a sense of liberation, molded her into the person she is today, all due to her son.

After the first song concluded, the band decided to take a short break to rehydrate. Meanwhile, as they prepared to start the second song, Eun-gyeol suddenly abandoned his guitar and hurried out of the room with a sense of urgency. Binna then turned her gaze towards a mysterious girl with long black hair, who she later identified as Oh Eun Yu, the daughter of Choi Se-kyung. The uncanny resemblance between Eun-Yu and her mother during her younger days surprised Binna.

However, she was thrilled that her son had discovered a remarkable partner in Eun-Yu, alleviating any concerns she may have had.

No family is perfect.
We argue, we fight. We even stop
talking to each other at times. But in
the end, family is family. The love
will always be there.

Thank you for setting me free, Ha Eun-gyeol.

Thank you, my lovely son.

Author's note;

This marks the conclusion of "You Never Know" and I hope you enjoyed it immensely, as I must admit this stirs up sentimental feelings within me. This is the second story I have managed to complete, as I am more inclined to start stories and never finish them LMAO, but nevertheless, thank you very much to those who stayed with me throughout this journey of this story.

Honestly, I never thought I would receive such overwhelming support, as I am not particularly fond of my writing style. However, thanks to all this support, the idea crossed my mind that perhaps I could create small extra chapters, depicting events that did not occur in the show, do you understand? Special chapters, something like that, what are your thoughts?

This story filled me with pride, as although there were not many romantic moments, there was a lot of focus on Eun-gyeol and Binna, which I really enjoyed how it concluded. I am curious to know what stories you would like next; I am considering adapting 'Lovely Runner', 'My demon', or perhaps 'Hometown Cha Cha Cha', so which of these three ideas do you find most appealing?

Oh Yeon-seo as adult Yoon Binna

Once again, I express my gratitude for all the support that this story has received. I am so grateful that it brings me to tears 😢. I look forward to seeing you in the next story!