Ha Na : Would it be too weird, if we- Nevermind.

Just the sound of it in her head felt so wrong that Ha Na couldn't bring it out. A hug might be a simple embrace anyone could receive. But, for her, it was similar to breaching the impermissible steps.

The truth that she has rusted out for so long, Ha Na did not want to grease it again.

JK : I will leave first then.

Jeongguk did not question her on it and went on his way, giving her incomplete words a thought of what could it be.

The singer shook his head, to flush it out and wondered why has he been acting so, lately. Some mystic and beguiling aura kept alluring him towards her. Something he was unware about and didn't have the conscious to explore.

Ha Na, in her place, bitterly smiled. It was hurting more to see him leave, than it ever had been before. As if the uncertainty of when they would get to meet again was getting on her.

It was the first time, after years, that she could actually have conversations with Jeongguk. Just at the peak of seeing their bond repairing that he had to leave for Seoul.

Ha Na rested back on the swing, lightly swaying back and forth as she sighed. Thinking of ways, she could place her unemployment news before her parents. That just delivers the right message, but doesn't come across too insolent or shocking.

Later the same evening, the Jeon family after lunch, were lounged around the couch, watching Television. Ha Na asked them not to inquire her about her sudden return from 'work' in the morning. And assured that she will soon break it down to them.

With her head resting over Mrs.Jeon's lap, the latter's hand gently lathered strokes over her head.

Ha Na : Eomma, Appa, can I ask you something?

Mrs.Jeon : Sure, Han-ie. What is it?

Ha Na sat up straight, facing the couple who were seated beside each other. She muted the TV and confidently placed her words.

Ha Na : Can I quit my job and do something I like?

There was a transparent drop of expressions in their faces, as the mother addressed it calmly.

Mrs.Jeon : Han-ie, don't be so abrupt about it. We are not stopping you from doing something you like. Of course, we will support you. But, before you are sure about the latter. It is too risky to quit, dear.

Exactly what Il Pyeong had quoted to her and she loathed the practicality they spoke with. For once, she simply wished for an effortless acceptance. Ha Na silently sighed looking down at her hands.

Mr.Jeon : Your mom is right. Why not try to look for the work you really want to do while continuing your current one? Once you find the right path, you can always make the decision openly.

Mrs.Jeon : Absolutely. Why are you saying this though? Is it too stressful right now at work?

She caressed Ha Na's cheek with care and concern. The latter, without a straight gaze, took a deep inhale and blurted everything at one go. No longer beating around the bush.

Ha Na : Actually, I have already resigned my matching making job yesterday. Well, it wasn't something I was feeling passionate about. It became a monotonous life for me, that I was not even enjoying. I am sorry to have disappointed you.

Unlike she would expect them to freak out, the couple shared a glance at each other and communicated through a sign language. That, they should be supportive of her decision now that it is already taken. This time, the father voiced their collective interest and opinions.

Mr.Jeon : It's very alright, sweetheart. We are not disappointed in you. Infact, we want you to do something you find joy in. If it wasn't your thing, good that you boldly quit it. A little blatant it was however. But, good in a way that unemployment will propel you more powerfully to find your passion sooner.

Mrs.Jeon : And even if you don't have anything in your mind right away. That's alright too Take your time. We are with you on this, Han-ie. There's nothing to stress about.

Ha Na smiled at their unexpected response and had a relief in her heart. As if a weight lifted out from her shoulders.

Ha Na : Thanks, you guys. Thank you for parenting me.

Mr. and Mrs.Jeon shared a nervous glance and looked at her, in a fluster.

Mrs.Jeon : What do you mean, Han-ie?

Ha Na smiled at their pale faces and leaned in to hug Mrs.Jeon. She experienced a certain peace in that embrace.

Ha Na : I mean, for giving birth to me, taking care of me and supporting me. Always.

She pulled away, assuring them exactly where they wanted it on. The couple smiled with a relief.

Mr.Jeon : It is more than a pleasure, Han-ah. You are the best daughter we could have.

Ha Na didn't have words to reflect back and had a frozen smile on her face, very touched and grateful. For everything they have done for her as parents.

The moment lasted only until the mother recalled a weird incident from morning. And voiced over it quickly.

Mrs.Jeon : Oh, right! Is everything alright in your room?

Ha Na : Im? I haven't checked. But, what do you mean?

Mrs.Jeon : We don't know that too. Guk-ie went to your room in the morning, before he left. I was worried, he might've broken your stuff. We can't really predict his actions when it comes to you.

Ha Na broke into a plain and thoughtless giggle.

Ha Na : Why would he do that? He is grown now, Eomma. And has changed a lot too. You never know, we might actually return to the bond we had when we were kids.

Mrs.Jeon : (-gasps-) He changed so much? (-smiles wide-) Waah, I think my prayers are finally answered.

She quickly joined hands and closed her eyes, paying a quick gratitude to the heavens. The father and the daughter simply stared at her with admiration. And Mrs.Jeon got distracted again.

Mrs.Jeon : Still, to be on the safe side, check it once.

Ha Na : Okay!

Ha Na stirred up and casually walked to her room. Her eyes instantly caught at a box, lying on her bed.

She closed the door behind her and advanced towards it. Ha Na reached out her hand to the note, representing the enigmatic box.
It read...

"Don't get this wrong. I couldn't spend the money I got from my tablet. And I thought, you will need them more than I do. Hence, this. Think of it as I am giving one of my presents to you. That's all.
You draw good. Keep that going!
                                                                            —Jeongguk."

Keeping the memo aside with a lingering smile, she unwrapped the gift papers and plopped on the floor. She restfully reclined to the bed, being careful with the heavy object.

It was a brand new graphic tablet. Unlike the small ones they received on their birthdays, it was definitely the higher end, more professional and expensive.

What surprised her more was a picture that laid atop of the tablet. She picked it up to her and read...

"I was going through the pictures I took at the sea. And this was lying around in between. So, maybe take it."

A warm smile spread across her face, flipping it to look at the picture. Only for her features to gleam further at the surprise.

Ha Na : Oh my god! He was taking photos then? That sly little thing.

After so many years, she was receiving presents from him. No matter how much he tried to sound it wasn't the case. She was only believing it otherwise.

Ha Na set the photograph on her bed and caressed the smooth body of the sophisticated tablet.

She wanted to preserve that moment and immediately sat on her desk with the brand new gadget to sketch something. The additional features gave her an amusing time, playing with them.

It was then when she starting working on it, and it was dinner time when it was accomplished.

Ha Na smiled satisfied, looking through all the slides of pages she sketched on in the small span of time. For others, if it was writing a diary account. To Ha Na, it was always visualizing the scene into the screens.

She had a whole digital-toon diary, where all the moments she wanted to record were in a mini comic entries. Everything put together, it was no less an entire book. Like her autobiography. And the craft and detailing had a visible improvement over the years.

"Dinner's ready, Han-ie." she heard Mr.Jeon call her from the dinning.

"Coming!"
Ha Na exclaimed back to travel through the confines of her room.

She looked back at the screen, saved the entry with a smile and left to dinner.

Ha Na spent the initial few days of work severance, experimenting different styles and techniques of art.
And slowly the day arrived when she officially received her dismissal letter from the company.

She sighed deeply, looking at her cubicle. It was all pretty and embellished moments ago; now it was dull and empty, completely packed out.

Ha Na delivered her official farewell to every member in their department, including Mr.Yang. Clutching the carton box through the helping holes, she walked out with all her belongings stuffed in.

Ha Na left the matchmaker agency, Love Maze, for good.
Oblivious that she was deliberately walking into the maze, rather than walking out of it.

That day, framing the photograph Jeongguk had gifted her, she scribbled down a 'Thank you, Jeongguk-ah' by the corner of the frame. The one, she bought today on her way back home.

Ha Na read through the lengthier note he left, once again. His comment on her art, brought her to slide through the pieces she has illustrated so far.

All these years later, Ha Na found those pieces amidst the thousands, that she had almost forgotten about. Those indeed brought a nostalgic smile to her face in the present.

All the entries from her teen life rode her through all the different emotions she felt along the journey. Laughters with Il Pyeong at school, left out at home when Mr. and Mrs.Jeon would attend Jeongguk's concerts, cringy first loves, broken hearts, breaking hearts, academic stress and embarrassing moments.

With the power of her imaginations, she formed a virtual portal to peek into the past. To watch the younger Ha Na, who had sketched those accounts with the best interest. If anything, art always made her happy. It was always a therapy in tough hours, and a content booster in ebullience.

The loop of mist fusing back, Ha Na was aware of her thoughts directing her to an obvious direction. But she was still skeptical to address it out.

Only to be distracted, in the next moment, by a text message that beeped her phone to light up. Ha Na reached out to read it.

"Front of your house. Come out." read the recent text from Il Pyeong.

She didn't respond to it and grabbed her warm shrug, leaving her room without second thoughts.

While Ha Na put on the shrug, walking towards the main door, she informed Mrs.Jeon in a loud voice.

Ha Na : Eomma, going out! Pyeong Pyeong is here!

"Okay! Come back before dinner!" came back muffled exclaims from the mother as Ha Na slid her feet into her pumps.

Ha Na : Okay!

Ha Na exited the house right after and greeted her best friend outside the residence. She could tell that he drove there straight from the company. Considering, he looked drained and was dressed in his atypical formal suit.

Ha Na : Where to, today?

Il Pyeong : (-smiles-) School Basketball court.

Just at the mention of the familiar place, Ha Na's expressions lit up.

Ha Na : That's great. Shall we walk?

Il Pyeong : Yes, we can relive old memories while we do and will have some talking too.

Ha Na : Sounds good to me.

Initially wrapped with silence, walking side by side, Ha Na nudged the quiet.

Ha Na : Any news on Ms.Hwang? Who is she assigned to, this time? Or did she hire some other company?

Il Pyeong : (-speaks after a brief moment-) Well, she moved to Japan.

Ha Na : I left my job, only for her to go to Japan?!

Il Pyeong : You didn't leave because of her, if you remember correctly.

Ha Na : Alright. I shouldn't be complaining.

Il Pyeong : So, how are you now?

Ha Na : I did find something I really wanna do, but...

Il Pyeong : But?

Ha Na : But, I am not sure if it would be the best decision to take it as a career choice. For the worst, I might get sick of it and lose one of my hobbies on top of that. It sounds too hasty. Maybe I should wait a little more.

Il Pyeong : Well, resigning was a hasty decision too.

Ha Na : Stop that already. I know. And I regret it too. But, for one thing, I feel relieved and don't want to go back either.

Il Pyeong : That's exactly my point. Even though you might have second thoughts now, but you feel more liberated where you are at now. Without the unappreciated burden on your shoulders.

Ha Na : You do have a point there.

Il Pyeong : Hence, taking a risk is part of the journey. Atleast you wouldn't regret that you didn't even try once, when you had the opportunity.

And before they realized it, they were already standing before the empty open air court, a few lights on. Just how it used to be before.

Ha Na : Maybe you are right...

Her words trailed off as her notice went to Il Pyeong beside her, loosening his tie and taking off his coat.

Ha Na : What are you doing?

Il Pyeong looked at her with a smile and started climbing down the stairs, dropping the coat mid-way.

Il Pyeong : Let's have a round.

Still confused, she was rooted to her position, simply watching him rush down to the floor of the court. He turned around and repeated himself louder.

Il Pyeong : I said, "let's have a round!" Come on!

He located the ball rack and made a quick run towards it. Ha Na smiled, following him down cheerily.

Ha Na : What if we get caught?

Il Pyeong : What else? We run!

He returned to the center, bouncing the ball along, totally into the little unplanned match.

Ha Na : But, it's not really fair. Unlike me, you had been in the basketball team in school.

Il Pyeong : Who also gave you free lessons on it, illicitly after school. Today, no other rules. The one who gets the basket, gets the match.

Ha Na got in her form, recalling those lessons and shielded the basket with a visible change in her mien. As Ha Na's personal coach, he was well aware of her plus and minuses. Plus being, she was an excellent blocker.

Il Pyeong taught her all his self improvised techniques on lock and trip skills. And he knew it was not going to be easy dodging those.

Hence, he very sneakily tried to trick her a little. He straightened his stance back and normally walked to her, stretching out the ball to her. She looked at it but didn't let down her guards, careful of his next move.

Il Pyeong : I will let you have it. You start.

Ha Na studied his expressions as he nudged further to take the ball. Although, she could lightly see it coming, Ha Na believed him anyway and withdrew her fence.

Oh, did she believe his con!

With a sprint, Il Pyeong, like a born basketball player jumped in the air and swiftly made a goal. In literal blinks of the eye. Landing on the ground before the ball, he bounced it again grinning at a betrayed Ha Na.

Il Pyeong : You never trust your opponent.

Her minus was visibly, not forming clear lines between a friend who would always be on her side with a sport freak who only cared to win.

Ha Na : You bitch-

Il Pyeong : Too bad, an angry little Walrus had to lose to a bitch.

Ha Na : Who did you call a Walr-

She couldn't complete her sentence, her rage involuntarily sped her legs towards him.

A few snatch and grabs later, they were seen calmly seated by the stairs. Specifically where Il Pyeong had dropped his coat earlier.

Ha Na : We should do this more often. Aah, this is so refreshing.

Ha Na remarked with a relaxed mood. The sight shifted to the the man beside her, Il Pyeong, his hair all messed and disoriented. He innocently sniffed, reconsidering his whole life.

Il Pyeong : More like a pain to me.

Ha Na's content filled view was stretched out to the spacious serene court and the school boundaries. Surely lighting some memories. And more so, that she has seen this scenery occur frequently in her toon entries earlier.

Must be a very significant part of school, she thought to herself and commented very casually.

Ha Na : Waah, it has been so long since we came here.

Il Pyeong gazed at her how she blatantly ignored his words, but ended up admiring the satisfaction in her face. He looked away, lightly chuckling and reassured himself, that he has taken some of the best decisions in life. And Ha Na was one of them.

Il Pyeong : So, what is that something that you really want to do?

Finally distracted she looked at him and smiled, thinking of the main source of impel towards her passion hunt.

Ha Na :  . . .

_______

😌😏
Is it too obvious, what she wants to be?

A/N : Even if the parent section of today's chapter or the plot so far, is boring. It is an important depiction that is needed for the storyline. That, Mr. & Mrs.Jeon are equally supportive of Ha Na's lifestyle and decisions, even though she is adopted.
So, I really hope you guys don't mind these plot areas too much. Because we will soon move to Ha Na's solo life and Jeongguk's involvement in it.

♡

Thanks for reading Love Maze, and supporting it. I really appreciate every one of you.
Also leave an encouraging comment if you wanna make me happy so that I go and write the fluffs for you. ;)

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