Chapter 102: Welcome home, my baby
Seoha’s POV
"My baby, aigoo, you grew so well...look at you" grandma exclaims and she peppers my face with kisses.
Her hands are trembling as she holds my face, and I can’t help the tears flowing down my cheeks, can’t help the way my chest feels tight with so much emotions.
Happiness, relief and sadness.
Happiness for meeting the woman that took care of me almost all my life, relief that she’s not mad at me for running from home and sadness for being away for so long.
"Ah, don’t cry, don’t cry my love" she says and laughs, it’s a strong laughter but she keeps petting me.
"Come, come here my love, let’s go in" she says and pulls me towards the house, that’s when I look over my shoulder at Taesan.
The alpha is leaning against the car and watching us.
He doesn’t speak, he just observes, and I let grandma take me towards her the house, hoping that he comes with us too.
He’s part of me now...
"You haven’t even grown, hmm? Look at you, you’re exactly the way I saw you six years ago" grandma says lovingly as she puts the tray dog food down and turn around.
"Hey you, go release my dog, he’s at the back" she suddenly turns to look at Taesan and the alpha’s face morphs into surprise.
Did grandma just give the terrifying captain of the underworld a command like he’s a nobody?
"Aren’t you Korean? My baby, where did you find this stone? Doesn’t he understand Korean?" grandma asks and my jaw drops.
"Are you talking to me?" Taesan asks with the most surprised expression and tone, eyes wide and fingers pointing at himself.
"No, I’m talking to your car...oh please, make yourself useful if you want to be with my Seoha" she tsks at him, standing at akimbo and staring down the alpha.
I don’t know if I am to laugh or cry, grandma doesn’t care that he drove in with a car more expensive than her house, or that he is as huge as a mountain or that he’s looking like a terrifying mafia lord.
"Grandma..." I call.
"What? If you’re going to put your scent all over my grandson like he’s yours, you should act like you’re his" she says and drags me into the house while I blush.
I can’t believe Taesan’s scent is on me and I didn’t know.
Grandma laughs quietly and help me sit on the floor in the house before she sits in front of me and holds my hands.
"How have you been, my child?" she asks in a soft tone and I bow my head, "I’ve been okay" I say and she taps my hand.
"Don’t lie to me, no one who is orphaned is okay" she says and I lift my head to look at her.
I don’t want to lie to her, but I don’t want to tell her the truth, it’s too bitter and too cruel to a woman that also lost her daughter.
Grandma is so strong, she loved me and took care of me even when my mother never listened to her instructions, and she stepped up for me when my mom ended up with my father.
How am I supposed to tell her that my mother’s death ended up hurting me so bad and that her other daughter took everything from me?
Even if I’m hurt, I will never let her know what aunt Cho did to me, it’s gone anyways....
"I was really broken for a while, but I got better quickly, I’m truly okay now" I say and she lifts my hands to kiss them.
"You didn’t come with that boy you ran away from home with" she says and I look back at the door, Taesan isn’t in yet, maybe he is really unleashing Kkumi for grandma.
"Yes...a lot happened" I say and she sighs in an ’I told you so’ manner.
"Did he hurt you?" she asks and I slowly nod, "yes, but I’m over it now, grandma, I’m better now" I say to her in a soft tone.
"The man that brought you today, who is he?" grandma asks and nudges her chin towards the door.
"He...is Kang Taesan, my..." I pause.
My what?
What can I call him?
He said he’s mine too, but we don’t have a bonding mark and I don’t have his collar...he hasn’t even asked me out, so I can’t call him my boyfriend.
"My boss" I finally say and grandma lets out a small laughter.
"People don’t smell like their bosses, my love, you can’t fool me" she says and I laugh along with her, leaning forward to rest my head on her shoulder and to breathe in her scent.
This is the way I used to seek comfort from her.
"And bosses don’t look like their employees like they will turn the world upside down for them" she says and rubs my back.
"I think I’m in love with him...but I’m not good enough, I’m not..." I start to talk.
"I brought your dog" Taesan’s voice says loudly and the door opens as Kkumi runs into the house.
"Puppy!" I shout as the jindo runs to me and starts to lick my face, I sit up straight to return the happy greeting, petting his head and side.
"He remembers me" I say to grandma and she smiles fondly at me, "of course he remembers you, who will ever forget wonder like you?" she asks with a playful tone.
"You, aren’t you trained? Take off your shoes and sit" grandma snaps at Taesan and the alpha stiffly obeys, taking off his shoes and sitting close to the door.
A stupid smile stays on my face at how out of place he looks, he looks as stiff as a yet he isn’t putting up an air of superiority, he’s just letting grandma be herself to him.
"Aren’t you the most handsome?" I ask the dog, air kissing it as it scents me.
"You must be hungry, grandma will make something delicious for you to eat, hmm?" grandma says brightly and I look up in surprise.
"Grandma no, I’m not hungry" I protest immediately, but she shuts me down with a wave of her hand.
"Get up stone, we have to make sure our Seoha doesn’t starve" she says and gets up while Taesan looks at me with utter confusion.
"Why me..." he manages to ask before grandma drags him out of the house.
’Taesan-ah, sorry’ I apologize to him mentally while holding my face in Kkumi’s fur and laughing.