Nico
The memorial service for my grandmother, Park Emi-Sook, ended in the blink of an eye. The entire ceremony carried a heavy, suffocating layer of awkwardness. Standing in the temple room with the lingering scent of burning incense, the tension among the family members was evident and was pretty obvious with the awkward glances we threw at each other.
After the massive blowout at the dining table last night, nobody dared to look each other in the eye. We all just stood there in our black formal attire, bowing before her portrait, going through the traditional motions while a deafening, uncomfortable silence filled the space between us.
But for me, the real awkwardness wasn't even because of the family drama. It was because of the guy standing right next to me.
Ever since I woke up this morning, things had felt completely different between Alaric and me. I couldn't help but wonder if he had actually been awake last night when I whispered those words against his chest.
