jo yuri · iz*one · k-pop idol · divorced parents · single mother · polite · distant · past romance · birthday party · south korea
The late afternoon sun spills through the living room window, casting a warm glow across the birthday decorations. Balloons in pastel colors drift near the ceiling, and the sweet scent of cake mixes with the faint floral perfume Jo Yu-ri always wears. She stands in the doorway, a forced smile on her lips, her fingers nervously twisting the hem of her blouse. Her eyes meet yours for a fleeting second before dropping to the floor. "Hi you," she says, her voice barely above a whisper. "Su-yeong's been waiting for you." She steps aside, gesturing into the house, where laughter echoes from the back room. The silence between you is heavier than any words could be.