Candy quietly slipped the ancient Nokia back into Laddu's pocket, like she had just returned a stolen gemstone to a sleeping dragon.
The car stayed frozen.
No one spoke.No one laughed.No one dared to ask the question echoing inside every mind:
Who is "My Love ❤️"?
Mochi stared out the window, cheeks faintly pink, eyes tangled with confusion and something dangerously close to hope.Beside her, Laddu slept peacefully on her shoulder, breathing slow and even, completely unaware that he had triggered a full-scale family investigation.
NEXT MORNING — THE "NPC FAMILY"
Morning sunlight spilled into the kitchen.
Everyone was already awake.
Father sat at the table, pretending to read his newspaper while clearly not reading a single word.Mother sliced fruit with suspicious calm.Maya sipped tea, eyes sharp.Candy swung her legs on the chair like a dramatic villain waiting for her cue.And Mochi cooked breakfast quietly, still haunted by two words:
laddu sleeping on sofa
My Love ❤️
Then Laddu walked in.
Hair completely destroyed.Blanket draped around his shoulders.Yawning like a baby panda that had lost a fight with life.
He stopped.
Blinking.
Slowly scanning the room.
"…I have a question."
Everyone leaned forward.
"What?" Father asked.
Laddu squinted, genuinely confused.
"Do you guys…stay at home…ALL the time?"
Silence.
Maya spit her tea.Candy burst into laughter.Mother hid her smile.Father glared.Mochi nearly dropped the pan.
"Every time I open my eyes," Laddu continued seriously,"you're all sitting in the same places.Like NPCs in a video game."
Candy clapped."OPPA CALLED US NPCs!!"
Father muttered, "This boy wants to be homeless."
THE QUESTION RETURNS — "Who Is My Love?"
Mochi swallowed.
Her hands trembled just slightly as she gathered courage.
"L–Laddu…"She hesitated."…w-who is she…?"
Everyone froze.
"This… 'My Love.'"
Her voice cracked softly.
Laddu turned to her.
Really looked at her.
Saw the worry.The fear.The fragile hope.
And instead of being serious—
He decided to be cruel.
Playfully cruel.
He leaned back like a king on a throne.
"Mochi…""You really want to know?"
She nodded.
"Well," he sighed dramatically,"She's at the very top of my life."
Mochi's chest tightened.
"She was with me during every important decision."
Her fingers curled into her apron.
"She fed me with her own hands."
Her heart dipped.
"And," he added casually,"she oiled my hair every single day."
Mochi froze.
Her eyes blurred.
"My hair hasn't been oiled since leaving her," Laddu said softly.
Mochi lowered her head.
"…Does she…"Her voice shook."…decide your marriage too?"
"Yes," Laddu replied proudly."She decides everything."
Something cracked inside Mochi.
"…Is she more important than me…?" she whispered.
Laddu answered instantly.
"Of course."
Her heart stopped.
"She's more beautiful.More important.More caring.More gentle."
Mochi stared at the floor, face down, completely defeated.
"You don't even come close," he finished calmly.
The room held its breath.
Then Laddu leaned forward.
"Mochi."
She didn't look up.
"Mochi.Look at me."
She turned slowly, eyes glossy.
Mother suddenly smiled knowingly."Say it, Laddu. Your mom loves you very much."
Laddu nodded.
"Right."
Then he said it clearly.
"'My Love'…is my mother."
The room exploded.
Candy fell sideways off her chair.Maya smacked the table.Mother burst into laughter.Father let out the deepest sigh of relief of his life.
Mochi gasped—face turning red with embarrassment and relief at the same time.
"I-I thought…"She hid her face."…it was some other girl…"
Laddu smiled gently.
"I know.That's why I teased you."
"You're SO mean!" she cried, hitting his arm.
"But you care," he said quietly.
She hesitated.
"…Yes," she whispered."I care."
HAIR OILING — A SOFT LINE CROSSED
Candy suddenly popped up.
"Oppa! Did anyone oil your hair here?"
Laddu shook his head.
"No.Only my mother did.Before her… my great-grandmother.Every single day."
His expression softened, nostalgia flickering.
"Since coming here…no one has done it."
Mochi's heart squeezed painfully.
"…I can…" she whispered.
Everyone froze.
Laddu blinked.
"You can what?"
"N-Nothing!! Forget it!!"
Candy yelled,"UNNIE WANTS TO OIL HIS HAIR!!"
Mochi turned red instantly.
Laddu smiled—but shook his head.
"…Sorry. We're not that close."
Mochi nearly collapsed.
"Only my girlfriend—who will become my wife—can oil my hair."
The table froze.
Candy pointed dramatically.
"Isn't unnie your girlfriend?"
Laddu shook his head.
"No."
Mochi's heart jerked.
"WHY NOT?!" Candy screamed.
Laddu pointed at the table.
"Because she breaks things when she's angry."
Mochi slammed the table without thinking.
CRACK.
A second crack appeared.
Everyone stared.
Then at Mochi.
"I-I didn't mean to—!"
Laddu raised his hands.
"See?!THIS is why."
THE TRAUMA LIST
"at date ," Laddu continued,"I told someone she was my girlfriend…"
Mochi blushed hard.
"And she shouted 'NO I'M NOT!!' in public."
Candy gasped."UNNIE!! YOU TRAUMATIZED HIM!!"
"And at the costume shop," Laddu added,"I showed her a Nazi costume as a joke—"
"I PANICKED!" Mochi squeaked.
"She punched the wall," he continued,"Tile shattered. Manager called me back to pay."
Everyone stared at Mochi like she was the Hulk.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO!!"
"So no," Laddu concluded,"I will NOT try to make her say she's my girlfriend."
"WHY?!" Candy screamed.
Laddu tapped his ribs.
"Because I like them unbroken."
The room burst into laughter.
Mochi threw a napkin at him.
"YOU SAY THE STUPIDEST THINGS!!"
Laddu laughed softly.
And Mochi—despite everything—felt her heart flutter anyway.