HANEUL felt his heart race as he waited for his mother to pick up. He wasn't sure why he felt so nervous—maybe it was because it had been four days since he'd last seen her. Or maybe it was just the overwhelming mix of emotions that came with being away from home this long after returning to the past and arriving in this world. But one thing was certain: he was genuinely excited to hear her voice again.
After a few more seconds, the call connected.
"Hello? Who's this?" came his mother's voice.
"Mom, it's Haneul," he said, a small smile tugging at his lips just from hearing her.
"Haneul-ah!" his mother exclaimed, her voice instantly brightening. "Are you eating well? Are you sleeping enough? You're not overworking yourself, are you? And how are the staff treating you? Are they kind? Did you make any friends?"
Her questions came rapid-fire, each one layered with concern and care. Haneul couldn't help but laugh softly.