"Oh? Who's this pretty young lady?"

Baekhyun gave his mother a kiss on the cheek first before stepping beside Sarah again and touched her on the small of her back. "Annyeonghaseyo, Sarah Jac—Sarah Hong Ja—Sarah imnida." She ended up stuttering so much – she wanted to include her Korean Middle Name because she wanted Baekhyun's mother to know right away. Baekhyun held his smile as he nodded while looking at his mother who was eyeing him meaningfully with a smile. "Ne~ Nice to meet you, Sarah ssi. Aigoo, you look like an angelic sweetheart. Are you dating my son?" Mrs. Byun asked and immediately, Baekhyun shook his head. "Aniyo, Eomma. She's a very close friend of mine and since it's her rest day today, I thought of bringing her along. She hasn’t been to Bucheon." He explained but Mrs. Byun just tilted her head not buying what her son said but just shrugged it off in the end. "Okay~ I'm not going to dig into your personal life anymore, my son. But you, Sarah ssi, you’re very very pretty. I’m serious.” Mrs. Byun said and Sarah constantly bowed not knowing how to actually open right now, she was scared that she might say something so stupid. She had a shy smile on and was nearly hiding half of her body behind Baekhyun while tugging on the back of his shirt. "Wae? Yah, you talk." Baekhyun turned to her while chuckling. "My mom isn't a monster." He said and tried dragging Sarah to the front.

"A-aniyo... E-eomonim, I don't think you're monster..."

"Ah so cute, this lady." Mrs. Byun said and was giving teasing glances to her son but Baekhyun completely ignored it. "Oh and also, Eomma she actually came from the States and she's been staying here for six months already and told me she always wanted to experience making Kimchi." He explained and again, Sarah hid behind him while gripping on the hem of his shirt. She felt so shy when Baekhyun finally introduced that side of her. But it seems like Mrs. Byun wasn't minding anything about her nationality at all. "Yah, do you want to rip my shirt off?" Baekhyun murmured while trying to get her off behind him. "Well, Sarah ssi it's very nice to know you. You don't have to feel shy around here, it's very peaceful right? I'll go ahead and fix the table. Have you guys eaten breakfast?" Mrs. Byun asked.

"Yes."

"No.."

The two answered differently and Baekhyun widen his eyes at her when she said yes. The food he bought drive-thru remained untouched actually. "Really, did you or did you not?" Mrs. Byun asked and laughed softly. Baekhyun nudged Sarah again before turning to his Mom. "We haven't. We'll just wait Eomma, thanks." He answered. "Alright, wait a sec I'll be fast. It's just the three of us right now. Your Appa went to visit our shop." Mrs. Byun said and was about to turn around and walk when Sarah spoke. "E-eomonim, c-can I help?" She asked shyly. "Oh I won't decline that offer. Aigo~ Such a pretty nice young lady you have... as a friend, my son." Mrs. Byun said. "K-kamsahamnida..." Sarah bowed again but kept her head hung low to maintain her eyes lower in respect. "Well then, could you please fix the plates there. My Kimchi fridge is actually outside and I'm just going to get a jar of it. Alright?" Mrs. Byun patted the girl's arm and smiled. "Ne..." Sarah quickly skipped to the kitchen without even caring to put her bag down anymore, she looked like a high schooler late for her class. When the mother and son were left, Mrs. Byun spoke. "Baekhyun-ah..." She called out meaningfully and Baekhyun's eyes dilated in defense again. "Eomma, I said it isn't like tha—“Alright alright. But I like her, compared to your ex-girlfriend who never even made an effort to meet me." Mrs. Byun said. "Eomma, Noona was busy all the ti—“Why are you defending that girl? Omo, do you still want her back? You know how we also got threats and got stalked that time." Mrs. Byun asked with a frown. "It isn't like that Eomma but she's still my Sunbae and I can't be in bad terms with her because we're under the same company." Baekhyun explained. "Ayy, whatever. But this girl, I like this girl. She's not Korean right?" Mrs. Byun whispered her last sentence.

"Half-Korean Half-American."

"Eyy~ I think my grandchildren will have a very nice blood li—“Eomma..." Baekhyun whined again. "I said she's not my girlfr—“Alright alright, you win." Mrs. Byun patted his cheek before walking to their backdoor. "Help her son, she isn't familiar with our kitchen." She said and completely left. Once she was gone, Baekhyun skipped fast to their kitchen. Their house wasn't actually that big unlike how people would have guessed. They still kept the old house they had, it just improved a bit and added some extension, all from Baekhyun's hard work. "You okay there?" He asked as he saw Sarah taking out three pairs of chopsticks. She turned around and began hopping towards him. "Omo omo omo..." She began squealing softly and even wiggled her hips a bit. "Wae?~" Baekhyun asked and laughed. "Your Eomma not judge me..." She said and covered like she wanted to scream. Baekhyun grew solemn as he watches her be all excited - were all the men she almost dated here really told her that? He couldn't explain it but he wanted to know all of their faces before punching them hard until their faces are unrecognizable. It's like saying right on her face that 'SOUTH KOREA IS A RACIST COUNTRY AND YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE.' and stuffs like that. And he also wondered, which guy on his right state of mind would even care about nationality when it comes to love? He so hates whoever those guys were.

"Oppa!"

His thoughts were interrupted when Sarah called right on his ear already. "Call you many many times. What are you thinking of?" She asked and walked to the dining table and placed the chopsticks on the side by the bowls. The dishes were actually already served at the center table. "N-nothing..." Baekhyun avoided her again and cleared the lump in his throat. He walked to the fridge and took out the water pitcher. When Mrs. Byun came back, she was holding a big container of Kimchi and Sarah rushed to her. "Eomonim, very heavy?" She asked and held the other side of it. Mrs. Byun let out a heartfelt laughter as she looked at the worried face of Sarah. "No, it's okay Sarah ssi. I always carry this." She reassured and patted her shoulder. "Ya, you're a guest. Sit down and relax for now." Baekhyun said and dragged her to the table. Mrs. Byun smiled as she saw her son holding the girl's hand - she knew just by the look on her son's eyes what they have even however Baekhyun calls it. She knows him better than he knows himself. Sarah sat down but had a pout on, she watched as Baekhyun and his mother prepared everything. Her hands were itching to help, she felt worthless just sitting there. "Okay~ Let's eat." The two finally sat down. Baekhyun was about to pick his chopsticks up when Sarah spoke. "E-eomonim, do we pray?" She asked and put her hands up together already. Mrs. Byun's lips curved up in delight - the Byun's are Catholics and she liked how Sarah just acted. "Aigoo, why did my son never initiate a prayer." Mrs. Byun joked. "Ah Eomma..." Baekhyun whined with a pout.

So then, Sarah lead the prayer and the whole time she was speaking with her broken Korean prayer, Baekhyun can't help but to open his eyes and was peeking at her. She had her eyes completely closed though which made his lips curve up into a smile. Mrs. Byun cleared which made him look down again and close his eyes.

In a brief prayer, Sarah finished it with Amen and they all did the sign of the cross. "Okay, I'm so hungry." Baekhyun picked his chopsticks up and waited for his Mom to get food first. "Eomonim, thank you for the food. I will eat well." Sarah said and bowed. "Moya? You're good in Korean right now. Should I bring you here everyday?" Baekhyun asked teasingly earning a light nudge from Sarah but she was smiling.

So their first meal time together with Mrs. Byun was a bit lively because Baekhyun talked about a lot of things that he has missed telling his mother. It's been a while since he lasted visited so he had a lot in store. Sarah on the other hand couldn't help but to miss her family back in Florida, they always ate all together so this kind of atmosphere made her a bit gloomy. When they finished eating, Mrs. Byun told Baekhyun to just bring Sarah at the backyard because they have a very well taken care of garden. So as the two got out, Baekhyun finally spoke. "So what are you sad about?" He asked which made Sarah look up in shock. "N-ne? I'm fine. Very very." She answered and forced a smile. "No you're not fine. Very very." He mimicked while having his head tilted to the side completely and was looking closely to her while they walk. "Ani, just..." Sarah looked down and heaved a sigh. "Miss Mom and Dad..." She answered. They arrived at a swing just in front of the nice plain of plants and Baekhyun swung it gently. "When I see Eomonim... miss Mom. She's like Mom... she's very very caring and loving voice. And its good thing to meet Eomonim, want to thank her when she take you out." She added. "Gave birth to me." Baekhyun corrected and let out a soft chuckle while looking down to her. "Ne... I mean that..." She said and nodded slightly. Baekhyun grew silent but had a smile on his lips.

He clears his throat before speaking again.

"I don't know if you already know? About my ex-girlfriend." He said and glanced at her. "Ahh... T-taeyeon ... Saw in article." Sarah said and nodded hesitantly. "Yup, I knew it. About her... she never really met my mom." He said. "She was worried to meet me outside again worse to travel with me here to visit my parents. I can even remember her saying that there is no need to meet them at all since we're not even getting married." Hearing his sudden story, Sarah was speechless. She wasn't asking about it at all, she didn't dare to because she was scared that he wasn't ready to talk about it.

"And you know what... she might be the girl I was seeing, had feelings for... cared for... and some other things that I shared with her... but that moment I couldn't imagine myself growing old with noona."

"Then why date her, Oppa?" Sarah asked. "I said I had feelings for her, right? I think... maybe it changed before it could even ignite, the feelings... She changed a lot ever since we started dating. She became very insecure of everything, everyone... fearful of judgments, even the way she looked and approach people... Everything about her that I used to like changed. And I once blamed myself for it." He said and chuckled bitterly. "By then, I thought, she doesn't trust me at all and I think I was right... cause even I can't remember when was the last time I trusted her." He glanced down at Sarah who was silently listening. "I'm not trying to say she's a bad person but... I think... having me didn't make her any better... and loving someone, you're supposed to get better until you're at your best right?" He asked but then Sarah shook her head. "Not always... no need be better or best to tell you love people... people can accept bad... and very very most bad things about you... cause they love you." She explained with her own words. "Even so little... to return... person can give and give but no asking for anything back... cause it's love. No fair, no unfair. All have right to love and take love..." She said. Baekhyun looked away and felt a lump in his throat when she said that. His heart was rapidly beating and it worsen when Sarah put a hand on top of his. "So please receive my love all time... not asking for pay right now... Just smile everyday. Love do magic but heart, no no. Can't heal right away... but love's magic can. Right time... Okie?" She said and giggled before standing up. "Oppa, can't leave Eomonim there. When do we do Kimchi?" She asked and pulled her hair up in a nice bun. Just then, Baekhyun stood up and grabbed her hand twirling her back to face him. "Wae?" She asked while looking up to him. Baekhyun didn't answer and just stared at her. "Oppa, you okay?" She asked. "Oppa..." She called and tiptoed to peck him on the lips. To her surprise, Baekhyun flinched when she did that as if it was the first time. She felt his hand shudder on hers which made him quickly let go. "I-I'll ask Eomma..." He murmured barely audibly before marching back to the house with his stiff state.

Following in, she found Baekhyun at the kitchen again. The fridge was half opened and he was there standing while gulping down water right on its pitcher not even putting it on a glass. "Oppa?" She called and the guy flinched again, the water spilled a bit on his shirt. "Eyygoo, I told you to stop drinking right on the pitcher, right?" Mrs. Byun rushed to his side and grabbed the pitcher from him. Sarah walked his way and ran her hands on his already wet clothes but he backed away. "I-I'm gonna change..." He said not even looking at her and left. "Oppa?" She called but he didn't turn anymore. "Sarah?" Mrs. Byun called making her turn. "We'll make Kimchi at the backyard, did you bring extra clothes?" She asked. "Ne, Eomonim," She asked with a smile but glanced at the stairs where Baekhyun went to. "Good thing I have a pretty young assistant today. It's been my tradition to make Kimchi at this kind of Holiday and then give jars of it to my neighbors." Mrs. Byun explained as they began taking out the ingredients, Sarah helped out on carrying them. "I already chopped some of them, you can ask Baekhyun to help you chop the remaining later on. Okay? Is it really okay with you to help me?" Mrs. Byun asked. Sarah eagerly nodded with a grin. "Really want to, Eomonim." She answered. Mrs. Byun smiled in delight while hugging out the small sack of the red powder. "I like you." She said with a nod of satisfaction. "Follow me out, please take that one basket, there's some radish left there. Okay?" He then began walking out. Sarah nodded and bowed before rushing to it. Just then, Baekhyun came back with a new set of shirt.

"Oppa?"

Baekhyun turned to the kitchen but was looking at the fridge. "Could you help me?" She asked. Without any word, Baekhyun walked into the kitchen and grabbed the basket from her but the whole time, she never saw him look back. He literally got away quickly leaving her there. "So moody again..." Sarah murmured with a pout before following while carrying the other containers of ingredients. "Oppa." She tried calling while she trails behind.

When they arrived at the backyard, Mrs. Byun was already arranging all the things needed in a very organized way. "Sarah ssi, Baekhyun-ah, could you wash the uncut cabbages first?" She turned to the surprisingly silent pair. "Ne, Eomonim." Sarah answered right away and glanced at Baekhyun who was still silent. He just followed behind as they arrived at the faucet by the wall. It doesn't have a sink, so the water falls straight to a cemented space - it was constructed especially for times like this - outdoor cooking. Baekhyun just bended his knees down as he turned the faucet on. Sarah did the same and began taking the cabbage out. She kept on glancing at the silent man who also grabbed another whole piece of the vegetable. Their hands would occasionally bump against each other since there's only one faucet and it's always Baekhyun to avoid it right away. "Oppa." Sarah called. "Hm." Baekhyun barely utters and his eyes were still focused down the running water. Suddenly, Sarah put an amount of water on her palm and suddenly splashed it right on his face. "What the heck??" He stood up quickly feeling his face all wet with the cold water. Sarah burst out of laughter and stuck her tongue out. "It's not funny—“It's funny~" She said. "Funny huh." He scooted down the faucet again and put both of his palms together getting a bigger amount of water and splashed it straight on Sarah's face too. "Eeeekk!" She let out a squeak and pulled away. Standing up, she suddenly pilled the outer layer of cabbage and threw it right on Baekhyun's face. "Ya—yah!" He shouted and did the same until they began doing a cabbage leaf fight.

Mrs. Byun who was nicely preparing at the other side grew silent as she watched the two youngsters waste the remaining cabbages. But then, such scene made her smile. "No! Oppa~ kyaa!" Sarah squealed when Baehyun grabbed her down the faucet again and began splashing water endlessly on her face. They were all wet now. "P-pfft~ Opp—andwae—ahhh~" She was still trying to pull away when she accidentally twisted her foot. Baekhyun lost his balance when he tried holding her for support until they both fell to the ground with Sarah on top. "My goodness!" Mrs. Byun exclaimed when she heard the loud thud. "Oppa. . . Oppa??" Sarah who got back to her senses saw Baekhyun having his eyes closed. "Oh my god..." Her heart began throbbing in fear and quickly reached for the back of his head to check if he had injury. "Omo, is he okay??" Mrs. Byun was already rushing to their direction far away. " Oppa!" Sarah began crying while tapping his cheeks. "Oppa I'm sorry, don't die... Oppa, you can't die... Oppa, I lo—“Raaaawr!" Baekhyun suddenly roared and opened his eyes. "Ahhh!" Sarah screamed in shock. She bounced in shock away from him and landed sitting right on the ground as well. Mrs. Byun stopped running, realizing the situation and literally held on her chest out of relief. Baekhyun laughed as he pulled himself up again while dusting his hands. But then, he lost his smile when he saw Sarah crying hard. "Sarah ssi..." Mrs. Byun walked to them and scooted down to the girl's level. "Not funny Oppa... Think you die..." She cried and looked like a kid who just lost her favorite towel. "Omo... Dear, he's fine see?" Mrs. Byun said and did a light hit on his son's shoulder. "I'm gonna scold you later. Why prank her?" She said while looking at him. Baekhyun on the other hand grew speechless seeing Sarah's state.

"Sarah ssi, stop crying. My son's really silly like that..."

"So scary... Not funny at all. He looks dead... A-ani, look like I kill him..." She cried while looking straight at Mrs. Byun. "Not mean it... Sorry Eomonim... S-sorry..." She said. "Aigoo... Why is she so adorable? I want to adopt her now." Mrs. Byun can't help but to chuckle and rubbed Sarah's damp back. "Hey..." Baekhyun pulled himself up now and went to her side. He knelt down to level her face and tried holding her hand but she's pulling it away. "N-not funny..." She repeated again in between sobs. "Look at what you did." Mrs. Byun pouted and hit his son's arm again. "Hey, I'm sorry, I was just joking..." Baekhyun's voice came out hesitant and fearful. "Sarah..." He called and wiped her tears. Finally, she looked back at him still with her puppy eyes that were glittering with tears. "I'm sorry... It was a joke..." He said. She nodded but didn't speak anymore. "Aigoo, Baekhyun you'll have to change again. You two, we can't make Kimchi with your conditions right now. Go change inside first. You wasted two cabbages you know that? Am I with kids right now? Go change inside, palli." Mrs. Byun stood up and pointed at the leaves of cabbages all around the place. Sarah then weakly stood up and bowed to Mrs. Byun before starting to walk back to the house. Baekhyun just trailed behind while trying to grab her hand but she was avoiding it. "Sarah..." He pleaded until they got inside. "Don't be mad anymore..." He said but still she didn't speak until they arrived inside his bedroom upstairs. "Sarah, will you ignore me?" He asked and watched her pull her shirt up and even unclasped her bra and was getting her extra clothes inside her bag - she brought a lot that's why her bag was big, she came prepared. "Seriously, just because of that?" Baekhyun blurted out of frustration while Sarah silently change her bottoms this time.

"Sarah Jacobs."

Still, Baekhyun failed to get any answer from her. "Fine! What do you want me to do for you to talk??" He shouted and walked towards her. Sarah just turned away while buttoning her short pants. "You don't talk?? Fine!” Baekhyun suddenly knelt down right on the floor which made Sarah flinch. "Talk! I'm sorry okay??" He spread his arms wide like a kid being punished. "W-what are you doing..." She murmured while trying to pull him up. "No! I won't get up unless you accept my apology now. I said it was a joke! Why can't you just forgive me??" He asked, so much frustration in his tone right now. "Because I was so scared... Can't lose you... So very not funny joke... so scary... I'm mad cause it's not funny..." She finally answered. Baekhyun's hands drop back to his side as he looked up at her. There was it again, the butterflies invading his tummy that he luckily managed to take away earlier when she said that 'Love does magic' and other things. Pulling himself up to stand, Baekhyun pulled his shirt up removing it straight away and without any more word, captured Sarah's lips. Although she tried to push him away, he only made the kiss deeper and pinned her down his bed. Feeling her knees getting much weaker, Sarah eventually ended up kissing back because of Baekhyun's persistence.   She felt him lifting her shirt up again which woke her up from her senses. She pushed him off harder this time until their lips parted. "Eomonim is down there... we make Kimchi later..." She said while panting. Baekhyun didn't complain but remained in their position while staring right into her eyes. "I'm sorry..." He said with his sincerely concerned tone. Sarah's heart throbbed rapidly when she heard his soft voice. "You really okay? Not hurt anywhere?" She then asked. Finally, Baekhyun's lips curved up before he nodded and spoke,

"But a y massage on my lower back later when you get home won't hurt, right?"

"But Oppa, you need to get back to the dor—“

"Ahh~ ottoke, I think it's starting to hurt now..."

"Okay. Fine Oppa... So naughty..."

"Like you aren't?"

Frustration is flying everywhere. I felt my head hurting because of it. BYUN BAEKHYUN JUST EFFINN---TTING BE A MAN! DON'T BE EFFIN SCARED TO ENTER A REL--I can't do this. I need to calm down. I need coffee.