September 15, 2016

Mina nervously looked out of the window of the train.  She was halfway there.  Halfway to Jeollabuk-do; halfway to seeing YoungSaeng again; halfway to meeting her boyfriend’s parents.  She had been a nervous wreck since her return from Tokyo.  The photoshoot was for a Japanese clothing company and she didn't need to worry that anyone in Seoul would see it anytime soon.  To avoid any curious speculations, Mina had gone straight from the resort to the airport, while YoungSaeng returned to Tokyo again by bullet train.

While YoungSaeng was already at his parent’s home, Mina would be arriving in the afternoon after the family had visited the grave of their ancestors but not too late that she couldn't help in the kitchen.  She had enlisted TaeYoung's wife to help her shop for a Hanbok.  She couldn't drag Emily or YiHyun as they would ask too many questions.  Nor could she bother GaEul and JanDi for the same reason.

 - "Gomawoyo, Unnie, for coming with me today.  Gomawoyo to TaeYoung-ssi for letting you come."

 - "Does Mina-ssi have special plans for Chuseok?  That's why you need a Hanbok?"

 - "Deh, Unnie."

 -  "He must be someone special, judging by that smile on your face."  Mina looked up at her in surprise.  "Mina-ssi, when a yeoja smiles and blushes the way you are, there's a namja involved."

 - "Unnie, no one knows yet and Na asked you to come with me because ara TaeYoung-ssi and Unnie won't say anything."

 - "You're not children, wae are you hiding?"

 - "It's really new and Na will be meeting his family for Chuseok.  I think I'll be unconsciously fasting the week leading up to Chuseok."

 - "If your namja chingu wants to introduce you to his Eommoni, that's good news."

 - "Then why do I feel like I’m landing my first account or first modeling gig all over again!"  Mina mumbled to herself.

- "Mina has a good family, education, and job.  You're the perfect candidate for any Eomonni’s adul."

 - "Jega also a foreigner!"

 - "That can't be helped, dear.  Let's pray all your virtues outweigh your foreign birth."

 - "Unnie!  Jeongmal!  Je have seen the dramas!"

 - "Relax, Mina-ssi just needs to be her charming, sweet self and it's his job to sell you to his Umma.  We'll shop for a nice gift to take."

Mina had purchased Japanese candles from the shop in the resort village.  In the end, she decided to give those to YoungSaeng's parents and make his Mother a rebozo.  She had purchased the silk material in white and embroidered the ends, herself, with small red roses.  She had worked on it every spare minute of the day, serving to keep her from missing him too badly.  Mina hoped it wasn't overkill, she had the candles and the rebozo for his Mother and the fruit box for the two of them.  It was the first time meeting his parents and a holiday on top of it.

YoungSaeng had arrived in Seoul, after having a successful fan meet in Tokyo after the end of his performances of Summer Snow.  He earnestly promised he was working on a Japanese language album and would be back to promote it.  After Chuseok, he would be touring again with his TAKE brothers in Mexico and South America.  He then would make a brief appearance on Running Man and then back to Japan to release his album 'Overjoyed'.  That would take him through October and close to his birthday.  A birthday he wanted to spend with his girlfriend.

He had discussed his schedule with his parents on the day of his arrival, minus the girlfriend part.

 - "Adul is so busy!"  YoungSaeng's Mother proudly hugged her boy.  All the neighbors had come out to greet him on his arrival.  "Won't you be home for your birthday?"

 - "Mianhaeyo, Umma, Na will be with chingu.  Umma knows Kim KyuJong & Kim HyungJun are getting married on the first of the year."  The chingu he'd be with and his friends getting married had nothing to do with each other, but it was best not to reveal too much too soon.

 - "Aigoo!  And when is adul supposed to meet a nice yeoja, now?"

 - "Umma has a point, adul.  Ara you just started your career; how much longer will you have to wait to marry and give us grandchildren?"

YoungSaeng bit his lip.  "When Na have had time to court a yeoja and get to know her, then na will consider marriage."  As for the rest, he thought that might have to wait due to his career.

 - "And how is adul supposed to court her when he isn't allowed to go on marriage dates?"

 - "That's because Na already have a yeoja, Umma!"  He silently argued with his Mother.  Instead, he told her as respectfully as possible.  "Gwenchanayo Umma, naega ready to find someone on my own."

His Mother wanted to protest that he couldn't possibly find a girl on his own with his current situation, but his Father cut her off.  "Umma, leave the boy alone.  He did his duty to his country and is now making a name for himself.  Just don't take another five years."

 - "Deh Abeoji!"

 - "Ah, na have invited a chingu from Seoul to spend the holiday and the weekend with us.  Umma & Abeoji don't mind?"

 - "Not at all," his Father responded.  "Sometimes chingu are just as much a part of the family.  Umma set up a spare mattress in adul's room."

 YoungSaeng bit his lip again and wondered if he should mention his friend was a girl.  Umma did want him to get a girlfriend and a grandchild, perhaps they won't mind too much.  "Daeback!" He said.  "Naega excited for nae chingu to arrive."

YoungSaeng was now at the train station trying to remain inconspicuous.  He hoped he blended in with all the other hanbok wearing people around.  Gochang County was a rural county in North Jeolla province and steeped in tradition.   Everyone knew everyone and thanks to his parents, everyone knew him as well.  He threw on a dark wig and hoped no one recognized him.

Mina stepped off the train, trying not to step on her Hanbok, cursing herself for wanting to wear one instead of a conservative dress.     

As a business professional, her closet boasted a generous amount of conservative clothing. She was juggling with the handle of the carryall, the paper shopping bag containing the fruit box, and at least with the bright green Bojagi  wrapping, she didn't need to worry about crushing the gift in flimsy bags with tissue paper.  The candles were well wrapped and, in a box, along with the rebozo and then wrapped in the Bojagi.  Mina released the handle of the carryall to get a better grip on the other two bags when she saw a hand pick up the handle she had just left.  "Yah!"  She yelled at the culprit, in no mood to tolerate a thief.

Having alerted him what car she was on, YoungSaeng had been watching for her.  When he saw her get off, struggling with her bags, he immediately went up to her, grabbing the handle.  His disguise must have worked as she didn't recognize him.  "It's only been six weeks and nae jagiya has forgotten me already?"

 - "Omo!  Orabeoni!!"  Instead of giving him the kiss, he was waiting for, she burst into a fit of giggles.  "Yah!  What's that on Orabeoni's head!"  Mina gingerly pulled at the wig.

 - "Yah!  That's my disguise."

 - "Ah...what does it eat?"  She tried to contain her giggles, but it was of no use.

YoungSaeng took a deep breath and silently led her by the waist to a nearby post.  "Na have waited six weeks to kiss nae jagiya and she's too busy laughing."  He let go of the carryall handle and trapped her between his arms.  He hoped his disguise was enough.  He was more afraid of the neighbors than the media.  He stopped her grin with a few well-placed kisses.  They weren't in a place that he could indulge his need for her lips and to feel her arms around him or her hands in his hair.

Mina let herself be swayed by his kisses.  Not that she had the power to resist, it had been six weeks.  Those teasing kisses were like eating the chocolate chips when you're making chocolate chip cookies.  You needed at least a dozen or so before you are somewhat satisfied and can bear to dump the rest of the bag into the batter.  Then you still can't resist picking one or two out of the batter.  "Bo...go...shi...pat...so!"  She punctuated each syllable with a quick kiss.

 - "Nado bogoshipatso.  Haengbohkaeyo, nae jagiya is here.  Yippeun."  Her Hanbok was yellow and pink and enhanced her natural beauty.  He couldn't keep his eyes off her as they began to walk quietly toward the exit, each smiling to the other.

 - "Mina-yang didn't spend too much on gifts, did she?"  He asked when they arrived at the car.

 - "Anieyo, Orabeoni said his Umma likes candles.  Na brought her a set of the candles Na bought in Japan and a scarf Na decorated myself."

 - "And fruit too?"

 - "That's for Orabeoni's Abeoji."

 - "Mina-yang didn't bring Orabeoni anything?"

 - "Me!"  She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her flaming face against his chest.  That was the cheesiest thing that had ever come out of .

YoungSaeng grinned widely above her head.  He'd heard love made you do strange things, he could get used to his girlfriend's cute childish side.  "Ah..., what is Orabeoni supposed to do with such a valuable gift.  Na won't be able to let it out of my sight."

 - "Na don't want to be let out of your sight," she sighed and lifted her face and gave him a weak smile.  She had five days with him and would make the best of it.

 - "Gwenchana, jagi, we can do this.  It just makes me want you even more," he gave her forehead a soft kiss.  "Kaja, my parents are waiting for you."

 - "What if Oraeboni just takes the gifts and Na will stay at a hotel."

 - "Yah!  Na have to do this in November, deh?"

 - "Dehhhh....Orabeoni, ara how to be assertive and go for what na want.  Not try to charm the Umma of nae namja chingu."

 - "Just win her over the way nae jagi won me over."

 - "Deh!  I stalked you for almost a year."

He laughed as he closed her car door, after her.  Sliding into the driver’s side and buckling up, he kissed her hand.  "Na couldn't ignore you, neither will Umma.  Besides, she has to be nice to you, you're in charge of nae marketing."

Mina laughed at that.  "Arraso, but if she throws salt (wards off evil spirits) at me, it's Orabeoni's fault!"

 - "She won't!"  He hoped.

YoungSaeng drove them back to his parents’ home, slowly and not in a hurry.  he quietly held Mina's hand the entire ride.  He knew she was nervous.  YoungSaeng turned to her upon their arrival.  "Jagi, be yourself.  Forget what you see in the Drama's."  She raised her eyebrow at him.  "Deh...Jagi.  Nae want Mina-yang to be appreciated for herself and not someone you're pretending to be, arraso?"  He took her hand and kissed it.  "Arraso?"  He said a little louder when she didn't reply.

 - "Deh," she sighed.

YoungSaeng dragged his girlfriend by the hand up the steps to the house he grew up in.  "Abeoji!  Umma!  Nae waseo (I'm home/here)!"

His Father came from another room.  "YoungSaeng Umma!  Palli!"

 - "Deh!!  I was just cleaning my hands..."  She froze at the site of Mina in front of her.

Mina tried to remain calm, but this client would be her scariest yet.  If she passed the boyfriend's mother test, she'd walk right into Samsung or Hyundai corporation and demand they outsource their marketing to her.  "Abeoji, Umma, Mina inmida.  She oversees nae marketing and... more," he finished awkwardly.

 - "Annyeong hasseyo, je ireum eun Mina Rodriguez inmida.  Manaseh bongopsubnida (Pleased to meet you)."  She bowed low to show her respect.  YoungSaeng noticed his Mother eyeing Mina from head to toe.  Mina noticed as well but kept her composure.  "Kansamnida for letting me celebrate the holiday with you.  Je brought gifts to show my sincerest gratitude."  She handed his Mother the bojangi, "receive this gift, juseyo."  She did the same with the fruit basket to Mr. Heo.

 - "Kansamnida, Mina-ssi didn't need to come bearing gifts.  Mina-ssi is helping adul with his work."

 - "Kansamnida," Mrs. Heo added.  "Mina-ssi is a foreigner and yet she wears the hanbok?"

 - "And she speaks our language almost flawlessly," Mr. Heo saved the awkward situation.

 - "Mina-ssi is quadrilingual," YoungSaeng said.

 - "Chinchayo?"  Dad was impressed.  "And what of your parents?"

 - "Umma, Appa, and namdongsaeng are all trilingual."

 - "Mina-ssi was under no obligation to wear a traditional dress," His Mother said.

 - "Eommonim, this country is nae home, now.  Last year, was jae first Chuseok and only briefly visited with a co-worker and our chingu and je employer was in the hospital.  Je chose to come to this country, hajiman je was very homesick.  When YoungSaeng-ssi invited me to a traditional Chuseok celebration, je couldn't be more excited."

 - "Mina-ssi, where is home?"

 - "The United States. California."

 - "Mina-ssi came to work for adul's Entertainment agency?"  His Mother wanted to know more about the first woman her son had brought home.  Being the Mother to a son, made any young woman her natural enemy, regardless that she really did want Grandchildren.  But she wouldn't give her son to just anyone.

 - "Anieyo, Umma, she is the Marketing bu-sajang of a global corporation.  They are new in Korea."

Mina smiled politely to his parents, she didn't know whether to be annoyed or think it sweet that YoungSaeng was answering all the questions for her.

 - "Mina-ssi, is young to be a bu-sajang of a corporation, deh?"  Mr. Heo wondered if the woman was trying to impress them or their son.

 - "Abeoji, Mina's family has strong ties to the corporation."

Now Mina was going to get upset.  It wasn't just her connections that got her the position.  "Deh, Abeojim, what YoungSaeng-ssi says is true.  Hajiman, je finished my degree, with honors and with experience.  Je was hired as timjang (team leader), became daeri (assistant manager) and when my sunbae became bu-sajang, na was offered his position as gwajang (manager).  When ILC-Seoul was established, je had not only the experience, also the language, and was in a good position for advancement.  Our Sajang nominated me and the company elders approved."

 - "Mina-ssi is still so young?  Your parents approved of this move?"

Mina knew She needed to answer his Mother's question carefully.  "Je had only been home from school for a few years, my dongsaeng was still away, hajiman ILC Group is family and it would be many years for je to receive such an honored position in California.  Abeoji is the corporate byeonhosa (lawyer) for ILC and he was one of the elders who had to approve.  Umma was seulpeoyo (sad) and bulanhaeyo (nervous), hajiman Abeoji came to Assist me in my first assignment and establishing jae duties."  Mina was getting teary thinking of her parents and their support.

YoungSaeng thought she sounded a bit off.  It was almost a year she hadn't seen her parents and wondered if she was suddenly homesick.  "Wae doesn't Umma open your gift, deh?"

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi, Eommonim doesn't have too."

 - "Choah that idea.  Mianhaeyo, here we are interrogating Mina-ssi.  It's only because adul only told us he was bringing a chingu and not a yeoja-chingu.  We Just wanted to get to know Mina-ssi.  YoungSaeng Umma, open her gift."  Mr. Heo directed his attention to his wife.

Mrs. Heo did as her husband suggested and began to open the gift.  During the years of her son's work on the cruise ship, she braced herself for the day he brought home a foreign girl.  Even when he told them there was a woman he was pursuing, she hoped she wouldn't be a foreigner.  She smiled tentatively and opened the bojagi and then a plain brown, sturdy box.  Mina worried, his Mother would be put out by the box.  "Mianhaeyo, the box is rather plain, hajiman, na didn't want the gift to be damaged."

 - "Gwenchanayo," Mrs. Oh, said politely.  She had been puzzled at the plain box, but it wasn't Mina's custom to make the extra effort of the gift wrapping.  Opening the box, she brought out a tightly wrapped bundle in beautiful white silk.  "Candles,"  

she said, unwrapping the white silk.  "Oh, it's a scarf!"  Mrs. Oh began to admire the detail of the design and also the embroidery of the roses.  "The candles are different, very lovely.  Did adul tell Mina, na liked candles?"

 - "Deh Eommonim, je confess YoungSaeng-ssi did mention it in passing.  The candles are from Umma's country, Japan, and the scarf is fashioned after a rebozo as they are called in Mexico, where Abeoji is from."

Mrs. Oh lifted her head in surprise.  She thought she recognized the Japanese but never would have guessed she was half Mexican as well.  Mr. Oh didn't want Mina to feel awkward as his wife was practically gawking at her.  "Mina-ssi's parent's must have an interesting story of how they met."

 - "Deh, they do," Mina smiled.  "Je parentage may seem odd, but not unheard of back home.  Je know two other families in the same city that are Japanese/Mexican."

Mrs. Heo went back to admiring the gifts, it was safer.  She couldn't decide which she enjoyed more.  The candle was decorated so beautifully, it was a piece of art and she couldn't dare light it.  The scarf, she held in her hands, admiring the needlework.  The woman was a Vice President of a company, surely her salary could afford such a lovely scarf, but she didn't want to be in a position to reciprocate the gift later.  "Mina-ssi, Mianhaeyo, the gifts are lovely, hajiman, na cannot accept them both.  It's too much."

 - "Anieyo gwenchanayo, Eommonim chinchayo.  The candle je purchased for myself while in Japan, hajiman had remained unopened and the rebozo is a piece of Korean silk that je threaded and embroidered."

 - "This had to have taken days, if not weeks to complete?"

 - "Gwenchanayo, je have plenty of time after work and on weekends."

Mrs. Heo looked at her son.  If Mina had plenty of time to consider the gift that meant her 'quiet' son invited her weeks ago and only just told his parents on his arrival.  "Kansamnida, Mina-ssi.  Your gifts are very considerate.  Is embroidery a hobby of yours?"

 - "Anieyo!"  Mina laughed.  "Trips to my Halmoni each summer; some things are hard to forget."

 - "Umma, Mina-ssi has many accomplishments."

 - "Deh," his Mother nodded.

His Father couldn't help seeing the smile on his son's face.  YoungSaeng was always the quiet, introvert type.  He wondered if it was Mina who pursued him first.  "Umma, moke ga (let's eat), na want to take Mina-ssi into town to see the festivities."

Her son usually had to be dragged to see or participate in the traditional activities.  "Na thought adul would help me with the songpyeon."

 - "Eommoni, Je can help," Mina spoke up.  "Mollahyo how to make the filling, hajiman na can prepare the rice dough.  Je helped prepare it last year."

 - "Arraso, come with me.  Je will teach Mina-ssi to prepare the filling."

 - "Deh?!"  Mina didn't know whether to be frightened or not.  She gave a sneaking glance to YoungSaeng who blinked in response.  He had told her to be herself, but what if that wasn't good enough.  She didn't know why she could be confident on the business floor, yet so unconfident in her personal life.  Obediently, she followed Mrs. Heo.

 - "Na believe Umma's worst fear has come true today," Mr. Heo, told his son.

 - "Mworago?"  YoungSaeng's eyes had unconsciously drifted to Mina's retreating back.

Mr. Heo took a good look at his son.  There was an openness to his face that had rarely been seen.  His son always preferred to think to himself instead of confiding in anyone.

 - "Adul, wae is Mina-ssi in charge of your marketing?"

 - "She's chingu as are Hyung & Hyun studios that are doing all my promotional photography.  KyuJong says he'll be my personal physician."

 - "Wae didn't adul tell us your chingu was yeoja.  Adul will sleep in the main room and can give Mina-ssi your room."

YoungSaeng chuckled.  "Deh abeoji."

 - "Yah!"  His dad made like he would take a swing at him but YoungSaeng ducked his head laughing.  "Aish, this kid.  Is YoungSaeng going to tell Abeoji what he's scheming or what?"

 - "After Abeoji and Umma get to know her."

In the kitchen, Mina studiously followed everything YoungSaeng's Mother was teaching her, deadly afraid to make any mistakes.  She'd rather face both ILC-Seoul & Corporate board of directors before getting yelled at by YoungSaeng's Mother.  "Mianhaeyo Eommonim, je didn't understand, would Eommonim mind repeating it slower?"  Occasionally the woman spoke too fast for Mina's comprehension.  Her fluency in the Korean language was very good but not with the dialects.

Mrs. Heo could almost see Mina shaking from nerves.  The idea of having some fun with the girl crossed her mind, but her son would get very upset.  Better to get to know who this girl was.  "Mina-ssi?"

Mina had been so focused on Mrs. Heo's movements; she jumped at the sound of her name.  "Yeh?"

Mrs. Heo concealed her smile.  Having a potential daughter-in-law fear her was not such a bad thing.  "How long has Mina-ssi known adul?"

 - "Je first met YoungSaeng-ssi almost eighteen months ago, hajiman he has really only known me for about eleven months.  Je think we have been good chingu since December.  YoungSaeng-ssi is chingu with my sajangnim"

 - "A Yeoja and Namja cannot truly maintain just a friendship."  Mrs. Heo saw the soft smile of a woman thinking of the man she greatly admires.

Mina blushed a bit but spoke up candidly.  "Eommonim...the chingu of my parents only had adul.  They were forced to be nice to me and me them.  They were my playmates, bullies, and protectors, even in college.  Because of them, it was difficult to trust another yeoja.  They used me just to get close to my oppa-deul.  YoungSaeng-ssi and me...all Our chingu are all married or engaged, we only had each other for company these last nine months.  Because of growing up with namja, je think it was easy to fall into a comfortable friendship with him.  Bogoshipo when he's away."  She laughed, looking up from her work of crushing the mung beans.

 - "Nado," Mrs. Heo replied and checked Mina's Work with begrudging approval.  The girl was handy in the kitchen at least.  "Were Mina-ssi's parents not hoping for a match between their chingu family and you?"

 - "Deh...hajiman, there was never anything more than sarang between siblings and je sarang each of their anae.  The namja always asked my help when purchasing gifts.  Though the namja had a great influence on my upbringing, Umma did everything to balance it out.  Je was taken to ballet classes, taught how to cook, and needlework."  Mina thought it best not to bring up modeling or the fact that she could hit hard enough to leave a good size bruise.  Somehow, she thought that might be strikes against her.

 - "Let's leave these in containers and go enjoy the festivities.  We'll steam them on our return."

YoungSaeng drove them all to the fortress, where different activities were going on.  Mina sat in the back with Mrs. Heo, while Mr. Heo sat in front with YoungSaeng.  It was awkwardly silent until YoungSaeng the radio.

Since the ride to the fortress was quiet, Mina's mind had wandered back to the minutes before they all got in the car.  YoungSaeng and she had waited outside for his parents by the car.  Grabbing her by the waist, he kissed her fast and hard.  Mina was left a bit dizzy by this sudden attack.  "Yah!  Orabeoni!  Your parents are going to see!"

He gave her a mischievous grin.  "It's been six weeks and naega still not able to kiss nae jagi."

 She rolled her eyes at him.  "Na?"  She pointed at herself.  "Na jagi has sandy blond and short hair, but still long enough to run my fingers through when his luscious lips touch mine."  She got close enough to kiss him, then pulled away at the last second.  "Dangshin have this strange black straight her out of the 70's or something."

 - "Yah!  Dangshin?!"  Mina stuck her tongue out at him and took a step back as he took a step forward.  "Mina-yang is going to get that tongue bit off and na will enjoy every second of it."  Mina screamed and began to run away, as much good as it did to try running in the traditional shoes.  Their chase was cut short by the appearance of his parents.

Mrs. Heo couldn't help studying the girl next to her.  Mina stared out the window as if interested in the scenery, yet a smile played on her face making Mrs. Heo think it wasn't the passing scenery she was smiling at.  She and her husband were not fooled into thinking they were just friends.  There really was no such thing as friendship between a man and a woman.  The girl seemed nice enough, helpful, respectful, talented, and obviously intelligent and hardworking.  Did she seem too good to be true?  Was that it?  Her son was now an idol and needed a wife that could support him in his work.  This girl was already doing that.  Mrs. Heo laughed at herself.  Was she jealous?  "Aigoo!"

Mina was awakened from her daydreaming by the sound of Mrs. Heo's voice.  "Joesonghamnida, je was distracted by the view."  YoungSaeng heard his girlfriend's voice and couldn't help looking in the rearview mirror.  She was tall enough, that he could get a good glimpse of her.  "Did Eommonim say something?"

 - "Anieyo!  Na must have yawned; the back of the car makes me sleepy.  Talk to me, we're not far now.  Has Mina-ssi been to this part of the country before?"

 - "Anieyo...Only the Seoul area and Paju."

 - "When did Mina-ssi go to Paju?"  YoungSaeng asked suddenly, wondering why no one mentioned it to him.

 - "Sometime last year with Maknae, Emily, YiHyun, Ilana, and Jihoo Uissa's chingu, Gaeul and JanDi."

 - "Oh, na was still in the military."  He wondered if Maknae had mentioned it to him and he ignored them as usual.

 - "Mina-ssi, what did you see in Paju?"

 - "We went to surprise a chingu of theirs that's stationed there."  Mina could see the look of disappointment on YoungSaeng's face.  "You didn't want to go, serves you right," she thought to herself.

 - "At least a namja was there to keep an eye out for Mina-ssi and the rest of the yeoja."

 - "Deh," Mina smiled.  She didn't think it was appropriate to bring up the carload of bodyguards.  YoungSaeng gave her a questioning look and she answered back with her own smirk:  "If you wanted to know what happened, you should have gone."  "Deh, HyungJun Oppa was a conscripted policeman just like YoungSaeng-ssi.  We all felt secure with him by our side."

 - "Adul, isn't your chingu, the idol, stationed in Paju?"

 - "Deh Umma, that's who they went to visit."

 - "And how is he doing with everything that has happened to him?"

 - "He's just waiting for the yeoja to be charged for her crimes and he will have full custody of his adul."  YoungSaeng saw the look of disapproval on her face.  "Umma, his situation can happen to anyone.  His agency handled it all wrong from the very beginning."

Mina noticed the worried look on Mrs. Heo's face.  If it could happen to one idol, it could happen to her son.  "Gwenchanayo Eommonim.  YoungSaeng-ssi is neither that trusting nor that naive.  HyunJoong-ssi has been sheltered by his agency all these years.  he's not that experienced in the world.  Things like this happen in the industry and out.  At least YoungSaeng-ssi is a namja with a good head on his shoulders and no longer a teenager."

 - "Deh, Mina-ssi, that is of some comfort.  Adul doesn't open up to anyone, not even his parents.  How does Mina-ssi tolerate him?"

 - "With a lot of alcohol," Mina said to herself.  To Mrs. Heo she said:  "Mollayo, YoungSaeng-ssi does come out of his shell occasionally.  Perhaps he does it more often than we give him credit for."

 - "Yah!  Are you two done talking about me as if na wasn't here?!"

The two women in his life looked at each other and laughed.  His Father chuckled.  "Adul, wait until your anae disappears with her chingu all day and next time you meet them they all either begin to laugh at the site of you or you’re given the cold shoulder for something you haven't a clue that you did."

 - "Daeback!"  YoungSaeng said sarcastically while looking in the rearview mirror at his smiling girlfriend.

Arriving at the Moyang Fortress, Mina was immediately hauled off by Mrs. Heo to watch traditional dancers, while YoungSaeng was dragged by his Father to see the Korean wrestling.  "Umma seems to be getting along with Mina-ssi, deh?"

 - "Deh," YoungSaeng smiled, much more relaxed.

 - "Will she be visiting regularly, with you?"

 - "Hokshina...we'll see how this weekend goes."  He and his dad got lost in the wrestling match again, with the rest of the spectators.  

 - "Where did you two meet?"

 - "Briefly at the wedding of a chingu."  His Father did not need to know the entire story about whose wedding it was.  "Mina ran into me a few months later, while na was singing in Seoul.  Na didn't even remember her, so she didn't say anything hajiman she came back often to hear the police choir.  It would be months before I knew her name and even longer before na knew we had met at the wedding."

Mina and YoungSaeng's Mother watched the colorful graceful traditional dancers with delight.  "What type of things does Mina-ssi help adul with?"  Mrs. Heo asked.

 - "Ah...the first task je had was to take him shopping for the concept of his album cover.  It's my job to put his face out there, sell his image.  His agency was bent on sending him to Japan immediately after his debut, je didn't have much to do, except plan his launch party.  Hajiman Je have several endorsers lined up for when he returns to Seoul in November."

 - "Ah, that's exciting.  And... you two have developed a friendship outside of work?"

 - "We were chingu before we started working together and became even better chingu after.  YoungSaeng-ssi is easy to talk to and fun to be around."

 - "Chinchayo?"  Her tight-lipped son was easy to talk to and fun to be around?     

 - "Deh," Mina smiled at Mrs. Heo.  "Wau!!  Yippeun!"  Mina clapped excitedly for the fan dancers in front of her.

Mrs. Heo smiled back.  The girl was genuinely enjoying herself.  "Na used to be one of the fan dancers.  That's how Na won the admiration of YoungSaeng Appa."

Mina smiled, delighted with the mental picture of Mrs. Heo catching her husband's eye.  "In that case, Eommonim will have to teach me."

 - "We'll see how well Mina shapes her rice cakes later.  That will tell what type of husband she'll get."

 - "Eommonim will see...je will make the most yippeun rice cakes!"  Mina shouldn't be so confident in front of YoungSaeng's Mother, but she was just being herself like YoungSaeng told her to be.  It wasn't as if she was acting impolitely.  She could tell Mrs. Heo was teasing her and she answered her back the same way.

Mrs. Heo had to laugh at this girl's eagerness to please.  One could tell it was natural and not forced.  "Kaja, na want to see some of the other demonstrations."

 - "Yeh Eommonim."  Mina felt herself losing her nervousness around her potential Mother-in-law.  YoungSaeng was right.

Mina's feet ached from all the walking around in the traditional shoes, her dress was heavy and warm, despite the comfortable temperature.  She was glad once the sun began to set.  She hadn't seen YoungSaeng and his Father since they arrived, but Mrs. Heo treated her kindly and for that she was thankful.  "Has Mina-ssi been enjoying herself?"  Mr. Heo asked when they finally came together for the performance of the circle dance.

 - "Yeh Abeojim!!  Je have taken so many pictures, it will take me some time to go through them all.  Je can't wait to show my parents."

 - "Umma has kept Mina-ssi all to herself today," YoungSaeng complained.

 - "Mina-ssi wasn’t complaining," she smiled at the young woman next to her and received a genuine smile back.  "It gave Abeoji and adul time to bond and discuss things not suitable for an agassi's ears.  Na got to enjoy all nae favorite exhibits without hearing the namja complain.  Mina-ssi, kansamnida, for keeping me company."

 - "Anieyo!  Choayo!"

YoungSaeng smiled at seeing his Mother and Mina getting along.  "Na will show Mina-ssi the temple tomorrow," he said.

 - "Na will pack us all a picnic to take tomorrow," his Mother said.

 - "Je will help!  Je chingu's housekeeper taught me how to make Japgwapyon (Nut and Rice Cakes)."

 - "Arraseo!"

 - "Umma, Mina-ssi cooks well."

 - "Mina-ssi, our adul likes to eat.  He's nice and trim now, hajiman bogoshipo his plump cheeks."  Mrs. Heo gave her sons face a gentle squeeze.

 - "Eo-mma!!"  YoungSaeng complained and Mina hid her laughter behind her hand.

The Songpyeon didn't take long to make at all and since Mina had made them before, it didn't take her long to get the hang of it again.  Mrs. Heo praised her for her work.

 - "Mina-ssi's Songpyeon are simple, yet yippeun.  She will have a good nampyon." 

 - "Greomyo," YoungSaeng said.  Mina rolled her eyes at her overconfident boyfriend.

 - "YoungSaeng Appa, we should introduce Mina-ssi to some of the neighbor’s adul.  I'm sure she'd catch the eye of one of them."

 - "Deh!  That's not a bad idea," Mr. Heo played along.

 - "Anieyo!"  YoungSaeng said a little loudly.

 - "Is Mina-ssi seeing someone?"

 - "Ahh...well...eh...," Mina stuttered.

 - "It's just that..."  YoungSaeng said.

 - "Is there something wrong, adul?"

 - "A-anieyo..."  This earned him an 'are you serious?' look from his girlfriend.

 - "Gwenchanayo," Mrs. Heo continued her teasing.  "Ara at least two families who wouldn't mind a foreign daughter-in-law."

 - "Deh!"  Mr. Heo jumped in.  "Mina-ssi is kind, intelligent, Yippeun, good employment.  Oh, what does Mina-ssi's parents do again?"

 - "Appa is byeonhosanim (attorney), Umma is seonsaengnim for a University, teaching Japanese and English."

 - "Adul!"  Mr. Heo whacked his son on the back.  "When will you bring us a yeoja like Mina-ssi."

 - "Abeoji!"  YoungSaeng saw Mina's smile fade as she stared at the bright harvest moon.  He wanted his parents to get to know her for herself before he mentioned that they were dating.  Should he have been upfront with them?  "Mina-ssi should make a wish."

 - "Arraseo," she gave him a half-hearted smiled.  Mina had been enjoying herself, thinking that they actually might accept her, but now she wasn't so sure.  Wishes were fun, but it wasn't like there were actual fairies waiting to grant those wishes.  Instead, she closed her eyes and said a silent prayer.  "Lord, may it be your will that YoungSaeng's parents accept me as I am.  I can't change that I'm a foreigner.  Please help them like me for who I am, not where I'm from.  I haven't asked you if he's the one, but he believes in you, just like I do.  I like him...a lot.  He's everything I could hope for in a boyfriend and potential husband.  If no other man has struck these feelings within me, then he must be the one, right?  Thank you for him and for bringing me here.  I get so busy, sometimes I forget to call Haha (Mom in Japanese) and Papi.  Forgive me.  I ask this in Jesus name, Amen."

 - "Mina-ssi must have a long wish," Mrs. Heo teased.

 - "Anieyo, Eommoni.  Je didn't know what to wish for exactly, so je thanked Yesu for bringing me here and to forgive me for sometimes neglecting to call Umma and Appa.  In fact, if Eommoni doesn't mind, I'd like to turn in and give them a call.  They should both be at work now.  Eommoni, je will be up early to help with the picnic lunch."

 - "Deh, jalja."

 - "Annyeonghi jumuseyo (good night – fm)," she bowed and went into the house to get ready for bed and call her parents.

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi, make sure she has everything she needs, Appa and I will be retiring as well."

 - "YoungSaeng Umma, I'll bank the fire and then we can go in for our rest."

 - "Deh."

 - "Annyeonghi jumuseyo, Umma, Abeoji," YoungSaeng ran off to find his girlfriend who looked on the verge of tears and he didn't know what to do about it.

When their son was out of earshot, Mr. Heo turned to his wife.  "YoungSaeng Umma, what do you think of your future daughter-in-law?"

Mrs. Heo sighed; "mollah.  Her background is impressive and she's kind and respectful.  Na would just like to know her more.  It will be difficult on their relationship with adul's schedule and Na don't want to get attached to her if things don't work out.  Did adul say anything?"

 - "Anieyo, just that everything depended on how this weekend went."

 - "Na can see the admiration she has for adul, when she speaks of him."

 - "And adul of her, you wouldn't think adul's eyes would shine so brightly.  Gwenchana, he'll tell us before they leave.  Adul is always the cautious contemplative type.  He wants to see if we accept her first, before declaring them a couple."

 - "Deh...the poor agassi must think, na would never approve her for adul."

 - "Better an agassi, he's brought home for us to meet than a stranger."

 - "Maja."

 - "Yeobo, let's go to bed."

Mina wasn't in the mood for her entire evening routine.  She haphazardly washed her face, knowing that she didn't get all her makeup off and that was all.  No toner, no moisturizer, neither of her parents answered their cell and that depressed her more.  She wasn't usually given to mood swings or anxiety, but she'd never had to win over a boyfriend's parents before.  "Aish!!"  She told off her reflection in the bathroom mirror and stepped out of the bathroom abruptly into YoungSaeng's arms.  "Oh!  Orabeoni!"  She whispered loudly and smacked his shoulder to let her go.

 - "Yah!  Gwenchana?"  He was wearing his Otter's smile that always got to her.  "Jagi stormed out of the bathroom so fast, she didn't give me a chance to react."

 - "Orabeoni, your parents are going to see us," she said, irritably.

 - "Is nae usually confident jagi worried?"  His parent’s room was downstairs, thankfully.  He and Mina could talk comfortably without them overhearing.

 - "Deh!  It's all Orabeoni's fault."

 - "Yah...nae chingu say I'm grumpy.  They haven't seen nae Mina-yang in action."

 - "Oh?  What's that supposed to mean?  Naega the easiest person to get along with."

YoungSaeng wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close to him.  "Ara...you're na jagiya and you get blustery like JungMin and you're fun to pick on like Maknae and na can talk to you like I do Sunbae and you're sweet and caring like KyuJong.  Thankfully you only have a little of JungMin."

 - "Tch," she was relaxing now.  She laid her head against his shoulder and inhaled his scent.  Cologne, smoke, food, and deliciously comforting. The comforting sensation didn't last long as she suddenly wondered what her own scent was like.  "J-jaljayo Orabeoni," she extricated herself from his arms.

 - "Yah..." he didn't want to let her go.  "Pigonhaeyo?  Does jagi want to go for a walk in the moonlight?"

 - "Orabeoni is being cheesy," she narrowed her eyes at him.

 - "Jagi likes every minute of it."

 - "Shiro," she said as straight faced as possible.

 - "Jagi wants to smile anyway."

 - "Anieyo."

 - "How about now?"  He brought her in for a very slow kiss.  Needless to say, she was smiling by the time the kiss ended.  "Kaja for a walk," he took her hand, not her wrist, and he ran with her downstairs.  Mina's Jeogori was still unfastened as she had removed it to wash her face and the goreum (ribbon) trailed behind her.  YoungSaeng hadn't even given her time to get herself together.  The worst part was that his parents were just coming through the door.  Quickly releasing his hand, Mina stepped behind him to make the otgoreum (bow).  "Umma, Abeoji, we're going for a walk.  Mina-ssi is waiting for a call from her parents."

 - "Adul, take care of Mina-ssi, don't stay out too late."

  - "Deh Abeoji!  Annyeonghi jumuseyo!"  YoungSaeng and Mina bowed to his parents and he continued to drag her outside.            

 - "Yeobo, should we just let them know that we figured them out?"  Mrs. Heo asked.

 - "Ani, let adul be responsible and tell us himself.  Naega sure that's why she's here.  Kaja seek our own rest and let the kids enjoy the moonlight."

That's exactly what YoungSaeng had in mind.  Waiting until they were out of eyesight from the house, he stopped walking.  He turned and trapped her in his arms, hugging her tenderly.  "Na just want to hold Mina-yang like this and not let go."  Mina rested in his embrace.  "Pigonhaeyo?"  He felt her shake her head no.  "Orabeoni saranghae?"  He felt her smile slowly and nod her head 'yes'.  "Jagiya?  Cat got your tongue?"

Grinning, she looked up at him.  "Anieyo, Orabeoni does."

 - "Not yet..."  what followed was a slow, yet all-consuming kiss, that eventually did capture Mina's tongue.

September 16, 2016

Despite not getting to sleep until one A.M., Mina had washed up, tied her hair back in a ponytail again and was in the kitchen all before eight A.M.  Since she had to pass her sleeping boyfriend on the way to the kitchen, she nudged him with her foot several times until he finally woke up.

YoungSaeng burrowed back under the quilt, only to have it rudely removed from his body.  "Umma!!!  I'm on vacation!"  He groaned, still with eyes closed.

Mina had one eye on the kitchen door and the other on her boyfriend.  She crouched down and covered his mouth with one hand and began tickling him with the other.  When he realized who was rudely waking him up, he easily overpowered her and laid her next to him.  "Jagiya is fortunate I am not JungMin or you would have gotten a swift kick by now."

Mina struggled to free herself, afraid the kitchen door would open at any second.  "Let go!"  She said in an urgent whisper.  "Not before na decide what to do with you."

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi!  Eommoni is going to come out any minute!"

 - "Stop struggling or na will tickle you," he was already inching his hand under her black t-shirt.

 - "Yah!"  She tried budging his hand, but he'd already begun to bare flesh under her shirt.  "Orabeoni stop!"

 - "Bpobpohae."

 - "Orabeoni!"

 - "Does Mina want to get in trouble with Umma?"  When she shook her head no, he stood and pulled her up, leading her to an inconspicuous spot where he could enjoy his good morning kiss.  Any protests usually left Mina's mind, the second his lips touched hers.

 - "Annyeong hashiminika Eommonim!"  Mina walked into the kitchen after making sure her hair was in place.  Thankfully, she hadn't done her make up yet, so there was no need to worry about smudged eye makeup or lipstick.

 - "Annyeong!"  The girl practically glowed.  She wondered if her son was still sleeping.  "Did Mina-ssi see adul when she came downstairs?"

 - "Yeh, Eommonim.  Je woke him up and told him to finish sleeping in his room until breakfast was ready."

 - "That was kind of Mina, but he's terribly difficult to wake when he's not ready too."

 - "Arrayo!"  Mina laughed, having had enough experience, now.  She hoped his Mother didn't get the wrong idea.  "It took me several minutes of calling him to get him to respond."

It usually took more than just calling her son's name, to get him to wake up, but Mrs. Heo said no more on the subject.  "Did Mina have a nice walk last night?"

 - "Deh..." she said with a soft smile on her face.  "Should je start preparing food for the picnic?"

 - "Deh, all the ingredients Mina needs should be in that cabinet by the refrigerator."

 - "Arraseo."

 - "What time do you two return?"

 - "Close to one A.M... the moonlight was so enchanting.  Neither back home nor in Seoul have je seen anything so yippeun."  Of course, the company was beautiful as well.  They walked holding hands, laughed, stopped to steal kisses, and then continued walking.  "We mainly sat on the park bench, talking and staring at the moon...and kissing."  Mina didn't vocalize the kissing part.

 - "Adul seems to enjoy talking more than he used to."

 - "Especially after Soju," Mina thought.  "YoungSaeng-ssi talks about his career, how he feels now.  In Japan, he's well known and is approached regularly by fans.  He wonders about how things will go here, at home.  He's not like his chingu Kim HyunJoong that's known for blurting out the first thing that pops into his head.  Rather, he'll stay quiet for a while, thinking and when it's all settled in his brain, then he'll talk about it."

 They had been sitting on the bench, each contemplating the moon; he had his arm around her and she had her head on his shoulder.  "Jagiya, as soon as na return, we'll visit your parents, jeongmal."

 - "At least they know you already," she shifted closer to wrap her arm across his torso.

 - "We'll go somewhere around my birthday, deh?"

 - "Na will take Orabeoni to Disneyland for his birthday.  We'll send HyungJun Oppa pictures.  He'll be so jealous."  Mina laughed.

 - "If we break our news to him by text, we'll hear him yelling all the way to the U.S."

 - "Majayo!"  Mina laughed.  "What of your parents, Orabeoni?  Do you think they'll accept me?"

 - "Na brought a yeoja home out of the blue without discussing it with them first.  Regardless if na said Mina works with me, they're suspicious.  Abeoji knows something is up and just waiting for me to tell him something.  Nae Mina-yang is fortunate."

 - "Waeyo?"

 - "Jagi is the first yeoja na have ever brought home."

 Mina sat up and mock scowled, "does that mean YoungSaeng-ssi has been a rogue?  A yeoja in every port?"

 - "Yah, does Orabeoni look like I would?"

 - "Hokshina?"

 - "Ah...if that's how Mina-ssi thinks of me, then nae might as well be one."  Grabbing the back of her head, he proceeded with a deep and roguish kiss, leaving her breathless and limp against him.  YoungSaeng smiled, catching his breath.  Kissing, he thought, had never been so pleasurable and dangerous.  It was a good thing he could restrain his roguish thoughts, but at the same time, she really was intoxicating.  One kiss was never enough.  He slowly caressed her cheek, kissed the top of her head, slowly making his way to her forehead and brushing his lips against her closed eyes.  He traced her smile with his finger and then replaced the finger with his lips.  With her hair still in a ponytail, his fingers danced gently on the bare skin of her neck as he kissed her very softly.  The pressure of the dancing fingers intensified as he slowly deepened the kiss.

Mina hadn't recovered from his 'strike and kill' kiss when he began his erupting volcano kiss, the gentle bubbles eventually gave way to overflowing lava burning her flesh.  Not able to think of anything but consuming his lips as he was consuming hers, she didn't even feel the otgoreum being pulled and the jeogori being spread open.  She finally came to as she felt his damp kisses on her neck.  Soon his tongue was drawing small circles in the same spot, driving her crazy.  When he blew on the damp spot, she shivered from head to toe.  She couldn't stop the moan at the back of if she tried.  Loosening his jeogori she returned his caresses until they were both satisfied.  No one was really at the park in the middle of the night, but those that were, were too preoccupied with their own activities to worry about another couple's doings.  "Omo!"  Mina said, once she could find her voice.  "Orabeoni is very bad for my self-preservation."  If he really was a rogue, Mina didn't think she could withstand temptation.  She thought that was why you should marry young before it's too hard not to give in to lustful thoughts when you're older.

 YoungSaeng chuckled.  "Deh, jagi.  Na feel the same way when those lips touch mine," he let his finger play with her fleshy bottom lip.  "Jagi," he sat up to look her in the eyes.  "Na promise, we might get singed a little, but na won't let us get consumed by the fire.  Na want na Mina-yang to be the last yeoja na bring home to meet nae parents.  Na will do everything to protect that."

Because Mina thought she would either cry because of his sweet sincerity or kiss him senseless (testing the heat of that fire), she decided to laugh, dissolving that nervous energy between them.  "Waeyo?  Is Orabeoni planning on becoming a monk?"  Laughing, she tore away from his arms and ran off to the playground.

Mrs. Heo realized Mina had suddenly stopped talking.  Looking over at the young woman, she saw her diligently working with a smile on her face.  The soup was almost ready for breakfast, spinach salad was already made, and she had potatoes already diced and in the refrigerator.  The most time-consuming task was getting the gimbap ready.  Mina had begun to hum quietly, Mrs. Heo smiled.  Yes, she could do worse, than this girl, for a daughter-in-law.  Deciding to start making the potato salad, she brought out the vegetables for chopping.  She set up right next to the girl and figured she could have a little fun.  "Mina-ssi, the neighbor’s dtal say adul's smile is what makes the yeoja fall for him.  Maja?"

Mina was still lost in her own contemplation of that smile, more so those lips.  "Mmm," she blurted before realizing.  "Oh?!  Jwosongmnida!"

Mrs. Heo hid her own smile.  "It seems Mina-ssi is not immune to adul's smile?"

 - "Anieyo!  Jeaga only interested in making him money with that smile."

 - "Ah and Mina-ssi can do that for him?"

 - "Yeh!  YoungSaeng-ssi has a mystery about him that drive his fans crazy.  It's like he's teasing them with a secret only he knows.  He's perfected it since his first show, na think."

Mrs. Heo was having a good time reading Mina's face.  There was nothing but admiration shown on her face when the girl spoke of her son.  She was quite certain it wasn't the same admiration of a co-worker.  It could be the admiration of a fan; Mrs. Heo resolved to keep digging until one of them finally confessed.  "Aigoo, eottoke, almost thirty and still single.  Who will take him with that brooding manner of his at times and now he'll always be gone on tour.  Marrying an idol is difficult, deh?"

 - "Mollahyo Eommonim."  Mina thought of GaEul and her belief in soul mates. “My chingu believes there’s a person for everyone.  Jega starting to believe in soulmates.  An idol needs support and sarang and someone to hold them tight after a hard day of schedules.”

 - “Does Mina-ssi have a soulmate?”  Mrs. Heo saw Mina’s face redden at the question.

 - “Mollahyo, there is someone, hajiman it’s all very new.  Je will see where Yesu takes us.  Ara je never felt this way before, je never want it to end.  Eommoni!  The rice balls are done,” Mina changed the subject.   “Should we boil them now or after breakfast?”

 - “Let’s clean up and boil them after breakfast.”

 - “Arraseyo.”

The temple was a curious relic to Mina.  She imagined it was much prettier than a Catholic convent or rectory.  Its beauty came from the simplicity of its earth tones.   The mountainous area was the perfect retreat to get close to God.  Even in this pagan place, Mina praised God for his creation.

They wandered about the temple grounds for a while before deciding on finding a place to picnic.  "Eomonni, choayo your potato salad.  Je would love the recipe."

 - "Deh, na will give it to you at a price." 

 - "Arraseyo," Mina would pay.  It was very good, and she could make a batch for the girls at work.

 - "Na will tell Mina on Sunday what nae price is."

 - "Umma!  Jeongmalyo?"

 - "Gwenchanayo, YoungSaeng-ssi.  Na don't mind."  Mina did wonder what the price would be.

YoungSaeng had taken a bite out of his favorite gimbap and then stole one of the rice balls Mina had made.  "Wau...daeback!  Umma did you try these?"

Mina gave her boyfriend a 'don't make such a fuss' look.  The last thing Mina needed was his Mother feeling like Mina was trying to outshine her.

 - "Nae confess I snuck one while we were packing up.  Mina-ssi is quite handy in the kitchen.  Mina must not know, adul is fond of snacking.  He'll have to find a yeoja who can make him healthy snacks.  He can't afford to gain weight again, now that he's started his career."

 - "Eric Hyeong would have something to say about that."

 - "Gwenchanayo Eommoni, Eric-ssi and the coordi's keep him in check.  One cheat day a week and that's it."

 - "Tch...na have an excuse today, it's Chuseok.  Na will go for a jog in the morning.  Mina-ssi can come with me."

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi, I'm not the one stuffing my face."

 - "Adul is on holiday," his Mother pinched his cheek.  "He can get back on his diet after her returns."

 - "Eo-mma!"  YoungSaeng was a little embarrassed at being treated like a kid in front of his girlfriend.  Mina was loving every minute of it.  Her own parents had no problems embarrassing her in front of him.  She didn't expect his parents to be any different.

 - "Let her be, adul.  Umma must share you with all your fans, now.  Hokshina it won't be long, and she'll have to share you with a daughter-in-law.”

YoungSaeng remained quiet, taking a dumpling to munch on.  He knew he really liked Mina and even loved her, but it was all too soon and just starting his career.  She too was still at the beginning of her career.  Though he could easily see himself going all the way with her, they needed time to get to that point.

 - "Does Mina-ssi often travel for work?"

 - "Anieyo, we're fortunate clients come to us.  Currently, most of our clients are in Seoul.  Many of the restaurants are coming to us wanting commercials.  We have a partnership with a photo studio.  They shot all of YoungSaeng-ssi’s promotional pictures."

 - "Deh, Umma, remember nae chingu Kim HyungJun from the ship?  It's his and his fiancé’s studio."

 - "They're doing very well for themselves; their work speaks for itself."

 - "Choah that adul and all his chingu are doing well."

Mina smiled at YoungSaeng, she was happy and proud too.  Not only for her boyfriend but their entire group.  "It seems Yesu is blessing our work.  As soon as our CEO has time, she will be working on hiring an interior design team for us.  Je have the expertise, hajiman je don't have the time."

 - "This is good news for Mina's company, deh?"  Mr. Heo said.

 - "Yeh!  Ara our architectural staff will need to hire at least another person and once there is a lull in Marketing, je want to travel to the other regions."

 - "Like North Jeolla province?"

 - "Yeh Abeojim!  Je would like to come back and explore the region, more.  Hokshina, je can help some of the farmers get more clients for their produce."

 - "Deh, some of the smaller farmers, I'm sure can use the help."  This sent YoungSaeng's Father into a mini history lesson of Gochang County’s agricultural background.  To her credit, Mina listened attentively, even asking questions at times.

YoungSaeng and his Mother weren't as patient.  "Yeobo is going to bore Mina-ssi and next time adul invites her to come, she'll say no."

 - "Anieyo Eommonie!"  Mina laughed.

 - "Deh Abeojim, don't chase her away," YoungSaeng teased his Father.  He was glad he'd served his military time and was back in his Father's good graces.  Now all he needed to do was get married and give them a grandchild.  Somehow going into the military was an easier task.  He looked at Mina with a smile.  Even if they were just starting out, he could really see himself having a future with Mina.  At the same time, he didn't want to rush things.

 - "Atch, if anyone is going to chase her away, it's adul with his boring face.  Take Mina-ssi to Bongduam rock.  She will enjoy the view from the top."

 - "Chinchayo, should we?"

 - "What about Abeojim and Eommonim?"

 - "Gwenchanayo, you kids go and have fun.  YoungSaeng Appa and I will stay here in the shade."

 - "Are Mina-ssi's shoes up for a walk up the rock?"

 - "Guerae!"  She wore a pair of white walking shoes, but if she tired, it would be a good day for a famous Korean piggyback ride.

 - "Arraseo," he helped her up.  "Nae want more of Mina's rice balls."

 - "YoungSaeng-ssi should save some for his parents!"  She smacked his hand, without thinking.

 - "Appa, these are terrible, deh?  Je will just take them and feed them to the birds."  YoungSaeng ran off with his hoard of rice balls.

 - "Yah!  They are not terrible!"  Mina ran off after him.

 - "They do get along well, don't they?"  Mr. Heo said.

 - "Deh..."

 - "Is Yeobo still lamenting that she's foreign?"

 - "What if in the end, adul doesn't pursue her.  She has a great affection for him, it's obvious.  Mollah if adul just sees her as chingu and not a yeoja."

 - "Oh, adul definitely sees her as a yeoja.  He gives her the same looks nae used to give you as I watched you dance."

 - "Mollah (whatever)," of course she enjoyed her husband's flattery.

 - "Deh, na think adul has found his match.  They don't seem to be affected by the long distances.  Something tells me they are in contact regularly."

 - "Hokshina she went to visit him in Japan.  She is part Japanese."

 - "Maja, let them enjoy this time together.  Yeobo can boast her future daughter-in-law is Bu-Sajang of a global corporation."

Mrs. Heo giggled a little.  Her son was a Hallyu star and his intended a bu-sajang.  And for all that entailed, neither seemed to be affected by it.  Her son was as serene as ever and the girl seemed very polite and kind on top of being pretty and intelligent.  Perhaps the match would work out after all.

YoungSaeng and Mina climbed the steps all the way to the top of the rock.  It was a good thing they were both in shape.  It wasn't a severely strenuous climb but still left them both a little winded.  It could also be that they were trying to race each other to the top.  In the end, Mina cunningly took his hand, forcing him to wait for her.

 - "Wau!!!"  Mina said in awe, as they reached the crest of the rock.  "Choayo!!!  Nomu yippeun!"

 - "Nomu choah?"

 - "Deh!"

 - "Na didn't picture Mina as one to trek over a rock."

 - "Orabeoni, na was raised with all namja, remember?  If not for ballet, jazz, and modeling lessons, na would be a complete tomboy."

 - "Eventually Mina-yang would have become a sweet agassi."

 - "Mollahyo..."

YoungSaeng wrapped her in a back hug and leaned his chin on her shoulder.  "Nae Mina-yang is daeback," he kissed her cheek.  "Gomawo for coming to spend the holiday with nae."

 - "Orabeoni is lucky, Chi TaeYoung’s little boy is gwiyowiyo.  Nae almost had to go with them."

 - "Mina nareul saranghae (Mina loves me)."

 - "Mmm," she said casually.

 - "Mworago?!"  His girlfriend was grinning like a Cheshire cat.  "Yah!"

 - "Waeyo?!"  Mina laughed.

 - "Chincha?  This rude agassi?  Talking to her namja chingu like that."  He squeezed his laughing girlfriend harder.  "Gwenchana, never change.  Keep Orabeoni wanting you more and more."

Mina turned to face him.  For some reason, the observation point wasn't crowded, and they had ample room to act like lovers...to an extent.  "Orabeoni already has me."

 - "Ah, maja, maja," he tipped her chin up slightly.   She was only a few inches shorter than him.   "Then these are mine as well," he slowly pressed his lips to hers.  He wanted to indulge himself in her lips and intoxicate himself in her scent, but they were in a public place, so he ended his kiss and gave her another quick peck on the forehead.  Turning her to back to the view again, he wrapped her once more in his arms.  "Jagi," he said, tickling her ear with his breath.  "Na really want to get us singed right now.  Eottoke, we're in a public place."

Mina laughed.  When it came to this man, it didn't take much for her to feel the heat.  "Gwenchana, this is nice.  If Orabeoni holds me like this until na leave Sunday, haengbohkaeyo."

 - "We'll have to escape Abeoji and Umma tomorrow and na will hold nae Mina-yang like this all day.  It's a very functional position to be in."

 - "Deh?"  She asked curiously.

 - "Mmm.  Na can kiss here...and here...and here."  He kissed each cheek briefly, as well as the back of her ear.

 - "Ah, deh, nae can see that."

 - "There are other very useful things that can be accomplished from this position," he said naughtily.  "Hajiman, nae promised to behave."

Mina didn't know if it was his close proximity, his silky voice next to her ear or his naughty suggestions, but she felt herself being singed and he wasn't even kissing her.  "Orabeoni!"  She turned to give a light punch to her smirking boyfriend's stomach.  "Behave!"

He caught her hand and kissed it.  "Eottokke?"  He never, intentionally, used his so-called 'Otter's smile', but recently on stage and off he found that using it had its advantages.

 - "Yah!  Don't give me that smile.  Otter's aren't supposed to have inappropriate thoughts."

 - "Wae?  Has Mina-yang ever talked to an Otter?"  He could see she was torn between laughing and wanting to punch him again.  While she was still deciding, he gave her a quick peck on the lips.

 - "Yah!"

He kissed her again.

 - "Orabeon..."  And again.  She tried to scold him once more and he cut her off once more until she couldn't help but melt into his arms.  "Pabo," she said, leaning her head against his chest.

 - "Choah nae Mina-yang more and more each day.  Saranghae.  Had na only known Mina-yang would turn my world upside down, hokshina I would have looked for her sooner."

 - "Gwenchana, Orabeoni is forgiven," she giggled.  "Mollah, perhaps we needed to be where we were in our lives before we could come together.  Orabeoni would need someone to talk to while on tour, so he didn't feel lonely."

 - "Deh," he grinned into her hair, taking in the fruity scent it emitted.  "Na needed to know if nae Mina-yang’s lips tasted like watermelon."  He remembered his wayward thoughts from the evening on the river cruise.

 - "Mwo?!"  Mina looked up at him and laughed.

 - "Anieyo (never mind), Kaja...let's walk around more, before going back to nae Umma and Abeoji."  YoungSaeng's face had a tint of red and it wasn't due to the sun on his fair skin.

 - "Orabeoni is blushing," she placed her hands on his cheeks.

 - "Kaja," removing her hands from his face; he took hold of one and led her back down the rock.

They wandered aimlessly and quietly, not lost in thought, but lost in each other’s company.  "Orabeoni?  Where are we going?"  The sweet and normal act of holding hands and spending time with her boyfriend made Mina oblivious to everything else.  She realized neither had said a word in at least twenty minutes and she had no clue where they were going.

 - "Oh?  Mianhae, jagi pigonhaeyo?"

 - "Jeogumyo."  It wasn't that she couldn't withstand the walking, but the shoes she wore weren't for all day trekking in the woods.  She had been on her feet at the festival the night before and this morning, making the rice balls and helping Mrs. Heo in the kitchen.

 - "There's a shady spot over that way, kaja."  They walked about the length of a football field and then sat on the grass.

 - "Ahhh, it feels so good to sit!"

 - "Is Jagi out of shape?"  YoungSaeng teased.

 - "Anieyo!"  Mina pinched his thigh.

 - "Yah!"

 - "Orabeoni asked for it.  Yesterday's shoes weren't the most comfortable for walking around the festival and na stood in the kitchen for a few hours with Eommoni and all the walking we've done today.  Twenty minutes of leg exercises every other day is not the same as standing on your feet in inappropriate shoes for hours."

 - "Kaja, na will massage your legs.  When we practice, we might rehearse the same dance move over and over again until we get it right."

 - "Deh...it's just that nae have a hard time standing still.  Nae legs will ache even more than walking.  Nae could never be a living mannequin and stand in the same spot without moving for hours on end."

 - "Na don't think that would be a bad idea...just sitting there and staring at nae jagiya?"  He ignored her glaring.  "Na will massage your legs."

 - "Andwaeyo!"  Mina scooted further away from him.

 - "Wae?!"

 - "Orabeoni should keep his hands to himself.  We're in public!"

 - "Ah, does that mean if we were in private..."

 - "Yah!"  She shoved him and stood to storm off.

Laughing, he watched her rush off.  It was true, he loved her more each day and couldn't imagine what took him so long to realize his true feelings for her.  Even when they shared those passionate kisses that first night; his feelings were mixed and couldn't be trusted.  He liked her, it was true, and he was a guy and a beautiful woman confessed to him and kissed him so sweetly.  His brain and his heart were giving him so many messages, but he knew unless he kissed her back, he would never know which of them were telling him the truth.  His love for her had surpassed that of a man who just loved a beautiful woman that could kiss extremely well.  She truly completed him in every way and he thought perhaps in some ways he completed her too.  Standing up, he chased after her.

Los Angeles, CA

The Chuseok dinner had been a success and Jihoo was extremely proud of his wife for orchestrating it all.  She still didn't get a solid night's sleep, had gone back to work and made sure all his and Harabeoji's needs were met.  JungMin pestered her on occasion about the classical music CD and she was also working on that in the evenings after they all ate dinner and before the usual night time routines.  Despite her already packed schedule, she had taken charge of the evening, got the help she needed to set up, cooks for the food, servers, someone in charge of games, music, entertainment, and someone to clean it all up afterward.  She even participated in the circle dance with Suzy and many of the other Church ladies.

Harabeoji had a great evening playing the traditional games with the men and teaching the young ones the traditions.  He even decided not to leave for Seoul just yet.  The foundation clinics were in great hands between Kim KyuJong and Ryu HyungSu.  JanDi was still taking time off.  He missed her and her family but wanted to spend more time with his own family.  He thought to extend his stay at least another month.  The truth was he couldn’t bear to leave his cute little granddaughter.

While Harabeoji and Jihoo stayed to help clean up, Suzy and JungMin left with Brendon; Nana and Ilana took advantage of the Mother’s room to change HaEun out of her Hanbok and feed nurse her.  When the Yoon family returned to their home, it was past midnight.  “Get some rest Harabeoji,” Jihoo said.

 - “Harabeoji annyeonghi jumuseyo,” Ilana said.

 - “Deh, the evening was a success, thanks to Jihoo Anae.”

 - “Harabeoji helped!”

 - “Arraseo, Anae and Harabeoji will stand here and argue all night over whom should have the credit.”

Harabeoji laughed.  “Deh, Jaljayo!  Jalja gongju (princess).”  He said his goodnight to the sleeping princess in her carrier.

 - “Sarang, Na will place HaEun in her crib,” Jihoo said.

 - “Deh, na will take a quick shower while you do that.”  She’d worked hard today and the hanboks weren’t the coolest of clothing.  Ilana was tired and sticky and sweaty.  The day’s temperature was in the high eighties and inside the Church building was not much cooler while they were all working to set up.  She longed for bed, but not after a quick shower.

 - “Sarang, wait for me and na will help with the button of your slip or na can join anae in the shower.”

 - "Sarang had ulterior motives the entire time."

Jihoo didn't say a word, just grinned at his beautiful wife.  Laying HaEun in her crib, he said his nightly prayer for her.   "May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.  May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace."

 - "Amen," Ilana agreed with her husband.  "Now if she'll only sleep until five.  She has to be as tired as we are."

 - "Considering she was passed around like a sweet potato straight from the coals."  Being the newest baby in the Church, the ladies and kids doted on her most of the day and evening.

 - "That sounds like something Harabeoji would say," Ilana giggled.

 - "Deh?  Hokshina that's where I've heard it," Jihoo smiled.  His Grandfather was rubbing off on him.

 - "Pigonhaeyo, shower kaja, so we can go to sleep."

 - "Sarang," Jihoo wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked to their room.  "Tomorrow is Saturday, we can sleep in."

 - "Deh, hajiman dtal doesn't know the difference between a Monday and a Saturday."

 - "Maja...hajima when dtal goes back to sleep, so can we."  They were now back in their room and were received with a 'hurry and come to bed' meow from Joy.

 - "Deh, Joy-ah, Umma and Appa are going to take a quick shower."

Ilana took off her outer garments and Jihoo helped her with her shift.  He had already removed his shirt and was bare-chested before her.  Unable to help herself she ran an appreciative hand over his chest, down to his abs and ended with a playful kiss on his chest.  Grinning, she turned in the direction of the bathroom.  "Yah, does Sarang think she can get away with that?"  His wife was still in her shift and he grabbed a hold of it to keep her from going any further.  "Sarang can't get into the shower with her shift."

 - "Gwenchana...na will remove it when na get into the bathroom..."

Jihoo was not going to let his wife escape; he met her laughing eyes with his own.  "Na will help, Sarang."  He inched her shift up slowly while kissing her smiling lips just as slowly.

More than thirty minutes later, Ilana's head was on her husband's chest and Joy was on top of her hip, all of them finally in bed.  "Naega proud of Anae.  Everyone had a wonderful evening, thanks to anae and all the people you got to help."

 - "Nae couldn't have done it by myself."

He played with the tendrils of hair that escaped the confines of her braid, making her more tired than she already was.  As he did this, she reached her hand to caress his face and neck.  "Saranghae, does anae know this?"  He took her hand in his free one and kissed it.  "Eottoke?  Can na be this blessed?  Sometimes na worry that na will wake and it will all be gone."

 - "Sarang...hajima.  As long as we have each other and HaEun we'll always be blessed.  Remember, Sarang has bestowed upon me all his worldly goods.  Naega rich beyond anything na could have ever imagined.  Na will always be a good steward of all your gifts, Sarang."  Whenever a day went really really well, or when it didn't go so well, one or the other would remember part of their wedding vows and recite it.

 - "Ara, nae sarang.  Haengbohkaeyo, Sarang is on nae side and haengbohkaeyo to be the receiver of her gifts of helping and encouraging."

 - "Anieyo, Sarang is so much better than me."

 - "It's not who is better at it Sarang.  It's about using our gifts for each other and others and not hiding them or being lazy."

Ilana inhaled his scent and squeezed his waist.  "Saranghae.  Nomu nomu saranghae.  I love Yoon Jihoo so much, sometimes I think I will explode."

 - "Sarang doesn't need to explode.  Na feel and see your sarang every day in little things you do for me.  That is your way, choah.  Never change."  He knew there were times she despaired at not doing enough for him or thinking she didn't demonstrate her love for him enough.

 - "Deh Sarang," she smiled in his chest.  Even when she was trying to encourage him, he still encouraged her.  "Na can't love you enough, hajiman as long as Sarang knows I do.  Na promise to never stop loving you."

 - "Ara...even when Sarang is busy with work and HaEun, she is still thinking of me."

Ilana yawned.  "Jaljayo Sarang.  We can stay in bed longer today."  She made herself comfortable against his chest, instead of on top of it.

Jihoo kissed her forehead and continued his soft caresses on her hair and neck.  He felt he would not be able to sleep if he didn't make love to her.  It wasn't that it had been weeks and it wasn't that he couldn't wait until morning.  There were just times that he needed her and there was something about her sleepy face that made him want to kiss her and love her until they both passed out into an exhausted sleep and then follow it up in the morning with their slow and almost methodical loving making.  It wasn't boring whatsoever to know exactly what made your partner happy and deliver on that knowledge.  "Sarang forgot something," he whispered in her ear.

 - "Mmm?"  She was more asleep than awake.

He gave her a slow teasing kiss.  Ilana smiled, eyes still closed.  "The part where na worship your body with mine."  He claimed her lips again boldly, wordlessly telling her what he needed.  She could say no, not that she would.  Once he began, she couldn't stop her body from reacting.  He knew all those lovely trigger points on her body and he loved to tease them until they were happily bubbling over.  Their lovemaking had taken on a bit more spontaneity since HaEun was born.  They came together whenever they had a break from their busy schedules or just because he desired to be his wife right then and there.  Like tonight.

Ilana smiled as she began to rouse herself under his kissing assault.  "Sarang isn't tired?"  She mumbled as he assaulted her neck with his kisses.

 - "Jeogumyo, hajiman nae want to make love to nae anae more than sleep, shiro?"  With the way he began to flick his tongue down her body, he knew she wouldn't say no.

 - "Sarang cheats," she pouted, before bringing her hands to roam his chest and lower back.   Joy was knocked off her perch and left in a huff.  Ilana returned her husband's demanding kiss with her own.  She found that she didn't mind this sort of 'hungry' lovemaking.  It wasn't greedy because her husband still made sure that she received pleasure.  It was different from their usual, but it made her happy to be able to give him this pleasure and he most definitely made it pleasurable for her too.

They came together quickly and passionately and fall asleep still tangled in each other’s arms, neither wanting to let go.  To her credit, HaEun would sleep until five A.M.

The Heo family and Mina attended Mass and returned to their home for a plentiful lunch.  His parents embraced her kindly, telling her to return for a visit any time.  The young couple didn't get too much time alone.  Mrs. Heo had monopolized Mina in the kitchen all day Saturday, teaching her several recipes.  The result of which, Mina would be taking what felt like another suitcase, filled with food, home with her.  They escaped in the evening, for late night snacks, drinks, and a moonlit walk.  They didn't mind at all.  After all, that was their 'thing'.  That was how they got to know each other.  Those countless hours of long conversations, unwittingly pouring out their hearts to one another over junk food and soju.  The long walks hand in hand, with a kiss here and there, was the icing on the cake.

YoungSaeng drove her to the train station and the ride was too short.  Before they knew it, he was pulling into the station.  "We have a little time until your train leaves, Jagi."

Mina’s mind wasn’t there; she was worried about what his parents would say.  She hadn’t disclosed her conversation with his Mother, in the kitchen earlier.

YoungSaeng’s Mother handed her an envelope.  “Na have written the potato salad recipe for Mina.  Na did mention Mina could have it at a price, deh?”

  - “Deh Eommoni,” Mina smiled nervously.

 - “Na would like Mina-ssi to take care of adul.  Make sure he meets a nice yeoja and not one like his chingu met.

 - “Gw-gwenchana, that won’t happen.  J-je did say YoungSaeng-ssi wasn’t that naïve."

 - “Naega asking too much?”

 - “Mollan anjji Eommonim!”

 - “If Mina sticks to him closely, she’ll be able to deter any unsuitable yeoja.  Can Mina do this for an Umma?”

 - “Y-yeh, Eommonim.”  What else could she say?

 - “If Mina’s namja chingu gives her a hard time, adul can take care of you as well.”

 - "Jagi, where did you go?”  She was staring out the window and not paying attention.

 - “Orabeoni, mianhae," she forced her smile, so she didn't break down and cry.

 - "Yah...," YoungSaeng kissed her hand.  "The time will pass quickly.  Whatever happens after jagi leaves, won't change our plans for November, deh?"

 - "Deh," It would be another six weeks before he would be in front of her again.

 - "Don't worry."  He'd made a decision the night at the park.

 - "Na will tell Abeoji and Umma after jagi leaves."

 - "Mworago?  Waeyo?  Gwenchana, we can tell them together."

 - "Anieyo, it's nae responsibility and they're nae parents.  If things don't go our way, na don't want jagi to get hurt.  At the same time, na don't nae parents to think I'm disrespecting them by just announcing our relationship with you present."

 - "Does Orabeoni think something might go wrong?"  She asked worriedly.  If it did what will happen to them.

 - "Anieyo...just in case.  Na don't want anyone hurt."  Even in the moonlight, he could read her worried expression. 

 - "Nothing will go wrong and if it does, nothing changes between us, yagsog hae.(promise)."  Her expression didn't really change.  She was a take charge type of person; to sit back and do nothing was going to kill her.  "Yah!"  He caressed her cheek.  "Na will tell them at dinner and jagi will have a goodnight's sleep.  Then na will approach your parents in November and then we'll tell everyone else, deh?"

 - "Mollah..."

 - "Trust me...let me handle this."

 - "Arraso...Na trust you.  Gomawo.  Ara you care about me and our relationship and have our best interest at heart."

He confirmed his love and affection for her with a sweet kiss.

 - "Umma wore the scarf jagi made her to Mass this morning.  That’s a good sign.  She appreciated your gifts."

 - "Deh, it was nice to see that she liked it."

 - "Ara jagi made it just for her and ara she appreciates the work you put into it."

 - "That makes me happy."

 - "Mina should enjoy her train ride and not worry, deh?"

 - "Dehhh..."

 - "What does Mina want me to send her from South America," he'd sent her a few little things from Japan, just to let her know he was thinking of her.  He would give her something to claim her as his own, as soon as both parents had been told.  He had already been thinking of what that could be.  Something unique and special just like her.

 - "Orabeoni wrapped in a bow?"

YoungSaeng's eyes squinted in laughter.  "That could be arranged at a later date, perhaps in six weeks.  The question is what will Mina do with me, once she receives me?"

 - "Na will arrange you prettily on the bed with color coordinating pillows and if you're a good stuffed namja chingu, na will kiss your cheek," she demonstrated the kiss.  "...and let you sleep on nae pillow."

This girl's teasing would be the death of him.  "na need lots of care," he inched his face closer to hers, "Mina-yang will have to follow nae instructions very carefully," he lips and kissed her lightly.

 - "Is that so?"  Mina's heart could be heard in her ears.  This man's kisses whether shallow or deep, always had that effect on her.

 - "Deh," he kissed her longer and deeper.

 - "Are the care instructions very difficult?"  She said, a little breathless.

 - "Mmm, na require lots of loving or na will be very sad and leave."  He had been tracing her lips with his finger and when they were slightly parted he kissed her firmly, taking each lip with his and then massaged her tongue with his.  He repeated this process a few times.  He wasn't in the most comfortable position for a kissing session as their seats were separated by the auto's components.  At least he could caress her face, neck, and arm and she had her hand balled up in his shirt.  He moved his lips to her face and neck.  It was a good thing the sedan's windows were tinted.  Even though he'd like nothing better than to get her to the nearest hotel and devour her entire body with kisses, she had a train to catch.  He slowed the kisses, tickling her jawline and then giving her little kisses at the corner of her lip and continuing until he slowly kissed her full lips and then stopped.  Mina was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, he thought.  Her eyes were shining with desire, her lips red and damp, a light pink flush spread over her cheeks and neck.  If she were wearing a 'V' neck t-shirt, he'd be able to see the pink on her chest as well.

YoungSaeng sat back against his seat and took a deep breath.  "At least we are in a car in a crowded station.  Na can't take advantage of you the way na would very much like to."

Mina too, thanked God for the train station; his kisses made her lose all reason.  "Na think I'll settle for a cheap souvenir from the airport.  Orabeoni is very flammable, what happens if he catches fire in the middle of the night?"  They looked at each other with amusement in their eyes, a smile spread across their lips and soon they both began to laugh.  That's how they exited the car toward the station.  YoungSaeng let her board the train only after a tight hug and a kiss on the cheek.  Their lips had already said goodbye in the car.

Please make my hard work worthwhile by commenting away, especially by those who have been absent from the comment box, you know who you are.  Hahaha.  Newbies!  Please don’t be shy.  Everyone else, please vote and subscribe if my story pleases you.

Enjoy the moonlight, my dears…