Chapter 18

“…………..”

If someone drops a pin you will definitely hear it even the crickets stop that very moment. Joohyuns’ happy smile turned to awkward while Yonghwas face turned stone cold and these facial changes didn’t escape his uncle’s eyes

“hahahahahaha” he laughed nervously “What am I saying?! Come in kids! I might be drunk!”

The two bewildered kids were ushered inside as they greet the family one by one, they all have met Joohyun and were complimenting how she’s growing up beautifully and the amount of changes she had gone through over the past 2 years. The dinner itself was eventful since they were all seated at the long dining table which, if squished together, can seat 25 people. She blended well with his family simply because she grew accustomed to everyone there through the years.

“Joohyun would you like some dessert?” Yonghwas mom asked her as everyone moved to the spacious living room for tea.

“Oh no thank you eomma I’m full” she smiled then looked at his aunt “Minji immo thank you for the delicious food as always your one of the best cook I know”

The woman took her hand and smiled “I don’t know why my nephew is so stupid when it comes to girls, he dates different sorts of them yet here is one perfect girl for him”

Joohyun laughed at the older womans sentiments, it was not the first time she heard it.

Yonghwa who was seating nearby cleared his throat

“IMMO!!!!!”  

“Immo!!” his younger cousin mimicked him

“YAH!!!” throwing a pillow at the kid who was doing a merong at him

“O Joohyun do you have a boyfriend now?” his immo continued to interrogate her

“She doesn’t have one!” Yonghwa answered instead. They ignored him and continued their conversation while the others listen

“What do you look for in a guy?”

“She likes those boring ones!” he yelled

“Yonghwa can you shut up?” Jessica smacked his head

“Joohyun you might want to reconsider your friendship with this jerk” Jess looked at her

“I would love to do that!” Joohyun jokingly replied as they all laughed

“Joohyun I’ll set you up with the hospital directors son! He’ll be perfect for you!” his dad looked at her with glee

“APPA!!” Yonghwa stood up and grab Joohyuns hands

“Why are you all being like this?”

She was shocked at what Yonghwa was displaying though instead of being offended his family were smirking and chuckling

“Yonghwa can you not be like this?” Joohyun muttered under her breath enough for him to hear while trying to unclasp his hand on hers

“Can’t you see they’re making fun of you!” he looked at her sternly

“It’s because you re-act this way!” they talked while the others watch in fascination as Yonghwas facial expression changed from annoyance to calm

“I didn’t know Joohyun have that effect on Yonghwa?” his uncle looked at his dad

“She can do that and more!” and they all laughed

“Enough! You guys are making too much fun of us, we’ll leave if you don’t stop” he warned his relatives looking at each one of them sternly and was only answered with further laughter in awe

“Your family’s funny and crazy, crazy good I mean” Joohyun spoke as the silent garden engulfed them

He snorted in annoyance “Yeah I guess, funny to you but not to me”

She looked at him and smiled “Oh come on!” slightly hitting his shoulders “It was funny! Like where else can I find a family who pick on one person every year to bully? Just your family. In the future, even if you’re married and have kids, don’t forget to still invite me okay?”

“Of course! Where else can I also find a bestfriend who won’t stick up for me!” he sarcastically answered her

She faces her front again and listened to the muffled laughter from the people inside the house. They we’re sitting on the swings in his aunts’ backyard.

“How long have we been best friends?” he asked out of the blue

She tilted her head to the side “uhm 6 years? Almost 7?”

He smiled “wow We’ve been friends that long?”

“Yup that long” she nodded in response

“You know what, since you’ve mentioned about the future, I wondered how that would play for us. I never really told you this but all my past girlfriends were very jealous of you, even Shinhye who you got to be friends with”

Her browse furrowed "Shinhye?"

"Yup"

She laughed heartily at his confession “ME? Jealous of me? What is there to be jealous about me? I have a choding for a best friend who seems to need guidance every other day depending on what mood he’s in! It's like I'm babysitting a big baby!”

He laughed along “I know right? But it’s true, I don’t know why really, Shinhye admitted that there are times when she feels that she has to compete with you. She said I got her in my arms but you in a pedestal. She wanted both” he sighed quietly

She was silent absorbing what she just heard, thinking that after all these time, it was only on her end of the stick that has been having issues with Yonghwa turns out it’s the same for him.

“Yonghwaya, we are both getting old not old like wrinkly old but we’re growing up, there are so many things that are expected of us, so many things we have to do and so many things we want to do, it’s scary and exciting at the same time isn’t it?.”

He nods in understanding “I’m planning on serving my military duties right after college graduation. I’ve thought about this and have come to a decision a long time ago, I just don’t want to say anything to anybody coz they’ll just ask me more question, but I just want you to know and you are the only person who knows.”

She wriggled her feet and thought of what to say. S