020

Sooyeon couldn’t help but to feel nervous at all. She has no idea why she’s feeling scared of meeting his family even if it’s already her second time meeting them.

Donghae kept on telling her that it’s going to be okay and even though it gave her some sort of relief, it felt like it wasn’t enough to give her mind some peace. She was thinking about all the what if’s and what could happen when they get there and those thoughts alone were enough to make her feel uneasy.

Uneasiness was vivid on the expression on her face and Donghae kept on noticing it as she busily looks out of the window. She was nervously playing with her own fingers as she continuously lets out a sigh from time to time.

He chuckled to himself and reached for her hand. It was almost sweaty and literally cold. Shock became visible on her face when she looked at him with widened eyes and questioning look. He must’ve surprised and interrupted her thoughts when she felt his hand intertwining with hers.

“There’s nothing to worry about,” he muttered while he’s attentively driving.

Sooyeon let out another sigh and gave his hand a light squeeze.

“My family loves you. My mom and sister just couldn’t stop talking about you since the day you first went with me.”

“I know,” she replied softly. “I just can’t help but to feel nervous. They’re aware that I was the one who left you and kept you miserable for a long time. What if they’re mad at me for leaving their son back then?”

Donghae let out a laugh upon hearing Sooyeon’s matter. She was scared of that thought? Sooyeon really has no idea how much his family is pushing him to her. His father could almost make an arrangement with the Jung’s just to tie the both of them down.

“Sooyeon-ah, they love you, alright?” he assured with a smile as he glanced at her. “And even if they don’t like you for me, nothing will ever change. I am willing to fight for you. Hell, I would even move heaven and earth just for you. I waited for so long and I waited for you to come back. Now that you’re here with me, I just want you to know that I have no plans of letting you go.”

Even though he wasn’t directly looking into her eyes because he was trying to focus on the road, Sooyeon felt the genuineness and sincerity in his voice. His face was serious and so was his voice even if he was half-smiling. With what he just told her, she decided to let all her doubts and thoughts go and just go with it.

“Can we drop by the mall?” Sooyeon suddenly asked him, a couple of minutes after they fell silent.

She was thinking what Jiyeon is like and she remembered how much Donghae talks about his little nice. He would always tell him how much Jiyeon wants to meet her and that she already likes her Aunt Sooyeon even before she could even meet her personally. Until Sooyeon finally thought of something to give to the little girl that has been the most expectant to finally meet and see her.

In the end, she bought Jiyeon a huge Minnie Mouse stuffed toy she caught an eye at the department store. Sooyeon heard how much the little girl loves Minnie Mouse that she even calls her Uncle Donghae’s girlfriend, his Minnie Mouseu.

“That kid will sure love your present.” Donghae commented as he opened the door of the car for her.

Sooyeon sweetly smiled as she completely forgot that she’s nervous at all. She also thought that maybe she could give his mother and sister some presents and so she did.

Donghae felt relieved that Sooyeon finally felt comfortable somehow. She doesn’t look uneasy as to before. There’s really nothing to be worried about. His family are very welcoming and pretty excited to meet and see her again.

His mother was the one who really bugged him and never stopped bothering him to bring Sooyeon over after knowing they just got back together. After all, his mother has a great feeling that Sooyeon could be the really one.

“Ready?” Donghae asked her as the gates of the mansion began to open.

Sooyeon let out a sigh and turned to him with a confident smile. Her smiling face alone made him smile as well.

“That’s my girl,” he said before he leaned in and planted a kiss on the top of her head as he unbuckled her safety belt.

He was holding her hand while they were on their way inside of the house. She couldn’t deny to herself that she’s still feeling a bit nervous but with the way he was holding her hand, she felt comfortable and safe. She tried shrugging her thoughts away as she nearly succeeded.

“Donghae-samcheon!” a little voice suddenly erupted the moment they completely entered inside the mansion.

The both of them were greeted by a short-haired little girl with smiling eyes and rosy pink cheeks.

“How have you been, Jiyeon-ah?” Donghae asked the little girl as he let go of Sooyeon’s hand for a while to approach and hold his niece in front of them.

Sooyeon’s eyes glimmered upon seeing Donghae holding Jiyeon as if she was his daughter. Moreover, she couldn’t help herself but to think about him being a father to his own kid. She thought that he’ll surely be a great and caring father and the thought alone was enough to make her heart flutter.

Jiyeon’s eyes found Sooyeon and saw her standing there with admiration in her eyes.

“Uncle, is she your Minnie Mouseu?” the little girl asked innocently as she pointed her tiny index finger towards where Sooyeon is.

Donghae looked at the direction where Jiyeon was pointing and it led to the love of his life. He smiled and tucked Jiyeon’s stray hair behind her little ear before nodding with a boyish grin forming on his face.

“Isn’t she beautiful?” Donghae asked her niece.

Jiyeon agreed in an instant, nodding her head and excitedly ran towards Sooyeon, completely forgetting about her uncle whom she left behind.

“Hello pretty lady! My name is Jiyeon, Donghae-samcheon’s niece. What is your name?” Jiyeon asked Sooyeon with glittering eyes as she flashed a sheepish smile.

Donghae looked at Jiyeon who’s currently introducing herself shyly in a cute way. He saw the look on Sooyeon’s face full of admiration to the kid in front of her. She kneeled in front of Jiyeon to reach her eye level and started talking to her.

“Hi Jiyeon-ah!” Sooyeon greeted cheerfully. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Your samcheon always mentions you a lot to me. My name is Sooyeon,” she continued and offered her hand for a mini handshake.

“Are you my uncle’s Minnie Mouseu?” she asked one more time, sounding so cute.

Sooyeon glanced at Donghae who’s looking at the both them. She heard that Jiyeon keeps on looking for her uncle’s Minnie Mouse. At first, she couldn’t understand what that means but after he explained it to her, she finally got the meaning of it. It was Jiyeon’s own little way of saying girlfriend. Thanks to Jooyeon for teaching her those and for letting Jiyeon obsess over Minnie Mouse a lot.

Sooyeon looked back at Jiyeon and gently held her on her little shoulders. “Yes. I’m your uncle’s Minnie Mouseu.”

A big smile suddenly formed in Jiyeon’s lips as her eye-smile began to show. She spread her little arms wide and gave Sooyeon a warm tight hug.

“Oh? Sooyeon is already here!” Jooyeon suddenly entered the room and was quite surprised to finally see Sooyeon after a long time.

She immediately approached Sooyeon who is now carrying Jiyeon in her arms. No doubt, Jiyeon looks like she has no plans of letting Sooyeon go anytime soon.

“Ah, really. Look at my daughter clinging onto her aunt. You’re now her favourite aunt, Sooyeon-ah.” Jooyeon chuckled.

Sooyeon was about to say something when Mrs. Lee came into the scene with a very big smile on her face.

“Finally! My daughter-in-law is here!”

Sooyeon felt her cheeks hot. She couldn’t help but blush with what Donghae’s mother had just called her. And even until now that they’re having dinner, she still couldn’t forget about it.

She was sitting right beside Donghae and on her other side was Jiyeon, who just can’t get enough of her Auntie Sooyeon. The little girl felt like she had just found her new best friend. She couldn’t actually stop talking about her and keeps on telling everyone in their house that Sooyeon is her uncle’s Minnie Mouseu.

“Jiyeon seems to like you very much, Sooyeon-ah.” Mrs. Lee commented in the middle of dinner.

Sooyeon lightly chuckled and agreed. All of their attention where on Jiyeon while busily eating her food. The little girl began to love her Auntie Sooyeon even more when she finally gave her a big present. Donghae saw how Jiyeon’s eyes sparked as she opened the gift. It was her all-time favourite and it would be very impossible for her to dislike something Minnie Mouse.

“So you two, huh?” Dongwoo interrupted and changed the topic right away.

Jooyeon happily clapped her hands and cheered.

Donghae, on the other hand, flashed a proud smile when the topic was brought up while Sooyeon felt a bit shy yet happy to finally break it to his family. She realized that Donghae was right all along. His family really loves her and they are showing their great and whole support in their relationship. Which is why she couldn’t just deny the overflowing happiness she’s feeling inside of her chest.

Sooyeon is also sure that it would be just the same when it comes to her family side. Her mom has been pushing her to start dating again after two years of being busy with business stuff and her father, even though he doesn’t show it much, Sooyeon is very much certain that he agrees with her mother when talking about her love life.

“I knew it from the very first time you stepped into this humble home, Sooyeon-ah…” Mrs. Lee spoke while showing her smile nonstop. “Donghae never brought anyone with him when goes here and so, we were very surprised and intrigued when he showed up with you during that dinner.”

“And I swear, he never brought anyone even when you’re away!” Jooyeon chirped in while raising her hands, literally swearing.

Jaekyung laughed a bit on the side. “It’s really nice to finally see you two being together. I actually agree with mother. The first time I saw Donghae brought you here Sooyeon, I just knew you’re the one,” she commented as she gave them a warm smile.

“So when’s the wedding?” Mr. Lee suddenly questioned out of nowhere.

“What?!” Jooyeon exclaimed as her eyes instantly widened upon hearing such news. She looked at the two figures in front of her and both gave them a questioning look demanding to be answered right away.

Sooyeon’s eyes widened as well as Donghae’s mouth fell open. They have no idea what wedding his father was talking about. Nevertheless, all eyes were on him, all looking for an answer and for a confirmation.

“What?” Mr. Lee innocently and naturally asked while cutting his steak.

“They’re getting married, Dad? Is that why they’re here with us today?” Jooyeon fired question continuously.

Mr. Lee put down his fork and knife and let out a sigh before looking back at Donghae and Sooyeon.

“Aren’t you?” he asked Donghae.

Donghae’s brows furrowed and his eyes screamed confusion. He couldn’t quite understand his father about the wedding thing. It’s not that he doesn’t have any plans of marrying Sooyeon. In fact, it’s all he could ever think about every damn time. However, he doesn’t think it’s the right time yet and he doesn’t know if she’s ready to take their relationship to the next level. After all, the both of them just continued from where they left off.

“For goodness’ sake, Lee Donghae,” Mr. Lee’s voice boomed in the whole dining area. “You call yourself my son?!”

The situation confused Sooyeon a bit. Donghae told her that he’s okay now with his family, most especially to his father. Then what is happening right now in front of her eyes? She scanned the whole room and even Donghae’s family were quite surprised except for one – Dongwoo, who seems to be enjoying the scene.

“You don’t bring a girl here if you don’t intend to marry her, you punk!” Mr. Lee added.

Dongwoo and Jooyeon burst into laughter. Donghae was quite stunned with what his father was saying to him.

Who said he has no plans of marrying Sooyeon at all? After he had waited for such a long time? His father had got to be kidding him.

“Who told you that? I’m going to marry her, of course, abeoji!” Donghae fired back in his most serious way of talking to his father.

“Then when?” Mrs. Lee giddily asked.

“Your mother and I have been expecting you to have your own family by now, Donghae. Your brother’s already married and already having a kid. Your sister already has her own family. How about you?” Mr. Lee asked once more.

Donghae glanced at Sooyeon and reached for her hand under the table. He gave her a comforting smile as if telling her to be just fine there as she sits beside him while his father is firing them questions about tying the knot.

“It’s okay not to rush. But please, I’m kind of expecting to see what Donghae’s baby would look like. I hope the baby will look like you, Sooyeon-ah.” Jooyeon butted in and continued feeding Jiyeon with food.

Sooyeons shyly laughed and looked at Donghae. She was sure he’s the only one she’d love to spend the rest of her life with. Although, she’s still doubting about it, she wants Donghae to be her end game.

“I’ll marry her when she’s ready,” Donghae finally said that made her smile even more.

After all, it was more than enough for her to feel happiness overflowing inside her chest.