Elf

“Miss, how are you feeling?”

I glanced up from the book I was reading and smiled at the nice ahjumma nurse who peeked through the door to the VIP hospital room that Jongin had placed me in.

“I’m fine, thank you.” I placed the book down and gave her a polite bow as I wriggled out of the covers and sat down on the edge of the bed, gesturing for her to sit next to me. In the past few days I spent in the hospital, she had been looking after me, bringing in a ray of sunshine to my otherwise isolated situation.

“So you’re not lying to me right?” The ahjumma, otherwise known as ‘Aunt Lee’ nudged me playfully on the arm as she sat down, continuing with the conversation we had yesterday before Jongin interrupted our conversation, demanding that he was to spend time alone with me, “That handsome young lad isn’t your husband?”

“Oh, no he’s not.” The bright smile on my face covered up the cold sweat that was breaking out on the back of my neck at the mention of him being my husband. Though Jongin didn’t say anything more of the matter after that threat he made to me on my first day here, I still couldn’t get that smirk out of my face.

The smirk which told me smugly that I was his, no matter what I think.

“Aigoo,” Aunt Lee swatted the air in disbelief, “Then he must at least be your boyfriend?”

“No, no. He’s not, really.” I felt my smile faltering, but I quickly forced my expression to remain positive and happy as I laughed with her. I don’t want such a nice ahjumma to bear my worries, I just want her to stay happy like that and be happy with me. “He’s just my employer.”

“Ah, is that so?” Aunt Lee placed one hand poshly before and began chuckling, “Well, trust me. He totally likes you.”

“A-Ahaha...” I couldn’t hide the tension in my voice, but Aunt Lee seemed not to notice as she giggled by herself over the supposedly ‘romantic’ and ‘youthful’ romance that was supposedly ‘blossoming.’

“Say, Aunt Lee,” I desperately wanted to change topics, “Talk some about yourself. During these past few days, we’ve only talked about me.”

“Hmm, what should I say?” Aunt Lee patted her short, curled bob of hair playfully as she pretended to act fancy, causing me to laugh, “Well, let’s start with the basics. My name is Lee Eunkyung, I am fifty five this year with a daughter in college and a son currently working right now.”

“Lee Eunkyung? What a lovely name,” My lips curled upwards in a warm smile.

“Haha, too lovely for such a bubbly character like me,” Aunt Lee burst into a boisterous yet cheerful laughter, “I grew up in a traditional family, my parents probably wanted me to become the ‘graceful gem’, but who knew I would turn out like this?”

“I think you have a great personality,” I placed one hand on her arm, “You would be a great mother.”

“Aiyoo~” Aunt Lee blushed as she gave me a big teddy-bear hug, “You’re such a dear. If it’s not for that handsome lad, I would have totally introduced you to my son.”

“A-Ah? Is that so?” Every time Aunt Lee mentioned Jongin, I would feel my heart turn cold, but I quickly swatted the feeling away, not wanting to spoil this precious few moments where I could actually feel human warmth and joy, “Well, I’m sure your son is a great person.”

“That’s where it troubles me,” Aunt Lee patted me on the arm heartily as she shook her head, “He’s such a great man, but he has no interest in love! I’m turning fifty six this year, and some of my friends already have grandchildren! Aigoo, you have no idea how jealous I am of them!”

“I’m sure it must be a great concern for you,” I chuckled softly, “But I’m sure he’ll find a woman to love soon enough.”

“Yes, if only that workaholic would just take some time off and look at all the women around him!” Aunt Lee scrunched her eyebrows together and made dramatic gestures in the air, “I’ve already set up so many blind dates for him but he rejected all of them. He’s turning 26 this year, and he’s already got a stable job. Now isn’t the time to burrow yourself in work but in love!”

“Is that so?” I couldn’t help but feel my heart warm towards this merry and cheerful lady as I began laughing, more out of affection than her actual words, “Well, he’s still considered young. I think he’ll easily get a girlfriend if he wants to.”

“Hey,” Aunt Lee suddenly turned serious as she leaned in to me, “You were being serious when you said that you and that handsome lad have no relationship, right?”

I blinked. “Yes, of course.”

“Then you wouldn’t mind if I set up a blind date with you and my son, right?” Aunt Lee looked at me with pleading eyes, “I would love it if you can become my daughter in law.”

I stared at her for a second before I let out an awkward laugh.

First of all, there was no way that Kim Jongin would allow such a thing to happen, and I was not about to test out his reaction if he knew. Second of all, despite all that had happened, I still had my heart set on Sehun being my future husband.

But as Aunt Lee looked up at me with puppy dog eyes, expectation written all over her adorable face, I couldn’t help but give in to her motherly aura, something I hadn’t felt in such a long time.

*Aish…I guess one blind date wouldn’t matter right?* I thought to myself as I straightened my back and gave her a friendly smile.

“Of course, I’ll help you out this once,” The minute I said these words, Aunt Lee squealed and patted my arms excitedly, “But, I have no guarantee that everything will work out, alright?”

“Of course, of course.” Aunt Lee didn’t seem to even consider the prospect of the blind date not working out as I could almost see the wheels turning in her head, “I’ll tell my son about the blind date. We’ll set a time straight after you’re discharged. Omo! This is so exciting.”

As I watched Aunt Lee gig