It felt cold in the dragon’s den. Not having Wheein’s warmth beside her, she felt more vulnerable. She flinched when the dragon gave her a pat on the back and told her to sit on the couch. Despite how nice the dragon was being, she couldn’t help but feel the underlying anger in the dragon’s mannerisms.

“Go ahead and sit and have some snacks.” The dragon ordered.

Hyejin obeyed without thought. Take a seat at the farthest end of the couch, she grabbed whatever she could from the little snack tray Yong had set up. 

“Here.” Yong handed Hyejin a bottle of water as well. Afterall, who knows how long they will be here and it’s important to stay hydrated.

Yong took a seat on the opposite end of the couch that Hyejin was on. She gave Hyejin a few more moments in order to collect her thoughts. No doubt she was scared. Who wouldn’t be if your parents said that they’ll talk to you after you’ve talked to your girlfriend’s mom first? Well, fear and bewilderment. It’s not everyday that this happens, but the Ahn’s have their reasoning.

They know Yong’s occupation. Or, true occupation. On paper, she’s just the owner of a boxing gym. But she does so much more than that. Her boxing gym is specifically geared towards helping people be physically healthy but also helping the troubled youth. Helping them channel their energies towards something less destructive and something more constructive. Helping them come to terms of whatever issues plague them and, if possible, solving said issues. So it’s no surprise that the Ahn’s would come to Yong for help in case their daughter got into another fight. 

After a  few more minutes, the dragon finally striked.

“Tell me, what happened?”

Hyejin took a big swig of water before answering. Silently hoping that Yong would see her side of things and not berate her for resorting to a physical altercation. She was tired of being talked down to for today.

“Guy tried to attack me and I responded.” Hyejin shrugged. She gave Yong the honest truth. Or, the gist of the honest truth.

The dragon eyed Hyejin, “So, you responded by completely obliterating him and not giving him the time to talk?”

Yong had already seen the social media videos of the fight that were circulating. Most of those videos only showed the young man walking towards someone before Hyejin pulled him back and started to beat his lights out. It wasn’t a good image. Surely there was more to the story. 

Hyejin contemplated. That assumption was entirely wrong. But, there was no reasoning with Dimir for some reason. Not everyone can be reasoned with even if they are the ones whining about reason.

Yong saw the contemplation and decided to explain her view of the matter. It should help Hyejin understand where exactly Yong is coming from. 

“Hyejin, I only know what the videos show and what your parents told me. And all they told me was that you got into another fight.”

Hyejin twitched. Of course there would be video evidence. And of course none of the videos capture the context as to what was going on. And of course said videos were spreading. 

“Well, where do you want me to start?”

The dragon hummed, “Start with who exactly you were fighting.”

A deep, tired sigh escaped Hyejin’s body, but she must do as the dragon asks.

“He’s name is Dimir. A weird guy to be honest. He has, like, this odd obsession with Wheein?? We had a few encounters before during our, uh, dates? I don’t know why, and every time I ask Wheein she just kinda avoids it? But yea, he’s Dimir.”

Taking Wheein’s advice, Hyejin decided to be as honest as she can be to the dragon. Grabbing another snack, Hyejin failed to notice the flash of anger on the dragon’s face.

This is the first time Yong is hearing about this Dimir. Why didn’t Wheein tell her about this guy? Especially if he has a weird obsession? The anger, however, was not directed at Wheein for not telling her. Oh no. The anger that Yong felt was directed towards Dimir. How dare he make her daughter feel uncomfortable.

Yong moved the thought to the back of her mind. She’ll have to ask Wheein about it later.

“So, you fought Dimir, who has been a thorn on your side for a while now. I can see how you would want to fight him, but that doesn’t--” 

The young lion interrupted the dragon.

“He made a move towards Wheein. And I….” Hyejin paused. If she admits that violence overtook her then what is she? No worse than a rabid animal.

Hyejin was about to continue but the dragon surprised her.

“He made a move towards Wheein and you just reacted, didn’t you? To protect her.”

A simple observation. So simple yet that didn’t stop from Hyejin from looking at Yong with shock in her eyes. Not at what Yong said, but the tone at which she said it. As if she went through the same thing, or something similar.

The dragon smiled softly at Hyejin, “Any threats towards anyone you cared about and you just react, don’t you?”

“I…….” Hyejin hesitated.

This is the second adult to understand her in that aspect. The first one was her uncle. But more than just having a basic understanding, like other adults, her uncle and Yong have a more indepth sort of understanding. Previously, all the other adults told her that they understand why but they still tried to force her to change. But her uncle was the one that understood her, but also worked with her. He taught her about how to throw a good punch, and when a fight is worth fighting, and when to know when you’re outmatched. He gave her the crude training she needed but everyone else saw that as a recipe for disaster. They didn’t understand the nuances of a fight. They only saw violence. 

Hyejin still had to ask how Yong knows and understands. But she didn’t even get a syllable out before the dragon answered her unspoken question.

“Hyejin-ah, I did the same when I was your age.” Yong had a far away look. As if reliving a certain memory.

“You did?”

“Of course. How did you think I got into boxing?” Yong laughed.

Hyejin couldn’t help but stare. She never thought about how Yong had gotten into boxing. She just assumed it was a hobby. But to have it develop from actual fights when she was a teenager? It was surreal.

“Really??” Hyejin asked after gaining back her composure.

Yong proudly smiled, “Yup! I got into some fights because someone I cared about was being threatened. So, I get you.”

Yong gave Hyejin a soft look.

“I also understand that a lot of people will look down on you for fighting. They think it’s some lowly thing. As if those that use their fists do the talking are somehow less intelligent and are then treated as lesser. Get into a fight once and that’s all people know you by, right? So you just kind of give into that image that people made of you.”

Hyejin blinked.

“I--uh, how did we get here? I thought you were supposed to reprimand me??”

Yong only loudly laughed at the confusion of this young cub.

“I think your parents just assumed I would talk you out of fighting in general. But I can’t fault you for what you did. There are just some people who take advantage of the general assumption that they won’t get hurt and so they act carelessly and recklessly. Some people need to learn their lesson the hard way.”

Yong nodded sagely and Hyejin still stared, dumbfounded. She thought she was going to be eaten alive by the dragon’s anger. That the dragon was angry at her for somewhat putting Wheein at risk. She never expected the dragon to be understanding of her actions. 

“Wait, so you’re not mad at me??”

“Nope! I’m just mad that the administration thought you should take punishment for it. And, if what you told me is true, then how come the administration did not think to intervene before Dimir got out of hand?” 

Yong shook her head and sighed. She understands that the administration will punish both parties but she doesn’t like it. Especially if Hyejin was just acting out of defense. Honestly, she was just disappointed at the lack of action the administration took. 

Hyejin just stared at Yong with open in an ‘O’ shape. Still trying to comprehend what just happened. It was a look Yong had a good chuckle at. 

“I only have a couple of questions,” Yong looked at Hyejin and there was a certain glint in her eye. Looks like the dragon isn’t through with her yet.

“Y-yea?”

“Want to work at my gym over the break? We need a couple more hands on deck and Wheein can only handle the little kids punches.”

Hyejin felt like she had whiplash. What the hell is happening?

“I…..Uh…..Sure?” Hyejin felt like reality was but a mirage and that this moment would soon break.

Yong beamed, “Great! I’ll give you more details next week. So, my next question…”

Yongsun trailed off so she could properly face Hyejin. Hyejin could feel the dragon’s eyes boring through her soul. Seeing through every layer of what makes Hyejin herself. Seeing through her with such intensity that Hyejin couldn’t help but feel a bead of sweat drop from her forehead.

“What exactly is your intention with my daughter?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all started spring semester of their sophomore year. That was when the group dynamics began to shift. Thinking back on it now, everything was a red flag, but ignorance is bliss. Well, until your world collapses. 

The kick off of this avalanche was in Nae Won-Sook started to date Wu Ji-Yun. This changed the group dynamics drastically. Ji-Yun was part of another friend circle that overlapped with Wheein’s. Hence how Won-Sook and Ji-Yun met. So, once they started to date, Ji-Yun’s friend group started to hang out more with Wheein’s friend group. Enter Dimir.

At first Dimir was decent enough. A typical, hormonal, emotional teenage boy. But he immediately took a liking to Wheein. However, despite Wheein’s disdain about it, everyone else thought she should give him a chance. But, even if Wheein did want to give him a chance, her emotions were conflicted. There was just one small dynamic that no one acknowledged.

Ji-Yun and Wheein.

In truth, everyone said that Won-Sook and Wheein were plenty alike. Some said they were long lost siblings, others said that they were two sides on the same coin. Either way, there was no denying how eerily similar they were. Hence why Wheein became so confused with Ji-Yun’s actions.

Ji-Yun acted towards Wheein the same way she acted towards Won-Sook. They held hands on a regular basis, they were clingy, hell, Ji-Yun even made a playlist full of recommended songs but she put Wheein’s recommendations in with Won-Sook’s. It was as if everything she did with Won-Sook she then did the same with Wheein. 

But to Wheein, Ji-Yun was just comfortable to be around. So she didn’t mind the hand holding or being clingy. To Wheein it was just something they just do as friends. There was no meaning behind it.

But apparently the others saw differently.

Once summer hit, that’s when things turned for the worst. Kyung-Mo, another old friend, really hit it off with Dimir and they quickly became friends. Unfortunately, Kyung-Mo was on Dimir’s side and he also thought Wheein should give Dimir a chance. He also saw that whatever was between Ji-Yun and Wheein and decided to take action. Any action to give his friend a chance.

It happened during their usual hangouts in the nearby park. Ji-Yun and Won-Sook were sitting side by side holding hands and Wheein was draped over Ji-Yun’s lap. They were talking about something mundane before Kyung-Mo asked a question out of the blue.

“Hey Wheein, Ji-Yun is already taken so why not give Dimir a chance?”

That would’ve been the prime moment to insert a record scratch.

Everyone paused and just looked at Kyung-Mo. He just looked at Wheein expectantly. Wheein could only blink in confusion a couple of times before finally responding to him.

“E-excuse me??”

Kyung-Mo just gave a nonchalant shrug, “Yea, why go after someone who's taken when you can go after someone who is actually interested in you.”

Wheein just stared in confusion. Everyone did and it seemed like everyone was just going to blow him off were it not for Ji-Yun.

Ji-Yun gave a big sigh of relief, “Finally, you could’ve just told me, Wheein. And here I thought you weren’t interested.”

Wheein couldn’t get off Ji-Yun’s lap fast enough.

“Wai--” Wheein tried to explain herself but Won-Sook interrupted.

“Hah, I always knew you were a threat Wheein. I thought we were friends.”

Wheein couldn’t get out a syllable before the others ganged up on her.

“Wow, Wheein. I didn’t know you were that kind of person.” Young-Ah glared at Wheein. Her judgment had been made already.

“I always wondered what was up between you two, but now it makes sense.” Kwang-Hoon stated with a shake of his head.

Wheein got up and looked at them all, desperate to try to explain herself.

“Are you all serious right now? I didn’t even get a word in and yet you act like you all know everything!”

Won-Sook got up and walked away. But before he did, he had to get one last jab in.

“Actions speak louder than words, Wheein. And your actions with Ji-Yun is evidence enough.”

No one tried to stop him. 

Wheein could only stare in disbelief at his retreating form. Everything happened so fast that she felt like she was in the middle of a tornado. 

“Hey” Ji-Yun grabbed Wheein’s hand, “Forget about him. We can be together now, right?”

Ji-Yun looked hopeful. Young-Ah looked annoyed, Kyung-Mo looked bored, and Kwang-Hoon looked disgusted.

Wheein snatched her hand away from Ji-Yun. Somehow her touch felt wrong.

“No! Why would I want to be with you!” Wheein wasn’t screaming but she wanted to. This all happened so fast that it didn’t feel real.

Ji-Yun looked dejected, “Because of all the hand holding, hugs, and other physical affection?”

Kwang-Hoon scoffed, “I can’t believe we were this blind. One of our friends finally gets a girlfriend, is actually happy for once, and you decide to be selfish.”

“I thought we knew you, Wheein. But sooner or later, our true colors are revealed.” Young-Ah also begin to get up.

“Wait! Why are you guys acting like this? You know I don’t like anyone!” Wheein was getting desperate. She couldn’t understand their reasoning. It was as if they were all looking for an excuse to get rid of her and this was it. No matter how irrational it was. 

“Then why were you being all affectionate like a love sick puppy?!” Ji-Yun said in an outburst.

“I didn’t know you would take it any other way!” 

“Take it any other way? Get real Wheein, I know you are a bit of an oddball, but surely even you know that all that you did could only be taken as one way.” Kwang-Hoon said with a sneer.

“O-oddball?” Wheein looked at Kwang-Hoon. Is that how he really felt about her?

“We tried to cater to your weirdness, Wheein, but this takes it too far.” Young-Ah said with a simple shrug. 

Oddball. Weirdness. So this is how they felt about her. Even after all these years. Like many others, they will only see her as the weird oddball.

“I--”

“Don’t even bother Wheein. We know where we stand.” 

And just like that, Young-Ah, Kwang-Hoon, and Ji-Yun left. 

Wheein could only stand and stare as the wind softly wailed around her. In a span of ten minutes, the very friends she had since elementary school, were gone over a simple misunderstanding.

“Heee-oh. What happened?” 

Dimir.

Looks like Kyung-Mo invited him but he arrived too late.

But Wheein didn’t even hear him. Her mind was still focused on trying not to burst into tears.

Kyung-Mo remained silent the entire time, but he still took advantage of the emotional vulnerability. Looks like his bond with Dimir was more important than years of friendship. 

“Wheein just got dumped. Now’s your chance dude, don’t give up!”

Dimir, the idiot, took Kyung-Mo’s advice to heart and went towards Wheein in a familiar way.

“Hey baby, what’s wrong?”

The words out of his mouth felt disgusting. It made her skin crawl. She wanted nothing more than to see him gone. To have him out of her life. Wheein saw him reach a hand towards her so she moved out of the way. 

“Get the away from me Dimir.” And with those words, Wheein finally walked off.

It was only later did she find out that Kyung-Mo tried to stage the whole thing so Dimir could arrive just in time to defend Wheein. Thus painting him in good favour. Honestly, it was poorly planned and clearly inspired by what they saw on television. She was surprised Kyung-Mo admitted to it. But guilt must’ve finally got him to actually confess. 

But it still baffles her how it happened so fast. How they were all so eager to leave her. Maybe that’s what hurts the most. Not the fact that they left her, but the fact that they harbored such negative feelings towards her. Such strong negative feelings that they would latch onto any irrational thought if it meant finally leaving her behind. 

After such an ordeal, Wheein thought she should probably change her habits. Be less affectionate, be less clingy, be less herself. So, she decided to develop those changed habits in secret. Her parents would notice if she started to act different and she didn’t want that confrontation with them. Yet. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the end of her retelling, Wheein was sobbing in her mother’s arms. She knows how stupid this must all sound to her mother but she can’t help it. The emotions she bottled up all those months ago all crashed apart and ran their course.

Moonbyul held Wheein with as much love as she possibly could. Saddened by the fact that Wheein decided not to tell them. Heartbroken by the fact that Wheein went through this hardship alone. Disgusted by the kids she once thought were good. 

They were like that for the next fifteen minutes. Eventually Wheein was reduced to just sniffling as the flood of emotions finally lessened to just a tiny stream. Not once did Moonbyul let go. But once it was clear that Wheein needed space, Moonbyul held her at arms length and looked at her in the eye.

“How are you feeling?” 

Wheein softly smiled, “Better. It’s like a big weight was lifted. Thank  you for listening.” 

Moonbyul smiled back, “Anytime. Just remember that next time, okay? I know you may not want to tell mom, knowing how she is, but it’s better than having to bottle it up.” 

A sad nod, “Yea, I just…” Wheein wiped away a couple of stray tears, “I thought I could handle it myself. There was nothing that could’ve been done so might as well move on, right?”

“Is it really moving on if you just tuck those emotions away? To truly move on, your emotions will have to move on as well. You can’t just keep them locked away. If you do that then you will never move on. You will still have that piece that’s just stuck in the past.” 

Moonbyul gave her daughter a reassuring squeeze and a kiss on the head. She was going to say more but the living room door finally opened. Moonbyul and Wheein gave each other a look before moving towards the doorway and peeking through it to see who would walk out of the living room first. 

“As long as you remember those rules, then we should be fine.”  A chipper dragon said as she walked out with a skip to her step. 

“Yes ma’am.” A tired lion said as she walked out while dragging her feet.

“Yong!”

“Hyejin!”

Both mother and daughter ran to their respective partners and gave them hugs.

Hyejin gladly accepted Wheein’s embrace and returned it in kind. She also made sure her hands were on Wheein respectfully. Afterall, she could still sense the dragon’s eyes.

Yong pouted while Moonbyul gave her butterfly kisses on her face.

“Ah, I see where I stand with you now, Wheein-ah.” Yong gave her daughter a teasing look.

Wheein yelped. She briefly forgot about her parents the moment she was in Hyejin’s arms. Back to reality.

She quickly gave Yong a hug.

“Thank you for letting my girlfriend live!” Wheein said in a rush before going back into Hyejin’s arms. 

Eventually Moonbyul and Yong parted in order to go start dinner but they let the young girls be. Afterall, Hyejin still has to talk to her parents afterwards. And after a couple of minutes off clinging to each other, they finally parted.

“Well, guess I gotta face my folks now.” Hyejin said with a sad smile as she leaned her head against Wheein’s

“If you can survive the dragon then you can survive anything.” Wheein nodded sagely.

Hyejin just chuckled. If only Wheein knew. Hyejin lifted Wheein’s face up to give her a goodbye kiss but stopped short. 

“What happened?”

Wheein’s eyes were still red and a bit puffy from her crying earlier.

Wheein quickly wiped her face again and reassured Hyejin that everything was alright. She would tell Hyejin what happened later. With that, Wheein playfully began to push Hyejin out the door.

“Hah? Wait, no goodbye kiss?” Hyejin asked with a pout.

Wheein playfully rolled her eyes before giving in. She quickly gave Hyejin a goodbye kiss, more like a peck, before finally pushing her out the door. Or she would have if Hyejn hadn’t gripped the side of the door frame and caused Wheein to crash into her.

“Wha--” Wheein was quickly encased in another embrace. 

“I’m sorry.” Hyejin quietly whispered as she clutched Wheein close. She still needs to repent after causing Wheein pain today.

A soft smile appeared on Wheein’s face as she nuzzled into Hyejin’s neck and placed a soft kiss on the exposed skin. 

“I know. It’s alright, Hyejin-ah. We can talk about it more after your second interrogation.” Wheein pulled back in order to give one last kiss.

Hyejin gladly kissed back but kept it brief. Unless a certain dragon were to walk in on them. Worse if it was a certain hamster. Finally pulling away from Wheein, she finally said her goodbyes before making the drive home.

"Hey Wheein-ah," Her mother's face poked out of the kitchen doorway, "Don't forget to invite Hyejin to the company party!"

Her mother's face quickly popped out of view and Wheein could only sigh. Of course she forgot about the company party.