(Listen to Only You by Wild Rose Thorn: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gaqE1YkjvhQ)

I should have seen it coming.

After two and a half years of dating, it was only normal for Woohyun to want to meet my family.

“I’m not pressurising you,” he said, not wanting to use the ‘m’ word. “I just want to learn about the people you grew up with.”

“What do you want to LEARN?” I was sitting on his mattress while he handed me a bowl of the fried rice he made. Carrots and sausages, my favourite.

“Could you stop being so difficult?” Woohyun lightly pushed me and I almost kissed the floor. Ignoring my scowl he continued, “I love you and its only fair if I want to meet your folks.”

I sighed. “Woohyun, you really don’t get it. I mean, you’re compassionate, attentive and the definitive example of the perfect boyfriend—stop smiling—but seriously, my parents are the last pair any couple would want to sit down and have dinner with. They’re jinxed.”

Woohyun remained silent while I cleaned off the bowl. He always knew better than to talk while I was eating. It was one of the few reasons why we never went out for fancy dinners. I would shout at him for distracting me from the food and he would listen to me while eating well too. It always gave me a complex.

“Done?” he asked and I gave him a satisfied smile. “Good,” he said and shocked me by throwing me off his bed.

“What was that for??”

“Are you wavering?”

 “You know that’s not it.”

“Then?” When I continued staring at him, Woohyun waved for me to lie next to him. Once comfortable, I started my explanation.

“I really trust you and I trust us, but I don’t trust myself. I know that sounds bizarre Woohyun but… I’m not saying that my parents’ divorce ruined my life . But seeing them living independent of each other, yet happy… I’m scared that I’ll stop taking our relationship seriously. That I too, will start expecting you to not be so nice to me and see your actions as ‘duties’, not sincere feelings.”

Woohyun waited and I pushed back my head. “Talk,” I muttered. He sighed and tightened his embrace.

“There’s one rule of life that should probably be the soundtrack of your life. ‘Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.’ Look Saya, as much as I might seem laidback about all the troubles in life, truth is… I’m scared too. But not because of your parents’ so-called jinx. I’m scared of the usual, normal things. What they’ll think of me, whether I have really been a good boyfriend to you and whether I will be allowed to stay on in your life. Don’t think I’m stupid, I know the amount of respect and importance you have for them. Others would probably say its their own decision, but even I believe that the foundation of relationships are laid when both sides are happy. And not just the two individuals, their families too. My grandparents love you and I want you to know that I’m not pushing for lifelong commitment. Everyday, I’m learning something new about you and I’m thankful for that. I want to meet your parents out of simple curiosity, not because it’s a duty. So if meeting them means one more thing to know about you, then I’m up for it.”

I stayed quiet, trying to sync my breathing with Woohyun’s. “Isn’t there any other rule in life? I’m really nervous.”

Woohyun kissed me on my cheek and I knew he was smiling. “Whenever in doubt, take the next small step.”

This was exactly what always tore me apart. How was it even fair for me to have someone as wonderful as him in my life, to have someone like him love me? Sure, he had his own flaws but they only made him more beautiful. For the first time, I could feel tears of happiness flowing down my face.

“What’s the next small step?” I whispered. Woohyun caressed a teardrop and murmured, “Sleep.”

So I slept.