♬ | T-ARA “Love Play” | ♬

Niel was coughing loudly, trying desperately to dislodge the bite of pizza that was stuck in his throat from the shocking turn of events. C.A.P was patting his back to help him and handed Niel a glass of water for him to swallow.

“Mom, Dad what’re you guys doing back so early from your vacation?” Eunmi asked and Byunghun finally understood who the couple was. They were Eunmi’s parents – Mr. and Mrs. Kwon.

After the parents who fashioned a mild tan hugged the two twin babies, they showcased a bright and refreshed smile as Mr. Kwon said sarcastically,

“Well after a vacation you return home and last time I checked,” He jokingly peered outside to check if this was the correct address and finished,

“This was indeed my home.” Niel ceased his coughing and stood up saying,

“I’ll be excused.” Mr. Kwon held his hands out in an attempt to hug Niel but his middle son simply brushed past him, not even acknowledging his father’s presence. Mrs. Kwon gave a slight warning glare at Niel, sending a silent message to her rebellious son but he didn’t bother reacting to it. He simply walked up the stairs and after a few seconds you heard his door slam followed by a faint click signaling his lock has been turned.

You can well imagine how awkward and uncomfortable the situation must’ve been for Kwanmi, Chunji, and especially Byunghun amidst all of this.

“Why what have we got here?” Mrs. Kwon attempted to break the heavy atmosphere by pointing to the dining room table that still had two unopened boxes of pizza. Eunmi nearly jumped out of her seat and remembered her manners beginning,

“Mom, Dad this is Chunji, a friend of mine.” She said holding out her hand in Chunji’s direction. He exchanged a firm handshake with her father and bowed at Mrs. Kwon.

“This is L.Joe!” Ricky exclaimed beating Eunmi to the introduction. Ricky nearly pulled Byunghun out of his seat as he dragged him across the room to stand in front of their parents. Eunmi shuddered at the scene before her, making a mental note to have a firm talk with her little bro. She was waiting for her father to explode for some unknown reason but instead he greeted Byunghun with a neutral smile saying,

“So you’re the famous L.Joe the twins have been talking so fondly of.” Byunghun could only smile at ChangJo and Ricky as they silently gave him a thumbs-up sign behind their mother’s back.

“Nice to meet you sir.” Byunghun returned the greeting and politely bowed to Mrs. Kwon at a near perfect 90 degree angle.

Eunmni sighed out in relief, thanking the heavens that her brothers managed to explain her relationship with Byunghun and she didn’t have to go forward with the awkward introductions and labels.

“Here mom take a seat, I was actually finished with eating.” C.A.P said giving up his seat for his mom. You looked at his plate and saw 3 pizza crusts sitting there being abandoned. Unlike Niel, the eldest brother had no grudge against his parents and treated them with respect and kindness. Eunmi on the other hand still had a wall standing firmly between the line of her and her parents. She didn’t hate them and knew that deep inside she truly loved them, but the fact that they left for a two-year-long cruise really helped heighten the already tall wall between their relationship.

“Ah thank you Min Soo.” Mrs. Kwon said and sat down with Mr. Kwon by her side. The atmosphere lightened up but there was still a seemingly dark cloud hanging over the family and guests.

“So how’ve you been Kwanmi?” Mrs. Kwon asked the girl who nearly jumped up in her seat when the eerie silence was broken. There was little conversation with the guests aside from ChangJo and Ricky exclaiming about their adventurous lives every now and then, but you could tell that the previous cozy feel was long gone.

“So how long have you and L.Joe been acquainted with one another?” Mrs. Kwon asked taking a sip of her drink. Eunmi rolled her eyes on the inside thinking,

Leave it to her to make things even more awkward by using the word “acquainted.”

Byunghun didn’t seem to mind and was well mannered when replying,

“I was a new exchange student from America and Eunmi was the very first person who reached out and introduced herself. You have a very lovely daughter Mr. and Mrs. Kwon.” Eunmi blushed a bright red at the open compliment her boyfriend so boldly said out loud not to mention in front of her parents. Her father did a little nod in agreement and turned his attention to Chunji.

Eunmi barely managed to intake a mouthful of water when Mr. Kwon asked Chunji,

“So how long have you and Eunmi been dating?”

A bit of water escaped Eunmi’s lips and her plate and pizza was now soaked with her backwash no thanks to her father’s question. Byunghun patted her back in comfort and handed her a napkin, his own brain trying to process the assumption her father has just made. Kwanmi grew wide-eyed and didn’t want to be the first one to announce the error Mr. Kwon made so Chunji had to. He awkwardly cleared his throat and said,

“Mr. Kwon, with all due respect; Eunmi isn’t my girlfriend. She’s just a friend.” Mr. Kwon furrowed his eyebrows in confusion and Mrs. Kwon asked,

“Then who is Eunmi’s boyfriend that Min Soo and the twins have been talking so much about?” Byunghun slightly raised his hand and announced,

“I-I am. We’ve been dating for a good two years and I’d like to ask for your approval to continue dating your daughter. She really means a lot to me and I’d greatly appreciate your say in the matter.” He sat tall with his shoulders back and his spine straight as a ruler. His gaze showed no hesitation or fear and he had a face full of determination. Eunmi’s never seen Byunghun become so self-composed and polite in front of complete strangers but the thought truly warmed her heart seeing him trying to win over her parent’s approval. She snuck her hand into his as their fingers intertwined and she gave him a gentle squeeze of encouragement.

Say yes, say yes.

You could practically hear the two couple’s chanting the same mantra in their heads before the silence was broken. Mr. Kwon finally sighed and said,

“I’m sorry young man but I don’t approve.” Eunmi’s heart dropped to her stomach and she felt the pizza hitting against her beating heart. Byunghun wasn’t sure what to make of the response, he wasn’t trying to be cocky or overly-confident but a huge part of him expected a solid yes with the way things were going before-hand. Chunji and Kwanmi exchanged looks clearly showing their confusion and fear. Everyone at the dinner table were wide-eyed and looked at Mrs. Kwon for the last strand of hope as she deflated it when shaking her head and saying,

“I agree with your father.”

_____

I know some of you guys may be confused about this chapter (ex. What’s going on?! Why is Niel behaving that way around his own parents?! Etc.)

Calm your readers, all your questions about the parents will be answered in the next chappie ;]