16 ( welcome )

"Umm, Mae, I just need to book a cab now," I said, locking the dorm room door with one hand while balancing my suitcase in the other. My phone was awkwardly pressed between my ear and shoulder.

"Everybody's waiting eagerly, come fast, son," Mae's voice chimed warmly from the other end.

"Umm, I'll end the call now, Mae. Let's talk when I reach." I fumbled with the keys, shoving them into my pants pocket as quickly as I could before ending the call.

Dragging my suitcase behind me, I hurried downstairs, already opening the cab app on my phone, scrolling for options.

But before I could confirm a ride, a sleek black car rolled up in front of me, the sunlight glinting off its polished surface. My heart skipped a beat the instant I recognized it.

The driver's door opened, and Johan stepped out. His hair was perfectly set, neat and effortlessly stylish. A grey shirt clung comfortably to his broad frame, tucked into black slacks that made him look like he had just stepped out of a magazine photoshoot.

My jaw nearly dropped.

"Let's go," he said in that low, matter-of-fact tone, striding forward. Without waiting for my response, he took the suitcase from my hand with ease and placed it in the trunk as though it belonged there.

What?!

"Wait-where are we going?" I asked, my voice half a squeak, half disbelief.

"Your parents' house," he replied casually, as if he hadn't just dropped the single most shocking sentence of my entire week. He slid back into the driver's seat, calm and composed, while my brain short-circuited.

HUH?!!?!?!?

I scrambled toward the car, pulling the passenger's door open frantically. "Wait, Phi-You're coming with me?"

He gave a small nod, already fastening his seatbelt. "Mm. Sit."

My heart leapt into my throat, and before I knew it, my lips were stretching into a wide, uncontrollable grin. The warmth in my chest overflowed, spilling across my face.

"Mwah!" Without hesitation, I leaned in and pressed a noisy kiss against his cheek as I settled into the passenger seat.

He turned his head toward me slowly, one brow arched. His lips curved into the faintest smirk, and then-he pointed at his mouth.

This greedy wolf.

My cheeks burned crimson, but instead of giving him exactly what he wanted, I leaned closer, meeting his eyes with mock seriousness. And then, at the last moment, I nipped his lower lip in a playful bite.

"North..." His voice dropped, low and dangerous, the kind of tone that sent shivers straight down my spine. But even as he said it, I caught it-just for a second-the flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Hehe.

I leaned back into the passenger seat with a grin plastered across my face, smug and far too pleased with myself. "What? You wanted a kiss. I gave you one."

His lips curved upward, slow and deliberate, as he brushed his thumb across his mouth where I'd bitten him. "That wasn't a kiss."

"Sure it was," I shot back quickly, buckling my seatbelt as though that would shield me from whatever he was plotting. "A very special one. Not everyone gets that treatment."

"Special?" he repeated, his voice laced with amusement. He started the car, one hand on the wheel, the other resting casually on the gearshift. His profile was calm, too calm, which only made my stomach twist.

I frowned suspiciously. "Don't look at me like that."

"I'm not looking at you," he said smoothly, though the corner of his mouth betrayed him with the faintest smirk.

Liar.

My cheeks warmed. "Well, don't think at me like that either!"

"Too late."

I puffed my cheeks out in frustration, turning toward the window, trying to ignore the way my heart was hammering. The city blurred past as Johan drove with that maddening steadiness of his, calm as if biting him hadn't affected him in the slightest.

But then-

I felt it.

His hand slid from the gearshift to my thigh, fingers warm, resting there as though they had every right to. My entire body stiffened instantly.

I whipped my head toward him. "H-Hey!"

"Sit properly," he said, his tone neutral, as if he wasn't very much aware of the chaos he was causing inside me. His hand didn't move, didn't waver-just stayed there, firm and grounding.

I smacked his arm, flustered. "You're doing this on purpose!"

He didn't even look at me. His eyes stayed on the road, expression unreadable, except for that tiny twitch at the corner of his lips. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Ugh, you're impossible."

✿✿✿⁠

The drive felt shorter than I expected, probably because my mind refused to stay still. Every few minutes, I would glance sideways at Johan-tall, calm, focused on the road, his hand still casually resting on my thigh as though it belonged there. My heart was already a mess, and now, with every passing mile, my stomach knotted tighter.

This was it.

The first time.

He'd met my parents before, sure-but only through video calls. Just a face on a screen. Now, in person... it was different. Real.

By the time we pulled into the familiar driveway of my parents' house, I was practically vibrating with nervous energy.

The car slowed in front of my parents' house, and my heart immediately began to beat louder than the engine.

I smoothed down the hem of my shirt nervously as Johan parked. He looked completely unruffled, as usual-one hand on the steering wheel, posture straight, hair perfect. Meanwhile, I was seconds away from combusting.

"Ready?" he asked softly, glancing at me.

I swallowed, nodding. "Mm. Let's go."

He stepped out first, pulling my suitcase from the trunk like it was weightless. I followed, fingers fiddling with my phone, until the front door creaked open.

Mae appeared first.

Her face lit up immediately, her arms already stretching out. "Baby!"

I barely had time to smile before she engulfed me in a warm hug. I melted into it instantly, inhaling the familiar scent of home, letting my shoulders finally relax.

"I missed you," I said, my voice soft and sweet against her shoulder.

Her arms tightened. "We missed you more."

When she finally let me go, her eyes darted past me, landing on Johan. And just like that, her entire expression shifted-her smile widening, her eyes going round.

"Oh..." Her hands flew to her mouth. "You're... you're even more handsome in person."

Heat rushed to my cheeks. I quickly stepped forward, tugging Johan closer by the arm before Mae could combust completely. "Mae, this is Johan. My boyfriend." I bit my lip, then added with a shy grin, "The one you always steal my phone to talk to during video calls."

Mae laughed, a little flustered, and reached out to shake Johan's hand. "It's so good to finally meet you properly."

"The pleasure's mine," Johan replied politely, his tone warm but respectful.

Just then, Dad appeared in the doorway.

He didn't rush forward like Mae. He stood tall, arms crossed, expression stern as his gaze settled on Johan.

I felt a pang of nerves but didn't let it show. Instead, I smiled brightly, walking right up to him and slipping my arm through his like I always did when I wanted to soften him. "Dad," I said sweetly, "this is Johan."

Dad's stern eyes flicked down at me before returning to Johan. "So. You're him."

"Yes, sir," Johan replied without hesitation.

For a moment, Dad just stared. Then he gave a small grunt and turned, stepping aside. "Come inside."

Mae ushered us into the living room, already fussing over setting out tea and snacks. I sat on the couch beside Johan, close enough that our knees brushed, and tried not to look too obvious about how much my heart was racing.

Dad settled into his chair across from us, still serious. His gaze lingered on Johan, sharp and testing, but I leaned my chin into my hand and smiled at him with the same charm that had always melted his strict act since I was a kid.

"Dad," I said softly, my voice light and playful, "don't look at him like that. You'll scare him away before dinner."

Dad's lips twitched-just slightly-but he kept his tone gruff. "Hmph. If he's going to be with my son, he won't scare that easily."

I laughed, leaning my head on Johan's shoulder, my voice turning gentle. "Don't worry, he won't. He's strong."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Johan glance at me, his expression softening for a brief moment.

Mae placed tea on the table, sitting beside Dad. "North's always talking about you," she said warmly to Johan. "We feel like we already know you, but seeing you here in person is... different. It feels real."

Johan inclined his head politely. "I feel the same. Thank you for welcoming me."

I reached for Johan's hand under the table, squeezing lightly, before flashing my parents one of my most disarming smiles-the kind that always melted Mae and even made Dad's sternness falter.

"I told you," I said softly, my cheeks warm, "he's the one who makes me happy."

The room went quiet for a beat. Mae's eyes grew misty, and Dad muttered something that sounded suspiciously like a cough to hide his own reaction.

Dinner was warm, full of laughter and teasing. Mae kept piling food onto Johan's plate despite his polite protests, and I couldn't stop smiling at how stiff he looked under all her fussing.

"Eat more, eat more," she insisted. "You're too lean. North needs someone healthy to take care of him."

"Mae!" I protested, though I couldn't stop laughing. "You're going to make him explode."

Johan caught my eye then, his lips curving slightly. "I'll eat," he said softly. "For you."

My face heated instantly, and Mae squealed like she'd just witnessed a drama scene unfold at her dinner table.

Dad, however, cleared his throat. "And what are your intentions with my son?"

The table fell quiet. My fork paused mid-air.

"Dad-" I started nervously, but Johan's hand squeezed mine under the table, steady and reassuring.

"My intentions are simple," Johan said calmly, his voice steady. "I love North. I want to protect him, support him, and make him happy. For as long as he'll let me."

The words hit me like a wave. My chest tightened, my throat burned, and all I could do was stare at him with wide eyes.

Dad studied him for a long, tense moment. Then, finally, his shoulders dropped, and a small, rare smile tugged at his lips.

"Hmph," he muttered. "At least you answered properly."

Mae beamed. "Welcome to the family, Johan."

I bit my lip, unable to contain the warmth flooding me. Resting my cheek on Johan's shoulder, I whispered, "See? They love you."

Johan's hand brushed over mine gently, his expression soft, his eyes full of something only for me.

And in that moment, with my parents by my side and Johan's hand in mine, everything felt right.