36

"What took you guys so long?" Your mom asks as she greets both your dad and your brother.

"You know how traffic is around this time of the evening." Your dad responds with a gruff voice while he removes his jacket and shoes. "Everyone's trying to make it home for dinner."

"Hey, mom." Sunho pulls her into a hug, earning a soft giggle from her as he takes in his appearance, and apparently, his new hair.

"I missed you, Son. I hope you're not too exhausted from the trip."

"I missed you too," he says, pulling away and rubbing the back of his neck. "I had a short nap on the train, so I'm fine."

It hasn't been that long since you've seen Sunho, but his hair has gotten longer and has hints of brown highlights in its tips. Despite his disregard for your presence, you smile from finally seeing him.

This family reunion is long overdue, with many times of planning and canceling due to busy schedules, but it has finally happened, and you are here to see it. It feels even better to have another presence in your household.

"I'm glad to hear that, honey. I'll take your things." Your mother motions to his two duffle bags. "I'll go put them in your old room so we can finally have dinner."

"No, I'll do it." Sunho insists, and your mother doesn't have time to object as he walks away. "I need to change anyway." The boy doesn't even look at you as he hastily removes his shoes in the entryway before heading upstairs.

Your eyes are drawn away from his retreating figure by the sound of your dad clearing his throat.

"Hey, Dad," you greet as his gaze moves to you and then to the man beside you. His gruff appearance resembles what a retired military soldier should look like after living half of their years serving, tough and dubious, with his fading greyish hair and trimmed sides, round glasses lying above the natural scowl on his structured face.

You are, indeed, nervous.

There's no doubt about that, especially when he has his hands on his hips, displaying his full height of about six and three feet. The way he carries himself and stands like he owns the place may easily intimidate anyone. His white shirt is tucked into his dad jeans, and a brown belt completes the look. His wristwatch is comparable to those used by military personnel. It makes you look like a teen trying to introduce her first boyfriend, but you're twenty-eight.

Namjoon observes the shift in your manner and the way your shoulders appear to slump right away. He's never seen you like this before, not even when you've met his parents several times, and he feels compelled to soothe your anxiety by caressing your lower back.

You approach your father and surround him in an awkward side embrace, not wanting to welcome him like a stranger. All of your concerns appear to vanish in an instant. Your need for your parents' presence was gradually being replaced by contentment.

"I missed you, Dad," you whisper. He tenses under your hug, but then relaxes and lets his hands rest on your back. "I have someone for you to meet."

Eyeing Namjoon in your peripheral, he quickly gathers himself, but not before wiping both palms on his trousers and moving beside you, hoping to welcome the man.

"Good evening, Sir. It's an honor to see you again. Thank you for having me—"

"I'm hungry," is all your stern father says before pulling away and walking past your mom, who is left with her jaw on the floor. "This can wait. The food will get cold." Your mom passes you a frown before she follows him into the dining room.

After leaving you two alone in the living room, you hear Namjoon slowly come up behind. When he notices you frowning, nose red, and eyes slightly glossy, his frustration is swiftly replaced with a consoling smile.

"Babe, you okay?" He pulls you into his arms and you let yourself get accustomed to his warmth for a moment.

"I should be asking you that." Your lower lip curls guiltily. "He just completely ignored you like you aren't my boyfriend."

"Don't be too concerned about me. I can handle minor ridicule. All we need is a little more time." He explains as if the whole thing didn't bother him in the least, which you know isn't true. He's as disappointed as you are with everything, but you're hoping that won't be the case for long.

"I didn't come here expecting to be accepted by your family right away, Y/N. I still can't even believe Sooya and your mom are so welcoming. I'm so grateful for that."

"Still, he could've said something nice," you point out. "You're still a guest. He should treat you the same way he would any other human being who enters his home. That's the least anyone can do."

"You're right," he replies as his arms wrap around your shoulders. "Good thing you have a very patient boyfriend." He cracks a joke. "I'm curious how many boys have cried."

"You heard what my mom said. You're the first and last. And I'm glad." You dramatically tell him, as if he were your best friend and you were venting about a boy. "I can't bear the thought of bringing someone else home. It'd be a nightmare," you admit, although your voice cracks a little.

With this, he tucks a strand of hair behind your ear and kisses the side of your face in an attempt to make you feel better. As expected, it proves to be effective, but temporarily.

"Talk to me." Namjoon mumbles, his gaze falling to your crushed face, "Not gonna lie, your dad scared me a little." He says chuckling. His confession makes you smile a little.

"Really?" You prod. "You seemed unaffected there. I wouldn't have known," your sarcasm is unmistakable and it makes him chuckle.

"Yeah," he exhales a deep breath, agreeing. "Can you feel my heart? I feel like it's gonna burst any minute now."

You do as told and press your ear close to his heart, where his pec is, and he flexes his chest taut on purpose.

"You liar." You fight the grin off your face as you pull away. "Stop taking advantage of me."

"I am not taking advantage of you." Namjoon mocks your naivety and steals a kiss from your parted lips. Just when you think he's going to stop, he inserts his tongue and lets his hands fall to your ass before lightly smacking it.

"You—" An astonished shriek escapes you, and before you begin to understand what he's just done, he's already pulling your hand toward the dining area.

"Let's go before they suspect us."

"I'll blame it on you." You bark, squeezing his hand in an attempt to inflict pain but it doesn't do much considering his hand is much larger than yours.

"You won't," he responds, arrogantly.

"Oh, don't challenge me." You grumble behind him. His back looks so sexy from this angle, like it's made of bricks, and your mind can't stop from wandering off. It's even much worse when he looks over his shoulders to wink at you, knowing damn well your eyes were exactly where he thought they would be.

"Craving for dessert already?" He smirks, cockily. His hair looks even better slicked back and you feel the need to take your revenge on him, slapping his ass and he winces with surprise.

"Oh, you did not just do that!" He hisses, his evil smirk completely wiped off his gorgeous face as he sends you a warning glare.

"Oopsies. I thought it was dough."

He's about to open his mouth when suddenly the little footsteps of your nieces, Inso and Yaji, along with Sooya trailing behind them with an exhausted look.

"Grandpa! Grandma!"

They dash over to the old man, who is settling into his usual seat at the dinner table. Your mother shakes her head before helping Sunho in positioning the baby stools near them.

"Careful, now. Grandpa's got his knees hurt. No jumping-"

"Oh- nonsense." Your dad doesn't have his usual scowl. When he sees the joy on their little faces, your father's typical scowl disappears. You're even astonished Inso has so much energy. "Come on, girls. I've got goodies."

"Dad, no candies before dinner, please." Sooya scolds as she takes her place in one of the chairs. "Or before bedtime, for that matter. It's inconvenient to have to go to the dentist three times a month."

"There's a difference between factory candies, sweetheart. These are locally made." The old man reasons as he digs deep into his pockets, entirely ignoring her point.

You snicker as you hear Namjoon mumble something along the lines of 'we can't help it sometimes,' as he watches the wholesome interaction. He really shouldn't be defending your stubborn father.

Instead, he pulls out a chair for you before he takes the one next to you with a kind of glow you've never seen before, his gaze still fixed on the two girls, who are giggling off their grandfather's lap and into their designated stools with the help of your mother and Sunho.

Soon enough, you're simultaneously fixing up a plate for yourself. The table is nearly filled with all of your favorite local dishes and some foreign ones. There are even vegan options for Namjoon as your mother was presumably unsure which dish Namjoon would prefer.

The thought of asking you slipped her mind and you can't blame her for it. Knowing her, she must've spent weeks in preparation. She figured that by purchasing brand-new plates and replacing old furnishings in the house, no one would notice. How could she possibly think that after spending your entire childhood here?

Although you appreciate her efforts to win over your boyfriend, it was clearly lost on her. Namjoon isn't completely out of touch with reality. Despite his upbringing, he has always been down to earth, and you know he is trying his best to get accustomed to your simplistic lifestyle.

His parents raised him in a good environment and a place of care, you believe. It shows through how he treats people around him.

Whiling out the time, your family sat around the table, which had grown from a table for five to one that could seat ten.

Your father was in the middle of a conversation with Sunho when you chose to intervene yourself, notably on the subject of Sunho's recent enthusiasm for the gym and how he is gradually becoming a 'gym rat,' as Sooya put it. That is apparently the correct term for someone who is so devoted to something that it resembles an addiction.

"Are you sure it's not hurting you even more?" You shift your gaze to him across the table, "Has your ankle fully healed yet?"

All side conversations from your mother, who couldn't stop talking to Namjoon, were abruptly interrupted due to your newfound interest in your brother's health.

"I'm here, aren't I?" Is all he says, which does nothing but aggravate the irritability that already exists within you. "That only means I'm fully healed and capable."

You shouldn't even be entertaining his sarcasm and rude behavior, but it is getting difficult to be the bigger person every single time and act like it doesn't affect you as much.

Were you being overly sensitive?

"Sunho, she was just asking." Sooya's grin is gone, and she rips her gaze away from her children, who are sitting on either side of her on their stools, to focus on the brewing argument. You're glad she decided to intervene because you're at your tipping point.

Choosing to withdraw from this unnecessary drama, you lower your eyes back to your plate. Yaji and Inso are too distracted with some animation playing on their iPads - the one you gifted them last Christmas - to even notice the change in the air.

Your mom clears her throat as she watches your boyfriend take his third bite of the pasta. "I hope this is up to your taste. Y/N mentioned you like Italian food. I hope you aren't allergic to Shellfish."

Namjoon pauses and quickly swallows his food before turning to face her. "Oh, this is divine." He beams. "Thank you. I would've been perfectly fine with any local dishes. But I appreciate it. Y/N makes this a lot back ho—"

You nudge his legs beneath the table as you understand what he's about to say. He glances at you with wide eyes and a somewhat startled expression.

Was he about to reveal your living situation to everyone?

Your relationship was announced, but news of you moving in with him has not yet been considered. That was another topic for another day. Not tonight, however.

Apart from the glances your dad gives you across the table whenever Namjoon approaches or tries to touch you, he barely acknowledges your presence.

"He isn't allergic to seafood, mom," you try to deflect suspicion. "He just prefers meat, but he isn't a picky eater. At least not when it comes to food."

"Well, I'm relieved to hear that. I can finally breathe." Your mom chuckles, exaggerating her words. "Sunho here is the pickiest eater on Earth. Hence, the lack of spice in most of the dishes. He can't take it. He gets red and tears up—"

"Mom," Sunho says at long last. "Is it necessary for me to be the main topic of the discussion?"

"Chill out, loser." Sooya chimes, rolling her eyes at the boy. But it doesn't get the reaction she hoped for from the younger as he narrows his eyes at her. "You've got to stop taking things seriously."

You can't believe the oldest is saying all of this, but you continue to observe as the middle child always does. You dislike getting involved in little squabbles that you know will always get a reaction out of the other.

If smoke could come out of your younger brother's nose it would be hilarious, but what he says appalls everyone listening. "So much for an immature Sow. Don't insert your opinions where they aren't wanted."

Your mouth falls along with your mother, and Namjoon beside you who freezes from taking a sip of his wine.

"Did... Did you just refer to me as a mother pig?" Sooya's face morphs into something you can't stand to see. Unlike you, she is unable to conceal the anguish behind her eyes because it is difficult to conceal her shock.

She cannot pretend as if his insult didn't just affect her.

Sunho had never done or said anything so offensive in the past, even when arguing. But, unlike before, he isn't a child. You're no longer kids. He's an adult, and he isn't behaving like one. It also disappoints you.

As she slowly drops her utensils, her expression fades into obscurity, then disappointment, and finally anger.

"Sunho, that is no way to talk to your sister," your mom says. "Behave yourselves, we have a guest. Apologize, now."

"For what? She started it."

"You took it even further!" Sooya snaps, her gaze pierced into his face.

"And you provoked me!"

You cringe and turn to face the man beside you, who is looking around with concern. He looks you in the eyes and asks, 'Are they arguing?' You react by nodding your head. His brows furrow as he squeezes your knee, apologetically.

"What's gotten up your ass, fucker?"

Yaji and Inso perk up at the sound of their mother's voice.

"Okay, that's enough. Both of you!" Your father's voice resounds and you swear the whole house silences.

"Yeah, tell him that." Sooya scoffs.  "Since he arrived, he's been behaving like a spoiled brat. My five-year-olds are better behaved than he is. It's absurd."

"Like you're any better than me," Sunho responds, almost enraged, from across the table. "You always side with her and you're doing it on purpose. To piss me off or something."

"I am not siding with anyone!" She argues. "What makes you think that? I am simply reminding you who is older and you aren't respecting any of us in the room right now."

"Father and I would not have known if Sooya hadn't called me weeks after you were admitted to the hospital."

"Great." Sunho groans, throwing his head back in disbelief. "We not only have liars in this house but we've also got snitches."

"This has gotten out of hand. You're a bunch of children." You look down at each of them, then turn your attention back to Sunho, finally sick of hearing his attitude all night. "There's no reason for you to be disrespectful to anyone just because you're upset about my relationship and my decisions. I'm a grown woman, Sunho. I know you don't always agree with my choices, but I can't tolerate you acting like I owe you anything."

"Y/N," your mom tries to interrupt but you proceed.

"You even called me a liar. You have no right to berate me-"

"Did I mention anyone's names?" Sunho uses a towel to wipe the side of his mouth before tossing it next to his empty plate.

You swear you'd have lunged at him a long time ago if Namjoon hadn't prevented you. With his firm grasp on your knees, it was almost impossible to make the slightest move.

You swipe your palm across your face and lean up against the table, your head throbbing with pain. "I'm trying to be the bigger person here, but it's almost as if you're not hearing me."

"Sunho, please go to your room." As he drops the cloth on his lap, your father demands. "You as well, Sooya. It's getting late. I'm sure the kids had a long day." He motions for the twins to get moving, and your mother comes in the kitchen with empty plates, as if on cue.

One by one, they quietly disappear. And that leaves the three of you.

"So, is this what you both came here for?" He speaks after the moment of torturous silence. Your throat feels suffocating and Namjoon seizes the opportunity to twine your hands together. In front of your father's eyes. Unlike yours, his hands are warm and it eases your nerves right away.

"Sir, I wanted to formally introduce myself and ask for your support—"

"My support?" Your dad's face turns sour, and you don't like that. It doesn't make you feel any better. "For what, exactly? For my daughter to be put in some kind of business proposal. To mold her into whatever you sick elites want her to do—"

"Dad," you mutter, "that is not what we're here for. There are no contracts or whatever you think it is. We're together because we love each other. That's it."

"I wasn't asking you."

Your hands tremble and you almost want to burst into tears right then and there but you hear him say. "I want to talk to him alone."

Your eyes widen as you gaze across to your partner, who is unconcerned. "But—"

"Hey, I'll be okay." Namjoon manages to smile while skimming the side of your face. "I said I'd do this for you, remember?"

"Joon..." You bite your lip, shakily. "You don't have to do this. We can just go home."

Home.

It's that word again.

Yeah, that really hits the spot for him. Because whenever he hears the word, it doesn't only mean a place with four walls, it now means having you to come home to every night and a person to call his home. His place of comfort.

You struggle to get out of your seat, pleading with your father with your eyes, 'Please don't hurt him,' but you doubt he will because he has never been a violent man.

He wouldn't hurt the man his daughter loved, would he?

As you whisper prayers under your breath, your mom immediately pulls you into a hug when she comes into view. She has her apron once again, and a pile of dishes is on the sink. You let your arms weakly wrap around her frail body and that's when you let your tears fall, your body trembling with quiet sobs as she soothes your back with a few caresses.

You don't even remember embracing a parent like this while spilling your heart out, do you? You had no idea it would take you twenty years, but here you are, letting her sway your body from side to side as if she were cradling a baby in her arms.

Your mother is delicate in every way.

To the way she dresses, the way she wears her hair in the same low ponytail, and the flutter of her eyelashes when she peers down at you, your heart swells with yearning. 

"Hush, sweetheart. Everything will be fine, now." She whispered. "Your father may seem cold, but I assure you that he will never hurt anyone you care about."

"He doesn't believe me when I say it, Mom." You let it be known. It's something you've been dwelling on these past few days. The talk you'd like to have with your father if the moment came and you were finally ready to disclose this part of yourself where you found happiness.

Because, whether you like it or not, you are a people-pleaser, and the pinnacle of that is the need to always make your parents proud of you. Because you will always crave their approval.

It's just how you're wired. You care about other people's opinions, which may be why Namjoon wanted you off social media since he knew that negative and misleading comments would get to you. Because you will always care, no matter how strong you pretend to be on the outside.

Because no matter how strong and self-sufficient you claim to be, you will always yearn for someone. When things get too much for you, you'll always want to know that you have someone to turn to. Someone to rub your back to sleep, someone to caress your hair to sleep, someone to rub your soles after a long day at work, and someone to chat about the most random, uninteresting subject ever without feeling annoyed.

Perhaps this is how Adam and Eve came to be. They couldn't possibly be alone.

It wasn't fate.

Mother Nature's finest creation was the ability to link souls together for a lifetime. As a result, no one would be alone. There would be ancestors, descendants, and successors, and eventually, there would be living things for generations.

"You love each other, that's all that matters." Your mom mumbles against your hair. "Your father will see that. I see that, too."

"Will he?" You wonder. "I feel like he's blinded by his ego and anger."

"He's not angry, sweetheart," your mom says. "He's just... He just can't believe his baby girl has found her match. He's so protective of you, but that's because he loves you so much."

"If he loves me then why can't he accept who I love?"

"After what happened with Sooya, he swore to himself that he would never let anything or anyone hurt his babies. You can only imagine how hurt he was for feeling so helpless." Your mom lets out like a huge weight has been lifted off her chest. "He was going to find the bastard all the way in America but I convinced him that Sooya needed us more than ever. I remember he couldn't sleep at night thinking of a way to get back at him for hurting your sister."

"I guess you're right... That was an eye-opener for all of us. At least for me, it was. Since then I promised I wouldn't see just any other guy. I would have dated to marry." You sniffled, softly being released from your mom's hold so she can wipe the tears from your face. She coos 'Aigoo, my beautiful daughter' which makes you cry again, but this time they're happy tears.

"I don't doubt why Namjoon fell for you."

"Because of my looks?"

"No," your mom chuckles, handing you gloves as she scoots over the sink and waits for you to assist her. "You have such a kind heart."

"Mom, you're gonna make me cry again."

"Oh, stop it." She says, "I know I should have said this sooner but I will always be grateful for everything you've done for our family. We wouldn't be where we are, financially, if it weren't for your sacrifice."

You can't help but stare at her, wide-eyed. "Mom-"

"I know we weren't happy with your decision to leave for Seoul and we've said hurtful things parents shouldn't never say to their kids who are only trying to figure out themselves, but your sister wouldn't have gotten her Master's degree all while caring for the twins if it weren't for your help."

"Mom, I don't care about that-"

"You do. I know you do, sweetheart." She says, "I see it in your eyes even when you pretend to be strong for everyone. But I see it. We see it. We're so proud, I think you deserve to know that. We are extremely fortunate to have you as our daughter."

"Mom..."

"You could have turned your back on us, but you never stopped supporting us. You never even made us feel like we were a burden to you. You could have saved up for your future instead. You could have started a family earlier, but that had to be disrupted, too."

"I could never do that, Mom. My decision to leave was for us. So you didn't have to work anymore. I promised myself to help you live a comfortable life even if that meant working day and night and being far away from you."

"I'm sorry, Y/N," she says, lowering her head and wiping her tears away with the back of her palm. You yank her back against you. "You must have felt lonely all these years and missed out on a lot."

"The only thing I missed out on is making memories with you guys."

"That, too." She sighs and dries the clean plates with a cloth. "But we can make as many memories as we can with the days we have together. Even better with a new addition to the family."

You readily grin at that, and your gaze is drawn to the dining room.

Unfortunately, you can't see their faces and can only hear a few hushed words exchanged between them.

You're dying to know what they're talking about, and you're anxious about what might happen in your absence.

You are hoping Namjoon will return to you unharmed.

"I'm gonna head upstairs and wash up. Don't stay up too long."

"I won't. I'll wait until they're finished."

"Okay, good night."

A sudden realization hits you.

"Mom?"

"Yes, sweetheart?"

"Where is Joon going to sleep?"

Fuck. You didn't even consider it.

"There's the couch. Your father won't let you sleep together in one room, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him."

Your cheeks burned as she spoke. "Mom!" You hiss silently at her suggestion while she chuckles at your meekness. "As long as you use protection, it should be fine-"

"Okay. Certainly not." You pretend to be disgusted. You wouldn't even consider doing the act under your parent's supervision, and the notion of your siblings makes your stomach churn in an unsettling manner.

You're not going to have any sex for the next few days. Your hormones will have to wait.

"Oh, stop acting like this isn't gonna lead to marriage," she says, "It's the same thing."

You roll your shoulders back in defeat and rest your back against the sink. "Good night, Mom."

She simply winks at you before the light is dimmed and she leaves the room.

Ahh!! 4 more chapters to go and then it's time to wrap it up! I'm gonna do an epilogue, so if there is anything in particular you want to see happen, let me know! Hope you enjoyed this one! Take care :)