He stares at me with a straight face. A huff escapes his plump lips. "Leave or-" I cut him off smoothly.
"-Or what?" I ask curiously, raising my eyebrows. 100% dedicated to the conversation.
The stranger chuckles bitterly, "Or I'll pour these noodl...
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C H A P T E R 20
"Mica let's look at dresses," my mom said, walking into the kitchen where Hyunjin and I sat. I frowned, "Mom, I'm doing homework," I said, glancing at Hyunjin.
"I think I'm going to leave," he chuckled softly, gathering his things and I threw her a look. She put her hands up defensively and I walked him to the front door, and he put his coat on, "See you at school?" I asked and he nodded, and turned around but before he could leave, he turned around and sighed, "Give me your phone," he said.
"Why-" he cut me off, "Just in case those mean girls do anything else. You can call or text me," he said, and I handed him my phone and he gave me his.
"Bye," I said softly as he handed me my phone. He waved and walked out and I walked back into the living room where my mother sat, where Hyunjin was just minutes ago. I sat down beside her and seen her looking the colorful dressed, "Are we having a traditional wedding?" I asked, looking down at the ring on my finger.
"It's honestly up to Hyunjin and you," she said and I bit my lip nodding. I would have to talk to him about that. "Aw Mica, look at this traditional Indian dress," she said and I cringed, "I don't know mom... I'm not use to all that stuff."
She chuckled, "Okay so you want something more casual?" She asked and I nodded. She sat beside me, and we looked through the dresses and I didn't seem to like any of them. I softly took the tablet, "Let me look up some neutral tone ones if we're looking at Indian wedding dresses."
Soon as I searched it, I liked the dresses better. "This one!" My mom said excitedly and I shook my head, "Too poofy," I muttered and we continued to look and scroll.
"This one," she pointed again, tapping on the screen so the image was big. I stared at the dress, "Wow... I actually kind of like that one."
It was silver and had lots of pretty glittery stones all throughout it.
"Let's look at more modern dresses?" I asked and she nodded. We sat there for a while looking through dresses and I turned off the iPad, "I think I should get back to homework," I said and she shook her head, "Nope, you're coming with me."
I pointed at myself, "Me? Why?" I asked and she chuckled, "We have to get Hyunjins wedding band," she said. I stared at her, "Right now?" I asked and she nodded.
I sighed and closed my books and we walked to the door and before I knew it, I was standing inside a jewelry shop all lit up with beautiful stones and banners. A couple employees looked at my mother and I weird but she didn't say anything, so I didn't say anything. I wondered why but realization hit me like bricks. It is because we are brown people.
I bit my lip and looked at all of all bright diamonds and gold rings anxiously. "I don't know what he likes," I muttered. My mom looked at me, "Call his mom. He called me to ask about yours," she said and I rose my eyebrow, "you knew that he was going to 'propose'?" I asked and she nodded, humming.
"Do you have you have Chu's number?" I asked her and she nodded again, pulling out her phone, telling me the number as I type it onto my phone adding it to my contacts.
I called her and after a few rings she picked up. I bit my lip as she answered, "Hello?" She asked and I looked at my mom who motioned for me to hurry.
"Hi Chu... it's Mica," I said slowly and I practically heard her smile, "Oh Hello dear! What's up?" She asked. I stared down at the glass, looking at all the rings. "I had a couple questions because I'm getting Hyunjins banner," I said softly.
"Oh okay. Well to start off he wears a size 7.5," she says and I nod, "Okay, what does he like?" I asked.
"He'll like anything," she said. I frowned at the answer, "How much did you spend on me?" I asked and my mom slapped my arm and I could see if that was a rude question.
"S-Sorry, I just wanted to know so I didn't spend too little on Hyunjin-" she cut me off. "It's okay hunny, and whatever your family is comfortable with is fine," she said.
"He likes white gold if that helps you any," she said and I nodded, "Okay, thank you."
"You're welcome hun," she replied. "Bye," I said and she bid her goodbye and I hung up the phone and looked down at the counter again, while shoving my phone in my back pocket.
"What did she say?" She asked, "Size 7.5 and he likes white gold," I said. I bit my lip anxiously looking down at the gold banners. Was he as nervous as me? What if I picked out something he didn't like? Why do I even have to do this? Why do we have to get married? All this is so weird.
"Hi, do you need help?" an employee asked me and I looked up at her but she was talking to my mom. My mother smiled, "Yes, where's the white gold rings?" She asked.
The lady moved toward the end of the counter and my mom and I followed. "Size?" She asked, unlocking the sliding door behind the counter to access them. "7.5," she said.
"For men or women's?"
"Men," my mother replied.
The woman picked up the ring carrier and set it on the counter and it displayed many different rings that were white gold.
"We have more if you want to take a look," she paused and looked at us. "Is this your mom?" She asked and I nodded and she smiled, "Lucky woman." She said. My mom chuckled, replying, "She's the one getting married," she pointed at me. The employees eyes traveled to me, "How old are you?" She asked.
I found the question slightly rude but decided not to say anything. "18..." I trailed and I saw her smile falter slightly and my face heated up at the reaction. I wanted to run out of the jewelry store.
She coughed, "Oh well, here you go then," she said, scooting the case toward me and I awkwardly pulled it even closer.
