Waterfalls || Yeonbin

chapter 38: control

Continuing on January 18, 1941

I counted houses until I reached Joan's, taking the train from Bletchley to get here. The house seemed fairly normal, brick with a white fence in the front. It's like how a standard house looks, but I quickened my step to get to the front door. I knocked loudly, putting the piece of paper Yeonjun had given me back into my coat pocket. I knocked again when nobody came to the door, but then it cracked open. It was Joan on the other side, her eyes widening as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, "Umm... Soobin, what're you—"

"Bringing you back to Bletchley Park." I quickly said, cutting her off.

She looked down at her feet, "I-I'm sorry. I can't."

I shook my head, "Unacceptable. You're brilliant and you belong on our taskforce. Cambridge should've given you a doctorate for the amount of intelligence you hold."

She sighed, bringing her hand up to gently tuck a loose strand of hair behind her ear. I was surprised when she opened the door wider, saying, "Come inside. It's awfully cold."

I hesitated before stepping inside, taking off my hat and gloves. Some of the snow fell off my clothes as she closed the door behind me, giving a guilty little smile when it fell on the floor. She lightly laughed, saying, "Take your coat off and hang it up. I'll make us some tea."

She gave me a small smile as she pointed behind me, showing me where the closet was. I nodded, taking my coat off and hanging it, trying to push it away from the other coats since it was wet with snow. I heard someone coming down the stairs, making me turn my head. I assumed it was Joan's father, an older looking man with thin-framed glasses. He raised an eyebrow at me, "Who are you?"

I smiled, reaching my hand out once he got to the bottom of the stairs, "Soobin Choi, sir. I'm one of Joan's colleagues."

He was stern, even though he was a few centimeters shorter. His gaze was strong, ignoring my politeness and crossing his arms over his chest instead, "And why are you here? Last time I checked, I didn't give you an invitation into my house."

I pulled my hand back to me, holding them behind my back like Yeonjun does, "Apologies, sir. Joan let me inside."

He scoffed a bit, rolling his eyes as he said, "My daughter thinks she can do whatever she wants. Thinks she can bring any boy into my house—"

"Papa!..." I heard Joan say from behind me, turning my head to her. She was standing in the doorframe of the kitchen, but sighed and moved closer to me, only able to hear the clicking of her heels, "Soobin is a friend, so leave him be."

She linked her arm with mine once she got over to me, tugging a bit as she added, "Tea's steeping. We can talk at the table."

I gave a little bow to her father before following her through the kitchen and into the dining room. I noticed how pristine everything was, even the table and chairs are a massive step up from the set at my house. The teapot was beautiful; and intricate design painted on it with two matching teacups and saucers. It made me realize that her family must be more on the traditional side, which is very unlike Joan.

"Now, I know you didn't come all this way for tea." She remarked, sitting politely in her chair; back straight and fingers interlaced in front of her.

All of her movements seemed to be a bit unnatural, almost controlled like a machine. Her eyes kept going back and forth from me to the kitchen, making my furrow my eyebrows. I looked behind me, seeing both her mother and her father in the kitchen, looking away and pretending to clean when I turned my head. I got the hint, noticing how they weren't really doing anything and must be listening to our conversation. I cleared my throat as I turned back to Joan, saying, "I would like to ask why you left."

She dryly swallowed, picking the teapot up and pouring the hot liquid into our cups, "I thought it would be better to stay home. A single woman like me shouldn't be working in a man's field. I should be settling down and finding a husband." She replied. Even her voice is different as she speaks here.

I clenched my fist under the table, knowing that was her parents talking and using her as a medium. I rolled my eyes at the bigotry, knowing her parents can't see what I'm doing. I wanted to say what I truly thought, but I needed to convince her parents, not Joan, "There are a lot of women there just like you."

She put the teapot down, quietly replying, "I should be focusing my attention to my childbearing years." I could see the discomfort in her figure and tone as she said that, and it made me even angrier.

I didn't know what to say next, but I smiled softly when I thought of an idea in my head. Casually picking up my saucer and grabbing the cup with my hand, thinking about whether I should do this. I brought it up to my lips, pondering whether this would be a good idea or not, but I had to at least try. We needed Joan back with us if we're ever going to break Enigma, and I wasn't about to give up this easily. I gently placed my teacup back down on the saucer, resting it back on the table as I said, loud enough so her parents would hear, "The real reason I came here was to ask you to marry me."