EASILY

37

You're A Sour Patch Kid

Hearing Moonbyul sob early this morning was one of the worst sounds I've ever heard, sure I've seen and heard her cry before. First when she thought I was going to leave her because she was a multimillionaire, when she got really frustrated after a dance class and broke down into tears as soon as she walked into the apartment a few months ago. Whenever I cry basically, and every time we watch Lion King, but this one was different. This was a cry from a child desperately missing a parent, I didn't know how to fix that, I didn't know how to soothe that ache in her heart. I did what I thought would help her, and that was holding her. I held her as tight as I could, hoping my love would pour out of my arms and seep deep into her skin, past her bones and muscles, and suffocate her heart. It took everything for me not to cry, so I would quickly wipe my own tears away every time one would betray me and fall out of my eyes. One of us needed to be strong, Byul needed me to be strong for her.

I made Moonbyul breakfast, knowing how much she enjoys breakfast food, and we rollerbladed through Seoul Park. As we learned with ice skating, skating isn't really my calling, but we had so much fun and the smile on Moonbyul's face was worth it. We planned to cook dinner together and then hit the town for some drinks later with Hwasa, Seojoon, and Wheein. I was sure everything was going to be okay today as long as I could keep Byul's mind off of her parents, who probably weren't going to come. But as soon as we got back to the penthouse, where I had planned on making love and cuddling with Byul, our plans quickly changed when her mom was waiting for us in the lobby.

She looks exactly like Moonbyul, the same silky smooth hair, and those bright eyes, it's so cute, and she seems like such a nice lady. I mean she acknowledged my presence and gave me a bone-crushing hug, which I should have been prepared for considering the hugs that Byul gives me. After Moonbyul got over the initial shock of her mom actually coming and the disappointment of her dad not coming, and then the anger of her dad not allowing her younger brothers. Who I really wanted to meet since they are so freakin cute in the pictures I've seen, to come, a huge smile spread across her face and she clutched to her mom tightly while they embraced. I couldn't control how fast my heart swelled to probably triple its size when I saw the smile on Moonbyul's face. Now I know and understand the feeling that Moonbyul gets when she sees me with my parents, seeing someone you love interacting with a family member it's a priceless feeling.

"Yongsun, Moonbyul gushed about how pretty you are, but you are gorgeous darling. You are truly a burst of bright sunshine," Her mom smiles when their embrace finally breaks.

I blush and look down quickly. "Thanks, Mrs. Yi and that's why I got Solar as the nickname," I reply shyly as Moonbyul wraps her arm around my waist and kisses me on the cheek.

"Yongsun doesn't take compliments too well, mom," Moonbyul teases me while laughing slightly. "She gets all shy and even cuter."

"Well, then you'll be blushing for a few days," Her mother laughs. "I can't wait to taste your cooking. Moonbyul e-mails pictures to me of your dishes almost daily."

"Byul," I say softly while blushing again.

"Isn't she cute when she blushes mom?" Moonbyul smiles, which makes me blush even harder. "Her cheeks get all rosy," She adds while poking my cheek.

"Stop, Byul," I laugh out softly while swatting her hand.

"You two are so cute," Her mom replies with a big smile, which relaxes me since I wasn't sure how her mom would take to us as a couple. "So, do I get to see this awesome penthouse you've been working on all this time sweetheart, or do I have to sleep down here, on the couch over there," She asks while pointing to the small leather couch in the corner of the lobby.