Blurred Lens

Discovery

'Then, on my way home I picked up some groceries. They were actually really heavy so I caught the bus back to the apartment,' you explained, wondering around the flat and dusting any ornaments to preoccupy your hands whilst you caught up with your mam on the phone.

'Be careful on the bus, Y/N. Make sure no one follows you home,' Mam lectured, the poor connection quieting her voice on the mobile. 

She often worried about you living alone, reading all the scary stories of the city on Facebook helped prove her case each day. On your 18th birthday a month ago, she'd stayed up all night and stood firmly on her decision to pick you up outside the club. No matter how much you'd resisted, she wouldn't budge. Once you got in the car, she further insisted to drop all your friends off safely. Everyone crammed in, no ones laps were empty, and mam spent all night returning everyone home by creating a route around the city. It was a sweet gesture, but everyone, including yourself, was fighting the battle of appearing sober.

'I meant to tell you something else...' Mam continued, tutting quietly under her breath. 'Ah! That was it - I was speaking to Ari on the phone the other night.'

Ari was your mam's childhood friend who'd moved to Thailand a couple years back to live with her boyfriend, now husband. They'd met on a work trip or something. You'd never actually met Ari, but mam talked fondly of her and you could imagine she was a sweet soul.

'I didn't know this, but her son moved to South Korea a few months back - just outside of Seoul actually,' Mam uttered. You heard the faint click of the kettle turn on and predicted she was making her night-time herbal tea.

'He moved for his job I think - anyway. He's only a bit older than you and Ari suggested we set the both of you up... I don't want to put any pressure on the two of you, but if he's anything like his mother I think the both of you will click wonderfully,' she said with a content tone. She began humming happily, awaiting your response.

'Oh,' you exclaimed, surprised at this sudden proposition. You'd never even heard of Ari's son before. 'That's... an idea. But I can't sorry, Mam.'

You imagined Jungkook sitting on your sofa, giggling at the thought of your mam trying to get you to go on a blind date with a friend's son.

'You can't?' she replied, the humming stopping abruptly. 'Give me one good reason why not?'

Ugh, you'd hoped she'd just drop it at your obvious aversion.

'Um... work,' you stuttered. 'Work is so hectic right now. I just don't have the time.' This couldn't have been further from the truth, but you prayed your mum would eat it up.

'Don't be ridiculous! From our conversations, Y/N, it seems like you have too much time on your hands.' 

Right, well that excuse went bust.

Truthfully, you hadn't told your mam you were seeing Jungkook because she could be a bit full on and ambush you with an entire interview, no matter how small the issue was. You'd given a few too many details about a rude customer in the past. By the next time you called, mam had thoroughly researched the customer's history and had practically planned an ambush. You quickly calmed her and tore up her ideas, but the lesson had been learned. And there was of course the worry that if she did know, she'd somehow find out about Jungkook's wedding.

Ugh, the wedding. Each time it entered your mind it devastated you and you questioned everything. So the easy solution was too, once again, press it down and pretend everything was normal.

'Mam, I appreciate the offer, but I'd rather not be set up right now,' you muttered, slightly embarrassed that your mam felt the need to interfere with your love life.