✰ Rap Star ⤑ Changlix

33

I stand before the door of a practical mansion, my hand tightening around Changbin's. I swallow any excess saliva in my throat. I'd be lying if I say I'm not scared half to death. I'm not rich. I've never been to a super formal dinner. Those things about knowing what forms to use for which dish, I have no clue any of that actually exists. Thankfully Changbin is beside me to guide me through it. Otherwise, I'd be screwed.
The door opens and the two of us are greeted with the familiar face of his older sister. I release a breath I've been holding. She smiles gently at me and nods for us to come inside. The floors are shiny as can be and there's a chandelier that I have a huge urge to take a picture of. I don't. I simply let Changbin pull me toward wherever we are meeting his parents. When we stand in front of another big door, my boyfriend releases my hand and gives me a reassuring smile.
"It'll be okay. Just act like your normal self."
"That's going to be hard when I feel like I'm meeting a queen and king. Why is your house so big?"
"Why do you think I moved out?" He whispers back. The doors open and Changbin's sister leads us inside. There waiting at a decently sized dining table is Changbin's parents. I quickly bow to them. When I return to my standing position, I see them smiling at me. My heart skips a few beats, I swear. We take our seats, and although awkward, Mrs. Seo starts the first topic in conversation.
"Thank you for coming tonight. I can't remember the last time I've seen my boy here eating with us," she says, her gaze cast toward me.
I smile, hands clenching in my lap as I think up what to say. "Thank you for inviting us. I'm sorry for springing such surprising news onto you so suddenly. Changbin and I are really happy you reached out to us to set this up," I say back.
Mr. Seo turns to me, offering me a gaze I can't quite unravel. I think he likes me. I'm not sure. "You mentioned you moved from Australia only a year ago, correct?"
"Yes, sir."
"How long ago did you meet Changbin?"
I look at my boyfriend. He hasn't said a thing. I think he's way more nervous then I am. I'll do the talking for now. "Actually sir, our six month anniversary is next week," I inform.
"You should tell us how you met. I'm curious to know about all the details," Mrs. Seo speaks next. It's like a game. One after another a new question is thrown my way.
"Well, it all started when my friend Hyunjin asked me to come clubbing with him. I'm not much of a clubber. At least, I wasn't before I met Changbin. I studied hard and often times fell asleep in the library. My whole life I've never found anything I've ever been super passionate about. It felt very repetitive. Somehow I ended up agreeing with my friend to go, and it just so happens that night Changbin was performing. I didn't like rap actually. I used to think rappers were people wasting their life on a few years of fame. When I heard Changbin sing that night, I completely fell for his voice. It's unique and amazing. It brought a new prospective to my life. I was curious and wanted to know who he was. Why he had such an amazing tone and why he was a rapper." I smile at the memories. It feels like it happened so long ago, but really, it wasn't.
"I can totally see where you are coming from. I thought the same way," Mrs. Seo says, chuckling lightly.
"When did you start talking?" Changbin's sister asks.
Changbin clears his throat and looks at his plate. I can see his ears are turning red. He speaks through the embarrassment. "Jisung's fiancé, Minho, is friends with Felix. I mentioned that the other night at dinner with his family. Minho told Jisung that during the talent show there would be a performer trying to get our attention. So naturally we all went to check this person out. It was Felix. He rapped on stage in front of so many people."
"Don't remind me. I was so scared. The feeling was almost too much. I remember passing out after I stepped off the stage," I tell the group, my hand covering my mouth.
"Quite the pursuit," Mr. Seo jokes.
I laugh with a nod of my head. "The first time we met was the day after that performance of his. He was all shy in front of Chris, Jisung, and I," Changbin continues to explain.
"I could have sworn Changbin was the least bit interested in me. He was standing there looking at his phone like we wasn't meeting a fan at all," I tell them, thanking a maid that sets down a plate of food down in front of me. They are called maids still, right? I should look it up when I get home.
"I wasn't disinterested I was just looking over my new classes, trying to memorize where they all were. You wouldn't look at me either way, so it felt awkward to just stand there and look at you. Anyway, I bumped into Felix later that day and almost broke his phone. We talked a bit after I apologized and he got my number. After that, it kind of just happened. The timing just felt right on every occasion." Changbin pushes around his food, occasionally glancing up at his parents.
"Your son is actually really good at charming people," I whisper not so quietly.
Mr. Seo laughs and nods his head. "Back in my day when I..." he continues to talk about how he pursued his wife and then about the days they spent fighting before eventually getting married. It's a sweet story. I find myself enjoying every second of it. Even after we've finished our meals we talk some more.
"So, Felix, you are in business management?"
"Yes, Ma'am," I assure my boyfriends mother.
"You are only a first year. You can't possibly have any plans yet, do you?"
My smile wavers a bit. "Not yet. I do know that I want to find something I can be happy with. And since Changbin wants to go after producing, I want to be able to find something that can support him as well. Sitting in an office doesn't sound that amazing. If it's the right kind of atmosphere though, I'm sure I'll make it."
"Have you ever thought of fashion?"
"Mom," Changbin's voice comes out stern, his hand placing down the utensil in it.
I shoot Changbin a glare. He backs down instantly. "Actually, Changbin mentioned that my friend Hyunjin works as a model intern for your family's fashion label. Minho and Hyunjin have been pestering me for a while to think about a career in that field. I was hoping to ask for some tips on how to decide if it's the right thing for me."
The night continues on with chats about a career in fashion and some other fun things like Changbin when he was younger. By the time we get back to my place, we are exhausted. "At least they didn't scream at me," I say playfully to Changbin.
"I feel like I'm about to go into a coma," he responds.
"I think I did quite good, darling."
"Amazing as always. Can we sleep now?"