LOVE, AN ODDBALL

chapter 1 - the eyes of judgement

"Just where is it, grandpa? I cannot find you at all!" She just about to enter the restaurant with her fingers scratching her tip of mouth for being itchy since the moment she got out from the taxi, wandering around the area of the massive door she just entered, hanging up from talking to her grandpa on the phone. "What he even doing in here? 도대체? (Whaaaaaai?) Did he won some big lotto or what? 우라 할아보지 어디 잊이?( where is my beloved grandpa?" She kept on looking around to find her precious while her mouth is mumbling all sorts of things because of her grandpa's unusual behavior of inviting her in such a luxurious dine restaurant. From far she caught her grandpa looking at the person infront him so seriously, she tried to wave but her grandpa couldn't see her at all, so she walked towards him in the fast paced before she noticed who were the people that joined them at the table. "Harabeoji....?" She calls her grandpa while staring at those people who are staring at her as well. "Ooooh, Eun gi-ya! Finally!" Grandpa Eun sik couldn't hide his excitement after seeing the arrival of his beloved granddaughter and quickly asking her to sit beside him.

".....mwoya iggae?" Addilyn talked to herself while staring at the people infront of her and her grandpa. "Oh, Eun gi-ya. Insahae, it's your longtime favorite Jungseok harabeoji. You used to love him when you were such an adorable child." said grandpa to Addi. Addi nodded her head towards the said person and to the other person as well. "Annyeonghaseyo. I'm sorry, I don't remember it well..." said Addi and adjusted herself to sit more comfortable on the her chair. The silent echoes around their table as Addi ignorantly greeted them and just absently looking around. "Aigoo, it's okay! We will make you remember us again!" says the one old woman besides the grandpa that she just greeted.

Addi's POV:

"Harabeoji, why are you asking me to come over? I thought you gonna make me some traditional foods you promised for me at your home!" I really cannot comprehend for the fact that I just arrived to South Korea a week ago, just to be in some arrangement meeting of longtime family that I don't remember I have one except Harabeoji. The moment I arrived to Harabeoji's house with Auntie Shaerin, I noticed Harabeoji always tried to slow talk to me about marriage. He had the audacity to show me the picture of my childhood friend that I don't remember his existence. He said that I used to play with him when we were just a child before I moved to US to stay there with Auntie Shaerin. After Ma and Pa died from the car accident, I never get to stay with Harabeoji, he chose to let me grow up outside the country and let Auntie Shaerin took care of me.
Now, after I decided to listen to all of his advices and requests about the marriage with him, he really ensured himself that I will agree for the arranged marriage. And, I can't believe today is the day where I'll be meeting them and the groom-to be. I can't even take a serious look on the man that Harabeoji ask me to marry with. He looked as annoyed as me with the current situation from just a flash of look!

THREE DAYS AGO WITH HARABEOJI:

"Eun-gi ya! Take a look at this picture of him. Doesn't he look decent enough for you? I am so happy both of you grew up so beautiful. As beautiful as the promise I made to Jungseokkie. HAHAHAHA." I walked towards harabeoji and quickly snapped the photo from his hand and just blankly stare at the old photo of the groom-to be. "He was as ugly as me, what do you mean? Where should I specifically look at, harabeoji?" I answered sternly, and heaves a heavy sigh before the picture that I held got taken away from harabeoji. "Ya, igeon malgo. Igeeeeo, Eun-gi ya." He put the said picture on my hand the way I held the first picture before. I took a look before gasping a huge excitement. "Aaaaaaah, igeeeeeeeo?!" The man in the picture looks definitely couldn't be more decent that I want. He is the most adorable thing I've seen since the moment I arrived at this country. "This is him, NOW?!" I asked harabeoji, with some ugly squeals. "HAHAHAAHAHA. Wae? Johahae?" Harabeoji winked at me, while slowly patting my back. "I know you will like him, you always like handsome boys since you were a little kid. I know you." He covered his mouth, adorably I might faint seeing him being so happy infront of me.
"Ani! Shireo! I don't like him!" I lied just to see his reaction. "Ani, look at him properly." His eyebrows started to furrow a bit, worried of my reaction. "Aigoo, this kid. You cannot be like this towards me, you don't know how much I want this wish to be fulfil." Suddenly his mood changed. "Geojitmalliya. (I just lieeeeeed. 😜)" I told him, and it immediately changed him to smile again. "This man is a successful man, he looks handsome, he knows how to work and speak in such a proper mannerism. I clipped him in my mind for you. You really need to consider Harabeoji's wish." He talked non-stop.
I almost want to cover his mouth from speaking the same things again for several days. "Ah, I get it. You've told me about him since the day I arrived. Am I just worth of your wish?!" I pretended to sulk. He heaved a sigh. "It's not like that. I did this because I love you. You are the only one for me. I want the best for you since before you were born. I am not going to make your life as simple as me. I want you to have an honor of life. Marrying him will do you great. Jungseokkie promised me that too!" He started to make a speech of life again. "I like him, I already told you that so many times. I get it. I'll do what you want, Harabeoji." I hugged him to ensure that I am willing to do as he wish. Besides, I think this is the only way I can stay here, not far away from Ma and Pa, and I can visit them as much as I want. And I don't have to live so strictly with Auntie Shaerin. She's making me living such a strict life with strict diet and schedule of studies, I thought I will become a soldier.

AT THE DINE TABLE, IN THE PRESENT:

"i'm sorry I was just pretending to not knowing you guys. Harabeoji has reminded me and told me about Jungseok harabeoji and Onjin halmeoni so many times. I remembered after I saw some photos from Harabeoji's album. But, I never know that I'll be meeting both of you...and Jungwon...niee, today." I explained to them, awkwardly, trying to live up the mood that has been sinking from the moment I decided to answer them ignorantly before. But their laughs made me jumped a little bit. "Ahahahaha, neomu sarangseropda. Eojjeom joha. I really like her since she was a child. She looked funny and adorable. Just like Jungwonnie." Then, my eyes shifted to the last figure that I tried to ignore from meeting his eyes. His eyes give out so much feelings that I think he might explode from something anytime soon. So, I decided to smile at him, just a soft smile. But he looked away from me and excused himself from the meet up. "Excuse me. I need to go to the toilet for a minute." He don't have the deep voice that is going to melt you, he has such a soft and sultry voice, that sounds like if he sings, he might sing well.

"Do you remember Wonnie, too? Do you remember you use to tease him so much that he always told you off to us?" ask Jungseok harabeoji. I nodded slowly. "Even though I don't remember his ugly face-" just before I get to finish my sentences, harabeoji started to choke on his saliva, startled by what I just said. Three of them laughed pleasantly saying that they always love my carefree and outspoken personality. I don't really enjoy the dinner throughout the night, so does Jungwon, he never speak if you don't question him. I can count how many sentences that came out from his mouth. Utter disappointment. But I cannot lie, I like how well he looks, from the way his face lights up the room, until the moment his dimples showed up. I secretly looked at him just to make sure he is the same ugly kid I played with when we were child. I felt bad for him though. While walking them to their car, I noticed that they are definitely from the moneymaker family.
Compared to me and harabeoji, we are just living as simple as we can. Harabeoji is more like a traditional person, he never spend anything so lavioushly. To compare with him, I am probably a person that they can pay, to work for them. I looked at Jungwon for the last time and he never turn his eyes towards me, he only greeted harabeoji and left to drive the car. Jungseok harabeoji and Onjin halmeoni decided to hug me and patting my head, adoring me just like their granddaughter that makes me relief that they like me for the way I am. Again, comparing myself, physically and visually from their grandson, I look like a bean, the hideous one, fat and short. I waved them away and locked my arms to my grandpa and walk away together. "It is decided, alright. We will make it as soon as possible. The wedding." Harabeoji ensured me once again and I just nodded softly and smiled at him. We both walked into the old car that Auntie Shaerin drives us anywhere. The night has never feel so long to me especially after knowing that I might get marry to someone who doesn't match at all with me.