𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐃𝐨

【21】

The next morning, Thanksgiving Day, which Yeji and the Bennett family will not be celebrating, Yeji went out to a local cafe that was open and got everyone surprise breakfast pastries and coffee. Lia knew she was going to get it, but no one but Yeji knew that she was getting it for the whole family. Lia didn't seem to get the hint when Yeji asked her about her parents' coffee preferences the night before.

She came back, exiting the chauffeur's car and thanking them with her hands filled. One hand with a cup holder and then the other with a bag of sweets. She quickly regretted not texting Lia to open the door for her, because now she'll have to put things down just to get the keys out of her pocket.

But luckily as she approached, the door opened, John spoke to her daughter, hugging her before his departure. When Yeji saw that Lia was crying, she nearly dropped everything.

"What happened? I was only gone for half an hour." She said, her voice filled with worry.

John turned at the sound of her voice, approaching her slowly, taking the things out of her hands to put on the foyer table inside, then he took her in for a papa bear hug. Yeji was honestly confused at first, she didn't even hug back, she was so confused. Lia smiled at her, so she knew it was something good.

"Uh, John? Sir?'

The man released the hug, his hands on Yeji's shoulders, "In just one month of knowing my daughter, you've protected her from so much, went through so much so she wouldn't have to. As a father, I could never ask for her to bring him someone better, Yeji. Thank you, just thank you. I don't usually condone violence, but for what you did to that man that touched my daughter. Thank you." He hugged her again and this time, Yeji hugged him back.

"I'm happy to, John. Your daughter is a very special woman, I'll put my life on the line easily for her. And I know she'd do the same for me."

She was happy that John accepted them, beyond happy. But more than that, she was happy that Lia got to talk with her father about everything, one on one, no secrets. If only her mother was as open.

They opened up the hug and told Lia to join with laughs, she smiled and went in between them to be sandwiched by their love. Their love meant so much. The world.

"I was thinking- oh." Munyeong approached, seeing everyone huddled together. It hurt her heart more than she could bear, knowing she didn't belong in that hug because of how she's treated the couple since they arrived. At the end of the day, she just wanted to be there for her daughter.

She pursed her lips together, her eyes pooling with tears of regret. She felt awkward now.

She looked down and turned to walk away and let them be their own family. She has to fix this, hopefully they give her a chance. God knows she's used every single one of them already and crossed every line. And why would they give her a chance? She didn't even have it in her heart to give them any.

"Honey?" John called her to stop her from walking away.

The woman turned around on her heel, "Y-yes?" She thought she may get yelled at, and she was scared because she knew she deserved it.

"You can join us, but only if you're ready to accept this. I think they'd be willing to give you another chance." He pitched, earning nods from the couple.

Munyeong stood a bit shocked, wondering how they could be this forgiving already. Or maybe she wasn't forgiven yet, they were just ready to hear her out only if she was ready to hear them out as well.

She stared at them all, glancing back and forth on the couple, and stopping on Lia. Her bright sunshine. One of her few wills to live. A part of her, someone she brought into the world, knowing that the way she comes out is not her fault, nor is it a disease.