Love Beyond Expectations

Chapter 28: A Korean Family Reunion

As Suho parked the car near the picturesque park where the family reunion was taking place, he couldn't help but feel a mix of anxiety and excitement. He had invited Zuri to this event, partly to avoid the relentless nagging from his Aunt Dede about his single status, but mostly because he genuinely wanted her to be there. The thought of introducing her to his extended Korean family felt both daunting and heartwarming.

Zuri, sitting beside him in the car, looked equally apprehensive. She wore a beautiful dress, and her eyes darted around as they approached the gathering. Suho noticed the small signs of nervousness in her fidgeting hands.

The rest of their entourage had arrived as well. Suho's parents, Joon, and his wife, along with their three young kids, joined them, making the group quite substantial.

When he and Zuri arrived at the park, it was evident that there had already been a considerable amount of planning that went into the setup for this event. As he escorted her around the scenic grounds, the gazebo and a nearby pond were a tranquil backdrop to this otherwise bustling setting.

"I didn't expect you're mom to force you to invite me to meet your family, so we're making an impression and your extended relatives get to meet me?" Zuri spoke, noticing the way Suho was greeting every guest individually.

"We're making sure the cousins are actually still friends, yes. Trust me when I say it is essential." Suho replied, a serious expression appearing on his face.

Zuri and Suho finally reached his family's spot where his aunt was standing there already. Aunt Dede, Suho's Father's sister, was known for her strong opinions and a no-nonsense approach to life. As soon as she saw Zuri, she couldn't contain her curiosity and waddled over, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"So this is the lucky young lady I've been hearing so much about," Aunt Dede exclaimed, her voice a gleeful trill. She sized Zuri up, a sparkle of approval in her eyes. Zuri squirmed under the scrutiny.

Suho interjected, saving Zuri from further discomfort. "Aunt Dede, this is my girlfriend, Zuri Davis," he said, placing a reassuring hand around Zuri's waist.

Aunt Dede nodded, her gaze lingering on Zuri, no doubt cataloging every detail in her mind. "It's wonderful to finally meet the person who's captured my nephew's heart," Aunt Dede exclaimed, her delight apparent. "We all thought he was gay for the longest time."

He gave his Aunt Dede a warm hug. "It's been far too long since your last visit," she chastised fondly, giving him a once-over with a loving smile. "I'm so excited for you both to settle down soon, we all can't wait for grandnephews or neices, maybe a little mixed-race baby!"

Suho felt his blood run cold as he choked out a feeble attempt to protest, "W-What? We've only recently started dating, Aunt Dede, and—"

Aunt Dede tutted, her impatience clear. "It's long overdue, my dear. No use delaying the inevitable," she stated matter-of-factly.

Zuri's eyes widened in surprise, and Suho turned a shade of red he didn't know he was capable of. He wasn't quite prepared for Aunt Dede's candid inquiries, and it seemed Zuri wasn't either. The shock hung in the air for a moment before Zuri stammered, "Uh, well, we haven't really talked about that yet."

"I would have hoped so," all three of them turned to see Suho's mother in tow with two of Joon's children. Suho could feel the dread building up as his mother stared him down. His Aunt Dede, usually a garrulous social butterfly, seemed to shrivel up under his mother's glare, despite the fact that she was bigger than both Suho and her.

The conversation moved to Joon's first born son, Kyung-soo, a bright and intelligent boy, and the group engaged in small talk. Suho felt himself relaxing as the focus was taken away from him and Zuri's blossoming relationship. He still hadn't gathered the courage to tell his mother the truth yet.