Finally, after the pandemic made it impossible, Mina had tickets to Seoul. 2025 was her year. 24 years old and solo, she was ready to walk Korean soil. The discoveries would be endless, the expected and the happily unexpected.
(Part 2 coming soon)
Namjoon's POV "She is?! When? She read my face. "Today? Dear God, where are we going? How do I need to act? What do I say? What do I wear?"
Surprise? "I didn't know she wanted to meet you this time, but she insisted."
She looked under the tree. "Guess I'll be able to give this one to her in person." She put it on the table. "Or is it too much? She certainly won't have one for me. Do we even know what she thinks about us?"
"It's you, so it's not too much. Besides, it's lunch, not an interview. You'll be just fine." I watched her scan the closet. "She's not a fashion icon. She doesn't care what you wear!" I crossed my arms. "She surely has an opinion, not that it should matter because the facts didn't come from me."
She glanced at me. "Well, that is not very reassuring, is it?" She finally picked something. "That should do.." She got dressed. "If it came from you, I'd have an idea of how she could feel. Media twists so much. I'm a somewhat younger foreign woman."
I gave her shoulders a squeeze. "Who has a great knowledge of Hangul and Korean things. Don't stress it out too much. I don't even know how my mother will act, so we're in the same boat. Deal?"
She sighed and hugged me tight. "Deaaaaal."
I pat her head. "You're such a baby~"
She pouted and pulled back. "I'm not. I'm anxious!" She didn't sound like it. "Let's get there before I change my mind."
Mina's POV We arrived first. When we saw her pass the door, we stood up and bowed down. I did so, a bit lower than I should have just to be safe. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs."
Namjoon pulled a chair up for her. "There you go, mom."
She motioned for us to sit. "Nice to meet you too, Miss. You don't have to bow so low, I don't deserve that much respect."
I sat down last. "You're Namjoon's mother, it is deserved."
She turned to her son. "She's a sweet talker, huh? Your girlfriend." She looked at me. "You're the first one he's presented me to since his highschool years."
Her son scratched his nape. "Because I want to present my family to people who occupy a definite place in my life, mom."
I served all of us water, other hand supporting my wrist. She seemed pleased. "Did you coach her before coming here? Her manners are better than my own."
I denied. "I assure you I'm not better than you, Mrs. I appreciate the compliment. How have you been lately? Are you enjoying the Holidays?"
She smiled. "I've been well, thank you for asking. I spent Christmas with my daughter." She took a sip of water. "I suppose you're busy on New Year's Eve, Namjoon?"
He was apologetic. "As every other Idol, I'm afraid."
She sighed. "You'll leave her to celebrate alone? It's not a way to spend a Holiday!"
He denied. "She'll be there with me."
She turned to me. "He's making you work on that night? You worked every award show, have you not?"
"I have, but I'll be watching." I explained. "To me, it's spending time with my friends since I'm friends with his bandmates and other Idols. My friend Meganne is going to be there as well."
It seemed to reassure her. "I see. I'm glad then. I hope you get to see eachother during the time you're here. My son is a bit of a workaholic."
He muffled his laugh. "So is she. I showed you her work and her business. She's great."
"You don't have to sell your girlfriend to me. Mina-ssi is quite talented and kind. She can speak for herself. I'm surprised at her language skills to begin with." She seemed intrigued. "I read you're the kind to make statements with or without speaking..Do you think your foreign background is what makes you so bold? I can understand why it can seem problematic."
My boyfriend seemed offended. "Mom-"
She didn't seem upset at all. I stopped him. "It's alright. I think I've always been opinionated, being outspoken came as I grew up. I have a strong sense of justice. It lead me to put effort in causes that matter to me. I've been told I'm an eloquent speaker. I stand for what I believe in. I don't seek fire, but start it and I'll make it burn. If I'm doing my things on my side and get told I'm being too flashy or extra, I show them what extra is." I had to say it. "Besides, it may not be my place to say this, but if I speak on a topic, I'm too outspoken. However, have it out of a man's mouth it's so innovative and new age."
She nodded and looked at her son. "I understand why you like her. She's like you. You always wanted to change the world. You got someone with the same drive." She smiled. "You must drive eachother insane at times, no? You surely can't easily win an argument?"
That made Joonie laugh. "She does bring a lot of good points, but I think we're adult enough to have conversations in conflict instead of arguments."
I corrected him. "We do argue sometimes, but we have similar values and we enjoy learning from eachother. Small things just pass."
She put her hand on mine. What would she say? "How old are you, dear?"
That was unexpected. "I'm twenty five." I tried not to make it sound like a question.
"Ah, so young. I'll be honest with you. I'd never dare be this bold and expose my opinions to the public, but I rarely agree with my son on these topics either. What I like about the way you express yourself is that you don't point fingers at the old generation or groups of people. I think it's very Korean of you. You respect your elders." It was? "I wish we can meet again soon. You seem like a nice young woman."
I bowed my head slightly. "Thank you Mrs-"
She stopped me. "Call me, mother. He did say you were the permanent kind of lady. I think you earned that."
"Thank you, mother. I appreciate our conversation."
Namjoon's POV I never thought I'd see this with my own two eyes. Miny sat on the couch back home. "Your mom seemed pleased with her gift don't you think?"
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I smiled sitting down next to her, handing her some coffee. "I think what she liked is that you said she could give some to her friends and my aunties."
She chuckled. "Maybe."
Did she not notice? "I've never seen my mom being this nice before."
"You're her son, of course she'd be nice if she asked us to meet."
Suuure. I was pleased tho. "You didn't have to get the cheque."
She frowned. "Of course, I did. I wasn't letting her pay."
"You paid my share." I said giving her a playful look.
"I'm not a princess!" She admitted proudly. "I can pay for things, especially for the man I love, huh? Let me treat you to food once in a while! It makes me happy."
