Minjeong took the earliest direct flight to London. Stopping by to meet his parents first. Just like his uncle, his parents also had a huge estate. A tennis court, heated indoor swimming pool, you name it, they had it all.
But his parents decided to stay in a small quaint house at the back.
He rang the bell, and greeted by the warmest hug from his mother.
"Jeongie! You're here! Why didn't you call us first? Where's Karina?" his mother looked behind him. Minjeong smiled, "Mother, would you mind inviting me to go inside first?"
Tired from the long flight, Minjeong sank into the couch in their living room. Not as comfortable as a bed, but this satisfied him enough.
His father entered the living room wearing a frilly apron and a spatula in his hand.
"Oh, you're here. I am just about done with dinner, would you like to join us?" his father asked, clearly knowing the answer. He quickly jogged back into the kitchen.
His father is authoritative but he also had his tender sides. He would not allow his mother to cook as she had burned her hands once. More like a singe, but in his father's eyes, a third degree burn.
"So, where's Karina?" his mother continued to ask.
Minjeong sat upright in the couch, stretching his back, "In LA. Working. How are you guys?"
"Same old same old. Your father still won't let me near the stove," his mother hu!ed.
"Food is ready!" his father yelled from the dining room.
"Let's hurry or he's going to sulk at us," his mother ushered him to the dining room.
The dinner transported him back to his childhood, the only di!erence now is that his sister is absent. No one to steal his pudding away this time. They finished the dinner feeling full. His father went into the kitchen and came back with his signature cheesecake and wine.
Minjeong studfed his face into the sinfully creamy slice. He looked up only to see his parents smiling at him.
"I'm so proud of you. We are proud of you," his father said.
Feeling shy, Minjeong took the wine glass and sipped on it, hiding his face away from his parents.
"You haven't told us about why you're here, Jeongie. Is anything bothering you?" his mother spoke to him in her sweet voice.
Minjeong put the glass back on the coaster. Suddenly remembering the reason why he's there. "I would like to ask for your blessings to marry Karina," he said confidently.
His parents laughed. His mother got up from her sit and went to hug him. Ruffling through his hair. She looked at her husband,
"Look at our son."
"Of course you have our blessings," she pat his cheeks before leaving him alone with his father. His father took a bite of the cheesecake, "Karina is a nice lady. Um, is Jennie still, uh,"
He looked at his father, "Still what, father? Still gay? Yes, she is. I know you don't like her for that. But you don't have to make it obvious."
His father stared at him, "It's not like I don't like her. I just don't approve of her exes, that's all." Minjeong sat in disbelief, "How long have you known?"
"She's my daughter. I keep on waiting for the day that she would tell me about it, but I guess it would never come. I just want her to be brave, to trust in herself," his father said, now sipping on the wine.
Minjeong followed suit, finishing the wine in one go.
"It's the brunette, isn't it? The day at your uncle's funeral. I saw how she looked at your sister, just like how I looked at your mother," his father smiled.
"Jeongie, here," his mother came into the dining room. Passing him two suede boxes.
Minjeong opened the box, his breath stuck somewhere in his lungs. A beautiful white gold ring sat flushed between the slit. His paternal grandmother's ring, and in the other, his maternal's.
"Your grandmothers' ring," his mother looked at his father sadly. "One for you, and one for Jennie." His father poured himself another glass, "Take a good care of Karina. And do not play with her heart." Minjeong nodded, smiling sheepishly while scooping another bite.
He made his parents promise not to tell anyone about his visit there, including to his sister. He arrived in LA almost 12 hours later, getting his well deserved sleep in the plane. He decided to stay in his uncle's hotel instead of going home.
Hey, would you mind bringing me my outfit for the party to the hotel?
-Where are you? Why don't you just come here?
Don't tell anyone, including Jisoo. But I'm staying at uncle's hotel.
-You really ought to come home. She's different when you're not here.
Not right now, Jennie.
-Are you guys fighting?
Would you please bring me my outfit? Please, Jennie?
-Fine. You owe me one.
He heard the doorbell rang, he got up groggily from the couch, "Hold on a moment." He opened the door and there stood his sister holding a black clothes cover.
She squinted her eyes, "What are you doing here and not at home?"
"Come on in first, and give me that," he snatched the cover away from Jennie.
"Did you know how hard it is for me to sneak out? Especially with this humongous thing?" she complained. Minjeong closed the door behind him, "Thank you, I really appreciate it."
"So you haven't told me the reason why you're here," Jennie turned to look at him, arms crossed.
Minjeong took out the boxes from his luggage, and placed in on the coffee table, "Because of this."
Jennje took one of it, taking a good look at the ring, "Nana's ring? They gave it to you?"
Minjeong nodded his head, "One for you, and one for me." He took his coffee cup and grimaced. Not as good as Yizhuo's .
"Father, did he, talk about me?" Jennie said, playing with the box in her hand.
He placed the coffee back down on the table, "You should talk to father. He knows about you and Jisoo, by the way."
Jennie paused, "Is he mad?"
"No, he just wants you to talk to him," Minjeong smiled.
"The meeting? How did it actually go?" Jimin asked. Minjeong laughed, "Gave them a lecture of how they were stuck in the 80s. Just kidding. I name dropped you, father too. Showed them the profits when you took over behind the scene and how you used to work under Uncle's guidance, and that seems to work."
Only less than a day and a half to the party, Minjeong rushed to prepare for his surprise.
