THE PRINCESS IS A GOOD GIRL

FINALE

-SIX YEARS LATER-

"I have to ambush you at work to see my princess? Dad is getting really sad."

"I only moved out six months ago," I giggled at my father's pouting face.

We were having lunch but I was still trying to do work. I had nothing else to think about now.

All I had was work.

With no distractions, I graduated early and top of my class at SNU. I did get a PhD as well. Recently my dad had appointed me as the head of the Lee Group Technology department. It was a fairly undeveloped area of the conglomerate but everyone was very excited to see what I would come up with.

I was excited and nervous.

It was a lot of pressure.

I barely had time to think about my time at Harvard. The girls and I had each other on social media but, we didn't have a lot of time to talk to one another anymore.

I blame it on the time difference and life.

"I miss you princess," my dad muttered ruffling my head. "You have to come over more often, your mom gets really sad."

"I'm trying to figure out this adult thing - I'm not good at balancing everything yet," I admitted pushing my tablet to the side. "I just want to make you guys proud."

"We were proud from the moment you were born."

My dad always knew what to say to make me feel better. I just love him so much.

"People will think you're showing me preferential treatment if you keep talking like that," I joked.

The headlines always said those sorts of things. To some extent I knew I was a nepo baby but I also worked really hard.

"I do give you preferential treatment... you're my daughter. Who else am I supposed to prefer?"

Dad and I continued joking back and forth. Us two having lunch and relaxing reminded me that I needed to interact with people beyond work people.

"You know your mom is throwing a family dinner this weekend right? She'll be sad if you don't come."

I missed eating homemade food so bad. I definitely was burning everything.
...

Jum and Baekhyun were being weird from the moment I arrived. I don't trust them when they're too excited or synchronised.

They're at the age where they hate each other, it isn't normal to get along.

"Why do you two keep putting on the sports channel? It's just the highlights, that game is from last week. The Celtics won."

Jum and Baekhyun shared a look and I knew I had said too much. I immediately rolled my eyes knowing they were going to tease me.

"Of course you'd know that Kenan-hyung's team played a few days ago," Baekhyun teased.

"And the results," Jum added as their grins got wider.

"It's normal I'd know," I argued feeling my cheeks get warm. "Everyone says the Celtics are a good team and he's doing a good job there - it's normal I'd know, our families are close."

"Kenan and Aaliyah sitting in a tree, k-I-s-s-"

I walked away not wanting to hear them be childish.

So maybe I watched basketball sometimes... it was good to distract myself sometimes. I just happened to see some of Kenan's games... it wasn't like we were strangers, we just hadn't spoken in like six years...

He's definitely a part of the Harvard experience I tried to distance myself from. It was intense... and I was just very young and naive back then.

I didn't really talk about it at all.

"Who is the extra plate for mom?"

Her mood was too perfect. She was making a big meal and even letting Jum taste test everything. She hated when people ate whilst she cooked.

This was too weird.

"It's for me."

My cheeks heated up and I stood frozen in place. My mum looked at me with a smirk, greeting the person behind me.

I was too shocked to turn and actually confirm that the deep voice I was hearing belonged to who I thought.

"It's for Kenan. He's spending his off season here."

I finally turned around coming face to face with Kenan... six years had been amazing for him. He was more handsome than ever. He had his clean shaven face and his hair was short now but it suited him... he was a bit bigger in terms of muscle but he still looked in shape.

He was really here.

"You look prettier than the last time I saw you. I didn't think that was possible."

"W-what- I just- you're here?!"

"I am," he smiled. "As aunty said I came to spend my off season here but, I want to tell you something. No, I'm ready to tell you something."

"What are you telling her," my dad asked peeking his head into the kitchen with Jum and Baekhyun following behind. My mother shushed him but my whole family stood there expectantly waiting to hear the rest.

"Can you guys not stand there and blatantly eavesdrop," I asked my family members feeling embarrassed.

I didn't know what Kenan wanted to say but knowing what he was saying to me at Harvard I didn't trust his track record. Plus I didn't trust that my father would not put him in the ground if he said something stupid.

"I don't care if they hear," he assured not breaking eye contact with me. "I'm sure about this."

He held my hand taking a deep sigh.

"I was young and I was very immature and I hurt your feelings a lot back when we were in Harvard," he admitted, "I don't think I'll ever be able to apologise enough but I'll keep apologising even when you tell me it's enough. I'm sorry Aaliyah."

"I-I'm not holding on to it anymore."

"I've never deserved you from the start," he smiled kissing my hand. My mother had to hold my father by the back of his shirt because he looked like he wanted to fuss. "I know it's shameless. I know I've done things the wrong way from the start but, I want to tell you... I love you. If you let me, I want to do it the right way from now- I want to love you with confidence that I'll treat you right... only if you give me a chance."

"I'm not an easy girl to please," I smiled looking at him. "If you want me, this time you'll have to grovel."

Because why should it be easy this time around?

"I'll do whatever you want," Kenan smiled kissing my forehead. It really felt like we were in our own world. "You have always been so good to me."

"Yeah, I remember you calling me your good girl a few times during our Harvard days."

That made us both laugh reminiscing on our naughty moments.

"Kenan, in what context were you calling my princess a good girl whilst I was paying that expensive tuition?"

Both Kenan and I jumped looking at my dad. If looks could kill, both of us would be dead.

"But when I said Aaliyah only went to Harvard for Ken-"

"Baekhyun shut up," my mum hissed hitting him upside the head. She also hit my dad in the same manner sighing in annoyance. "You've both ruined the video I was going to send Amara."