The Wings of Harmony

26. A Night of Nostalgia

Manya was sprawled across Nam Joon's guest bed, her laptop perched on her lap as she tackled some office work. She had practically made one of the guest bedrooms her own, especially since she was spending two to three days a week at his place whenever he was home. With her around, Nam Joon enjoyed more home-cooked meals, and his place stayed impressively tidy, giving him some much-needed relaxation.

Nam Joon, a little bored, peeked into the room. "Are You done?"

"Five more minutes," she replied, her focus still on the screen.

Not one to be kept waiting, Nam Joon launched himself onto the bed beside her, snuggling up and wrapping his arm around her waist. She smiled at his antics, leaned down to kiss his forehead, and pulled him closer. Without a word, he shifted his head onto her lap, closing his eyes as he settled in. Manya continued working, while Nam Joon remained still, like a contented statue resting on her lap.

After a while, she set her laptop aside, her fingers automatically drifting to his hair, combing through it gently. Even then, he didn't open his eyes. "Joonah, what's on your mind?" she asked softly.

He opened his eyes, looking up at her with a contemplative gaze. "Just walking through the past."

Manya's fingers traced his eyebrows, down to his eyes, nose, and finally his lips. He kissed her fingertip and then lifted his head to press a soft kiss on her lips before resting back in her lap.

Intrigued, she smiled and asked, "Which memory lane are you strolling down this time?"

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "That Singapore flight. The one where a woman was sitting next to me, deep into her laptop work. Her face was lit up by the screen's glow... and I remember wanting to hold that face in my hands."

Manya was surprised. "Wait, what? You mean, even back then?"

Nam Joon chuckled softly. "Yeah, it was weird. I didn't fully grasp my feelings for you until much later that night. But in that moment on the plane, I was just scolding myself for being a total weirdo."

Manya was caught off guard, her mouth dropping open. "I was just giving you a ride, and you were over here having all these thoughts? You perv!" She playfully hit his chest, trying to push him away.

Nam Joon laughed, rolling over to pin her beneath him, his hands gently holding hers. He kissed her deeply, his lips warm against hers. "What a fateful day that was," he whispered when they finally broke apart. "My life turned into something wonderful because of it."

Manya's heart swelled at his words. She reached up, cupping his face in her hands. "Yeah," she agreed softly, "it really did."

Just as Manya and Nam Joon were lost in their cozy moment, her phone rang, shattering the peaceful silence. It was her mom, video calling. Manya quickly gestured for Nam Joon to keep quiet, moving to the other side of the bed as she picked up the call.

"Manu, what took you so long to answer?" her mom's voice filled the room, a mix of concern and mild irritation.

"Amma, I'm fine! How are you all?" Manya replied, trying to keep her tone light and casual.

Her mom glanced at the background on the screen, her brows furrowing. "Where are you? This doesn't look like your place."

"I'm out, Mom. Can't talk much right now," Manya said quickly, hoping to dodge any more questions, she added "How about everyone back home? Are they all doing well?"

Her mom's tone softened a bit, "Everyone here is fine. Tharun, your cousin, visited us. We're all really fond of him. You'd like him too. Should I ask him to give you a call?"

Manya's heart skipped a beat. "No, Amma, please don't. I'm not interested, and don't give my number to anyone." Her voice was firm, almost panicked.

Her mom's voice took on a more serious tone. "Manu, you're not getting any younger. Tharun is a good match, and you're rejecting this without even giving it a chance? You should think about your future and stop being so stubborn. Opportunities like this don't come around often", her frustration coming through loud and clear, before abruptly ending the call.

Manya sat there, staring at her phone, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess. She was so lost in her own head that she didn't even notice Nam Joon had been listening the whole time, picking up on her unease even if he didn't understand the conversation.

Nam Joon sat up, moving closer to her, and gently took her hands in his. His eyes searched hers, filled with concern. "Do you want some help dealing with your parents?" he asked softly.

Manya shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm scared to open up to them, but I'll try to handle it my way."

Nam Joon pulled her into a comforting hug, patting her back as if to reassure her that everything would be okay. Then, as if struck by a sudden idea, he pulled back, a mischievous glint in his eye.

"How about we meet my parents tomorrow?" he suggested, his tone light but serious.

Manya's eyes widened in surprise; she hadn't expected that. "I don't know, babe. What if they don't accept me? I mean, I'm a foreigner."

Nam Joon chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Don't worry about that. I'll take care of everything. We'll visit them tomorrow, okay?" He was already reaching for his phone, ready to make the necessary arrangements.

Manya watched him, her mind racing. She wasn't ready for this, but she knew there was no stopping Nam Joon once he set his mind on something. Taking a deep breath, she began mentally preparing herself for whatever was to come, knowing that this was a step they had to take sooner or later.