Neighbor Next Door

9

"You're not pulling my leg right?"

Miyeon scans her daughter's face. Then, Lisa who stands next to her. Three of them are inside the kitchen at Chaeyoung's family home. "Rest assured, we are not"

Lisa replies. She sounds confident and in times like this is in fact a better talker than Chaeyoung will ever be. The woman blushes a bit when Lisa snakes an arm around her waist.

"But why so sudden?"

Miyeon asks again. It's not that she's against the idea of her daughter marrying a woman she much approved of, but everything feels so sudden. She doesn't want her only daughter to end up making a mistake.

Especially when marriage is mentioned.

"Because we don't want to waste time,"

Chaeyoung says, head leaning softly against Lisa's strong shoulder. "And plus, we have plenty of time to get to know each other once we are married,"

Miyeon can't help but to wince at that idea. "Do you mind" She looks at Lisa while faking a smile. One hand already grabbing her daughter's arm. "If I talk to Chaeyoung, just the two of us?"

"Not at all," Lisa steps behind. "I'll just be in the hall until you both get to the final word, whatever that might be," She nods her head thoughtfully before exiting the kitchen.

As she finally disappears, Chaeyoung throws her mum a look. "What was that, mom?" Miyeon takes her apron off, hands crossed as her back hits the cold counter.

"You are not going to marry someone you barely know, Chaeyoung Roseanne Park"

"What do you mean? I do know Lisa. We are not strangers"

"What do you know about her apart than she's a lawyer and she lives next door?"

Miyeon asks. "Do you know what's her favourite food? Pet peeve? How she sleeps at night? Does she snore? Does she not?"

Chaeyoung breathes out exasperately. "Mom," She whines. "It's not fair that you are asking me all of these questions,"

"Those are just basic questions, Rosie,"

The woman  says firmly. Her eyes cast over the blonde in a way that makes Chaeyoung remembers her school days where her results were awful and her mom would make her explain herself.

"If you really love her, you must have known the answers,"

"Flash news, mom" Chaeyoung gulps. "I don't know anything of that sort about her. But I just feel that I want to marry her. Because it feels right,"

"Maybe your heart is just drunk, the way you always are whenever things go wrong and you disappear,"

The middle - aged woman chides. Then, she puts her apron back and resumes preparing dinner.

But Chaeyoung doesn't like this. She doesn't like being told what she should be doing especially when she's an adult herself and this is her life they're talking about.

Gently, she approaches her mother and shuts the stove. "Mom," She calls and Miyeon refuses to look at her.

"I know you're scared for me. But I don't need that. Not right now. I just want you to support me. Please, I really like her, mom"

She grabs her mother's arm and hugs it for a moment until the woman eventually turns and sighs. "Does it make you happy if I say yes?"

"Very much," Chaeyoung states. Miyeon breathes out, contemplates for a moment before nodding her head. "Fine. But if she hurts you, Rosie, I'm going to kill her,"

Chaeyoung smiles, like the best of smiles ever available and hugs her mother harder than ever.

"That's why God made you my mom. Because you always make me love you so much,"

"Yeah, yeah" The woman rolls her eyes. "Will you stay with Lisa for dinner since I'm cooking a batch. We can also tell dad when he's home,"

"Sure," Chaeyoung sings. "Let me help you,"

***

"This is so sudden,"

Mr. Park exclaims but then hugs Lisa tightly after dinner. "But congratulations. I always knew you'd win my daughter either by hook or crook,"

He smirks. Then, proceed to pinch her daughter's cheek. "My Rosie is a grown up now,"

"Stop it. You're embarrassing me,"

Chaeyoung warns but her father ignores her of course. "How about your family?" He asks Lisa when the latter sips through a cup of tea.

"What did they say about this good news?"

He asks and Lisa shrugs. Chaeyoung is already worried about how this is going to turn out but Lisa makes the explanation smooth like butter.

"I lost my dad when I was young. My mother stood in as a mum and dad for me and my siblings but lately, we've been at cold war and they kicked me out,"

"I see,"

Mr. Park is quiet for a moment. Lisa isnt6sure how to read this man. For a second there, she's scared if he'd terminate her request to marry her only daughter.

But then, the man smiles and taps Lisa on the shoulder. "It's alright. Nothing to argue about that since you're becoming my daughter now,"

His words sting Lisa's heart. She never had a father figure before this and never thought she needed one until today. "It's alright," He continues to assure the lawyer.

"So, when's the wedding? I can't wait to hold my own grandchild in my arms,"

He teases and both Lisa and Chaeyoung turn tomato red. "Dad, stop it"

Chaeyoung fans her face. "What? I'm only asking. And plus since we are talking about it, I think it's great if you both can give me 5 or 6 grandchildren that your mum and I can enjoy with,"

That makes Lisa literally choke in her own laugh.

"I don't really mind," Lisa looks between Chaeyoung's parents. "But I do," Chaeyoung rolls her eyes. "Do you really think childbirth is that easy?"