Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

70

Just a heads-up: the next chapter is a bit more explicit, so please be prepared. If it's not your thing, feel free to skip it. And remember, this is just fanfiction with fictional characters—don't take it too seriously. 

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CHAPTER 70

Breakfast had been going smoothly—almost too smoothly. Hanni should have known better.

She had been sipping on her coffee, enjoying the warmth of home, Minji sitting right beside her, comfortably blending in with her family like she belonged there (which, of course, she did). But then, curiosity got the best of her.

"So, where are you staying?" Hanni asked, tilting her head toward Minji.

"Oh, I booked a hotel near the venue," Minji replied, leaning back in her chair casually. "Figured it'd be easier to—"

"A hotel?" Mrs. Pham interrupted, giving Minji a look of pure disapproval.

Minji blinked. "Uh... yeah?"

"That's a waste," Mrs. Pham said, crossing her arms. "You should just stay here."

"Oh, no, really, I don't want to impose—"

"Impose?" Mr. Pham scoffed, setting his coffee mug down with a firm thud. "You're like family now. You should stay here."

Hanni turned to Minji, her eyebrows raised as if saying Don't even try to argue.

Minji opened her mouth to protest again, but before she could, Jasmine smirked, dangerously.

"Yeah, besides," Jasmine said, chin resting in her hand. "It's not like we don't know you two already spend the night at each other's places back in Korea."

Minji froze.

Hanni's brain short-circuited.

Jasmine grinned wider. "What's the big deal?"

Hanni spun to her with a glare. "You should shut your mouth."

Jasmine was clearly having the time of her life, but before Hanni could strangle her, Mrs. Pham delivered the final blow.

"Hanni, don't be so prude," her mom said casually, sipping her tea like she wasn't about to destroy her daughter's entire existence. "It's not like we forgot the time your father and I flew to Korea to surprise you, and you opened the door with hickeys all over your neck, standing next to Minji looking like you two were this close to getting intimate."

The silence that followed could've ended worlds.

Hanni felt the color drain from her face. Minji, who had been mid-sip of her orange juice, choked so hard she nearly died on the spot.

Jasmine's eyes widened, her lips parting in absolute delight before she let out a loud, unholy cackle, practically throwing herself back in her chair.

Meanwhile, Hanni's dad—sweet, wise Mr. Pham—simply focused on his food, chewing very, very carefully, as if pretending he wasn't here at all.

"MOM!!!" Hanni shrieked, slamming her hands onto the table.

"What?" Mrs. Pham said, completely unbothered. "You're 23, sweetheart. You have a girlfriend. We're not naive."

Minji, still red as a tomato, choked out, "I— I wanna die."

"Oh my God," Hanni groaned, burying her face in her hands.

Jasmine was wiping actual tears from her eyes. "I love this family. This is the best day of my life."