No Angels

.chapter sixteen.

"They really want to see you. It'd be nice if you could come over."

"Mmhmm."

"Leo, are you listening?"

I'd been playing with my coffee, swirling a finger in the white foam on top, making weird, obscure patterns.

"Yes."

"So, are you coming?"

Her tone left no room to disagree.

Besides, Ravi wasn't anywhere to be found.

And I knew how to get him back.

"Sure," I said indifferently.

"See you at five, then."

Kaitlyn hung up.

I stood up and stretched, planning to get ready.

Time for the monkey show.

* * *

"So...where did you say you worked, again?"

I glanced up from my tea and found myself staring into a pair of beady-looking brown eyes.

"Um...I work at a childcare centre."

"Oh, so he likes kids, then!"

I nodded politely.

"That's good - Henri, he would be such a perfect father -"

"Not so fast, Jang Mi," Mr. Choi said sternly, pushing his tiny spectacles up his rather impressive nose. He fixed me with his beaver-looking gaze and frowned. "How sure are you that you're able to care for our daughter, Mr. Jung?"

I don't.

"God, no one wants her, you old fleabag," Ravi hissed.

I smiled.

Mr. Choi frowned even harder at me.

"I'm pretty sure we'll figure things out along the way," I said, still smiling.

"Along the way?" Ravi repeated, his voice scarily calm.

"Along the way?" Mr. Choi echoed, looking angry.

"Now, dear," Mrs. Choi said, placing a pasty-looking hand on the sleeve of his weird-looking tweed coat. "Let him talk. The poor boy hasn't even finished his tea."

Mr. Choi grumbled something under his breath and leaned back into his armchair, glaring at me sullenly.

I was pretty sure I heard the words "stick the tea up your" distinctively before Mrs. Choi silenced him with one look.

"Now, honey, tell me, where is it you lived, again?"

Oh, boy.

Ravi rolled his eyes. "A farm. Tell 'em that, Leo. Tell them you grew up on a boat among a family of pirates and you're actually Redbeard's grandson. Go on."

I bit back a retort. In my defense, I could've made such a pun out of his name using the pirate story, but I didn't.

That took a lot of self-control.

"I live in an apartment in the Gangnam District, Sinsa-dong."

Mrs. Choi blinked at me.

"Is that a good neighbourhood?"

I nodded. "Oh, yes - we have lots of cafes and shops and it's really near the Apgujeong and Sinsa Stations -"

Mrs. Choi raised her hand, shaking her head.