Cityscapes (Jumin Han x OC)

Chapter 30

Today, Jumin's lips don't just taste like wine. No, they taste like strawberry champagne, and he seems quite content on reminding me of that often. After breakfast, he lifted me up and set me on the island, I wasn't expecting it and I nearly slipped off. It occurred to me that he set me up there so I would be at his height after he started kissing me. At least, this way, I could actually take my fingers through his hair. I think that it drove him crazy a little bit to feel me doing that, so I kept doing it.

When he finally stopped he couldn't help but chuckle a little bit.

"You let me get a little carried away," he whispered.

"Oh? But why not?" I answered pulling on his hair a little bit. I watched as his eyes nearly rolled back into his head. "It's cute watching you get carried away."

"Hmm," Jumin huffed.

"Oh? What's wrong? Something I said?" I asked worried.

"Shh shh shh," Jumin said pressing a finger to my lips gently. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out his vibrating phone.

"Yes, father," He said, leaning against the wall. "I'd rather not go to dinner with you. Frankly, I'd like to not have the person who's presence I enjoy so much be insulted."

"Oh," I exclaimed unintentionally. Jumin placed his finger to my lips incredibly promptly.

"No, father. I don't do flings. If this was a fling too, it'd be a particularly long fling considering the details you haven't even thought to ask me," Jumin answered quite angrily. I watched as he walked around his kitchen pouring himself another flute of champagne. As he did so, I put my hand on his shoulder, which he held gently. He nearly downed the champagne in the glass.

"I think if you'd bother to meet her, you'd quite like her. You'd see what makes her so perfect. But...you won't bother. So for that reason, I didn't tell you," Jumin insulted. He poured himself another glass of champagne and began to drink it when he suddenly stopped. He put the glass down on the counter.

"Oh...you would like to meet her?" Jumin said quietly. His face went pale, and his eyes began to bulge. "Tonight? At 7? And you won't be bringing your girlfriend...since you just want to meet...Miran? And...you...want to take us somewhere special? Oh...alright..father. I'll...tell Miran. Thank you, father."

Jumin turned to me, far too shocked, and shrugged slightly. "I think it's time you meet my father."

"No shit," I frowned.

"Oh, oh no," Jumin said walking up to me quickly. "It's alright. I'll do all the talking."

"That's not really the point. I haven't even started the damage control on my end, and now I have to meet your father."

Jumin sighed. "Well, of course. I'm expecting far too much out of you. I'm moving things far too fast and you're stuck here, watching as everything speeds past."

"No. You have that wrong."

"But do I?" He asked, quite clearly frustrated. I feel confident in the fact that I know Jumin. This isn't about me, or him feeling like he's made a mistake. This is about his father.

"Listen, Jumin. We're going to meet your father tonight. I just need to handle my parents as well. After I get off the phone with them, we'll figure out a game plan. Alright?" I demanded. Jumin looked a bit shocked I had figured him out so quickly, but he was soon at ease.

"I'm going to go play with my cat..." he sighed, walking away. He looked almost defeated. I couldn't help but chuckle a little.

I looked down at my phone which had rang again. My mother and my father, both calling rapid fire. Either, they're together and panicking or miles away and panicking. I don't know which is worse.

I pressed the button to redial my mother and prepared for whatever sass she might throw my way. Jumin offered me a soft smile of support as he walked to the sofa with Elizabeth.

"Miran! Is it true you're pregnant with Jumin Han's baby?" My mother screamed through the phone. Jumin looked at me particularly surprised at the rumor my mother had managed to catch.

"You seriously think that I'm pregnant? I not only hid that I'm dating him...but that I'm pregnant?"

"Well! The news said so. Who else am I to believe?"

"I don't know. Your daughter?" I offered.

"Unfortunately, she doesn't call me."

"Mother, I didn't call for you to guilt trip me. I called to tell you that I am safe, and that the only true rumor is that I'm dating Jumin. The rest is bullshit."

"Well, I would love to know what-"

"Bye, mother," I hung up.

"Can you believe that?" I asked Jumin. I looked at him, and he was completely enthralled with Elizabeth, petting her and giving her tiny bits of catnip.

"Hmm?" He responded, looking up at me.

"Oh, nothing," I sighed. I called my father back immediately.

"I told you so," he answered.

"Yeah, yeah."

"I don't have a crush on my boss, I promise," He mocked.

"Thanks, dad."

"Wedding date?"

"Bye, dad."

I hung up and looked at Jumin. He was still entertained by Elizabeth but now he was just staring at her and giving her long pets.

"Why did you dread talking to your parents? They seem annoying, but you handle them perfectly fine," Jumin asked. I guess he really was listening.

"The Aftermath. There's always the aftermath."

"What do you mean?" Jumin asked confused, looking up at me.

"Just now. My mother will tell my father what happened, and she will assume I took his side. Harm to me? My mother will likely be short and rude to me for months until I take her side. Does it matter that this conversation had no sides? No. What matters is that I didn't take hers."

"So? She's short and rude. What's there about it?" Jumin asked.

"I just don't want to be bothered with it."

"Then don't be."

I sighed. "You don't get it. And that's alright...you just don't."

Jumin set Elizabeth down with a sort of gentleness that didn't match his facial expression and walked over to me. "I would love to understand, Miran. You have to let me."

"And you have to be willing to listen," I retorted. 

"Fair," Jumin sighed. "So, tell me then. What bothers you so much about your parents?"

"They're my parents. Instead of supporting me, like parents should, they worry about 'beating' one another or whatever," I answered. "And it's all just being combined with the stress of meeting your father. All I want to do is go to my stupid job and live a stupid simple life, but instead, I had to stupidly date you, and now I'm drowning in my own stupidity."

"Okay. Remember the promise we made?"

"Promise? What promise?"

"Well, don't worry. It wasn't anything too bold. Just so long as I let you help me make breakfast, you had to go to the rose garden with me," Jumin explained. 

"So...you're making me go to the garden?" 

"Yes," Jumin said running upstairs. He grabbed his coat and came down with the extra coat he made me put on last time that was far too large for me. Which reminds me...

"Also, I'm offended that you figured out my size so easily," I mumbled. 

"I didn't, silly. You did have clothing that you wore here...and they did have tags," Jumin chuckled.

"Oh," I smirked.