You're My Target

Chapter 40

Troy frantically tore through his dresser drawers. digging through clothes and flinging clothes all over.
"i dont have any nice clothes. how do i not have any decent clothes?!" troy shouted.

"would you relax!" Boram shouted from his bed, she sat on the edge looking at troy, enjoying the show.

"no! i have to look nice! i have to impress soyeons parents." troy said still sifting through clothes.

"so do we need to go rent a tuxedo or something?" boram asked resting her hands on her knees.

"should i?" troy asked looking back at her desperately.

"no. its not that fancy. i was kidding..." boram chuckled. she kicked her feet giddily.

"so what should i do? the dinner is tonight. in a few hours!" troy pleaded.

"you had all day yesterday to get ready for this. what were you doing?" boram asked.

"too busy having anxiety about tonight." troy said moving on to his closet

"just, listen, stop." boram said hopping off the bed and prying troy away from his closet. "relax."

"i'll relax when i know they approve of me." troy said stubbornly.

"you're over reacting. AND over thinking. You dont need anything too flashy." Boram explained.

"maybe i should just stay home." troy thought.

"no, that would not impress her parents." boram disagreed. "just go play x-station. calm your nerves. ill pick something out for you."boram shoved troy towards the bedroom door.

"wait til her parents hear i cant even pick out my own clothes." troy whined as he walked down the hall. He went into the kitchen and got himself a cup and filled it with lemonade while he let boram help him pick out clothes.

"you know.." boram shouted from troys room. "i should start charging you for this."

"like my own personal stylist?" Troy asked. he drank the cold lemonade waiting for a witty remark from boram."Boram?" he said putting his glass down and heading back towards his room. he leaned his head in the door as he entered. "Boram?"she was kneeling down in front of Troys closet, startled by him.
"Oh, troy. you scared me." she said putting her hand on her chest.

"everything ok?" troy asked.

"yea. yea. why wouldnt i be?" she replied standing up quickly.

"well, you were not answering me for one." troy shrugged.

"oh, so i have to answer you whenever you call?" boram said putting her hands on her hips.

"easy. dont gotta get an attitude." troy said backing off.

"thats right freshman. you should be happy to know, i found you something acceptable to wear." she pointed to the floor where she was kneeling. some clothes were laid out messily on the floor. Troy bent down and picked them up.

"these pants. they are my for my school uniform!" troy said throwing them down to the floor.

"well you cant wear jeans! and i dont see you running out to buy any khakis or black slacks!" boram shouted back. "the uniforms pants are nice enough. no one will notice. just wear that white button down shirt and your tie."

"my school tie?" troy asked though he already knew the answer.

"listen, the vest is what makes it a school uniform when you think about it. and you arent gona be wearing that. though i would suggest a light jacket, or sweater. it is cold out." boram explained looking through his closet for the items.

"fine. i guess it is too late to go clothes shopping. not that i have money to buy them anyway." troy said dejected.

"mom and pops cant send you anymore?" boram asked.

"no, they cant."

"alright alright." boram replied sensing troy was getting aggravated. "listen, you'll be fine. just relax. be confident. you know, not your usual timid self."

"im not timid." troy said stubbornly.

"no, not usually. but with soyeon you are. and in front of her parents..." boram said rolling her hand as she spoke.

"i met her mom before."

 "yea i heard all about that. you and your slick city boy mouth." boram laughed.

"i was just being nice. dont get the wrong idea." troy tried to dispel any weird rumors that he knew his classmates would love to talk about.

"anyway, you'll be meeting her father for the first time which is why im guessing all your stressing." boram told him. "hey that rhymed."

"i just dont want to look like a loser." troy said seriously.

"ok. fine. then get dressed and do something with that hair." boram ordered him. "ill be down the hall."

Troy got dressed and put some store-brand gel in his hair in a hurry then walked out to the living room where boram was waiting comfortably on his couch.

"so what do you think." Troy said approaching from behind. Boram turned around to face him, leaning over the back of the couch. She cracked a half smile looking him over.

"well. you dont look like a total loser." she sighed.

"im not going." troy walked back towards the hall.

"troy im teasing you!" boram called to him. "dont be so sensitive."

"ill just say im sick." he sulked. Boram hopped over the couch to grab him.

"Stop it you big baby. you look fine. relax." boram said dragging him back by his arm.

"if they dont like me im blaming you." troy muttered.

"fine. if thats what it takes to get you to calm down cause im tired of telling you to." Boram said as she sat him down on the couch.

"so now we play the waiting game." troy said sitting idly.

"you said hank and pryor are coming to drive you?" boram asked.

"yea, why?"

"figured eunjung would have." boram shrugged.

"youre either setting me up or youre not as close to soyeon as you think you are." troy said, almost grunting.

"no, you're just a better listener than soyeon and i had you pegged to be." boram giggled.

"yea yea. whatever" troy rested his head on the back of the couch, making sure not to mess up his hair. Troy hung out with boram until his ride, Pryor and Hank arrived. They drove along, troy did his best to not appear or sound nervous as he sat in the back seat. he tapped his hand on the seat as the engines hum filled his ear. he looked out the window at the darkening sky.

"meeting the folks is a big step." hank said suddenly from the drivers seat.

"i know." troy replied.

"i still dont believe this. you waltz into this school, a new kid freshman no less, and score a girl like Soyeon." pryor sounded off.

"im starting to think the chick Areum was right about those ele-whats-its. elementese? right?" hank asked

"elementians?" troy corrected them.

"yea those!" pryor said.

"and ... why exactly?"

"because you have to have some sort of sort of super power to pull off what i just said.  theres no way in normal circumstances would a girl like soyeon date a guy like you." pryor laughed.

"ha ha ha." troy laughed sarcastically. "i know you guys tell me every chance you get. and hey maybe youre right."

"so could you use your fairy dust on jiyeon for me then?"pryor asked troy

"sorry the magic only makes girls like me." troy laughed at him.

"i wanna climb back there and beat the smug out of you." Hank chuckled.

"can it wait til after my dinner date at least?" troy asked.

"what kind of friend would i be if i didnt?" hank replied. the 3 of them traded barbs all the way to troys destination, where he arrived early. Hank and Pryor wished him luck before continuing on their way. Troy looked over the place. a soft golden glow came from the windows. he looked inside and saw different people all eating graciously. even from outside troy felt like he didnt belong there. All the suits, and dinner gowns and wine bottles and chandeliers."i think i need a top hat and monocle to get in. i thought boram said it wasnt very fancy." troy whispered to himself.

"no walking on the grass please, sir." a voice said from right behind troy, startling him. he turned quickly.

"ah, im sorry, i.." he said as he turned, seeing soyeon smiling there.

"gotcha." she said.

"ahh, you did." troy said gasping in relief.

"no top hat and monocle?" soyeon asked.

"you know, i must have left them back home when i moved." troy shrugged. he looked soyeon over. her hair was parted perfectly as usual. she wore a snug fitting dress that came to above her knee. troy noticed she had heavier make up on, than she normally wore to school. Troy couldnt help but stand there nodding rapidly in approval. Soyeon took notice of troys eyeballing. she turned from side to side daintily, posing playfully.
"is that the sign of approval?" soyeon asked. troy gave her a thumbs up.

"though i have to say, i like your glittery heels, you should have worn them." troy told her.

"to a place like this? im not so sure." soyeon said unsure of troys opinion.

"youd match all the crystal glasses and lights inside." he said pointing in the window. soyeon pushed troy shaking her head.

"lets go, they are waiting to meet you." troy nodded and swallowed the sudden lump that appeared in his throat. soyeon took his hand and they walked along the sidewalk to the entrance, where Troy saw a woman whom looked like soyeons mother, and with her was a taller man and a small girl. Troy figured, that had to be her family. he turned his head to soyeon and pointed with a look on his face, a look that said 'is that them?' soyeon just smiled and nodded once at him. The little girl tugged on the mans sleeve and pointed at Troy and soyeon. He and the woman turned to face them.

"hurry up we're gona be late" the little girl yelled. Troy felt guilty. thinking he was early. he felt like he should walk faster, but he stayed calm and walked steadily, at pace with soyeon. who always seemed to casually and charismatically stride wherever she walked. as if she glided and the world under her moved accordingly to her. before he knew it, he stood in front of the group.

"Mom, Dad, and my darling, impatient little sister; This is Troy. my boyfriend." she said introducing him. Troy felt his muscles stiffen.

"ive heard alot about you, its nice to finally meet you." her father said, sticking his hand out to shake troys hand. Troy reached out and shook. his father had a strong presence. he was alot taller than troy had thought he would be and had broad shoulders. he had dark hair like the rest of the family. he appeared to be balding slightly, but still had a gentleman quality. clean shaven and handsome. like he stepped out of one of those high class magazines for business men. his suit was finely pressed without a flaw or hair on it. Troy could have sworn he saw him in a watch advertisement or something before. his grip was strong on troys hand, and his skin was surprisingly ...soft.

"its nice to meet you too, sir. "troy said masking his cracking voice.

"and i heard you already had the pleasure of meeting my wife." her father added, looking over at her mother. who was dressed very similar to Soyeon. her dress was longer, and flowed to her ankles.

"that he did." she said chiming in. troy almost choked on his own breath.

"you look funny." the little girl said with her hands on her hips. she was wearing a white frilly little number. her dark hair was pulled tightly into 2 pigtails. she had a missing front tooth on the right side.

"thats not nice honey." her mother said scolding her.

"well he does, he looks different." the little girl said again.

"its ok, i hear that a lot actually." troy smiled, hiding his bruised ego.

"pardon my little sister. shes a little ball of spunk." soyeon said putting her arm on troys back, comforting him.

"her name is Soojung, but feel free to call her ball of spunk if you like." her mother laughed lightheartedly.

"Soojung, like Eunjung..easy to remember" troy said without thinking.... and he felt Soyeons arm come off his back. he looked over to see Soyeon glaring at him.

"careful. spunk runs in the family Troy." her father said to him.

"ill keep that in mind." troy said realizing his mistake.

"can we eat now?" Soojung whined."shall we?" her father replied and stuck his arm out for his wife to hold. he took soojungs hand with the other. troy followed suit, and stuck his arm out toward soyeon. she looked at him for a minute before exhaling what troy could have sworn was steam, from her nose. She finally put her arm around his and they went to the hostess to be seated. At the table they sat enjoying the fancy food together. soyeon and her family talked about past events and silly stories, sharing them with troy. Troy listened happily with them. as he looked around the table. it reminded him of his own family, back home. His proud, hardworking father. his loyal and loving mother, and his nosey, annoying 10 year old sister. soyeons sister looked to be that age as well. maybe a little younger.

"well i think troys heard enough about us, why dont you share some things with us? any stories from the big city you want to share?" soyeons mother asked him curiously."well actually, i had a pretty average life back home. and yea i came from the city but its not all glitz and glamour out there. if anything it was just. busier. more movement. more people... and as you can see im a guy who isnt that outgoing so i just focused on school and sports." troy fiddled with his napkin as he spoke.

"thats right. Soyeon tells us youre a pretty talented hockey player." her father nodded with interest.

"well, im not horrible.." troy laughed, not wanting to sound full of himself.

"he could be the new captain." soyeon said putting her hand on troys, interupting his wrestling match with the napkin.

"im a freshman i dont think so." troys face got red.

"you wont be a freshman next year, you'll have a new season to start fresh." soyeon reassured him. "trust me, the team respects you. our classmates respect you."

"are you sure thats an unbiased opinion?" troy questioned her.

"you really showed everyone something at Jangs vigil." she held his hand tightly.

"team captain huh. thats impressive." her father said to them.

"ill try not to let anyone down." he told them

"can i ask why you chose hockey? id say its because you appear to be a little small to play football. but i was under the impression hockey players were big too."

"dad!" soyeon hissed.

"i was going to say he seems more suited for baseball. hockey is, not that popular of a sport. even out here." troy tried not to appear offended. he did feel awkward, but not hurt by her fathers words.

"well actually, i did play some baseball too. but i dont know, i just fell in love with hockey. and yea it's no secret im small for a hockey player but it hasnt stopped me. if anything it made me work harder." troy confidentally explained to them. soyeon held troys hand tighter. he quickly glanced over at her, trying not to turn his head too much. he saw the glare she was giving her father.

"i think your father is just trying to say, since troy came all this way to play a sport and get a scholarship like you told us, he'd have better success finding one with football, rather than hockey." soyeons mother tried to ease the situation.

"oh mom, dont you start too." soyeon rolled her eyes.

"sports are dumb." soyeons sisters mouth was full of food. troy, though uncomfortable couldnt help but snicker at her.

"if sports dont work out, do you have a back up plan?" her father questioned troy.

"havent really thought about it to be honest. but i guess thats something to keep in mind," troy nodded.

"something like a dentist..." soyeons mother thought.

"thats it." soyeon burst out standing up. people at surrounding tables looked over.

"soyeon.." they all said.

"im sorry troy but it seems this was a mistake." she said with anger. "lets go."

"Soyeon sit down." her mother pointed down . her father did not look pleased. troy sat perfectly still while soyeons sister went on stuffing her face oblivious to everything around her.

"no. we are leaving. and stop comparing Troy to Jun." soyeon slapped her hand down hard on the table. "troy doesnt play football. he plays hockey. and you dont even care about how good he is at it. never mind the fact its more entertaining as well! and o what a surprise you suggest dentistry, the same thing Jun showed an interest in." she ranted.

"i was just..." her mother attempted to speak.

"just stop! Stop talking about what you think i need or what you think will be a good choice for me. none of the things youre saying matter anyway. Troy took a big risk to move out here on his own to be a part of our schools sports programs and works hard every day! even after finding out sports have been cancelled he's still here trying hard instead of coasting like all the other student athletes who takes their spots on the team for granted. and in the end, who cares what sport he plays. none of that even matters. what matters is right here." soyeon pointed to troys heart. "troy makes me happy, he treats me with respect and he cares about me. he isnt a pompous buffoon with an inflated ego who takes me for granted, like Jun."there was a long silence.  "thanks for dinner, we wont be staying for dessert." soyeon snapped. "lets go troy."she pulled troy out of his seat by his arm. she quickly stormed out with troy in tow.

"did that really just happen?" troy was still bewildered. they walked down the sidewalk a but before coming to a stop to the street corner.

"im really sorry. i am." soyeon said sadly. she put her arms around troys waist, hugging him.

"its ok, hey youre not crying are you?" troy was trying to see her face.

"no im not crying." she replied, her voice was shaky. "im angry."

"well. im sorry your parents dont approve of me." troy smiled.

 "i kind of expected this to happen. so, being prepared for it made it easier to hear out loud. i just wish it helped me not stress so much about it these last 2 days..."

"no troy, this is serious. all they care about is success and being stable. i dont even think they know what love is." soyeon sighed, running her hands through her hair."

are you saying you..." troy started to ask.

"im saying is they need to be happy that i am with someone who makes me happy and thats it! they need to realize im not going to marry someone just because he has a nice career."

"marry huh." troy smiled.

"troy!" soyeon yelled holding back laughter. she pushed troy playfully. he smirked at her. "this was a mistake. the night was a disaster." she took troys arm as he walked back to her.

"honestly im not very bothered by what happened. this night was great." troy put his hand on soyeons shoulders. "i got to spend time with my girlfriend, who makes me feel like im the most important guy in the world. i mean, everything you said in there to defend me really, made me proud.i got to meet her parents, whom i know would be skeptical. after all, what girls parents arent skeptical of their boyfriends when those boyfriends arent handsome football players who also could be a dentist one day... and the only thing that would make this great night perfect, is if it ended with you smiling ..." troy lifted soyeons chin with his hand. "so let me see the smile youre trying to hide.

"no. im upset and angry" soyeon pouted playfully, still holding back a smile.

"then youre out of luck. because im here to make sure that doesnt happen, or happen for long." troy knew it sounded corny. Soyeon smiled shyly up at him, and gave him a hug.

"perfect." troy hugged her back.

"i know i am. thank you." soyeon giggled.

"and theres that spunk that runs in the family. the cherry on the top of a perfect night." troy and soyeon laughed together.