For the Love of Kimchee (Book 1)

24

Daniel

Ugh, why did he react like that last night? Daniel racked his brain for a reasonable explanation for his behavior. All Chloe did was ask him about his quirks and what does he do? He shuts down.

He started punching the air in his bed, flopping up and down as his invisible opponent seemed to be getting away. Daniel looked over at his nightstand at his clock. The time read 10:00 AM in bright white letters shined back at him.

He had texted Chloe last night to make sure she had gotten back to her place okay and she texted back like normal, but he was sure she noticed his standoffishness. He just hoped he hadn't screwed everything up.

Last night was amazing, even with their little hiccup at the end. They had really started connecting and she saw him. Like the real him. Not the future chairman or rich chaebol him, but the real him. The one that loved watching NeNe Leakes check others on TV.

He couldn't believe he even told her that. No one here knew about his guilty pleasure, but it felt like a weight had been lifted off of him once he told her. Plus, who would have known that she also watched 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' too. He laughed, 'of course they liked the same shows.

His phone started ringing, breaking him out of his silly teenage laughter. He sighed. He already knew who it was.

"Hi, Mom." His voice deadpanned as she answered.

"Ji Hyun-a?" His mom's voice blared into the receiver.

"Yeah, it's me, mom." He responded, wanting to get off the phone as soon as possible.

"Are you coming to church today? There are many ladies who are coming today that would like to get to know you better." Daniel rolled his eyes at his mom's overt suggestion. He gets it. She wants him to get married.

"I've told some of the women that you've started going on sogoatings and they are very interested. It would be great if you could come to church and meet someone of them." Her voice was practically dripping honey through the phone. She was desperate, but he was desperate also. Going on a sogating, no matter how reluctant he may be, would be breaking his and Chloe's contract.

"Ahh, I can't today Mom, I'm.. uh.. Not feeling well." He fake coughed into his phone.

"Aish, really Ji Hyun-ya? Couldn't you maybe pull it together for just today? This is your first weekend off in weeks. Who knows when we will have another chance like this." She was definitely laying it on thick this morning.

"I wish I could, but I'm really not feeling good." He actually hadn't seen his mom is quite some time. Even with all the bad, she was still his mom. "But maybe if I'm feeling better tonight, I can come over for Sunday dinner?"

He knew mentioning Sunday dinner would get her off his back. It had been months since he last attended one of those. Conveniently opting of getting interrogated over the assortment side dishes his mother prepared. Actually, now that he thought about it. Maybe church was one of the better choices of the two. With his step-father and siblings there who know what one of them will say. Just when he was about to change his mind his mother spoke.

"Really? You want to come to Sunday dinner?" She gushed into the phone. "Call. I will cook something to help with your cold. Oh, your father will be excited to see you. Bye son." The dial tone sounded as Daniel tried to figure out what the hell he just got himself into.

He laid back into his bed and resumed fighting the air. This time his body almost went a foot into the air.

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