The art of falling in love

Chapter 8: Mother-in-law

Spoiler alert for the kdrama Secret Garden

*Several months later *

I wait in the coffee near the university fidgeting my fingers nervously. I never expected this morning to receive a call from Ming's mother. After the initial shock I agreed to meet her here 2 hours later.

No need to say that it's been the worst two hours of my life. I thought of thousands of possible scenarios as her strict voice replayed in my head. We have been dating for 2 months, we shared more and more kisses, had our first fight when I saw him hugging a girl, and had spent hours talking during our dates...

But I wasn't ready for this. She had seemed so cold at the phone... I think of Joo Won's mother in Secret garden. She never accepted Ra Im, never. It made me shade a tears at the end of the drama, how painful it must have been for the couple.

I shiver in fear. Ming's mother won't be like this right?

A beautiful woman come stand in front of me and I immediately raise and greet her, feeling my whole body tense up. Her hair is neatly styled and she wears glowing earrings.

We sit down and I can feel her dark stare on me.

Oh god...

As her hot coffee is served in front of her I can't help but wonder if I'm going to be burnt by the hot beverage when she'll throw it at me.

She taps her nails against the glass table.

"I suppose you know about my son's background"

I nod nervously. Yeah Ming told me which company his parents were running, it took him more than an hour to calm me down. I knew Yo was from a rich family like Pha and Beam but I didn't thought Ming was too. Since then I've been afraid. I'm from a standard family. It's just by chance I became friends with Pha and Beam.

"You've dated for 2 months now. I think I gave you more than enough time"

I raise my head, afraid to understand the meaning of her words.

"You don't expect me to accept this situation right?" her sharp voice asks me sarcastically.

I feel bad, my worst fears coming true as I see a reproachful look on her face. I inhale mustering all the courage I can.

"I know I'm not what you must have wanted for him. But... I I love him."

"Love? What a joke. I can let him have fun for a while at most but he will end up breaking things with you like he did with the others."

My eyes are burning, I bow to her "I'm sorry but I won't leave him."

I grab my cup to hide the tremors that grip me.

"It's a matter of time. Here to make you feel better."

A large envelope slide on the table.

It can't be what I think it is right? I peak at what's inside and let it go abruptly seeing the money hiding in it, as if burn.

"I..."

"Don't be shy, take it. Just a little something to be sure we're on the same page."

"I can't"

I fight tears, breathing with difficulty. Damn this can't be worse.

"I'm really sorry to disappoint you."

"If you know then stop being one"

I gulp and raise my eyes to stare back at her.

"But... I won't let him go. You can see it as foolishness if you want but I love him. I really do. And as long as he wants to be with me I'll be happy to stand by his side."

A laugh echoes in the room while I feel her hands grabbing mine.

"Very good! Very good indeed"

Completely lost I gape at the woman in front of me, trying to understand what's happening.

"Oh gosh, you don't know how relieved I am he finally has someone sensible by his side!" She winks at me and I feel my eyes round even more. "You should have seen the brats he was dating! Anyway I'm so relieved!" She babblers "I couldn't believe Ming when he told me he found the one. A future doctor, shy, a little bit grumpy, very cute, smart, humble... How could I think he wasn't bewitched? Luckily my son inherited my nose when it comes to people when he don't think only with his lower parts! I'm sorry for teasing you, I already did some research about you but I wanted to see how you were going to respond. I hope you'll be patient with him. I know he's a handful sometimes..."

As a cue the café door open on a running Ming who comes straight to me, catching his breath.

"Mother, I told you no! I hope you didn't scare him away!"

He sits next to me and take my hands in his.

"Of course not. We were simply chatting."

I look at the mother then at the son, taken aback.

"I'm sorry P', I came as soon as I knew. I hope she didn't do her evil mother act. She watch too many Korean movies..."

I feel tears running on my cheeks, the shivers I tried so desperately to hold are now shaking my whole body.

"You made him cry mom!"

Ming hug me tightly "You know that I won't leave you, I love you too much! My mother like to play the actress"

"I'm sorry" I tell him, I don't want to make a fool of myself, yet the tears can't seems to stop "I was so afraid she didn't approve"

Ming glare at his mom who apologize profusely.

I smile between my tears, holding Ming's hand tightly.

"It's alright. I'm just so relieved you approve"

She smiles at me "I think my son made a good choice dating you"

Relief comes over me, drying up my tears.

"And even if she didn't approve I wouldn't have left you"

"Ungrateful child" She scolds him before turning to me with a huge smile that look a lot like Ming's "Luckily you seem to be more sensitive than my son, I hope you'll take care good care of this ingrate son of mine"

"Ming told me you like drama too. I'll finally have someone to talk to about them! Let's have dinner soon"

She lives us and I find myself engulf in Ming's hug.

"I'm sorry Kitkat" he says, leaving a peck on my forehead.

"Don't be. I'm glad she's not against us dating"

"I meant what I said, if she didn't I won't have left you. You won't be able to get rid of me that easily."

His resolute face makes my heartbeat increase, but this time it's not due to fear.

"Good, because you're stuck with me too" I tell him honestly. I won't let him go, I can't.

He kisses me tenderly as a reply making me smile in the kiss.

Maybe there's no art of how to fall in love. You just have to be yourself because you can never know with whom you'll fall in love with until it happens. 

Ming Kit's end

*

It's not about the events but the people we're living them with

Hope to see you on the last chapter about Forth and Beam

Wishing you a bright and beautiful day

See you