Little Detective

Chapter 19: The Family Dinner

"So Jihwan, I've heard you own some buildings," Dad said.

"That's right, sir," Jihwan nodded.

"Where are these buildings?" Dad asked.

"Well, there's the Wings building in the center of town, the apartments on Gulliver Street, and then some other buildings near the docks," Jihwan listed.

"The Wings Building? You own it?" Dad asked to which Jihwan nodded. "I thought it was owned by some old geezer."

"That old geezer was my father," Jihwan said with a chuckle.

"What happened to him?" Lance asked.

"He passed away. Cancer," Jihwan said.

"I'm so sorry," Lance said. "I didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"Oh, no. If anything I'm glad he's dead," Jihwan said. "He wasn't the greatest father, but being his only son, I received all he owned. So I received all the buildings he owned. In addition to all the buildings I owned before he died."

"At least you still have your mother though," Dad said. I looked up at Dad with a look of warning. "Right?" he asked when he saw my face.

"No, unfortunately my mom passed away when I was a toddler," Jihwan said. "And my dad took the secret of how she died to his grave."

"Your father never told you how your mother died?" EG asked with food in his mouth.

"ELMER!" Lance, Dad, and I shouted. Namjoon chuckled at our synchronization.

EG swallowed the food in his mouth and said, "Sorry."

"It's alright, EG," Jihwan said. "And yes, I have no idea how my mother died."

"So you have no family?" Dad asked.

"I have the pleasure of working with my six best friends. In Korea, we often call our close friends, hyung, which means older brother. They might as well be family. So I wouldn't say that I have no family," Jihwan said.

"Friends turned family, cute," EG muttered. "Obviously not some loner with daddy issues thinking having a booty call will make you feel better."

"Well at least he has someone he can call a booty call. EG," I snapped at my brother.

"That's enough, you two. EG, be polite to your sister. Ana, be considerate about your brother's lack of a love life. Why do our family dinners always have to have at least one fight?" Dad muttered. "I'm sorry you have to witness this Jihwan."

"It's fine, I also witnessed some of it last night when I met EG," Jihwan said.

"So last night was when you met EG?" Dad asked.

"Yes I was over at Ana's last night when EG came by to talk to her. Ana tried to kick me out but he was at the door before I could leave," Jihwan said.

"I also met your friend," EG said. "He seemed kinda shady to me."

"Taeyong? He's practically a lazy cat. He wouldn't do anything shady at all," Jihwan said.

I froze and stared at the wall above Lance's head blankly. I knew that Jihwan would have to lie to my family about some things, but something I didn't imagine was such a blatant lie. Everyone could see how shady Taeyong was just by looking at him.

I listened as my family continued to interrogate Jihwan. Dad and Lance seemed to like him, but EG was hostile at the very least. After we were all finished with dinner, it was time for dessert. Meaning the pie that my brothers and I loved so much.