Unexpected

Part 22

After the second practice session, and all other obligations, once again I find Sangil. We shower and dress at the hotel before driving to a restaurant to have dinner with my family. "Don't be nervous," I say as we're walking to our table. "Everything will be fine."

Sangil pulls out my chair for me, making a good impression with my dad. Then he proceeds to impress further.

"Здравствуйте. Меня зовут Санил. Приятно познакомиться." He introduces himself to my dad in Russian. I'm speechless.

My dad grins widely and shakes his hand. "Меня зовут Роман."

After recovering from shock, I introduce my family. "That's my dad, Roman, this is my mom, Kyouko, and these are Taiga, Airi, Nikita, Maika, Mirai. And you've already met Kira."

Dinner progresses smoothly, and I can tell that my family likes him. I can also tell that some of my siblings want to tease him, but I try to communicate with my eyes that this is not the place for that sort of behavior. I fail.

"Did you want to be chosen as the husband, or do you think another member would have been a better fit?" asks Airi.

"All of us wanted to be chosen. We didn't know who the wife was, so we couldn't know who was a better fit," he answers shyly.

"What do you think now?" she presses.

"Airi! You're putting him on the spot," I exclaim.

"Well, Suhyun and Woosung would definitely not fit," he says.

"Neither would Sebin," she muses. "He would embarrass Sochi all the time."

"Are you sure you don't want to see her acting cute? You might like it," Kira says.

"I won't like it," I interrupt.

"Are you okay with her love language being physical touch?" Taiga asks.

Since I'm sitting next to her I poke her side. "Don't answer her," I tell Sangil.

"Perhaps it's time to stop teasing." My mom gives them one of those looks parents perfect over the years.

"We thought we'd tease them off camera so we can be very polite on camera."

"How thoughtful of you." My sarcasm is easily heard.

"Do you really like sexy ladies?" asks Nikita.

Sangil face flames in embarrassment. "Those like Sochi," he answers.

"So not that much."

"We should give you advice on getting along with our sister," says Mirai. "Like Snuper did for Sochi. She values honesty very highly. It is better to tell a truth that stings than a lie."

Maika goes next. "Even though she's in what's known as a masculine sport, she's very girly."

"Don't confuse her shyness with indifference. The closer you become, the less shy she'll be," is Kira's advice.

"Sangil is shyer than I am," I say quietly.

"She likes peonies. And her favorite color is violet ," says Airi. "Sorry, I can't think of something more important at this moment."

"Even though she looks one hundred percent Japanese, her Russian heritage has been just as influential in her upbringing and in making her who she is today," says Nikita, the only one of my siblings who is white.

Taiga thinks for a moment. "Be kind. But also don't be afraid to tease her. She grew up in a family with lots of laughter."

"Thank you for the advice," says Sangil.

Outside the restaurant we say goodbye, even though we're all staying at the same hotel. We take a drive along the coast before heading back to the hotel. When we're driving home Sangil is quiet. As we get to the hotel parking garage he says, "Earlier today, at the circuit, that one guy gave you a hug."

"Yeah. Most of my friends greet me with a hug if we haven't seen each other for a while."

"I guess for me a hug between the opposite sex means something more."

"Just because the physical motion is the same doesn't mean that they're not different. What I feel when I hug you versus them is not the same. Do you want us to do something else?"

I pull into a parking spot and turn off the engine. Then I turn to face him. He stares back at me. We don't break eye contact.

"Yes," he whispers.

I lean over and softly kiss him. It feels like minutes pass before we make a move to get out of the car.

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