Childhood Friends

Chapter 4

I finished reading the letter and was completely intrigued. I called Hyunjin on Kakao Talk. His lovely, handsome face pops up on the screen. Looks like he's getting ready for bed.
"Sorry, is this a bad time?" I asked.
"Oh, no. Not at all. Give me a second to get dressed." Hyunjin said.
"Dressed for?" I asked.
"You'll see, just wait." Hyunjin said. He drops his phone so that I can't see what he is changing into. It must be late in Korea right now, or he wouldn't be laying in bed like that.
Hyunjin comes back, wearing the most handsome suit I have ever seen. It's a Burberry suit, which is very expensive. He walks over to the practice room and chooses an Ed Sheeran song, Thinking Out Loud, to play in the background. Then, he begins his speech, reading a little script he wrote for himself,
"Shelly, you first appeared in my life when I was 6. Since I went back to Korea, I wondered how you were, where you went, and I'd ever be able to see you again. Then, suddenly, you came back to me so many years later. I just want to say, I love you. You make me happier. I wish for nothing less but for you to be in my life forever. Will you marry me?"
"What? Are you serious?! Yes!" I exclaimed.
Hyunjin laughs adorably and has a wide smile on his face, "Chan hyung told me that proposing this way would make you really happy. If I proposed the traditional Korean way, it would be boring."
"What is the traditional way?" I asked.
"We mutually agree to marry." Hyunjin said.
"Oh, that is boring." I said, laughing.
"Yes, so this is how I did it." Hyunjin said, "Check your mail again today. I sent something in advance."
"Oh, okay." I said.

I go and quickly check my mail. I find a little box that's shipped all the way from Seoul. I open the box and find another smaller ring box. I know exactly what this is. It's the engagement ring. I open the ring and put it on my finger, pretending that Hyunjin is here and put it on me. He is still on the phone with me and watching my reaction. He looks incredibly happy about my reaction.
"Sorry I couldn’t be there." Hyunjin said.
"No, this is perfect." I said.
"I promise I will visit soon and we can start over. . ." Hyunjin said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I can propose you all over again." Hyunjin said.
"Okay. I'm fine with that." I said.
"Good. I'm going to bed now." Hyunjin said.
"Okay, sleep well. Love you." I said.
"I'll love you forever." Hyunjin said.

Aww, I love him so much. I can't wait for the day when Hyunjin finally makes it Vegas and he will do a real proposal to me. I bet I'll cry just like I did when I left him in Korea. Then. . . Unexpectedly, Hyunjin came sooner than I thought. He showed up at my doorstep that same weekend. I opened the door to see Hyunjin standing there.
"Oh, wow. That was quick." I said.
"I told you I would visit soon." Hyunjin said.
"This is sooner than I thought." I said.
"Ah, yes. Let's go, I know exactly where we should go." Hyunjin said.
"Where?" I asked.
"You'll see." Hyunjin said.

Hyunjin already called an Uber and we're on our way. It looks like we're heading to our old elementary school: Bracken Elementary School. Hyunjin only spent around a year at this school, then continue his education, doing middle school at Seongnae Middle School, then graduated from the legendary SOPA(School of Performing Arts, Seoul). Hyunjin grabs my hand as we get out of the Uber. He stands in front of me, asking me to take off the engagement ring so he can try this for real.
"Let me start over. . . Shelly, we first met here. At this elementary school. Since then, I wondered where you had gone. We parted ways when I moved back to Korea. I missed you often. I wondered when I could meet you again. Then, out of nowhere, you came to Korea and met me again at JYP. You found me again after I became an idol. We started talking again and fell in love like we did when we were kids. I love you so much. I can't wait for you to spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me? Again?" Hyunjin asked, giggling.
"Yes, of course." I said.
"Okay." Hyunjin said, smiling bright, and putting a ring on my finger.
"While we're here, I should introduce you to my parents." I said.
"Ah, yes. Let's go." Hyunjin said.

Hyunjin calls the Uber back to the school and we get back in. We arrive back to my house and walk in, hand-in-hand. I call my parents downstairs and they come down to see what's happening.
"Mom, dad. This is Hyunjin 'Sam' Hwang. Do you remember him?" I asked.
"Oh, you. You're that little Korean kid Shelly befriended." Dad said.
"Yes, sir." Hyunjin said.
"He is my fiancé now." I said.
"Oh?" Mom asked.
"Yes. He just proposed to me at our old elementary school." I said.
"May I have your permission to marry your daughter?" Hyunjin asked.
"Wait, what have you been up to these days?" Dad asked.
"I am an idol. You know Stray Kids?" Hyunjin asked.
"Not really." Mom said.
"Okay, wait. Let me show you. This way." I said, leading everyone to my living room.

I turn on YouTube and choose a great Stray Kids music video, Back Door: https://youtu.be/X-uJtV8ScYk. The video begins and I am just as shook as when I first watched it, 2 years ago. This is a really good music video, to be honest. Hyunjin covers his face in embarrassment whenever his part comes up. I thought he would be more confident in himself than that. I guess it's different when I'm showing my parents what my future husband does for a living. Once the music video was over, I then proceeded to show a few clips from their recent concerts. This is when my parents will really learn what Hyunjin's job really is. When all the videos are finished playing, my dad comments,
"You're marrying a rapper? There's no way I can let you marry a rapper."
"But, dad. He's not like the rappers we have in America. Hyunjin is different." I said.
"How do I know he's not rapping about drugs, sex, and girls?" Dad asked.
Hyunjin looked disgusted that my dad would even assume that Stray Kids would make trash like that.
"Let me explain, sir." Hyunjin pipes in.
"Right, please explain." Dad said.
"My group, Stray Kids, write and produce our own music. Our lyrics are written from personal experience, and we steer away from vulgar lyrics, unlike how you assume. I should know, I help write lyrics." Hyunjin explained.
"Alright. Well, still. You are a celebrity, I wouldn't let my daughter marry someone like you." Dad said.
"Frank, just think about it." Mom said.
"He's one of those K-pop idols, would you like her marrying that?" Dad asked.
"Shh." Mom said, "I give you permission."
"Thank you, 장모님입니다." Hyunjin said(mother-in-law)
"What was that?" Mom asked.
"It means, mother-in-law." Hyunjin said.
"Oh." Mom said.