☁️☁️

"i'm telling you the mille-feuille cake here is the best. are sure you don't want a slice?" i asked soo-bin as i went through the cafe's menu.

"yeah..i'm full. but you go ahead." she said.

"what about a glass of lemonade? talking about it made me want a glass. i'll order one." i suggested to her.

"no, i'm okay. i'll go order.."

before she finished her sentence, i immediately stood up first, "i got it. you don't have to get up. i can't make a sunbae put in an order for me."

i'm doing this out of respect, by the way.

i walked towards the counter and made an order.

as soon as i got back, i asked her, "unnie, are you available this saturday at two in the afternoon?"

"saturday at two? why?"

"what do you mean why? i'm trying to set you up with daniel. so are you available or not?"

"yeah, i'm available."

so now, i might as well interview her. she is the perfect choice to be daniel's girlfriend.

she got short hair and big eyes, too.

"all right. okay, so do you play any sports?" i asked.

"i play a little tennis and ping pong."

i smiled, "that's good. he likes tennis. oh, and unnie, is that your real hair color?"

i pointed at her blonde hair.

"this color? isn't it pretty? i had it colored over spring break. my friends said the color came out really nice.." she said shyly.

"hmm..yes. it's pretty. but daniel doesn't like dyed hair."

"really?"

"yes, he doesn't like dyed hair. and he also doesn't like when girls put on too much makeup. oh, and he especially hates it when girls wear miniskirts and tight clothing. you're better off wearing comfortable clothing that day."

i still remember what daniel told me the other day when i wore miniskirts and skinny jeans.

"what's up with you pants? are you sure you'll get enough blood flow in those?"

"hey, just looking at you wearing that skirt makes me feel cold."

yes, he is that stupid. so annoying.

"isn't he so stu-..i mean, conservative?" i sighed.

"yeah, a little, i guess. but i wouldn't mind, it makes him seem thoughtful." soo-bin said.

"really? then you two are made for each other! that's a good look. i'll do my best to support you. just tell me whatever you need." i said excitedly.

finally, i can feel the freedom again once i got him a girlfriend.

"so why are you doing this? maybe you like him, too. and you're deliberately trying to sabotage me."

i suddenly got goosebumps after she said that.

i like him? no way!

"whaaat?! i don't know why people keep on saying that. seventeen years, i've been tort- i mean, i've known him for seventeen years. we're practically family." i sighed.

"really? all of us thought that he liked you.."

"no, that's not possible. we just naturally spend a lot of time together because we're neighbours. that's all. he doesn't like me. it's frustrating for me because people keep on thinking that there's something going on between us." i said truthfully.

"i see! anyway, i'm happy that you're willing to help me! i'm so grateful. oh, your order must be ready. i'll get it for you." said soo-bin happily and she stood up, walking towards the counter to get my order.

"oh, no, it's okay.."

"no, i got it."

just you wait, kang daniel.

i'm going to make it so that nobody can say you like me ever again! you'll make a girlfriend out of this one!

i'll make sure of it!

-

☁️☁️

"i just let my mom know that i want to introduce her to someone. but i didn't share anything beyond that." i said to jungkook as soon as we arrived in front of the restaurant for today's meeting.

"okay." he said plainly.

"jungkook, do you remember when i told you my mom is not like other moms?"

he turned to look at me.

"will there be another situation where i have to carry you out like a princess and run?" he asked jokingly.

"haha, no. if yesterday was something like a spy movie, today will be more like a drama."

"what do you mean by spy movie and drama?"

"i totally felt like i was in a spy movie yesterday. but i'm just saying, today..will probably be more like a drama. there might be moments that you don't understand or find frustrating.." i smiled dryly.

"should i have prepared a handkerchief?"

"haha, no. that's probably not necessary."

does he realise that he is actually quite funny sometimes?

"really? i got a smile out of you, much better." he said.

huh?

"let's go in now." jungkook held out his hand.

i put my hand in his, "okay."

both of us walked hand in hand into the a small private room of the restaurant which has been booked. she's waiting for us inside.

why am i so nervous? it's like i'm not meeting my own mom.

"mom." i called her.

"hello. i'm jeon jungkook." jungkook bowed and introduced himself.

"hello. have a sit." my mom said plainly.

jungkook and i sat in front of her and started eating when the dishes finally served.

everything is so quiet and awkward.

i expected this. but i can't believe she's really not saying a single word.

"would you like to order any drinks?" the waitress asked.

"yes, but with one glass of juice." jungkook said. juice should be okay for a pregnant woman like me.

"yes, sir." and the waitress went away.

"are you pregnant?" my mom suddenly asked.

i instantly looked at her. is it that obvious just by ordering a glass of juice?

"ah..uh.." how should i start?

"i'm sorry, mom. i didn't want to lose chaeyoung. it's all my fault." jungkook answered.

"i don't like hearing you say 'mom'." my mom said.

my heart sank after hearing that.

i gritted my teeth.

what was i so scared about?

"mom, we're getting married in april." i told her.

maybe i was worried she'd get mad at me when she heard i was pregnant.

"all right, i'll attend your wedding if that's what you want. but don't expect anything else from me. if this is why you wanted to see me, we're done here and i can leave now, right? i have plans."

i turned to look at her as she stood up from her seat.

"mom, i'd rather have you get mad at me instead." i said, in the verge of crying.

"what's the point? it's your life." she ended the conversation and walked away, leaving me and jungkook alone.

haa..

don't cry, chae.

"i-i'm sorry..my mom..is not..like other moms." the tears i was holding back finally came out.

i sobbed hardly.

jungkook patted my back, "i guess i really should have prepared a handkerchief."

-

the wedding was set for saturday, april 22nd at five in the evening.

i wasn't sure all the wedding preparations could be done in less than a month. but almost surprisingly, the planning went smoothly.

since i'm pregnant, i was excused from all of the planning except for the wedding photos. everything else was taken care of by jungkook's secretarial staff and his mother.

during the wedding preparation, i got to know jungkook's secretary, park jimin.

he would often complain that jungkook was much easier to deal with when he would stick to his plans.

this is probably because he has to juggle his work and handle all the wedding plans at the same time on such short notice.

i feel bad.

secretary park, jungkook's mother and even jungkook..all of them are handling things i should be handling.

and as expected, my mom made it clear she did not want to be part of the wedding.

fortunately, my dad, who has always felt apologetic towards me, convinced my mom so that the sang-gyun-rae went smoothly without any incident.

she was stoic throughout the entire meal, but at the very least, she made sure she didn't offend jungkook's parents.

sang-gyun-rae - formal meeting where families of the bride and groom meet.