Femme Fatale

Chapter 29: Meet the Parents

I told Seaof to wake me up no matter what the next morning to watch the sun rise, and so he did. He carried me like a child to the balcony and woke me up at the right time when the sky starts to light up. It was so magnificent that I even I forgot that I’m sitting on his lap and got reminded when I felt something hard poking on me. When our eyes met and stare at each other for a while, I thought that we might end up doing something that we shouldn’t do yet but he really is a gentleman that he just covered half of his face instead to control himself.

“I want you to leave me here for a few minutes please, I need some time alone.” his face is all red and he’s trying hard not to look at me

“Huh? Uh, alright.” get off from him immediately and go inside our room “Why did I stay there like a fool??!” walking back and forth as I try to think of anything else to do “I’ll just go and take a bath, yeah, that’s right.” go straight to the bathroom and take a bath

After taking a bath, I realized that I didn’t bring change of clothes with me so I got out with only the bathrobe on and nothing else. The time I stepped out, Seaof was standing there and it’s kind of another awkward moment between us.

“I’ll just wait for you at the dining hall for breakfast.” he walked fast to get out from our room and leave me alone

“…” I almost lost my balance when I grasped the situation “He might think that I’m purposely seducing him, he’s not going to do anything improper with me, right?” holding onto my chest as I walk towards the closet to get my clothes

I went down at the dining hall after half an hour of preparation, he already had breakfast so he left after he got me something to eat. I’m done eating after a quarter and waited for him outside the inn. I heard small voices chattering so I followed where they coming from and I reached the lake pond nearby, then I meet these so-called fishes that brings good luck to their owner.

“I’ve been looking for you and you’re just here.” patting my head upon his arrival “You ready to go?”

“Let’s go.” holding his hand “We’ve got a lot of places to visit today, we only took a few photos yesterday so we should have more today.”

We managed to visit nine attractions in Osaka and arrived at the inn after twelve hours of roaming around. Because we’re both exhausted and hot baths could help us relax, we both tried the hot spring at the inn. It was a great experience that I could even sleep while soaking my body in the water, if not for the staff who told me that Seaof is worried about me outside and he’s been waiting for a while for me to get done bathing.

“I thought something bad happened to you inside.” handing me a drink

“Thanks.” took the drink from him “I forgot the time, it’s so relaxing in the water, how long have you been waiting for me here?”

“It doesn’t matter as long as you’re fine.” brushing my hair with his fingers “Good thing your hair is short, it’ll get dry in no time.”

“I thought I’m full because of the Mushroom and Zucchini Enchiladas we had earlier for dinner but I’m hungry again.” touching my belly

“Yeah me too, what do you want for late night snack?” walking by my side as he put his arms around my shoulders

“Something light to eat how about the delicacies we bought earlier, let’s just buy another tomorrow.” glancing at him

“I’m fine with whatever you want.” going back to our bedroom where we put the stuffs, we shopped for the day

We slept at midnight and the next morning I ended up waking with my head near the balcony sliding door and my feet on top of Seaof’s legs. He looked at me and smile before he greeted me good morning in Japanese.

“Yesterday you were sleeping on my feet, maybe if we spend another night here you completed your rotation by 360.” sit up as he stretches his arms

“I really can’t stay still in my original position, but you know what I never fall from my bed not even once.” stretching my arms and legs

“That’s nice, but if our bed is elevated from the floor, you might fall today.” stand up and go to the bathroom

“He’s right.” noticed that I’m way beyond my mattress though it’s also wrinkled near Seaof’s mattress that is still in good position

“Let’s have breakfast first?” he got out from the bathroom after doing his business “…” surprised when he saw what I’ve done

“Alright, I need to roll back and wash my face.” I rolled at Seaof’s mattress while he’s in the bathroom

“Pfft … what have you done?” helping me to roll out from his mattress “Geez, you’re so cute!”

After rolling thrice, I pulled a prank on him but I didn’t expect that he’ll end up on top of me. He just woke up and washed his face with water but why he looks dazzling to me?! My hands are on his shoulders and I can feel that he’s getting closer to me but instead of pushing him away I put my hands at the back of neck. The next thing I know, his lips and mine finally touch each other, and because it’s my first time kissing a guy, I accidentally bit his lips that caused him to stop. He pulled away and wipe the blood on his lips but he doesn’t look mad at all, instead he let out a smile on me.

“So-Sorry … I didn’t mean to … I honestly don’t know what I was doing.” sincerely apologizing to him “Are you alright? Does it hurt? What should I do?” touching his lips but he holds my hand instead “I’m really sorry.”

“It’s me who should say sorry to you, I should be contented with just a simple kiss but I got too excited.” patting my head “I’m fine really, don’t worry.”

“Do you need to put some ice or any ointment on it?” looking at his wound that is still bleeding “!!!” stunned when he suddenly sealed my lips with his

“That should be the kiss we had.” looking at my eyes “Don’t worry you’ll get it eventually; I’ll help you practice.”

“Ah, I need to go to the bathroom.” rushing towards the bathroom and locked myself in “What did just happen?!” touching my lips as I can hear my heart beating loudly “What’s wrong with you Nene??!”

When Poseidon accidentally kissed me, I had this kind of feeling too but it fades away eventually with time. I know I can get over with this kiss with Seaof too, I should stop overthinking that I may be in love with Seaof for real because it’s just a reaction that will disappear as time passed by.

We spent our last day roaming at the other places that we haven’t visited yet and bought souvenirs for the people we left in Korea. We departed from Osaka after our afternoon tea and arrived at Yeongdo just in time for a good night sleep. He went straight to the campus dorm after he dropped me off to my place. Because we both filed a leave on Monday, we can’t be seen together by anyone going back at the campus, so I commute the next day.

“We heard that Prof. Godeth also went to Japan this weekend, did you meet each other?” girl classmate A who’s a member of journalism

“Ah really, I didn’t see him, where did you get the news, he went to Japan??” trying to act innocent

“My boyfriend told me that he saw Prof. Godeth last night carrying paper bags with Japanese characters on it. Aside from that he’s also on leave yesterday, it’s least likely that he went shopping yesterday from Japanese stores somewhere here as the reason of his leave.” she continued

“Oh, I see. Then he may really come back from Japan.” handing them the sweet delicacies I bought from Osaka

“Such coincidence, Nene and Prof. Godeth returned last night from Japan but they haven’t meet each other?” Hammond stirring up an issue

“Well he might have his own private plane like Prof. Nevaeh, so if that’s the case there’s a slim chance that I meet him even in the airport.” I replied

“Yeah, Nene has a point, we’re thinking too much, besides what Nene has to do with Prof. Godeth?” all the girls in the class agreed “Maybe Prof. Godeth got a business transaction in Japan, you know rich people world.” girl classmate B added “And we all know that Nene visited a friend.”

“A friend huh?” Hammond responded “And who’s this friend that you meet this time that I didn’t know?” raising his eyebrows at me

“You think you’re the only male best friend that I have? I visited …” thinking of a name “Christopher Swift!” saw the cover of the magazine that one of my classmates is looking at “He asked me to come over while his having a vacation in Japan, so I flew there for our friendship sake.”

“Christopher Swift??!” girl classmate C exclaimed “You mean the American Super Model who started his career in our country, this Christopher Swift?!!” showing off the cover magazine “He’s your best friend you say??!”

“Yes. We’re classmates from middle school until we both graduated in high school.” changing our topic to another interesting matter that completely diverted everyone’s suspicion that Hammond initiated “He continued to be a model after that and me here as a college student.”

When the class ended, I chased after Hammond to asked him what his problem was. He’s not in the mood when I showed up in the classroom and he didn’t even take the souvenir I specially bought for him, like I’ve wronged him or something.

“Hammond!” hop in at his back after I run after him

“Hey Nene! You’re choking me … get off from my back!” trying to get my hands off from him “What are you a monkey??!”

“Who are you calling monkey, huh?!!” hit his head as I get off from his back

“Aww! What the hell is your problem??!” rubbing his head as he looks back at me

“It’s me who should be asking that question.” put my arm around his shoulder “What happened to you while I’m gone??”

“Nothing. Will you please get your arm off me? Is this how a lady should behave??” he put my arm down and keep a distance from me “You’re just making me miss you more when I’m gone.” he said in a low voice but I still heard it clearly

“What do you mean when you’re gone, you’re going somewhere??” staring at him as we walk at the hallway

“Let’s talk somewhere quiet not here.” walking towards the gymnasium as I followed him

“Now talk, what’s troubling you?” sits beside him on the bench as we occupied the empty practice room for archery

“I’m going back to Malaysia. My father had trouble in business, he already filed for bankruptcy.” staring blankly ahead

“I don’t know about business but does it mean you’re going to stop?” worried about his future “There’s only one year left before graduation, you’re almost there … if it’s about money, I don’t have much but I can help you get through until graduation.” thinking of giving him the money I get from my scholarship “Please don’t stop, we’re going to graduate together remember? The reason you transferred here after your exchange program.”

“I’m dropping out after midterms. I know you mean well but it’s not that simple, Nene. I need to help my family; I can’t stay here and pretend nothing happened. My father told me to continue but how can I do that if I know that he’s struggling to earn in order to send money for my living expenses here. I’m not the only one he’s supporting; I can’t be a burden to our family.” smiling bitterly

“Is there nothing else that we can do? Is dropping out from college and going back to Malaysia the only answer to your problem??” thinking of other solution “You may apply for student loan aside from the scholarship you get as part of the archery club, and be a working student here for your cost of living, in that case your father doesn’t need to send money for you.”

“That was my first option, I may continue living here independently for another year but what about my family back there? Can they wait for me to get a job after graduation? I’m not even sure if I could have a job easily because there’s a lot of competitors who are better than me.” he replied

“You said it yourself, it’s not easy to find a job. Let’s say you go back there, are you certain that you’ll have a job in an instant?” persuading him

“There’s a lot of people we know I’m sure there’s one who’ll give me a job. Besides I’m home back there unlike here I’m still an outsider.” he said

“Hammond.” hugging him as I cry “I don’t want you to leave, we promised to graduate together.”

“I’m sorry if I’m breaking that promise now.” holding onto my arm “Hey, stop crying, it’s not like you, you’re ruining my impression of you as the tough one, you don’t have to feel sorry for me, once I saved enough money I’ll go back to college and continue my studies.”

“Can’t you stay until the end of semester? I’ll provide for your family while you’re staying here.” holding him tight

“Geez, I was well off than you, how can you say that you’ll provide for my family?” flick my forehead “The money you had now is from your late father and the scholarship from your excellent grades, you told me that you’ll be broke after graduation do you want to make it sooner??”

“It doesn’t matter. I can apply for student loan and get a part time job. I’m your best friend let me help you.” staring at him

“If you get a part time job you won’t have much time to sleep.” staring back at me “I don’t want to be burden to you, I can’t accept your help knowing that I’ll cause you trouble.” patting my head “Even if we’re not together, you’re still my best friend, remember that.”

“I can’t believe that you’re leaving so soon.” pull away from him as I wipe my tears

“It’s not like we’re not gonna see each other after I leave, you may visit me anytime, also you may call me everyday but of course that’ll be on your expense because international call is quite costly, I don’t think I can pay for that in my current situation.” trying to make me laugh

“Papa Justin can help me with that matter, I’m sure it’s alright with him if I make an international call every day.” chuckles

“That’s more I like it, I don’t want to see you sad, alright?” giving me a look

“Sadness is normal, happiness is not the only emotion a human has.” wiping my face with a handkerchief

“That’s for me, right?” took the paper bag beside me “Sorry for my demeanor earlier, it won’t happen again. Thank you for this.” looking inside the bag “By the way, tomorrow is Seaof-hyung’s birthday party, right? He asked me this morning to teach him archery as my present to him, I agreed because I don’t have money to buy him any presents though I don’t know why he suddenly want to learn.”

“Ah, I guessed he can’t move on from the game we played when we were at the amusement park. He wanted to give me the prize but he never succeeded because he’s bad at aiming the arrow to the target.” laughing as I recall the memory of watching Seaof getting frustrated

“Now I know, he wants to impress you and make you think that he can be better.” he nodded “He’s quite a hard worker … I thought you’re hopeless when you rejected Suho despite of all his efforts to pursue you but accepting Seaof-hyung isn’t that bad after all, it’s just a shame that you have to hide your relationship because of your current situation.”

“It’s alright I want to maintain a low profile anyway, it’s not like I want everyone to know what’s happening in my life.” stand up “Speaking of him, I just remembered that we’re going to meet at the market today, I gotta go aren’t you coming out with me?” looking at him who’s sitting still

“I’ll stay here for a while, you go first.” he doesn’t have an intention to go yet

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow.” walking off from the gymnasium “Why am I rushing out to see him?” realized that I’m walking fast “If he want to see me then he should wait, besides we’re making it like a coincidence that we’re meeting each other in case anyone see us, it’s better to be real.”

I met Seaof at the market’s parking lot, he thought that I already gone out shopping because his last class ended a little late it turns out that he arrived 25 minutes earlier than me. As usual he carried the bags for me as we buy all the ingredients, I need for Thursday and Friday because today he probably told Papa Justin and Poseidon to dine out somewhere and tomorrow, we’ll be dining at his place in Dongbaekseom.

“Baby, what if your parents don’t like me when you introduce me to them tomorrow?” staring at him while lying at the reclined passenger seat of his car as we spend more time together after having a dinner at a Thai restaurant “I’m pretty sure they have something to say about our relationship.”

“They always have something to say, but you don’t have to worry about that. I’m sure they’re gonna love you, baby.” touching my face with his gentle hand “Besides they’re eager to meet the woman I first propose to be my girlfriend.”

“I don’t know if you’re making me calm or you’re putting more pressure on me. They might expect great things from me and I’m afraid that I might disappoint them when they finally meet me.”

To be honest, I don’t know what I might do when I meet his parents, because I get to finally see the people who murdered my mother that made my father depressed. A depression that even I carried for a long time but I chose to fight instead of giving in like my father.

The next day after class, because every students and faculty members are invited to Seaof’s party, I went with Papa Justin instead of him. Which is actually a great thing because Papa Justin helped me to calm my mind to act normally and hold back my anger when I meet Seaof’s parents.

I want to kill them the moment I stepped into their mansion, especially when I saw their portrait hanging on the wall. I’m all trembling with anger instead of nervousness, but I had to continue my act as Seaof’s girlfriend until the right time comes to end the show.

“Father, mother …” Seaof called out to his parents when we got in to a private room “I want you to meet Nene L. Puth, my girlfriend.” embracing me as he introduces me to his parents whose skin are pale like they’re blood have been drained

“Puth …” his father speaks with a deep voice “I’m certain that’s not a Korean surname. Are you half breed like my son?”

“My father’s American while my mother’s Korean, L in my name stands for Lee, sir.” holding back myself not to mess up

“Sir?? You’re my son’s woman, you should call me uncle.” smiling gently at me but I find it more annoying that he can smile like a good man

“I see. I actually want to do a background check on you but my child told me that’s rude and he’ll be angry at me if I do so.” his mother looks fierce than his father “So will you tell me everything about yourself, Ms. Nene L. Puth? Treat this like you’re in a job interview.”

“Mother, is it really necessary to ask her about herself??!” Seaof intervenes “You’re embarrassing me.”

“Is it wrong for a mother to ask the woman of her son??!” his mother not even backing out “Go ahead darling, tell me everything.”

“I’m sorry.” Seaof said to me as he takes me to sit at the couch “I didn’t know that mother will do this.”

“It’s fine.” I replied “I was born in North Eastham, Massachusetts on 14th of February 1959. My father’s a naval architect and my mother’s a housewife …” clenching my fist as I talk about my parents to them “My mother died when I was nine so my father and I moved in here to relive the memories of my late mother. Nine years after, I became an orphan after my father followed my mother in the afterlife. Father’s best friend becomes my guardian and I’m living with him for almost three years now.”

“That’s enough of your sad story about your family background.” Seaof’s mother raised her hand “I’m sorry for your loss.” looking apologetic towards me but I know that she’s not sorry at all “Just tell me more about yourself, I want to know you alone.”

“Currently, I’m a junior college student taking up Naval Architecture. I’m not the best student but I can say that I’m a good one because I always have scholarship from first year until now. I’m not musically or artistically talented but I know martial arts and I’m good at using knives.” (And I want to use that skill right now to you and your husband.) trying hard to hold back my anger “I mean I’m good at cooking.”

“Ah, you got me nervous back there when you say you’re good with knives.” Seaof’s father let out a laugh “If she’s good at cooking, I’ve got no objections at her to be our son’s woman, and you say you’re a Naval Architecture major, right?”

“Yes, sir … I mean uncle.” faking a smile “I’m one of Seaof’s student.”

“Student?!!” Seaof’s mother exclaimed “Young man, would you like to explain why on earth are you dating your own student??!” glaring at Seaof “Did you change your profession to a professor in order to date your students?!!”

“No! Of course not! It just so happened that fall in love with her. It never occurred to me to take advantage of my position as a professor.” Seaof replied as his defense with the accusation “She’s the only student I dare to date because I love her.”

“And she’s the first whom our son confessed to; all his past lovers chased after him first but this young woman is different, it’s our son who chased after her, and it’s no doubt that he’s totally smitten by such beauty.” Seaof’s father said

“Men …” Seaof’s mother shaking her head “Fine. If you truly love this young lady then you shouldn’t stay as her professors, you’re being unethically professional with your job Seaof.” crossing her legs “You need to quit that job before your relationship get exposed to the public.”

“I agree with your mother.” Seaof’s father nodding his head “You have to take over the company now son, I’m done waiting for you to get ready.”

“Father, give me more time to think about it, besides it’s not like you’re going to die anytime soon, I might be the first one to die before you two.”

“Seaof!” Seaof’s mother shouted angrily “Please refrain yourself from talking like that to us specially when it’s not just us.” gritting her teeth

“Sorry.” Seaof apologized immediately “If there’s nothing else, can I go with Nene now and join the others at my party?” holding my hand

“We’re not over yet, son.” Seaof’s father replied “We’ll talk about it again sooner but for now you have my permission to go, because it’s your birthday I let you slipped for once, so go ahead and enjoy your party.” he look at me “It’s nice meeting you, Nene.”