I stood outside my closet, looking at the different scarves hanging from the hook. I typically leave all of my winter things on these hooks so that I can easily grab them before heading out the door. I don’t remember ever putting this grey scarf on the hook; I wouldn’t, but maybe Haram saw it stuffed in one of my drawers and decided to hang it up with the others in the closet. It catches me off-guard, knowing the scarf belonged to my ex so many lifetimes ago.
My cell phone rang and without a surprise, it was Haram. “Haram-ie,” I answered, smiling through the phone.
“Oppa,” Haram greeted me. “I just wanted to tell you that the venue for my mother’s retirement party changed last minute.”
“When is that happening again?” I asked, examining the scarf on the hook.
“Jaemin,” Haram deadpanned. “Do you listen to me when I speak to you?”
“How can I,” I began to say as I pulled out my winter coat and grabbed another scarf from the closet hook. “Your beauty distracts me.”
“Flattery will only get you so far,” Haram immediately snapped back, not tolerating my flirting today. “Seriously Jaemin, this is important to my mother. You only retire once in your life.” Heh, not when you completely leave your job for another one without any real reason.
“I understand,” I reassured Haram. “I’ll be there; you know I wouldn’t miss it.” I heard the doorbell ring; I knew it was Shawn. “I got to go; Shawn’s here. I’ll call you later.”
“Don’t have too much fun without me,” Haram teased. I was disappointed when I asked Haram to come with me to meet Shawn and his girlfriend and couldn’t due to work. If Shawn wasn’t leaving for Seoul so much sooner than expected, I would’ve waited until she had a day off.
“You know that’s not even possible,” I answered back, smiling through the phone. We said our goodbyes and I hung up the phone, immediately removing the smile from my face when I did. I sighed, as I walked to the front door.
“Ya, you’re actually on time for once,” I said to Shawn as I answered the door. He sucked his teeth at my banter. “You’re a changed man.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shawn dismissed. I close the door behind me, locking the door. “Is Haram not coming with us?”
“She had to work today,” I said, walking to Shawn’s car. “It sucks that you have to leave for Seoul so early.”
“Yeah, but my sister is in town for the week, and I really want her to meet Skylar. I think she’ll really like her.” I can tell Shawn has lost some sleep being back in Korea. It’s one thing to be back here for a vacation or something, but he’s here to introduce his American girlfriend to his Korean native family. I know he’s dreading it, but I also know this is much bigger than just him introducing her to his family. I know he’s going to marry her.
“I think Sungmi will like her,” I reassured Shawn again, knowing he probably had a dozen racing thoughts throughout his head. “Let’s hit the road before it gets dark.”
…
The ride was mainly quiet, which wasn’t like Shawn at all. Normally he had a ton of things to talk about, but this time he was radio silent. I couldn’t help but keep looking at him as he drove, checking to see if he was truly okay.
“Ya,” I called out to Shawn. He quickly looks at me before looking at the road again. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?” Shawn quickly answered. I rolled my eyes, clearly picking up his bluff.
“Are you nervous about the trip to Seoul, or about me being in the same room as Skylar?” I asked. Shawn didn’t answer; he didn’t need to. “Shawn, tonight will be fine.”
“I know how Skylar can get,” Shawn began to explain. “She can say some unhinged things.”
“Have you met her cousin by any chance?” I mentioned. “Being unhinged runs in that family.”
“But this is different, hyung,” Shawn responded. “This is about how things were left between you and Grace back in California.” Shawn was never good at reading the room, or he was but insisted on going against all of the rules in the room. I tried my hardest to avoid ever using or hearing that woman’s name, yet Shawn makes it apparent that he doesn’t care where I stand when it comes to that woman.
“Why would Skylar care about something that happened almost a year ago?” I emphasized, growing annoyed. “You said it yourself, her cousin moved on; don’t you think she did too?”
“You don’t live with Skylar,” Shawn answered. “You don’t really know how she feels about all of this.”
“With all due respect, Shawn; she has to get over it,” I said as I looked over at Shawn. He looked back at me as he stopped at the red light. “If she’s going to continue being your girlfriend and someday your wife, she has to come to terms that we are more than just friends. We’re brothers.” Shawn sighed at my response as he began to drive once the light turned green.
“Well, I spoke to Skylar about this and she agreed to be cordial for my sake,” Shawn said. “She’s doing this because she loves me.”
“That’s not even in question,” I mentioned. “It takes a lot of energy to deal with someone like you.” I laughed, trying to lighten the mood of this car ride. Shawn smiled and rolled his eyes; at least he knew that there was some truth behind it.
“Let’s just make the best out of this night, okay?” Shawn asked. I nodded my head before I answered him back.
“Of course,” I reassured Shawn. “The best that it can possibly be.”
Letters From Liz. 