My blaring alarm woke me up and I opened my eyes quickly, my heart speeding up at the sudden sound. I sat up and felt around the bed for my phone and saw that Yongguk’s side was again empty. I found my phone and quickly turned off the alarm, still squinting with my tired eyes. Where could Yongguk have gone? It was only seven in the morning. As I was about to step out of bed, my phone rang and I checked the ID, sighing when I saw my mom’s number. 

“Hello.” I sighed.

“Darling.” she sang, sounding incredibly happy. “How have you been? Everything alright?”

I sighed and didn’t want to answer. Mom wasn’t calling because she cared, she was calling because she wanted something from me. My family and I were never on good terms. I was an only child and my parents were business people. Spending time overseas and interstate, I never got the attention and care that I needed. 

“I’m fine.” I said. “I’m getting ready for class.”

“Well, when you finish class call me.” mom said. “I have this business friend and he’s got a son that I really want you to meet.” 

I rolled my eyes and wanted to hang up, but that would be disrespectful and I wasn’t that type of spoilt, princess brat. Although my parents knew that I was dating Yongguk, they disregarded the fact and continued to set me up with their business friends’ sons. Although they didn’t know that Yongguk was a drug dealing hit man, they still looked down on him for not going to university.

“I’m not going.” I said firmly. “It hurts Yongguk and I don’t ever want to hurt him.”

“Oh honey,” my mom seemed to have laughed mockingly. “I’ve said this before. You deserve so much better than him. He doesn’t even have a job. I suggest you leave him and move back in with us.”

“I’m going to be late.” I said quickly, trying to stop myself from hearing any further. “We’ll talk some other time, okay mom?” 

I hung up with a sigh and dropped my phone on the bed. I sometimes wondered if my parents ever truly cared about me. Was I their daughter or was I simply a possession that they had? I rather had them disown me when I moved out than have them into my personal life like that. 

I received a text shortly after and I took a wild guess of who I could have been and opened it, not even surprised that I was right. 

“You’re coming today. Whether you like it or not. We’ll come pick you up personally if we have to. But what do you think will happen if we bump into Yongguk?”

They were threatening me into going. The last time they saw Yongguk, things ended very badly. It was one of their business parties that I stupidly brought Yongguk along to. They talked to me in front of their clients and ‘assumed’ that Yongguk didn’t know what we were talking about, because he wasn’t smart enough. Then humiliating him in front of all their business clients. After that night, I couldn’t apologize enough to Yongguk, although he said he was alright. 

“You should go.” I heard Yongguk say. 

I turned to the doorway and saw him standing there with a heavy expression. The thought must have bothered him the way it bothered me. I felt guilty while Yongguk felt self conscious. I felt guilty for leaving him and seeing other men, although it wasn’t anything serious. Yongguk felt self conscious because he knew that he wasn’t anywhere near as rich and as high class as the other men that I would meet. 

“I’m not going.” I said, getting up off the bed and walking towards him. “They can’t keep controlling me.”

“They’re your parents.” Yongguk said, resting a hand on my waist. “Listen to them.”

I suddenly felt mad at Yongguk. How could he push me off into seeing other men? It was as if he wanted me to meet others. I couldn’t ever think of anyone else the same way I thought of Yongguk. 

“Why are you trying to make me go?” I said, looking at him. “Don’t you care that these are men? I’m in a relationship with you, why don’t you care enough to protect our relationship?”

“I care a lot for our relationship.” he said softly. “But face it baby, we’ve got no future. Well, I don’t. You’re a medicine student, you deserve so much better than a drug dealer.”

Tears blurred my vision and I bit my lip, trying to fight back a whimper. Why wasn’t anyone on my side? I belonged with Yongguk and I forever will, why didn’t anyone understand? I turned away quickly and walked into the bathroom., getting ready for class. I got dressed and check myself in the mirror before walking out, grabbing my bag in the corner of the room.

“Babe.” I heard Yongguk call from the living room. “Maybe you wanna come out here.”

I furrowed my brows at the uncertainty in his voice and walked out into the living room and approached him. He was pushing the curtains to the side slightly and observing outside.

“Your parents are here.” he said quietly. “They’re making their way in.” 

I exhaled a sigh and squeezed both my eyes shut. They really did mean that. At that moment, I really hated them. They had no respect for me and they never viewed me as an adult. Their footsteps were soon followed by loud knocks on the door. Quickly, Yongguk turned to open the door when I stopped him. 

“I’ll get it.” I said.

I quickly walked to the door and took a deep breath before opening it. I was immediately greeted by my mother’s cocky grin and my dad’s nonchalant expression. I silently sighed and greeted them.

“Hi mom.” I said. “Hi dad.”

“Hello darling.” mom said cheerfully, bringing me into a hug.

I pulled away quickly and stood at the door, not wanting to invite them in. I wasn’t embarrassed of Yongguk but I didn’t want them to see him. That would only give them more reasons to insult him and make him feel bad. I looked at them expectingly and waited for them to speak but they were also looking at me expectingly, as if waiting for me to invite them in. 

“What brings you here?” I said first. “I’m about to leave for class.” 

Quickly, my mom grasped onto my hand.

“You’re taking a day off today.” she said sweetly but I heard the stern command behind those words. “You’re coming with us. Our friend has a son and I guarantee that you are going to adore him.” 

I pulled away from my mom’s grip and wanted to object, but before I could even open my mouth, Yongguk walked to the door and greeted my parents with a bow and formal greeting. 

“Oh, you’re here.” my mom sighed. “Thought you had left to do your good for nothing job, but did you have one? I don’t know.”

“Mom.” I said. “That’s rude. Don’t talk to him like that.”

I then felt Yongguk’s hand rest on my lower back and patted it lightly. I guess he was saying that he was okay. I glanced back at my dad and he didn’t even look at Yongguk. He was looking at his phone and not bothering to participate in the conversation. 

“We don’t have time.” My mom said sternly to Yongguk. “We’re taking our daughter to meet a classy handsome man. If you don’t mind please stop interfering.” 

“Mom.” I said. “For the last time, I’m not going.” 

“You should go.” Yongguk said. “Don’t stand everyone up like that.”

My mother let out a mocking chuckle that sent a shiver down my spine because I knew what came out next wouldn’t be kind. It would be something that would hurt Yongguk. 

“See?” she looked at me. “Even he wants you to meet the guy. Even he knows that he’s no where near good enough for someone like you.”

My eyes widened slightly and I quickly glanced to Yongguk. He had his head hung low and said not a word to my mom. I wanted to slam the door into my parents’ faces and never see them again, but life wasn’t that simple and I knew that in order for them to treat me like an adult, I had to act like one. Although a lot of the time they still won’t treat me like one.

“Fine.” I sighed. “If that will stop you from insulting my boyfriend.” 

“Will you just hurry up?” my dad grumbled. “We don’t have time for any interruptions that could make us late.”

It was funny because he hadn’t said a word to me nor Yongguk. Not a word nor a greeting and yet, when he speaks up they were words of complaint.

I was about to walk out the door with my parents when I suddenly needed to reassure Yongguk that none of what my parents said was true. I halted and told them that I had forgotten something inside and made my way back into the apartment, dragging Yongguk with me. 

“What are you-“ he whispered quickly.

I cupped his face and quickly brought his lips to mine. I felt his surprised and uncertain lips freeze against mine but then he rested both his hand on my waist and softly pecked back at my lips. I pulled my lips away but rested my forehead on his and closed my eyes. 

“Don’t ever think that you’re not good enough.” I whispered. “I love you so much.” 

I felt him nod against my forehead. I opened my eyes and stared at him before quickly pecking another kiss onto his lips. Then pulling away, I gave him a reassuring smile and walked out of the door with my parents. Although I was uneasy about the idea I tried acting normal towards my parents. Incase they accuse Yongguk of having a negative influence on me, making me a brat towards my parents. 

I sat in the backseat of my parents’ car and propped my elbow up onto the window ceil, resting my face on my fists. I couldn’t care less about who I was meeting. On the car, mom continued describing this guy. A educated me, a handsome man, and gentleman. But her words went from one ear through the other. 

“You are going to absolutely adore this guy.” My mom held onto my arm as we walked into the fancy restaurant.

I never knew why my parents were into fine dining. It was a waste of money. I know, I know. Many rich and classy would beg to differ but I still found no point in it. Sure the food was nice looking but I knew for a fact that nice looking food wouldn’t make me full. But this restaurant was a fine dining restaurant with chandeliers and fancy lighting.  

My parents seemed to have known exactly where the table was and made their way straight to it. As I approached it I froze in my path and it felt like all my blood had ran cold. My feet stayed on the floor and I couldn’t budge an inch. A young man was sitting on a table with an older man. Yes, sure he was handsome but I couldn’t have mistaken that he was the same police man I had seen the night before. 

“Come on honey.” I heard my mom’s voice, but it sounded so distant. I was in complete shock. 

Walking slowly to the table, I felt sick and I wanted to vomit. It couldn’t have been.

“Hello.” my mom smiled widely. “Sorry for being late.”

After a round of hand shakes and greetings, my mom introduced me to the young man and his father. 

“Honey, this is Mr.Jung and this is his son, Daehyun.” mom said, addressing the younger man.