[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/4zgDjJc.png[/img][/center]
[right][@Hey Im Jordan][/right][hr]Hailey was fuming. If there had been a fire in her before the dinner, then her sister and her parents had poured gasoline all over it. [i]Especially[/i] her sister… where did Cyndi get off?! Did she think she was [i]cute[/i] acting like that? Hailey would have to deal with her later, but for now she was getting some alone time with Hana, the light of her life. Hopefully, it would have a positive effect on her, as it normally did, but… Hailey was pretty furious.

So mad in fact, she wasn’t even watching anime. She was just [i]pacing[/i] in her bedroom, with Hana sitting on the bed. Hailey was having trouble finding words, but she was certainly doing her best. [b][color=#922b2b]“That ungrateful, weasely little brat! Who does she think she is? [i]I [/i]want to do a nice thing and introduce our parents all three of their children’s love ones at the same time, and she ruins it with her pissy attitude. Fucking child, she has no [i]idea[/i] what she’s in for.”[/color][/b]

Yes, Hailey was angry.

In hindsight Hana felt like she could’ve said more at dinner. Her grand contribution after assuring Hailey that everything would be fine was blatantly calling Henry an idiot, in so many terms, in front of his parents and girlfriend. Would Hana apologize? Likely not; now that Hana was out of the drug dealing game her relationship with Henry was the fact that she was dating his sister and it was doubtful he would pay her for that like he did the copius amounts of coke and pills he had paid for in the past. 

Her responsibility now was talking Hailey down from the present fury which was far easier said than done. She couldn’t just strip down and take Hailey’s mind off it in that way but neither could she say the [i]wrong[/i] thing for fear of reprisal. It was a difficult, delicate livewire she had to balance atop; no one had said this would be part of dating Hailey Green..or any relationship for that matter. The movies and shows tended to not focus on this aspect. [b][color=#ff69b4]“It was totally unfair of her to call you a bitch. It’s not her fault that she had to find some poor sap to go to dinner with. Why was she even here, wasn’t she doing the exchange thing? That’s going to cause problems for your brother...like she cares.” [/color][/b]Hana figured the best course of action was to add to the embers that were flaring up and try to lighten Hailey’s mood from anger to more...calming rage. [b][color=#ff69b4]“She’s been living in Korea, she has no idea what you’ve had to deal with. No one does, that’s why everyone just likes to talk because they don’t know what it’s like to be you. No one else could do it, as they’ll soon discover.” [/color][/b]

See? Hana was the remedy. She knew what to say, or at least which buttons to press to fire Hailey up just a little bit more. [b][color=#922b2b]“I didn’t even think about [i]that[/i], she [i]is[/i] going to ruin things for my brother! She doesn’t even know how attached to that little girl my brother is already. She’s going to get Min-seo sent back to Korea, and Henry sent [i]back[/i] to keybumps in the bathroom.” [/color][/b]Hailey said in a huff, running a hand through her hair as she continued to pace. Hana was helping, but nothing was perfect. She was stroking the ego and doing the right thing, the question really was, would it be enough? [b][color=#922b2b]“She came back because my mother babies the little [i]brat[/i], and let’s her get away with anything she wants. In this case? She just wanted to ‘come home,’ because she was so ‘homesick. Fucking child.” [/color][/b]

[b][color=#ff69b4]“Of course she got ‘home sick’. She’s an American in the Korean education system. She probably fit in as well as Parker at a library.” [/color][/b]The clear course of action was to cheer Hailey up by collectively ragging on the others; it might not have been the prettiest method but if Hana was able to show why Hailey was clearly still the top dog then that was the only thing of any real importance. What did Hana care about what was being said about Cyndi or anyone? The only one that mattered to Hana was in this room. Well, this room and back at her sister’s apartment but those were two very different kinds of matter. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“Sooner or later she’ll understand that the real world doesn’t revolve around getting what she wants.” [/color][/b]

[b][color=#922b2b]“You’re not bad at this.” [/color][/b]Hailey had to give credit where it was due. Considering their relationship so far hadn’t exactly given Hana the room she needed to… be petty and so… [i]catty, [/i]but Hailey definitely liked it. She’d have to find a way to push for it more often — it would be a good substitute to Ophelia and Trixie, since neither of them were going to be burning people with her anymore. Hailey put that information in the back of her head, and huffed, pressing onward. [b][color=#922b2b]“I doubt that Min-seo would even mind being sent back, though — what does she even get out of dating my brother, anyway? That’s something I’m yet to understand. She seems like all she [i]really[/i] cares about is those damn ducks…”[/color][/b]

[i][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKSU82afy1w]Ducktales![/url][/i]

Mid-way through the DuckTales theme song, Henry burst into his own room, with a smug, cheesily large grin on his lips, and a plate full of tiramisu and a small bowl of gelato. [b][color=#b57f13]“The hero of our story has arrived, to report that the mission was a complete success. One baby sister, cheered up completely.” [/color][/b]He walked to the bed where Min-Seo was sitting, watching her shows. Henry had always thought that having a girl living with him and watching shows in his room would wind up with him watching something like… [i]Sex in the City[/i], but he’d lucked out. [i]His[/i] girl living with him just liked to watch cartoons about ducks.

Henry held out the plate of desserts, [b][color=#b57f13]“I even brought you some sweets. I’m kicking ass today.”[/color][/b]

Min-seo had never heard of DuckTales before coming to America and even with a boyfriend she’d still probably say it was the best thing to happen to her since her arrival. In Korea she had to make do with Pororo the Little Penguin but people tended to look at you weirdly if you watched that show over the age of about seven. It had become part of her routine, DuckTales, and in so short a time she had started to sing along to the lyrics...some of them, anyway; the rest she hummed and bobbed her head along to. 

Her impromptu karaoke was interrupted by Henry’s arrival; fortunately television could be paused these days and Min was quick to do that. She couldn’t just miss any part of it! [b][color=#ffefd5]“You...make...yourself?” [/color][/b]Min gestured to the desserts, flashing an expression of someone who was genuinely impressed. 

Damn.

Henry could take the credit for it then and there, and no one be the wiser. But could he do taht? Could he take the credit from the people who actually put in the time and cooked for himself and his family? Could he really do that? A couple of weeks ago? He would have jumped on it in a few seconds, but Min was rubbing off on him — arguably positively. [b][color=#b57f13]“Oh, no, I think my dad did…” [/color][/b]Henry admitted, smiling and shaking his head. He’d walked in with so much bluster, and she’d knocked him back down to size in just a matter of seconds. Being in an actual relationship was something else…

He sat down beside her on the bed, and wrapped one arm around his shoulder, the one holding the plate. With the other, he took the fork and cut a piece off. Henry held it up to her lips and urged her to eat, [b][color=#b57f13]“it’s really good. I promise. The gelato too, but [i]this[/i] especially.”[/color][/b]

She wasn’t disappointed that Henry hadn’t made the dessert, she honestly didn’t think he did unless he was hiding some kind of baking ability inbetween spending almost every waking moment outside of school with her. Min hadn’t wanted to rain on his parade though she was aware that he didn’t take offense or issue with the question. With the fork of cake in front of her, Min-seo took a bite that could have come straight from one of those animes Hailey watched. As she chewed and swallowed her eyes went from wide to blinking rapidly as she nodded. [b][color=#ffefd5]“What...this...is? It...is like...coffee? And...choco...late? It is...good.”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#b57f13]“I dunno, it’s some I-talian dessert my moms likes. The black haired one, not the one that talked to you in Korean — which by the way, I didn’t even know she could do! What kind of fucked up shit did she say to you?” [/color][/b]Henry hadn’t been aware that his mother could speak Korean, but now he was [i]uncomfortably [/i]aware of that fact. What had his mom said? Probably nothing positive about him; that was the way she was after all… He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, shaking his head impulsively. [b][color=#b57f13]“Look, I promise whatever she said is probably just half truths.”[/color][/b]

It might have been bad form - especially given how uniquely self conscious it seemed Henry was being at the fact that two of the women in his life were talking about him in another tongue without the decency to do it behind his back - but Min-seo couldn’t help but giggle at the response, covering her mouth with her fingers as she let the laughter subside. [b][color=#ffefd5]“She...did not...say anything...about...you. She asked...why...I...like...you.” [/color][/b]If there was one thing Min wasn’t it was a liar. It wasn’t snitching if she was never told to keep it a secret and honestly? Henry’s mother had to have known this would be one of the first things asked anyway. [b][color=#ffefd5]“She...liked...my...answer. I...think.” [/color][/b]

Oh man, that was brutal. She just laughed at him and left him in the dark? Henry groaned and had more than a few things running through his mind. What was Min-seo’s answer? Was it okay to ask? Henry didn’t know one way or the other… He put the plate of dessert in Min’s lap and pulled his phone out. If she didn’t want to help, then someone would. Without looking up from his phone, Henry spoke again. [b][color=#b57f13]“well, I’m glad she liked you, because I know [i]I[/i] like you.” [/color][/b]While Henry was speaking, he was downloading DuoLingo. At least that way, he’d have a chance.

[b][color=#ffefd5]“I...l..l..l..ike you...too.” [/color][/b]When Henry came back into the room, Min didn’t think she would wind up blushing and feeling like someone had turned the thermostat up. Fortunately, Henry was occupied with his phone and Min was able to look away until the color returned to normal on her face. It could have been embarrassing otherwise, saying a word that started with ‘l’. [b][color=#ffefd5]“I...teach you...some...Korean? Like...you...teach me...English?”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#b57f13]“Yeah, that’d be good! I’d like that a lot.” [/color][/b]Henry explained, taking the food away from Min, placing it on the bedside table, before he wrapped his arm around her waist. He moved them back a bit, so their backs were resting against the backboard of the bed. He kissed her cheek, and grabbed the food again. [b][color=#b57f13]“Why don’t we read for a bit?” [/color][/b]He asked, pulling [i]Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone [/i]out of the bedside table drawer. Without waiting for an answer, Henry turned his body and put a kiss on Min-seo’s lips, soft and supple.

Hard, firm, but tender and soft, the lips of someone who knew what they liked and how to get it, the kiss of someone in full control pressed against the lips of someone who allowed themselves to get swept up in it all. Hana’s arms were pinned down, Hailey’s hands gripping at the Korean’s wrists, and here eyes were closed as Hailey remained on top, kissing Hana with a passion Hana thought reserved strictly for overly romantic films. If she had known being catty would elicit such a response she would’ve taken a lesson in bitch. When Hailey broke the kiss - and it was always Hailey who decided when their lips parted - Hana was, for the briefest of moments, speechless. [b][color=#ff69b4]“[i]Salanghaeyo.” [/i][/color][/b]It just slipped out after the kiss and it felt like the right thing to say in that moment, with Hana’s words being...breathlessly delivered. 

There was a huff from Hailey, who was staring down at Hana. Hailey let go of one of Hana’s wrists, though she had a feeling that Hana was smart enough to keep her hand right where Hailey had left it. Hailey didn’t understand what Hana was saying, and she didn’t appreciate that. She would have to learn the language if she was going to continue pursuing Hana… it was only fair. [b][color=#922b2b]“Hana… I didn’t even know you spoke the language…” [/color][/b]Hailey slowly took her hand and put it on Hana’s cheek, cupping it lightly before she raised it as if she were going to smack her girlfriend… and then instead just lightly and lovingly patted it. [b][color=#922b2b]“However… [i]I [/i]do not. English, please.”[/color][/b]

[b][color=#ff69b4]“I don’t speak it either...just a few...you know...phrases. Mostly from my parents. And sister. Older brother taught me some bad words. I didn’t even understand what Min and your mom said at dinner but I assume they were making fun of Henry. Not like it’s hard, I did it over a movie and…” [/color][/b]It was around this time that Hana noticed the look in Hailey’s eye, the look of ‘I’m being patient but quickly losing it’ that was blending with the ever tender and affectionate touch to her cheek. Put together that only meant one thing, which made Hana promptly avert her eyes from Hailey. [b][color=#ff69b4]“I was rambling wasn’t I? Sorry. I can do that when...I’m nervous. What do I have to be nervous about? I mean I’m only dating Hailey Green and kissing her and I just told her that I love her and…” [/color][/b]Hana paused, blushed a deep red, and returned her eyes to Hailey. [b][color=#ff69b4]“That’s what I said in Korean.” [/color][/b]

[b][color=#ff69b4]“I love you.”[/color][/b]

Hailey’s eyes were almost sparkling as Hana clarified. She’d had a feeling — based mostly on the way Hana could barely whisper it, but she wasn’t [i]sure. [/i]Hearing Hana utter the phrase gave Hailey goosebumps and the slightly of shivers. Hearing the words proved one thing for sure: Hailey had never wanted to hear anything more in her entire life. The three words were sugary sweet and Hailey nodded after Hana said it. In a strange turn of events, one of the most unlikely things in the world had happened.

Hailey Green-Lock was… speechless.

She bit down on her bottom lip, and nodded again. Letting out the breath that had caught in her throat, she smiled. [b][color=#922b2b]“I love you too.”[/color][/b]

In that moment it was clear to Hana that the events of the dinner might as well have happened a century ago and yet without it she doubted they would have arrived at that point. Sure, they would have gotten there eventually but Hana didn’t want eventualities. Eventualities was why she spent most of her high school life as a slightly ascended wallflower who only got in with people because of what she could provide for them. The mindset of ‘eventually’ hung over her like a miasmatic cloud. ‘Eventually I’ll make friends. Eventually people will talk to me about softball and not their drug orders. Eventually I’ll understand why I get butterflies around girls but not boys.’ Fuck eventually, Hana wanted to live in the now and now, more than ever, she was being true and honest with herself and her feelings. 

[b][color=#ff69b4]“Forget dinner. We’re together right here and that’s all we need, right? So...let’s share our love with each other...maybe without clothes?” [/color][/b]A side effect of living in ‘eventualities’ was Hana making up for lost time. She was only human and her girlfriend was Hailey freakin’ Green, of course she would try. 

At this, Hailey smiled and nodded her agreement. She released Hana’s wrists, and instead placed her hands on the bottom of Hana’s shirt and lifted it up, slowly. Staring into Hana’s eyes, Hailey nodded her agreement. [b][color=#922b2b]“Okay, vanilla bean. Just this once, I’ll give you what you want…” [/color][/b]Hailey’s words were accentuated by a little kiss on her beloved’s neck…

Henry pulled his lips back and looked at Min-seo. The book, of course, had found its way to the floor. Henry wasn’t too sure why they even bothered messing with it anymore. It always seemed to end this way, with Henry kissing up on her instead of reading, and Min-seo responding [i]positively[/i]. This time was a bit different though. Not only was he in a good mood already — for his sisters, the dinner hadn’t went very well, but for Henry? It was a completely different story — but… Min-seo made him all… all [i]fuzzy.[/i]

He couldn’t explain it, because he’d never been so [i]fuzzy[/i] before in his life, but she just did it. There was something about the way she talked to him; sure there was a language barrier, and she was still learning, but it was nice all the way. And the fact that she’d apparently spoken positively of him to his mother? His [i]evil[/i] mother, not his nice moms…

It was fuzzy.

Henry kissed Min-seo’s neck again, and this time when he pulled away, he stared at her intently, before he spoke. This time, it was Henry’s turn to speak slowly, and methodically. It was Henry’s turn to stammer every so slightly.

[b][color=#b57f13]“Min-Seo… I, uhm...I… I… [i]love you.[/i]”[/color][/b]

When Henry came up with the idea of reading the Harry Potter books to help Min-seo learn English she was thrilled with the idea. She’d never read them even in Korean and Henry seemed to be big on them - Parker more so which was the first time Min-seo had confirmation that Parker even knew how to read - so what better way to go about learning? It had seemed like a good idea at the time and yet now it seemed whenever they tried to read something came over one of them and took precedence. She might never find out what house Harry got put into! 

In this case, though, the distraction was uniquely welcome and surprisingly wholesome. If anyone was going to be kissing the neck Min would have assumed it would be her, but she wasn’t complaining as they lay close together, the warmth between them more comfortable than any blanket or bedsheet. The words that Henry said must have been difficult for him with how he was stammering; no doubt he wasn’t used to girls sticking around long enough for him to catch anything other than crabs or chlamydia. In its own way...that was so utterly perfect and further proof of what she had said to his mother. It was a side that only she was seeing and it was the side of Henry she liked best of all. 

[b][color=#ffefd5]“I love...you...too…” [/color][/b]

With Min-seo, it flowed as naturally as the rain on a beautiful spring morning. 

[b][color=#b57f13]“Oh thank god.” [/color][/b]Henry said, as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He had never been more relieved to hear four words in his entire life. [b][color=#b57f13]“Good. Good.” [/color][/b]Henry repeated himself and put the back of his hand on her cheek, letting out a content breath. Geeze, he’d never done anything more stressful in his entire life. [b][color=#b57f13]“Now where were we?”[/color][/b]