BXBX NOVEL Chapter 81: Hana's Family
"Are you nervous? Your dad is home after all, and you're bringing home a guy..." I asked.
With a serene look, Hana shook her head. "Not at all. Actually, Dad was always suspicious of how much time I spent with my girl friends. For months, he's been asking me questions about whether I was meeting any boys at school. I think he's afraid I'll turn out to be a lesbian."
After saying that, she reached out and pressed the doorbell.
Having been forewarned by the sound of my Ferrari's engine, Hana's father opened the door rather quickly.
He said something formally in Korean that I didn't understand.
Hana answered him, and I heard her giving him my name.
Then he turned to me, extending his hand in greeting. "Preezed to meet you, Jack," he said with a thick accent.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Park," I replied while shaking his hand.
"Come inside," he invited somewhat coolly, waving us in. He led us to the living room and gestured to the couches.
I sat where he pointed, but before he sat down across from me, he turned to Hana. "Hana. Bring us tea," he ordered firmly.
"Ne," Hana replied formally, bowing her head. She then backed away with almost military precision and turned to head for the kitchen.
I arched an eyebrow at the way she was acting. She had been playful during the dinner and when we were walking up to the house, and yet she had immediately become "good daughter Hana" upon entering.
While Hana brewed us tea, her father and I made small talk.
When he asked me if I had a girlfriend, I told him that I didn't.
'When I think about what happened with Alice in December... this is not a lie,' I thought.
I told him that we'd been playing basketball together and eating out sometimes since the beginning of the school year, and Hana had wanted to bring me home to play ball with her brother.
That was the story.
Hana arrived with the tea, serving both of us and then sitting down beside me.
Mr. Park was exceptionally distant. Everything was straightforward and to the point. The few times he spoke to Hana, it was with terse, no-nonsense commands, lacking any hint of warmth. He was stern and emotionally reserved.
Thinking about my own parents, when I was a kid, there were times when I yearned for their comforting touch and warm hug.
I couldn't imagine the stoic man in front of me being comforting or affectionate to Hana.
But I could be wrong. The only data I had was the formal setting of a father meeting his daughter's very first "boyfriend". Of course he wouldn't be all warm and friendly.
The conversation turned away from my relationship with Hana and more specifically about me.
Mr. Park asked about my major and career goals.
I had just started to explain when a very tall young man, maybe around 6'7'' (200cm), walked up from the hallway to the living room.
"Hana! You're back early!" he exclaimed without a trace of an accent.
"Minho!" Mr. Park called out harshly. "We have a guest."
Minho darted his eyes at me and immediately came to a stop.
"My apologies, sir," he said formally to his father with a bowed head before turning to me with a confused look on his face. "Hi, I'm Minho."
I stood up as he approached me with an offered hand, shaking it. "I'm Jack."
"Are you—umm-ehhh—like Hana's boyfriend or something?" Minho drawled like a surfer dude, shooting his little sister a look.
Hana blushed and glanced down at her hands.
Suddenly, I started to feel bad about trying to use Hana as a pawn in my plan...
Hana's family was welcoming me in as her boyfriend, when really I wasn't.
Minho chuckled at his sister. "Guess this means you get a week off from letting me school you," he said, reaching out and slapping her arm.
Hana reacted automatically and punched him in the arm right back.
"Minho! Hana!" their dad barked at them.
Hana blushed and stared at her feet subserviently.
"Alright, how about we play ball?" Minho said, trying to relieve the mood. "Hana and I usually go one-on-one for a bit when she comes home."
"I heard you play in the NBA. Aren't you going easy on her?"
"Nahhh. Hana is good." Minho said, and then looked over at his dad. "Tell him, Dad."
There was a look of pride on Mr. Park's face. "All of my children are great athletes," he said softly. "I made sure of it."
We decided to delay the basketball game a bit as they offered me some Korean snacks.
Mr. Park started to lighten up as well. He wasn't nearly as stiff anymore.
But even though Hana's brother and dad were very talkative, Hana remained nearly mute, speaking only when directly spoken to.
And no one seemed surprised at her behaviour.
After we finished, her family gave me and Hana some time to go check out the rest of the house.
...
"How about now? Aren't you a little nervous?" I asked Hana as we walked into her room, which was very... boyish, if I dare say so.
"Not nervous. Just ... feeling strange. I didn't realize how awkward this would feel."
"Really? I didn't notice any awkwardness."
"Perhaps you didn't, but now that my brother and dad are talking about ... dating things ... It's ... I'm just not used to it. Minho asked me last year if I was a lesbian, and he was trying to tell me he would support me if I was... He must be very surprised that I brought a guy home."
She sat down on her bed and looked down at the ground. "My home life has never felt entirely comfortable for me. It's always been about sports and motorcycles... Tonight was the very first time I think they have seen me as a woman."
I sat down beside her and she looked up at me with her big brown irises, her eyes glistening slightly.
KNOCK!KNOCK!
Someone knocked at the door, startling both of us.
Quickly, Hana backed away from me about ten inches. "Come in!" she called out.
Minho opened the door slowly, as if scared that he would find Hana and me in some intimate situation.
Once he peeked his head around, he seemed relieved to find that we were fully clothed.
"Dad said to get changed to play."
"Sure," I replied immediately, and then looked down at my pants.
"Relax. I think I've got some things that will fit you. Maybe even an old pair of shoes."
"Sounds good." I nodded.
"Come with me," he said, jerking a thumb back out into the hallway.
I looked back at Hana. "See you on the court."
Hana gave me an almost cocky smile.