***
Leila blinked unresponsively, her emotions a mix of both shock and outrage.
When it didn't appear as though she would speak, G.K. went on. "My father doesn’t approve of our relationship. But he knows that I could care less about speaking to him, but with
umma
..." he trailed off.
Leila found her voice, "Would she go along with that? Potentially giving up communication with her own son over something like this?”
G.K. was unsure, while his bond with his mother had always been a strong one; she had usually defected to his father’s judgment for many decisions.
At his non-answer, Leila turned away from G.K. and subtly put some distance between them on the bed. "
G.K. noticed and spoke up, "Leila..." She waved him off, inching further away.
"I would never want to be responsible for making you chose between your family and our relationship.” She straightened her back before continuing, “Maybe this is for the best. We come from two different worlds…You can’t stay here and I haven’t ever been in a long distance relationship.”
G.K.'s brow furrowed. He disliked her resigned tone and the fact that she refused to look his way. "Leila..." he tried again.
She stood, trying to force herself to seem confident. “Maybe I should go. You have to get ready and I need to think.”
G.K. knew where her thoughts and feelings were headed and it would only make things worse if she left without hearing everything he had to say.
"
Aniyo
, No." G.K. said, moving to stand in front of her.
Leila's eyes zipped to his serious face, a confused expression marring her own.
"No? What do you mean no?"
G.K.'s expression softened, "I said no. You aren’t leaving right now. Not until I get everything off my chest.”
He took in a deep breath to still his thumping heart. “We don’t come from ‘different worlds’” he said with air quotes, “And you leaving, isn’t for the best.” G.K. ran his hand down Leila's cheek and neck, "I couldn't stand to live without you."
Leila's eyes widened at his powerful words, as he continued, "When I told you I loved you, I meant it. I was serious when I told you I won't be able to sleep if you aren't by my side. I meant every word, and more."
He took a deep breath, "It will be hard for me to say to them, I'm sure. And it will be even harder for me to adjust to permanently being without contact with my parents. But I don’t know if I could survive losing you without a fight.”
Leila's eyes stung from the tears she held back. G.K. gave her a small smile; as he leaned down to kiss her lips. This kiss, as all of their others were, held passion. But it also held unique new awareness of each other that sent chills through Leila's body.
She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, caressing his neck. She pulled back slightly, staring at him deeply. "Are you sure about this?" She asked tentatively.
While her heart was singing and doing the electric slide at his confession, she wanted him to be sure. It would break her heart if her were to have regrets later.
G.K. nodded, again capturing her lips in a hot kiss, before whispering against her lips. "I’ve never been more certain of something in my life."
Chapter 18
G.K. walked down the hallway, toward the room that Noel was sharing with Kai.
He had called his cousin after he had finished talking to Leila. Kai hadn't been very happy, answering the phone sharply and out of breath.
Kai's agitation at being interrupted from
whatever
he was doing before he’d answered the phone, had made G.K. laugh for the first time all morning.
G.K. came to a stop in front of Noel's hotel room door and he knocked lightly.
Noel smiled at G.K. when she answered it, an encouraging one that helped ease some of his anxiousness. Kai came up behind her, his t-shirt and jeans mirroring G.K’s.
His cousin also looked a little apprehensive at the thought of going downstairs, but said nothing as he placed a small kiss on Noel's lips.
She softly bid her fiancée good luck before they turned and headed down the hall.
Their ride in the elevator was quiet, both men becoming more nervous with each floor they went down. They came to a stop at the lobby, stepping out of the elevator, and towards the restaurant to their left.
As they approached the entrance Kai fidgeted with his shirt in unease. They greeted the hostess as they entered the restaurant and she soon was directing them through the dining area, coming to a stop at his mother and father's table.
Kai and G.K. quickly sat and ordered a beverage, before they were left alone with his parents.
G.K.'s mother cleared her throat delicately before beginning, "Kai you look wonderful." She said in Korean.
Kai gave her a wide smile, "Weren’t you the one who always said, happiness radiates outward?"
Minsoo smiled, happy that Kai had remembered one of her favorite philosophies. "I'm sure you both want to know why I asked you to come so abruptly."
Kai and G.K. nodded in tandem. G.K. cast a short glance at his father, who sat beside his mother silent
.
This has to be a record, he has never stayed quiet this long.
G.K. thought.
"As I told G.K. earlier this morning, I have become aware of some things that have blindsided me. Things have been going on in my own family that no one has seen fit to tell me."
Kai spoke up, "
Imo
, Aunt, in all honesty I thought you knew about everything that happened between us. I was certain he would have told you.” He finished shooting a glare, his uncle's way.
She nodded, "Yes, your father told me everything yesterday."
"He did?" G.K. asked, his doubt clouding his tone.
G.K. eyed his father, who sat comfortably in his chair with a carefree expression.
Minsoo continued, "He told me his side of things, and now I want to hear what you have to say as well."
G.K. saw his father blink rapidly before looking over to his wife incredulously. "What do you mean you need to know what they have to say?! I told you what you needed to know last night." He blustered.
G.K.'s mother calmly took a sip of her water, before placing it back on the table and addressing him. "Yes you did, however, as you told me lies before. I wish to verify your story with my sons." She said curtly.
G.K. smiled, before speaking. "
Umma
, father has been our manager for a long time. But recently he became extremely over bearing, ordering us around as if we are his slaves. I couldn't eat without him having to know what it was, when I ate it, and who I ate with." Kai continued, "And when I met Noel..."
Minsoo smiled, " Noel, is the young woman who has filled you with so much happiness."
Kai nodded, "Yes when I met Noel it only became worse. At one point I was even barricaded inside my own apartment."
Minsoo's eyes widened as she looked at her husband, who now had the expression of a floundering fish. He seemed to be gulping for air in an attempt to calm his anger.
But G.K. wasn't done, "He went so far as to try and end their relationship behind our backs.”
An unreadable expression covered her face at his admission."How?" She asked.
"How, what?"
"What did he do? To try and separate you two?" She asked Kai.
G.K.'s father attempted to interrupt, "Minsoo...it’s not import..."
However his wife’s face tightened, "But it is of the
highest
importance. Tell me Kai."
"He went behind my back. He told Noel lies about us, about how I felt, how our relationship would end badly. He even gave her the ticket to leave Seoul and go back home!" The memory causing anger to tint his voice.
A distant expression covered G.K.'s mother's face as G.K. went on, “But when Kai and Noel got back together, that was when he expected me to abandon my group. To leave them, because he didn't approve. And when I said no...It was then that I was disowned
umma
."
His mother’s eyes narrowed, as she once again watched her husband. "When he returned home it was not because he retired...it was..."
"Enough." G.K.'s father interrupted, but Kai continued, "It was because we fired him. Jinyung broke his contract, and gave him a settlement."
Minsoo turned to her husband fully, "Is this true? What they're saying is still nowhere near the '
truths
' you told me!"
G.K.'s father turned regretful eyes toward his wife, "Minsoo I..."
She shook her head, the anger in her eyes halting his words. "And to hear you tried to ruin Kai's relationship..."
"She was unacceptable..." he interjected.
“YOU were unacceptable" she finished in a harsh whisper.
G.K. watched his father deflate right in front of her as his eyes widened involuntarily.
"My father despised you! The illegitimate son of a farmer wasn't an acceptable match for his daughter. For a family who can trace their lineage back to the
Joseon
Dynasty ."
"This isn't the same..." his father weakly protested.”
“But it is! My father may not have approved of you, but he only cared for his daughter’s happiness. He was disappointed in my choice, but not once did he ever try and break us up, to go behind my back and spread venom. To stoop to such levels was beneath him...but clearly nothing is too low for you!" She huffed angrily.
G.K. and Kai looked on in silent shock. They had never heard this story before.
Harabeoji,
had never liked
appa
?
To be honest it made sense. The two men had never been particularly close to one another. In fact G.K.’s grandfather had been cold and distant toward him until the day he’d died.
Minsoo was undeterred by the men’s silence and continued on, "You knew what it felt like to not be considered good enough for the one you love, and then you do this to Kai? And then disown OUR son, without speaking to me, over something so insignificant? To save your pride? How can I ever forgive you?" She asked, steel lining her words.
G.K. had never thought he would see the day that his father would cry, the tears that sparkled vividly in his eyes could not be mistaken. Unable to withstand the trio’s scrutiny he stood silently and walked away.
Minsoo took several deep breaths, turning her head back to Kai and G.K.
"These girls, Noel and..."
"Leila" G.K. supplied.
"I wish to meet them, in Leila's case, again. If they are going to have any kind of a future with my boys...I must get to know them."
Kai nodded, "
Ye
, yes,
umma
, you have to, and soon. Noel and I are going to be married."
Minsoo's previously somber expression was overtaken by one of extreme happiness.
"You are?!"
Kai nodded his head, "
Ye,
yes. I was waiting for the right moment to tell you. But with everything that has happened with uncle..."
She grabbed Kai's hand comfortingly. "Everything will be all right. I will make sure to it, whether it is with your father or not."
G.K. fought to keep the surprise off of his face.
Would his mother leave his father?
Never in his life had he thought something like that would be possible.
His mother drew his attention when she rested her finger on his arm, "And you? Are you soon to be married also?"
G.K. smiled, in all honesty if he could he would marry Leila tomorrow he would. However; he knew she wasn't ready for anything close to marriage, so he shook his head. "No, not yet
umma
. But eventually..."
She grinned at her two young men. "Is it possible for me to meet them today? I don’t want to waste any time making things right." G.K. and Kai exchanged glances, before nodding.
Chapter 19
Leila danced vigorously with G.K., as the entire group ran through their routines for the upcoming show. A concert that was being held at the Nokia Theatre, was the second to last of the group's promotions in New York.