After a while, Min Ho’s Father came into the kitchen with Jun Kyung and Il Woo. His eyes widened at the sight of Shin Hye. She immediately bowed and introduced herself.
‘Appa, are you blushing?’ Jun Kyung asked him, chuckling.
‘Anya! What are you talking about?’ His Father said, clearing his throat. ‘Nice to meet you, Shin Hye-ah.’
‘Shin Hye is Min Ho’s girlfriend, abeoji,’ Il Woo told him casually. When Min Ho’s Father turned to him, he shrugged. ‘RIGHT? He didn’t tell me either. Jashik,’ Il Woo glared at Min Ho.
‘This is great news!’ His Father smiled. ‘Ya. Yeokshi, my son is jjang!’
'I took after you, appa,' he replied proudly.
They all laughed while Shin Hye blushed. All the fear that she felt before coming there was slowly drowned in the relaxed atmosphere of Min Ho’s home. He looked at all of them and she finally understood what Min Ho said about them having a special bond.
‘Come on, let’s eat now,’ Min Ho’s Mom told everyone as she carried a bowl. ‘Looks like Il Woo is hungry.’
Il Woo pouted. ‘Neh, omoni. I’ve been ignored since early this morning. As usual, you’re the only one who cares about me,’ he complained.
‘You need to get yourself a girlfriend, then,’ Jun Kyung ribbed.
‘Noona, do you want to go out with me? I’ve been asking you since I was 17. I have a stable job now and all.’
‘Aish,’ Min Ho scowled and everyone laughed some more.
They were now on the dining table and everybody continued talking and sharing stories. They were telling her about how Min Ho was as a child, and even at an early age, girls of all ages already loved her. She felt a tinge of jealousy, thinking about all the girls who grew up around him. She would have given anything to know Min Ho when he was still a young boy.
'He's always been so generous and sweet,' Min Ho's Mother shared. 'He wouldn't show it directly, but you just notice the little things he does for you. He has always been such a good son,' she gushed.
Shin Hye listened carefully and realized that if Min Ho's fans only knew who he really was, they'd probably love him even more. Heck, she loves him more and more every passing day.
They also shared the story of when Min Ho disappeared when he was a little boy.
‘It was so scary, Shin Hye. He was there one second, and then he was just gone. We didn’t know where he was,’ Jun Kyung told her. ‘It was a good thing he had a tag on him and the one who found him brought him home,’ she continued.
Shin Hye looked at Min Ho. ‘Do you remember where you went?’
He shook his head. ‘I don’t even remember that happened to me,’ Min Ho replied. ‘I think I was so scared that unconsciously, I tried to bury that memory.’
‘It still gives me chills thinking about it,’ Min Ho’s Mother said, looking at Shin Hye. ‘At times I still wonder what would have happened if he didn’t come back – who he’d be, where he’d be right now. Would he have been a totally different person?’
‘Omma, stop thinking about that,’ Min Ho said. ‘Anyway, I came back and I’m right where I’m supposed to be.’ He looked at Shin Hye and took her hand from under the table.
Il Woo, who was sitting beside Shin Hye must have noticed. ‘Oh. He’s holding her hand secretly, omoni!' He pointed at Min Ho, as if telling his Mom that he did something bad.
‘Leave them alone and get yourself a girlfriend,’ Jun Kyung frowned at Il Woo. He was about to respond when she beat him to it. ‘No, it can’t be me. We'll just destroy each other,’ she grinned.
Min Ho laughed before clearing his throat. ‘I think I owe all of you an apology for not telling you sooner. Shin Hye and I haven’t been seeing each other long and well, we had to be careful because of all the rumors,’ he told everyone.
‘When did you guys start dating anyway? Sometime while filming?’ Jun Kyung asked.
Shin Hye and Min Ho looked at each other. ‘No,’ Min Ho replied. ‘We got together after shooting. Specifically, after the wrap up party.’
‘HA! I knew it. I knew you left me for a woman during Christmas,’ Jun Kyung nodded her head arrogantly. ‘Park Chan Yeol. Heol. You're a terrible liar.’
‘Mian, noona.’ Min Ho laughed. Shin Hye looked at him quizzically and he just shrugged.
‘So you two were dating already during the awards show?’ Min Ho’s Mom asked. ‘So that’s why you two were acting that way…’ she continued. ‘If your plan was to keep your relationship a secret, you’re not doing a very good job at it,’ she smiled.
Shin Hye looked down and chuckled lightly. She then remembered her brownies, nudged Min Ho and whispered. ‘The brownies.’
‘Oh yeah,’ Min Ho replied. ‘Shin Hye brought dessert. I’ll go get it,’ he told everyone as he stood up and went back to the kitchen.
‘I saw her make it,’ Il Woo told them. ‘It looked really good and I wanted a piece but Min Ho told me I had to wait because Shin Hye baked it for you and not for me. Do you see how cruel your son can be to me at times? I don’t know why I put up with it,’ Il Woo made a sad face.
Thank God we brought Il Woo oppa, Shin Hye thought. Everything was going smoothly, and to be honest, Il Woo had a hand at making everything light and fun. Note to self: I’ll have to bake him three batches of brownies next time.
‘Do you bake a lot?’ Min Ho’s Father asked her.
‘I’m really busy these days so I couldn’t do it often. But when I’m free, I try to bake. And cook. My Mom teaches me from time to time,’ she replied.
Just then, Min Ho came back with the brownies which he put on a platter. ‘My girlfriend made these,’ he said proudly as he put them on the table. ‘Wow, that sounded good,’ he put his hand on Shin Hye’s shoulder.
Jun Kyung took one and ate. She looked at Shin Hye with bright eyes. ‘Wow. This is really good, Shin Hye!’ She took another bite and turned to Il Woo. ‘You eat one.’
Min Ho’s Mother and Father also took one each and started eating. Shin Hye was holding her breath, hoping that the brownies would be a success. It was safe to say she was almost as nervous as when she was waiting to find out if she won an award during awards night.
‘Ya… how is Min Ho going to lose weight now?’ His Father said heartily as he took bite after bite.
‘Shin Hye, is this your recipe? This is even better than the one I know how to make,’ Min Ho’s Mother told her.
Shin Hye was smiling reservedly, but in her mind, she was doing somersaults. ASSA! KYAAAAAA!!!!!
‘Truthfully, it’s my omma’s recipe,’ she said. ‘She taught me how to make them.’
‘Shin Hye’s parents own a restaurant,’ Min Ho told them as he also took one. ‘I went there last night to ask for their permission to date Shin Hye. They have excellent food.'
‘Really? We must visit your restaurant then, Shin Hye-ah,’ Min Ho’s mother smiled at her.
Min Ho’s Father nodded vigorously. ‘That’s a really good idea. When should we go?’
Shin Hye and Min Ho looked at each other, wide-eyed. Things must be really going well if Min Ho’s parents want to meet her parents already. Somehow, it made her both scared and excited.
‘Omma, appa, Shin Hye and I haven’t even been dating for a month yet. Let’s slow down for a bit,’ he said to them, but he was grinning.
‘Don’t you have an older brother, Shin Hye?’ Jun Kyung asked.
‘Yes. He’s probably around your age, too, eonnie,’ she replied.
‘Andwe! You can’t date him, noona!’ Il Woo cut in and took another brownie.
They were all laughing again. Shin Hye thought everything was going great, and she couldn’t be happier. Things seem to be aligning for both her and Min Ho. She knew that there will be opposition to their relationship, especially coming from a professional point of view. But if she was asked, at the end of the day, what really matters is family. Shin Hye looked at Min Ho, only to find him already looking at her tenderly.
Min Ho: You did it.
Shin Hye: Anya. We did it.