"Player natural nine, banker standard five, player win"

The dealer pushes a stack of casino chips to Jimin's direction and once again praises him for winning the game two times in row. His today's schedule is less hectic and he decides to play baccarat in VIP room as he also wants to check the casino's services. After sitting there for 20 minutes, he clearly understands why TodayBusiness magazine crowns TripleSeven Casino as the best luxurious casino five years respectively. He bets his head, everyone who ever sat on this seat could feel the exclusiveness of this place. Even people keep saying, if you successfully enter one of TripleSeven Casino's VIP rooms, congratulation, you are certified rich. That's why a lot of nouveau riche1 spend a high amount of money there to prove their position or gain higher social status.

Jimin cuts off his thought as he secretly shows his contempt through his expression. He breathes out and shrugs. At least, those nouveau riche make this casino's income skyrocket. Truthfully, he has bad impression and stereotype about nouveau riche (in reality, the older generation of old money always looks down on new money) because of his stepmother. It's proven that she is one of them. She never stops climbing for higher social status and keeps bragging about her money and power. It's quite embarrassing since he never sees his grandma, who technically far richer than her, boasts her wealth like that. But then again, that's why you can't compare old money with new money because they are completely a different clan.

Jimin stares at his stack of casino chips and pushes them back to the dealer as tip. He watches how the dealer gets taken aback but he just smiles and stands up from his seat. The dealer immediately bows deeply and says gratitude for his generosity. He nods slightly and turns around to leave, but suddenly someone barges in, it's none other than his stepmother. Behind, two securities follow and bow to him, apologizing for this incident.

"We were in a complicated position, Mr. Park, we really apologize"

Jimin understands the situation. He then puts his hands inside his pockets and asks everybody to give them some privacy. Once he is alone with only his stepmother, he looks into her eyes and immediately spots anger and fear there. He doesn't know what is her actual intention to come there, unmannerly like that. He keeps staring coldly as he says nothing. His stepmother tries hard to look all tough and fierce but she fails to fool him. He sees everything through her body language. She is now in a perfect defensive force.

Thereafter, Hyorin throws the umber brown envelope to the baccarat table and causes a quite loud sound. Jimin glances and slightly smirks. He feels honored to know that he is the reason why is his stepmother annoyed. He totally wants to laugh right now but he holds back and waits as he anticipates her to threat him back. He pretends like an innocent and puts a confused face. He purposely acts badly so his stepmother notices it and gets more annoyed.

"Stop it!"

Hyorin yells but her voice trembles. She sounds like a coward and it makes Jimin laughs. He loses his control. He ends up mocking her with his laughter. His mind keeps thinking about why she bothers to visit and throw down the gauntlet if she is not able to hide her own weakness infront of her enemy. He then bites his lips to lower down his laughter and gives her a sweet smile, just to trigger her anger more.

"What is that?" Jimin asks.

"Park Jimin, I know you were the one who sent it" Hyorin raises her tone.

"Ah, I remember now, that's true, it was me" Jimin still smiles.

"Listen, Jimin, sue me if you can---" Hyorin talks and this time she sounds a lot more confident. She takes a step closer and returns his gaze "---but let me tell you this, my criminal statute of limitation expired last year" She smirks as she smells her victory.

Jimin just stands there and stares at his stepmother. It's a humiliation, she thinks he doesn't know, but in fact, he understands that very well. His silence makes her speculate about things. She really believes it's her win until all of sudden she sees him chuckle. She feels taken aback but tries not to get intimidated by it. She is nervous and panic but she unwillingly shows it. She doesn't know what's inside his mind and it makes everything uncertain. To be honest, she is scared of what's coming next.

"You think I'm stupid?" Jimin asks as he erases his smile. He looks scary and Hyorin admits it

"I'm sorry to ruin your party, but listen---" Jimin halts and it just adds some tenses to the air "---if you once again dare to touch Seulgi, even only lay a finger on her---" He breathes heavily then continues "---I'll make sure myself, those documents will be sent not to the police, but to your son" He ends his speech with the real threat.

It drops like a bomb. Hyorin's eyes get wider and her face turns pale immediately. Her heart beats really fast as horror eats her up. She has nothing to say, she is lost as he hits right on her biggest weakness. She knows, she is an evil, but she always presents herself as an angel infront of her son. If Junhoe read everything, he surely will turn his back on her and she never wants it to happen because he is all she has. She needs to protect Junhoe and herself and there is only one way to do so. Yes, she is defeated. In the other hand, Jimin just watches his stepmother turns into chicken. He is sure, at least for now his stepmother will avoid any conflict with him and behave.

"Always remember that in your mind, I'm not playing around this time" Then, Jimin leaves his stepmother alone.

Nouveau riche1 –whose wealth has been acquired within their own generation, rather than by familial inheritance.

***

It's Gyeongbu Expressway, the same highway that he went through months ago when he first returned to Busan, post graduated. Same car, same road, but it's completely different feeling. Jimin takes a quick glance to the girl who sits right beside him and he is not able to hold back his smile. There, Seulgi sits beautifully as she hums lowly. She is happy and excited because for the first time she will visit his grandmother in Busan and spend her weekend there, together with him. She smiles softly as she feels his gaze and decides to turn and see him drive. In her opinion, he is so attractive when driving and nothing will change her mind about that.

Once the car leaves the highway, slowly the scenery turns into the famous Busan's sea and vaguely Seulgi hears the sound of wave. Today's weather is nice, the sky is blue and the sun shines brightly, there is no sign of rain. She loves the ambience and it makes her mood good. Actually, she often comes to Busan for charity night but she barely oversights its sea. It's really great to come back but this time to enjoy everything. In the other hand, Jimin proceeds to roll down the window, both sides, and immediately breeze sweeps her long black hair gorgeously.

"It's nice" Seulgi speaks.

Jimin just smiles and speeds up to his grandmother's place. Sea scenery switches into shady Chinese elm trees and momentarily the car enter a private cobblestone road which heads to his grandmother's property. Soon, they are infront of the gate, it opens automatically as this time the guard already recognizes his car. In the other hand, Seulgi is in awe once her sight meets the most beautiful garden. Her garden is nothing compared to this one and she can't wait to walk and look around. Finally, the car stops and they get out just to find his grandmother personally there to give them a warm welcoming. They both take turn to hug grandma and in the end, the butler leads them in to the living room as the maids bring their luggage to their room.

"I'm so happy because you both visit me"

Jimin's grandmother talks as she lets her grandson and Seulgi to sit on leather chesterfield sofa. She lands her eyes on Seulgi and how she adores this young woman, her sense of fashion is beautiful and her manner is just the best. Thereafter, the maids serve ice lemonade and immediately after they finish, the staff bring Jimin and Seulgi to their own room to rest. He stands infront of his bedroom and looks to the right. There, he finds her already smile at him as she turns the knob of her bedroom.

"Rest well, you've been driving for hours" Seulgi sweetly takes care of him.

Then, Seulgi disappears to her bedroom. Jimin smiles and is about to enter his, but his grandmother's personal assistant appears and informs him to come to his grandmother's bedroom. He just nods and goes there, looks like he needs to skip his rest. He knocks on the door and when he hears his grandma commands him to come in, he opens the door and enters. His grandma sits on her classic French armchair and she holds a dark blue velveteen box in her hand. He sits on another chair and his grandma hands down the box right away.

"Open it" His grandma smiles.

Jimin carefully opens the box and there lays a familiar elegant ring. A teardrop shaped blue Ceylon sapphire, surrounded by fifteen diamond studs. It's his grandmother's engagement ring which she cherishes the most. Since her engagement in 1952, that ring is always there, around her finger, reminding her about her husband. She never takes it off even once, but last night, she did so and put it inside its original velvet box. There is a long meaningful history behind that piece of jewel and right now it will continue to chronicle another beautiful history of her grandson.

"Propose Seulgi"

Jimin just looks at his grandma after he hears that. He knows it really well how precious the ring for her and reality that she gives it to him to propose his lady, it's deep and touching. His heart melts because his grandma loves Seulgi this much. He is grateful because his grandma just officially gives her blessing to his relationship. He smiles to his grandma as he rises from his seat and steps closer to pull his grandma into his embrace. It warms his feeling. His grandma hugs him back and pats his back. Tears on her eyes, it feels only yesterday she scolded him because he swam in her Koi pond and made them stressed, but today, she delivers him to propose his loved one and start a new chapter in his life. Time surely flies.

The heartwarming moment between grandmother and her grandson needs to end as there is a knock on the door. Jimin pulls away and smiles as he erases his gradma's tears. He once again says his gratefulness before the butler enters the room and bows. He watches the butlers comes near his grandma and whispers to her ear. After that, his grandma gives a look to her butler but then nods slightly which sends the butler away immediately. He just stares, wanting to know.

"You remember Sojung? She is downstairs"

***

Merry christmas everybody :)