S E V E N T Y - O N E
.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

"Hey, Mom." I pressed the phone to my ear that morning. "How are you?"

"Recovering, still." She sighed, but it didn't sound frustrated like our last call. "But I haven't drunk in a while."

"That's great." A small smile formed on my face. "Sorry I haven't called this long. A lot has been going on, but I'll tell you about that another time."

"Okay. Visitors will be allowed soon, honey. So if you feel like coming, you're always welcome." She said.

"Alright."

"So, moving on. How are things with that Minho of yours?"

"Great. Perfect, actually." My face grew red even thinking about that man. "Takes good care of me. Tonight I'll meet his parents."

"Ah, I see." She replied. "I've got to go. See you, honey."
And she hung up.

I put my phone away and walked back into the living room, where Nari lay, dressed in her onesie. Minho was next to her, his eyes closed just like Nari's. His arms wrapped around the girl.

This was the first time I noticed how much they actually looked like each other. Visible jawlines, exact same color and texture hair, long eyelashes, and chubby cheeks when they slept.

Probably the most perfect humans I had met in my life, and not just their looks.

Thomas The Train <33

We better meet up sometime again
I miss u

Ofc
I'll ask abt the investigations too.
Hru?

Good
Tonight I'm meeting Minho's parents
Kinda nervous

Damn
Good luck

Is that supposed to reassure me?

You'll be fine
I think
Hope

Thomas.

You'll be fine!!!!
Just don't mention that you're homeless, have no dad, your mom's an addict, you don't have a car, and that you have a shitty job in some cafe...
You'll be fine

Wow. So inspiring
Tysm
Really helps

Ikr
Good luck Spider-Man

I showered close to the time Minho said his parents would arrive. Did my best to look... normal? Whatever.

Minho was helping Nari clean up so she would look half decent for the dinner. As an act of service, I cleaned up the house a bit.

"Don't make yourself too nervous, all right?" Minho lay his hands on my waist from behind as I started cooking the meal. "What can I do to help?"

"Cut the vegetables?" I suggested. Minho immediately went to work (after he put on Dora The Explorer for Nari).

Also, Minho was very good at cooking and looked hot while doing it, honestly.

Anyways. I put plates down on the table, followed by everything else that was needed. Just then, the bell rang.

I had tried stopping anxiety from overwhelming me the whole day, but now it came right back.

"Come on." Minho intertwined my fingers with his and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Nari, come on! Mommy's home."

The girl jumped up from the couch, more excited than I had seen her in a while. She was still sick, yes, but now it seemed to be gone for a second.

Nari opened the door, too. Minho made sure to stay close to me. Whispered it would be fine. I just nodded.

Nari attacked her parents with hugs. Minho let go of a breath he had been holding. I tightened my grip on his hand.

Soon, Minho stepped forward too. I didn't see his father's face yet, but did notice their hug didn't look as comfortable as a father-son hug should've been. The hug with his mother luckily did look better.

"As I told you," Minho started. "I wanted to introduce Quinn to you. I'm her boyfriend."

He stepped aside, revealing his parents to me.

His father was an inch shorter than Minho. He had a few wrinkles. Dark, short hair. Sharp jawline, sharp eyes, sharp haircut... everything was so sharp and strict I almost looked down.

Until he smiled. His eyes softened and he held out his hand for me to shake. I happily did that.

Minho's mother was a beautiful woman, honestly. Black, long hair like Nari's. A sweet smile that also reminded me of Nari. Tall with slim legs, crystal clear skin, and a neat business outfit.

"It's really nice to finally meet you." She shook my hand a little longer than her husband did, with a smile on her face.

"Likewise." I smiled. This went well. They seemed nice. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.

"Yeah, so Quinn, this is my father Raphael. And this is my mother, Jennifer."

"And will that be Miss and Mrs Lee for me or...?" I blurted out.

Good for me that made them laugh out loud, breaking the ice that caused me to sigh in relief.

"Just Jennifer and Raphael for you." Jennifer confirmed. "And I smell food?"

"Minnie and Quinn made us tapas!" Nari informed cheerfully.

"Learned things from Spain, I see."

"Not just how to cook." The words flopped out of Minho's mouth. My eyes widened.

"What was that?" His father titled his head.

"Nothing." Minho covered it up with a big, fake smile and a cough, then grinned at me. "Anyway. Let's go eat."

Minho forbid me to take place myself and felt the need to really scoot the chair back so I could sit. I blushed. Thanked him as the food got put down.

Minho sat next to me. Raphael sat on the head, Nari and Jennifer across from us.

"So... how was the trip?" Minho wondered. He mostly watched his mother. "Busy?"

"Our trip's not as important as yours, is it?" She lifted an eyebrow. "Tell us, honey! Share how it went."

I didn't expect his parents to be like this, to be very honest. But then I realized that them not being home much didn't mean they didn't care about Minho and Nari. And I also found out, which was kinda obvious though, that they were interested in Minho's stories... and that made me happy. 

"Well, I can say it was the best vacation ever. Because I met Quinn." Minho nodded, eyes genuine. "And I was with my friends, so that was awesome."

"That really is awesome." Raphael finally talked. "So Quinn... you have a job?"

There it was. Amazing. The interview.

"Dad, can we not? We're just-."

"I work at a cafe." I replied before Minho could finish. "It's called Mornings."

"Ah, with Siggy?"

I nodded.

"That's nice." He touched his chin. Took a bite of food. "What was your last name again?"

"Pa-."

"Will be Lee in less than ten years, Dad."

My face grew bright red. "Uh, yeah. I hope." A laugh. "But right now it's Parker."

"Sadly." Minho added.

His father gave him a glance, then nodded another time. "Okay. That name isn't familiar to me. Do any of your parents work in business?"

"No, they don't." I swallowed away a lump in my throat. "My father left when I was young."

"I'm sorry to hear that." Jennifer touched my hand for a second.

"Yes, me too." Raphael agreed. "What about your mother?"

"Dad, can you stop ask-."

"My mom's currently in a clinic to get rid of her addiction to alcohol." I said.

My mother being in there was first of all not my fault, shouldn't be something Raphael judged me by, and I was proud she even was recovering.

"Which leaves you alone in house all the time?"

Shit.

Minho again. "Can we stop this weird interview and talk about something else? What are you gonna do if her answers aren't to your pleasure, Dad? Forbid me to date her?"

"Minho, not at the table."

He tensed up, then nodded. Looked down and tapped with his food.
Crazy how such a brave, strong, and normally stubborn boy could be demanded by one man like that.

"No. I'm not alone in my house all the time because I sold it a few weeks ago." I started, nervous as hell. "My mom was addicted and I only had my job at the cafe. We were poor. I had to sell the apartment because of unpaid bills and to go on the road trip with Minho. For now, Minho said I could stay here... but I promise I will leave if you tell me to."

"And I promise I will make sure someone else will be leaving if you don't allow-."

"Minho."

Jennifer smiled at me. "It's good to hear that you're able to handle that yourself, though. You can stay as long as you want. Right, Raphael?"

Hesitantly, "Right."

"If you don't let Quinn stay I will leave too!" Nari protested. "I can make a list that's just as long as my Christmas list on things I love about Quinn. Trust me! She can't go."

I smiled brightly at the kid, a warm feeling of happiness flooding over me. 

"Okay. I guess that's settled." Raphael eventually said. Nari whooped a cheer as he looked around, jumping from one subject to another. "It's clean here."

"Quinn cleaned up." Nari told him.

Raphael's eyebrows flew up at Minho. His eyes twinkled. "I see you chose the right one."

Minho's knuckles turned white around his fork. His jaw tightened. "Sorry?"

"Just saying that it's very nice of Quinn that she cleaned up." Jennifer said fast, before any arguments would break out.

Minho squinted his eyes at his father. "Why did you say that?"

"Minho, don't make such a problem out o-."

"I didn't choose Quinn. I just had the luck she chose me out of all men that could've been admiring her and the beautiful woman she is. Woman, Dad. Not a maid who cleans up. A woman." He paused. "So don't say that again."

Seeming vaguely impressed, Raphael replied, "Okay, Son. Got it."

Butterflies exploded even though this wasn't the best moment. But wow, I could go on and on about Minho and how amazing he was. Holy...

I lay my hand on his thigh to give some kind of reassurance. Comfort.
He lay his hand down on mine.

"How are your friends holding up?" Jennifer questioned. "Is Thomas still refusing to get a job?"

"Yeah." Minho said. I chuckled. "Everyone's doing good. I invited them over in about three days."

Raphael cleared his throat. "I thought that was the date you would pick us up from the airport?"

"I will." Minho said fast.

"Awesome." He smiled. "We're already leaving tomorrow. Will come back in two days. It's a short trip."

"Okay."