After breakfast, Ryujin insists on doing the dishes but my mom won't let her so she's in the living room with the rest of my family. I stay and help my mom though.
"Mom, can you at least try to be nice to Ryujin? I'm sure she feels your stares and bitter tone towards her" I say while wiping the table.
"Yeji, I don't trust her. You meet online and all of a sudden she's ready to take care of you?" She ask.
"Is it that hard to believe that someone cares about me? You've witnessed how Dana treated me in the past but you never acted like this with him? Even Karina and Travis likes Ryujin."
"You don't know her enough. What if she hurts Eva?" She stops doing the dishes to look at me.
I look right back at her, "Do you really think I would put my child in danger?".
"It's not what I mean, That's not her real kid, she could be a molester she says going back to the dishes.
"Mom, That's enough". I say.
"You never know, Yeji" she says to me,
"John could be one too I say too her trying not to raise my voice,
"That's different! That's her granddaughter!" She yells at me.
"And Ryujin could be Eva's second mother!" I yell, surprising myself and my mom. Did I just say she could be Eva's mother? I panic scared that Ryujin might have heard it and I scare her away.
My mom looks at me while squinting her eyes, Yeji, what are you saying? Are you really gay?"
"I don't know mom, I don't know what I am! I'm sick and tired of this label thing of who I am, I love Ryujin and just her. I'm not attracted to anyone else, men or women". I lower my voice.
"Am I not allowed to take a chance to be happy with someone? I will protect Eva from her if I have to but I don't see her hurting Eva. Mom, don't you want me to be happy?" I ask sadly.
"I do. I guess I'm just not used to this. I don't know how to accept seeing you with another woman" my mom exhales.
"It shouldn't matter who I'm with, right? As long as I'm happy with them?" I ask.
She nods, "I'm sorry, I'll try to be better around her. You can invite her to stay for our barbecue tonight."
I smile and I go to hug her, "Thanks mom."
"Is it safe to come in?" I hear my sister ask,
We both say yes. "Umm you should talk to Ryujin. She's waiting for you outside" Karina says.
I suddenly feel afraid. Is she going to leave already?
"We kind of heard your conversation. It's not like you two were trying to be quiet or anything" Karina glares at my mom,
"Tell her to come here. I'd like to talk to her" my mom orders my sister, Karina turns around and leaves then comes back with Ryujin behind her.
There's some tension in the air and it feels suffocating. "I was just going to say goodbye to Yeji" Ryujin breaks the tension.
I look at her wide eyed, "Why?" I ask,"I didn't want to be a reason why you don't get along with your mom" Ryujin says.
"So you're going to leave me?" I ask feeling hurt.
"I was just going to leave but I was still going to talk to you. I thought me being around is making your mom uncomfortable. I'm willing to wait until she's okay with the idea of us" she explains.
"I'm sorry for my actions, Ryujin. I'm willing to try to accept you with my daughter, Just be patient with me my mom says.
Ryujin smiles at her, "Of course, I understand."
"Ryujin, you're too nice" Karina says,
"How did you expect me to react?" Ryujin ask my sister.
"Angry? Upset? I don't know."
"She only cares about her daughter. Everything she's done or said is because she cares about Yeji, How can I get angry about that?" Ryujin explains,
I go to hug her not caring that my mom is here, "You're amazing."
She hugs me back, "Not as amazing as you."
"Can you stay for a while? We're having a barbecue tonight with the family, I'm sure Yeji would like to have you around my mom says,
"Sure, as long as if it's okay with you and Yeji" she says still hugging me.
"It's more than okay with me" I rest my chin on her shoulder,
"Umm I hate to ruin your moment but Eva just took thebiggest shit Travis walks in holding Eva.
Everyone laughs and I grab Eva from Travis. "I'll do it" Karina takes her from me.
The rest of us are standing awkwardly from each other. "I'm sorry again, Ryujin" my mom says.
"It's really okay" Ryujin smiles. I drag Ryujin away and I sit her down on the couch in the living room,
"Are you trying to get frisky in here?" Ryujin jokes.
"Shut up" I say to her while making her cuddle me.
"Why are you so nice? Are you always this nice?" I ask her.
"I'm not being nice. I'm trying to be understanding. I always try to see from other people's perspective, Your mom is just trying to protect you, I understand her hesitation with me" she says.
"There's no way you're actually single. Why did Lia break up with you? You can't be this amazing and be single" I say to her.
"We just weren't meant to be, We're still good friends but our hearts just didn't belong to each other I guess."
"If you and I don't work out, can we still be friends?" I ask.
"I don't see why not but I hope we do work out" she hugs me tighter.
"Me too. I'm kind of nervous though" I whisper.
"Why?"
"You know, When it's time to be intimate with each other?" I shyly say.
Ryujin laughs, "Don't even think about that, Yeji, You're worrying for nothing. If you're not ready then it won't happen. If you don't want it at all then I'm okay with that too."
I sit up to look at her, "What? You don't want to do it with me?"
"I never said that. I'm just saying if you don't want it, I understand" she explains to me.
"What about your needs them? Are you going to get it somewhere else" I cross my arms.
"What? Where did that come from?" She ask me.
"I'm just saying that I'll wait as long as I need to and if ever you decide that's something you really don't want then I understand. I'm not going to have sex with other people if that's what you're thinking" she says.
"Then how are you gonna fill your need of pleasure" I ask still unsure about what she's saying.
"I don't see it as a need for me. I can live without sex" she says.
"I'm trusting you, Ryujin. Please don't hurt me" I cuddle myself back into her.
She hugs me back, "I won't."