I pick myself up from the ground and dust myself off. Seeing her freaking out, I ask silently "what's the matter?"

Pointing to her phone, which she has pressed up to her ear she mouths, "Mom"

I nod and instruct her to hand the phone over, and she obliges. Putting it on speaker phone, I use the highest voice tone I can register and excitedly say, "Eommonie!!"

Irene looks bewildered, 'Whose Mother is her talking two?'

She just watches and listens too the shamelessness conversation between mother and 'child'.

Irene's mom responds to my joy with a similar fas.h.i.+on, "Dylan son ! is that you?"

As a baby would, I use my aegyo (cuteness skills), "Yes Emmonie! I miss you"

"We miss you two" she answers backs

"Mother! did you get the gifts I sent for you and Chae-hyun? Joo-hun said it was a little too much but I thought it was too little!"

"Yes, Yes. We got it. Chae-hyun's been the talk of her cla.s.s. But you don't need to buy us such expensive stuff. You just started working!" She reprimands me.

"Yes mother. But I'm still going to get you things when I can. It's my honor as your future son-in-law" I say with extreme pride

She laughs, "Aigoo... did you even ask my daughter yet if she wants to marry you?"

"Mother, She's the one whose going to ask me!" I wink towards Irene whose enjoying this show.

All the while Irene is looking at me disgusted with my display.

'A man's got to do what a man's got to do'

"I'm not disturbing you two am I ?" She asks concernly

'Well... about that'

I throw away any thoughts on the matter and rea.s.sure her "Not at all mother you called at the perfect time! Joo-hyun and I just finished supper. I made spaghetti carbonara. Next time you are here I will make it for you and uncle"

"Oh really!" She laughs, "I look forward to it"

"Mother doesn't have to worry with me around, everyone will be easy peasy"

"About that.... " She contemplates

"Yes mother?" I urge her to speak

"Next month is Joo-hyun's birthday... and we were wondering if we could stay that weekend by you. We don't want to intrude. It's just all the nice hotels were booked out"

"Mother! It would be my pleasure! you don't need to ask you can just come. Anytime. But why at my place and not Joo-hyun's?" I ask suspiciously

Irene is shaking her hands signaling for me not to say anything more.

It dawns on me, we never asked her parents permission, for her to move.

Oh sh*t. OH sh*t. OH SH*T

"Joo-hyun's place?" Mother asks, "They don't allow visitors in her dorm"

Looking for guidance I face Irene. Nothing good ever comes out of lying to my In-laws. I better just confess at once!

"I'm sorry! Mother!" I bow to the phone. I try and get my sincerest apologies across even though she can't see me.

"You are sorry for?" She asks.

Irene joins in and says , "I'm sorry mom! I should have told you but I've moved in with dylan" Not noticing the error in her speech.

"You are living together! Joo-hyun you guys are still too young. I didn't raise you...." Before Irene's mom gets to worked up, we jointly interrupt her and in unison say

"No, No, No, No"

"Mother, Irene meant she moved in next door to me" I say

Corroborating my story, "Yes mom I moved in next door."

"Oh , why did you leave the dorm? Did you quit training?"

"I'm still training at S.M mom, Dylan just thought It would be better If I was more comfortable"

"Okay then"

'Phew, crisis averted'

"So will mother be staying at Joo-hyuns or by me, not that I mind" I try to make light of the situation

Irene gives me the death stare telling me its 'too soon'

I just ignore her 'loving gaze' and continue to chat with with her mother for the next 10 minutes as we sort out logistics.

When I finally hang up Irene questions me, "Whose Mother were you speaking to for so long ? Yours or mine"

"OURS!" I answer loudly as I grab the little annoyed monster of mine into a tight embrace.

"Oh speaking of your birthday, it's technically our anniversary, is there anything you want?"

"Anniversary huh. uhmmm How about" She leaves me hanging

"How about?"

"A new.... Boyfriend!!" She laughs and pushes me away as she finds satisfaction at my dumbfounded face.

I immediately decide she needs punishment and have fun while chasing her around the apartment.

....