The Interview (II)

It dawned on Yanmei that Anton's parents have become accepting of his cold self, that even such an insane proposal was what they had expected from him.

She gave a fainted laugh while staring at Anton, and he managed to let out a smirk. Not a smile or a laugh, but a smirk was enough to suggest that Yanmei's reaction was adequate to tickle his heart.

Yanmei's earlier answer about him being handsome and fit made him touched his lightly bearded chin. He said to himself, 'Just wait till you see me clean shaved... Wait... What am I thinking?'

He immediately shook his head. The fact that he was entertaining the idea of completely shaving his face was unlikely of him. He went back to eating his food, allowing Yanmei to drown with all the additional inquiries.

"Yanmei, are you planning on getting married soon?" Yeong Soon asked before giggling. She then whispered something to her husband, and they both chuckled before returning his gaze to her.

"Yanmei, please excuse us. You might think that we are asking this of you too soon, but we live in a world where arranged marriages happen. We can have you both married immediately - tomorrow if you are willing to!"

Yanmei could sense the eagerness from Yeong Soon to have her son marry. She recalled what Anton said and so she did as she was earlier told, "It's still too early, but we - if ever, maybe sometime next year."

Even if it was not happening soon, Yeong Soon was satisfied. At least, there was light at the end of the tunnel, and she will eventually have a grandchild. She thought, 'In any case, I have my ways to make it happen.'

"So Yanmei, when did you realize that you have taken a liking for my son?" Yeong Jae-won asked.

She looked at Anton once again while finding the right answer. She smiled at Jae-won before saying, "I guess it started after - after he came back from getting wounded at the gun factory. I was jealous at the doctor that attended to his wounds."

"Hmmm," said Yeong Jae-won. "Isn't the company doctor a man?"

Yanmei's eyes grew wide in horror. She absolutely forgot about his parents not knowing Anton's preference. She said, "Yes, but - I honestly thought it was a woman from afar! Haha! That was so silly of me."

".. and the second time was when he sent me an apology letter." Yanmei quickly changed the topic.

She turned to Yeong Soon and reminding her of the time when Anton was upset about making him come after her. "He sent me an apology letter that completely made me laugh… I instantly thought how amusing would it be to be with such a man… that I - that I started to look at him differently."

There was silence for seconds. Anton's parents could not believe that their son made an apology letter. It was unnatural of their son to do.

While his parents were in disbelief. Anton shook his head at Yanmei's words. He could already foresee his mother crying as a result of discovering his admission letter.

"Really, Yanmei?" Asked Jaeo-won.

Yeong Soon was already teary-eyed and said, "It would be really nice to see that side of you, Yeong." Directing her gaze back to Yanmei, she asked, "Can I see his letter?"

"Mother!" Protested Anton. "What good will it do for you to see?"

Yanmei pursed her lips. She wondered if Anton's parents will see the humor behind his apology letter, at least be entertained the way it did to her. She gulped before taking out her phone and opening her email.

She hesitated, but ultimately handed her phone.

Yeong Soon read Anton's email and soon a tear fell down her cheek. She cried and laughed at the same time. She showed it to her husband he also nodded in agreement while caressing his wife's back.

After soothing his wife, Yeong Jae-won stood up to hand Yanmei's phone and said, "You have really changed my son, Yanmei. It was more of a confession of his mistake, but he would never swallow his pride this way."

"Well, except maybe to his mother but ultimately, this is such a different side of Anton, but - you are right! It's very amusing! Haha!"

"What is so funny about my apology letter?!" With his voice already raised, Anton asked.

"Nothing!" Yanmei said. "It was cute!"

With a frown on his face, he repeated in silence, 'Cute?'

Anton Yeong shook his head many times that night. His parents were telling on him, and he could do nothing about it. He could only desire that this interview will be over soon.

Yanmei's interview came to a close. It was now time for Anton to be faced with his mother's probing.

While being served with desserts, Yeong Soon asked, "So Anton, what makes Yanmei different? Why of all the many women we have introduced you too, why have you chosen to be with Yanmei?"

"Mother," said Anton. "You seem to forget you practically played cupid for both of us. No one has ever come close to our family except for Yanmei."

"That is true, but still, you allowed me to," Yeong Soon reasoned.

Anton could not deny it. If it were any other women, he would have already put a stop to their closeness, but what really made him tolerate it from the start was the fact that Yanmei was not into men. He could only answer, "… Because Yanmei was the first woman who rejected my kiss. I ultimately knew she had no hidden motives."

Yanmei's eyes grew wide. She wondered when he ever attempted to kiss her. She tried to recall everything that has led them to this point, but there was no memory of a coming kiss. She turned to Yeong with a puzzled face.

Seeing her confused, Anton reminded her, "You know when you blew a kiss in the air, thinking I was greeting you the Italian way!"

'What he wanted to kiss me then for real?' She asked herself. Yanmei wanted to ask more, but she wanted no further questions that would lead them to their graves.

When Anton's father received a very important call and excused himself, Yeong Soon took the opportunity to ask both of them. She probed, "When Anton slept overnight at your place, Yanmei… Did you sleep in the same bed?"

"No."

"Yes."

Anton and Yanmei said simultaneously. One answer from Anton that would keep his mother from asking more and one truthful answer from Yanmei.

"Well… two different answers. Tsk, tsk," said Yeong Soon.

Yanmei gulped before glaring at Anton. How could he even suggest that they slept together considering they became a fake couple only the following morning of his sleepover?

Yeong Soon merely took a sip of her coffee and said in silence, 'There is only one way to find out.'