A Stressful Dinner

     As Cass and Hae Mina approached the table, his parents rose to their feet. Hae Mina gave them a gentle bow and introduced herself, "Good evening, I'm Hae Mina. I'm pleased to meet you."

    "Hmm," Cass's father muttered then motioned at the table. "sit." The group took their seats.

     "Good evening, Hae Mina, I'm Taeyang Su-Ji and this is my husband Taeyang Hong-Jin. We are pleased to meet you." After a moment of awkward silence, the waitress came to take their orders. Hae Mina's stomach knotted up as she waited for the interrogation to begin. She had no idea how she and Cass were going to trick his parents but she hoped this went by fast.

     She leaned against the back of the chair and had to hide a flinch. Not a smart idea. Her side may have had medicine on it, but that did not prevent it from hurting.

     "Appa, you called us here when we had plans. What did you want?" Cass demanded as the waitress lay their drinks before them.

     "As I stated I wanted to meet this so-called-girlfriend of yours." Taeyang Hong-Jin let his eyes examine Hae Mina. "I must say she has a pretty face but a pretty face can only do so much. So tell me, Miss Hae, what do you do? Do you go to University? Do you work?"

     "Appa, stop," Cass growled. "She doesn't--"

     "No, it's okay, Oppa," Hae Mina gave Cass a soft smile as she touched his sleeve. She had agreed to help him and she would, but the condescending way Taeyang Hong-Jin looked at her had made this a personal endeavor. "I am happy to answer any questions you may have for me. I do go to University and I am studying to be a music teacher. I currently do not have employment though I am searching for a temporary job."

     "What of your parents? What do they do?" Taeyang Hong-Jin prompted.

     Hae Mina hesitated. She should have expected that question, but she had not. How was she supposed to keep the truth a secret with such a direct question. Knowing this man, if she told the truth, it could ruin her and Hae Jae-Woo's hard work. An idea struck her, "My mother passed away when I was very young, but my father has worked at NARAE as long as I can remember." It was not a lie. Her father had worked at NARAE when she was five years old and that was the last she saw him.

     "Really? NARAE is quite a prestigious brand of jewelry. What position does he hold?"

     Hae Mina forced a fake chuckle and gave a warm smile, "I honestly have no idea, Mr. Taeyang. My father does not believe in bringing work home, so we never talk about it. He is currently overseas," Hae Mina added the lie at the end to prevent Mr. Taeyang from asking to meet her father.

     "Hmm," Mr. Taeyang muttered. The waitress arrived with their plates and lay them in front of each individual before she slipped away without a word.

     "So," Mrs. Taeyang began, "how did you and Cass meet?"

     Hae Mina thought about how Cass had learned the truth about her, and averted her gaze. Cass took control. "We met through her brother, Hae Jae-Woo. Remember our newest member? This," Cass touched Hae Mina's wrist, "is his twin sister. She came to watch one of our practices and," he paused then with a grin finished, "she spilled water on me."

     Hae Mina's cheeks turned red as she looked at him. "Cass, you promised you wouldn't bring that up," she knew he had never done such a thing, but the act had to continue.

     He chuckled, "I'm sorry. I won't do it again." He looked over to his mother. "We fell for each other immediately."

     "Really?" Mrs. Taeyang asked with surprise.

     "No," Hae Mina corrected. "He is just protecting his ego. Honestly, I tried very hard not to like your son. After all, he does have a nasty habit of dating tons of girls. I never wanted to be added to that list," she shook her head then gave Cass a gentle look, "but he is quite charismatic and he promised he would stop, so here I am."

     "So long have you been dating?" Mr. Taeyang questioned.

     "Uh," Cass hesitated a moment thinking about how to reply.

     "Well, no one knows we are a couple," Hae Mina supplied cautiously, "so we haven't been able to go anywhere publicly, but we spend time together when we get the chance."

     "That did not answer my question," Mr. Taeyang huffed.

     "We officially became a couple a month ago," Cass informed but knew the next words from his father would not be pleasant.

     "So you were with her during the time you got caught sleeping with that Byeol girl?"

     Hae Mina looked away and bit her lip, Now what are you going to do, Cass?

     "Yes, I was. Hae Mina knew about it and was furious, but she was generous enough to forgive me and I swore I wouldn't cheat on her again. As I told her, I don't need anyone else so long as I have her. Which is why I refused to go on a date with anyone you pushed at me."

     "Hmph," he father muttered and continued to eat his food. The conversation remained silent for several long minutes before the man spoke again, "So, Miss Hae, have you slept with him yet?"

     Hae Mina's face grew as red as the tablecloth and her ears burned. Of all the questions to ask, that was not one she expected to hear. Of course, she had never slept with Cass, but even the thought made her ears burn with embarrassment.

     "Appa," Cass growled, "would you leave her alone?"

     "Let's be honest, Cass. A simple girl like her is likely just trying to get close to you so she can get your money."

     "I would never--"

     "She would never do that," Cass growled over top of her. "She has no need to marry me for money. Her brother is a member of Nightide and makes enough to keep them both happy for years and her father works in NARAE, remember? Aside from that, she is working on getting job while she is still enrolled in University. How dare you accuse her of such low intentions? Just because your first wife tricked you doesn't mean every woman is that way. You wouldn't dare say that about Umma," Cass glared at his father and his entire being radiated fury.

     "Your mother and I are of the same social status, unlike that girl you have by your side. Her father may work for NARAE but that doesn't mean he is of quality."

     "Grandfather would be severely disappointed with you," Cass informed before standing. "Let's go, Hae Mina." Hae Mina rose and followed Cass from the restaurant and to his car without a word.

     Hae Mina relaxed in the car seat. That had not gone as well as she hoped. Cass remained quiet as he drove them onward, his fury still evident. After a few minutes, Hae Mina spoke, "Is your father always like that?"

     "I'm sorry," Cass muttered. "He doesn't take well to me having a girlfriend he hasn't appointed, but he did like you, despite how it may have seemed."

     "Liked me? Your right it did not seem like that at all. He seemed to hate me."

     Cass laughed, "No. If he hated you, he would have left long ago. The fact he continued to ask questions and tried to belittle you and find fault in you proves he likes you. He just doesn't like the fact I found a genuinely good woman he didn't chose. I'm sure he would like to interrogate you more next time."

     She closed her eyes, "I'd rather avoid that. Thank you, by the way, for defending me."

     "You're welcome," he whispered. "And thank you for acting as my girlfriend. I know it wasn't easy. I don't know what I'm going to do next time he asks about you."

     "You are welcome," she hesitated, "I could help out next time, if you want. I'd do it just to see the look on his face when he sees you've had a steady girlfriend."

     The car suddenly stopped, and Hae Mina's eyes shot open. "What?"

     "Just a red light, Hae Mina. Calm down. So you would keep this act up?"

     "Maybe," she shrugged and refused to look at him.

     "How's your back?" Hae Mina heard it again. The odd part of Cass, the part no one saw. The soft spoken and caring part.

     "Better, thank you. I'm going to need to change soon. We can't go back to school until I'm a boy again."

     "Let's stop and eat some ice cream first," he suggested. "After all, you didn't eat much at the restaurant."

     "But Cass," Hae Mina began.

     "Come on, I want ice cream and we don't want to chance my family coming by and seeing me without you."

     She laughed and agreed to eat ice cream with him. He parked the car and the two entered the shop and ordered. Hae Mina ordered a hot fudge sundae while Cass ordered a banana split. They sat, talked and laughed. Hae Mina liked this version of Cass. He was less conceited and far more… alluring, but Hae Mina was not going to let herself fall like so many helpless young women. She would not be broken like them.