After Dark (Prompts)

One Night - 16

A/N: Some suggestive content ahead. 

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"Soo-ah, how are you?"

Im Soo-ah immediately sat up in bed. Gratefully, she was alone because it was already quite late and Hyun Jin-heon was in the shower. However, she was still naked, like she always has been in the week that she had spent in Jin-heon's house . 

"Hi, Eomma," she replied. "I'm good. I can't wait to see you in a few days."

"Is there anything you wish to eat while you're here?" her mother asked. 

Soo-ah smiled. "Nothing. I'm okay. I should be the one bringing you food." While her mother went about the house, based on the sounds she heard, Soo-ah opened a topic she'd been thinking of. "Uhm, Eomma?"

"Yes, dear?"

"Is the guest room still clean or have you finally converted it to a storage space?" she teased.

Her mother chuckled. "I keep it clean! You know that some of your aunts visit sometimes. They stay with me when they're here. Why?"

"Well...," Soo-ah hesitated before deciding to finally take the plunge and just ask. "Since we have a spare room, I was wondering if you mind if my guest would sleep in the house instead of booking a hotel?"

"Who is this guest? Is Hyojin visiting with you?" her mother asked after a few seconds of silence.

Soo-ah bit her lip while she flinched. She knew this was coming. There was no question how much she loved her mother, but sometimes her mother seemed to forget that she had grown up. "No, Eomma. I was hoping to introduce you to my boyfriend, Jin-heon."

"Is he a banker?" asked her mother.

"No. He owns a restaurant," Soo-ah said. 

"At least he can cook," her mother muttered at the other end of the line. 

A good sign! Soo-ah thought. "So, can he stay in the guest room?"

"It won't look good for our neighbours. They would think you're a loose woman," she was told much to her horror.

"Mother!" 

"What? It's true. Tell him to book his own room. There's a hotel near here," her mother said.

Soo-ah slumped. "Please give him a chance, Eomma? He makes me very happy."

All she got was a scoff and then an abrupt, "I have to go now. See you soon."

"See you soon, Eomma," Soo-ah whispered to a line that had already been cut.

Her glum face was what Jin-heon saw when he stepped out of the shower. "Good morning! Are you okay?"

Soo-ah forced a smile. "Yes. I just spoke to my mom about our visit next week."

"Oh, I see. Is she excited to see us?" Jin-heon asked, hopefully.

Soo-ah shook her head before she averted her gaze. "She says the guest room is not clean so you can't stay there... would it be okay if we book you a room at a nearby hotel?"

"Of course!" Jin-heon said, tucking her hair behind her ear. Adding, "I finish early tonight. Do you want to meet up so we can purchase some things we can bring for your mom?"

Soo-ah looked at Jin-heon and suddenly felt hopeful. "I think she'd like that."

She remained in her forlorn bubble the whole time Jin-heon was preparing to leave for work. "Hey, are you worried I won't get your mom's vote?"