Blurry Angry Things
Apr. 25th, 2012 10:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wonderlifeAuthor: Nichole
Rated: G
Word Count: 596
Story Title: Blurry Angry Things
Summary: Ji Sung takes Ling'er to meet his parents.
Author's Note: Takes place about six months after the two meet.
Ji Sung’s parents stared at Ling’er as if she was some monster. For the first time in a long time Ji Sung was glad Ling’er was nearly blind. His mother was wearing jewelry that costed more than Ling’er’s family paid in monthly rent; his father’s shoes costed more than every piece of clothing Ling’er owned. They were staring at her and her clothing, and Ji Sung knew they didn’t like that they saw.
“I’m sorry,” Ji Sung’s mother stated slowly. “what was your name again?”
“Ling.” Ling’er pronounced her name sharply. “Ling Sara. People call me Ling’er. I’m half-Chinese and half-something else.”
Ji Sung’s mother raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Something else?”
“White.” Ling’er clarified.
Feeling his face turning red, Ji Sung took one of Ling’er’s hands in his. “Ling’er is teaching me Mandarin.”
“Oh?” Ji Sung’s father gave his son a look. “Are you trying to get in touch with your roots?”
“I. . .”
“Ji Sung, we’re raising you as Korean.” Ji Sung’s mother spoke quickly. “How could you go back to that?”
“It’s good to speak several languages.” Ling’er said in a condensing tone. “I’m speaking Korean now. But, Mandarin is my first language. I can also speak a little Japanese and English.”
“Oh my.” Ji Sung’s mother seemed shocked.
Suddenly, Ji Sung’s father perked up. “Do you do well in school?”
“I –“ Ling’er glanced over to Ji Sung.
Sensing trouble, Ji Sung sat up straighter. “Her father has her privately tutored.”
Ji Sung’s mother perked up. “Oh? Privately tutored? How nice! Do have siblings?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have four older brothers and two older sisters.” Ling’er swallowed hard. “My oldest brother works in accounting. My second brother is studying to be a doctor. My third brother is an artist. My fourth brother works at a very big company. My oldest sister works in personal relations and my second sister is a university student.” Ling’er gasped, feeling odd at having said all those lies so fast.
Ji Sung’s parents exchange a look; a look that Ji Sung couldn’t read no matter how hard he tried. Awkwardly, he squeezed Ling’er’s hand tightly.
“Excuse me, I have to use the restroom.” Ling’er s quickly stated. “Um. . .”
“I’ll show you!” Without waiting for a response, Ji Sung stood and pulled Ling’er from the room.
*
Breathing deeply, Ling’er leaned against the wall. “I’m going insane. Do you think they’ve notice I can’t really see? Or that I’m a big liar? Or –“
“Breathe!” Despite the tone of the situation, Ji Sung couldn’t keep the laugh from his voice. In all the time he’d known Ling’er, Ji Sung had never seen her so nervous and so . . . so not in control. “Our lies are making my parents love you.”
“So,” Ling’er swallowed hard, wanting to calm herself. “when the truth comes out, they won’t mind? I just see their blurry, big faces staring at me and I feel them judging me. I want them to think of me as a future da - “
“Future Daughter-in-law?”
Despite himself, Ji Sung hugged Ling’er tightly. “You can be their Daughter-in-law. We’ll just lie forever.” Holding Ling’er at hug’s length, he smiled. “Do I look blurry and big?”
Gently, Ling’er reached up and touched Ji Sung’s face. “You look handsome.”
“Will you call me ‘Honey’ then? Or maybe ‘Older Brother’?”
“I’ll call you those things after your parents stop looking at me like blurry, creepy people who have sticks up their asses.”
“So, never then?”
Ling’er only response was to laugh and hug Ji Sung tightly.
Rated: G
Word Count: 596
Story Title: Blurry Angry Things
Summary: Ji Sung takes Ling'er to meet his parents.
Author's Note: Takes place about six months after the two meet.
Ji Sung’s parents stared at Ling’er as if she was some monster. For the first time in a long time Ji Sung was glad Ling’er was nearly blind. His mother was wearing jewelry that costed more than Ling’er’s family paid in monthly rent; his father’s shoes costed more than every piece of clothing Ling’er owned. They were staring at her and her clothing, and Ji Sung knew they didn’t like that they saw.
“I’m sorry,” Ji Sung’s mother stated slowly. “what was your name again?”
“Ling.” Ling’er pronounced her name sharply. “Ling Sara. People call me Ling’er. I’m half-Chinese and half-something else.”
Ji Sung’s mother raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow. “Something else?”
“White.” Ling’er clarified.
Feeling his face turning red, Ji Sung took one of Ling’er’s hands in his. “Ling’er is teaching me Mandarin.”
“Oh?” Ji Sung’s father gave his son a look. “Are you trying to get in touch with your roots?”
“I. . .”
“Ji Sung, we’re raising you as Korean.” Ji Sung’s mother spoke quickly. “How could you go back to that?”
“It’s good to speak several languages.” Ling’er said in a condensing tone. “I’m speaking Korean now. But, Mandarin is my first language. I can also speak a little Japanese and English.”
“Oh my.” Ji Sung’s mother seemed shocked.
Suddenly, Ji Sung’s father perked up. “Do you do well in school?”
“I –“ Ling’er glanced over to Ji Sung.
Sensing trouble, Ji Sung sat up straighter. “Her father has her privately tutored.”
Ji Sung’s mother perked up. “Oh? Privately tutored? How nice! Do have siblings?”
“Yes, ma’am. I have four older brothers and two older sisters.” Ling’er swallowed hard. “My oldest brother works in accounting. My second brother is studying to be a doctor. My third brother is an artist. My fourth brother works at a very big company. My oldest sister works in personal relations and my second sister is a university student.” Ling’er gasped, feeling odd at having said all those lies so fast.
Ji Sung’s parents exchange a look; a look that Ji Sung couldn’t read no matter how hard he tried. Awkwardly, he squeezed Ling’er’s hand tightly.
“Excuse me, I have to use the restroom.” Ling’er s quickly stated. “Um. . .”
“I’ll show you!” Without waiting for a response, Ji Sung stood and pulled Ling’er from the room.
*
Breathing deeply, Ling’er leaned against the wall. “I’m going insane. Do you think they’ve notice I can’t really see? Or that I’m a big liar? Or –“
“Breathe!” Despite the tone of the situation, Ji Sung couldn’t keep the laugh from his voice. In all the time he’d known Ling’er, Ji Sung had never seen her so nervous and so . . . so not in control. “Our lies are making my parents love you.”
“So,” Ling’er swallowed hard, wanting to calm herself. “when the truth comes out, they won’t mind? I just see their blurry, big faces staring at me and I feel them judging me. I want them to think of me as a future da - “
“Future Daughter-in-law?”
Despite himself, Ji Sung hugged Ling’er tightly. “You can be their Daughter-in-law. We’ll just lie forever.” Holding Ling’er at hug’s length, he smiled. “Do I look blurry and big?”
Gently, Ling’er reached up and touched Ji Sung’s face. “You look handsome.”
“Will you call me ‘Honey’ then? Or maybe ‘Older Brother’?”
“I’ll call you those things after your parents stop looking at me like blurry, creepy people who have sticks up their asses.”
“So, never then?”
Ling’er only response was to laugh and hug Ji Sung tightly.
