1.Monroe
My mother could giveany professional tour guide a run for their money.
I watch half mortified as she stands at the bottom of what’s known as the Rocky Steps, the long cascading stone steps that lead up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and were famously featured in the iconic boxing movie.
Her arms are spread wide, floral blouse rippling in the afternoon wind, and she’s delivering what seems to be a well-rehearsed monologue about the popular landmark.
“Andthis,” she announces dramatically, sweeping her arm toward the bronze status of Rocky Balboa off to our left. “This is one of Philly’s most visited tourist spots. The Rocky Steps, made famous by the 1976 filmRocky, starring Sylvester Stallone. Thousands of tourists visit every year to run up these very steps, just like Rocky did in his iconic training montage.”
“Mom,” I interrupt, both brows raised. “We get the idea. Can we just head into the museum now?”
“Shh, baby. This is for Jin, not you.” She turns partially toward him and plunges on. “Originally the steps weren’t part of the movie, but it was improvised by Stalloneafter?—”
As she rambles on, I press my lips together and sneak a glance at Jin, whose dark eyes shine with amusement.
If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear my fiancé isenjoyingthis.
It’s his first time in America, and Mom’s made good on her promise—she’s showing him every single sight and sound there is to discover in Philadelphia; hell, every little nook and cranny too.
We’ve wound up at the Philadelphia Museum of Artaftera morning spent at Independence Hall. My feet are throbbing from standing up for so many hours, and I’m starting to reach the point where I crossover from hungry tohangry.
But if Jin’s enjoying himself and Mom is living out her fantasy as a tour guide, who am I to complain?
This vacation was a long time in the making for a few different reasons.
The first, and most obvious, being that I live in South Korea as an expat. I teach English to young elementary-school-aged children and wouldn’t trade the job for any other.
I’ve been living in Busan for almost three years now, and it’s become a home away from home.
The second, and more challenging reason, is that my fiancé, Seo Jin-tae, is a boss in the deadly and ruthless Korean crime syndicate known as the Baekho Pa—actually, scratch that.
He’s not just a boss. He’stheboss.
After the prior one was betrayed and killed by his nephew, he and Jin fought to the death. It was a vicious battle that almost resulted in Jin going blind, but he ultimately came out on top.
He’s been ruling the crime gang ever since.
You might wonder how we could ever make things work when Jin is quite literally as fierce and deadly as a whitetiger and I’m barely scraping five feet and cry when there’s a spider in my room.
I’ve often wondered that myself, but then again, everything about our relationship has always defied the odds.
I met Jin on a warm summer night when I’d gotten lost after a disastrously awkward blind date. Stumbling down a dark alley I had no business being in, I witnessed Jin and his soldiers commit a horrendous act.
He terrified me in those early days. Healmostkilled me… several times. Then he realized with perplexing frustration he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
He couldn’t hurt me even if he wanted to. Neither of us knew it at the time, but it was the beginning of our love story.
As crazy as it sounds, we were both falling for each other. The Silent Hunter and the sunny schoolteacher were meant to be.
Now we’re engaged, planning a wedding, and I’ve finally managed to drag him halfway across the world to experience my hometown and get to know my mother even better.
Right now, as Mom starts rambling about the museum’s 200 year history, Jin seems to take pity on me. The corner of his lips quirks ever-so-slightly, then with a level of finesse that’s surprising coming from a man so stoic and reserved, he loops his arm through my mother’s.
“Mom, what do you say we break for lunch? I’m starving and can’t wait to try one of the Philly cheesesteaks you’ve told me about.”
Mom’s whole face lights up as she titters out a laugh. “Oh. Oh, right! I told Tony we’d be by around one so he could hook us up with the works. Thank you, Jin. Let’s go!”
As Mom bustles toward the parking lot, Jin and I hang back for a couple seconds. His grin comes to fruition on his face, spreading in an almost cocky way as he slides an arm around my waist.
