I got off the helicopter as it landed on top of the most prestigious hotel in the city, perhaps even out of the whole country. I saw Mom and Dad were already waiting for me there, both dressed very elegantly. I guess I really would have looked out of place wearing track & field uniforms so changing into this dress was necessary.
"Welcome, Jenn. I heard your team qualified for the next round. Congratulations"
Dad welcomed me as he extended his hand forward. I wasn't sure if he was offering a handshake or just trying to help me move along. I took it anyway and he pulled me toward him and gave me a big hug, ruffling my hair, and said "Well done"
Mom was just standing next smiling but her smile alone was already enough to convey her sincere congratulations.
We took a lift down to the event hall near the top of the building. It was the first time I've been to such a place and even someone as inexperienced as me could tell that the whole place just oozed class. Everything 'looked nice' without any blings, and every surface looked polished without being reflective. It was more like a well-polished matte leather surface where the shine was imbued within.
As we walked down the hallway towards the event hall itself, I noticed that we were walking in a particular formation. I wasn't specifically told to keep this position but it just seemed everyone positioned themselves where they are and this was my spot. Mom and Dad were leading the way with their arms interlocked, just a step behind was good old me, and Uncle Tan and Hana took the rear left and right spot each but were spread out a bit.
When we entered the hall there was already a large crowd in there and it did really feel like a family gathering as there were not only people around my Mom and Dad's age. There were also people who looked over 60s or even 70s, young men and women in their 20s, teenagers like me, but also some younger kids who were probably in grade school. Heck, there were even a few toddlers here.
I thought there would be scarier and hard-looking bulky men here considering the industry people here are in, but surprisingly most people here looked rather refined high-class people. I naturally felt a bit out of place so had to remind myself that I was now here as Jenn and had to play the part.
But there were some really tough-looking men here as well, and just when I was noticing them two such men walked directly towards us and they just looked so intimidating, at least until they stopped in front of Hana and saluted her, both of them saying in sync, "Good afternoon, Major!"
"Hey, you guys, cut that out"
Hana shushed them and returned their greetings with a respectful nod of her head instead of a hand salute.
"It seems you still have your fanboys, Hana"
Uncle Tan remarked cheekily and Hana just answered with an eye roll.
"Just do your job, UNCLE"
"Tan, there's Hong, let's go say hi", Dad asked Uncle Tan to accompany him, and off they went to the other side of the room.
"I will go talk to your aunties as well, Jenn. Grab whatever you want to eat or drink and have a good time, sweetie"
"Right, thanks Mom"
Then off she went as well, just leaving me and Hana behind.
"Major Hana?"
"Now, don't you get started, please, Miss"
"That's pretty cool. You were in the military?"
"Please, let a girl keep a secret or two. I will neither confirm nor deny"
"Fair enough. I think it's cool though"
Hana did not say anything.
"Are you alright? You must be tired from carrying me and running before. I'm sorry"
"I'm alright, Miss. But yeah, I haven't carried someone and ran like that for a long time. Maybe I should get fitter"
"Right… so… what am I supposed to do now?"
"Normally you'd mix in with other people of your age here, but I suppose it would be a bit awkward if you don't remember them"
":Sigh: That's right. I don't recognize anyone here"
Just as I said that I felt a tap on my shoulder from behind.
"Good afternoon, Jenn. Very nice to see you again here"
I turned around to find Woobin standing there, dressed very smartly. He indeed was a handsome boy. He would have been alright and charming if he wasn't so slimy and creepy to me.
"You are not allowed to touch the Miss, BOY", Hana didn't seem to particularly like him either.
"Ah, nice to see you here too, AUNTIE Hana"
"Oh, is that right? How is your shoulder?"
"Well, it comes off every now and then but I learned to click it back. THANK YOU"
"Then I suppose you remember not to cross your line with the Miss then"
"Haha. You are always so serious. Isn't she, Jenn?"
Well, I got the hint. I could kinda guess what must have happened before, and if I understood it correctly Hana did the right thing.
"Yeah, and she's awesome"
Hana gave me a little smile and a bow.
"So, how do you like the school so far?", Woobin did his best to ignore Hana and kept on talking to me.
"I like it there. How about you?"
"Well, it's only been a week for me but I'm happy to be here too, thanks to you, of course"
"Look, I'm sorry. But I really don't remember you or what it was like in South East High"
"It's okay. We can get to know each other from the start again. Maybe it's better that way. But it's also a pity if you've forgotten about the good things. Right, Hana?"
"Do you know what's more interesting than shoulders? Knees"
"Haha, I'm not a rag doll, you know. And I believe YOU also have a line that you shouldn't cross"
"Gees, I don't know what's going on but you guys both cut it out. It's supposed to be a good occasion right? Not that I understand what's going on here…", I tried to clear the bad vibes between them a bit.
"We always have these gatherings. But I heard a rumor about today"
"What is it?"
"I hear we will have someone new join the family today. So this is also a bit of a welcome party for them"
Well, I got creeped out by Woobin since the first day but it's not like I wanted to be hostile with people here. If anything, I wanted to get along if I could, so if someone new was supposedly joining the family I'd do my part to welcome them too.
"I see"