The Engagement Party

Sometimes secrets should stay put. Janice knows that, she really does. But seeing them like that. She should probably tell them.

“If you stare any harder, you’ll drill a hole in her head” Jr says, startling her out of her thoughts.

“Oh! Hey” she says, clutching her chest “I just…” she sighs.

Jr looks at her, suddenly very interested “what’s wrong?”

She shakes her head.

“Janice, what’s up?”

Janice turns to her brother with a deep sigh “ok, I know something big and important. I found out about it last night, but I don’t know if I should say anything.”

“How big?”

“Like, life changing big”

“And are you sure an engagement party is the best time to say this big thing.”

Janice deflates a little “that’s my dilemma.”

Jr stares at her a long moment “you know what, leave me out of it.”

Her mouth drops as he walks away, leaving her to this dilemma all on her own. She immediately deflates.

She turns back to the snack table, a couple of friends passing by to give her a quick hello before moving on to other conversations.

It’s like they can tell something’s on her mind and that her brain isn’t even up for the small talk at the moment.

After about an hour of this, from across the room, their mother catches Janice’s eye, mouthing “everything okay?”

She nods with a little smile, her mom rejoining her conversation with her sisters.

“What?” Imani says, looking back to see her niece shying away in the corner.

“I don’t know, she’s been there all evening” Janice’s mom says.

“That’s not like her” Destiny chimes in.

“Should I go check on her?” she says, staring at her daughter again.

“You really want to get wrapped up in whatever’s happening?” Destiny smirks, sipping on her champagne.

Imani holds back a giggle, taking a new glass of champagne for herself as a server walks by.

“Not really…”

“If she one ah boddah you that much, then you nee fi go check pon she” Imani smirks.

She shakes her head, deciding to leave Janice to her own devices.

Nervously Janice looks over at her cousin again with his fiancee. Her head still spinning, she takes a deep breath.

Her decision suddenly made, she grabs herself a glass of champagne before walking over to the happy couple.

“Hey, Eun-ji, Elijah” she says, giving them both a big hug.

“Hey, Janice!” Eun-ji smiles “how’ve you been!”

“Good, good. I’ve finally packed up my room. So I’ll be out of the apartment by Monday.”

“Oh, Janice. No worries on that. I told you to stay until the lease is up.”

“No, it’s ok. I mean, of course I’ll still pay my half of the rent.”

“No, no” Elijah chimes in “I’ll take over that immediately, no need to worry, cuz.”

“Oh? Oh! Are you sure? I mean I’m good for it.”

“We’re sure” he smirks.

Janice looks between the two of them “ok, cool” she smiles before taking a sip of her champagne to relax.

“So” Janice says, hesitantly “I have something I need-“

“Aye, yo Elijah!” Someone calls from the front of the house.

Both Eun-ji and Elijah look over, Elijah immediately getting hyped when seeing his boys rolling in. He walks over to greet them, matching their enthusiasm.

“What were you saying, Janice?” Eun-ji says, giggling softly as she watches her fiancee.

“Oh, um… I have something I want to tell you both. Later, of course. Not now… Elijah’s not here” she chuckles awkwardly before turning away.

Jr joins his cousin, hailing up their crew as they walk in with more bottles of champagne.

“And one little bottle as a family present” Samson says, handing him a bottle in a paper bag.

Elijah looks at him weird, before opening the bag, his face immediately dropping as Jr and the rest of them starts laughing.

“Ray and Nephews? Who gives this as a gift?”

“Come on, it’ll keep you nice and healthy” Mohammed jests.

“And knock you out at the same time” Jr chimes in.

“No, but seriously. Whose idea was this” Elijah chuckles as he put the bottle back in its bag.

“Phil” Samson rats out immediately.

“Phil? What do you know about some Ray and Nephews. You were raised the most by the book Chinese-”

“In Toronto. Trust me, I know enough.”

Elijah smirks and gives him a quick hug “thanks man. Thank you all, really.”

Eun-ji watches from a far as her fiancee ushers his friends in. But as they clear out, she notices her mom and dad quietly arguing in Korean in the study room.

She downs her glass and places it on the table behind her.

“Did you want another one?” Janice smiles.

Eun-ji smiles “yeah, yes. Thank you.”

This is why she chose her. She was happy she chose Janice to be her maid of honour. She’s always so attentive and ready to help.

Janice truly is her best friend. Heck, if it weren’t for her, Elijah and Eun-ji would’ve never met.

“Hey jiji” Clara says, scooting up beside her “I mentioned this to Janice yesterday and she told me to just let you know that I’ll be taking in my dress a little. I lost a few pounds and it’s now fitting me like a sack.”

“Oh, no problem. Thank you for letting me know. Um, Janice and I will join you girls out on the patio in a moment. I just have to greet a couple more people.”

“No worries, your throne is ready and waiting for you whenever your ready.”

“Throne?”

“Yup, Janice made sure it was ready for you. It’s super comfortable, extra padding and the works.”

Janice returns with a champagne flute, handing it to Eun-ji.

“Thank you” Eun-ji says, giving her a hug as Clara walks away.

“Uh, you’re welcome. But it’s only my sparkling cider” Janice whispers in Korean.

Eun-ji looks around, slipping to Korean herself.

“No, I mean for being amazing. This party, keeping our secret, being such a good friend. I feel like I’m gaining a sister not just a cousin.”

“Big sis, it’s nothing” Janice smiles.

Eun-ji giggles, giving Janice a hug again.

“No! I’m done with this conversation!”

Everyone turns to the study and Eun-ji mom storms out, face red with anger.

“Why do you always have to create a scene?” Her dad says, still speaking in Korean.

“Me? I’m creating a scene? We’re already separated and yet you insist on making a fool of yourself!”

“Whoa, wha gwan here, so?” Imani smirks.

“Oh shut up!” Ms. Lee snaps.

Imani covers her mouth, trying to hide a chuckle “what’s got you so hot.”

“What’s so funny?” Ms. Lee.

“Bora, calm down” Mr. Lee says, trying to pull her away from everyone “sorry, sorry” he bows to the room.

“Don’t touch me!” Ms. Lee pulls away.

Elijah emerges from kitchen, confused by the commotion.

“Omma, Appa please stop” Eun-ji says, walking closer.

“Eun-ji, you’re not apart of this” Ms. Lee huffs “this is about your horn dog dad.”

“Bora! Please!”

“I will not be silenced, you-“

“Hey, Bora” Janice’s mom cuts in “why don’t we take this outside.”

“Stay out of this, Leslie” Imani, Bora and Mr. Lee all say.

Everyone’s head turns to Imani, confused.

“And why is this any of your business?” Leslie says confused.

“Ok, we should actually take this outside” Janice chuckles nervously.

Eun-ji looks at her confused, but Janice just shakes her head.

“No, I wanna hear it” Leslie smirks, as if cluing into something.

“Yes, Imani. Why are you so important in this?” Bora smirks.

Mr. Lee grabs at his ex wife again “yeobo!”

“Who are you calling yeobo!” Bora pulls away again. However the force she uses sends her tumbling back towards her daughter.

Janice pulls her away by the waist, Eun-ji holding her stomach, as if protecting it.

Leslie notices this and starts to say something as Elijah, hustles over to his fiancee.

“See, look what you did! You almost made me fall!” Bora yells, oblivious to what’s happening behind her.

“You one ah act foofool” Imani scoffs.

“Why you so inna dem business” Leslie says, her focus taken elsewhere.

“You ok babe?” Elijah says, kissing Eun-ji forehead.

“Yeah” she nods her head, turning to Janice “thanks, love.”

“You guys, can we do this later!” Janice yells, her nerves fraying with every second that passes.

“Janice, please!” Leslie sighs.

“Mom! You don’t understand” Janice starts to sweat.

“Imani, Bora. You’re both making a scene!” Mr. Lee stresses.

“And you do” Leslie states, with even more clarity.

“Shut up, David.” Imani snaps.

“Aunty Imani!” Janice stresses.

“Mom!” Elijah says at the same time.

“Shut up boi. En Leslie, keep your damn yute outta grown peepul business.”

“Oh my gosh, shut up you hussy” Bora scoffs.

“Omma!” Eun-ji gasps.

“What is going on here!” Elijah yells and the room goes quiet.

Bora turns to her ex husband, smirking “you wanna tell everyone.”

“It’s not important, we can talk about it later” he blushes.

Bora shakes her head annoyed. Imani scoffs, rolling her eyes. But Leslie covers her mouth, amused. The rest of the room stares in a state of confusion.

Leslie’s eyes turn on her daughter and she gives her one simple nod.

There it was, that was all she needed. Janice turns to her cousin and her best friend taking in a deep breath.

She closes her eyes, praying the words come out smoothly “I just found out last night that Eun-ji, your dad, and Elijah, your mom have secretly been hooking up behind your backs.”

Several gasps and a few shocked chuckles ring through the room as. Bora smiles looking between the two adulterers.

Leslie nods her head as Destiny looks at her younger sister in disgust.

“See, I knew one day your fastness was going to get you in some shit” Destiny says, rolling her eyes.

Leslie lets out a small laugh looking between them. Destiny angry, Imani embarrassed and speechless.

“Omma, is that why you two split up?” Eun-ji asks, the first of the couple to reanimate.

“Yes”

“Why didn’t you tell us before?” Elijah snaps.

Bora puts up a hand in defence “I only knew your father was having an affair. It wasn’t until today that I found out who it was with.”

“Wait, you guys started your divorced six months ago!” Eun-ji says, starting to look nauseous.

“Eun-ji, I’m sorry” David starts, stepping towards his daughter.

“Ew, no! Oh my gosh, leave” she blurts out, stepping away from him.

His face turns completely red. He looks around the room one last time before he backs away, then heads straight out the front door.

Imani rolls her eyes after him, then looks around the room as well, everyone’s eyes on her now.

“Mom, I think you should leave as well” Elijah speaks up, his eyes not able to look at her.

Imani’s face drops as she looks at her sister’s for support but Leslie and Destiny both flutter her their goodbyes before turning away in embarrassment.

Imani huffs, circling the room and grabbing a full bottle of champagne before she leaves as well.

Her heels click off the front walkway, the sound quick and clipped as if to show just how angry she is.

Janice lets out a long sigh, turning back to her two favourite people.

“I’m sorry” she whispers.

“No, sorry you had to carry that knowledge, even just for the night” Elijah says, his shocked eyes still on the front door.

“Seriously, thank you for letting us know.”

“I thought I was going to have to say it” Bora chimes in, her voice shaking “I don’t know if I would’ve been able to without killing one of them.”

“Omma” Eun-ji says, tears welling in her eyes.

Bora suddenly breaks down, running into the study for privacy.

Elijah and Janice rub one of Eun-ji arms each.

You going in after her?” Elijah whispers.

Eun-ji nods her head.

“Did you want some of your sparkling ginger mango cider?”

“Yes, please” Eun-ju whispers back.

“I’ll grab it and bring it to you” Janice says, looking between them.

Eun-ji follows her mom and Janice watches her for only a moment before starting to the kitchen.

Elijah turns to everyone and smiles, clearing his throat “nothing like a little family drama to cleanse the pallet.”

Everyone chuckles awkwardly “please continue to enjoy the evening as planned.”

Slowly but surely everyone starts building little cliques, whispers soon turning into everyday conversations.

After a couple moments the front door is knocked on as Elijah’s dad walks in, a big smile on his face and present in hand.

Elijah’s face brightens, his legs moving towards him without hesitation, giving him a hug.

“Dad, fashionably late as always.”

He chuckles in his ear “sorry, monster. Got caught up at the office again. We’re planning a new game.”

“Awesome, we’ll talk about it more in a moment, got a couple things I need to tie up.”

His dad looks around moving to the present table and placing his amongst the others. He shifts his weight then, feeling a bit awkward.

“Uh, so where’s your mom?”

“You know what” Elijah sighs, pursing his lips “that’s a long story.”