The air in the room was thick with a tension that usually preceded a "we-need-to-talk" session. Seongjii's parents stood at the doorway, their faces a chaotic map of curiosity.
Mom's cheeks carried a faint pink tint. 'Is he finally going to admit she's his girlfriend?' she wondered, her heart fluttering with the thought of her son's first romance.
Dad, on the other hand, was scratching his head, a lopsided grin on his face. 'I know kids these days are adventurous, but climbing through a window for homework? That's some old-school commitment.'
Araya, sensing the heavy gaze of the 'elders,' gave a small, sheepish wave from her spot near the window. "Uh... I just came to do homework with Seongjii... through the window? "
Seongjii quickly grabbed her hand, his face flushing a deep crimson. "Wait, Araya... that's not helping!"
Taking a deep breath, Seongjii turned to face his parents. The joking light in his eyes faded, replaced by a rare, unwavering confidence.
"Mom... Dad... I need to tell you something important," he began, his voice dropping an octave. "But first... promise me, you won't tell a soul. Not even Auntie or the neighbors."
Mom's eyes sparkled like stars. "Of course, dear! We promise. Is it about the wedding date?"
"Mom! No!" Seongjii puffed out his cheeks, closed his eyes tight, and shouted the truth that had been burning a hole in his chest.
"This is Araya! And she's a Genie! "
He braced himself for the screams, the fainting, or the calls to a priest. Slowly, he opened one eye.
His parents were staring at him with wide, blank eyes. Their expressions were so comically confused it looked like they had just been told the sky was actually made of blueberry jam.
"A Genie?" Mom asked, her tone sweet and innocent. "What's that, honey? Is it a new college club?"
Dad blinked. "Is it like... a YouTuber thing?"
For the next hour, Seongjii sat them down and explained everything. He talked about the lamp, the contract of 51 wishes, the rules that governed her existence, and how Araya had become the invisible hand guiding his life.
As he spoke, he watched his parents' faces. The skepticism slowly melted into shock, and finally, into a strange kind of amusement.
"Every wish, every little thing... Araya has been there," Seongjii finished, rubbing his neck nervously. "I wanted you to understand. I didn't want to keep hiding her."
Mom reached out, her eyes misty with emotion. "Oh, dear... so magical... so unusual. I always knew you were a special boy, Seongjii. To think, such a special girl is looking after you."
Dad let out a hearty laugh, leaning forward to get a better look at Araya. "Wow... a genie, huh? And here I thought the most exciting thing in this house was the new toaster!"
Seongjii felt a weight lift off his shoulders. "So... will you both accept her? Can she... can she stay with us? As part of the family?"
His parents shared a long, meaningful look. Then, they both turned to Araya with warm, welcoming smiles.
"Yes," they said in unison. "She can stay."
Araya, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, suddenly floated a few inches off the ground, a familiar cheeky smirk returning to her face.
"Well... looks like this mortal finally got his family on board," she teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "About time! I was starting to think I'd have to turn them into frogs to get some peace!"
The room erupted in laughter. The fear was gone, replaced by a cozy, happy vibe that Seongjii hadn't felt in a long time.
'This feels right,' Seongjii thought, his heart swelling with a sense of belonging. 'Family, friends, and my chaotic Genie... all together.'
Araya gave a mock-salute, her grin widening. "Now, mortal... let's see what kind of trouble we can get into next!"
To be continued...