TSS 16

Chapter : 16

‘The weather is supposed to stay good all day, and you like places like parks. If you feel awkward about coming home early, why don’t you suggest going somewhere like that instead? Since it’s a weekday evening, it should be quiet and not crowded, right?’

That was what her sister had said earlier while picking out Ha-yeon’s clothes. It wasn’t that the words had really bothered her, but the way she added those contradictory remarks about innocence and naivety made them stick in her mind. Still, it wasn’t as if she actually knew of any parks around here.

“Here?”

When they arrived in front of the apartment complex, Geon-hyeong asked with a puzzled expression.

Ha-yeon, her face flushed red, nodded. The only place she could think of was the apartment’s communal garden. Seeing it now, it felt a little silly. Even the bench she often sat on looked too small for Geon-hyeong’s broad frame.

“Is this… okay?”

“No, I don’t mind. If you like it, that’s enough. But… should we eat something first? What do you want to eat?”

“I… I don’t really know any restaurants around here.”

“Ah.”

Geon-hyeong leaned his chin on the hand resting on the steering wheel, looking thoughtful. Ha-yeon bit her lip anxiously. Even if she didn’t go out much, not knowing anything at all must make her look pathetic.

‘You’d better not let anything slip.’

She could almost hear her mother’s harsh scolding in her head. Flustered, she rushed to speak.

“It doesn’t have to be somewhere fancy. A simple place is fine. I mean, I’m dressed like this anyway…”

That’s why I thought of a park.

She muttered in a voice that grew smaller and smaller. Geon-hyeong, watching her quietly, suddenly seemed to remember something.

“Do you eat street food? Like bunsik?”

“…Bunsik?”

“Yeah—like gimbap or tteokbokki… Oh, I don’t even need to ask.”

He chuckled, noticing the way her eyes had widened.

Just hearing the word bunsik made her mouth water. When was the last time she’d eaten any of that?

“C-Could we maybe get jjolmyeon too…?”

“Oh? You like jjolmyeon?”

“I really… ah!”

The words had slipped out before she realized. Covering her mouth with her hand was too late—Geon-hyeong laughed out loud at her flustered face. Then he started the car again.

“Well, I don’t know if they’ll have it, but let’s go. It’s not far.”

The mention of not far made her suddenly aware of her hunger. They’d been out and about, so of course her stomach was empty, but more than that, the anticipation of tasty food was stirring inside her.

“Choi sajang, you’re here?”

It took less than ten minutes to reach the place Geon-hyeong had in mind. A middle-aged woman welcomed him warmly as he stepped inside.

“Ah, have you been well, Auntie?”

“A bit late for lunch… so a snack? If you’d told Taeseon, he’d have brought it to you. Did you really have to come all the way here?”

It was Taeseon’s mother. Geon-hyeong gave her a sheepish smile, but her nagging only grew longer.

“You’re always buried in work, skipping meals, and when you finally eat it’s just bunsik? Honestly.”

“That’s only because your cooking is so good.”

“And how’s your mother, Yeonsuk unni?”

“She’s the same as ever. Still says she misses your cooking…”

“Misses it? It’s been ages since I worked at that fairy restaurant. And Manager Baek? Still looking after cats instead of taking vacations?”

Listening to their familiar chatter, Ha-yeon tilted her head. It sounded like this lady had once worked as head chef at that “fairy’s kitchen” she’d heard about before.

“You should hurry up and get married too. You don’t even date, only ever hanging around my Taeseon. At this rate, my son’s going to outpace you—oh?”

The bunsik shop owner’s gaze shifted to Ha-yeon, standing shyly behind him. She blinked, rubbed her eyes as if doubting what she saw, and muttered to herself.

“…Not Taeseon today, but a cute young lady?”

Sure, Taeseon had always gone about dating, breaking up, and dating again—who knew how. Maybe he inherited that charm from his father, who was known as a ladies’ man before marriage.

But seeing Geon-hyeong with a woman—this was a first. Just like his father. Choi Chairman had been famous for having only one woman in his whole life: Lady Kim Yeonsuk.

“Ah, let me introduce you, Auntie. This is the woman I’m going to marry.”

“Hello.”

Ha-yeon bowed shyly. The owner’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

Lately, Taeseon had been checking out fancy restaurants and date spots, and she’d assumed he was chasing after some girl again. But maybe… it had all been for Geon-hyeong?

“Like father, like son… Don’t tell me, Choi sajang, you’re like the chairman too…”

Her eyes darted toward Ha-yeon’s stomach.

‘I’m getting married. I’m pregnant.’

That was what Kim Yeonsuk had declared more than thirty years ago. One day a mysterious man had suddenly started hanging around her, and before anyone knew it she was having his child. The shock of it!

And when her labor began, she’d gritted her teeth, swearing furiously between contractions:

‘Boy or girl, I don’t care. But if it’s a boy, I’ll make sure he never messes around. I swear it!’

She had seemed so fierce back then. But later, when she herself gave birth to Taeseon, she’d been even worse.

‘You bastard! Why do I have to suffer like this to give birth to YOUR child? If this one’s a boy, then that’s the end of the Lee family line! Who are you going to make go through this pain again?!’

Yet as she watched her baby boy grow, she’d regretted those words. He’s so cute—how adorable will his children be someday? She’d worried her harsh words might jinx his marriage prospects. Fortunately, Taeseon had no trouble finding girlfriends despite his parents’ nagging.

Still, looking at Geon-hyeong, she sighed.

“…With that handsome face and that build, my son doesn’t even compare. Yet you’ve never had a single romance.”

Not living up to his looks indeed. Muttering, she saw the two young people staring at her in confusion, so she quickly shook her head and changed the subject.

“Forget it. Anyway, all those restaurants Taeseon scouted out, and your big date is… a bunsik shop?”

She laughed at her own words. True enough—fancy French dining never suited Geon-hyeong anyway.

“You know my taste, Auntie.”

“Your taste isn’t what matters. Before marriage, you follow your girlfriend’s taste. After marriage, your wife’s.”

“That’s why we came. She wanted bunsik. Do you make jjolmyeon here, Auntie?”

“Jjolmyeon? Since when do you eat cold food? You’re always like an old man—can’t go a day without hot soup, even in the peak of summer.”

“Pfft.”

At her teasing, Ha-yeon burst into laughter. She remembered how he’d always given her his share of patbingsu with that contented smile.

Geon-hyeong, looking embarrassed, pointed at her.

“…Not me. She’s the one who wants jjolmyeon.”

“I thought so… Alright, give me a minute. Oh, but we don’t have tables right now because of renovations… ah!”

She rummaged around and pulled out a picnic mat.

“Here. Taeseon left this behind when he skipped out on work… oh dear, my big mouth.”

“…I knew he sneaked off sometimes. I just didn’t realize it was here.”

Geon-hyeong shrugged knowingly. The woman laughed awkwardly and gestured outside.

“The weather’s nice these days. There’s a park right out front—quiet, good for a nap. I’ll pack up something delicious, so take some drinks and have a picnic.”

She looked at Ha-yeon as if to confirm.

“If you prefer the earlier place…”

“No, I think this sounds better.”

She nodded eagerly. This was far nicer than the apartment garden—perfect for spending time together. A picnic… how long had it been?

Her eyes sparkled with excitement. Finding that adorable, Geon-hyeong ruffled her hair affectionately.

“Alright then. Let’s take plenty of food and head to the park. I’ll even buy you patbingsu later.”

Patbingsu! Her eyes lit up even brighter.

Soon, the two headed to the park. Even for a weekday afternoon, it was astonishingly empty. The grounds were so well-kept it almost felt wasteful that only the two of them were using it.

“What about under that tree?”

He pointed to the shade of a large tree. As soon as she nodded, he strode over and spread out the mat. Ha-yeon followed, sitting gingerly at the edge. Seeing that, his eyebrows rose.

“Take off your shoes. Your injured foot must hurt.”

“Oh!”

Before she could react, he bent down and slipped off her sneakers with practiced ease.

A small sigh escaped her lips. She hadn’t realized how uncomfortable her feet had been until now.

“See? Much better, right?”

He smirked, wiping his hands with a wet tissue before unpacking the food.

“There’s a lot here.”

“I’ll never finish it all… oh, she even packed fruit. When did she do that?”

Ha-yeon had only been expecting jjolmyeon, but the mat was soon covered with all sorts of bunsik dishes and fresh fruit. It felt less like takeout and more like a lovingly prepared homemade picnic.