Chapter 04
That was Jisoo’s true feeling.
The fleeting doubt about whether this man might have feelings for her quickly gave way to the conclusion that there was no way that could be true.
Kim Youngbaek’s contempt for her had been laid bare from beginning to end. And on top of that, he was making advances toward her when she had a man she’d promised to marry? What could this person possibly be lacking? It was definitely a No.
Jaegyeom shook his head and took the tie from Jisoo’s hand, slipping it around his own neck.
“But Jisoo. This is nice too.”
“What is?”
“It’s like a leash you gave me.”
“A leash, seriously.”
“Now, shall we go to Im Jisoo’s house wearing the leash Im Jisoo put on me.”
She followed the man leading the way with quick, short steps. In the large full-length mirror on the left side of the entryway, Jaegyeom putting on his shoes and herself were reflected.
“Wow, this is insane.”
“Am I that handsome?”
“No, my appearance. I really look awful.”
It was true that Jaegyeom in his fine suit looked handsome, but Jisoo, who was now seeing herself for the first time in contrast to his neatness, felt so embarrassed she thought she might die.
The beige linen dress she’d pulled out to meet her mother after so long was soaked with sweat and completely wrinkled, and because she’d been carrying heavy things and sweating under the midsummer sun, her hair was disheveled and plastered pathetically to her forehead and neck. It was a relief that at least it was still properly tied back.
“What do you mean. You’re just pretty.”
“If this looks pretty to you, there’s something wrong with your eyes.”
“No way. I have high standards. You’re pretty.”
Jaegyeom wore a cool smile. The thought that the way he looked at her was unnecessarily warm made Jisoo shake her head.
Before she knew it, the sun had finished preparing to hide itself, leaving only the sunset. After getting in the car and giving the address, Jisoo quietly explained while looking straight ahead on the way to her mother’s house.
“My boyfriend’s name is Kim Youngbaek. He’s thirty-five. His job is… actually he doesn’t have one, but his family runs a business in the apartment complex in front of the Su-gyeong City Hall in Gyeonggi Province. You can say he’s helping his parents’ work to inherit the store.”
To the explanation delivered emotionlessly like reading a book, Jaegyeom asked in the same tone.
“So you were going to marry him?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Anyone could see that guy’s level was too low, so I was wondering if the reason you were trying to marry him was maybe that store.”
“What?”
“Don’t get angry. I’m trying to understand you. If you were thinking of marrying him hoping for at least that, it would actually make more sense to me. The desire to live economically comfortably isn’t something to be criticized. I don’t think it’s bad. I’m sorry if I made you misunderstand.”
That’s how much Kim Youngbaek was inferior… He had thin hair and was short, but she wondered if he really seemed so obviously “low level” at a glance.
“Yeah. Well, it’s not something to talk about at length. First, to answer your question, that store absolutely… I have no greed or interest in it.”
“Hmm.”
“Youngbaek oppa’s mother… told me to say that in case she looks down on me for not having a job when I greet my mom today, anyway, I think you can just understand it that way.”
To Jaegyeom’s cynical question of “So they’re not really planning to pass down the store?” Jisoo nodded.
Before she knew it, they had passed the town and entered the two-lane narrow road heading to Gyechon-ri. There was still a lot to say to teach Jaegyeom information about Kim Youngbaek, but they were already getting close to home, so she felt urgent. Jisoo hurriedly attached a conclusion.
“Today, my mom probably prepared a meal. Originally, we were going to eat dinner, stay overnight at my house, and then oppa was going to take the train to Seoul tomorrow morning. I was planning to rest with mom for a few days and then go back.”
The man continued to listen to her.
“But now that can’t happen,”
“Why can’t it?”
“Because Yoon Jaegyeom can’t sleep at my house?”
To the eyebrows full of puzzlement as if asking what could possibly be the problem, Jisoo shook her head.
“We’ll just eat and leave, saying something urgent came up. We’ll come out together and just part ways like that. I’ll go back to Seoul.”
“Why? You said you’d spend time with your mother.”
“…If I stay with mom longer, mom will keep asking about Youngbaek oppa, and I don’t want to talk about him anymore. It doesn’t make sense to keep dating after something like this happened, and we’re going to break up anyway. That’s why.”
“Okay. I like the conclusion.”
They finally entered the familiar neighborhood. A sign reading “Welcome to Gyechon Village full of affection and love” was visible.
After parking in front of the gate, just before getting out, Jisoo looked at Jaegyeom.
“Thank you. And, I’m sorry I don’t remember you.”
“It’s not something to be that thankful or sorry about.”
“No. I’ll compensate you for your trouble somehow. Give me your account number.”
“Don’t say you’ll repay with money.”
Before the question mark could settle in Jisoo’s mind about what on earth she’d repay with if not money, the man got out and opened the passenger door for her. She also took out the gift she’d prepared in advance.
“Look at me. I’m meeting your mother-in-law for the first time, so final check on whether I’m okay.”
Jisoo smiled as she straightened the slightly crooked tie knot.
“Really, I don’t know if you’re shameless or confident, but you have an amazing personality. Mother-in-law, seriously.”
“I’ve been calling her that since earlier, you didn’t know?”
“…Please take care of us.”
“Don’t worry.”
As they entered the gate, the white dog barked loudly. Jisoo quickly petted the dog first.
“Our Baekgu, have you been well? Your noona came after so long. Right?”
Hearing the signs of people and the dog barking in the yard, her mother came out to greet Jisoo. Her mother’s expression was flushed with tension.
“Jisoo! Oh my, my daughter, goodness. I almost forgot your face.”
“Mom.”
The everyday life of living alone as an office worker in Seoul, and the absurd things that happened today, had all exhausted Jisoo. Without realizing it, she found herself acting like a child and burrowing into her mother’s arms.
Hugging her mother tightly and breathing in deeply, her mother’s scent filled her lungs. It felt like everything was going to be okay. She comforted herself that she could do well in the play she had to perform with Yoon Jaegyeom, who didn’t resemble Kim Youngbaek in the slightest, and took another deep breath.
“Daughter. Now you need to introduce the person who came with you to mom too, right? Oh my, his impression is so good. So tall and impressive, goodness…”
At her mother’s eyes full of anticipation, it was now time to tell a lie. It’s okay. She deceived herself that this was better than the conclusion of entering this gate alone and saying “Kim Youngbaek came as far as the town but went back,” embarrassing her mother.
“Mom, this person is the one I’m going to marry,”
“Mother-in-law. Hello. I’m late in greeting you. My name is Yoon Jaegyeom.”
Looking at the man who introduced himself as Yoon Jaegyeom, not Kim Youngbaek, and smiled brightly, Jisoo froze in shock, forgetting even to breathe.
After moving inside, the dinner time passed ever so slowly, with only her mother and Yoon Jaegyeom chatting and laughing happily, while Jisoo was so uncomfortable she felt sick and couldn’t sit still.
“Oh my, but the more I look at our Jaegyeom, the more familiar he seems. Is it because he’s handsome? Do people often say you look like some celebrity?”
“Mother-in-law. Please speak comfortably.”
“Oh ho ho, goodness! His personality is so good too! Usually when someone’s handsome they’re prickly. Pretty people are like that too.”
“Mother-in-law, you’re beautiful and yet so warm.”
“Oh my! Don’t send me flying on an airplane, I’ll get dizzy!”
Jisoo wanted to cry. It seemed like it had been so long since she’d seen her mother laugh out loud like this.
Clearly, when she’d said over the phone that she had a boyfriend she’d been dating for 6 years, her mother had felt hurt, saying “How could you hide that from your mother without a single word.” But as if she were not the same person as the mother from a few days ago who had scolded her, her mother now looked so happy. In front of Yoon Jaegyeom, whom she would face only today and never see again.
“Mother-in-law, could I have one more bowl of rice?”
“How is even the way you eat so blessed. Eat as much as you want. I don’t know if the food suits your taste. I prepared it with effort, but…”
“I was so looking forward to your cooking, Mother-in-law, that I’ve been fasting since yesterday evening.”
Why is this man like this, seriously. Jisoo shot a look at Jaegyeom with her eyes that was close to cursing. Jaegyeom just smiled.
