A Taste of the Future

It was a gathering with the family of the world’s greatest girlfriend, a situation I’d been thrust into quite suddenly. I never expected the suggestion to visit her parents' home to come from Yeoeun herself. 'Wait, wait, isn't it a bit too early for the in-laws?!' My breath hitched, and my shoulders rose and fell like waves, no matter how hard I tried to suppress my excitement at the word "in-laws." It felt like I was counting my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠chickens before they hatched, considering we were still in the dating phase. But I couldn't think of a better way to respond, and I couldn't deny that the word had a strangely pleasant ring to it.

"I-is it really... okay for me to go?"

"Hehe, why are you so flustered?" She brushed her hair aside as if to tidy it. "I... I just meant we should all get together as a family and have a meal."

"……."

"……Ahem!"

Even though Yeoeun tried to act nonchalant, I could tell she was nervous deep down by the subtle trembling of the hand I was holding. As time went on, our clasped hands grew clammy, and she kept glancing away, pretending to be busy with something else. It was a perfect green light, as wide open as an airport runway.

"If that’s what you mean… then shall we go?"

"!"

I seized the opportunity immediately. I didn't want to miss out on this new stage that had opened up before us, so I decided to grab it while I could.

Yeoeun had gone back into the café restroom, saying she wanted to make the call herself. She returned after quite some time, and she delivered the results with a somewhat sullen expression.

"Um… they said it’s fine to come."

Unlike the permission she’d received, her lips were pouting like a duck’s. Her face was even slightly flushed, making me wonder what kind of conversation had taken place. "Instead, they said they wanted to prepare something, so let's meet in the evening. Are you okay with that?"

"Well… since we're dropping by so suddenly, I suppose that’s only fair."

It was still lunchtime, so there was plenty of time before sunset. We spent the day walking around the streets and catching a movie before heading over. By the time twilight fell, we caught a taxi and arrived at our destination.

……*Gulp!*

A massive gate with black iron bars loomed ahead. I shrank back the moment I saw the high walls made of beautiful white bricks. It was a rare sight in Korea, a country filled with apartment complexes. It wasn't the typical style you’d see in undeveloped areas, but a perfectly modern, luxurious detached house. Through the gaps in the gate, I could see a spacious yard and a first-floor terrace glowing with an atmospheric orange light. The house was decorated with sleek, floor-to-ceiling glass, and I could even hear a dog barking in the yard. While I was busy being intimidated by this blatant display of wealth on such expensive land, Yeoeun pressed the doorbell without a second thought.

"I'm here."

The person who answered the intercom had a familiar voice, as if they had been waiting. The line cut off, the gate lock clicked open, and as we walked in, admiring the well-tended garden, a pot-bellied man came waddling out to greet us.

"You're here! The savior of our family has arrived!"

"Ah, ahaha… have you been well?"

"Look here, why are you being so stiff when we know each other so well? We agreed to be comfortable, didn't we, son-in-law!"

It was none other than Joo Young-cheol. He had told me to call him father-in-law last time, but since Yeoeun might feel uncomfortable and the title still felt too heavy for me, I preferred calling him "sir."

"Heh… were you two always that close?"

"Of course! Not only did he save my life, but he also managed to reform my stubborn daughter!"

"……."

"I was truly surprised. To think that you, Yeoeun, would think to bring a boyfriend home yourself. Hahaha!"

The more excited Young-cheol became, the colder Yeoeun’s expression grew. Judging by her face, I could roughly guess what kind of phone call had taken place at noon. The man seemed to cling to me more than his precious daughter today, showing off his friendliness. Perhaps because I was a first-time guest, he made an effort to flatter me, and he happily accepted the small gift of energy drinks I’d brought.

As the three of us entered through the first-floor foyer, a delicious smell wafted through the air. Following the scent, I saw a feast spread out on a marble-topped table, and a woman was busy preparing more in the kitchen.

"……!?"

I was shocked. I thought Yeoeun had secretly undergone cell division inside the house. The original was standing right next to me, but there was another Yeoeun in the kitchen, wearing an apron. I wondered if it was just because I was seeing her from the side, but even the face that turned toward the sound of our arrival was an exact replica.

"Yeoeun, you had an older sister…?"

That was my first thought, which slipped out before I could stop it. At that, the prototype Yeoeun, who had been tasting the soup, raised her eyebrows. Then, with a smile that curled up at the corners of her mouth—a look I was all too familiar with—she said,

"Heh~ Does our cute son-in-law know how to score points with his mother-in-law?"

"……!!!"

I got goosebumps. Her voice was exactly the same. It was Yeoeun’s signature tone. Not only that, but the inflection, the pitch, and that sly charm that other women couldn't easily imitate were perfectly identical. She was a carbon copy of Yeoeun. To say they "resembled" each other was an understatement; it was like looking at a clone.

"Mom, stop teasing him. And you, don't be so servile."

"Oh, Mom?!"

"Yes, I am Yeoeun’s mother♥ From now on, call me Mother-in-law, Seungwoo. Hohoho."

She spoke as if she already knew everything about me. I had always thought Yeoeun didn't resemble her father at all, but I was witnessing the greatness of genetics right before my eyes. My jaw had dropped in surprise, but Yeoeun, perhaps used to this reaction, gently pushed my chin back up and retorted bluntly.

"Mom, are you starting to act like Dad? I just called to ask if we could have a meal together, so why are you making such a fuss, acting like the marriage is a foregone conclusion?"

"Hmm~ But you’re the one who called first, aren't you?"

Yeoeun’s mother hummed a tune as she leisurely turned off the gas valve. "Didn't I tell you? It was always in your cards to grab the man you liked and drag him home."

"……."

"Seungwoo, you’re even cuter in person♡ Ah! Don't just stand there with sore feet, let's eat first."

At that signal, we gathered around the table, which was groaning under the weight of the food. Naturally, Yeoeun and I sat side-by-side, while Young-cheol and Yeoeun’s mother sat opposite us. After we sat down, there was a moment of silence where time seemed to stand still. Just as the tension began to make my back feel warm, Yeoeun’s mother called out to me, cutting through the atmosphere.

"So, Seungwoo."

"Y-yes!"

She had singled me out, as if to break the tension. She was still a spitting image of Yeoeun, but looking closely, she didn't have the mole under her lip like Yeoeun did. Her makeup was also a bit heavier, as if she wore a lot of powder. She gave me a playful smile and asked,

"How did our daughter taste?"

"*Cough, cough!*"

"Oh, Mom!"

I wondered how she could ask such a question when we’d only been seeing each other for a short time. It wasn't a critique of the food we were eating, but a critique of her daughter—what on earth did that mean? Between Young-cheol, who had pried into his daughter’s deep private life, and now this, it was quite the unconventional family.

"Hmm~ Why are you like that? I’m just asking how it’s been living with our cute daughter."

"Who expresses it like that…?"

"As you get older, your sensitivity grows, and your expressions become more diverse. So, Seungwoo, how was it?"

"……It was delicious."

"Kyaaaa♥"

"Honey! Why are you answering so honestly?! If you let her be, she’ll go all the way, so don't get sucked into Mom’s pace!"

But I couldn't help it. If I had to describe my girlfriend in terms of "taste," there was no other answer. If I had to describe it, she was a dish I hadn't grown tired of in six months.

"Hey, why are you making such a racket at the dinner table!"

At that moment, Young-cheol, who had been shoveling rice into his mouth, mumbled a reprimand. After chewing and swallowing in his usual hurried manner, he shouted boisterously.

"Enough with the back and forth!"

*Ahem!* He cleared his throat. "So, when are you thinking of having the wedding?"

"……Dad."

"Why! We’re already eating together, aren't we? Besides, I know everything. I heard you two are still sticking together like mandarin ducks. You’ve been dating for a while now, isn't that enough?"

"……Honey?"

"No, no… I, I didn't tell him everything."

Since Young-cheol had demanded a status report on his daughter as if he were a manager at work, I couldn't help but share some of it. Still, I had avoided the specific details and just told him we were doing well.

"That’s enough. You’re both at an age now, so let’s not drag it out and finish it as quickly as possible, eh? Ah! Don't worry about the wedding costs. This Joo Young-cheol will cover all your wedding funds—"

"You’re getting ahead of yourself."

"Ah, ahh…"

Young-cheol was spitting as he spoke, but he was cut off by a single word from Yeoeun’s mother. His outburst stopped at her firm tone, but then she added,

"But Yeoeun, are you pregnant?"

"*Cough, cough, cough!*"

It wasn't me, but Yeoeun who covered her mouth and coughed after choking on her food. At her mother’s shocking surprise attack, she put down her spoon and hacked away, and I hurriedly patted her back. Yeoeun, who usually toyed with me, was showing that she was powerless in front of her family, especially her mother. Young-cheol even stood up, his eyes bloodshot at the word "baby," and shouted,

"Is she pregnant!?"

"She’s not! You fool!"

"Aww…."

"Mom! Why are you saying things like that instead of stopping Dad’s nonsense?!"

"Well, it’s not like the son-in-law begged for it, but you brought him here on a whim. I’m just checking in case."

Yeoeun’s mother nonchalantly picked at her side dishes as if to say it didn't matter if she was wrong. "Then why do you keep calling him son-in-law while pretending you aren't?"

"You’re over thirty now, and you’ve enjoyed your life enough, so that should be it. If you wait any longer, they’ll call it a geriatric pregnancy."

"R-really…!"

'…They’re a lively bunch.' That was the feeling I got. It was my first time at Yeoeun’s house, but I had a feeling it was always this noisy. I felt strongly that she had grown up in a place filled with love from birth.

"Ha… I’m going to the bathroom."

On the other hand, Yeoeun’s pout grew deeper today. She stomped away as if she regretted bringing me home on a whim. Whether she cared or not, Yeoeun’s mother shifted her target to me as soon as her daughter left.

"Hoho, is it noisier than you expected?"

"Ah… no, no! The atmosphere is very harmonious and nice."

"Heh~ Look at that careful answer. If you’re this naive, you’ll be caught by Yeoeun for the rest of your life. Hoho, right, dear?"

"……That’s true. It suddenly reminds me of my younger days."

Perhaps recalling a bittersweet memory, Young-cheol closed his eyes tightly.

"But ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seungwoo, did you know?"

"Yes?"

"That my daughter, who looks like she’d never listen to anyone, once came to me for dating advice because of you?"

"!"

He showed his white teeth in a grin. "She asked me what it felt like before I married her mother."

"……."

"She’s a girl who never even brought up marriage, but one day she called me out of the blue and asked that. That was already a month ago, right?"

"Oh, did that happen?"

"That’s right. *Chuckles.*"

She covered her mouth and laughed as if it were a fond memory. Then, she stopped eating and placed her hand lightly over mine on the table. "How is it? Isn't my daughter incredibly cute?"

"Y-yes?!"

"Isn't she cute?"

It was a very peculiar question, but she didn't seem to be asking it lightly. I thought for a moment and answered honestly.

"……She’s incredibly cute."

"Right~? It’s the first time Yeoeun has thought this deeply about a man."

Yeoeun’s mother beamed like a flower in full bloom at my agreement. Like Young-cheol, she seemed to have a bit of a "doting parent" streak, and after boasting about how cute her daughter was, she added,

"As you can see, she pretends to be tough, but she’s a very soft-hearted child inside."

She had been speaking casually, but suddenly she switched to a serious, formal tone. "So, please, take good care of her."

"……! I will keep that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in mind."

"Hohoho, you really are as sincere as they say."

I had answered vaguely, but after her request, a heavy sense of responsibility settled on my shoulders. It had started as a lighthearted, soft atmosphere, but I found myself becoming serious rather than just laughing and joking. I felt a sense of responsibility, as if I had truly become a member of this family.

"Phew… I’m back from washing my hands."

Just then, Yeoeun returned from the bathroom. She pulled up her chair and sat at the table without a word. At the same time, she picked up her chopsticks and pretended to eat. 'Ah… she must have heard from behind the door.' Her eyes were slightly red. Whether she was moved by her mother’s words, her eyes were moist enough that a tear might fall at any moment. It wasn't a tear born of sadness, but one that came from a warm heart.

*Squeeze!*

All I could do was hold her hand ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠under the table. It was something I did all the time, but just from that, Yeoeun looked back at me, swallowed her tears in an instant as if satisfied, and grinned.

"Great, this is great!"

Young-cheol interrupted. Whether he had any social awareness or not, he raised his voice, turning the atmosphere back into a high-tension one. "Right, now that a sturdy and heavy pillar has come into the family, we can't just sit here!"

"……Wait."

"Hey, please don't stop me today. Now~ today, this father will bring out a special gaoliang liquor—"

"Hey, Joo Young-cheol."

*Clack!*

The chilling sound of metal chopsticks being set down. And Yeoeun’s mother’s voice, which had turned even colder than before. "Just try letting me see you drinking in front of me."

"……."

Young-cheol froze in the middle of his motion to get the liquor. As Yeoeun’s mother changed her tone and expression as easily as flipping a palm, Young-cheol bowed his head as if admitting defeat.

"……I’m sorry. I got carried away."

After bowing and scraping with extreme formality, he put the bottle back with slumped shoulders. With a sad face, Young-cheol closed the cupboard where he kept his liquor. Only after confirming that did Yeoeun’s mother return to her original expression.

"Hoho, shall we eat again?"

"Y-yes, yes, yes!"

"It’s your own fault, Dad."

"……."

The meal continued without any sympathy for Young-cheol. '……Is this what married life is like?' I thought to myself, watching Young-cheol, who was completely under his wife’s thumb. I wondered if that would be my future self.

"How is it? Is the food Mom made delicious?"

"Y-yeah."

I truly hope this ominous intuition, which was creeping up on me, is just a misunderstanding.