We're Home!!
The old county bus rattled and shook with a loud clunking noise as it sped down the country road. I stared blankly out the window at the familiar scenery of rice paddies and fields passing by, letting out a small sigh of relief.
Beyond the endless expanse of golden fields, a slightly fishy sea breeze slipped through the gaps in the window from between the low mountain ridges. It was the smell of home—annoying yet strangely missed after several months away.
“Haa… At least I managed to scrape by the bare minimum.”
The midterms I’d barely survived seemed to have just barely protected my scholarship. Feeling like I’d shed a heavy burden, I turned my head and saw Seola’s face, her head resting on my shoulder as she breathed softly in deep sleep.
The road home had been nothing short of a grueling marathon.
There was no direct bus from our studio apartment to our hometown, so we’d had to rub the sleep from our eyes and get up at the crack of dawn.
We went all the way to the big city terminal, transferred buses once, got off at the town terminal, and switched again to this clattering country bus. It was a brutal forced march that took a full eight hours.
The luggage was heavy too. I’d been convinced that one of our parents from either family would drive out to pick us up when we reached the terminal.
"Aigoo! It's been so long since our daughter and son-in-law(?) are coming, we have to prepare a feast that breaks the table legs! Both houses are so busy preparing food that we're all out of our minds, so you two take the bus and come carefully on your own!"
Seola’s mother had shouted brightly over the phone. At the word “son-in-law(?)”, Seola—who had been listening beside me—turned deathly pale in shock.
“Uh, Mom, I got— W-wait. S-son-in-law?! What son-in-law?! No, no!! It’s not like that! I’m hanging up, I’m really hanging up?!”
Seola’s face flushed all the way to her ears as she yelled, then slammed her finger down on the end call button.
And so the two of us sat side by side inside the bus heading into the village.
Clunk!
“Mmm…”
Every time the bus jolted hard over the bumps in the unpaved road, Seola’s body, leaning on my shoulder, would lurch heavily toward me.
Each time, her surprisingly full and soft breasts would press firmly into my forearm and side.
…This is driving me crazy.
The squishy, warm sensation coming through her clothes made sweat trickle down my back. Even so, I stayed frozen like a statue, not even daring to breathe loudly.
It wasn’t because I was a pervert. It was pure, gentlemanly consideration—I simply didn’t want to wake her up after she’d collapsed from exhaustion on this eight-hour journey. (It’s true.)
I don’t know how much time passed in that torturous state where extreme tension and strange thrill coexisted.
“Mmm…”
Seola rubbed her eyes with a groan and slowly lifted her head from my shoulder. Seeing the familiar entrance to the village outside the window, she mumbled in a sleepy voice.
“Huh…? We’re almost there.”
At the same time, that sweet pressure that had been blissfully crushing my forearm for dozens of minutes vanished without a trace.
“Y-yeah. We’re almost there…”
I subtly massaged my stiff shoulder and swallowed back tears of blood in my heart.
…I was disappointed. Honestly, insanely so.
I won’t pathetically say out loud what exactly I was so disappointed about. Anyway, I was extremely disappointed.
Whether she knew about that pitiful lingering attachment or not, the bus indifferently rattled down the last stretch of unpaved road and came to a stop at the terminal.
Pssshhh— Clunk, clatter.
The old bus that had spat us out belched a puff of exhaust and disappeared down the country road. We stood at the stop, stretching out our bodies that had been cramped and stiff for eight straight hours, and let out big yawns.
“Ughhh… My whole body aches.”
“I really thought I was going to die…”
As we exchanged languid words and turned our heads, our eyes were caught by the familiar school gate across the street from the bus stop. It was our alma mater, ‘XX Middle School,’ where we had graduated together.
Unlike back in our snot-nosed days when we first enrolled and ran around playing, the exterior had been freshly painted and the building expanded, making it look much more refined. Still, the cool autumn scent brushing our noses and the earthy smell of the playground seemed to perfectly preserve the old memories.
“…”
“…”
We couldn’t take another step. As if by agreement, we simply stopped and gazed at the empty school. A strange, fluffy silence settled over us as old memories of bickering in baggy gym clothes on our way to and from school flashed through our minds.
As we stared silently at the school gate like that.
Seola’s soft hand gently touched the back of mine. So naturally that I didn’t even think to pull away—our fingers intertwined.
The autumn wind was chilly, but the warmth of our carefully clasped hands was hot enough to burn.
Vrrr— Vrrr— Vrrr—!!
“…Ah!”
“Whoa…!”
The sudden vibration bursting from my pocket made us both jump, and we hastily pulled our joined hands apart.
Clearing my throat in embarrassment, I took out my phone. The screen was ominously glowing with two characters: Mom.
“H-hello?”
“Hey, son! Where are you guys right now??”
“Uh… We just got off the bus. We’re in front of XX Middle School.”
The moment my answer left my lips, Mom’s excited voice rang out thunderously through the receiver toward the rest of the house.
"Aigoo! The kids are here~ They say they're in front of the middle school!"
Right on cue, both fathers’ booming roars echoed like background music.
"All right!! Seola!! Our daughter, what are you doing not coming quick!!!"
"Hey, Minjun. Thanks for coming such a long way. See you at the house!"
Cutting through the commotion, Mom urgently gave her final instructions.
“So don’t wander off anywhere and come straight to our house! And make sure you bring Seola with you! Got it? Come home!”
Click—.
The stormy call ended abruptly. I rubbed my tingling ear and glanced at Seola, whose cheeks and ear tips were still flushed red.
“…Shall we go?”
At my awkward question, Seola fidgeted with her lips before giving a small nod.
“Yeah.”
With that short reply, we quickened our steps and threw open the front gate of our house, from which loud, cheerful laughter was spilling out.
“We’re home!!”
Technically, only a few months had passed since we left for college in the city, but the reaction from both sets of parents as they rushed out into the yard to greet us was like a reunion of separated families.
“Aigoo, our Seola! My baby, have you been eating properly while you were away?!”
Seola’s parents teared up as they pulled their daughter into a tight hug. Seola and I took turns exchanging warm embraces with all the parents. Our own parents patted my back with proud smiles.
“Goodness, both of you made it back safely. After living away from home, you’ve both grown up so much. You’re proper adults now!”
The moment we stepped inside carrying the warm emotions of our heartfelt reunion, our eyes landed on the dining table in the middle of the living room, so loaded with food that it looked like its legs might break.
Tender, perfectly steamed braised short ribs, spicy-sweet seasoned crab, and neatly pan-fried assortment of savory pancakes. Faced with this perfect holiday feast after so long, I couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Wow, this is what holidays are all about—
My satisfied gaze scanning the table suddenly froze right in the middle of that splendid traditional Korean spread.
…Huh?
There it was, proudly occupying an entire spot with its bold and completely out-of-place presence.
Two Large Pizzas
“Mom, I get the ribs and the seasoned crab, but… what’s with the pizza?”
When I asked in bewilderment, Mom—still wearing her apron—clapped her hands together proudly.
“Oh, that! Today’s Thursday, you know. The pizza place near the terminal has a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Thursdays! So while I was out shopping, I grabbed them quick. Actually, I saw you two getting off at the terminal, you know?”
“…What?!”
Seola and I yelped at the same time. She saw us at the terminal but still made her children—who had traveled eight hours—take the bus without even picking us up? How heartless!
“Aigoo, I was in a hurry to get the pizzas before they got cold~ Come on, come on, sit down quickly!”
While we stood speechless at Mom’s ridiculous excuse, Seola and I were practically shoved into seats at the table. Just as I swallowed my saliva at the smell of the ribs and picked up my spoon—
“Thanks for the—”
“Anyway!”
Dad, seated at the head of the table, cleared his throat loudly and swiftly cut me off.
“Hey, Minjun. You know your father here recently got promoted to a proper Town Chief, right?! Huh?! You think it’s easy for someone my age to reach this position?! Wahahaha!”
The moment Dad puffed out his neck veins and started bragging, Seola’s father—who had been patting his own waist—clicked his tongue.
“Aigoo, my back… Hey, wife! Our pretty Seola’s here today, so how about pouring me just one nice drink to celebrate!”
“Aish, be quiet and eat your food! What do you mean, drink?! Have you already forgotten what the doctor at the hospital said last time?!”
Seola’s mother’s sharp scolding rang out, but Seola’s father grumbled right back without backing down.
“Ah, I’m just saying one little drink! Last time you made me drink that weird Chinese liquor and it wrecked my stomach!”
At that, my dad jumped in, interrupting the conversation.
“No, that wasn’t Chinese liquor, it was Western liquor! Western! Come on, brother~ You don’t know that? It’s called ‘Valentine’! It’s so precious you can’t even get it with money!”
“Aigoo, what are you talking about. No matter how I look at it, you got scammed. The color looked all strange too!”
“S-scammed?! That’s the original color!”
“Ah, just eat your food, man! Why are you talking such nonsense…”
Seola’s mother clicked her tongue and gave her husband a firm smack on the back.
While the two fathers argued heatedly over whether it was Chinese liquor or Western liquor, our mom naturally tuned out the noise with one ear and pushed us forward.
“Come on, you two sit here and eat quickly. The food’s getting cold.”
It was complete chaos that made my mind go blank.
Seola and I sat side by side at the table in a daze. With ribs and pizza in front of us, we naturally craved something cold and fizzy.
“Um… Excuse me, the cola…”
The moment I carefully opened my mouth, Mom cut me off firmly.
“What cola! Just eat!”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
In the end, the two fathers used the pizza and ribs as snacks and inevitably cracked open the Western liquor, each taking generous gulps.
“Krrgh… Ah, this Balen… whatever it’s called, it actually tastes pretty good.”
“Wahaha, right, brother?! What did I tell you!”
While loud voices and laughter flew back and forth on one side, Seola and I were quietly tearing into the ribs when—
“Hey, do you kids want any more snacks? I brought some rice cakes from the shop in town.”
At Seola’s mother’s question, I answered promptly.
“Oh, yes! Thank you!”
“My, how polite. It’s nice to see.”
Seola’s mother looked at me with satisfaction before suddenly smacking Seola—who was nibbling on a pizza crust—on the back.
“Aish, you! Try to be as polite and friendly as Minjun here!”
“I-I got it…”
While Seola pouted, our mom, who was setting down the plate of rice cakes, suddenly dropped a bomb.
“By the way, how many days has it been since you two started dating?”
“We’re not!!”
“We’re not!!”
Seola and I jumped up and shouted at the same time.
Whoosh—.
In an instant, the warm and harmonious atmosphere in the living room froze as if ice water had been poured over it.
The hand of Seola’s father, who had been tilting his glass of liquor, stopped dead. He stared at me with a hardened face and spoke heavily.
“…Hey, Lee Minjun.”
“Y-yes, sir.”
“I hear you two are living under the same roof out there in the city? A grown man, huh?! You can’t be that irresponsible, you know?!”
Seola’s father’s voice began to boom like thunder.
“If you’re not even dating, how can you live in the same house?!! Huh?!! Move out right now! You little—!!”
“D-Dad!!”
Seola shouted in panic. I, the actual target of the scolding, just blinked in confusion.
…Huh? What??
All I did was say we weren’t dating. What did that have to do with anything? Why was this sudden thunderous scolding coming my way?!
Without even grasping the situation, I instinctively bowed my head low, driven by the survival instinct to stay alive.
As the mood turned dangerous, Seola’s mother quickly grabbed her husband’s arm and stepped in to mediate.
“Aigoo, that’s enough! These kids are still shy and embarrassed, so they can’t say it honestly!”
“…Is that so?”
When Seola’s father glared at me with sharp eyes, I nodded frantically like my life depended on it.
“Y-yes, yes…!”
Our mom, watching my pathetic display, gave me a look of utter disappointment and let out a deep sigh.
“Sigh…”
The living room was filled with tension that could explode at any moment. The second our cohabitation was about to be forcibly exposed and ended, Dad—who was sitting at the head of the table—cleared his throat loudly and suddenly shot up from his seat.
“Ahem!! Now, now!! More importantly!!”
Dad raised his glass of liquor high and shouted in a thoroughly excited voice.
Announcement of the 45th Town Chief Inauguration Ceremony
Since both families are gathered here, we will now hold the inauguration ceremony for the 45th Town Chief, Lee Seong-cheol!! Everyone, applause!!!
“Waaa—!!”
“Clap clap clap clap!!”
Relieved to have escaped the suffocating death sentence from moments ago, I clapped my hands so enthusiastically I thought my palms would break.
Seola, sitting beside me, also clutched her chest as if she had aged ten years and clapped vigorously.
Dad looked around the living room with satisfaction, cleared his throat again, and began his speech with the solemnity of someone standing on an official podium.
“Now then, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the distinguished guests who have joined us for this honorable occasion! First, to Lady Jang Hui-jeong, who has stood by my side for life!”
Dad stretched his hand out toward Mom.
“This person is currently serving with great excellence as the team leader of the Environmental Policy Division in our county office’s environmental department! As my eternal partner, she has supported me both inside and out… Anyway, she is an amazing and beautiful person! Everyone, applause!!!”
“Clap clap clap clap!!”
Mom looked embarrassed and muttered, “Aigoo, you’re being ridiculous,” but she couldn’t hide the smile spreading across her lips.
Next, Dad turned toward Seola’s parents across from him.
“And here, our constant companion, Brother Baek Yong-seok! This person is the reliable pillar of our village, the Village Chief, and isn’t he my lifelong comrade with whom I share a brotherly bond! Everyone, applause! And a big round of applause for Lady Kim Yun-ji, who always takes such good care of my brother!”
“Clap clap clap clap!!”
Seola’s parents, who had suddenly received VIP treatment, laughed heartily and joined in the clapping.
Finally, Dad’s highly excited gaze landed on me and Seola, who were huddled at the end of the table.
“Ah, and! Our future and treasures who shine the brightest here today! A round of applause for Lee Minjun and Baek Seola, who came down from Seoul!!”
“Clap clap clap clap!!”
Under the pouring applause, Seola and I awkwardly bowed our heads. It was the miraculous moment we had avoided the major crisis of our cohabitation being exposed and us getting kicked out, all thanks to Dad’s sudden inauguration ceremony(?).
Having successfully completed his speech, Dad smiled with deep satisfaction and thrust an empty glass right into the center of the table.
“Right! That’s enough for the inauguration speech! On this joyous day, I will receive a drink from each of our distinguished guests! Come on, Village Chief, pour first!”
At Dad’s bold shout, cheerful laughter bloomed once again in the living room. Starting with Seola’s father the Village Chief, then Mom and Seola’s mother, they took turns filling Dad’s empty glass to the brim.
Soon, when it was our turn at the end of the table, Dad held out the empty glass to Seola with a kind smile.
“Here, our pretty Seola should pour me one too. Seola, thank you always. It must be hard looking after our clumsy Minjun while you’re both away from home, huh?”
Seola politely lifted the bottle with both hands, filled Dad’s glass, and smiled brightly and courteously.
“Ahaha, not at all.”
Then she subtly turned her head toward me, shot me a sharp glare, and added a pointed remark.
“We’re getting along very well, though. Even if he does cause some headaches sometimes.”
“Yes, yes. It’s good for a grown man and woman to rely on each other when living away from home.”
Dad laughed heartily and patted Seola’s shoulder as if she had done well. And finally, he thrust the empty glass right in front of my nose.
“Now, our son should pour his father a drink too.”
“Ah, yes, of course.”
I hurriedly took the bottle and carefully filled the glass. Dad downed the liquor I poured in one gulp, then let out a deeply satisfied sigh.
“Krrgh~!! As expected, liquor poured by my son tastes especially sweet and delicious!”
Dad set the empty glass down with a clack and licked his lips in satisfaction.
But right after that.
The father who had been laughing boldly just moments ago slowly leaned his upper body toward me. Then, in a low, secretive voice that no one else could hear, he whispered in my ear.
“…Minjun. After we finish eating, come outside with Dad for a bit. Just the two of us.”
“…Uh, what??”
A chill ran down my spine. Right after the huge fuss about our cohabitation, getting called out for a private talk felt exactly like being a prisoner dragged to the execution ground.
As I froze with a face drained of color, Dad stood up again as if nothing had happened and shouted loudly toward the living room.
“Thank you everyone for the congratulations! With that, we will conclude the 45th Town Chief inauguration ceremony here. Everyone, enjoy the food before it gets cold!!”
