The Village Festival's Secret Rules
The second rule: Whatever happened there, it stayed there. No matter who you were with or what you did, it only counted inside those walls. In plain terms, just because you slept with a married woman at the festival didn't mean you could try anything with her in everyday life. Ridiculous as it sounded, that would apparently count as an affair.
This was the true source of the unease Suho had felt in the village after the festival. Even after witnessing and experiencing all that, everyone acted exactly as they had before. The daily lives of Gwichuok-ri residents were strictly divided between the festival and everything that came after it. They never brought up what happened there, never tried to drag those relationships into normal routine.
'Makes sense. Most of the villagers are married couples, so it's basically an established rule.'
Without rules like that, things would have fallen apart long ago. People would start secret second households, or divorce over the slightest incompatibility to remarry someone who fit better. Suho could easily picture the village descending into total chaos. Therefore, the discomfort he'd sensed was the "line" the residents of Gwichuok-ri drew to protect their normal lives. A safety mechanism that must never be crossed.
And the final, third rule: It was forbidden to exploit weaknesses or blackmail fellow villagers.
Put another way, the festival could only exist on a foundation of mutual trust. That was why neighbors could engage in orgies without hesitation, showing each other every filthy sight imaginable. Because they all believed that no matter what was said or seen, it would never become a "flaw" between them…
As a result, the festival had allowed Gwichuok-ri to survive for generations, naturally forging an unusually deep bond among the residents. And that same bond made the village inevitably insular. Just like the clan-based villages of the distant past.
Usually, a newcomer attending the festival for the first time would have their first partner—an adult from the village—explain how everything worked, guide them through the experience, and teach them these precautions and rules along the way.
'Ah… so that's why I didn't hear any of it.'
Suho's first day had involved more than one partner, and the atmosphere afterward hadn't exactly been calm and conversational. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, he'd fled in a hurry.
"Suho, have ya picked who yer gonna do it with at the next festival?"
Deokgu's question pulled Suho out of his thoughts.
"…Not sure. I'll probably figure it out when I get there. What about you?"
"Me? I'm thinkin' of goin' with the same person I did last time. My ma told me if I really wanted to go to the festival, I should wait about two hours after she left. So I went late, and on the way I ran into someone I knew and we went together. Turns out… she was my first love."
"What? You had a first love, Deokgu? You bastard, you never told me?"
Suho wrapped an arm around Deokgu's neck. Deokgu wore an uncharacteristically shy expression.
"Aw, why would I go around sayin' somethin' like that? It's embarrassin'… But I'm glad I listened to my ma and went late. Thanks to that, I met her and finally lost my virginity…"
"Oh… so your first partner was your first love? That's awesome, Deokgu."
"Hell yeah! It was amazin'. No matter how many times I think about it, I just can't get tired of it. No matter what… now I don't even notice other women anymore."
The guy was completely smitten. Suho was dying to know who it was. He felt a strange sense of pride seeing his friend this happy. Sure, doing it with anyone would have been fine, but a first time wasn't meaningful only for women. For men too, it was a deeply significant, milestone event—even if the weight differed.
But to coincidentally meet your first love on the very day of your first festival and end up sleeping with her? The only woman in her twenties left in the village was Hyejeong noona, so… it must have been a married woman. To share such an impossible first love like that—it must have been an incredibly special experience.
Though Suho himself had never had a first love, he could understand. In terms of sheer specialness, he wasn't any less extraordinary than Deokgu.
'Having your first time be with a mother and daughter pair… what could possibly top that?'
As the conversation continued, Suho sipped his beer and silently vowed never to visit Deokgu's house again. Now he understood. The strange behavior from Deokgu's mother that had confused him wasn't because she saw him as a son. She'd been treating him as a man. It had been both an invitation and seduction. Looking back, he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed—her advances had been so bold. Or maybe he'd missed it precisely because they were too bold…
A few days ago, when Deokgu had left them alone to go to the bathroom, the atmosphere between him and Deokgu's mother had felt different. He now realized that if he'd tried to kiss her, she probably would have kissed him back. No. He was certain of it.
'Still… I can't do that with my friend's mom.'
Even if he'd become a one-eyed pervert, there were lines he refused to cross. Getting hard was beyond his control, but actually having that kind of relationship with a friend's mother would be a betrayal.
The two talked until the soft darkness settled beyond the sinking sunset, then finally parted ways.
On his way home, Suho trudged along the dirt path that felt even more uneven in the dark. His face showed the complicated emotions he'd hidden from Deokgu.
"Huu…"
The empty cans in the plastic bag were light, but his steps were heavy. Deokgu, who had grown up with only his mother, and himself. There was something he'd wanted to ask his friend who shared the same circumstances, but in the end he couldn't bring himself to say it.
'Are you… okay with it?'
The Deokgu he'd met today was different from him. Deokgu was clearly excited, full of anticipation. He was already looking forward to next month. There was no anxiety like Suho's in him.
'Was I just being too childish?'
Maybe Deokgu was more mature than him.
"Haa… should I be happy about this or not?"
A sigh escaped him. Of course, Suho was also looking forward to the next festival. Who would he meet that day? Who would he end up sleeping with? Just imagining it filled him with excitement. Any man would feel the same.
Yet he couldn't purely rejoice. Because he'd glimpsed a certain possibility.
The possibility that his own mother was also a resident of Gwichuok-ri… She'd been attending the festival faithfully ever since he was little. So maybe…
"Damn it."
Feeling troubled, Suho shook his head as if to clear away the thoughts and continued down the dirt path.
The next day, Suho woke up and checked the clock. PM: 2:13.
"Yawn… I really slept in."
It had been a while since he'd slept this late. Normally he woke up in the morning and had breakfast with his mother to start the day, but today she'd left early for a contract meeting about selling the fruit from their orchard. Since she had multiple buyers to meet, she wouldn't be back until late afternoon. On days like this, Suho usually stayed up late gaming the night before and slept in.
"I'm starving."
After stretching, Suho headed to the living room table where he found a note and two ten-thousand-won bills. He picked up the note.
Suho, when you wake up, buy yourself something delicious and have fun. Mom will be back soon♡
— Mom
A warm smile spread across his face. It had taken a lot of whining to reach this point. His mother had always insisted on preparing breakfast herself. Even on days she had to leave early for work, she'd make breakfast, wake him up, and wouldn't leave until she saw him sitting at the table.
But Suho wasn't particularly attached to eating breakfast, and he felt bad making his busy mother prepare meals for him. In the end, they'd agreed that on days like this he'd eat at the village restaurant. It was a win-win—he could game late and sleep in.
Suho pocketed the neatly placed twenty thousand won, brushed his teeth roughly, and left the house.
The sunlight… was brutal.
"Ugh. My head's spinning."
He probably should have worn a hat. Walking without thinking, he soon reached his destination.
Pyeonghwa Gukbap
For someone who usually ate at home, this place—visited maybe once or twice a month—had become his regular spot. It was close, the food was good, and the owner was kind. Whenever he skipped a meal, he usually came here. In a countryside village where hospitality was everything, it was hard to find an unfriendly restaurant. But ever since he'd started coming, the owner lady had always given him extra service, so he felt a bit guilty about going anywhere else.
Ding-a-ling.
"Hello."
"Suho! It's been a while~ Sit wherever you like."
The owner auntie, who had just finished washing dishes and was drying her hands with a towel, greeted him warmly. Since it was an awkward time after lunch and the village wasn't heavily populated, all the tables were empty. With only six tables of modest size, the restaurant was run by the auntie alone.
Suho sat in his usual corner seat out of habit. Even though the place was empty, he'd always preferred the corner.
The auntie set down a water pitcher and asked, "What'll you have?"
"Auntie, I'll have the tripe gukbap, please."
"Sure, sure. Seonae must not be home today?"
"That's right. She left early for work."
"Got it~ Wait just a bit and I'll make it extra delicious for you."
Whether it was because a customer had finally arrived at the empty restaurant or because she was happy to see Suho after so long, the owner auntie headed to the kitchen with lively steps.
Suho poured himself some water and took a sip. Jeong Hyeonsuk, the owner of Pyeonghwa Gukbap and in her early fifties, was one of his mother's close friends. The first time they'd eaten here together, just as their meal was ending, the owner had brought out fruit as service. Since they were the only customers, or maybe because she was bored, she'd sat down with them. With her naturally warm and friendly personality, she'd quickly grown close to his mother.
Perhaps because it had been a while since she'd had a relaxed conversation with another woman, his mother had seemed excited. After that, she'd occasionally suggest, "Should we go eat gukbap today?" and bring Suho along. It hadn't taken long for the two women to start calling each other sister. Even now, whenever his mother had time, she would stop by to chat with the owner before heading home.
Therefore, calling her "auntie" wasn't because they were actually related. It was similar to how people usually called older women at shops "auntie," but for Suho it was also a sign of respect toward his mother's friend.
Slurp.
"Ah. Perfectly spicy."
As expected, this place had the best gukbap. Suho took a spoonful of the soup the auntie had brought, sprinkled perilla powder over it, mixed everything, then fished out some tripe, dipped it in salt, and ate it. When he'd eaten about half the tripe and was pouring rice into the broth—
Click.
At the sound, he turned his head and saw Hyeonsuk locking the restaurant door.