A New Sanctuary
After leaving Mokdong Stadium for the first time, the first place we headed to was a real estate office.
I had a place to live in Daejeon, but it wasn't my hometown, so I had no real ties there. My actual hometown was Seoul. My parents ran a business in Seoul, so they'd be thrilled above anyone else to hear I was becoming the manager at Gocheok. They lived in Nowon, but it was too far to commute from there, so we decided to build a new nest in the area. The stadium was only using Mokdong for a year before moving to Gocheok next season, which made choosing a spot tricky.
Considering the money I had on hand, we figured an apartment would work if I took out a jeonse loan.
"Jin-ho, let me chip in some money. Wanna live together?"
When I told Seon-ah I'd look for an apartment, she turned the tables and suggested we move in together.
I was stunned by her words and looked at her again.
"You sure that's okay?"
"I'm cool with it. I'll be cheering here in Gocheok anyway..."
I wondered if things were moving too fast between us. But it didn't feel bad. I couldn't imagine meeting anyone better than Seon-ah in this lifetime. She was kind, considerate, and beautiful to boot. Above all, she cared for me—whether I was on top of the world or down in the dumps.
Looking around Guro, it seemed we could find a place for a jeonse deposit between 200 and 300 million won.
"Seon-ah, I'll handle the house. You pick out the furniture then."
"Ooh! Dowry stuff?"
She laughed and teased me, but her joke hit close to home—marriage roles felt just like that, so I couldn't laugh it off entirely.
Since we'd been friends since school days, our parents knew each other well. I worried if they'd welcome us shacking up. But I wasn't the aimless guy from before anymore; I figured I could stand a bit taller now.
Seon-ah had saved up some cash too, juggling cheerleading and modeling gigs.
After checking with the realtor and viewing listings, a nice apartment by the Anyangcheon caught our eye. Built about five years ago, it was clean and modern. The two-year jeonse term matched my contract perfectly. Plus, the owner needed to vacate fast, so we scored it below market price. We both needed a place ASAP—a win-win.
We wrapped up the contract quickly and headed to browse furniture stores. Picking out pieces for our shared home felt thrilling, like we were newlyweds.
"We gotta get a top-notch bed!"
Seon-ah bounced on one, testing it with her hips.
"Whoa, the bride knows her stuff! Gotta have a good bed for the honeymoon."
The shop owner lady tossed in a cheeky adult joke, and we all cracked up. We didn't bother correcting her that we weren't married—not far off, anyway.
Having flown back, signed at Mokdong, hit the realtor, and now furniture shopping, my body was beat, but my heart soared.
We arranged delivery for move-in day and wandered the stores, buzzing with excitement. Before we knew it, evening rolled around.
"Time for dinner? What're you craving?"
"I wanna have Mom's homemade gomtang. It's been forever."
My parents ran a Naju gomtang restaurant in Nowon. Originally from Naju, they'd come to Seoul to start the business. Mom's cooking was legit enough to keep it going from my childhood till now.
Seon-ah used to come over a lot as a kid and devour their gomtang.
"Sounds good. Mom'll love seeing you after so long."
"Right? Hehe. Gotta tell 'em we're moving in together too."
Her words wiped the smile off my face.
"We won't get in trouble, right?"
We were only 25—still young.
"I don't think I'll get yelled at. Hehe."
She flashed that cute eye smile. Fair enough—no one could stay mad at a face like hers. The problem was me.
My parents doted on Seon-ah more than their own son; I could already feel the back-smack coming.
We took a late taxi to Nowon.
"Maybe it's time to get a car?"
"Look at you, Mr. Big Shot now?"
"Gotta drive you to work."
"Heehee. Sold."
She'd been pouting at the car idea until then, but snuggled right up, all lovey-dovey. We were barely a week into officially dating—still in that fresh, giddy phase.
Stepping out of the cab, we saw my parents' restaurant. Not huge, but packed and thriving.
"Welcome... Jin-ho!!"
Mom was greeting customers naturally until she spotted me, her face lighting up as she rushed over.
"No heads-up? Oh!! Seon-ah!!!"
She went to hug me but ditched mid-stride for Seon-ah, embracing her tight.
"Mom! Keeping healthy?"
"Aigoo... how do you get prettier every time, Seon-ah? You went all the way to Daejeon to look after my Jin-ho. You've been through so much."
Seon-ah burst out laughing at Mom's words.
"Wait, Mom, what? Seon-ah came to Daejeon?"
"You didn't know? She could've stayed in Seoul as a cheerleader, but you got picked for Daejeon, so she switched teams."
I had no clue. I thought it was pure coincidence she ended up on the same team. Those brutal days as a bullpen catcher in Daejeon—she'd been my rock through it all, helping me push on. Turns out it was her choice to follow me.
Looking back, I'd been dense. For someone like her to leave Seoul—her home turf—for Daejeon? And I chalked it up to luck.
I gazed at her, moved. She quietly took my hand. She was always the steady one by my side. I realized it anew.
"Huh? What's... going on??"
Mom eyed our clasped hands suspiciously, her face dawning with realization.
"Yup, Mom. We're dating now."
"Eeee!! For real? Thank you, Seon-ah!"
Mom crushed her in a hug, over the moon.
"What's that? You two are together?"
Dad boomed from the kitchen amid the chatter. Even in his years, he was fit and spry—a sight for sore eyes. Tall, sturdy build, handsome as an actor despite middle age. A silver fox. No wonder I turned out decent-looking. Superior genes.
"Dad! You're looking even better with age—time's skipping right over you!"
Seon-ah cozied up to him with aegyo, melting his stern face.
"Hahaha. What're you... hahaha..."
Stoic Dad couldn't resist her either.
"You kids haven't eaten, right?"
"Nope, starving. Craving your gomtang, Mom."
Mom seated us and brought out the food. Then, when I mentioned becoming Gocheok Heroes manager, Dad blew up.
"What? Why that team? Go to Gwangju Tigers!"
"C'mon, Dad... Gotta hustle wherever they call me."
Dad was a die-hard Tigers fan—probably the Naju roots.
He'd stuck with them even when I was with Daejeon Eagles. Maybe 'cause I never made the first team.
"Anyway. Where you staying now? Coming home?"
"Nah, got a jeonse place in Guro."
"What? Living alone there? Too sketchy."
"We're moving in together."
We decided to come clean after Mom's question.
Smack!!
"Ow!!"
Mom's backhand flew out of nowhere.
"You! Trying to ruin Seon-ah's life? Cohabiting?!"
She laid into me. It stung extra knowing it was for Seon-ah's sake.
"Mom, I'm happy with Jin-ho. No regrets."
Seon-ah faced her calmly.
"If you're good with it, I'm all for... Sigh! You're my son, but how dare you aim beneath her?"
"No way. Jin-ho's super popular. Talented too."
"True, manager ain't for just anyone."
Dad backed me up, sorta.
"Heroes manager's something, but still."
Caveats as always. As our parents, they weren't thrilled but leaned positive. Wonder how Seon-ah's folks would take it.