Chapter 107: The Meal (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 107: The Meal (1)
A short while ago—
Upon arriving at our meeting spot, I stared blankly up at the building. I knew this place. It was a famous local landmark, renowned for its food.
"Is this the place?" I asked Lee Sol, who was standing beside me.
"Yeah," she replied, her small face nodding. She didn't show even a hint of hesitation.
"…Isn't this place expensive?"
I knew it wasn't quite a luxury hotel, but it was a high-end barbecue restaurant with prices to match.
"Probably?" Lee Sol’s reaction was indifferent. She didn't seem particularly interested in what we were eating today.
Do people usually treat their daughter’s friends to a meal like this?
Her mother hadn't arrived yet; apparently, she was coming straight from work.
"……."
I stood there with my arms crossed, tapping my fingers in nervous anticipation.
Tap, tap.
I felt a light touch on my arm. Lee Sol was looking up at me.
"Are you nervous?"
"…Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"
It wasn't like we were just passing each other in the hall; we were having a full meal together. It would be weirder if I wasn't nervous.
"Hehe." Lee Sol let out a small giggle.
"……What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing, just because." She shook her head.
— "So even Seung-ho gets nervous…."
Her Mini-Me looked at me as if it were seeing something entirely new.
"…Hah."
What exactly had she thought of me until now? I’m human; I get nervous like anyone else.
More importantly, Lee Sol’s reaction was the real surprise. I expected her to be the one shaking, but she was perfectly fine. In fact, she looked completely unfazed, wearing her usual listless expression.
"…Are you okay?"
As soon as I asked, Lee Sol shrugged. "I took some Cheongsimhwan."
— "The effect is amazing."
The Mini-Me gave a thumbs-up.
"……Ah."
No wonder she was so calm.
Tap, tap.
Lee Sol tapped my arm again. "…Mom’s here."
She pointed toward the parking lot where a black sedan was pulling in. The car parked smoothly, and then a woman who looked exactly like Lee Sol stepped out.
Click, clack.
She walked toward us with a leisurely, confident stride.
"Hello," I said, bowing deeply.
"…Right. It’s been a while," she accepted the greeting bluntly.
"……."
Her gaze swept over me for a split second. Though she looked away quickly, I could clearly feel the weight of her stare.
— "……He’s grown since I last saw him. A growth spurt? Well, he is at that age."
Ma'am’s Mini-Me muttered to itself.
Come to think of it, it really had been a long time. The last time we met was during the first semester midterms, nearly five months ago.
"Let’s go inside."
Ma'am started walking first. I followed behind her with Lee Sol.
"…Reservation for Kim Bo-young."
"Ms. Kim Bo-young… Yes, right this way. I’ll show you to your seat."
Following the employee’s lead, we walked down the hallway toward the back.
"Room 7."
"Thank you."
I sat across from Ma'am. Lee Sol followed me and plopped down right next to me.
— "……."
While hanging her coat on the rack, the corners of the mother's Mini-Me’s eyes drooped.
— "No… well, I suppose that’s possible."
She said that, but she was clearly feeling slighted by Lee Sol’s choice of seating. Regardless of that, Sol's Mini-Me was in its own world.
— "……Hmm. What should we eat? Seung-ho likes everything, though."
Sol's Mini-Me swung its feet back and forth like a swing, scanning the menu nonchalantly.
"……."
Ma'am sat down and opened the menu. "……Is there anything in particular you want to eat?"
Her gaze was a bit colder than before.
"I’m not picky; I'll eat anything," I replied calmly, showing no sign of being intimidated.
"You can speak freely. Saying 'anything' only makes it harder to choose."
I really was fine with whatever she picked, but since she put it that way, it felt like I had to choose something.
"……."
I looked down at the menu again. I couldn't pick something blatantly expensive, but I didn't want to pick something I wouldn't enjoy either.
— "I should order something he likes… maybe Marinated Pork Ribs? Sol likes those too."
That was it. I picked up on the Mini-Me’s monologue.
"I’ll have the Marinated Pork Ribs."
"…Do you like those?"
"Yes."
It wasn't a lie. I liked any kind of meat.
"And you, Sol?"
"Me too."
"Alright."
After the brief exchange, Ma'am pressed the call bell on the table.
Ding—
The clear sound rang out. Not long after, an employee entered the room with a polite knock.
"Yes, are you ready to order?"
"Could we have 600 grams of the marinated ribs?"
"Yes, 600 grams of marinated ribs. Will there be anything else?"
"Anything else……." She looked down at the menu. "Two bottles of Cola as well, please."
"600 grams of marinated ribs and two Colas. I’ll have that ready for you shortly."
"Oh, and we’ll grill the meat ourselves."
"Understood. Please call if you need anything."
The employee returned with the food in less than two minutes. It was incredibly fast. The meat was placed on the table along with an array of side dishes.
"I’ll—"
"No, just stay still."
When I tried to reach for the tongs, Ma'am firmly secured both the tongs and the scissors.
— "……I can't be the kind of person who invites her daughter’s friend out and then makes him grill the meat."
True. Hearing that, it did make sense. I quietly lowered my hands and accepted her consideration. Ma'am picked up the meat and placed it on the grill.
Sssssss——
The sound of the sear stimulated my ears.
Sizzle, sizzle—
The meat cooked on the grill. Ma'am began cutting the meat, a light sweat breaking out on her brow from the effort.
‘……Hmm.’
The meat she grilled was… how should I put it? It was beyond crispy; it was turning black in places.
"……."
Ma'am stared down at the meat she had grilled for a long moment.
"……Do you like it well-done?" she asked, almost as if making an excuse. Even as she spoke, she couldn't meet my eyes.
I could see exactly where Lee Sol’s clumsiness came from.
— "…It’s all burnt."
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me gave a cold evaluation.
Don't be so harsh. She worked hard on it.
— "I should have flipped it sooner…."
The mother's Mini-Me clenched its fists, calling it a blunder. Her face was flushed; she was clearly embarrassed.
— "Maybe I should have just let the employee grill it…. But it’s so uncomfortable to talk with a stranger standing right there…."
That was also true. When a stranger is grilling meat next to you, the conversation tends to die.
"…Eat up."
Ma'am moved the grilled meat onto my and Lee Sol’s plates.
— "The ones that are at least less burnt…."
She had carefully selected the best pieces among them. Despite the char, the flavor was still there.
— "…The taste of charcoal."
Lee Sol’s Mini-Me chewed with a subtle expression.
— "…Let’s really do it right this time."
Ma'am’s Mini-Me burned with determination. For some reason, I felt uneasy.
"…Would it be okay if I grilled?" I couldn't watch any longer and reached for the tongs. "I’d feel more comfortable doing something since you're treating me."
"……."
Ma'am’s eyes shifted. She weighed whether it was better to hand them over or keep going until the end.
"…If you insist."
Though reluctant, she decided to give me a chance.
Ssssssssss——
To make the most of the opportunity, I picked up a piece of meat and carefully placed it on the grill.
……A short while later.
"……."
"……."
Munch, munch—
The mother and daughter’s cheeks were moving busily in silence.
"…Seung-ho, you're weally good at gwillin'," Lee Sol said with a silly, full-mouthed grin.
"…Sol. Speak after you finish eating," Ma'am rebuked her with a refined posture, covering her own mouth.
"…'Kay." Lee Sol’s eyes drooped.
"……."
In this regard, she was different from Lee Sol. Was she always like this, or was it a habit she developed later in life?
As I wondered about that, she spoke.
"…You grill well. Do you do this often?"
"My parents are both busy working, so I often have to take care of my younger sibling’s meals. It just became natural over time."
"Hmm… I see." She nodded.
— "…Is that why he takes such good care of Sol, too?"
It felt a bit different from that, but in the grand scheme of things, that influence certainly played a part. And so, the short meal came to an end.
"…I ate well, thanks to you," Ma'am said, wiping her mouth and looking a bit sheepish.
"No, not at all," I waved my hand. She was the one paying, so I was the one who should be saying that.
"Sol. Could you go buy some dessert?" Ma'am suddenly requested.
"…Dessert?"
"Yes. It seems you have to go buy the dessert yourself. Would you mind, dear?"
It was a clear signal for her to leave the table. Lee Sol stood up hesitantly. Even as she moved away, she looked back several times, looking incredibly worried.
And so, I was left alone with her mother.
"……First of all, thank you," she said, nodding at a controlled angle. "I imagine teaching Sol couldn't have been easy."
I shook my head. "It wasn't really like that. She followed along very well."
"I’m saying this because she’s my daughter. Sol isn't exactly the bright type. She has no knack for things."
No knack. Her evaluation of her daughter was certainly cold.
"…That’s why she was easier to teach."
However, I thought Lee Sol’s lack of "knack" was her strength. Because she didn't try to take shortcuts, she didn't get distracted by other directions.
"She’s actually very dogged about it."
"……."
Ma'am was silent for a moment. "Being dogged doesn't necessarily mean being good at it," she countered nonchalantly.
"……."
"Her current grades are something Sol achieved, but… it’s entirely thanks to your help, Seung-ho."
That wasn't entirely wrong.
"Honestly, I’d prefer if Sol found something else to do besides studying."
That thought seemed unchanged.
— "The classes will be split next year. There’s no guarantee you’ll get along as well as you did this year."
The Mini-Me’s tone was cold and pragmatic, grounded in reality.
"If she doesn't like modeling, it doesn't have to be that. These days, many people make a living as influencers."
Whatever it was, she clearly wished for Lee Sol to do something that utilized her natural strengths.
"Of course, a promise is a promise, so I don't intend to force it, but……."
Ma'am showed me her phone screen. "I heard you took this photo, Seung-ho. Is that right?"
It was a photo of Lee Sol with Japan in the background. Looking at the composition, it was a photo taken during the school trip.
"Yes, that’s right," I nodded honestly.
"……."
Her gaze turned toward me.
— "He’s quick-witted, capable…… and he takes good care of Sol……."
Along with the Mini-Me’s low voice.
— "……But he’s too kind."
She muttered. The words were clearly a compliment, but the tone they were delivered in didn't feel that way at all.
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Munching Sol