A Warm Table and a Mother's Touch
Go Eunah reheated the cold miso soup and sat down at the table. As the five of us settled comfortably around the six-seater dining table, Jeong Hyeonwu, seated at the head, spoke up.
It was Jeong Hyeonwu's way of opening the conversation before the meal began.
"Yes, that's correct."
"You must be good at studying too. There's not much here, but please enjoy the food."
Jeong Hyeonwu patted my shoulder. I couldn't afford to be passive here. The whole reason I'd come was to leave a good impression and score some points with them. I turned my upper body toward Jeong Hyeonwu and gave a slight bow.
"Thank you for inviting me."
At that, smiles bloomed on the faces of Jeong Hyeonwu, Go Eunah, and even Jeong Subin. Only Sua kept tilting her head, as if my behavior felt awkward. The way the corners of her mouth twitched suggested she was itching to tell them what I was really like.
Once Jeong Hyeonwu picked up his spoon, Subin and Sua finally said their thanks and began eating. I followed suit, lifting my own spoon.
Rather than the rice, I focused on the side dishes, sampling a little of everything. Each time I took a bite, I widened my eyes in exaggerated surprise to show how delicious it was. Go Eunah smiled with satisfaction.
"Eat as much as you want. If you want more, just tell me. There's plenty left."
"Yes, ma'am. There are so many delicious things that I don't even know where to start. I feel like I want to pack up all the leftovers and take them home."
"Oh my, really? Should I pack some for you to take when you leave?"
"Whoa, really? If you give me your account number, I'll transfer the money right away. I'd pay anything to eat this again."
My joke must have pleased her, because Go Eunah covered her mouth and let out a light, cheerful laugh. Jeong Hyeonwu, who was eating, also had the corners of his mouth twitching—clearly pleased by my polite yet friendly attitude.
The cozy meal continued, and I kept a careful eye on the mood.
This seems like the right timing.
As I picked up another side dish with my chopsticks, I let a stream of tears roll down my cheeks.
"Why are you suddenly crying…"
"Ijin, you…"
"Oppa…?"
Everyone stared at me with startled expressions. I pretended to be surprised myself, quickly wiping my eyes as I spoke.
"Huh…? Why am I crying all of a sudden… I'm sorry. It's nothing…"
"Ijin, is something wrong?"
Right on cue, Go Eunah asked with a worried face. Got them! Anyone would think I had some kind of story behind this. There was no way they wouldn't ask.
After wiping away all the tears, I put on a gentle smile as if recalling fond memories.
"It's just… it feels like it's been so long since I've seen such a warm table like this."
"What do you mean? Can you tell me?"
"Ah, well… Ever since I was little, my parents were often away from home because of work. Because of that, I had to take care of my younger brother instead of them. I had to handle all the housework and cooking on my own from a young age, but since I'd never done it before, it wasn't easy. And with school keeping me busy, there were many weeks where we ate delivery food every single day."
I paused for a moment and glanced around. Every face was serious, completely absorbed in my words. Confirming that it was working, I gave another small smile and continued.
"I was just thinking about how long it's been since I've sat around a table like this, eating a meal someone prepared with care… and suddenly I remembered eating together with my family when I was little… Ah, I'm sorry. I got too carried away, didn't I?"
"Ijin. When did your parents start leaving the house so often?"
"It started increasing when I was in elementary school, and now they only come home about once a month, if that."
"Oh my… at such a young age… You've really done well for yourself."
I smiled brightly at Go Eunah's praise.
"Thank you. I think that's why I grew up so quickly."
As if. Back then I was still a total troublemaker. I'd poured on the MSG for this sympathy play. I'd said elementary school, but it was only after Kang Suho became an adult that our parents basically stopped coming home at all. It wasn't that I'd matured—I'd simply changed because I didn't want to keep causing trouble and end up in prison like the original future had planned. And honestly, it was great that those shitty parents rarely came home. There was a whole week when I ordered chicken and pizza for dinner every night. That was the first time I experienced what an orgasm felt like. This is what sex is.
Everyone was looking at me with pity in their eyes. Especially Go Eunah, who seemed the most emotionally sensitive, couldn't hold back. She grabbed my hand and said,
"Whenever you miss your family, come over anytime and eat with us. You're okay with that, right, honey?"
"Yes, if you're ever hungry, come over anytime. It's admirable that you took care of your brother in place of your parents at such a young age."
"Thank you."
I kept my response light and simply grateful instead of making a big fuss. If I dragged it out too much, it might look like I was fishing for sympathy. Since I'd already drawn out a satisfying amount of pity, this was enough.
As expected, when I recovered my spirits and started eating again, smiles appeared on both the husband's and wife's faces.
"Should I debone the fish for you so it's easier to eat?"
"Yes, please, ma'am."
"Eat plenty."
"Yes, sir."
Starting with Go Eunah personally deboning the fish and placing it on my rice, the awkward atmosphere at the table began to melt away. Jeong Hyeonwu immediately brought out alcohol from the fridge and handed me a beer glass.
"Ijin. Do you like to drink?"
I set down my spoon and accepted the glass with both hands, answering politely.
"I don't drink much these days because I've been working out, but yes, I like it."
"I like your honesty. Want to have a drink with me?"
The fact that he was offering me alcohol on our first meeting meant he must have taken a liking to me. If it had been Kang Suho, he'd probably be shrinking back awkwardly right now. But I wasn't like that.
I was about to hold out my glass for him to pour, but Go Eunah interrupted.
"Honey, Ijin drove here."
"Ah, that's right… I completely forgot."
I set the beer glass down on the table and put on a regretful expression as well.
"I'll just take the thought. Thank you for offering."
"Alright. Next time, don't drive and just come over. Let's have a drink together."
"Yes, sir."
"Then I'll have to drink it for him~."
That was what Jeong Subin said as she took the beer glass in front of me. Jeong Hyeonwu shot her a stern look, then sighed when he saw she was already pouring for herself.
I picked up the beer bottle and said to Jeong Hyeonwu,
"May I pour for you?"
"Oh, would you? Thank you."
The warm look in the man's eyes as he watched me told me I'd definitely earned some points. At this rate, I'd be able to visit Sua's house often.
Sir. Please don't be too heartbroken even if I make every woman in this house mine. It's only natural for a eliminated man to have his women taken by someone like me. Just stay locked away in your room, listening to Go Eunah, Jeong Subin, and Jeong Sua's moans while you jerk off like the loser you are.
"Let's all eat the fruit Ijin brought."
After the meal, we were sitting on the living room sofa chatting when Go Eunah came over with a tray and some fruit.
"Ma'am, could I borrow a knife from the kitchen?"
"Why?"
"There's a lot of fruit, so I'll help peel some too."
"Oh my. You know how to peel fruit?"
"Yes?"
Was knowing how to peel fruit really that surprising? As I looked puzzled, Go Eunah laughed lightly.
"In our house, no one but me knows how to peel fruit, so I always have to do it. I worry about what kind of man would want to take these daughters of mine who still can't even peel a single piece of fruit. I'm really concerned about whether they'll ever get married."
As she said that, Go Eunah glanced at me with eyes full of subtle expectation. Ma'am, you don't have to look at me like that. I'll take them both. Who cares if they can't peel fruit? If I take the set, I can enjoy a sister rice bowl that's way more delicious than fruit.
"Ijin, have some fruit."
After skillfully peeling the fruit, I accepted the fork Go Eunah had stabbed a piece with and offered to me.
"Thank you, ma'am."
"Mom. Aren't you taking care of Ijin oppa too much?"
Sua, who had been blankly holding an identical fork with fruit on it, put it in her own mouth and complained.
"Then why didn't you help? It feels nice having such a reliable young man in the house. How about it, Ijin? Want to be my son?"
"Yes. I'd love to live here with you and sir. I could eat delicious meals like this every day."
Go Eunah, Jeong Hyeonwu, and even Jeong Subin burst into light but sincere laughter. Only Sua continued eating her fruit with a clearly dissatisfied expression.
"Sigh, she's jealous."
I flinched and turned my head. The response had come from Jeong Subin, almost as if she were voicing my own thoughts.
"Fix your face. Everyone's smiling—why are you the only one pouting?"
"W-when did I ever pout… Don't make things up."
"Why are you stuttering? Are you flustered?"
"Hah, I'm not flustered at all. This is ridiculous… Oppa, let's go."
Sua, who had been arguing with Subin, suddenly stood up and tried to pull me to my feet. I'd been quietly eating fruit while seated. A mischievous smile spread across Subin's lips as she watched.
"Look at her, trying to drag him away and claim him all for herself. That sneaky little brat."
"Th-that's not it!"
As another argument threatened to break out between the sisters, Jeong Hyeonwu stepped in.
"Subin, stop teasing your sister. Sua, where are you going?"
"T-to my room… Oppa and I have some student council things to discuss privately… and actually, oppa promised to help me study today."
Did I? But Sua, wouldn't it be better if I stayed here a little longer? I still want to feel more of your mother's warmth. I'll be her son, so please give me some of the breast milk I haven't been able to drink until now. I'll suck on them until your nipples turn dark.
She grabbed my wrist and tried to force me up, so I had no choice but to stand.
"Mom, Dad. Is it okay if I go into my room with oppa?"
"Hmm."
Jeong Hyeonwu crossed his arms and scanned me with a serious expression. Thanks to Subin's lie, he believed Sua had a one-sided crush on me. I was pretending not to know about her feelings, and he surely understood that her words were essentially a request to be alone with me. The question was whether I was trustworthy enough to be allowed into his precious daughter's room.
"What are you doing? They said they have things to do together. Haha. Take the fruit plate and go to your room, dear."
"Dad, why are you even worrying about this? Don't you know how old-fashioned it is to meddle in your children's business? Sua's an adult now. Let her handle her own life."
I understood why Subin, who already knew we were dating, would say that—but I hadn't expected Go Eunah to allow us to be alone in a room so easily. Unlike her husband, she seemed very open-minded about romance. Subin must have inherited that personality from her mother. Or maybe I had simply won her over.
"Go ahead, then."
"Thanks, Dad."
Sua, who was leading me up to her room on the second floor, paused with her hand on the doorknob, lost in thought.
"Aren't you going in?"
"J-just wait here for a moment, please? J-just in case… I want to go in first and check…"
"You didn't clean your room?"
"N-no, it's not that…? My room is really clean, you know?"
Yeah, right. It was obvious from her face that she was flustered. I smiled at her cute little lie and gently tapped her head.
"Make sure you clean your room regularly."
"I said it's not like that…"