Eighteen, Spring Again (4)
As we descended to the underground parking lot, the cool, damp air and the echoing engine noises from all around hit us first. Stepping out through the door, I spotted ajusshi leaning against the SUV parked in front of our building.
"Han Yeonho-ssi, sorry I'm late!"
"No, no. I just got here my—"
Ajusshi's words cut off as his gaze landed on me standing beside unnie. His eyes flickered with surprise for a split second, like he hadn't expected this. Unnie didn't miss that brief moment, smoothly wrapping an arm around my shoulders with a smile.
"I didn't want to leave Seojin home alone, so I brought her along for some fresh air. That's okay, right?"
Ajusshi quickly composed himself. "Ah, yeah. Of, of course... that's fine."
The moment I saw ajusshi, a wave of relief washed over me first. The heavy weight pressing on my chest moments ago seemed to lighten just from looking at his face. But if it were any other day, I'd have greeted him more casually, with a grin—today, I couldn't. Not with unnie right there beside me.
"...Hello."
I offered a cautious greeting, and ajusshi looked at me, opening his mouth. "Hi, Seojin— Ah, hello..."
His familiar casual tone nearly slipped out before he caught himself and switched to polite speech. That subtle awkwardness tickled my chest for no reason.
Then unnie glanced at the car and said casually, "Oh, Seojin, you take the front seat. I prefer lying down in the back~"
Without waiting for our response, she opened the back door and climbed in. Ajusshi and I turned toward her at almost the same time. It was ridiculous—she'd insisted on bringing me along, only to hop in the back herself. Ridiculous, but so typically unnie that no retort came to mind right away. Ajusshi just paused for a beat, saying nothing.
I walked silently to the passenger side. As always, he opened the door for me first.
"Here... hop in."
I dipped my head slightly and got in. But as I reached for the seatbelt, I noticed it was twisted and caught. Ajusshi stretched out his hand right away.
"Hold on a sec."
He gently straightened the tangle and pulled the belt smoothly across my shoulder. His body heat brushed close, making my shoulders stiffen involuntarily. Click. The belt locked in.
"There."
"Ah... thanks."
My voice came out smaller than intended. It had happened a few times before, but today—with unnie in the back—it felt strangely more noticeable.
"Thank you," I mumbled softly, and instead of replying, ajusshi just gave a quick nod.
For some reason, the back seat nagged at me, so I glanced at the rearview mirror without thinking. And froze.
Unnie, lounging in the back, was staring straight at us with narrowed eyes. A faint, ambiguous smile played at her lips—unclear if it was a smile at all. I had no idea what she was thinking.
"Since Seojin's here too, let's go somewhere with easy-to-digest food today."
Ajusshi glanced at me at unnie's bright voice from her reclined position.
Our eyes met, and I startled a little. For a moment, it felt like he might say something casual, and I couldn't relax my guard.
Ajusshi paused thoughtfully, lips pursed, then spoke. "How about Hanwoo hotpot? The broth is warm, not too spicy—should be good."
"Ooh, sounds great. What do you think, Seojin?"
Unnie asked, and I hesitated, mouth closing. Why was she going out of her way to consider me? But right now, I didn't even have the energy to think about what I wanted to eat. In the end, I answered weakly.
"...I'm fine with anything. Whatever."
"Alright, let's head out then."
Ajusshi inputted the destination into the navigation and pulled the car forward. We exited the parking lot and merged onto the road still tinged with evening light. Faint glows lingered outside the window, but inside the car, an oddly awkward air hung heavy.
On a normal day, I'd have peppered ajusshi with questions, starting the chatter myself—but today, I had no strength for it.
"Oh, right. Something totally ridiculous happened at school today."
Unnie broke the silence first, as if to dispel the tension, and ajusshi naturally followed up. "What happened?"
After that, unnie pretty much led the conversation. School stories, professor anecdotes, weird people she'd seen on the street. Trivial tales flowed nonstop. Ajusshi chuckled at the right moments or asked short follow-ups, and even I managed to chime in once or twice. The car didn't fall completely silent, but it didn't ease my mind either.
I just wanted to stay quiet.
We drove for a while and arrived at a serene hanok restaurant in the heart of the city, quiet enough to seem unbelievable. Stepping out, a neatly trimmed garden came into view beyond the low stone wall. Soft lights glowed under the eaves—no flashy decor, but the atmosphere screamed high-end. The surrounding noise seemed muffled just approaching the place.
Opening the door, warm indoor air and a faint woody scent enveloped us. Following the staff down the hallway, unnie let out a small gasp.
"Wow... this place is really nice."
I quietly took in the surroundings too. Polished wooden floors, subtle lighting, restrained decorations on one wall. Tranquil yet comfortably tense, impeccably tidy. "Easy on the eyes" fit perfectly.
They led us to a private room separated by sliding doors. A square table sat in the center; once the door shut, outside noise faded to nothing.
The staff gestured to our seats. Unnie and I sat side by side, ajusshi across from us.
"First time eating in a private room like this. Right, Seojin?"
Unnie asked with sparkling eyes, and I nodded a beat late. "Uh, yeah... seems like it."
I said that, but my stomach twisted oddly. It wasn't my first time. My gaze wavered toward the table's edge.
Ajusshi across from us fiddled with his water glass, briefly averting his eyes too.
When the staff came for orders, ajusshi smoothly ordered the hotpot set for three. As they finished noting it down, he leaned forward slightly, as if shielding with the menu, and added something quietly. I couldn't catch it exactly—his voice was low—but the staff nodded with a soft smile, getting it.
The door closed, and the room fell still. In the car, unnie's chatter had kept things less awkward, but now face-to-face, none of us knew what to say first. A thin silence settled over the table.
"Ah! I'll be right back—need the bathroom~"
Unable to bear the uncomfortable quiet, unnie suddenly stood. As she left and the sliding door fully shut, the room's air shifted in an instant.
Ajusshi glanced at the door for a moment, then leaned slightly over the table and asked softly, "Seojin. Did something happen today?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Nothing. Why?"
I stammered in surprise, and ajusshi's gaze studied my face closely.
"You've looked down since before we got in the car. Seemed drained the whole ride."
Was it still showing on my face? I forced a smile, insisting I was fine. "Really, it's nothing. Just tired."
But his worried eyes pierced right to my chest, and the tension I'd been holding melted away strangely. Feeling awkward, I quickly changed the subject.
"Anyway... glad to see you're doing well, ajusshi."
"Me? Same as always."
He gave a small smile. A brief quiet followed, but not the uncomfortable kind from before.
Then ajusshi reached for the bag beside him. "Seojin."
"Yeah?"
He pulled out a rectangular box and carefully slid it toward me.
"What's this?"
"Valentine's return gift."
"Return gift?"
"Yeah. That single candy from last year always bugged me..."
He hesitated a bit but handed it over earnestly. I blinked, staring down at it. I'd given the chocolate just because I wanted to—never expected a reply like this.
I glanced at the box, then asked tentatively, "Can I open it?"
"Yeah. Of course."
With permission, I lifted the lid. Inside, three transparent cube boxes sat neatly arranged. The left one held orange gummy bears; the right, a soft mix of white and pink. And in the center, a sparkling pink diamond-shaped candy caught the eye.
Super luxurious, I guess? I'd never seen anything like it.
"Wow..."
It was all so new, I found myself peering inside for a long while. Watching me, ajusshi suddenly said, "There. Back to normal."
I looked up at his voice. "Huh?"
"You look good when you smile. Been worried—you seemed so low-energy earlier."
His words made my chest flutter oddly. Just moments ago, I hadn't wanted to do anything, but now I didn't feel like hiding the smile tugging at my lips.
Really, what a weird guy.
"But ajusshi, do you just carry this around?"
"Ah."