Grandma's Marriage Advocacy
Seong Yubin, who had been handing out drinks to the customers, heard Shin Jaewoo's voice from behind her.
"No, Grandma…!"
She could clearly sense his embarrassment.
Grandma must've made some naughty joke.
Though she hadn't caught the earlier words, Seong Yubin could guess as much. She hadn't spent a ton of time with Park Sun-ok, but she'd heard plenty. The old lady had a way of putting people in awkward spots with her sharp tongue.
"That's exactly why you're not married yet, isn't it?"
And right now, Park Sun-ok was cornering Shin Jaewoo about marriage.
Marriage.
Seong Yubin gave a wry smile. Truth be told, Park Sun-ok grilled her about it too, from time to time.
—Yubin, got a boyfriend?
—You gotta snag one quick and get hitched!
Maybe it was an old-school thing. Park Sun-ok held marriage sacred.
She went on, "A person doesn't truly become an adult until they've married and had kids. And marriage means living together, fighting sometimes, kissing and making up—that's what life is all about."
Park Sun-ok, the ultimate marriage cheerleader. Having lived as a widow for decades, she placed huge value on married life. Perhaps she missed her late husband that much.
"Don't worry about how to raise the kids. I'll take care of 'em all. I'm still young, you know."
It wasn't entirely wrong. Sure, the place was called Park Halmae's Gukbap, but among folks her age, she was on the younger side(?). She'd had her two daughters early, and those daughters had married young and popped out one kid each—Shin Jaewoo and Kim Minseo.
"All you gotta do is hurry up and give this grandma some grandkids."
"…Grandma, aren't Kim Minseo and I your grandkids already?"
"Pfft, you're all grown up. Don't count."
"That's a bit harsh…"
Their warm back-and-forth. Seong Yubin envied it.
That's what a real family looks like.
She found herself staring blankly for a while. It was something she'd never had.
She was friendly and outgoing, but deep down, she'd never bantered like that with family. Her grandparents were gone, and her parents—well, no need to mention them. They'd abandoned her and run off. And they'd been in such bad shape they'd even borrowed from loan sharks.
That's why it stung all the more, but then—
"Yubin, what're you standin' there for? Come sit."
Park Sun-ok was the one who eased that ache.
"Yes, Grandma!"
Being around her felt like gaining a real grandmother. Seong Yubin hurried over and plopped down beside her. Park Sun-ok's wrinkled hand gently stroked her hair.
"Our Yubin's so pretty—someone's bound to snatch her up soon."
She even nagged a little.
"Grandma, I'm only twenty-five."
"Twenty-five's plenty grown! I had two kids by then! You need to have a baby soon too."
It could feel overwhelming at times, but Seong Yubin didn't mind. It was like being her real granddaughter.
"Grandma, do you really want to ship me off to some guy that fast?"
"A woman's meant to live with a man—that's how she stays pretty and happy."
Park Sun-ok's marriage pep talk showed no signs of stopping.
"Was married life that great for you, Grandma?"
"I was prettiest back when Grandpa was around."
It might've been true.
Probably just 'cause she was young then…
Shin Jaewoo, who'd asked her that once, smiled wryly. He thought to himself,
I'm sure Grandma's the reason I want to get married too.
He wanted marriage himself. Park Sun-ok's influence had to be huge, he figured.
His aunt Oh Miyoung was the opposite, after all.
—Marriage? No need to rush. Date around, make sure it's the right person. Marry young on a whim, and you'll just regret it.
That was Oh Miyoung's take, post-divorce.
"Gotta do it anyway, though."
He couldn't take it anymore.
Once business wrapped up, Shin Jaewoo loaded Park Sun-ok and Seong Yubin into the car.
"I'll give you a ride."
Even as he opened the door, Seong Yubin's eyes widened.
Nice car!
She didn't know cars well enough to ID the model, but it was obvious. No ordinary ride. The door opened differently, and that plush rear seat screamed at least eight figures.
Grandma's grandson… must be loaded.
The real shock was the driver's seat. Derek Coleman, the foreigner she'd glimpsed earlier, was behind the wheel.
"Grandma, hop in."
"…Did our boy buy this car?"
"Yep."
"Buy a house first, not a car. Fancy rides can wait. You need a home to build a family."
Nagging seemed to be a grown-up trait. No matter how impressive Shin Jaewoo was, to Park Sun-ok, he was still a kid.
"I bought a house too."
Two, actually.
Though one wasn't exactly my purchase.
As that thought crossed his mind, Shin Jaewoo pondered inviting her to the Seongbuk-dong mansion. It was huge, even with staff around.
Though it'd feel a bit empty.
He set the idea aside and gently nudged Park Sun-ok.
"So hop in already, Grandma. She won't get in till you do."
"Right, can't leave a girl alone. Gotta take Yubin too."
Park Sun-ok slipped into the luxury car like it was nothing.
"Ex, excuse me…"
"What excuse? We're not trackin' dirt inside."
Shin Jaewoo got them settled in the back, then took shotgun.
"Let's head out. Oh, Yubin, mind giving me your address?"
"Sure."
After directing Derek, Park Sun-ok finally noticed the driver.
"Oh my goodness. Who's that?"
"…Derek Coleman. Call me Derek."
"Mr. Coleman."
"So this car's not yours, Jaewoo—it's this young man's?"
In her world, driver equaled owner.
"…It's mine, Grandma."
"Oh dear, sorry for the rudeness."
Derek tried to correct her, but Shin Jaewoo waved it off. No point—she wouldn't hear it. Better change the subject.
"Yubin."
"Ah, yes. So…"
Seong Yubin gave her address. The car glided off smoothly. Top-notch ride—no vibrations inside. Once you tried it, regular cars felt like a joke. Shin Jaewoo couldn't imagine taxis anymore.
Even those fancy model taxis are off-limits now.
The ride was unreal. He glanced back.
"Snort…"
A soft snore. Park Sun-ok, who'd been chatty, had leaned into the seat and dozed off. Restaurant work took its toll on her age.
Naturally, Shin Jaewoo and Seong Yubin quieted down.
"This is me."
They couldn't stay totally silent. Seong Yubin broke the hush. Her place was close to the restaurant—that's how they'd connected, and why she worked there.
This the spot?
An old mansion building.
Click.
"Mmm? We here?"
The door sound woke Park Sun-ok. Seong Yubin apologized and said goodbye. She waved to Shin Jaewoo too, then headed inside.
He watched her go quietly. Then it hit him.
Oh, should've asked Coleman about those loan sharks. How'd he handle 'em?
They were "taken care of," but no update.
Should've told Yubin it's all good too…
So she could relax. As is, she'd probably fret, wondering if they'd show up at home like at the restaurant.
I should've followed up…
He'd promised to handle it.
"…Grandma, let's go."
For now, to Park Sun-ok's place. His childhood rural home. Not far, either. They pulled up to a quiet residential alley, the end house.
Cars couldn't go further.
"…Drop us here. Can't drive more anyway."
Parking was haphazard. They got out and walked.
Woof! Arf arf!
Pure countryside vibe. Daejeon still had spots like this. Dogs barked everywhere, announcing their arrival.
"Oh yeah, how's Mooni doing?"
The barks jogged his memory. Mooni—a dog's name, obviously. Park Sun-ok didn't own it; it was the neighborhood stray.
No one knew if it had an owner.
But it was friendly to people…
P.S. Kim Minseo named it "Mooni."
"Mooni? She's fine. Found a mate somewhere, even had pups. You need to find a mate and have pups too."
"Huh?"
In his memory, Mooni was still a pup. Hearing she'd had kids was a shock. And Grandma snuck in another nudge.
"Next girl you meet, knock her up and bring her home."
He opened the gate to his maternal grandparents' house. And froze.
Arf. Woof woof.
"Quiet, you mutt."
Whine…
He knew at a glance. Mooni. She'd been brought inside.
Grandma took her in!
The old hanok house. Park Sun-ok sat on the porch, slipping off her shoes. Meanwhile, Shin Jaewoo petted Mooni.
"Know who I am?"
Pant pant. Tongue out, tail wagging—the stray loved him.
He got why she'd been let in.
"Loves anyone who shows up…"
Park Sun-ok grumbled.
"Can I take her for a walk?"
"What, wanderin' at night?"
"Wanna stretch before bed. And chat with Coleman too."
"Where's that fella live anyway? He came from Seoul with you? Bring him here."
"Got it."
Shin Jaewoo didn't actually take Mooni out. Her belly was swollen—pregnant(?). Not sure about walking an expectant mom(?).
"Be right back."
Unlike what he'd said, he left Mooni and headed to the car. Time to ask about those loan sharks.