Chapter 91
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91
It was another ten minutes before they arrived at his parents’ house.
In the distance, Dokyun saw two figures standing in front of the main gate.
His parents.
Did they know exactly when I’d arrive? A flicker of annoyance gave way to a wave of warmth as he saw them waiting to welcome him.
“They’re already out here,” he said.
“I see. Are those your parents?”
“Yes.”
Dokyun gave a short reply and pulled the car over next to the gate.
The moment the car stopped, his parents hurried toward them. Dokyun got out and opened his arms to approach his mother.
“Aigoo, you little brat!”
SMACK—!
His mother’s hearty smack on the back was his welcome home.
“Agh! What was that for?!”
“I can’t believe you! Where did you get the money to buy a foreign car?! Huh? Do you ever use that head of yours?!”
Smack! Smack! Smack!
Dokyun twisted in agony as his mother’s palm rained down on his back. He finally managed to scramble away.
“Ah, it’s not mine! It’s hers!”
Why did she always resort to violence before even listening to him? Filled with resentment, Dokyun pointed a thumb at Eun-seol.
His mother’s gaze followed his hand, and her eyes finally met Eun-seol’s. She froze solid.
“…”
“…”
An awkward silence descended.
“Woof! Woof!”
From a distance, the sound of their dog, Chunshik, barking while wagging his tail was the only thing that filled the space. After a moment, it was Eun-seol who broke the silence.
“Hello, ma’am. I’m sorry to meet you for the first time like this, with my leg injured.”
Dokyun’s eyes widened as he stared at her.
He had never seen this side of her before.
The demure smile, the sweet and gentle voice, the polite manner of speaking—it was all a million light-years away from the Eun-seol he knew.
Did another personality come out? Could it be the final one that hasn’t appeared yet?
The thought crossed his mind unbidden; that’s how unnatural she was acting. She was always polite when dealing with people other than him, but it was a formal, detached politeness, not this gentle sweetness.
And that face. Not a single one of Eun-ah’s personalities that Dokyun knew could produce a smile like that.
His surprise turned to suspicion, and his eyes narrowed. Just then, after finishing her greeting, she shot him a quick glance, and he saw her usual coldness flicker in her eyes. Only then was he sure it was really Eun-seol. He let out a small breath and stepped between them to make the introductions.
“This is my mother. Mom, this is Eun…”
“Eun-ah. I’m Go Eun-ah. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Dokyun flinched.
His body tensed as Eun-seol cut him off to introduce herself.
Ah.
He’d almost made a huge mistake.
Letting out a small, relieved breath at Eun-seol’s quick thinking, Dokyun composed his expression and looked at his mother.
She was squinting, looking Eun-seol up and down. A sense of panic bloomed in Dokyun’s chest.
He thought she’d be happy to meet anyone he brought home, but her suspicious expression caught him completely off guard.
“Uh… Mom?” Dokyun prompted, trying to ask what was wrong.
“Oh, I’m sorry. My eyes have been a bit dim lately. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Dokyun’s mother.”
His mother finally extended a hand and greeted Eun-seol.
“You must be tired from the long drive. The traffic must have been terrible.”
“Not at all. Dokyun-ssi did all the driving. I just sat next to him.”
Dokyun-ssi.
The formal address was so awkward it sent shivers down his spine. He unknowingly grimaced, and she, noticing his expression, subtly reached out and pinched his side, a clear signal to get his face under control. He quickly smoothed his features.
“Aigoo, still, sitting in a car all day is no easy task. Honey! Come over here and help this young lady inside!”
His mother turned and called out. Only then did Dokyun’s gaze fall on his father, who had been standing a step back, fidgeting awkwardly.
“Dad, have you been well?”
“Huh? Oh, yes… I’ve been well…”
Dokyun watched his father awkwardly alternate his gaze between him and Eun-seol, and he finally understood the situation.
Ah!
His parents were shocked.
Right. Unlike the old saying that even a hedgehog finds its own child beautiful, his parents were remarkably objective about their son. It was no wonder they were shocked that their thirty-two-year-old son, who spent his days cackling alone in the corner of his room, had brought home someone like her.
The belated realization made him nod slightly. Relieved that it wasn’t a bigger problem, he let out a sigh and spoke quietly to Eun-seol.
“Do you want to go inside first? I’ll grab the bags and follow you.”
“Take your time.”
Her gentle tone followed her words.
Feeling another wave of goosebumps, Dokyun watched her head inside before opening the trunk.
As he was taking out their luggage and gifts, his mother sidled up to him and whispered her suspicions.
“Hey, son. Is that young lady really the one you’re seeing? You’re not involved in anything bad, are you?”
As expected, Dokyun’s eyes narrowed. Pouting, he grumbled in response.
“Seriously, Mom, what do you take me for? Yes, she’s the one I’m seeing.”
Well, it’s Eun-ah, not Eun-seol, but it’s still the same body, he reasoned. His mother pressed on.
“But how does that make any sense? You said this car is hers, too. Why would someone so pretty and rich want to date you? You didn’t find some dirt on her and blackmail her or something, did you?”
His eyes were now narrowed so much they were more than half-hidden.
Dokyun felt as if daggers were being plunged into his chest. His body slumped with a rising sense of gloom. He glared at his mother with his lips stuck out in a pout.
“Do you really think I’m that pathetic?”
His mother flinched.
Her eyes darted back and forth. Then, in a tone thick with panic, she began to placate him.
“N-No… It’s not that you’re pathetic, son, it’s just that she’s so-o-o beautiful…”
Her flustered expression made it obvious it was just an excuse. Seeing the doubt return to Dokyun’s face, his mother started smacking his back again, changing the subject.
“Aigoo, anyway, you must be tired from the trip. Let’s hurry inside.”
With that, she quickly walked away.
Watching her retreating back, Dokyun’s shoulders slumped once more with melancholy.
Seriously, I’m not that bad of a catch, am I?
It was a thought he couldn’t dare say out loud.
*
The first thing Dokyun saw when he entered the house was Eun-seol and his father, sitting across from each other in awkward silence.
“…What are you two doing?”
The words slipped out of Dokyun’s mouth.
Both of their heads snapped toward him at the same time. His father quickly plastered a huge smile on his face.
“Huh? Oh, right. You must be tired from the drive.”
It was an answer that had nothing to do with the question.
His father immediately stood up, took the bags from Dokyun’s hands, and continued.
“So, how’s work these days? Is it manageable?”
Dokyun flinched.
“Yeah, well… same as always.”
He couldn’t exactly say, I’ve been on a long leave of absence, so he gave a vague answer and looked over at Eun-seol.
She kept glancing under the sofa.
Wondering what she was looking at, he followed her gaze and saw Bborongi, their cat, hiding under the sofa and having a staring contest with her.
Watching them for a moment, Dokyun felt that something was off about Bborongi and asked his father a question.
“Dad, has Bborongi gained weight again?”
“Hmm?” his father replied.
Dokyun pointed to the cat, whose roly-poly body was wedged tightly under the sofa.
“Look at him, he’s stuck. He wasn’t that big the last time I was here.”
He had no idea what they were feeding him to make him get even bigger, but every time he came home, the cat seemed to have bulked up.
“I can’t really tell. Maybe because I see him every day?”
After his father’s uncertain reply, Dokyun nodded vaguely and set down the luggage. He then remembered the alcohol he was holding and handed it to his father.
“Oh, right. This is a gift. Eun-ah-ssi prepared it. She said it’s alcohol, so you can check it out later.”
“Oh my, you shouldn’t have…”
A huge grin spread across his father’s face at the added explanation. He turned to Eun-seol and expressed his gratitude.
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
“Not at all. I should have brought something better, I’m sorry…” Eun-seol replied in a soft, gentle tone.
Wow, I really can’t get used to this.
Her way of speaking was so unnatural it was hard to believe she was the same person. As Dokyun’s brow furrowed again, she waited for his father to leave the room before her expression reverted to normal. She mouthed a message to him.
Ma. nage. Your. Ex. pres. sion.
It was a warning.
Followed by.
You. Fuck. ing. Bas. tard.
A string of curses followed.
“Ah.”
A dazed sound escaped Dokyun’s lips.
Then, the corners of his mouth lifted, his brow smoothed, and a look of relief washed over his face. Feeling much more at ease, he nodded at her words.
Right, this was the real Eun-seol, cussing and all. The cloying, greasy atmosphere from before completely vanished.
“My mother went to prepare some things for dinner.”
“Okay.”
Dokyun walked over to Eun-seol’s side, plopped down on the floor, and started cooing to call the cat. “Uchu-uchu.”
Immediately.
“Meeow.”
Bborongi, who had been wedged under the sofa, dragged his heavy body over and settled onto Dokyun’s lap.
“Oof, you’re so heavy. How do you get fatter every time I see you?”
“Mraaooww~”
Dokyun chuckled and stroked Bborongi, who was now purring on his thighs. His meow sounded so muffled by fat that Dokyun figured he’d have to make the cat exercise while he was here.
“…You two seem close.”
Hearing her voice, Dokyun looked up and smiled at Eun-seol, who was sitting next to him, glaring at Bborongi.
“Want to pet him?”
“…”
Eun-seol remained silent for a moment at his offer. Then, she reached out and stroked Bborongi’s head.
“Mraaoooww~”
Bborongi let out another happy purr. Eun-seol’s body gave a slight shudder, and her facial muscles began to contort.
Her features were starting to lose their composure.
She was trying to hold back a smile.
The twitching corners of her mouth were almost pitiful to watch. She could have just said she liked it, but her pride made her suppress her smile even now.
A chuckle escaped Dokyun’s lips.
“He’s cute, isn’t he?”
“No.”
Her reply was instant.
Forcing her expression into a neutral mask, she continued to pet Bborongi even as she spoke.
Just then.
“Mreow~”
Bborongi shifted, stood up, and walked over.
“Meow~”
He settled onto Eun-seol’s lap.
Dokyun watched as Eun-seol froze solid, turning to ice the moment Bborongi climbed onto her. He burst out laughing with a loud “Pfft!”
She was completely stiff, her entire body tense.
Bborongi looked up and rubbed his head against her hand. Eun-seol finally jolted back to life and began to pet him.
Her stroking motions were stiff, like those of a wooden doll.
Feeling another surge of mischief, Dokyun sent her a knowing look.
“Still not cute?”
Can you really deny it now?
He posed the question with that meaning implied. Just as she was about to deny it again…
“No…”
“Mraaooww~”
Bborongi let out a cry.
Eun-seol stopped talking, her trembling eyes fixed on the cat. Bborongi began to stare intently back at her.
Another staring contest had begun.
The pointless battle of wills between one person and one cat continued for a while. Finally, Eun-seol gritted her teeth and managed an answer.
“…He’s a little, a really tiny bit, cute.”
The tip of her nose was scrunched up in a deep frown.
Dokyun’s shoulders shook with laughter again.
Wow.
Stubborn, so stubborn.
Her body was being so honest, but her mouth remained as resolute as ever.