Dad's New Woman and Mom
“Uh… this is the woman I’m living with now… say hello.”
The woman standing there had a demure, refined face that clashed completely with her flashy outfit. She looked to be in her mid-to-late thirties. Large, round eyes without double eyelids, full lips, and a softly rounded face gave her a distinctly Eastern beauty that was hard to ignore.
“Hello… it’s nice to meet you.”
Hanpan dipped his head slightly in greeting. She was wearing a long dress in a vivid color, cinched at the waist by a slim belt that showed off excellent fashion sense. The way the belt nipped her waist made her chest and hips look even more voluptuous—a classic glamorous figure. At least a D-cup, he guessed. That body, so at odds with her quiet face, carried an inexplicable allure. He suddenly understood why his father had remarried her.
She caught the quick flicker of his gaze and let a faint smile curve her lips. Flustered inside, Hanpan grabbed the hand she offered and shook it almost by reflex. Her skin was incredibly soft and firm.
“I’m Han Hyesu. Congratulations on your discharge… I’ve heard a lot about you.”
Her grip on his hand was tighter than he expected, and the sensation felt oddly charged. An awkward silence settled until Kim Taesik cleared his throat.
“Ahem… shall we go, then?”
“Yes.”
Taesik reached for Hanpan’s suitcase, but Hanpan stopped him.
“It’s fine, Dad. I’ll pull it.”
“Haha, this kid—I’m fine!”
Taesik insisted on taking the suitcase, as if determined not to look old. Hanpan watched for a moment, then gave in and let his father handle it. They left the terminal and headed for the parking lot.
The August heat that hit him was nothing like the dry desert air of the Middle East. Korea’s sticky, steamy summer wrapped around him at once, and his body heated up almost immediately. Even under cloudy skies, the humidity was inescapable.
They reached the car Taesik had parked. After loading the luggage into the trunk, Hanpan started to climb into the back seat, but Hyesu stopped him and gestured toward the front.
“It’s been so long since you two saw each other—you must have a lot to talk about. Wouldn’t the front seat be better?”
“Ah, I’m fine back here…”
“I’m the one who feels awkward. Hohoho.”
“Ah… well, if you insist…”
Hanpan shrugged and took the front passenger seat as she suggested. They left the airport and drove toward Seoul. Hanpan drank in the familiar-yet-strange cityscape while catching up with Taesik on everything that had happened while he was gone.
It was a late lunch, but they ate at a well-known restaurant in Gangnam. After a pleasant meal, Hanpan stepped outside and turned to Taesik.
“I’ll grab a taxi from here.”
“Huh… you’re not coming home?”
“Mom doesn’t know I’m discharged yet. I gave her a different date… hehe.”
“Oh, really? Then let me drive you.”
Hanpan waved both hands in refusal.
“It’s okay… you’ve got this lady with you, and, well… it’s a bit…”
He fumbled for the right word to call her and finally just trailed off. Hyesu’s expression turned thoughtful for a moment before she spoke to the still-hesitating Taesik.
“He’s right. I’m still a stranger to him. He needs time to adjust.”
She smiled sweetly as she said it. Hanpan found the smile surprisingly charming. Hyesu stepped closer.
“At least let me see you into a taxi.”
Hanpan grinned back.
“All right… it was nice meeting you today.”
Hyesu turned to Taesik.
“Looks like we’re finished talking. I’ll call a taxi for him.”
“Uh… sure?”
Taesik watched blankly as she pulled out her phone and ordered a ride, then offered Hanpan an awkward smile. Hanpan returned the same awkward smile. The taxi arrived quickly. After transferring his luggage into the trunk in the restaurant parking lot, Hanpan looked at the two of them.
“I’ll be in touch soon.”
“R-right…”
He gave them a short bow and was about to get in when Hyesu spoke again.
“We have plenty of spare rooms at home. Come over anytime, okay?”
Hanpan nodded with a smile and climbed into the taxi. It pulled out onto the road at once.
“Driver, Black Sun Motors in Cheongdam-dong, please.”
“Got it.”
The driver nodded and eased the car into traffic. Hanpan stared out the window for a moment, then took out his phone and called his mother, Park Miho. The line connected, and her slightly high-pitched voice came through.
“Son?”
“Yeah, Mom. Hehe.”
“What? It’s showing as a domestic call, not international! Don’t tell me—”
“Hehehe.”
“What? You’re in Korea?”
“Yep!”
“You said you were coming the day after tomorrow!”
“I wanted to surprise you! Are you at the office right now?”
“Huh? Yeah!”
“Is it okay if I come over now?”
“Of course!”
“Great. I’ll be there soon. See you in a bit.”
“Okay, okay.”
He hung up and looked out the window again. The bustling streets of Gangnam felt strangely unfamiliar. Only yesterday he had been in a city of endless desert; the sudden change of scenery still felt unreal. The taxi wound through the forest of Gangnam skyscrapers and finally stopped in front of a car showroom on a corner of Dosan-daero.
The entire building was painted black, and luxurious high-end cars were displayed on every floor. Hanpan pulled his suitcase from the taxi and walked slowly toward the entrance, where a wall of glass offered a full view of the showroom. He pushed the familiar door open and was greeted by a blast of cool air-conditioning.
At the same time, a woman at the front desk looked up at him with puzzled eyes. A man in military uniform walking in was probably a first—and last—for her. She forced a polite smile.
“How may I help you?”
Hanpan smiled back.
“I’m here to see the CEO.”
“The CEO?”
Her eyes went round. A soldier casually asking for the CEO left her looking thoroughly baffled. Then her gaze flicked sideways, and someone stepped up beside Hanpan. He turned to find a sharp-looking woman in a clean black suit, wearing distinctive black horn-rimmed glasses and a gentle smile. He remembered seeing her once or twice before.
“Kim Hanpan?”
“Ah, yes. Hello.”
He bowed; she returned a slight nod.
“The CEO is waiting for you.”
“Thank you.”
She turned and led the way to the elevator. Hanpan followed. When the doors opened on the top floor, she guided him down the corridor to the room at the very end. Every office on the floor was glass-walled—true to his mother’s love of open communication, the entire workspace was designed so everyone could see one another. But the CEO’s office had the blinds drawn, hiding the interior.
The woman with the black glasses knocked, then opened the door first.
“CEO, I’ve brought him.”
Park Miho looked up from her work. A bright smile lit her face as she rose from the desk and came to greet him.
“Son!!!”
“Mom!”
As she strode toward him, Hanpan instinctively registered how much her body had changed since the last time he saw her. Her face and frame had slimmed down considerably, which only made her breasts stand out more—almost jarringly so. The newly slender waist made the curve of her hips even more pronounced. Unlike the other employees in simple black, she wore a vivid orange-and-white patterned wrap dress that clung to every contour, leaving nothing to the imagination. He wondered if the clothes were creating an illusion, but the style itself was new to him. The striking orange high heels only heightened the effect.
Her makeup was more refined than before. The smoky eyes, sharp nose, kissable full lips, and clean jawline all worked together to make her glow. She reminded him of the Japanese actress Haruka Igawa—elegant and striking. Her long arms and legs looked toned, and even at 168 cm she seemed taller. The slimmed body somehow made her shoulders look broader. The exposed collarbones told him she had put herself through a rigorous diet. No one would ever guess she had given birth to three children. A strange new feeling stirred in Hanpan’s chest—something he had never felt before—and he was briefly flustered, though he fought not to show it.
Whatever was going through his mind, Park Miho kept coming, arms already opening wide.