The First Date

His mother's hand clenched with force.

As if to reassure her, her son's hand gently stroked the back of hers.

The man and woman reflected in So-young's eyes. Both faces she knew.

The man was a director she had met during a photo shoot, and the woman a model. People she had worked with before.

They had already been spotted, so she hid behind Hyun-woo's back.

"Who are you?"

"Mm... and you are?"

"Wouldn't it be polite to identify yourselves first?"

"Haha... I've worked with So-young a few times... Hey, you know her face too, right?"

The woman standing beside the man gave a slight nod.

Her skirt was hiked up. Catching the stares fixed on her, she hurriedly smoothed it down. It was obvious what they had been up to.

"Why don't you just keep walking? You don't seem to read the room very well."

"Is that so? I feel like I've seen that face somewhere... just can't place it."

"Me?"

"Yeah. Are you So-young's boyfriend, by any chance?"

Hyun-woo hesitated. How was he supposed to answer? These were people who knew his mother.

"I'm her son."

"Ah! Now I remember. I saw you on So-young's SNS."

"We're both uncomfortable here. I don't think you need to explain yourselves."

"But... what was that scene we just saw? Your hand was somewhere it shouldn't have been..."

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Are you sure you saw clearly? It's pretty dark out here."

"Maybe I was mistaken? Then again... if he's her son, he wouldn't put his hand there... even if they're close."

"That's offensive. Where exactly do you think my hand was for you to say something like that?"

"You were grabbing her ass, weren't you?"

"What a weirdo. Even if I had been... what's so strange about that? Not that my hand was there in the first place."

The woman pinched the man's arm hard.

Behind him, So-young was trembling. The only person she could trust was her son, Hyun-woo. Fear.

"Well, I guess I'm turning into an old fart myself... If I offended you, I apologize... Got a little too friendly there."

"How about we both pretend we didn't see anything? You don't exactly look like you can hold your head high either."

"Haha... That works for me... So-young? We'll be going then... See you next time."

The man smiled in a way that left a bad taste. The woman shot them a sidelong glance, her face twisted. An affair, no doubt. Or maybe he had paid for the company.

The pair gradually faded into the distance. Only then did the mother who had been hiding behind him let out a deep sigh.

"Haa..."

"They're gone, Mom."

"I'm sorry. I couldn't even help... I was shaking so hard..."

"It's fine. They just popped out of nowhere... Looks like they were having sex."

"That guy... he's married, and his reputation's terrible. He's good at his job, but he keeps causing scandals..."

"Then nothing will come of it... We agreed to pretend we didn't see each other."

So-young sank down right where she stood. Hyun-woo offered her a cigarette, crouching to meet her eye level.

"You're even breaking out in a cold sweat. Over something like that."

"Hyun-woo... are you really okay...?"

"I was scared. Kept thinking what if we got caught... But the woman I have to protect is right here beside me."

"Hyun-woo..."

"It's not like someone filmed us having sex... Even if I did grab your ass, so what?"

"People will look at us strangely..."

"They will. But there's no proof... The more that happens, the more confidently we have to carry ourselves."

"You're... so much more thoughtful than your mother... My son..."

"Situations like this can happen anytime from now on. You need to get bolder too, Mom."

"Yeah... you're right... If I hide, they'll get suspicious, and then... everything will be over."

"Mom."

"Hm...?"

"If... just in case... something like that ever happens... I'll always be by your side... forever..."

"Even if everything ends...?"

"As long as I have you, Mom. No... Lee So-young... as long as I have you... I'd be happy even if I fell into hell."

Tears welled in So-young's eyes. She pushed her tongue into her son's lips.

The fear that had soaked into her so deeply she trembled melted away, replaced by love for this man.

Hyun-woo pulled her to her feet. Holding her tightly, they kissed for a long while.

Inside the speeding car. On the road home.

His mother suddenly changed direction.

"Hyun-woo, you've never drunk outside before, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then have a drink with Mom."

"Who's going to drive?"

"Hehe... We can just call a designated driver."

"Wouldn't it be more comfortable and nicer to drink at home?"

"I just feel like it. It's our first date, after all..."

"Ah, you don't have to go out of your way... I had a really great time... Watching the movie... eating... even the drive."

"If we just go home like this, I feel like I'd be cheated. That bastard ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ruined the mood."

"Hehe... Alright. Let's drink outside."

When he had called her by her name, his heart had felt ready to burst. The words had slipped out unconsciously. And she had kissed him first.

Now drinks outside on top of it. Maybe tonight. No—don't get your hopes up for nothing. Set your heart down and take it easy. It was their first date, after all.

A short while later they pulled into a food alley. They parked somewhere decent and headed into a bar.

It was partitioned off. There looked to be plenty of people, but the room-style setup made the atmosphere fairly quiet.

Drinks and snacks were set out, and they each had a light glass.

"Have some of the food too, Hyun-woo."

"Okay. You've been here before? You walked straight in without even looking at the other places."

"Hehe... I've come a few times with your aunt... and sometimes for work dinners after shoots, when the staff gather."

"You've got a schedule in a few days, right? If it isn't something you absolutely have to do, cancel it and rest, Mom."

"I'm fine. It's work I enjoy... And that bastard from earlier—I won't even have to see him."

"The woman next to him looked about my age."

"She's a model. She's worked with Mom a lot... Capable, that one."

"Hehe... He looked old enough to be her dad."

"True. And we're mother and son."

So-young's energy was climbing. She kept knocking back the warmed liquor. He tried to scold her into drinking slowly, but she showed no sign of stopping. The look in her eyes as she gazed at her son grew deeper.

"Must be the alcohol? I'm gonna hit the bathroom real quick."

"Okay, hurry back... We still have to have another round with Mom."

Looking a little worried, Hyun-woo glanced back as he headed for the restroom. She was drunk. Her cheeks flushed red.

Left alone, So-young poured herself another glass into the empty cup and downed it. Out of habit she unlocked her phone and opened SNS.

Scrolling down, skimming through, a comment caught her eye.

Under the photo of them standing side by side in jeans and a sweater. A store employee? So someone else had recognized them. Her and Hyun-woo.

Her gaze dropped. The sheer tank blouse that showed her bare skin, the gray miniskirt. What had they thought before they realized? Couple? Or married?

Excitement surged through her. She knocked back another glass and scrolled through SNS again.

That bronze-skinned model she had mentioned to Hyun-woo a few times. The bitch who always flattered her with careful honorifics.

So what? You want to fuck my son? Dream on. He's my man.

Suddenly she held up her phone, adjusting the angle. Click—the empty glass, the bottle, the table set with snacks.

She uploaded it to SNS.

Comments started rolling in.

So-young snorted. Right on cue, Hyun-woo came back.

"What took you so long? What were you doing in the bathroom?"

"Taking care of business. I came back as fast as I could?"

"Hehe... Here, pour me a drink."

"You're already drunk, Mom... Drinking this much when you never overdo it."

"I'm in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a good mood... Because I'm with you."

"Mom..."

He had no choice but to pour into her glass. She downed it in one go. Then she slyly held the empty glass out again. Meaning: pour more.

This was too much. When he hesitated, she snatched the bottle from his hand, poured herself a glass, and shot it. Then ordered more.

"Looks like you're really in the zone. Fine... Drink as much as you want... As long as I stay sober."

"Hehe... Mom, will you protect me?"

"Yeah."

"I can't live in this world without you anymore..."

"You're really wasted. First time I've seen you get like this."

"Because these are things I can't say sober..."

The words rose to her throat and she swallowed them back. If I could only keep you. I'd have to give everything I have. Just to be together.

For just a moment, when he had left for the bathroom, she had felt so terribly sad. Emotions surging up, as if that man might leave forever.

"I'll be with you forever, Mom..."

Her son's sweet whisper. She filled the empty glass and drained it in one. Her head spun. She barely collected herself and called someone.

So-young hung up unilaterally. Hyun-woo, who had been listening, was flustered too. She had said he was hers. And asked if she could come out. She was impossible to read. Like a time bomb.

Fortunately it seemed his aunt had agreed to come. Calling a driver could lead to unexpected situations. He kept an eye on his mother as she continued tipping back glasses, waiting for his aunt.

"So-young?"

"Yeah, Sis... You came?"

His aunt had rushed out. Her clothes were sparse. Dolphin shorts peeked out; he couldn't tell about the T-shirt. Just a windbreaker thrown on because it was evening.

His mother shoved away the aunt who tried to sit beside her.

"Oh my!"

"Hyun-woo, sit next to Mom."

"I'm sorry, Aunt... She's had a lot to drink..."

His aunt was just as flustered, wearing a dazed expression. He stood and moved to the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠seat beside his mother. The place he had been sitting went to his aunt.

"Three bottles? Don't tell me Mom drank all of that by herself?"

"No, I had a few glasses too..."

"Good grief... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Did something happen?"

"Well, a little..."

So-young rested her head on Hyun-woo's shoulder. She curled the corner of her mouth toward her sister. Then her gaze seemed to shift back toward Hyun-woo—and suddenly she stuck out her tongue and thrust it deep into his mouth.

"Mmmp...!"

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?"

His aunt's eyes went round. His mother had shoved her tongue into her son's lips. Vulgar wet sounds. She sucked and licked greedily, wrapping her arms around his waist.

Hyun-woo had no idea what to do. He looked to his aunt for help, but she was just as stunned. His mother finally pulled her lips away.

"Let me introduce you, Sis... My new boyfriend."

"What...?"

"I said boyfriend... Look at this. He even gave me a ring... Couple rings."

She held out the back of her hand, her expression full of mischief. Then she planted another kiss on her son's cheek and beamed.

"You're messing with me, right? No matter how drunk you are..."

"You don't believe me?"

"No, it's not that... You're just really wasted."

"Drive, Sis... I'll prove it when we get home."

So-young staggered to her feet. Hyun-woo quickly supported her. His aunt exchanged a wordless look with her nephew. She nodded and led the way out.