Chapter 76: Pork Belly Party (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: Pork Belly Party (2)
On the bus ride home.
Shin Yu-jeong immediately called the Ajumma.
“Mom! We have a grill at home, right? Can you get it out? Yeah, on the rooftop. Do-jin and a friend are coming over. Uh-huh. Okay.”
She’d so confidently dragged us along, saying we were having a pork belly party, that I actually wondered if she’d prepared something behind my back.
“Let’s stop by the supermarket before we go home. We need to buy some meat and wraps.”
“……”
This was less a plan and more a spur-of-the-moment idea.
Seeing Im Na-eun sitting obediently beside her, I couldn’t help but sigh.
It was one thing for me, since I live in the same building anyway, but what did she do to deserve getting dragged into this?
“Na-eun, are you free right now?”
“Huh? Oh… yeah, I’m free.”
I was worried she might be annoyed by Yu-jeong’s pushiness, but she didn’t seem to mind.
In fact, she looked more than just okay; her eyes were filled with anticipation.
Sensing my stare, Im Na-eun cupped her cheeks as if embarrassed and answered.
“To be honest, this is my first time…”
“Having a pork belly party?”
“Yeah. Well, more like… hanging out freely with friends like this?”
Her first time hanging out like this?
Did she grow up in a strict household?
I was curious, but I didn’t press the issue. It might be rude.
“Hey, let’s get off.”
We got off at a large supermarket two stops away from home to do our shopping.
Meat, ssamjang, all sorts of lettuce and vegetable wraps, sausages, and even soju and beer.
It was enough to make four people, including the Ajumma, burst at the seams.
Shin Yu-jeong paid.
Seeing how easily her wallet opened, it seemed the lingering excitement from earlier hadn’t faded.
When we walked the two stops and arrived in front of our building, the Ajumma waved at us from the rooftop.
“You’re here? Come on up!”
“Ah, hello!”
As Im Na-eun bowed deeply to the Ajumma on the rooftop, Shin Yu-jeong grabbed her by the scruff of the neck and started pulling her up.
“You can say hello when we get up there.”
“Ah… that’s probably better. Hehe…”
When we got to the rooftop, everything was ready for grilling.
There was a barrel grill you’d expect to see at a vacation cabin, perfectly aged kimchi, and even warm rice.
The Ajumma, who was lighting the charcoal with a torch, welcomed us.
“Welcome. I heard you had your practical training today. You all worked hard.”
A benevolent smile and a few warm words.
Ah, this is it.
It felt like a ray of healing light shining down on my exhausting day.
“Ah, hello. I’m Im Na-eun…”
“Right, so you’re Na-eun! Oh my, how are you so proper and pretty? I wish my daughter was more like you…”
“Mom!”
As Shin Yu-jeong shrieked, the Ajumma looked back and forth between me and Im Na-eun with an expression full of disappointment and started tearing into her daughter.
“Just look at her. My child is all fierceness and no charm. It’s a real problem.”
It certainly was a bit of a mystery.
How could such a graceful and virtuous woman give birth to such a tomboy?
After being relentlessly bombarded by her mother’s attacks, Yu-jeong finally fired back.
“Dad told me. He said I get my fierceness from you.”
“What? What are you…!”
Huh, what’s this?
A look of bewilderment crossed the Ajumma’s face.
“Actually, back in the day, Mom used to be a bit of a wild— Mmph!”
The Ajumma rushed over and clamped a hand over her daughter’s mouth.
“Hoho, my goodness. Have you been eating expensive rice just to spout nonsense?”
Then she turned her head and glanced at me furtively.
So there really was something…?
I’ll have to sneak a look at an old photo album later.
“A-Anyway! Welcome, Na-eun. Make yourself at home, okay?”
“Hehe… Okay.”
The incident was settled, for now.
The charcoal was burning brightly… All that was left was to grill the meat.
The Ajumma naturally moved to start grilling, so I immediately walked over and practically snatched the tongs and meat from her.
“I’ll do the grilling, so you should sit down and eat too, Ajumma.”
Her expression was one of slight surprise and emotion.
Even with a husband, the Ajumma had effectively been the head of the household.
The husband she did have, she only saw a few times a year, and whenever he visited, he did nothing but laze around before leaving again. She never really had anyone to lean on.
Maybe that was why.
Why she looked so happy at such a small gesture of kindness.
After always being the one to take care of others, being taken care of must feel awkward, yet pleasant.
How did I know?
Because I felt a little like that myself.
Making sure Shin Yu-jeong and Im Na-eun couldn’t see, I subtly reached out and placed a hand on the Ajumma’s butt.
She jumped in surprise. I smiled at her and spoke in a low voice.
“From now on, don’t just try to take care of everyone. Let me take care of you, too.”
No one dislikes being taken care of.
There are only people who are so used to giving that they feel awkward receiving.
“My… you seem to be getting more and more dependable, Do-jin.”
The Ajumma’s eyes turned slightly hazy.
Oops.
It looked like I’d flipped a switch.
It was something I’d learned in the time since I’d crossed the line with her.
The Ajumma had a sort of invisible switch.
A switch that changed her mode every time it was pressed.
Normally, she was in ‘Mom Mode.’
Even though we’d spent passionate nights together, she treated me like a clueless child.
At first, I was disappointed, thinking that maybe she didn’t see me as a man despite us having sex because of our age gap, but I learned that wasn’t it.
She was just compartmentalizing everything, thoroughly.
She did it so that if anyone saw us, there would be no grounds for them to suspect our relationship.
She would hold it all in, but when we were alone, or in a moment like this when she was treated as a woman, she would change completely.
The look in her eyes at those times was thick with lust.
A gaze filled with desire, a far cry from motherly affection.
Just like right now.
“Uh-uh, none of that look right now.”
“Oh, my.”
The Ajumma’s deepening emotions subsided in an instant.
The fact that she could control her feelings so easily proved she was no ordinary person…
Maybe there was some truth to what Shin Yu-jeong said earlier. She might have an unusual past hidden away.
“Anyway, I’m grilling the meat, so just know that and have a seat.”
“Hoho, alright. It’s been a while since I’ve just sat back and eaten meat someone else grilled for me.”
Happily accepting my offer, the Ajumma headed for the bench, but not before whispering in my ear.
“Don’t… drink too much, okay?”
“Hup.”
Her sensual voice made my ear tingle.
“I’ll punish you if you fall asleep first.”
“……”
Her voice, as stern as a mother’s and as sultry as a seductress’s, was enough to make my head spin.
…I should take it easy on the alcohol tonight.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
A single piece of golden-brown meat, grilled with decades of know-how, paired with a shot of soju.
The magical combination, capable of instantly lifting the spirits of even the most downcast person, began to warm up the atmosphere.
I was currently experiencing a luxury unlike any other in the world.
The person grilling the meat inevitably eats less.
That’s because with tongs in one hand and scissors in the other, there’s simply not enough time to eat.
But was I losing out? Not at all.
Of course, if I were eating with a group of guys, it would be a loss… but the current group was three women and one man.
“Do-jin, have this.”
“Thanks.”
“Hey, open your mouth.”
“Oomph…!”
“Do-jin, say ‘ahhh.’”
“Gyaahk!”
In exchange for grilling the meat, the three women were taking turns making wraps for me. I’d say I was getting more than a fair trade.
“Haaaah… this is so nice…!”
Im Na-eun was even more excited than I was.
“The view is great, the meat is delicious, and even the alcohol tastes amazing today!”
She’d said this was her first time hanging out like this, and she seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it.
“You like it that much?”
“Yeah!”
It was strange seeing Yu-jeong casually responding to Im Na-eun.
At first, she had tried so hard to push her away.
She might have grown a little fond of the cute, rabbit-like girl, but there was probably another reason.
“Hehe… let’s do this again next time you get a good score.”
“Okay, let’s!”
Look at her.
It was obvious she found Im Na-eun’s traits and abilities too good to cast aside.
So she changed her approach to embrace her instead.
On top of that, as they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
I could also see her ulterior motive: rather than creating an awkward relationship by pushing her away, she was keeping Na-eun close to reduce the time she and I spent alone together.
She usually seems so reckless, but at times like this, her mind works incredibly fast.
“Hmm.”
Well, whatever the reason, on the surface, it was a picture of perfect harmony.
A cheerful scene of endless laughter, with everyone sharing drinks.
The image of a family I had always dreamed of was unfolding right before my eyes.
And because of that, while I was happy, I also felt a pang of sadness.
Because it made me think of Seo-yeon.
To be honest, I didn’t think about my wife much.
I hate to admit it… but that woman is someone who can manage just fine on her own.
Seo-yeon is different.
Different from me, and different from Han Ju-hee.
It’s hard to believe she’s the daughter of the two of us… but she is.
The only reason I was able to alter her weak body with my mana when she was young was because we were father and daughter.
Our mana wavelengths weren’t identical, but they were similar.
If they hadn’t been, I couldn’t have even dreamed of interfering with another person’s body to that extent.
Anyway… she’s alone now.
At home, and outside.
To be precise, she’s chosen to be a loner.
Her social skills are severely lacking.
If someone talks to her, she gives curt, one-word answers that cut the conversation short, and they usually run off, terrified, before they can even get close.
“I wonder who she takes after…”
Thinking about it, she seems to take after her mother.
I remember Han Ju-hee being rather cold to others and a bit of a brat when she was young.
Probably.
“I wish she were doing better.”
It was a shame.
If she were living well, I could have let her go without any lingering feelings.
But right now, I’m a father in a body that isn’t a father’s.
I can’t just suddenly start taking care of her, but just watching from the sidelines is frustrating as hell.
And since we’re at the same university, in the same department even, it’s impossible to avoid seeing her.
It’s hopeless, utterly hopeless.
“Sigh.”
Frustrated, I was poking at the meat on the grill when a loud noise suddenly came from the bench.
Thud!
I looked up to see what it was. Im Na-eun, drunk, had just slammed her head onto the table.
When did she drink so much?
“Hey, Im Na-eun. You okay?”
“Uuung… I wanna go home…”
She was responding, so she hadn’t passed out completely.
The Ajumma, who was sitting next to her, patted her on the back.
“It’s late, so why don’t you sleep over at my place tonight, hmm?”
It was clear she was in no state to go home alone.
But then, with her head still on the table, she started shaking it back and forth before suddenly snapping it up.
“N-No, I can’t… I really have to go home… If I don’t, if I don’t… Hic…!”
Seeing her suddenly start to sob, it didn’t seem like she was just drunk.
It looked like there was a real reason she had to go home…
What a pain, but I guess I have no choice.
I put down the tongs and scissors and walked over to her.
“I’ll take her home.”
As I said that and reached out my arm, someone suddenly grabbed my hand, stopping me.
It was Shin Yu-jeong.
“You… Ah, damn it. You stay here. I’ll take her.”
Why is she suddenly acting like this?
Her face says she doesn’t want to, but the reason she’s insisting is… aha.
Is it because she doesn’t want to leave me alone with a drunk Im Na-eun?
“I’ll be right back, so you help Mom clean up.”
“Okay, go on.”
“Be safe.”
Shin Yu-jeong headed down the stairs with a nearly unconscious Im Na-eun on her back.
Looking at the mess scattered across the rooftop, I started to think maybe I should have just offered to take her myself.
How are we going to clean all this up…
Eating was great, but the thought of cleaning made me sigh.
“Let’s clean up quickly so we can also get some res—?”
I was about to say we should clean up and rest.
But the look on the Ajumma’s face as she stared at me was anything but ordinary.
Uh, um.
Come to think of it, it’s just the two of us now, isn’t it?
“…Should we rest a little before we start?”
“……♥.”
Silence means yes.