Country Life with My Ex and Childhood Friend!
To reach the West Sea, Sihyun and Yerin were riding a highway bus.
Humming a little tune about how long it had been since she'd last visited her grandmother's house, Yerin tried to rest her head on Sihyun's shoulder—only for the seat divider to block her.
"Ugh... If I'd known it would be like this, I never would've booked the premium seats."
"What's wrong with premium? They're comfortable."
Yerin shot a disapproving look at Sihyun, who had already kicked off his shoes and was half-reclined.
"Honestly, you have zero romance. Zero."
Sihyun tilted his head, wondering what he'd done wrong to earn that scolding while just sitting quietly.
Pouting at the window for a while, Yerin suddenly brightened.
"Come to think of it, Sihyun, you've met my grandma a few times. Do you remember her?"
"Of course. She never missed a single sports day or parents' observation class."
Even if childhood memories were hazy, the image of her kind face had stayed with him.
I never understood why her parents never came and it was always just her grandmother...
Despite knowing Yerin for so long, Sihyun had never once met her parents. Whenever he asked, the answer was always that they were busy with work. Later she would awkwardly change the subject, so he knew there must be some reason.
What on earth do her parents do for a living...?
The question lingered, but he couldn't force answers out of someone who clearly didn't want to give them. Everyone had things they preferred to keep private.
"Sihyun, want a bite?"
"Sure."
Still half-dazed, Sihyun bit into the triangle kimbap Yerin held out. The spicy kick of stir-fried pork filled his mouth; he chewed slowly and swallowed.
Watching him carefully, Yerin's lips curved upward.
"Oh... You just ate it without a second thought."
"What?"
"The part you just bit. That was where I took a bite first."
She giggled and tapped his lips lightly with her index finger.
"So an indirect kiss doesn't even faze you anymore, huh?"
The moment Yerin switched into full fox-mode, Sihyun's face flushed crimson at record speed. When she pressed a hand to his cheek and felt the heat, the reaction was so adorable she nearly lost her mind.
Maybe I should just devour him right here.
Yerin licked her lips while staring at him. She had agreed to wait, but deep down she wanted to start dating him as soon as possible.
"Want another bite?"
"I'm good. You eat it."
"Tch... Look at you getting all shy."
Back on the train he had talked like he could conquer someone like her whenever he wanted, yet now he couldn't even manage that.
Knowing he was conscious of her made Yerin happy every single time she looked at him...
"I can't take it anymore!"
She pulled his head firmly against her chest. The fruity scent of her perfume was sweet, but the overwhelming softness made it hard for Sihyun to breathe.
Having survived every temptation, a thoroughly exhausted Sihyun climbed off the bus. After giving the village name to a taxi driver, they rode for several dozen minutes until they reached the outskirts of their destination.
"From here it's about a ten-minute walk to Grandma's house."
"Pretty far..."
They walked side by side with the sea right next to them, breathing in the briny air. The weather was hot, yet the ocean breeze kept them from sweating.
"I heard the West Sea is dirty, but looking at it now, it doesn't seem that way."
"Of course not. That's just prejudice. Pure prejudice."
Yerin puffed her cheeks and started listing the West Sea's charms, but Sihyun, lost in thought, barely heard her.
So this is the place Yerin used to visit every vacation.
As a child, Yerin would vanish the moment school let out for break and reappear just before classes resumed, skin tanned dark and face beaming as she announced she'd been at her grandma's. The memory was still vivid.
While he walked lost in reminiscence, an elderly woman in the distance began waving at them.
"Aigoo, our Yerin's here!"
"Yes!"
Up close, it wasn't Yerin's grandmother. Probably a longtime village acquaintance.
"And who's this next to ya? Don't tell me it's yer boyfriend?"
"That's right!"
Without a moment's hesitation Yerin answered and hugged Sihyun's arm. He started to deny it, then simply sighed and greeted the old woman politely.
"Y'all are at the best age... Our Yerin's a good girl, so take real good care of her, hear?"
"Yes, ma'am..."
Sihyun scratched the back of his head as he answered. The old woman nodded in satisfaction. Watching quietly, Yerin tilted her head.
"By the way, do you know where my grandma is?"
"She said she was headin' home early 'cause you two were comin'. Go on in and see her."
"Thank you~!"
After saying goodbye they followed the path until they reached a modest thatched-roof house. Yerin's steps quickened; she flung the door open and called out in a cutesy voice.
"Grandma~!"
"You're here."
Yerin was so happy she hugged her grandmother and bounced on her toes. The old woman patted her back the way one soothes an excited puppy, then finally noticed Sihyun standing awkwardly to the side.
"Ain't you Sihyun?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Aigoo... You've grown so tall!"
She seemed even more delighted to see him than her own granddaughter. When she gave his backside a couple of fond pats, Sihyun managed an awkward smile.
"You must be starvin'. Just gotta dish up the rice, so go on in and sit yourselves down."
"Yes!"
Before long the table was covered with dishes. Sihyun eyed them with a meaningful look.
Eel, oysters, abalone, octopus, shrimp... Being by the sea, I guess seafood is inevitable.
He flinched the moment he spotted the eel, but surely his grandmother wouldn't have any impure motives with a meal she'd prepared herself.
"This old lady don't ask for much... Just wantin' to see a chubby little great-grandbaby before I die is enough for me."
"Kyaaa! Grandma, really...!"
Impure motives... probably none.
While Sihyun broke out in a cold sweat, Yerin cheerfully placed a huge piece of eel on his rice bowl.
"Eat lots, Sihyun. You'll need your strength later... so fill up."
Strength for what, exactly? Sihyun nodded with a complicated expression and began eating.
Watching them fondly, the grandmother handed Yerin some eel as well.
"You know a baby grows on its mama's nutrients, right? You gotta eat plenty so your little one comes out nice and plump."
"Okay!"
That day Yerin cleaned every last dish on the table.
Meanwhile, at the same hour...
Still wearing her panda pajamas, Chaeyeon had just woken up and was flipping through a red photo album.
Flip.
The plastic sleeves were covered in fingerprints from how often she had touched them. Every single photo had one thing in common: Sihyun was in it. Chaeyeon gazed at them with a face full of bliss.
"This one's from when we went to the aquarium. Sihyun was smiling so cutely watching the dolphin show..."
Next, the amusement park.
"Wearing animal-ear headbands with the red sunset behind us... The lady who took the picture even said we made a perfect couple."
The university festival.
"This is us dancing around the campfire in the middle of the grounds... We were both so bad at dancing we kept stepping on each other's feet."
An album she had already gone through hundreds of times just to relive the memories. Ever since breaking up with Sihyun she had felt so lonely that she had spent the entire vacation staring at nothing else.
"...I wonder what Sihyun is doing right now."
The more she looked at the photos, the more she missed the real person. She hoped he was home sleeping soundly. Meeting no one, staying that way until the new semester.
"He wouldn't be with Yerin... right?"
When the MT ended and everyone was leaving, the atmosphere between those two had felt strange. The way they looked at each other had changed. At the time Chaeyeon had been seized by a vague unease watching them.
"If they end up dating, it'll be a disaster..."
She quickly shook her head. Her jet-black hair swayed from side to side with the motion.
Get a grip... Sihyun would never do that.
To stop feeling this anxiety she needed to shake off her trauma as soon as possible, yet even with steady counseling there was no sign of improvement.
"The next session is still far off... How am I supposed to kill time?"
Was vacation always this boring? Feeling Sihyun's absence more and more, Chaeyeon clutched her head while flipping through the calendar. Then her eyes landed on the family photo on her desk.
Mom...
Ever since she started dating Sihyun, Chaeyeon had minimized contact with her mother. Deep down she resented Suyeon for planting the trauma in her.
She never poured that resentment out directly, though. As her daughter she knew better than anyone what kind of past Suyeon carried.
Chaeyeon didn't want to pile extra burdens onto a mother who was already struggling.
Come to think of it, we barely even talk these days...
How were both of them doing? The last time she had visited was during winter break. This time she decided she would show her face again.
And... I should try talking with Mom.
A conversation with her mother might hold the key to resolving the trauma. Since she was the one who had instilled those twisted ideas, if Chaeyeon could persuade her, there was a chance her own psychological problems would heal as well.
"If I can fix it... then I'll finally confess to Sihyun."
For the man she loved, Chaeyeon resolved to cast off her trauma before the new semester. Now that she had a goal, waiting was a luxury. She hurriedly packed her things, called a taxi, and headed for her family home.