Epilogue 11
Translator: RaidenTL
Epilogue 11
They unpacked their things in the second-floor guest room, the one Eun-seong's parents typically used. Han-byeol was already fast asleep in the attic, and soon, the lights in the house began to go out one by one.
"Goodnight."
Yeon-ju offered a quiet goodnight to Mrs. Park as she headed upstairs with a glass of water. Her mother-in-law beamed.
"Sweet dreams, Yeon-ju. If the blankets or pillows are uncomfortable, you have to let me know, alright?"
"Yes, I will."
"I'm already so excited just thinking about seeing you all again tomorrow morning. Let's greet each other with smiles then, too. Sleep well."
Mrs. Park waved like an excited child. As Yeon-ju headed up to the second floor, she paused on the stairs, waiting until she heard the door to her parents-in-law's bedroom click shut.
Letting out a soft sigh, she sat down on the steps. After a full day immersed in unfamiliar, high-pitched chatter and laughter, the sudden silence felt almost jarring. She sat there quietly, lost in thought, still dazed by their overwhelming hospitality. She couldn't quite grasp how any of this was happening.
"...I'm being so silly."
As the anxiety that had coiled tightly in her chest finally unraveled, tears welled up in her eyes. Why have I become such a crybaby? Taking a deep, silent breath, Yeon-ju wiped her face.
'Thank you for becoming a part of our family. I hope you live a joyful and happy life. If you do, Han-byeol will naturally be happy just by following his mom and dad. I'm sure of it.'
She had expected a harsh scolding. She had braced herself to be told she'd done something foolish, that she had clouded her son's future. From a parent's perspective, that would have been the natural reaction. If the roles were reversed and this had happened to Han-byeol, she would have felt the same. That was why Yeon-ju had entered this house with a heart heavy with apology.
But this home… Happiness seemed to cling to every corner, a feeling that went beyond the simple stability and comfort it provided. The house reflected the personalities and values of its owners, feeling like a place where even temporary worries and misfortunes would be transformed into joy.
She felt as though she understood something profound, yet at the same time, she understood nothing at all.
Recalling her mother-in-law's words about being excited to see them tomorrow, Yeon-ju finally stood up. Tomorrow, I'll talk more. I'll laugh more.
With that small resolution, she opened the door to the room she was sharing with Eun-seong. He had mostly finished unpacking and looked up as she entered.
"My mom kept you for a while."
Instead of answering, Yeon-ju just offered a small smile. Eun-seong raised an eyebrow. He knew better than anyone how draining it was to match the energy of his hyperactive, high-spirited mother, especially for someone as quiet and calm as Yeon-ju.
"You did well. It must have been exhausting."
"Huh? What did I do to be exhausted?"
"Just breathing in the same room as her is exhausting. Trust me."
"I actually enjoyed it. Though I was so shocked at first that I kind of lost my mind for a bit."
Eun-seong chuckled, taking the water from her and setting it on a table. Yeon-ju sat on the edge of the bed and watched him.
"I'm a little curious. Have you ever been seriously scolded by your mother or father?"
"Me? Hmm."
Eun-seong tilted his head back, as if searching through hazy memories. He stood still for a moment, closed his eyes, opened them, and then tilted his head again.
"I don't think I've ever been seriously scolded. But I do remember getting caught jaywalking by my mom when I was a kid. She made me stand right there on the spot all day holding a 'No Jaywalking' sign."
"Oh. That must have been so embarrassing."
"Worse than that, my mom was right there in front of me, singing. The trauma still hasn't faded."
Eun-seong shook his head as if recalling a horrific memory, making Yeon-ju burst into laughter. They were a fun family.
"I think you two are alike."
"Don't say such terrifying things."
"I mean you and Han-byeol. You're alike."
At the mention of Han-byeol, Eun-seong's gaze shifted to her. Yeon-ju shrugged and continued.
"Han-byeol has always been obsessed with dramas and movies. I thought he got it from my mom, since she loves them, but I guess not. Your mother said you loved them as a kid, too."
"Ah, right. She said I used to role-play all the time."
"Han-byeol did that, too."
Eun-seong sat down on the bed beside her, prompting her to continue.
"And now that I look closer, your eating habits are similar, and even the way you sleep is the same."
"Our eating habits are pretty similar. We both love chocolate and seafood."
"And you're both stubborn."
"I don't think he got that from me. I think he got that from a certain someone sitting right next to me."
When Eun-seong flatly denied it, Yeon-ju gave him a playful glare. He nudged her with his shoulder.
"Stubborn, clear about what he likes and dislikes, and absolutely refuses to do anything he doesn't want to do."
"So? Are you trying to say he gets all of that from me?"
Hmph. Yeon-ju let out a soft huff and pouted. She wanted to argue, but since it was true, she couldn't find the words.
Eun-seong wrapped an arm around her waist and smiled gently. Downstairs, his parents were sleeping. In the attic above, their son was asleep.
It was a warm, happy moment.
As they shared quiet breaths, Yeon-ju leaned against his shoulder, reflecting on the day. Eun-seong tilted his head and kissed her.
His tongue brushed against her naturally parted lips, and Yeon-ju's hands curled into loose fists. His warm breath ghosting over her skin felt incredibly tender, and his familiar scent filled her senses.
His hand, unmistakably warm, slid up her back. Yeon-ju pulled her lips away and looked at his face, just inches from hers.
"Y-your parents are downstairs."
"And?"
With a deft flick of his fingers, the clasp of her bra popped open. Her chest was suddenly free, and she drew a sharp, involuntary breath.
"Wait. Hold on a second."
He had no intention of stopping. His hand slid from her back to her front, cupping her breast. Yeon-ju's eyes widened.
"No, wait. I said wait—"
"Go ahead and talk. I'm listening."
"Your parents. Your parents are right downstairs."
"What about them?"
Eun-seong pressed forward, and Yeon-ju lost her balance, falling backward onto the bed. The moment her head hit the pillow, he pulled off his T-shirt, tossed it aside, and leaned over her.
Another long kiss followed, as if to silence her. Meanwhile, his hands grew bolder. With every touch of her soft skin, his breathing grew heavier, his tongue sweeping through her mouth more insistently.
When they finally parted, Yeon-ju gasped for air. His gaze made it clear he wasn't going to listen to a word she said, so she could only watch as he kicked off his pants.
"What if your parents find out…?"
"Stop talking about my parents and focus on me."
As Eun-seong pressed his body against hers and moved his lips to her neck, Yeon-ju squeezed her eyes shut. A soft moan escaped her at the ticklish, burning sensation, and she quickly covered her mouth, her eyes flying open in alarm.
Eun-seong then pulled her dress up and slipped it off over her head.
"Whether my parents wake up or not is entirely up to you now."
"..."
"If you want to wake them, don't hold back. I don't mind."
Yeon-ju clenched her teeth, swallowing the sounds that threatened to escape.
"The bed… what if the bed squeaks…?" she mumbled, worried to the very end.
Eun-seong pushed himself up and looked down at her. His eyes scanned the room as if searching for a solution to her anxiety, and then a slow smile spread across his face.
"Then we won't do it on the bed."
"Ah…!"
This time, her entire body was lifted into his arms.
* * *
"Oh my goodness. Did you toss and turn all night? I guess the bedding wasn't to your liking."
The next morning, Mrs. Park noticed the slightest hint of exhaustion on her dear daughter-in-law's face and asked with deep concern. Yeon-ju forced a smile.
"No, I slept very comfortably. Really."
"Is that so? It wasn't uncomfortable? I personally love the crisp feel of goose down, but some people dislike that kind of blanket."
"I like it, too."
"If anything is uncomfortable, you must tell me, okay? I'd hate for you to have any unpleasant memories here."
Actually, the blanket wasn't the problem…
Your son was the problem…
"Yes, I'll let you know. Please don't worry, Mother."
Holding back the words she could never say, Yeon-ju smiled brightly. She shot a split-second glare at Eun-seong, who was casually drinking water beside her, before following Mrs. Park's lead and toasting some bread.
"Ah, so refreshing. What a wonderful morning."
As if!
When Eun-seong stretched his shoulders and remarked how exceptionally refreshing the morning was, Yeon-ju scowled at him.
"Mom, Yeon-ju is glaring at me."
This man, seriously!
"Really? Then you must have done something wrong. Think about it carefully. A person needs to recognize their own mistakes. Otherwise, how are you any different from an animal? Think hard. Or, apologizing first and reflecting later isn't a bad idea, either."
"Where's Dad?"
"He took Han-byeol out for a walk. Han-byeol woke up early and came downstairs. They probably went to the nearby lake."
Mrs. Park was practically buzzing with excitement. She squeezed fresh oranges and prepared a simple brunch, pairing it with lightly brewed coffee.
"Now, let's eat quickly and hurry. We have to welcome some very special guests today, so we all need to be at our best."
Mrs. Park filled a glass with orange juice and handed it to Yeon-ju. As Yeon-ju, who was spreading fig jam on her toast, took the glass with both hands, Mrs. Park raised her own glass as if for a toast.
"Alright, let's do our best today! Let's get this party started!"
"Yes, Mother! Let's do this! Aja aja!"
"Aja aja? I like that! Aja aja! Nice, aja aja!"
Ignoring Eun-seong, who had no intention of joining in, Yeon-ju and Mrs. Park clinked their glasses. After a few sips of refreshing juice, Mrs. Park continued with a wide grin.
"You know, I'm so excited my heart feels like it's going to burst. This is going to be such a joyful occasion, don't you think?"
"Yes, I think so too, Mother."
"I'm so happy! It feels like angels have descended upon the earth! I love it! This is so exciting!"
"Mom, can we please just eat in peace…?"
"Thank you, Lord! Thank you for bringing such happiness to our family! Amen! Aja aja, amen!"
Staring at his mother's stream-of-consciousness rambling, Eun-seong took a bite of his toast with a deadpan expression. Just then, Yeon-ju stepped firmly on his foot under the table. He glanced back at his mother.
"Mom, Yeon-ju just stepped on my foot."
"Didn't I tell you? Apologizing first and reflecting later is a good strategy. Gather your courage and apologize to Yeon-ju. How long are you going to live like an animal?"
"...Just drink your juice."
Eun-seong chewed on his lightly buttered toast, studiously avoiding Yeon-ju's burning gaze.
There was a reason Mrs. Park was so exceptionally excited.
Today, Yeon-ju's mother and Hae-young were scheduled to arrive from Korea.