Chapter 12
Chapter 12
“Teacher, over here!”
Startled by the voice calling out to me, I looked around and spotted a black sedan pulled over with its hazard lights blinking.
From the back seat, Han-gyeol was waving at me through a fully lowered window. At a glance, I could see the seat next to him was piled high with various items.
Bom hesitated for a moment, clutching her bag tightly.
I was planning on sitting in the back.
As she cautiously approached the car, the front passenger door swung wide open. Jae-gyu leaned across from the driver's seat to open it, his eyes sweeping over Bom.
“Wow, you look radiant today. Hop in.”
Her face flushed slightly. She was wearing a light sky-blue seersucker one-piece dress; though it was a casual outfit, she had actually put quite a bit of thought into choosing it.
“Oh, hello. Hi, Han-gyeol.”
“Hello, Teacher.”
Bom climbed into the passenger seat. Having ridden in this car once before, it felt strangely familiar. Since she had no desire to get used to it, a small sigh escaped her lips.
Sitting side-by-side like this felt burdensome. At the same time, she felt a flicker of anxiety, wondering if Jae-gyu would spout more nonsense in front of Han-gyeol.
In truth, today’s meeting hadn't been part of the plan.
Last week, it had been all well and good when the club decided to visit a renewable energy exhibition or a power plant once a semester.
The trouble started when they were deciding on a location and Han-gyeol made an unexpected suggestion.
[Let’s go to a place I know.]
[Hmm, where is it?]
[Right here. It’s a place my uncle runs.]
Han-gyeol had pulled out a tablet and pointed to a general location. Since it wasn't far from the school, the other students immediately showed interest.
[I guess he installed solar panels there. But there are plenty of places like that nearby. Should we go somewhere bigger?]
Even Bom, who didn't know much about the subject, knew that some households installed solar panels to earn a bit of pocket change.
Was this the renewable energy business Jae-gyu said he was running? That seemed like something anyone could do.
[Haha, no, it’s not like that. This place is huge.]
Han-gyeol used his thumb and forefinger to zoom in on the map app. A vast stretch of flat land appeared at the foot of Mount Shinsu.
[From here to here is all my uncle’s land. Every part that isn't covered in trees is packed with solar panels.]
[All that land belongs to your uncle...?]
[Yes. He also runs a company that does R&D for renewable energy. It’s small, though.]
With a company to his name and a significant amount of land, it finally clicked for Bom. This was the energy business Han-gyeol had mentioned.
This would actually be a perfect place for a field trip...
While Bom was examining the tablet, Han-gyeol called Jae-gyu to get permission for the visit. Jae-gyu agreed, but on the condition that they come for a preliminary inspection first.
In the end, the Green Energy Club had managed to tie Bom down.
And so, on this Saturday morning, Bom found herself heading out on this sudden scouting trip.
“The sunlight is lovely today,” she remarked casually.
Jae-gyu responded with an unexpectedly serious expression.
“I don’t think this is the time to be chatting idly about the sunlight.”
What was he talking about now?
“Hurry up and open the sunglass box. Pick a pair you like and put them on.”
“Wear sunglasses all of a sudden? Why?”
Assuming there was a reason, Bom did as she was told and rummaged through the glove box.
“I feel like you need to cover up, and fast. I’m suggesting this because driving while blinded by my Bom-i is a serious safety hazard.”
Her hand stopped mid-search. Bom promptly snapped the glove box shut.
“...Just drive.”
“...”
Fortunately, Han-gyeol was on the phone. Bom let out a breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
She averted her gaze from Jae-gyu’s flickering eyes and looked out the window. Thanks to Jae-gyu’s speeding, they had already almost cleared Cheongseol-eup.
The tall trees lining the road were in full bloom with white flowers. Bom watched the fluttering white petals in a daze.
Jae-gyu was humming an unrecognizable tune. It sounded a bit like a pop song, but also like something from India.
He didn't seem bothered at all by having to come out on the weekend. Bom began to steal glances at Jae-gyu as he drove.
Today, he was wearing a performance t-shirt again.
The tight-fitting black short-sleeved shirt suited him perfectly, as if it were a second skin. Come to think of it, seeing how he pulled off even the strangest clothes, she wondered if there was anything that didn't look good on him.
Why isn't he wearing his tattoo sleeves today? Isn't he treating the burn marks on his forearm? They look painful.
“Again. You’re doing it again.”
“Pardon?”
His peripheral vision must have been incredibly wide, as he seemed to sense her staring like a ghost.
“No matter how much you look, I’m still handsome, aren't I?”
“...”
I really shouldn't even look at him. Bom forced herself to stare straight ahead, avoiding Jae-gyu’s suggestive gaze.
She was still worried about what Han-gyeol might think, but he was still occupied with his call.
“Ah, Hyeong-seok. Why are you telling me that now?”
He was giving short responses like “Uh-huh” and “So?” but his voice was gradually getting louder. After speaking with a hint of irritation, Han-gyeol suddenly called out to Jae-gyu with the phone still pressed to his ear.
“Uncle.”
“Yeah?”
“Uncle, pull the car over for a second.”
Bom turned around, her eyes wide with surprise.
“Uncle, I think I have to go.”
“Okay. See ya.”
Without even asking what was wrong, Jae-gyu pulled over to the shoulder. Han-gyeol quickly opened the door.
“Teacher, I’ll head out first. You two go ahead and check out the site. Uncle, bye!”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“Wait? Han-gyeol!”
Thud.
As soon as the car door closed, Jae-gyu pulled back onto the road.
The whole thing happened so fast that Bom kept looking back. In the side mirror, Han-gyeol was growing smaller and smaller.
“How could you just let Han-gyeol out when you don't even know where we are?”
“He’ll figure it out. Why are you so worried? You’re like a mother hen.”
“No, but still...”
So it’s just me and this man?
Feeling faint, Bom squeezed her eyes shut and leaned her head against the window.
“Are you sleepy? I’ve got eleven years of experience. A single path of accident-free driving. You can close your eyes in peace.”
“I’m fine.”
The quiet road leading into the mountains was winding and seemed to go on forever.
Thanks to the clear weather, the greenery looked even more vibrant. The scent of flowering trees drifted in through the slightly cracked window.
“Bom-i.”
“Yes.”
“The scenery is nice here, isn't it?”
“Yes... Since summer is coming, everything is so green, and it smells wonderful...”
“Do you like Gardens?”
“Of course...”
I shouldn't... Her eyelids were growing heavier by the second.
Her insomnia had flared up again after the phone call from Yoon-cheong. Because she was falling asleep so late, drowsiness would hit her like this during the day.
It was the same sleepiness she couldn't fight off when Lee Jun had visited. He’d said she drooled. Even now, what Lee Jun said felt strange. Drooling in her sleep?
That’s impossible... Surely he was lying.
As these fragmented thoughts drifted through her mind, Bom eventually drifted off to sleep without realizing it.
Thump, thump. It was quite a while later when the smooth ride was interrupted. Bom’s head bumped against the window, waking her up completely.
Soon, an unfamiliar landscape came into view.
“Where... are we?”
It was a parking lot covered in gravel. Jae-gyu, who had parked in front of a large building, turned off the engine and spoke.
“It’s called Taereung Garden. The meat here is incredibly delicious.”
“What? Why are we here?”
“You said you liked Gardens.”
I’ve been tricked.
Bom slowly unbuckled her seatbelt and bit her lip. Since it was true that she was hungry, she resigned herself to the situation and followed Jae-gyu into the restaurant.
It was a typical "Garden" style restaurant, with floor seating and an interior decorated in dark wood.
Bom looked around the interior with curiosity as she took off her shoes.
“Wow. Look how tiny your feet are.”
Jae-gyu marveled as he picked them up and tucked them into the shoe rack.
“Oh, I could have done that myself!”
“They’re like baby feet. Baby feet.”
As if he were a regular, Jae-gyu led Bom to a spot he seemed to know well.
“This is the best seat.”
Jae-gyu tucked his car keys into his waistband and strode further inside.
As the man, built like a tiger, walked in, she noticed several customers stealing glances at him. Then again, Bom herself had thought he was a mobster when she first saw him in the staff room, so she could understand those looks.
Following behind him, Bom found herself genuinely admiring his back.
That doesn't look like a body built just through exercise.
Beneath his broad back, where his shoulder blades stood out without a hint of excess fat, his firm waist looked exceptionally striking today.
Accustomed to the attention, Jae-gyu strode toward a window seat overlooking a small garden. He then placed a cushion down for Bom to sit on.
“Bom-i, you didn't eat before you left, did you? My intuition is legendary. You must be starving.”
“A little...”
“Alright then. Let’s see.”
Bom followed Jae-gyu’s gaze to the large menu posted on the wall.
Written in bold calligraphy, the menu listed various types of baeksuk, including chicken and duck.
“Do you know how to eat duck baeksuk?”
“Yes, I can eat it, but...”
Just then, a middle-aged man who appeared to be the owner approached with a large tray and laid out a series of side dishes. They were all clean and appetizing, including seasoned mung bean jelly and wild greens.
“It’s been a while, President Seon.”
The owner recognized Jae-gyu and greeted him. The two briefly exchanged pleasantries.
“Alright then, boss. Let’s go with the Lacquer Tree and Neungi Mushroom Duck Soup.”
“Sure. Have you two had lacquer before? No allergies?”
The owner asked, looking back and forth between Bom and Jae-gyu.
Bom nodded, remembering having eaten lacquer chicken soup at a staff dinner before. Jae-gyu let out a snort and a smirk.
“Allergies? Please. I’m in peak physical condition.”