Chapter 56
Chapter 56
A wave of worry washed over Bom.
She hesitated, wondering how she should respond if Jae-gyu asked her to be his girlfriend.
When follow-up offers came after a Blind Date, she'd always gotten her parents' confirmation. But this was different. This was real dating.
"Real dating..."
From the poorly soundproofed bathroom, Jae-gyu's humming and the sound of running water drifted out. His carefree sounds made her spirits lift, little by little.
Replying that she'd consider it positively would probably be the safest bet, right?
Bom decided to practice her answer. She cleared her throat and said calmly.
"I'll consider your words positively."
Too stiff.
"Then, I'll think about it positively."
"Think about what?"
"Ack!"
The bathroom door was a sliding type, so she hadn't even noticed it opening. Jae-gyu stood there blankly, watching Bom, then casually sat down beside her.
"Who were you talking to?"
"...I'm going to wash up."
Bom grabbed her clothes and scurried into the bathroom, washing herself with cold water. It felt like she absolutely needed to cool down.
⋆★⋆
Grrrrowl—
This was already the sixth time. She felt Jae-gyu's gaze, but Bom pretended not to notice, leaning her head against the window.
"Aish, I told you we should've eaten something."
"...I told you, I don't usually eat breakfast."
After passionately intertwining five times, the two had fallen into a deep sleep last night.
Jae-gyu had woken up first and tidied the room, then suggested beef and rice soup to Bom, who woke up later.
But Bom flatly refused. She didn't want to eat a single grain of rice in Haechon Village, where everyone looked down on Jae-gyu.
She wasn't usually one to eat breakfast, so she thought she'd be fine, but her stomach had been rumbling continuously since they set off. Since she hadn't eaten anything since yesterday...
Bom bit her lip every time Jae-gyu glanced at her while driving.
"I'll stop at a rest area."
With that, Jae-gyu turned the wheel and entered Haman Rest Area, heading towards Suncheon.
It was quite large and, more importantly, clean. Bom's eyes widened. It was quite different from the old rest areas in her memory, and she couldn't quite adjust.
The rest areas she'd briefly stopped at during school retreats were old buildings with crude souvenir shops and stores selling trot CDs as their main attractions, offering little else to see.
Recalling those dull rest areas, Bom mumbled something.
"Roasted baby potatoes..."
She felt Jae-gyu subtly smile. Bom now had no choice but to say something.
"Should we get some roasted baby potatoes?"
Do they still sell them? She craned her neck, looking outside, when the car stopped. After parking, the two got out and headed towards the rest area building. There was no need to ask if they sold roasted baby potatoes.
The savory scent of butter wafted into her nose. Jae-gyu raised his arm and pointed to a booth.
"Over there, they have glutinous rice twisted donuts, roasted baby potatoes, well, everything. Should we eat and then grab something to go?"
"...Okay. I was hungry for a meal."
"Well, it's like a food court. The beef and rice soup here tastes pretty good."
Bom followed Jae-gyu inside. Looking at the kiosk, there were quite a lot of menu items. Bom also decided to have the beef and rice soup.
Their number ticket came out, and the two found a seat. Bom's face, as she looked around, was flushed.
"You were really hungry, weren't you? Your face has brightened up now because you're happy."
"Huh?"
Bom sipped the water Jae-gyu poured for her and said softly.
"It's my first time eating at a rest area... so it's fascinating."
She was having many new and interesting experiences while with Jae-gyu. The system was that when your waiting number appeared on the electronic display, you'd go pick up your food.
"We're number 162."
She was nervously watching only the electronic display, afraid to miss it, when Jae-gyu burst out laughing, looking at the tense Bom, finding something so amusing.
"Oh? It says 162. That's strange."
"Wait here."
Jae-gyu sprang up and returned, carrying two trays at once. She thought they'd have to wait for a long time, so she couldn't believe it was already ready.
The red broth was packed with ingredients. The spicy aroma stimulated her appetite.
"This is incredibly hot. Blow on it before you eat."
Having said that, Jae-gyu immediately scooped up some broth with his spoon, slurped it down, then groaned in pain.
"Damn it, this is hotter than ginger tea."
"..."
"Eat the side dishes first, Bom."
He should take his own advice. Bom picked at the braised black beans that came as a side dish, watching the TV on the wall. Perhaps because it was summer vacation season, a water park commercial was playing.
"We only saw the sea but couldn't go in. A shame, isn't it?"
"It's fine. I didn't really want to play in the water there."
"Then, should we go somewhere else for water activities?"
"Okay."
Bom, who had answered thoughtlessly, was about to backtrack but simply closed her mouth.
She couldn't swim, but she thought it would be fun to go swimming with Jae-gyu. She felt reassured by the vague expectation that he would save her even if she fell into the water.
"Then where should we..."
Bom's face stiffened as she was about to ask, "...go?" On the TV screen, a preview for the drama 'Operation Winter' was playing. Amidst the rapidly changing highlight scenes, her mother Jung Nan-hee's face also appeared.
Jae-gyu, who had been staring at the screen, exclaimed in admiration.
"That drama has a lot of actors making a comeback after a long time."
"..."
"That actress's eyes look a bit like yours, Bom. Her nose too, hmm, and her mouth a bit... Her face shape too...?"
Bom picked up her spoon and put a mouthful of the slightly cooled beef and rice soup into her mouth. She kept her gaze fixed on the soup and said.
"That's my mom."
Jae-gyu looked back and forth between the TV screen and Bom, grinning.
"I'd really believe she was your mom."
"...She really is my mom."
Bom's voice dropped. Nan-hee had nothing to be ashamed of publicly. There were no issues whatsoever like drunk driving, traffic accidents, drugs, scandals, infidelity, solicitations, or power abuse, and thanks to her early retirement, she had spent little time in the public eye.
However, that didn't mean she could casually tell others.
The moment she revealed her family member was a celebrity, people would become interested and act rudely.
Not a few people secretly took photos of Bom and sent them to their acquaintances, claiming she was Jung Nan-hee's daughter.
But to Jae-gyu, who had revealed everything about himself, Bom also wanted to be honest. Even though she didn't know what attitude Jae-gyu would take.
"Wow, so your mother-in-law was also a beauty, just like you, Bom?"
"Isn't it the other way around? I resemble my mom..."
"The person I know is Bom, so I should say she resembles the person I know."
Is that so? As she tilted her head, Jae-gyu slurped down his beef and rice soup and said.
"You know that Gyeongsang-do Style Beef Radish Soup is red, right?"
"Isn't it clear?"
"I make that incredibly well. Han-gyeol even tells me to open a restaurant. Want to come eat it next week?"
"...Okay."
Bom looked at the TV screen again. The preview had long ended, and another commercial was playing. Thanks to Jae-gyu's straightforward reaction, her mood didn't sink.
The beef and rice soup tasted good.
"I'm all done."
"Shall we grab some roasted baby potatoes and a coffee each to go?"
"Sounds good."
The line was quite long, so Jae-gyu had Bom wait in the car.
Watching Jae-gyu approach from a distance, carrying a coffee carrier and roasted baby potatoes, Bom thought seriously.
'Why... isn't he asking me to be his girlfriend?'
It was the same when they arrived in Cheongseol-eup. Jae-gyu drove Bom all the way to her doorstep.
"Please take good care of Bom-sik."
On the way, Jae-gyu had talked to Han-gyeol on the phone. To Han-gyeol, who sounded very disappointed that they were arriving soon, Bom said he could stay another night. Jae-gyu, Bom-sik's father, also said he had something to do with Bom-sik. She didn't know what that was, though.
Since he said he'd bring Bom-sik tomorrow, she would see him again tomorrow, but...
"I'll be going now."
Jae-gyu left for his house, leaving only those words behind. Feeling unsettled, Bom spent the lonely night reading a book.
Bom took out A Guide for First Love and, as she studied the unread latter half, her eyes widened at Chapter 8.
"...Push and pull?"
⋆★⋆
"Uncle, did you just talk to Teacher?"
Just as Jae-gyu tossed his phone into the corner of the bed, Han-gyeol knocked and entered the room. Bom-sik was with him, at his feet.
"No."
"It sounded like you were arguing, with all that shouting. What's going on?"
Han-gyeol sat down by the head of the bed where Jae-gyu was sprawled out. Then he picked up Bom-sik, who was struggling to get up, and plopped him onto Jae-gyu's stomach.
"That must be 7.5 kilograms."
"I asked what's going on."
Usually, when Han-gyeol asked like this, Jae-gyu would tell him most things and discuss them together. But this time, he couldn't. Jae-gyu changed the subject.
"Academy starts tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah. But Se-jin is in class A, and I'm in class B."
"Is it based on grades?"
"They had a test when I registered, and it seems that's how the classes are decided. I need to study hard and get into class A."
Han-gyeol, who had been saying he wouldn't go to college since middle school, had recently changed his mind. Jae-gyu remembered Bom persuading him earlier and readily decided to encourage him.
"Do you think you can get into a university in Seoul?"
"Well, I'll only know if I try."
"If you go to Seoul, you'll need someone to look after you."
"Am I a kid?"
"To me, you're still a kid."
Talking like this made him realize that he didn't have much time left with Han-gyeol. It would feel a bit empty if this kid suddenly left for Seoul, but...
'It's been good for over ten years thanks to Han-gyeol, so that's enough.'
Jae-gyu abruptly sat up, put Han-gyeol in a headlock, and playfully rubbed his head with his fist.
"Ah, why suddenly!"
"Work hard! I'll give you everything you need."
"Why are you saying that while doing this, ack!"
Even as he struggled, Han-gyeol was giggling. Seeing him laugh even though he'd used a fair bit of strength, he was definitely all grown up.
After Han-gyeol left, Jae-gyu picked up the phone he'd tossed aside. He remembered what Hee-yeon had said earlier.
[I showed a few photos of Han-gyeol to the company, and they said they want to sign him immediately. Let me see Han-gyeol for a bit. It's about time he saw his mom's face.]