Chapter 79
Chapter 79
I had resolved to tell her everything honestly, but when I actually saw Mom's face, I couldn't help but tremble. But I can't live like this forever. Bom quietly nodded and sat down opposite her.
"Bom, it's already been two years since you came down here. Ugh, but why is it so hot here?"
Nan-hee, who had waved off Bom's offer to bring out some iced tea and made her sit back down, seemed to be feeling the heat, as she frowned and looked for the air conditioner. Bom quickly turned on the air conditioner, and a cool breeze began to flow out. Only then did the bustling Nan-hee calm down.
"Anyway, Mom knows you've had a hard time in this countryside. I know, but what happened with Prosecutor Choi?"
The question came exactly as expected. It wasn't a scolding tone. However, Bom's heart felt heavy watching her mother click her tongue, as if she couldn't understand.
"Bom, you're not an idiot. How could you have blown such a good opportunity? Huh?"
"Mom, how is that a good opportunity?"
"Why, are you worried you can't come to Seoul? Prosecutor Choi said he was coming to Seoul too, you fool."
No. I told her it wasn't like that with Choi Yi-jun, but how far did she think things had progressed? Bom swallowed a sigh.
"Mom, I really never even thought about marriage... or anything like that with Choi Yi-jun. I told you I didn't like him."
"Then what? There aren't many well-rounded men in Seoul these days, you know."
"..."
"Hmph. Wait. There are a few, but their looks are just..."
It was stifling. Her mother, acting as if marriage was the only goal in life, was both terrible and pitiful. How unhappy must her marriage to her father have been?
Thinking this, her resolve hardened even more. The things she had planned for this vacation weren't in vain.
"Stop it, Mom. I don't want to go back to Seoul."
"What?"
Nan-hee, who had been rummaging through her photo album on her phone to show Bom something, looked up.
"...I have someone I'm dating."
"What? Are you crazy? You didn't meet him in this backwater, did you?"
On the surface, she seemed calm, but in reality, Bom's heart was pounding wildly.
Her mother had always strived to send her to a better family than anyone else. She, too, had lived thinking that was the best. Until she met Jae-gyu. But now...
"He's a trustworthy and good person."
"What does he do? What do his parents do?"
She was stumped by the first question. To avoid showing her nervousness, Bom slowly took a deep breath.
She had prepared herself for Nan-hee to scream when she heard the answer. Bom spoke faster and clearer than ever, so her mother wouldn't have a chance to interrupt.
"He runs a renewable energy business here, and his parents aren't around."
"..."
More terrifying than a scream was the silence. Bom, who had been squeezing her eyes shut in that silence, slowly opened them. Nan-hee had, at some point, put Bom-sik down and was staring intently at Bom.
"You're crazy, Yoon Bom."
"..."
"This is all your father's fault. What was so important that he sent you all the way here? I had a bad feeling about it anyway. It's a good thing I came down. Ugh, it gives me the creeps."
Nan-hee shivered, wrapping her arms around her shoulders and rubbing them as if she had a chill. As she replayed Bom's words, her voice grew louder, as if she was getting angrier.
"Listen carefully! You're just going to quit school. Let's go back up with Mom right now. I shouldn't have sent you here. Pack your bags, now."
"Mom! If you just listen to me a little more..."
"What's there to listen to? Of all the nerve!"
"Mom, he's the person I'm dating. Why are you like this? It's my life. Don't interfere!"
Nan-hee's mouth fell open.
"...You're really not in your right mind."
"I didn't decide this lightly, I've thought about it for a really long time..."
How should she explain Jae-gyu? Bom felt helpless. Even though she had braced herself, her heart ached as if it would split.
She hated her stubborn mother, but still wanted her mother to understand. She also had the desire for her to accept Jae-gyu.
"When I'm with him, I laugh and I'm happy. Mom, I've never felt this way before. I'm so sorry to disappoint your expectations. But he's a really good person."
"...Yoon Bom, snap out of it."
Sensing the gravity of the situation, her mother lowered her voice significantly. Then she brought up the story of herself and Yoon Jung-gi. It was a story Bom had heard countless times. Laments about how much she regretted choosing him.
"Huh? Do you think there's anything left for Mom now that I married him, completely blinded? I'm left with nothing, absolutely nothing."
In the past, she would have agreed, but now that she was dating Jae-gyu, she saw things she hadn't seen before. Was what her mother claimed truly love?
"Mom, you also fell for the condition of him being a professor. Now you're just coveting something else. You started it calculatingly, just like you're forcing me to."
"You...!"
"You said you regretted it, didn't you? I don't want to regret it. That's why I'm doing this."
Knock— knock-knock— knock-knock— knock—
At the familiar rhythm of the knock, Bom's head turned towards the front door. Her previously dark, sunken face instantly brightened.
"Who is it? You didn't call him, did you?"
Bom ran to the entrance without answering and flung the door open.
"Bom, I'm a little late."
Their eyes met, filled with delight. But that was only for a moment; Bom's worried gaze swept over Jae-gyu. She mouthed silently, exaggerating her lip movements.
'Jae-gyu, are you really going to be okay?'
Jae-gyu's lips curved into a wide smile. With a confident expression, Jae-gyu gave a thumbs-up.
'Don't worry. My charm is the best.'
The serious Bom chuckled softly at Jae-gyu's playful remark. She didn't know what would happen, but his silly words strangely reassured her.
"Come in."
"Excuse me for intruding."
Jae-gyu suddenly adopted a Seoul accent as he entered the house. As he took off his shoes, Jae-gyu noticed unfamiliar high heels in the entryway and took a sharp breath. In Jae-gyu's hand was a flower basket.
'It's the same as what I ordered.'
It was clear he had brought it on purpose. Meanwhile, Nan-hee, who had come out to the entryway with a stiff expression, met Jae-gyu.
"Oh...?"
"Huh?"
Both of them widened their eyes simultaneously. Bom, caught in the middle, couldn't quite grasp their reactions. Jae-gyu, after confirming Nan-hee's face and attire once more, happily spoke first.
"I didn't realize earlier because you were wearing sunglasses. Seeing you like this, I recognize you right away. You're a spitting image of Bom, wow."
"No, then Bom's boyfriend is..."
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Seon Jae-gyu."
"...I'm Bom's mother."
Jae-gyu pulled a crisp business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to the bewildered Nan-hee. Nan-hee meticulously scanned the card.
'[Why is your business card so fancy?]'
'[Running a business, I've learned that while substance is important, presentation is also crucial. You have to make an impact from the first impression to really win people over.]'
After messing up his own first impression with her, Jae-gyu would occasionally expound on his theories about first impressions. At the time, she found it absurd, but seeing her mother meticulously examine Jae-gyu's business card, she felt a sense of relief inside.
The thick, premium paper had a raised print, and beneath the company name 'JK Power Energy', 'CEO Seon Jae-gyu' was embossed. The back listed major businesses in an impressive way, giving it a 'look of importance'.
Whether this worked on Nan-hee or not, her expression subtly softened.
"But it's a company I've never heard of..."
"It's listed on KOSDAQ, but it's just in its infancy. Please keep an eye on us."
"Oh, really? If it's a listed company, then it has the basics down, at least..."
Jae-gyu nodded and led Nan-hee to the living room sofa. Nan-hee naturally followed Jae-gyu and sat on the sofa.
'Why do they seem to know each other?'
Seeing Bom's bewildered gaze, Jae-gyu spoke.
"Earlier, on my way to Bom's house, a car was about to fall into a ditch, so I helped pull it out."
"What? Such a thing...!"
"You had your face completely covered with sunglasses, but you're such a beauty that I briefly wondered if you might be Bom's mother. But then I thought you were supposed to arrive later, so I dismissed the idea."
Was it because of that? Or because of Jae-gyu's respectable appearance? The reason was unknown, but Nan-hee's earlier agitated demeanor was nowhere to be found. Not that she was exactly friendly, though.
"If I had known you were Bom's mother, I would have carried you here on my back, ha, you must have been surprised earlier."
"Well, a little..."
"That road isn't well-maintained, so things like that happen sometimes. I'll take a look at your car later."
How could he not be nervous like that? Was it because he was a businessman? Jae-gyu seemed completely at ease and comfortable, even with Nan-hee.
"No, there's no need for that."
"It's better to remove that mud from the front wheel before you drive. And when you're surprised like that, you should nourish your body. You like eel, don't you?"
"How did you know?"
How did he really know her mother's taste? Bom was surprised internally too.
"I guessed right. Let's go get some nourishment. How about now? Or would you prefer to look around the neighborhood first, then slowly?"
"Let's go now. No, I mean, not suddenly...!"
"Now is best, of course. I'll go down and cool the car for you, so come down slowly."
"Oh, my. I really wasn't planning on it..."
Somehow, it felt like her mother was being persuaded.
⋆★⋆
How did they end up having a meal together? Nan-hee's mind was troubled.
"Alright, this one's perfectly grilled. You two should each have one, nicely."
A perfectly grilled eel was placed on Nan-hee's plate, who had been looking out at the deep blue reservoir outside the window.
"Oh, my, I'll eat it myself."
"Oh, come on, things like this only taste good when an expert grills and serves them."
So he was the expert? Nan-hee was dumbfounded.
"This ginger, and then some aged kimchi right here... Try it. Come on, say 'ah'."
"No, thank you."
"Ah."
The moment she put the offered eel into her mouth, an exclamation of admiration escaped Nan-hee's lips without her realizing it.
"Oh, wow, this is good."
"Right? I've searched all eight provinces, and I haven't seen a place as good as this."
What an exaggeration. Still, the taste was undeniably good. As soon as she showed some reaction, he seemed to get excited, grilling the eel expertly and diligently placing it on Bom's and his own plates.
'He's certainly friendly. Easygoing and good-natured. If he were a chaebol son-in-law, I'd have to serve him, but being served like this isn't bad either, is it?'
There was one more reason Nan-hee's mood had significantly improved. The people who had been glancing at them since they entered the restaurant were still watching them.
Anyway, everyone certainly has an eye for things.
Of course, some people might have recognized her, but Bom was pretty, and the young man was robust and handsome, so they couldn't help but stand out. She could even take him to a gathering and feel proud.
'He's an unusual type. I can understand why Bom fell for him like that.'
Nan-hee subtly glanced at Bom, who was sitting diagonally across from her.
Bom, too, had split the eel on her plate in half, put it in her mouth, and her eyes were wide.
Was it because they had been apart for so long? Or was this the prime of Bom's life? Bom's face looked so much like her own when she had just started her entertainment career.
My daughter is so beautiful...
Nan-hee hoped that Bom, at least, would get her marriage right, unlike the one Nan-hee regretted most in her life.
At first, it was a vague thought, but when her husband started nagging her to marry Bom off to a respectable family, she agreed.
"Bom, how does it taste?"
"It's really delicious here."
"Right? I don't feed you anything that doesn't taste good. I'll keep grilling for you. Good thing you wore elastic-waist pants, Bom."
"Jae-gyu, you should eat some too."
"I am eating. Madam, this one is plump. Try wrapping it in perilla leaf."
Bom was smiling. Being pretty and smiling like that made her even prettier. She had only thought of her as a blunt and cold child.
Nan-hee bombarded him with questions on the way back to Bom's house in Jae-gyu's car. She didn't hesitate to ask even somewhat awkward questions.
As Bom had said, the biggest disqualifying factor was that he had no parents or siblings. However, his assets were so vast they couldn't be compared to her own family's. For now, Nan-hee gave him generous points for that.
In conclusion, the young man was still 'on hold'. This was even after giving him high marks for helping her earlier and for his looks, which were on par with Bom's.
'Oh, well, I don't know. If my husband finds out, there'll be a huge fuss.'
Yet, at the same time, a thought crossed her mind: 'So what?' Since she had started working in broadcasting again, her perspective had definitely broadened compared to before. Even if her husband threw a fit, she wasn't afraid anymore.