Chapter 80
Chapter 80
After finally enjoying a proper meal, Nan-hee returned to Bom's house in Cheongseol-eup. The young man offered to check her front wheel, so Bom and Nan-hee went inside together.
He’s subtly caught my attention too.
Nan-hee held the foolish-looking dog and took a few pictures.
Its face was like a fluffy bun, and its creamy fur was soft. It was clearly not a purebred Jindo Dog.
Where did she even get such a mongrel…?
“When you come up to Seoul, leave the dog behind. We can’t keep something like this at home.”
Even when she patted its plump, chubby rear and told it to go, the dog wouldn't listen.
“Why is its butt so heavy? Don’t you take it for walks?”
The feel of its thick paw pads against her arm was quite pleasant. Its claws were short, so it seemed Bom had taken good care of it.
“I’m not going.”
“Oh my, your house is poky, and you don’t even take it for walks?”
“No. That’s not it. I’m not going to Seoul, Mom.”
“Is she for real?”
Just as Nan-hee bristled and was about to stand up, the young man entered through the brightly opened front door.
“Whew, it’s hot.”
“Jae-gyu, your clothes are splattered with water.”
“Just clearing some mud off the tires and wheels. I cleaned it all off. But just in case, you should still take it to a garage when you get to Seoul.”
“Oh, a car wash would’ve been fine… Thank you.”
“Feel free to speak informally.”
“...So, thanks?”
It came out sounding like an awkward line from a script. Nan-hee shuddered.
“Ugh, how awkward!”
She waved her hand, saying she couldn’t do it, and the young man let out a hearty, unreserved laugh. She’d been annoyed just a moment ago, but watching him, she found herself smiling too.
“I can’t believe it. Anyway, thanks for the meal. And thanks for earlier. I should head back to Seoul now.”
“Mom, already?”
Nan-hee put the dog down and stood up. Cheong-i had been calling her repeatedly, which was bothering her.
“I have to go. Tomorrow’s your birthday, isn’t it? I’ll send you some money, Mom. Buy some clothes. I looked in your closet earlier, and everything was old. Ugh, buy some clothes for this season.”
“Okay…”
“Don’t come out. I’ll manage on my own.”
She picked up her bag and reached for the flower basket on the sofa table. But the young man was faster. With his thick arms, he effortlessly lifted the heavy flower basket and led the way.
“Let’s go down. It’s hard to back out here, so I’ll do it for you.”
“That’s alright.”
Nan-hee stopped Bom from following. When she said she had something to tell the young man privately, Bom saw them off from the doorway with an anxious expression.
“Mom, drive safely on your way up.”
“Alright.”
She’s all grown up. It was true that while Bom was down here, Nan-hee had focused her attention on Cheong-i, who had just started his business. The infrequent calls and messages came to mind, and she suddenly felt sorry for Bom.
“I’ll call you.”
“...Huh? Okay, goodbye.”
Leaving Bom behind, Nan-hee stepped outside and brightened at the sight of her car, now completely free of mud.
“Oh my goodness!”
She was already embarrassed and wondered how she’d drive off like that. She thought he’d only cleared the mud from the wheels, but he must have washed the car, as it was sparkling clean.
“Ma’am, please get in.”
“Get in? Aren’t you just helping me back out? I’ll watch you back out from here.”
“On second thought, that road earlier was dangerous, so I’ll drive you to the main road.”
“...Alright, then.”
She had been meaning to say something with maternal authority to the man her daughter was seeing before she left.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Nan-hee saw Bom waving to her from the second floor before they left and felt a lump in her throat. Suddenly, an indescribable, strange feeling welled up inside her. It overlapped with the image of Bom she’d seen in her dream.
“Oh, for goodness sake, I said I’d call, no need to make a fuss.”
She said it casually, calming the unfamiliar and strange emotion.
“Alright, let’s go.”
The young man started driving smoothly. His calm profile as he drove was quite impressive.
Regardless, Bom’s future was at stake, so Nan-hee was cautious. The fact that his wealth was surprisingly vast was suspicious, so she would have to verify it later. This was a precaution in case they suddenly decided to get married.
He’s not entirely what I’d want for my daughter. For now, I’ll keep an eye on him.
She was about to say the words she’d been thinking of when the young man suddenly turned his head.
She thought he was looking at her, but his head turned further, towards the back seat. There, on the back seat, was the flower basket he had brought today.
“Aren’t the flowers pretty?”
“I’ve been looking at them; there are a lot of imported flowers. They look luxurious and well-chosen.”
It was a high-quality flower basket, one she wouldn’t have expected to find in such a rural area. If his taste was this good, she wouldn’t be embarrassed taking him anywhere.
“Would you like to open the card?”
Now? Nan-hee fumbled, reaching out to open the card tucked into the flower basket.
Mom, congratulations on the finale. I’ll cheer you on for your new life, new beginning. I miss you.
Though typed, it was unmistakably a card written by Bom.
“I ordered the exact same thing Bom sent a few days ago.”
“...What are you talking about?”
The young man nodded as if he’d expected her reaction, then pulled the car over to the shoulder.
“Actually, I had a hunch, so I brought you here separately, away from Bom.”
“No, what is that…?”
The young man began to speak seriously.
“That’s impossible, why would he…”
Nan-hee’s complexion gradually turned ashen. Her face, stained with shock, successively flickered with disappointment, emptiness, and finally, anger.
Cheong-i, that brat, he’s really gone and done it…
Nan-hee hadn’t known Bom had sent flowers for her drama’s finale. The young man had checked with the flower shop, and the person who refused the delivery was the young male family member at home. That could only be Yoon-cheong.
What grudge does he hold against Bom to keep doing this?
Nan-hee had belatedly realized Bom’s unfair situation after seeing Cheong-i’s folder last time. She regretted ignoring Bom’s words and scolding her in the past. However, Nan-hee remained silent, unsure how to handle what had already happened.
She had been shocked, but she’d thought it was temporary jealousy. But if he was still doing this, it was a big problem.
Nan-hee couldn’t easily understand why he kept acting this way towards his own flesh and blood. Cheong-i was usually so quiet. She had only one guess.
...Is it because of his leg?
He had indeed become darker after the car accident that made him limp. But because of that, she had done everything Cheong-i asked and had doted on him, even putting Bom aside.
She was the one who had asked Bom to pick up Cheong-i, and Bom was the one who had distracted Cheong-i while driving. So, he could have a grudge. But Cheong-i was crossing a line, far beyond what was acceptable.
...I can’t let this continue.
⋆★⋆
“Hmm, that’s enough…”
Jae-gyu, who enjoyed afterplay, was still pressing hot kisses onto Bom’s neck even though their lovemaking had just ended. His still-warm, not-quite-dormant body pressed against the back of Bom’s thigh.
Earlier that afternoon, after seeing her mom off, Bom and Jae-gyu had come to a hotel overlooking Haeundae Beach in Busan. It was her first time staying on a low floor of a hotel. Bom slowly sat up, her body languid. The sea was right before her eyes.
“Amazing view, isn’t it? Beach view.”
Jae-gyu sat up too, pulling Bom between his thighs and wrapping his arms around her. As she tidied her hair, which had been messed up by his excitement today, he pressed more kisses onto her shoulder.
“It’s beautiful. I can see the sea, the sandy beach, and that’s where we went earlier, right?”
“That’s right, Dalmaji Hill.”
Unable to wait, she took Jae-gyu’s hand, which was already fondling her chest, and interlocked their fingers. His soft breath tickled her ear.
“Mom visited today, and it’s my first time in Busan, so my head’s been spinning.”
“Is that so? Let’s take our time sightseeing tomorrow.”
“My body’s really tired, but I feel good.”
Busan, which was closer to Cheongseol-eup than she expected, suited Bom perfectly. There had been a somewhat absurd incident at the department store Jae-gyu took her to right after they arrived and unpacked at the hotel, but it had been fun.
They had a wonderful dinner nearby, and she was impressed by the special lettering service Jae-gyu had arranged. “Happy Bom’s Day” was written on the dessert, and she even took a picture, something she rarely did.
It had been a long time since she’d had a proper Western meal. What surprised her internally was that Jae-gyu, whom she’d expected to disregard table manners, seemed quite accustomed to them.
[He’s a Manner King.]
He said he’d internalized it due to Philip’s constant insistence while doing business. Dressing up like this and going out to the city was a fresh experience for Bom.
It was even more so when she thought back to her lonely birthdays in the past. It had been a long time since her whole family gathered for dinner on her birthday.
“The seaweed soup was a bit of a shame…”
Thinking her mom would arrive late, Jae-gyu had woken up early to make seaweed soup and suggested they celebrate her birthday eve. It was seaweed soup with fresh abalone from Wando, which Bom had truly enjoyed.
But her mom’s early arrival had messed things up, and the seaweed soup, swollen and mushy in the thermos, was inedible. A sigh escaped her as she thought of Jae-gyu’s effort, made so early in the morning.
“Tomorrow, when we go up to Shinsu-eup, I’ll make you a whole pot, I will.”
Still touching her, Jae-gyu kept pulling out his phone and busily doing something. Was something happening at his company, and he couldn’t focus because of her birthday? His constant activity made her worried.
“I’m going to go wash up.”
Jae-gyu, who would normally have followed to wash her, just nodded and cautioned, “Don’t take too long.” Hoping he could talk comfortably with whoever he was contacting, Bom took her time washing.
“Jae-gyu?”
After a long while, Bom emerged with wet hair, wrapped in a bath gown, and looked for Jae-gyu. Where had he gone? Had she taken too long?
Bom reached for her phone to call him but then spotted a large note on the bed and quickly unfolded it.
Bom♡ Come down to the lobby.