Weekend Date
Saturday.
Eight in the morning.
The master bedroom door eased open, and Jung Na-yeon’s soft humming drifted out first. The hair dryer fell silent, then she flung the closet doors wide. One by one she pulled dresses and blouses from the hangers, holding each against herself in front of the mirror while she murmured under her breath.
“This one’s too plain… and this might be chilly…”
She lifted a white blouse and a beige pleated skirt, pressed them to her body, and tilted her head thoughtfully.
“Hyun-soo, are you awake?”
She glanced past the mirror toward the bed, the corner of her mouth curling upward.
“Mmm…”
Hyun-soo answered from the depths of sleep.
“Still not going to tell me where we’re going today? I have no idea what to wear.”
“You’ll find out when we get there.”
At his reply her eyes lit up; she paced in front of the open closet.
“At least give me a hint.”
She set the skirt down and crossed to the bed. Leaning over the covers, she peered into his face; a faint flush already colored her cheeks.
“You worked all night—you must be exhausted… Are you all right? You shouldn’t push yourself.”
“I’m fine…”
The words were concern, yet excitement threaded through her voice. She laid the back of her hand against his forehead as if checking for fever, drawing her face so close their breaths nearly touched.
It was worry, pure and simple.
“No fever. So we can go, right?”
She sprang up and returned to the closet.
“Of course we’re going.”
“I’m going to look pretty today. It’s been five weeks since we became… like this, and all I’ve done is cook for you at home. From now on, today is a real date.”
She settled at the vanity, squeezed foundation onto the back of her hand, and studied her reflection. Lips pursed, she turned toward him again.
“Get up. Breakfast is ready—rolled omelette and sausage. Let’s leave early.”
“You’re thorough.”
“From this morning on, the whole day is yours.”
She picked up a brush and began shaping her eyes. A brand-new lipstick sat on the vanity—clearly bought for the occasion. Her soft humming rose once more while spring sunlight spilled through the curtains and broke warmly across the mirror.
Makeup finished, they sat across from each other at the table. She lifted a piece of omelette as she listened to him.
“I’ve planned the whole course.”
Her chopsticks froze; her eyes went round.
“Really? You planned a course?”
“Yeah.”
She stopped chewing, covered her mouth with the back of her hand, and laughed.
The care in it was endearing.
“Kim Hyun-soo planning a date course. Unbelievable.”
“Of course I can plan one.”
When he answered with mock indignation she set down her water glass and leaned forward.
“Where? Tell me.”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
“That line again? I need to dress for it.”
“The basics are café, lunch, then a movie. There’s one more stop after that, of course.”
Anticipation bloomed across her face.
“Like last time—café and a movie?”
That wasn’t bad.
But the next words mattered more.
“This time I’m treating.”
“Really? You told me to look forward to it—so you actually meant it?”
She tapped the back of his hand lightly with her chopsticks and clicked her tongue.
“I said look forward to it.”
“Are you sure? That’s money you earned without proper sleep.”
“When I think about everything Na-yeon has spent and how she’s taken care of me, it doesn’t feel like a waste.”
“Tch…”
At the word “taken care,” her cheeks flushed deep red.
She bolted from her chair, dashed into the bedroom, and instead of the blouse she had been fretting over pulled out a soft lavender knit dress.
“Can I wear this?”
She held it against herself in the mirror and turned toward him.
“Is it a little too sexy? No? It’s spring—so it’s fine, right?”
“It’s fine. Wear that.”
His answer made her beam; she shut the door. When she reappeared she had already applied the new lipstick and fastened earrings.
“How do I look?”
She spun once, catching the hem of the dress. Her face glowed with the pure excitement of a girl.
“It suits you perfectly.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Hyun-soo finished getting ready. Na-yeon slipped on her heels and took his arm.
“But you’re really spending the money you earned? You won’t regret it?”
“I already said it’s fine.”
“Don’t push yourself. We don’t have to go anywhere expensive. Just walking with you is enough for me.”
She said it, yet the strength in her grip gave her away. With an easy, practiced motion she slipped off her wedding ring and set it down.
“Let’s go. You said the whole day, didn’t you?”
She linked her arm through his and opened the front door. Warm spring air brushed their faces. Na-yeon closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.
“The weather’s perfect. Absolutely perfect.”
The first stop of the long-awaited outing was a rooftop café in Yeonnam-dong.
The moment Na-yeon stepped onto the terrace, the spring breeze caught her hair. Below them the Gyeongui Line Forest Park stretched out under the wide Seoul sky.
“How did you even find this place? I’ve never been here.”
She leaned against the railing, openly admiring the view.
When the iced americano and tiramisu he had ordered arrived, she pulled out her phone, adjusted the angle, and took photos.
“Wait—this too.”
She pressed close against his side, flashed a peace sign, and snapped a selfie. In the screen her eyes sparkled with pure, unguarded laughter.
“Can I make this my wallpaper?”
“If you want.”
“Okay.”
She checked the picture, then rested her head on his shoulder.
Lunch was an Italian restaurant in Hapjeong. Na-yeon opened the menu, saw the prices, and shot him a quick glance.
“Hey, this place is expensive. You sure?”
“Want to turn around and leave?”
She bit her lip and shook her head.
“Okay, okay.”
When the truffle pasta and steak arrived she took one bite and closed her eyes.
“Insane. This is incredible.”
“Right?”
“Yeah.”
She twirled pasta onto her fork and held it out to his lips.
“Ah.”
He accepted it lightly.
She smiled at the sight; across the room another couple watched them and smiled too.
At the theater she clung to his arm and shared the popcorn. Midway through the romance film, during the heroine’s confession, Na-yeon squeezed his hand tight. In the dark her eyes glistened; she kept her head on his shoulder and never let go until the credits rolled. When the lights came up she sniffled and laughed.
“I cried. Embarrassing.”
“Sentimental, aren’t you?”
“Women are just like that.”
She wiped her eyes with his sleeve and stuck out her tongue.
Outside, the streets at dusk glowed orange.
She slipped her arm through his again and slowed their pace.
“Today was really wonderful.”
“Satisfied?”
“Yeah.”
She looked up and met his eyes.
“Thank you. I never expected you to do all this with money you earned yourself.”
Her voice trembled; her grip tightened.
“What’s next? You said it wasn’t over.”
“You’ll know when we get there.”
The taxi followed the Han River and finally stopped in front of the Riverview Hotel in Yeouido. Na-yeon stepped out and stared up at the sunset reflected in the glass façade.
“Here…?”
Her mouth opened, then slowly closed.
Inside the lobby soft lighting and the low murmur of jazz piano greeted them. She clutched his arm tightly, glancing around. After he finished checking in and took the key card she whispered,
“You even made a reservation?”
“Yeah.”
“You really… when did you arrange all this?”
In the elevator she held the sleeve of his shirt, her face radiant with happiness.
The moment they entered the room the night view of the Han River poured through the glass. The rainbow fountain on Banpo Bridge had just come on; multicolored jets of water rose and fell, casting a curtain of light across the river. She stood before the window, both hands pressed to her chest.
“Insane.”
When she turned, her eyes were shining with tears.
“I’ve never been somewhere like this. Even the hotel on my wedding day wasn’t this beautiful.”
She laughed while dabbing at the corners of her eyes and sniffled.
“God, I keep crying today. Like an idiot.”
“That means you felt how much care I put into it.”
“Yeah…”
She didn’t deny it.
Rose petals were scattered across the king-size bed; a bottle of champagne and two glasses waited on the side table.
Na-yeon picked up a petal between her fingers and gave a soft laugh.
“You asked for these too?”
She lifted the bottle, checked the label, set it down, and came toward him.
“Open it.”
“I will.”
They carried the two glasses to the sofa by the window and sat side by side. The clear ring of crystal meeting crystal filled the room. She took a sip and looked into his eyes.
“Working so hard for the money and then spending it like this. Fool.”
“I put in all that effort and I’m a fool?”
“Yeah…”
She set the glass down and gazed at him. City lights slid across her wet eyes.
“Thank you. Truly.”
She closed her eyes slowly and brought her lips close; the scent of champagne mingled between their breaths.
Beyond the glass the night view of the Han River glittered without end.