Homecoming, Reporters, and a Birthday Blaze
‘Ding-dong~’
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, Mom~”
With a zzing~ sound, the front gate swung open. As I stepped inside, my mother and younger brother came out to greet me at the entrance. They eyed the reporters and cameraman who had barged in with me, looking puzzled, but when I flashed a sly smile, they flung the door wide open and stepped aside.
The photographer and reporter greeted my mother and brother politely, then poked around my old room from before marriage—still half-packed with my stuff—snapping photos nonstop. They busily captured shots of my mom, brother, Ara, and me sitting together. After checking on Mom’s well-being, chatting a bit, and downing some coffee, we left the Yeonsan-dong house and headed to my in-laws’ place.
“Come on in.”
“Oh? What brings you all here?”
“We heard you were coming today, so we wanted to see your face.”
“Goodness. You’ve been playing house here while the owners were away.”
“Aw~ Ara asked me to check on the place while she was gone.”
When we arrived, my mother-in-law wasn’t home, but Ara’s friends came swarming out. Ara looked a bit awkward about the situation, and the reporters seemed equally baffled.
“Who are these folks?”
“Oh, they’re my wife’s friends.”
“But how come her friends are here?”
“Like my friend said, they came to see my face since I was coming down.”
With more subjects to cover, the reporter was thrilled. He grilled Ara’s friends on every little detail, double-checked with Ara and me, and even filmed her preparing dinner. Only after we finished eating and had coffee did he promise to visit the office on Monday and finally leave.
“Where’s Mother-in-law?”
“She went to her brother’s place.”
“When?”
“Yesterday. She said she’d be back tomorrow evening. That’s why I asked my friends to watch the house.”
“What’s up at Uncle’s?”
“Nothing specific. She just said it’d be awkward with Ahji here.”
“Awkward how? It’s not like it’s the first time.”
“Sheesh~ Ahji, you’re so clueless.”
That was the reason after all. We were still newlyweds, and since it was a single-story house, I’d been avoiding intimacy out of self-consciousness. Mother-in-law must have picked up on it and graciously made herself scarce for a night. But these oblivious friends showed no sign of heading home. It wasn’t until nearly midnight, when Ara outright begged them—saying she had work tomorrow—that they finally left.
“What a bunch of pests.”
“Right? If they’re jealous, they should just get married themselves.”
“Anyway, let’s wash up and hit the hay.”
While Ara showered, I tidied the living room and laid out the bedding in the bedroom. Now it was just the two of us.
“I missed you, Ahji.”
“Yeah, sorry. I love you, my little one.”
“I love you too, Ahji~”
Her body was already burning hot, so I gently pulled her into my arms, dashed to the bathroom for a quick rinse, then returned to the bedroom and embraced her. She was feverish like a kid with a flu, no foreplay needed. We made passionate love until dawn broke.
After dropping her off at the library, I called Cheol-rak and headed to his office. Inside, a stranger sat with him, nodded at me, and stepped out.
“Any leads?”
“That was the guy.”
“Really? So when?”
“Strike while the iron’s hot, as they say. We’re heading up to Seoul tomorrow for a recon.”
Cheol-rak had everything prepped for my request, so after sharing coffee, I went to the library where Ara worked.
“Ahji.”
“Yeah?”
“That reporter’s here again.”
“At the library? Why?”
“Dunno.”
The reporter had probably come to film Ara at work. Since I’d already greenlit the coverage, no point stopping him now. I asked Ara to bear with it despite the discomfort and told her to meet me in the parking lot at lunchtime.
As I smoked in the lot, Ara approached, trailed by the reporter and photographer.
“My goodness, you came all this way?”
“A congressman’s wife working as a librarian isn’t exactly commonplace.”
True enough. Even top actresses usually step back if their spouse is an active politician. For a low-level civil servant gig, it was downright unusual for a sitting assemblyman’s wife to keep at it.
Anyway, the reporter tailed us to the dumpling joint for lunch, ever diligent. Credit where it’s due—his passion was impressive.
After lunch, Ara returned to work. I sat at a reading room desk, poring over materials like back when I first met her—when I was jobless—copying what I needed while waiting for her shift to end.
The reporters shuttled discreetly between Ara and me, doing their thing. When she clocked out, I suggested to the reporter we hit my favorite Songjeong Beach, stroll the night sea, and grab coffee.
“Wanna go to Songjeong with Ahji?”
“……”
“Ask your Ahji.”
Ara shot me a hesitant look.
“Who is it?”
“A friend.”
“Why not meet at Songjeong since we’re going? They’re asking Ahji to buy drinks.”
“Sigh~ Tell ’em to come. Or they’ll sulk.”
In the end, last week’s crew reassembled—minus Jeong-ah and Suji, with the two reporters filling in. Ara’s friends arrived soon after with their boyfriends, and the boozy chaos kicked off again.
The reporters, close in age to Ara’s friends, blended right in, chatting away. But they’d occasionally quiz the friends about Ara, our relationship, and history—staying true to their jobs. Around 11, we wrapped up. Ara’s friends called designated drivers; I dropped the reporters at a motel near Yeonsan Rotary and headed home.
“Sorry, Ahji.”
“For what?”
“My friends keep bugging you.”
“Hey, it’s all investment for the next election. Last time, I even pulled strings for their boyfriends’ leave to help campaign—this is nothing.”
“Still, you should rest when you’re in Busan.”
“Don’t worry about it. Hey, you hear about Eun-mi heading to Seoul?”
“Yeah, Unni mentioned it. Like last time, you’re combining houses to live together?”
“Nothing’s set.”
“Do it. That way someone can make sure you eat on time.”
“Won’t our Ara get jealous?”
“Pfft~ I’m still your first wife. On paper, I’m your one and only.”
“Fair point. But really, no hard feelings?”
“Unni’s no bad girl, and if you’re sticking with politics, you need her dad’s help. We gotta give something back.”
“……”
“Anyway, I won’t get jealous of Unni or Jeong-ah, so don’t worry.”
“What about other women?”
“I’d rather there weren’t any, but you’re not the type to chase skirts just to cheat. So follow your conscience.”
“Aigoo, my wife’s a saint. How’s a young thing like you so worldly-wise?”
I couldn’t bring up Suji. Sure, she claimed understanding, but could her heart and expression really match those words? Admirable that this early-20s girl could play it so cool on the surface.
I pulled Ara close and softly pressed my lips to hers.
“Ara, I love you~ I’ll love you till the day I die.”
“Love you, Ahji~”
I woke to the smell of seaweed soup wafting in. Heading to the living room, I saw Ara and Mother-in-law bustling in the kitchen prepping breakfast.
“Mother-in-law, when did you get back?”
“Oh, sleep well?”
“Yes. Why bother going to Uncle’s when you could’ve stayed?”
“Just wanted to see my brother after ages. Anyway, happy birthday, son-in-law.”
Thinking about it, yeah—my birthday was around now. Checking my phone calendar confirmed it. While I slept, messages piled up from fellow assemblymen, office aides, and reporter buddies: birthday wishes in texts and chats galore. Never cared much as a bachelor, but marriage brought people who remembered.
‘Ding-dong~’ Another ring—I opened the gate to find my brother escorting Mom.
“What brings you so early?”
“First, greetings to the lady of the house.”
Ignoring me, Mom went straight to Mother-in-law for bows and hellos.
“What’s up?”
“Bro, it’s your birthday. Sis-in-law called yesterday, said to have breakfast together.”
“Sheesh. Everyone has one every year—no big deal.”
Ara must’ve invited Mom over since Mother-in-law might feel awkward eating at Yeonsan-dong. First birthday post-wedding and election, first family meal together since the ceremony. Thanks to Ara’s fussing, the in-laws finally shared a table—for breakfast.