Chapter Text
“On the count of three!”
Five figures adjusting themselves in front of the camera.
“Three…”
“Two…”
“One…”
“Smile!”
CLICK!
Seokhyeong smiled brightly at the camera. He is at the center of the group. On his right is Chu Minha’s mother who pulled his right arm affectionately. Next to her is his girlfriend, Minha, who leaned closer to her mother and beamed at the camera while making finger hearts. On his left is Minha’s father. He cupped his right shoulder and Minki’s left shoulder before the camera flashes.
He smiled to himself as he cleaned the glass cover of the picture frame with the hem of his sweater for the 8th time that night. He remembers that day that they took that picture in front of Minha’s pension house. He used to be awkward and out-of-place whenever he takes a picture with someone that he barely knew but surprisingly, he was so comfortable with Minha’s family. When Chu Minha’s mother told them to have a picture in front of the pension house just like they did when he visited it the first time with Junwan, he automatically agreed.
He placed back the picture frame at the wooden shelf in his basement only for him to take it back and clean it one more time. He giggled silently as he watched the glass cover of the frame become spotless again. The picture was taken from Minha-eomma’s camera and he asked her to have a copy of it. He felt relieved whenever he sees the picture that is why he had it framed and placed it in his basement—as his mother would not normally go there.
He wanted to put the picture as his cellphone’s wallpaper but since they are dating secretly it would not be a good idea. Same goes as putting the frame in his office. There are times that his mother would pay him an unannounced visit or his staff would often go there to consult him with their paperwork or about their patient’s charts. Last thing that he wanted is to have others discover their relationship—for now. It is not that he embarrassed but he wanted to cherish the moment that he has with Minha without anyone knowing that they are dating aside from his friends.
“Yah, Gom” Ikjun called him and breaking his train of thoughts. “Why are you smiling there for?” he raised his right eyebrow and looking suspicious.
“Nothing!” he retorted back to him and sounded a bit too defensive than the usual. He placed back the picture frame in the shelf carefully—too careful as it might get a scratch or get dirty.
“C’mon and help me with these!” Ikjun demanded as the HBP surgeon took two cartons of lychee juice from the fridge. “The ramyun will be cooked in a minute and we are not yet done setting the table.”
Seokhyeong took the cartons of juice from Ikjun while Jeongwon is busy getting mugs, chopsticks and bowls from his dish tray.
“YAH! Stop drooling, you two!” Ikjun barked as he helps Jeongwon gather the utensils. While the three of them were busy preparing for their dinner, the two food fighters were seated at the dinner table and are watching the ramyun being cooked at the aluminum pot on a portable stove situated on the center of the table.
Jeongwon shook his head and looking amused at Songhwa and Junwan whose eyes were fixated at the bubbling pot of noodles. The two looked like they wanted to bathe at the ramyun soup as their faces were just a few inches away from the boiling noodles. That night, after the band practice, they decided to have ramyun for dinner. Jeongwon settled the mugs and bowls on the table.
“Do you have danmuji?” Jeongwon asked Seokhyeong who is now settling the small bowls on the table with him.
“Yes, it is in the fridge.” He answered and gave the metal chopsticks to Junwan and Songhwa. Their eyes not leaving any second from the boiling cauldron as they accepted the chopsticks from him.
“It is cooked, Andrea.” Junwan said called loudly.
“I’ll get the lid.” Songhwa said to no one in particular.
“Yah! That is mine!” Junwan snarled at her.
“Stop bickering, you two. Use the bowls, for goodness’ sake!” Seokhyeong told them off and now opening the cartons of lychee juice.
“Stop telling us how we should eat!” Junwan glared at him while Songhwa took that opportunity to get the cauldron’s lid for herself.
“YAHHHHH!”
Really? These two food fighters never change, he mused. They bicker who will get their portion first or most of the time they team up to eat everything up while the three of them taking their time to savor their meal.
“Can the two of you stop fighting?” Ikjun sighed and carried the platter of cut kimchi to the table. Jeongwon is now pouring juice to their mugs and Junwan started scooping his share to his bowl. (He let Songhwa have the lid of the pot)
After Seokhyeong accepted his share of ramyun, he, Jeongwon and Ikjun started eating while as usual Songhwa and Junwan were eating with lightning speed.
“Did you just get a new kimchi fridge?” Ikjun asked him casually.
He nodded curtly at him as he slurps his noodles.
“Why? You never store tons of kimchi.” Ikjun curiously asked.
“’Coz he is freaking rich!” Junwan interjected while chewing his ramyun.
“Fair enough, I hope all rich people use their money for themselves.” Ikjun smirked and cast a knowing look at Jeongwon who shot back a snarl at him.
“This kimchi is so good!” Songhwa said in a surprised tone. “Have you tasted the kimchi already?” she asked Junwan excitedly.
“Jinja?” Junwan blinked and took a heap of kimchi from his platter. Everyone tried the kimchi as Songhwa said that it is delicious.
“Where did you buy this? This is better than the kimchi you always have.” Jeongwon asked and savoring the fermented cabbage.
“Where did you get the kimchi?” Seokhyeong demanded to Ikjun instead of answering Jeongwon.
“In the new kimchi fridge?” Ikjun shrugged and took another bite of kimchi.
“YAH!” Seokhyeong snapped. “Spit it out!” he proceeded in taking the platters of kimchi towards him and that earned angry remarks especially from Junwan and Songhwa.
“Give it back!” Seokhyeong pulled the kimchi towards him again as Junwan and Songhwa pulled it back angrily.
“Rich people are really cheap!” Junwan yelled at him while pulling the kimchi back to him.
“Yah, Seokhyeong! Cut it out! What is the fuzz with the kimchi?” Jeongwon asked and looking confused as Seokhyeong still fighting with Junwan and Songhwa at the table to get the kimchi back.
“We will just replace the kimchi!” cried Songhwa.
“You cannot replace it!” stubbornly Seokhyeong snapped at her.
“Stop being cheap, gom!” Junwan gritted his teeth.
“I think I know why.”
“Mou?” Junwan and Songhwa both let go of the kimchi platters that they have and shot a curious look at Ikjun.
Raising his right brow, he turned to the two piggies. “This is the kimchi that he and Chu-Chu’s family made when he visited them the last time.”
“Really???!”
“YAHHHH!” Seokhyeong now blushing furiously and now being embarrassed at how selfish he become just because of kimchi. However, it is not just kimchi.
This is the first kimchi that he made. The first kimchi that he made with Minha and her family. It is natural for him to be selfish as he wants to cherish that kimchi that he made with her family; he even bought another kimchi fridge for that. He would not want to share it with the others because it holds a special memory to him.
“You went back to Chu Minha’s pension house?”
“Did they invite you?”
“Why did you visit them?”
“Did they ask you to make kimchi? Or did they just give them to you?”
“Did they give you fried chicken as well? I want that again!”
Junwan, Jeongwon and Songhwa now bombarded Seokhyeong with questions that he felt that he is on the spot. His ears are now very red and suddenly he thought that the heater is no longer necessary as the room became warmer.
Ikjun is now sniggering at the side while everyone is hounding Seokhyeong. He looked proud with the development for his best friend and Chu-Chu. Now it became clear. The reason why Seokhyeong asked him if he knew how to make kimchi. Heck, the bear actually visited his apartment to learn how to make the fermented cabbage. He thought that he is just kidding that is why he just prepared kimchi jjigae that day.
“Enough, yedeura!” Seokyeong shouted as everyone is now interrogating him. That automatically made everyone silent—for a while.
“I hope that I passed the knowledge of kimchi-making well, Seokhyeong-ah.” Ikjun smiled to himself.
“Yah! You did not even teach me how to make kimchi, you saekki!” he cried. “How did you know?”
“I just happen to see a picture over there. A picture of you and Chu-Chu’s family.” Ikjun smugly told him and took a swig of lychee juice.
Ikjun noticed that new picture frame in the shelf that Seokhyeong is cleaning every time that he passed by that cabinet.
‘That whipped fool!’
Ikjun took a quick peek when Seokhyeong went to the bathroom and there he saw the picture has Seokhyeong, Minha and other people that he did not know and assumed that it is Minha’s parents as the background looks like the Chu family pension house.
“YAH!” Seokhyeong snarled at him, “You nosy—”
“You are so bad in keeping a secret, gom!” Ikjun grinned. “You always check out that picture frame on that shelf, who wouldn’t notice that, eh?”
“So, you really made this kimchi with Chu Minha-seonsaeng’s family?” Songhwa curiously asked.
He sighed and nodded at them. Ikjun grinned at him and patted his back as if he is Uju and congratulating him for doing something good in which he shrugged off.
“Daebak! How are Chu Minha’s parents?” Jeongwon inquired and looking interested as he just met Gyeoul’s mother a few months ago.
“They are OK,” Seokhyeong shyly answered and poured himself a lychee juice in his mug.
“So…” Junwan turned to Seokhyeong and finally ignored his ramyun. “Did you ask for Chu Minha-seonsaeng’s hand to her parents?”
Seokhyeong choked on his juice, “EH?”
Everyone paused what they are doing to stare at Seokhyeong and waits for his answer patiently.
***
He told himself a long time ago that he will not pressure himself regarding marriage again—he even swore that he’ll not be involved to someone romantically after his divorce. Of course, it backfired. Here he is, madly in love with Minha. He did everything to make it work.
After a long battle with himself, he gives in and reciprocates Minha’s feelings but there is a little voice in his head that this is temporary. The happiness that he is experiencing right now will be taken away. That Minha will someday realize that he is not the person that she thought he was—that he is not capable of receiving and returning her love.
The topic of marriage between him and Minha became taboo right after that night that they first kissed. She first brought the topic to him when she admitted that she doesn’t want to part ways with him that night. The feeling is mutual of course, he did not want to leave by her side that night, however at that time, he thought that it was too soon to talk about marriage. They just got together and yet, Minha, bravely he might add, admitted indirectly that she wanted to be married to him. She was so sure of him. How absurd is that?
It took him a while to realize what Minha said back in the pension house.
“He is not your son!”
Did her parents invited him to join them in their annual kimjang because they consider him as family already? Is that already a blessing from them that they approved him as their future son-in-law? He is of course confident that the answer to those question is yes.
After that night, Junwan’s question never left his mind. NEVER. It is haunting him whenever he is.
At his house, when he is alone.
When he is driving alone in his car.
When he is with his mother.
Each time, when he is not with Minha.
He should not be overthinking about it but he can’t help it.
Best marriage proposal spot in Jeju-do
How to propose to the woman of your dreams
Perfect wedding venue in Jeju island
Top 10 Designers for weddings and other formal events
Seokhyeong dropped his phone as if it was hot. It was as if his hands have its own mind. Did he just search those in the internet?
‘What am I doing?’
His office door opened and it reveal Minha.
Minha shoved an iced coffee to him while he is contemplating and confused. He looked up at her in surprise, “Eo, Minha-yah. You are here.”
“Have some coffee.”
“Thanks. You really do not have to.” He blushed at her thoughtfulness.
“I have to. You looked preoccupied with something.” She frowned and took a seat beside him.
“No, I am cool. It might be just stress.” He lied.
“What is it, Oppa?”
“Really, everything is fine.” He assured her. Last thing that he wants is Minha being worried at him regarding his dilemma.
“Are you sure?” she took his hand and gave it a light squeeze. He nodded at her and smiled.
“Everyone is worried, don’t you know that?” she pressed on.
“Who?”
“The other doctors in our department.” She continued, “They were about to ask for help regarding their thesis a few hours ago but they said that you looked so serious and scary. You were staring on blank space and talking to yourself.”
Seokhyeong let out a fake laugh, “I am just thinking. Don’t worry about it. Tell them to go here, I’ll help them out.”
Minha pouted and looked not convinced at him. Her phone rings indicating that she is being called. “You know that you can tell me anything, right Oppa?”
Seokhyeong let out a sigh and this time, he took both Minha’s hands. He stared at their intertwined hands before speaking, “Thank you Minha-yah for your concern. Please don’t worry about it.” She nodded in defeat but still pouting.
“Go. They are looking for you.”
“All right! See you later.” She told him and walked to door. When she was about to open the door, Seokhyeong called her again.
“Minha-yah…” he stared at her and looking hesitant.
Minha waited for him to speak again while holding the door.
“There is actually something that is bothering me.” He finally said after a minute of silence. Minha’s head tilted in curiosity.
“I can’t explain right now, sorry.”
Minha’s face knotted with worry.
“Please don’t worry about it. I’ll let you know once I straighten it out.”
“All right, Oppa.” She smiled back at him and left.
***
It was a bright sunny day at that time when he stepped inside Songhwa’s office, he found Ikjun and Songhwa laughing at something. He assumed that it would one of those Ikjun’s lame joke.
He stopped in front of the two doctors who are sitting on her couch. Both Songhwa and Ikjun looked up at him with perfect synchronization. He pulled something from his white coat and extended his right hand towards them—his palm opened.
“Here.” Seokhyeong said.
Both exchanged confused looks.
Songhwa squinted her eyes behind her glasses and approached Seokhyeong who is standing in front of them like a stone.
Resting on Seokhyeong’s hand is a brown teddy-bear shaped velvet box.
“Yah, gom!” Ikjun exclaimed with excitement.
“Are you—?” Songhwa asked attentively.
Seokhyeong’s lips break into a smile and nodded at them solemnly.
“Omo!” Songhwa gasped and looks about to cry while Ikjun pulled Seokhyeong into a hug.
“Way to go gomdolie!” Ikjun cheered and Songhwa joined them.
“We know we have it in you, Seokhyeong-ah!”
While the three of them were jumping in joy the door opens again and Junwan and Jeongwon entered.
“Yah! Guys! Join us!” Ikjun called them excitedly and shedding invisible tears dramatically. “Gom is going to propose to Chu-Chu!”
“Mou?!”
“Yah! Must you shout it out loud?!” Seokhyeong snapped at him.
“No way!” Jeongwon grinned and hurried towards them, followed by Junwan who is equally happy for him.
After a long debate to himself, he finally decided that he wants to spend the rest of life with Minha and be married to her. Like, why would they need to wait? She is ready a long time ago, and so is he. He’ll do anything to protect her and his love for her, even if his mother interferes.
For the first time, his trip going to packed shopping mall became so easy for him.
“What size are you looking for, sir?” the sales representative of the jewelry store asked him promptly after he was spotted checking out the display.
He scratched his cheek shyly, “Here.” He shove a silver ring on the glass display. It was one of those rings that Minha wears time-to-time. He sneaked into her jewelry box one time and took one for reference. He would never take risk of just estimating her ring size. He wants his proposal to be perfect.
“For what occasion, if I may ask, sir?” The sales representative smiled at him warmly.
He heaved a deep breath, eyes determined. “For a marriage proposal.”
All of his friends were jumping with joy with him upon learning that he found the courage to propose to Minha. Who would have not thought? He is the least person among their group would be married first. (of course, minus Ikjun)
“I told you that soon, he’ll do this!” Junwan told everyone.
“Yah! You never said that!”
“We should have made a bet on this! Aish!” Ikjun looking disappointed.
“Oi!” Seokhyeong barked at them.
“How can we bet on it? We all thinking that he’ll do it soon.” Jeongwon chuckled.
“To celebrate this, treat us something nice!” Ikjun pressed on and grinning from ear-to-ear.
“YAH!” Seokhyeong pushed them away from him. “I spent a ton on this ring!”
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’ Ikjun chanted and raising his first as if he is protesting. ‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
“Oi! Cut it out!”
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’ Songhwa joined her boyfriend in his stupid chant.
Junwan and Jeongwon exchanged excited looks and joined the two as well.
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
‘HAN-WOO STE-AKU!’
“YAHHHHH!”
TBC