Chapter Text
To celebrate their temporary return home, Gyeong-seok and Na-yeon were going to the movie theater today. She had never actually been there, and it was the perfect activity for her current situation. Discovering something new, but not completely draining her of her much needed energy.
However, before they were to go to the movies, Gyeong-seok promised to buy some lunch to eat in the park, since Na-yeon really wanted to see the ducks again. They picked out some fruit, bread rolls and juice from the supermarket, together with some biscuits, and went to the check-out.
Out of nowhere Na-yeon tried to climb behind the counter. Gyeong-seok couldn't be more embarrassed. Once again he came across as an incapable father.
‘Na-yeon get back here!’ He tried to sound strict and went to pull her back, but a little part of him was so happy to see life in his daughter again. ‘But the princess’ Na-yeon mumbled. Gyeong-seok wasn't really listening to her reasoning. He quickly apologized to the cashier while placing all their groceries.
‘It’s all right’ the lady said laughing.
Gyeong-seok froze. He recognized that voice. Her voice.
‘Hyun-ju!’ was all he managed to say.
She gave him one of her signature warm smiles, the ones that always made his knees go weak.
‘Didn’t expect you to pay me a visit.’
She was obviously referring to the past days, when she visited them twice, but Gyeong-seok was too entranced to form any coherent thought.
‘I didn't know you worked here. I mean, you told me you worked in a supermarket, I remember of course, but I didn't know it was this one.’
Why did he sound out of breath?!
Damage control Gyeong-seok thought.
‘Uhh Hyun-ju…since I'm… visiting. Would you like to spend your lunch break with us? A good host has to entertain her guests, you know.’
He didn't know what confidence overtook him, but it seemed to make her blush.
‘Yes!’ Na-yeon exclaimed
Hyun-ju laughed at this.
‘Well since my new little friend insists’ she winks at Na-yeon ‘I guess I can't say no’
‘My lunch break is in five minutes…’
‘Great!’ he said, maybe a little too enthusiastic.
‘... if you let me help those customers behind you.’
Gyeong-seok looked behind him and saw a whole line of customers. The man right behind him was looking at him with a big knowing grin.
‘I’m so sorry!’
It was an unexpected turn of events, but not unenjoyable at all. Hyun-ju had planned to look at housing in Thailand during her lunch break, yet here she was with him again. With them.
Since her last hospital visit, she has grown quite fond of Na-yeon. It’s weird how in such a short time she was able to feel such comfort with them. It’s like she’s known them all her life.
So now, instead of working on her big dream, she was sitting on grass with the fresh sun on her face, watching little Na-yeon be amazed by the ducks on the lake, and Gyeong-seok being stressed she’s going to fall in.
Maybe a part of her secretly dreamt about this too. It just never felt reachable.
It isn’t reachable. she reminded herself. Whatever she was thinking or feeling had to stop before she got hurt.
‘How long before you have to start again?’ Gyeong-seok asked while coming back with Na-yeon.
She glanced at her watch ‘half an hour’
‘Perfect’ he said as he lay down on his back, looking at the sky. ‘Lay on the grass with me.’ he ordered as if it was the most casual thing in the world.
‘What do you mean?’ she gave him a sceptical look.
‘It’s this game I do with Na-yeon when I’m out of inspiration for paintings. It only works on a sunny, cloudy, day, just like today. All you need to do is lay on your back, relax, look at the clouds and tell me what you see in them. It encourages creative thinking, and it makes something as simple as a cloud very special.’
Now he was talking like an artist . It gave Hyun-ju a strange, but strong feeling.
So she played along.
‘That one kind of looks like a horse’ he said and pointed.
‘You’re right, but his tail is just incredibly long’ the three of them started laughing at the image.
‘Oohh the cloud right under the horse resembles a diamond.’ Hyun-ju noticed
Gyeon-seok looked at her and let out a small gasp, he seemed genuinely impressed. ‘This is the kind of thing only ladies see’ he said with a laugh.
Hyun-ju felt herself blush again.
‘It’s a heart’ Na-yeon cheered, pointing at another cloud.
‘It looks perfect’ he beamed.
‘It does.’
They went on like that for a while.
He had been right. she realised
This was something simple, yet very special.
Two days after that they spent her lunch break together again. It had once again been wonderful.
For the rest of the week Gyeong-seok just happened to need a lot of groceries. And always, as a coincidence, ended up at her check out.
He was down bad.
However, he had to learn how to deal with it in order to not make a complete fool of himself tonight. He was having dinner with the former players, and he wanted to make a good first (second? third?) impression.
The front door opened to reveal Geum-Ja, who had been so friendly to invite them over to her house.
‘Good evening’ he said as politely as he could.
‘Hello, I’m glad you could make it!’ she greeted him.
‘And I see this little treasure has accompanied you!’ she said to Na-yeon in a kind manner.
His daughter was clutching his leg and tried to hide behind him.
‘She’s just a little bit shy in the beginning’ he apologised ‘she’ll open up once she’s comfortable’
Right when he said that, Na-yeon ran away and practically jumped into Hyun-ju’s arms.
‘I see’ Geum-Ja said with a knowing smirk.
So much for first impressions.
It was going well. To his surprise, it wasn’t all that weird seeing them again. He was actually enjoying himself. He sat next to Hyun-ju and Na-yeon of course, but found great pleasure in talking to the others too. It was funny seeing his daughter getting to know them.
Since Na-yeon doesn't have any younger siblings or cousins and spends most of her time in the hospital, she had never seen an actual baby before, so she was amazed by Jun-Hee and her child. She was getting along well with Dae-Ho too, who couldn’t help but play some pranks on her. And given the satisfied look on her face, she really enjoyed Geum-Ja’s food.
There was just one thing that didn’t feel right.
Hyun-ju had been quiet all evening.
In the beginning he thought that maybe it was just because they were in a big group rather than just the two of them, but even when he tried to talk to her directly her answers were shorter than usual. She also played less with Na-yeon than she normally would.
He knew something was definitely wrong when she smiled at him and he felt…nothing. This was not her real smile . This was not the smile that made his chest flutter and his knees go weak.
He tried to subtly check on her during the evening, but she dodged it away most times or simply didn’t notice.
About fifteen minutes after dinner she suddenly stood up. ‘I need some fresh air.’
Gyeong-seok was worried.
The others gave him a questioning look, as if he was supposed to know the answer. He gave a confused, but worried look in return.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asked
‘I don’t know.’ Yong-Sik answered ‘She’s been quiet ever since she got here’
‘Actually, she only started talking when you arrived’ Dae-Ho said.
‘Someone should check up on her.’ Geum-Ja looked directly at him ‘I can’t go, I’m the host, it’s rude to leave my guests alone’ she said slyly.
‘I have a new friend to play with’ Dae-Ho stated with Na-yeon on his lap.
‘I have a baby to take care of’ Jun-Hee defended.
‘I have to help out my mom’ Yong-Sik added.
Gyeong-Seok saw where this was going. The only ones left were Gi-Hun and Jung-Bea, but since they didn’t know her pretty well, he preferred to talk to her himself.
‘Fine I’ll go.’
She was standing in the alley right next to Geum-Ja’s house, leaning against the wall, trying to get it together. It was a small street, right between Geum-Ja’s house and the neighbours' one. A car couldn’t even pass there. And since it was already dark, she was there all alone.
At least for a few minutes.
Naturally he came.
‘Hi...I just came to check up on you.’ He walked up to her ‘It can be quite dangerous for a woman alone at night.’
‘Whatever you’re thinking won't happen to me.’ she said with an angry laugh. She was being cold to him, she knew it, but it was for a greater good.
‘What? What are you even saying? I’m worried about you. I know something’s wrong.’
She didn’t want this. To be his burden. Another thing for him to worry about in his already stressful life.
‘Gyeong-seok it’s fine. Just leave me alone.’ she knew it was harsh, but he was better off without her.
‘Don’t lie to me!’ His sudden anger surprised her. ‘I just had the best three weeks of my life with you, and now you’re completely shutting me out. I’ve never seen you like this. Hyun-ju talk to me .’ He almost begged ‘I want to help you. I care about you. I want to see you happy.’ The look on his face broke her.
No one has ever cared for her like this. A tear rolled over her cheek.
He wiped it away and looked her deep in the eye ‘What happened?’
Her walls caved in.
‘Today at the grocery store another familiar face greeted me at the check-out. My parents.’ she heard Gyeong-Seok let out a small gasp.
‘Only, they greeted me with my former name. They clearly didn’t expect to see me there. They thought I was still in the army. My dad took it upon him to declare how disappointed they are in me. Saying that my life clearly failed ever since I started ‘acting stupid’. My mom said that I’ll never be like her, that I’m ugly and worthless and that I should just give up. She said…she said their son died.’
Hyun-ju was practically sobbing now. ‘They looked at me with such disgust . I’m used to people judging me, but they’re my parents . I know it shouldn’t bother me, I just- sometimes I just miss them.’
She felt his arms embrace her. Just like three weeks ago she was crying on his shoulder, and it somehow felt like the safest place she's ever been.
‘Than do just that’ he said ‘Miss them. I feel like you miss the old version of them, but don’t want the current version. That’s completely normal, you know. Allow yourself to feel that grief Hyun-ju. But above all, don’t believe a word of what they say. ’
He pulled back out of their embrace and put his hand on her cheek, wiping her tears away. It felt so intimate.
‘You make so many people’s lives better by just being yourself.’ she was crying even more now.
‘You don’t have to say that.’
‘But I mean it! I’ve known you for only three days during the games, and when I came home I even told my daughter about you.’
Hyun-ju felt herself laugh again. She saw his eyes lit up. ‘I know’ she confessed ‘three weeks ago this little girl suddenly climbed onto my lap saying I’m the princess daddy talks about. She told me the whole story right before you arrived.’ sniffing her last tears away.
She saw the blood drain from him. He pulled away and let out the biggest gasp, his hands covering his face. ‘You knew! Hyun-ju I’m sooo sorry I’m so embarrassed I can’t believe-’
‘It’s okay’ she interrupted him, taking his hands and saving him from his misery. ‘I thought it was rather adorable.’ she felt herself blush for the millionth time already.
‘You did.’ he sounded surprised, but mesmerized.
He placed his hand on her cheek again and said ‘Well I heard somewhere that I’m a certain prince too’ referring to the nickname Young-Mi gave him during mingle.
‘Apparently you are.’ she played along
‘I also heard somewhere that that prince is in love with a princess.’ his face now closer to hers
‘Is he now?’ Hyun-ju almost whispered.
‘I think he is’ he said right before placing his lips onto hers.
Their lips met in a soft, gentle kiss. He was hesitant at first. To reassure him she kissed him back hard. One of Hyun-ju’s hands was paving its way through his silky hair while the other was running a path down his torso. With his free hand Gyeong-Seok was holding her by the waist.
Hyun-ju’s world was spinning. She had never felt anything like this.
At one point they pulled apart, gasping for air. He put his forehead against hers, and both of them let out a shaky laugh. ‘I think the princess is in love with him too.’ she teased right before smashing their lips together again.
It was more passionate this time. She let out a small gasp as she felt him slip his tongue in. She eagerly went along with it, both of them fighting for dominance. He let out a short moan and guided her against the wall. They kissed for what felt like forever. She couldn’t get enough of him.
Someone clearing her throat snapped them out of it. They quickly broke apart, both of them looking like deer caught in headlights.
'Dessert is ready.’ Geum-Ja said with a big grin. ‘If that’s still needed.’
Hyun-ju suddenly realised where they were again. How they were caught in a dark alley acting like a pair of horny teenagers. When they heard the front door close Gyeong-seok started laughing. She couldn’t help but laugh along with him.
They looked deep into each other's eyes and kissed once more. It was quickly getting out of hand again and Hyun-ju had to pull away or they’d never make it inside.
‘Ready?’ he said, offering his hand.
Hyun-ju didn’t hesitate to take it. She looked at the sight of their fingers intertwined and gave him one last kiss.
‘Ready.’ she smiled.