Chapter Text
Yong-sik packed the last remnants of his lunch into his bag. Soft music played through the air, occasionally some cracking noises were echoed out of the old record. He could hear his mother humming through the cracked door leading to the balcony. Geumja always sat outside in the morning. The patio overlooked a busy part of town ‘perfect for people watching’ His mother always says, it’s always been one of her favorite activities. His childhood home was next to a large market filled with stands of produce and fish. Every Friday after school his mother would take him to the very edge of the market and would order two bowls of kimchi jjigae. She always let him pick the spot they ate, usually a plastic fold table with scraped-up legs. They would sit for what felt like hours
The routines he and his mother did always found ways to ground him and give him a piece of control. He glanced at the clock; his shift was about to start in 20 minutes.
“Yong-sikya!” His mother called; her voice muffled slightly by the screen door. “Come sit with me before you go!”
He hesitated, his hand resting on the zipper of his backpack. He needed to head out soon, but the idea of stalling was easy to lean into. He set the bag down with a quiet thud and padded over to the balcony. Geumja sat cross-legged in her old lawn chair, still in her pajamas, with a steaming tea in her hand. She looked up at him, eyes narrowing like she could see every little thing in Yong-sik’s mind.
“Did you go to sleep late? You look… not great,” she said softly, patting the chair beside her. Yong-sik didn’t respond, just sat down. He leaned forward with his elbows on his knees and stared down at the people below
A vendor was rolling kimbap at his stall. A man in a suit was arguing with a delivery man. A kid on her bike rode past them.
“They’re still coming over for dinner” Geumja took a sip from her cup. “Just to remind you,” Shortly after the games Geumja fulfilled her promises, and she began hosting the dinner around 3 weeks after the games. They started off small. Only Hyunju and Daeho could make it the first time. Geumja treated them exactly how she treated him as a child. Refilling rice bowls without asking, scooping bulgogi despite their protests of being full.
After that, it became a routine. Every other Friday, she’d cook all afternoon, blasting trot songs through the apartment while Yong-sik worked. By the time Yong-sik returned home, the sides should be done, and ready to be loaded into small bowls. Geumja hustled around the small kitchen to finish the main dish.
Hyunju always came early, hair freshly curled, carrying a large dessert from the convenience store. Daeho usually trailed in after, Junhee holding her baby by his side. Minsu, and then Gyeong-seok would come shortly after. Gi-hun came rarely though.
“It’s about time you head out, no?” Geumja piped up before taking the last sip of tea.
“Yup,” Yong-sik stood up adjusting the hem of his shirt.
His mother smiled. “Text me when you get out of work. And bring home eggs”
“Okay,” he responded, pausing before closing the screen door behind him.
***
Hyunju is ready to die right here, right now.
The first top she put hugged the wrong places. She yanked it off before getting a close look at the mirror. The second one was too loose and draped over her body like a tent. She stood in front of the mirror for a few seconds longer than she probably should have. Fingers hovered all over her top half, tugging at the fabric hoping it could somehow shape into to her liking.
“Come on,” She muttered to herself, reaching into to closet again. Her room was a mess from the rush she was in. Clothes were scattered across the bed, a pair of jeans crumbled inside out on the floor, and makeup products littered her desk. She checked her phone for the time.
6:32.
She should have been there by now.
Her phone buzzed with a message from Daeho.
> Where are you?
She didn't respond.
Eventually, she found a soft sweater she liked enough. It wasn’t too tight or too baggy, it was good enough. She put a pressed powder and lip tint into her purse.
The tupperware of hotteok she bought last minute sat waiting on the kitchen counter. She grabbed them and slipped on her flats. By the time she was leaving the un was already starting to set.
>be there in 25
***
She climbed the stairs, heart thudding, for reasons she couldn’t name. When she finally paused, trying to smooth down her hair. A small part of her nagged to go home. Just for tonight. Just skip one dinner. But her feet stayed planted facing the door. She adjusted her sweater one last time, then pressed the doorbell.
The door opened almost immediately.
“Ah! Finally!’ Daeho cheered, standing in the doorway waving her to come inside. “I was about to send a search party.”
Hyunju gave him a – smile. “The bus came late,” She lied, stepping inside. The apartment was warm and illuminated by the fluorescent kitchen and dining room lights, along with the flickering of the TV program Gyeong-seok and Nayeon where they indulged in before they looked up and waved.
Junhee looked up from her baby that she was gently rocking and waved, she was sitting at the dining table. Gihun and minus where seated across from her, “You look nice.” Junhee offered a smile.
“You do as well,” Hyunju mirrored a grin, making her way to the small bar area that divided the kitchen and dining room. Yong-sik stood at the counter. He was plating japchae while his mom stood over the stove, He looked up when she approached closer.
“Oh, hey,” he said in a curt, but different way. He straightened his back from hovering over the small bowls. She was already burning from the neck up.
“Hey,” she held up the container and placed it onto the bar. “I brought dessert.” Yong-sik’s eyes flickered to the tubber ware, then up to Hyunju. He smiled before pushing his glasses up and turning his attention back to plating.
It was so weird, why does my mind blank every time he does something?
“Hyunju-ya!”
Geumja wiped her hands on a dish towel before discarding it on the counter near Yong-sik. Hyunju’s attention snapped to the woman moving towards her gleaming. “I was starting to get worried!”
Hyunju smiled sheepishly; despite getting closer to the woman the way she treated her still felt foreign at times. The older woman pulled her into a hug, surprisingly strong for her small frame.
“Sorry, I- got held up,” She mumbled apologetically into Geumja’s shoulder.
Geumja pulled back just to look up at her. “Aigoo, how have you been? Are you eating enough? You look thinner.”
“I’m fine ahjumma,” Hyunju said.
She nodded before speaking again “You should go sit, dinner is almost ready”
She guided Hyunju toward the table, one hand still resting on her back. “You’re going to sit next to me. Ok? we have lots to talk about.”
As they passed Yong-sik, Hyunju felt his gaze, lingering onto her again, but she didn’t look his way. Her cheeks were already flushed from the attention, and maybe a little from the hug too. Once she directed her to the seat, Geumja leaned in and casually said, “You look beautiful, by the way.”
Hyunju blinked, lips parting, but before she could respond. Geumja was already beside Yong-sik, yelling at him to hurry up. Hyunju sat down at the table, giving small greetings to Gi-hun and Min-su. Who both looked like they would rather be anywhere than here for different reasons. She looked down at her maxi skirt, she adjusted it then brought her attention to her hand and began chipping away at the polish.
Why does he look at me like that? She thought. Is it bad? Or is he just observing her? Though the observations she got from most men where judgmental and usually followed by the awful words cast under their breath. The more she thought his gaze she began thinking of other things. Every time she sees his gaze it’s followed by a small smile. After smiling he likes to nod his head or push his glasses up to refrain from keeping it awkward, behind those glasses were eyes that crinkled with the same brightness of his smile.
Eyes that should scowl at her for not responding to such a simple text
A smile that should disappear and say how fucking weird she was for not being able to type out a couple of words.
She watched as he loaded rice into new sets of bowls, a focused furrow in his brow. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, the way veins peeked out at certain angles he moved. And that thought made her wince back into reality. She blinked quickly and turned her attention to the condensation forming on the glass of water laid out in front of her.
What is wrong with me? Why am I so fucking weird about him
She felt a slight pang of guilt build up inside her chest.
“Congrats,” Yong-sik said suddenly, the closeness of his voice surprised her. She looked up to see Yong-sik leaning forward to place bowls of rice onto the table, his eyes briefly meeting hers.
“Uh- thanks,” She replied quietly. He nodded and continued moving the bowls to their respective spots. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling so much.
See? Was it that hard to respond to him? She watched him return to his spot in the kitchen.
Before her thoughts could spiral even further, Daeho sat down across from her with a smile plastered on his face.
“Noona, I’m glad you made it,” he said, his voice bright, yet tempered by a respectful lilt that Hyunju could only assume was a habit from his navy days.”
She managed a small smile, “Sorry I was late.”
His grin grew, “You know, Yong-sik could help you with moving.”
Her eyebrow quirked, “Hm?”
“He has work off all next week… and the Saturday after that.” He paused to consider his words. Then added, “You should definitely let him help you move.”
Hyunju blinked. “Oh- I mean, I already planned on packing by myself. I was also gonna- “
“Yeah, but there’s still furniture and… uh… besides extra help will let go finish packing faster” he quipped. “Come on, let him help”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why are you pushing this so hard?”
His smile was replaced with a slight panic. He scratched the back of his head, chuckling. “I’m not pushing! I’m just saying he’s got free time, you need a helping hand, it’s perfect. And it’ll keep you busy next Saturday… you know, keep you from stressing out.”
She furrowed a brow. “…Keep me from stressing out?”
He looked away for a moment, then back at her with the most casual face he could muster. “Yeah! Moving’s stressful. You should let someone help you out. Yong-sik’s basically built for lifting things. Look at his arms
Hyunju let out a short laugh, hoping that the heat rising in her cheeks didn’t redden her. “You’re weird.”
Daeho grinned, leaning back into his chair. “But I’m right. Just ask him. He’s already probably thinking about offering.
She glanced back toward the kitchen where Yong-sik and his mother were now arranging the last side dish. His brows furrowed in the attentive, focused manner, he always had when busied. She wondered briefly if Daeho was right. If Yong-sik didn’t hate her but wanted to help instead.
“I’ll think about it,” She muttered, and Daeho’s smile grew again.
“What are you two talking about?” Junhee asked, sliding back into her seat, no longer holding her baby. Hyunju could assume from the closed door down the hallway that Junhee put her to sleep in Geumja’s bed.
“Nothing,” Hyunju responded in a quick enough fashion to get a teasing stare from Junhee.
“Just convincing Noona to stop being so stubborn and let people help her,” Daeho replied.
Hyunju gave him a glare before rolling her eyes. She looked back toward Yong-sik, who glanced her way at that exact moment. Their eyes met briefly before he ducked his head.
She looked away quickly, heat climbing her neck.
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Letting him help.