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Gang-tae tries to ignore the way the other grocery-shoppers eye him maliciously. Mun-yeong's outburst about wanting a son with him seemingly branded him as an unloving husband and a child-hater. These people could not be more wrong! He loves children and thinking about having children with Mun-yeong -
His thoughts are cut-off with the sounds of her heels approaching him. She's carrying a basket she did not have earlier when he asked her to get milk. In it are 5 cartons of milk and different other beverages. He eyes her incredulously.
"I did not know there were so many kinds of milk!" She answers his expression with a shrug. "Goat milk, fresh cow milk, almond milk," she says as she transfers each carton to their cart. Gang-tae can only look at her fondly, already forgiving her for putting him on the spot just a few moments ago- she makes it seem like the grocery store is a kid's toy store. She glances up at him with a devious expression, "But you don't have to drink these. A woman in that aisle told me this red ginseng would help with virility, so this is for you."
"No, return that," he says firmly and she looks like a kid who was not allowed to buy her chosen toy.
As they stroll along some aisles some more, Mun-yeong links her arm with his as he points out to her how to tell how if the pear is already ripe, and when they choose what smell of fabric conditioner she prefers. He is surprised with himself at how easy it feels- he is never the one to show emotions outwardly, never thought he was the type that can publicly display affection - but seeing Mun-yeong smile so freely, seeing her so happy with what he thought as just the mundane, has brought new color to his world. He finds himself smiling at her struggling to choose cereals and patting her head when she was able to pick one.
When they have paid for their grocery, he suggests that they go to an art supply store to get materials for Sang-tae. He would need it for his illustrations but Gang-tae also feels immense happiness for the recent development of their relationship as brothers and he wanted to get his brother a gift to express his gratitude. Once they enter the store, Mun-yeong gets distracted by a selection of fountain pens and so he continues by himself to the paint supplies.
***
From afar, Mun-yeong can see how the sales clerk seem to stand too close to Gang-tae. How she would fix her hair consciously and how she would smile flirtatiously. Mun-yeong leaves all the fountain pens in front of her, and walks towards her oblivious man. She links her arm with his and slightly pulls him towards her. Gang-tae is surprised with her sudden actions. "Why?" he asks with a wide-eyed expression.
"This store has ants too," she says glaring at the sales clerk. The other girl all but looked down and excused herself saying something about being called upon by her manager.
He laughs at her amusingly. "You don't have to do this here," he says as he tries to unlink their arms.
"No, I want to," tightening her hold on him. "You are too precious to be left unattended." Gang-tae is clueless what she is referring to, still not used to showing affection so freely and yet, he does not seem to find the energy to fight her any further. So he lets himself relax with her so close to him, choosing which paint brushes to buy.
***
In the car on the way home, Mun-yeong is looking out the window humming a tune he doesn't recognize. She looks so relaxed, so happy - she doesn't even complain when the tiny little petals that are falling outside fly in through the open window. For a moment he is mesmerized at her. Everything that happened today felt all so normal, and he wonders if this is the happy ending written in fairytales. After all, they have tackled so many hurdles already, have both saved each other, and there was even an epic kiss.
"I have thought about it again," Mun-yeong says facing him. "We don't have to have children immediately."
He almost steps on the breaks too hard. "Please. What thoughts even go through your mind?"
"Well, I've seen how children are not really good for couples who are not ready to have them," he looks at her curiously, wondering what she has experienced as a child. "So, in the mean time, you can find your sense of self and I can be your dutiful wife," she says as if it's the easiest thing in the world.
Gang-tae smiles despite himself, finding the idea amusing. "A dutiful wife? How do you think you would do that?"
"I'd cook for you-"
"Didn't you burn all the bread this morning?"
"I'll clean-"
"Do you know where the broom even is?"
"Aish, fine. You do all of that," she says in an irritated tone. But then she faces him with that signature smirk of hers, "I'll just be a good wife in bed," she teases him with a stroke on his chest.
Gang-tae helplessly blushes. There is no winning with Ko Mun-yeong he should have known that by now. He can fight with her and even fight his own logic against her, but somehow, he always find himself under her spell. He is still trying to figure out his sense of self, but one piece is for sure- he likes her.