Chapter 22 – Episodes 3-5
The next day it rained from morning.
Junwoo and Sohee’s family sat down with some simple food in the living room on the first floor of the pension. Everyone was silent.
Unknown looks were exchanged among the four people except Hyuncheol.
Sohee was the first to open her mouth.
“They say that if it rains during something, the person who promoted it is morally flawed.”
“Hey go~ How can we live in the 21st century believing in all these unheard of superstitions? Everyone be careful. You know that if you sleep with a fan on, you’ll die, right? Hohohong~”
Sohee glared at Mijeong with her pouty face. She slightly twitched her facial muscles and glazed her eyes.
Hyuncheol sensed the subtle air current flowing between the two and intervened.
“It has some charm. It’s a healing trip at a beach pension on a rainy day, so I think a travel product like this would sell well. Of course, it may not be realistic since the weather is unpredictable.”
Mijeong responded by applauding.
“Yes? As expected, Hyuncheol has great insight. Elites are different no matter what they are. How did Sohee come up with such a wonderful son?”
“Make this a product? Are you out of your mind? Never do business again after you. Even if you join a company, never go to the planning team or anything like that. I will ruin the whole company. “I’m saying this because I’m truly worried about my mom.”
The war of nerves between Sohee and Mijeong showed no sign of ending.
Junwoo and Hyeoncheol had a silent conversation with their eyes.
‘Why are they doing this?’
‘Well. What happened while you two were drinking yesterday?’
‘I don’t know anything because I’m drunk and sleeping.’
‘Me too. ‘I came here to get some fresh air with Seong-ah.’
Silence followed again. Only the sound of raindrops hitting the window filled the pension.
This time, Seong-ah opened her mouth.
“I’m bored. Would you like to play a game of truth?”
Bruise…
Did the rain make Ttolki more active this year? Junwoo wasn’t the only one who thought this. Everyone looked at Seong-ah with blank expressions.
Mijeong was the first to oppose.
“Teacher Seong-ah, I don’t think that’s right. It’s not like we have any secrets between us. Hohohong~”
Sohee also helped.
“Yes, Seong-ya. You drank too much yesterday, and you don’t seem to be sober yet. “Go to the school MT and play games to your heart’s content.”
Junwoo also said something.
“That’s right, sister. What is truth? What if everything we see, hear, and feel is nothing more than electrical impulses transmitted to the brain? In that case, we would be talking about the truth without even knowing the real truth and forcing that illusion on others. The truth game is an absurd game from the beginning. “Don’t insult the noble word truth like that.”
“What is this nonsense that isn’t very novel? “I feel like my character has been taken away. Is it because of my mood?”
“Yes, it’s because of my mood.”
Seongah tilted her head to one side and twitched her mouth.
“I understand if everyone says that. “I thought you might be bored, so I told you.”
“No, not at all~”
We all opposed it like a chorus.
After being lost in thought for a moment, Sohee put down the piece of bread she was holding and spoke to Mijeong.
“Should we go out in front of a moment and see the Buddhist temple together?”
“Of course. If Kang So-hee wants it.”
Mijeong put on her thin hooded zip-up and followed Sohee out.
There was an awning over the outdoor table in front of the pension, so we could avoid the rain.
Sohee put a straw in the soy milk pack she brought out and handed it to Mijeong.
“Drink. Don’t you feel sick?”
“No worries.”
Mi-jeong snorted and took the soy milk.
Sohee sat in her chair and looked at Mijeong. Mijeong turned her body and looked at the ocean where the rain was pouring down on her.
“Mijung, I’m talking about the manager who gave you hangover cure yesterday. “You said she was hideous, right?”
“What are you talking about out of nowhere? “Did you call me to talk about such useless things?”
“Listen for a moment. “Are you sure he’s tall and bulky, with dark skin, a Hallabong nose, and almost no eyebrows?”
Mijeong rolled her eyes and searched for her memory.
“Uh. It looks something like that. But why?”
Also. Sohee’s guess was correct.
By drinking that, I wanted Junwoo’s body so much. Mijeong couldn’t stand it either and went to Hyeoncheol.
Sohee pulled her body forward and sat down.
“After drinking that yesterday, I suddenly felt hot and excited.”
“What?”
“I couldn’t stand it anymore, so I masturbated here by myself. Shh! It is a secret. Anyway, you did that too, right?”
“Then… What do you mean you put in it? “Something like a stimulant?”
“Maybe.”
“Why that pure bachelor?”
A stupid guy came up with a pathetic plan, and the result was a mess with no winners.
I wanted to explain what happened with Mungyu in the past and Sohee’s speculations, but I decided to stop here for now.
“I guess they tried to do something because we are so pretty.”
“This is crazy.!”
Mijeong, holding an umbrella and dragging her slippers, headed to the management office.
Bang bang bang-
“Hey, bachelor! “Come out for a moment.”
At the sound of a knock on the window, a middle-aged man came out with a half-asleep look on his face.
“What’s going on?”
“Where is the bachelor from yesterday? Ugly and, um… That ugly bachelor.”
“The friend who worked yesterday? He’s probably sleeping at home. “We work 24 hours a day in three shifts.”
Mijeong found her cell phone call records and made a call.
Toorururu-
After hearing a beep, the receptionist with a kind voice only told him that a call fee would be charged, but Mungyu did not answer the phone.
“Where does that bachelor live?”
“I… I don’t know what’s going on, but I can’t give you the employee’s home address. What made you uncomfortable? “Tell me.”
“No, I have to talk to the bachelor directly. Well, that bastard…”
Mi-jeong was so angry that she tried to make a fuss, but So-hee stopped her.
“Mijung, let’s stop. Let’s just think we stepped on poop and move on.”
“If you step in poop, you have to find the person who pooped and tell them to take responsibility for cleaning it up or getting new shoes!”
“I will never see that person again anyway. Calm down and let’s talk.”
Sohee bowed to the middle-aged manager and brought Mijeong back to the table.
While Mi-jeong was calming down, So-hee organized what she wanted to say in her head and slowly opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry that I behaved harshly yesterday because I was so surprised and embarrassed.”
“I’m sorry too.”
As if Sohee’s sincerity was conveyed, Mi-jeong immediately responded and apologized.
“As for what happened Hyuncheol, since I know why you did it, I’ll just think it was an accident. “I don’t know Hyeoncheolin anyway.”
I couldn’t even say “Thank you.” Still, Sohee’s words made Mijeong feel much more at ease.
Sohee continued.
“And about Junwoo… Yes, we are dating. But it’s not what you think. I truly love Junwoo, and Junwoo also loves me. It may seem like an inappropriate relationship in the eyes of others, but… Can’t you understand a little, Mijeong?”
Mijung hesitated to answer.
When I first noticed the relationship between Jun-woo and So-hee, at first I just tried to keep quiet and pretend not to notice.
I thought, I’ll put it this way. Once I’m done with it, I can just put it behind me and go back as if nothing happened.
However, she has promised countless times that if this fact comes to the surface through anyone’s mouth, she will release all her suppressed emotions.
But I wasn’t in that mood right now. I guess life is all about timing.
Mijeong spoke in a calm tone as if conciliating.
“Okay, let’s say I make a hundred concessions and acknowledge their relationship. What next? Are you guys going to get married? Can you take me as your mother-in-law? How are you going to explain this to Junwoo’s dad? Or if the relationship breaks up, what will we see then?”
Sohee heard that everything Mijeong said was correct. Either way, it was obvious that a difficult future would unfold.
Nevertheless, Sohee could not give up on Junwoo.
“I will try. We will do our best to ensure that we all get along without any problems.”
Hororok- Kororok-
Mi-jeong sucked on her straw with the intention of drinking up all the air in her soy milk pack.
She chewed her mouth again and threw her pack into the trash can.
“It’s easier said than done.”
“Know. So, I will try my best. Please. Trust me once.”
Sohee rested her elbows on the table and put her hands together in front of her nose as if praying. The eyes that looked up at Mi-jeong pitifully shone brightly.
“Ha. Don’t look at me like that. I feel weak. “This is why pretty bitches are so annoying.”
Mijeong looked at the waves rippling in the rain in the distance.
Perhaps it was because Sohee understood the mistake he had made with Hyeoncheol, or perhaps because of the rainy atmosphere of the travel destination, but his decision went in a different direction from the decisions he had made countless times.
“It’s so funny. Kang So-hee and my son…”
Mijeong glanced at Sohee again.
“Okay. “You said you were sincere, so I’ll believe it.”
“Really?”
Sohee’s face lit up.
“Still, I don’t know what will happen to people, so let’s keep it a secret from my husband and your kids for now. Be careful not to spread rumors around the neighborhood.”
“Yes!”
My kids are fine, they already know everything, but I didn’t really say anything.
“Try not to show off. Okay?”
“Ara seung~”
When Sohee let out a cute snort, Mijeong laughed.
Phew~ It seemed like a rock that had been weighing down Sohee’s heart all night had disappeared.
However, a larger chunk of rock remained.
A video of Junwoo taken on a pile of rocks on the beach. In front of Moon-gyu, he pretended not to recognize him, but even in So-hee’s eyes, they clearly looked like Jun-woo and Seong-ah.
However, it was difficult to ask openly.
‘What if it wasn’t Junwoo and Seongah? I will become a strange woman who doubts my lover and my daughter. What if the two had sex and both Junwoo and Seongah lied? Since there is no evidence, you can’t prove it. What if I tell you that it is true that you had sex? I really don’t know what to do at that time…’
The rock sank deep into Sohee’s heart, unable to find the answer.
Jorororok-
Junwoo is urinating in the bathroom on the first floor,
Jagrak-
I could hear the sound of stepping on gravel outside.
I remembered what Sohee said in the bathroom yesterday. The saying that it felt like there was someone outside.
There is a mountain behind the building, and it seemed unlikely that anyone would pass through this narrow passage.
Junwoo quickly shook off his urine and looked out his window.
I saw a black umbrella disappearing into the bushes.
‘You’re stuck, you bastard!’
Junwoo crossed the living room and ran outside.
“Why is he doing that again?”
Hyuncheol and Seongah chewed their bread and tilted their heads.
Gasp-
Junwoo ran holding an umbrella. Rain splashed all over his clothes and shoes.
In the direction where the umbrella I saw out the window disappeared, there was only one road leading up the mountain. Junwoo continued walking along the road.
After walking a bit, I found someone crouching behind a small pavilion. The black umbrella that had disappeared earlier was also there.
‘Could it be Mungyu? Or a serial killer? Armed spy? I wish I was just a pervert voyeur.’
As he approached, his heart pounded. I held his cell phone tightly in my hand so that I could make a call right away.
“Hey.”
He stood at a distance and called.
“Let me ask you the way.”
“…”
At the beginning of a single-track hiking trail, you ask which way? Still, Junwoo said anything and got closer little by little. He didn’t answer or move.
His appearance got closer.
Familiar attire. The more familiar plump body. The dark blue backpack that I saw every day and even yesterday morning.
What…?!
When Junwoo looked at his face through the umbrella, he felt like he had met a ghost.
“Youngho, what are you doing here?”
“Ju. Junwoo, hello? Haha.”
Youngho, sitting in the pavilion, explained the whole story.
“I heard you were going on a trip to Sokcho, so I left the academy early because I was upset. I was just walking here and there and passed by your house, and the yogurt lady and Hyuncheol were there together. It’s such a strange thing, isn’t it? I was curious and thought about asking, but for some reason I wanted to check for myself.”
“So you came all the way here by express bus? You are so reckless.”
“Right. Right? When it got dark, I was wondering whether I should just give up or even call you, but thanks to the outdoor barbecue, I was lucky enough to find it.”
“If you’re curious, you can just ask. Why are you spying on me?”
Junwoo looked at Youngho with eyes that he could not understand. I really didn’t understand.
“Then can I ask?”
“What are you curious about?”
“Why are that yogurt lady and Go Hyeon-cheol here?”
“I didn’t know. That lady was my mom’s friend. And she is also Hyeoncheol’s mother.”
Youngho took off his rain-splattered glasses, wiped them with his t-shirt, and put them back on his face.
“So you had sex with a woman who is your mother’s friend and Hyuncheol’s mother?”
Junwoo’s head buzzed.
“Did you see this bastard?”
“I didn’t necessarily mean to see that scene.”
“That’s a crime, dude! How could you even think of peeking into someone else’s bathroom?!”
“But how did you do it with the lady? “Can’t I do something?”
It would have been a perfect scene to add the subtitle, “Not a still image.” Jun-woo, whose mouth was half-open, froze like a stone as if he had met Medusa’s eyes.
Actually, we’re dating – I don’t know what will happen if I talk about it. I knew very well that Youngho was the local loudspeaker who heard and spread all kinds of rumors. I am no exception.
“How did it become like that when I was drinking? It happened by chance.”
“The rumor was indeed true. It must have been even more thrilling because I was Hyuncheol’s mother. Right?”
Haha, fuck, this isn’t even this. How should I make an excuse? Junwoo was at a loss.
Jiiiiing- At that time, Junwoo’s cell phone vibrated.
“Jang Jun-woo, where are you and what are you doing?”
“Oh mom. “I was bored, so I went up the mountain for a bit.”
“We’re all preparing lunch together right now, but you’re perfect at selling it on your own. Come down quickly and help.”
“I’ll be down soon.”
Junwoo hung up the phone and comforted Youngho.
“Youngho, that’s all a misunderstanding. Don’t stay here like this for no reason, just go home. “I will explain it to you later.”
“Explain what? I understand everything. You also heard the rumor and ate the yogurt lady. “I failed once, but I gained the courage to try again.”
Argh~! Please stop!
Junwoo grabbed Youngho, lifted him up, and dragged him out of the pavilion.
“Let’s go down. And you go straight to the terminal. Okay?”
“…”
“Hey, Heo Young-ho!”
“Are you the only one eating shamelessly? Please help me do it too.”
“It’s not like that, really! Oh, it’s going to spin.”
“Selfish bastard.”
I was so frustrated that I was dying. Jun-woo forcibly pulled Yeong-ho.
Mi-jeong, who was buying ingredients, found Jun-woo and Yeong-ho coming down the mountain.
“Oh! “Aren’t you Youngho?”
“Ah. Hello, Junwoo’s mother.”
Youngho approached and said hello.
“It’s been a while~ Why are you in Sokcho? “Are you here to play?”
“Yes, I came here once by myself just to get some fresh air. Amazingly, I met Junwoo here.”
“Alone? Then what about accommodation?”
“I stayed in a motel room and slept. “I’m going to rest until tomorrow.”
“What about a motel room? “We met before and hung out together here.”
“Is that okay?”
“Well, the lady’s friend’s family is there too, as long as Youngho isn’t inconvenienced.”
“I don’t care.”
Youngho looked back at Junwoo. Junwoo held his head and spun around.