[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Special Chapter 9: Propose 5.0 #4.
Sangwoo skipped to the next page. Then, the life plan he had previously laid out appeared in the form of a table. Sangwoo explained in detail how he originally planned to live and presented how the life plan changed after meeting Jaeyoung. He pleaded for approval from the other party. This is not a report, but a proposal, because from now on, he will have to draw the future of two individuals, not just the future of one person.
Sangwoo passionately explained how he planned to marry Jaeyoung at what age, why he wanted to be with the other party for the rest of his life, how he would overcome the flaws of the social structure, and discussed the season and location of the wedding as well as the number of guests attending the event. He tried his best to speak without confusing Jaeyoung and to fully accept the truth.
One listener sat in a pose of self-satisfaction for a while, then laughed, and then took photos or videos. Fortunately, it seemed that the explanation was going well until Chapter 3. And the protagonist still didn’t have any questions and just sat listening.
Then, without any delay, the presentation moved on to Chapter 4, which was the step to captivate the other party by showing what Sangwoo could do for Jaeyoung and how useful he could be. As he pressed the laser pointer, small words appeared crowded on the screen, listing the awards he had received.
“Don’t skip it. Come and read a little.”
Jaeyoung put on his glasses and changed his sitting position by leaning forward. Then he asked numerous detailed questions, such as how many students in the school adhere to the principles of the award for a righteous life, what topics the scientific research awards have been received for, whether he had missed the academic excellence award before participating in the mathematics competition with advanced study in advance, and if the math Olympiad is similar to the IQ test. What kind of gun is used for target shooting in the test? Is there any secret to receiving the special military class award? Sangwoo answered all the questions until he felt they had no substance and moved on to the next page.
[<Certification of Competence
Programming - applications on PC/web/mobile, “Java, Python, C, C++,
C#, etc.”
Computer repair/assembly.
Mental calculations, memory recalling.
Game - Can play all types of games.
Korean language - Can check, correct, and proofread letters.
English language - TOEIC score of 990, can write essays and have general conversations.
Chinese language - 6 credits, can have general conversations.
Driving - General driver’s license, Type 1.
Self-defense - Taekwondo, black belt, level 4.
Sports – Football, basketball, ping pong, badminton, shooting, bowling, “basic” pool, “basic” skateboarding, “basic” snowboarding, “basic”.
Swimming - Freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breaststroke.
Basic first aid - CPR training.
Cleaning - School’s annual cleanliness award in second grade.
A Quick cooking learner “must have cooking instructions”.
After reading in detail, Jaeyoung asked one question.
“Why is there no sex?”
“...”
That is a valid point. Sangwoo walked to the notebook, thinking that this should be included in the “sports” section, or should it be typed separately at the end. Jaeyoung paused for a moment, seeming satisfied.
“This is the last slide of Chapter 4. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.”
“Is this really the end? Don’t you see anything more important, like travel plans? Vacation plans? Hobbies?”
Sangwoo couldn’t defeat Jaeyoung’s impatience, so he added another slide.
He typed the headline, “Done.” Jaeyoung then said as if he was waiting for it. “We must go on vacation together for at least twenty days a year.” Sangwoo’s hand was busy typing according to the words spoken.
“Go watch a movie together at least once a week, go see a performance at least once a month, go on a trip together at least once a season, go skiing together at least twice a year.”
Sangwoo typed a reply without much thought, as all of these were already things they were doing currently and he didn’t see it as a request that was too much.
“Activities we’ll do together next year, type them. Skydiving [1], trying challenging poses in yoga Kamasutra, ‘the problem.’ Also, a couple tattoos.”
“Cupping?”
“Why do that expression? Don’t you want to do it?”
“...I’ll do it.”
Just getting married to the other person, drawing a little picture on the skin, it wasn’t a big deal. Sangwoo moved his fingers calmly.
“Prohibitions! Besides holding hands to greet, no physical contact with others besides the one you love. Holding hands to greet is only allowed in public places. Cannot be used for intimate displays of affection.”
“Does this apply to you as well?”
“Of course.”
At first, Sangwoo didn’t touch anyone’s body except for Jaeyoung’s body. This, and therefore, was a very significant limitation for him. When he finished typing, Jaeyoung hugged him without saying anything else.
‘Finally, this time has come.’
Sangwoo took a deep breath and opened the last slide, which only had a drawing of a heart on a pink background, no other text, waiting for a moment, a pop song with the meaning of a marriage proposal played softly. Sangwoo turned back to the candlelight heart-shaped pendant and looked at Jaeyoung.
“Jang Jaeyoung.”
When he said it calmly, the other party loosened his arms around his chest and straightened up slightly. Sangwoo swallowed a big lump in his throat. Then, with a wide open mouth, he spoke the words he had practiced many times with strength.
“I love you enough to give up even the intention to procreate, which is a genetic imperative.”
“Wait a minute.”
Jaeyoung opened the camera and turned to Sangwoo.
“Say what you said earlier again.”
“It’s already passed.”
“....”
“Six years from now. I want to marry you and be together for the rest of our lives. I will make you happy like this forever. I promise.”
Sangwoo spoke confidently, knowing well how to make Jaeyoung smile.
“If you like this proposal, wear the ring as a symbol of acceptance.”
Jaeyoung already had the ring on, but Sangwoo still didn’t seem to notice. He has done everything he could. The final decision is now up to the other party. Sangwoo closed his eyes tightly.
“I accept the proposal.”
The answer came out in less than a second. When he raised his eyes, he saw that Jaeyoung was smiling and putting down his phone before feeling pleased.
Sangwoo felt relieved.
“Why is it that easy?”
“Then should I reject it?”
“That wouldn’t be an ideal choice, but such a big decision in life needs careful consideration.”
“Then what do you suggest? What if you die if I reject you?”
Jaeyoung chuckled softly and spread his arms out. At that moment, he had no other choice. Except to walk in and give the other party a hug.
As he moved closer, Jaeyoung hugged Sangwoo tightly, almost breaking him at the waist.
“I asked if the person who loves fun but not attached like you. So, does that mean you go against your heart and don’t answer?”
Sangwoo softly asked Jaeyoung, loosening his grip and tilting his head to look at the other side.
“The question I have heard five times is difficult to answer.”
“But before this, you never answered properly.”
“I always answer sincerely.”
Jaeyoung pulled Sangwoo’s waist, making him sit on his lap. Sangwoo felt the touch of the necklace on his throat, reflecting on the answers he had received from Jaeyoung.
“When you first said it, I asked, ‘What…?’”
“Just hug. Don’t say anything. When you sob, it’s cute, can I see it again?”
That night, they made love to each other excessively, causing Sangwoo to miss school the next day, while Jaeyoung claimed to not be feeling well and took a monthly leave.
“The second time.”
“You said it was okay a hundred times. But I think it was an exaggerated expression, so I thought you were joking.”
“The third time.”
“If you were a master key, I would let you have complete control.”
“...I was drunk that day.”
“Yes, and how can I believe the words of someone whose body and mind are weak?”
“As for the fourth time...”
“Whisper ‘I love you.’”
Sangwoo pulled Jaeyoung’s cheek with a serious face, that’s right, the issue that the other party never sincerely responded to the marriage proposal was clearly a real matter at that moment. However, Jaeyoung’s face remained unchanged.
“I understand. Is it enough now? Call me ‘darling’ as a reminder of a successful marriage proposal.”
“...No thank you. We are not married yet.”
“Now it’s no different from a husband, the ring is worn.”
The other party hugged Sangwoo’s waist with one arm and extended his left hand to look at the ring. Then his gaze turned to Sangwoo’s left hand.
“Where is your ring?”
“I will not wear the ring for a while.”
Jaeyoung looked dissatisfied and examined Sangwoo’s face before taking off the gold ring from his finger and handing it over.
“We’re a couple, isn’t that right? This is for good luck. And give it back tomorrow.”
“What is this?”
“No matter the design, I still don’t like it... It’s not a childhood ring [2] or anything...”
Sangwoo was greatly shocked. No matter how confused he was, they should have boundaries. He had accepted the proposal, and now he was backing out because of the ring?
Sangwoo didn’t wear the ring. He just thought that instead of buying it and not wearing it, it was better not to buy it at all. It made more sense. Sangwoo felt disappointed in Jaeyoung for letting himself go and leaning against the sofa to look at his phone too much, so he got up from the other side.
“Where are you going?”
Jaeyoung restrained him from sitting again immediately, while he opened his mouth to argue with the other party. Jaeyoung then handed Sangwoo a mobile phone with a website displaying pictures of white diamond rings. Sangwoo looked at Jaeyoung’s face and alternated with the communication device without understanding the situation. When Jaeyoung pressed to change tabs with a calm face, another ring design appeared.
“Lately, I’ve been looking at couple-rings. Both are beautiful, so I can’t decide. Why don’t you take a look and see which one is better?”
“Huh? Uh....”
Sangwoo felt as if he was being attacked. He carefully examined the screen, and both rings in the picture were made of white gold. The first design had several small diamonds embedded in it, and the second design had a twisted pattern. Sangwoo’s gaze found the price in a small information window below the picture.
“A ring for only ten thousand won? Must be plated then.”
If he wants to get a cheap ring, what will he make all the events with the highest quality for? Sangwoo knows well that the ring is not just for beauty, but a symbol of unchanging love. Therefore, he wants to say no, but he realizes that Jaeyoung likes it, so it’s hard to refuse. Sangwoo wants to listen to everything that the person he loves wants, he thinks for a while before speaking out.
“Anyway, it’s an engagement ring. I think it’s too expensive.”
“This is in dollars.”
“... This is a very meaningless expenditure.”
“How much did you pay for this joke? Ah, I see the engagement is a joke.”
Sangwoo can’t say anything. Although it may be more expensive than regular engagement rings in the market, Jaeyoung still insisted that he has to choose one. So Sangwoo loses his confidence. If he offers another option unnecessarily and the other party doesn’t like it, he might say that he doesn’t want to get engaged anymore because his liking has changed. Sangwoo points to the first ring, unable to help.
“This one looks good.”
“Okay, then let’s book it? Next week, we can go try it on at the store.”
“... Yes.”
“Which size do you think you should wear?”
Jaeyoung tried comparing Sangwoo’s hand with his own hand and then decided on the same size before quickly and smoothly booking the ring. The other party smiled with satisfaction and firmly held Sangwoo’s hand.
“You have to wear the ring everywhere you go, otherwise I won’t get married.”
“Please, I can’t wear those kinds of rings on.”
“No, if someone comes to flirt with you while you are walking on the street, going to work, or buying hamburgers, they have to see the ring, and you can try saying this, ‘I have a boyfriend already.’”
Jaeyoung ordered him to say, “I am in a relationship, I am not single, I have a boyfriend,” in that order. He practiced these sentences so often that he had to say them immediately while studying English.
“I’m engaged.”
“I am enga-jed.”
“My love is waiting at home.”
No. ‘My boyfriend will be angry. I will get married soon.’, ‘Breaking up with me will be safer. My love is very hot-tempered.’, ‘Besides, my love is more handsome than you.’ After saying these sentences in English, Jaeyoung smiled and said,
“Passed.”
Sangwoo took a soft breath as if escaping the danger. Jaeyoung looked happy, using both hands to hold Sangwoo’s cheeks and kissed the sides of his lips, chin, forehead, bridge of the nose, eyelids, cheeks, and others. The corners of his mouth only lifted, refusing to go down.
“Hyung.”
“Hmm.”
“Hyung, you seem glad you are getting married suddenly.”
“Suddenly?”
“Yes, as a surprise.”
“You asked me to get married every day until you could sing it and did something to surprise me.”
“Even so, hurry up and tell me that today is the happiest day of your life.”
I don’t know when it turned out this way. Sangwoo was sitting on Jaeyoung’s lap, but realized after a while that his head was touching the sofa in a lying position. Jaeyoung used his other hand to stroke Sangwoo’s cheek slowly, the face turned away from the light, drawing a smile like a painting.
Sangwoo regretted not having a camera in the room.
“I am so happy that I’m scared, and it’s been like this every day, not just today, but ever since I met you.”
Hearing that, Sangwoo laughed out loud. He almost didn’t drink at all, but he seemed a little tipsy. This vague feeling was different from usual, clearly different. Sangwoo placed his hand on top of Jaeyoung’s hand and said.
“I want to give you a movie-like day as a gift. It may be chaotic in the process, but the happy ending is not bad, right?”
Jaeyoung smirked and wrapped his arm around Sangwoo’s shoulder, while his other arm slid between his legs and thighs. Then, Sangwoo’s body was lifted up so high that he almost cried out. After the hug, Sangwoo was lifted and rotated once before jaeyoung used his foot to kick the door and jump onto the bed, causing Sangwoo perspective to change quickly.
As soon as that happened, Jaeyoung placed Sangwoo on the bed as if tossing him, then climbed on top of him, pressing his wrists with a scary look as if he would tear off his clothes and bring his face closer. After that, he exposed his lips and slowly blinked his eyes as if to ask when he had been in this state.
“...”
But Sangwoo’s eyelashes flickered and he adjusted to the unexpected actions of his lover. At that moment, Jaeyoung’s hand that was holding both wrists slid up gently, and his serious face was neither comedy nor action.
Sangwoo could feel his racing heart and gradually closed his eyes.
Jaeyoung’s lips gradually pressed down like a slow motion, and after swallowing Sangwoo’s lips, he used his tongue gently. Yes, it was an unquestionable romantic moment, even without candles, LEDs, or flower bouquets. Sangwoo thought he had conquered dating through theories in books and movies for the past sixteen months, but it seems like the journey in learning is still long.
The deeper the kiss, the more the thoughts slipped away and the feelings flowed. The feeling of accomplishment, the joyful feeling of overflowing love, and the desire to tie this man to his body for the rest of his life.
“So, now it feels like a movie, right?”
Jaeyoung slowly pulled away his lips and raised an eyebrow. Sangwoo thought that was a funny question.
“In movies, I have never seen a man like you.”
“Where did you learn to speak like that? Are you planning to court someone with that flowery language?”
Jaeyoung placed his hand on the side and smirked. Sangwoo burst into laughter and involuntarily twisted his body.
“Aha, don’t do that!”
If you listened closely, that voice was no longer Jang Jaeyoung’s voice. The other side teased even harder, causing Sangwoo to dodge and start fighting back against Jaeyoung, laughing until tears flowed. In this fight, no matter what, Sangwoo was at a disadvantage because Jaeyoung didn’t feel ticklish at all, whether it was on the side, armpits, or neck.
“I can’t endure any longer.”
In the meantime, the other party suddenly spoke up, the nonchalant tone making Sangwoo even more tense, the bed that used to shake violently now quieted down. Jaeyoung took a breath and continued.
“After proposing and it’s successful, something has to follow to celebrate, you know if you watch movies.”
Jaeyoung’s weight disappeared, and the lights went out. Then the parental guidance of the movie changed from PG-13 to NSFW, this time Sangwoo was very confident.
________________________________________.
SkyDiving, “Skydiving.” is an extreme sports activity that involves jumping out of a flying plane in order to freefall for as long as possible.
Childhood ring. In this case, 돌반지, “Talbanji.” is a ring that Korean parents often give to their children on their first birthday.
Special Chapter 10: Hello world! #1.
“How do I look?”
Jaeyoung asked with a trembling voice. Sangwoo glanced at him and replied.
“You look handsome.”
“Don’t tease me, how do I really look?”
“I’m being serious.”
As he folded his arms to stop him. Sangwoo stopped his footsteps and looked at Jaeyoung with scrutiny, a satisfied smile emerging at the corner of his mouth.
“Looks like you are easy to teach and don’t fuss like usual.”
Sangwoo raised the large camera hanging on his shoulder and took two or three photos. It seemed like he had taken hundreds of photos in the morning, but he still hadn’t stopped pressing the shutter. Jaeyoung had let go of his lost loved one and checked his own condition for the last time.
I, who have been growing my hair for half a year, had a short haircut. He wore a black coat, looked respectable. Under the coat, there was a navy blue silk embroidered shirt as a white shirt and followed by beige linen pants and black knee-high boots. In his hand, he held a set of good-quality Hwagwaja cookies [1] and a box of cookies.
“Cool.”
“...”
When I saw Chu Sangwoo’s eyes turn into heart shapes, it seemed like his appearance could be used elegantly once.
“Are you going inside like that? Leave the camera in the car.”
“No, I’ll take a picture of the house.”
“...Go ahead, who would dare stop you.”
Jaeyoung scratched Sangwoo’s head, lifted the camera close to his face, and blinked sleepily on one side. The two-story townhouse that Sangwoo was shooting looked like a ghostly sacred house, 666. On the second floor was Jaeyoung. He swallowed his saliva and looked indifferently at the brown building that didn’t stand out. Sangwoo lowered the camera and carefully placed it in its case.
“I never thought I would come to your house, I feel strange.”
“I feel even stranger, you brat.”
“Why?”
“Just be quiet. I feel like vomiting. Do you remember everything I said in the car?”
“Of course.”
“I will handle everything myself, you don’t have to say anything useless, understand?”
“Yes.”
Sangwoo looked impatient, responded politely. For some reason, he didn’t seem reliable as usual. They arrived at the front door. Jaeyoung looked at the signboard of both homeowners, written one after another, ‘Chu Jong-han, Hwang Geum-ryeo’, with a puzzled expression.
‘How did it become like this?’
That’s a question that arises when the line gets disconnected. Sangwoo pressed the doorbell and that meant the opportunity to escape was gone. Jaeyoung tried to put on a soft, gentle smile on his tense face. Then he wondered how he ended up in this situation.
***
“I’ll be going back to Deajon next Saturday. I’ll stay for one night and then come back.”
Last Sunday, Sangwoo said that. The other party was never satisfied with the biannual visits to their house, but this time the reason for the worrying was not just because he wouldn’t see his boyfriend’s face for two days.
“Are you going to tell your parents?”
“About what?”
“About the engagement.”
The corner of Sangwoo’s mouth that was about to chew the rice paused. His dark eyes looked at Jaeyoung.
“When I go back home, my father will ask if anything good has been happening lately. So, I won’t be able to hide it.”
His gaze slowly scanned Jaeyoung before returning to the fried rice.
“If you don’t want me to tell, then I won’t.”
Until now, Jaeyoung has forbidden Sangwoo from revealing their relationship to their families. Even though Sangwoo thought that having a boyfriend was a personal matter, their parents couldn’t interfere. But which parents in the world would be happy to have their son eat with a man? Jaeyoung didn’t want their harmonious family to be disrupted.
“What engagement do I have to tell my father... He will definitely ask if anything good has been happening lately. I’ve never had anything like that...”
This time, he probably wants to tell. Sometimes Sangwoo speaks ambiguously, not being true to himself, but it is clear what he is thinking because it is not a skill he excels at. Jaeyoung scooped up a scoop of fried rice and chewed silently. If it was just dating and understanding each other, it would be normal, but this was to the point of engagement and planning a wedding, and they were even moving to a different country together. He understood the feelings of the other party who wanted to let their parents know because he grew up in a family that concealed and hid things, unlike him.
“Then tell them.”
“Yes.”
“...”
Well, even so, I didn’t think you would answer immediately like this while waiting.
“What do you want to say?”
“Say that you promise to marry the man you’re with and have him join the wedding in six years.”
“Hey, are you crazy? No, you have to explain everything properly.”
“Then what should I do? Like the six main points in news writing [2]?”
Sangwoo’s face looks confused. Jaeyoung reached out and explained slowly why he said that he was dating a man without hesitation, what kind of words should be used to relax the atmosphere, and what steps should be taken to talk about that. Even though Sangwoo’s parents would be equally shocked, it would be better to have a confrontation first.
“No matter what, the conclusion is the same.”
“Did you hear some of it? I said that the feelings of the listeners are different.”
“I don’t know.”
He thought that in one and a half years he had created a human being, but when he looked now, the other side still seemed completely inhuman. Jaeyoung thought that if Sangwoo returned home in that condition, he would definitely be kicked out. But at the same time, when he imagined the other side looking disappointed, he felt like his heart was breaking.
“There is a way to fix it.”
At that moment, Sangwoo spoke up. Jaeyoung waited to hear what the other side would say without expecting anything.
“Go explain it to me.”
“Me?”
Jaeyoung laughed as if he had heard a joke, but Sangwoo’s face remained serious, with no trace of playfulness at all.
“No. You should go and explain it properly.”
“Me? Should I go explain to your father?”
Sangwoo paused, his face filled with confusion, before he smiled slightly as if he had found a solution to the problem. Jaeyoung seemed to transform into a timid and brave son-in-law, sitting still with a bewildered look before reaching out to call Sangwoo. The other party then placed the spoon down and moved closer. Jaeyoung leaned his waist into Sangwoo’s embrace and looked into their eyes, but before he could say anything, Sangwoo spoke first.
“I’m not forcing you.”
Silence fell, he was caught off guard by their gaze. The pretentious figure spoke so coolly while hoping for something, why did they have to do it like that?
Jaeyoung felt that his tender heart was gently caressed by Sangwoo.
“Do you want me to come with you to greet your parents?” Sangwoo paused for a moment without hesitation.
“I want to bring you there to introduce you. I want to show off.”
Jaeyoung realized that he couldn’t refuse this impulsive action, how could he let the other party go alone? If there was going to be a punishment, they should be punished together. If there was going to be a blow, they should be hit together. Jaeyoung let out a faint sigh.
“I guess I have to get a haircut first.”
“What a pity, it’s already so long.”
“Well, it doesn’t sound like a big loss.”
“Is it really that noticeable? I think I look better with short hair.”
***
I retract the words that said you’re inhumane and the words that said you’re a sly person.
After the fall of Chu Sangwoo’s trap, Jaeyoung stood here, in this perplexing place.
“So Sangwoo, you have arrived.”
As he heard the faint voice of a man behind the door, Jaeyoung’s body tensed up. Perhaps today Jaeyoung might be destined to be slapped by that person, so he didn’t wear glasses.
The sound of unlocking the door echoed, and the door swung open wide.
“Huh?”
The middle-aged man’s face looked surprised after seeing the suspiciously lively son. Jaeyoung politely bowed his head before standing up straight again.
He wanted to smile gently, but it didn’t come out very well.
‘Damn it. No matter what Chu Sangwoo said, we shouldn’t come.’
The man was wearing a brown shirt and dark gray trousers. His eyes looked self-assured and comfortable-looking compared to his age. He didn’t have many wrinkles, and even though he stood beside Sangwoo, they looked different enough that one would not know if they were blood-related.
Sangwoo’s father is a poet who is 55 years old this year. He has published three books of poetry. Among these three books, one of them was popular.
Jaeyoung tried buying and reading it, but it was too romantic for his taste.
The other party slowly and carefully looked at Jaeyoung before shifting his gaze to Sangwoo.
“Come in quickly, how did you come?”
“I drove here.”
“Is the car traffic okay?”
“Not really.”
Whether it was Sangwoo, who hadn’t seen his father in half a year but talked as if they just met yesterday, or his father who saw a man standing nearby but didn’t ask who he was, both of them were equally strange. When Sangwoo noticed Jaeyoung’s gaze, he pointed towards him, as if just remembering.
“This is Jang Jaeyoung. Father.”
“Um... I was wondering who was standing there! Nice to meet you.
Jaeyoung. You must be the senior who lives at the same house as Sangwoo...
Right?”
Jaeyoung shook the thick hand extended towards him and greeted, “Yes. Nice to meet you.” This is the first time in his life that he had to greet someone with such formality.
“Why did you buy all of these things?”
Sangwoo’s father smiled mischievously and teasingly held the gift in Jaeyoung’s hand himself, saying that it’s best to face problems as soon as possible. Jaeyoung felt a bit uncomfortable when he saw the other party smile so brightly.
“Come in, please. Did my son bring a friend to the house... The sun will probably rise in the west tomorrow.”
“No, he’s not a friend.”
Jaeyoung hastily stepped on Sangwoo’s foot. The other party stopped speaking immediately.
“Dear, dear. It seems like Sangwoo brought a friend along!”
After Sangwoo’s father hurriedly ran into the house, Jaeyoung reluctantly took off his shoes.
The entrance was so clean and tidy that it felt unfamiliar. There were no shoes placed outside at all, and there wasn’t a speck of dust on the shoe cabinet. Sangwoo opened the shoe cabinet and put on the shoes inside the house, which had the words ‘Chu Sangwoo’ written on them, and then handed a pair labeled ‘Guest 1’ to Jaeyoung. When they walked into the living room, they were greeted by a woman who was undoubtedly Sangwoo’s mother.
“Hello...”
The woman sitting upright and reading a book slightly lowered her glasses and looked at Jaeyoung thoughtfully. Jaeyoung felt a little scared as if being examined with indifferent and non-intimidating eyes. The woman had a slender face and a thin body, giving the impression of being just a beautiful young girl in her youth, but at the same time, she had a strong charm.
53 years old, working as a chemist, still working at the same company for 20 years. While Sangwoo’s mother looked at Sangwoo as if requesting an explanation, her husband placed the gift on the table and invited them to have a meal.
“Why? This is Mister Jaeyoung, the person who is living in the same house as Sangwoo.”
“That’s the kid.”
“Yes, that kid.”
“It’s strange, isn’t it? That kid has never brought a friend to the house before.”
“That’s right. Even during elementary school, he never had one.”
Sangwoo’s mother looked completely uninterested in Jaeyoung.
“Sangwoo, you are here.”
“Yes, I am. How are you?”
“I’m fine, how are you doing?”
“I’m doing well.”
“It seems so.”
Jaeyoung simply stood there, listening to the dry conversation between the mother and son. He had heard them talk on the phone many times before, so he wasn’t surprised. The conversation ended, and there was nothing else. But it seemed like no one was excited or overjoyed. Sangwoo walked up to the second floor without saying a word. Jaeyoung sat down at the end of the sofa, feeling out of place.
“The house looks very beautiful.”
Despite the gentle greeting, Jaeyoung still couldn’t bring himself to say ‘Mother’ at the end.
Although this old house may look dull and shabby, there were corners that had the charm of ancient artifacts, such as landscape paintings of the sea by an anonymous painter, Korean letter wallpaper that seemed to be favored by poets, furniture made entirely of wood, such as dining tables, bookshelves, and desks. It looked old like a house, but it gave off a sense of high value that increases over time, like a branded item.
“It’s my husband’s taste.”
Sangwoo’s mother said that before closing the book and walking to the kitchen. Jaeyoung sat still, feeling awkward. He had often visited his friend’s house and met his friend’s parents, but the problem was that Sangwoo was not just an ordinary friend. Just thinking about making a good impression felt futile, and he knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“So, is it okay? I mean you’re living with Sangwoo?”
Sangwoo’s father sat down next to him and asked in a friendly manner.
“Um, yes. It’s fun.”
“It’s been more than a year, that’s incredible. Jaeyoung, you must have a good compatibility with Sangwoo, and your personality must be meticulous.” Not both true, but Jaeyoung couldn’t help but smile.
“That kid is not an ordinary person. When he said he would live with someone else, I couldn’t believe it. But it’s worth a try. When I was young, I lived with my older brothers to save on food expenses, and the memories of playing back then have become precious to me now.”
The other side laughed with a crooked smile. Jaeyoung now knew where Sangwoo learned to laugh from.
“You’re older than Sangwoo, right? Have you finished your studies?”
“Yes. I’ve been working for two years now. And just be yourself when you speak.”
“Oh, then how should I address you?”
“You can call me Jaeyoung...”
“Then Jaeyoung, you are like... some kind of programming language like
Sangwoo, right?”
“No, not really. I work in graphic design. I graduated from the School of Fine
Arts.”
“You are in the art field? How do the two of you know so much about each other?”
As the poet asked with curiosity, a voice called, ‘dear,’ came out from the kitchen. After the other side darted out like a bullet, only Jaeyoung was left standing there.
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[1] Hwagwaja, or Wagashi, is traditional Japanese confectionery that blends the art of Japan during the old capital, “Kyoto”.
[2] The six basic elements to consider when writing news are: who, what, where, why, when, and how.
Special Chapter 11: Hello world! #2.
Jaeyoung sat there in a daze. Then he noticed various picture frames hanging on the wall. Jaeyoung stood up and examined the family photos and sibling pictures playing together in detail, in order.
‘Wow, you have a beautiful sister.’
He was meditating, looking at the phone screen. While a close zooming of the boy holding a toy. Sangwoo came down from the second floor.
“How can you leave me alone?”
Jaeyoung said without uttering a word, but Sangwoo sat on the sofa with an indifferent expression.
They sat silently for a moment. Sangwoo looked comfortable as if he was at his own home, while Jaeyoung fidgeted and finally, after some hesitation, went to offer help in preparing food. But then he was told by the father that it wasn’t the guest’s responsibility, accompanied by the gaze of the mother seemingly asking why he was interfering, and was chased out.
Dinner started at six o’clock sharp. Each person had a plastic coaster placed under their dish, topped with a soup bowl, a rice bowl, and a personal plate. A water glass was placed on a coaster, while a small spoon and fork were placed on a small coaster made of white glazed tiles. Everything was neatly arranged in its rightful place without anything out of order or inconsistent with usage.
“Come home often. Eat a lot..Sangwoo-ya.”
“Yes.”
“Jaeyoung too, although there isn’t much prepared, please eat a lot.”
“Yes. I will eat until I’m satisfied.”
Seaweed soup, sangseojeon [1], bulgogi [2], and two or three side dishes. Although not excessive to fill the table, it was evident that they put effort into it as their son came back. However, the atmosphere during dinner, with no conversation even for a single word, made it difficult for him to breathe. It seemed that this house had been like this from the beginning, as besides Jaeyoung, no one seemed bothered.
Jaeyoung ate without realizing whether he scooped it into his mouth or into his nose. While in the midst of eating, suddenly, Sangwoo’s father spoke up.
“Did you finish university? How was it?”
“Yes. If you’re wondering about my grades, last semester, I got A+ for every subject, even though I read fewer books because I had to prepare for finding a job, but I’m still doing fine.”
His father probably didn’t intend to ask about that matter, but Jaeyoung was determined to talk about his grades. Sangwoo was good at speaking when facing his parents. Although the important points may not match, sometimes if it were someone else asking, it might have ended with just a ‘yes.’
“So, is anything good happening? Except for the work stuff that I already know.”
“I can’t say.”
The other father chooses to change the question instead of pushing further.
“Do you have friends?”
“No.”
Sangwoo scooped up some seaweed soup and continued speaking.
“I’ve been saying it all along. I don’t need friends.”
“Quit talking about Black Mamba already.”
Jaeyoung barely managed to hold in his laughter, almost spitting out the rice, pretending that he had something stuck in his throat as he drank water.
At that moment, Sangwoo’s mother interjects.
“It’s your right to say whatever, but please respect the right to express opinions. Please, dear.”
“We didn’t give birth to a snake, but you keep talking about snakes. Not just once or twice.”
“The right words should be spoken not just once in a while, learning from nature is an attitude to be admired.”
Almost as if hearing a loud sound, ‘clang clang,’ Sangwoo’s deep-rooted confidence is nurtured by this method, yet his father is still unwilling to back down.
“Every person needs to be part of society, you’re not an exception. Look, even our son and the friend sitting next to you did well coming out, right?”
“Yes, and this person is my sunbae, not just a friend.”
“Even if there’s a difference in age, people can still be friends, age doesn’t matter for friendships.”
“I didn’t mean it that way, he’s not a friend, but he’s...”
Jaeyoung firmly holds onto Sangwoo’s knee under the table, silencing him before he says something pointless.
“I am his sunbae. We are colleagues who work together. He probably doesn’t like being called a friend.”
“Oh, really? Anyway, forget it. Sangwoo is weak with this word’s definition.”
‘Even though things may go differently from what was expected, it’s not too bad.’
Jaeyoung pondered, if his son brought the man he was living with home. He seemed suspicious, but the parents of the other party didn’t pay much attention, causing Jaeyoung to be startled. However, despite that, he couldn’t continue living like this as if he were a shadow. Jaeyoung observed the delicate atmosphere.
“Why did you bring him here?”
While chewing his food, Jaeyoung suddenly forgot how to move his mouth. Sangwoo’s mother, who had been sitting quietly as if nothing had happened, suddenly intervened with a blink of an eye. “He...”
Jaeyoung clenched his knees tighter.
“He’s my close sunbae. I wanted to introduce him to you Mom.”
Sangwoo didn’t forget Jaeyoung’s explanation. Although he thought he had handled it well, the mother of the other party didn’t seem pleased.
“A sunbae? Don’t you have seniors who are women?”
The tone was soft, but there was an unbearable pressure. Jaeyoung unintentionally held his breath without realizing it, but Sangwoo replied calmly.
“In Korean society, there is a tradition of addressing older people as ‘sunbae’ even if they don’t have a blood relationship. Although they might not have a blood relationship, they still feel close.”
“I know, but we have to accept the possibility of confusion with the term.”
“When closeness is more important than discomfort, we have to address each other in that way.”
“I understand.”
Jaeyoung quickly exhaled the breath he had held. Even though he felt relieved, the crisis happened and ended abruptly, so he couldn’t comprehend the direction of the conversation. Internally, he felt suffocated and seemed to have indigestion.
After finishing their meal, Sangwoo’s father took the peeler that Jaeyoung had bought and peeled two fruits. The quick and smooth peeling technique was not something that could be achieved in just two attempts. Sangwoo’s mother ate a couple of pieces of fruit and quietly went into her room.
Jaeyoung helped move the empty plates to the kitchen and offered to help wash them, but he was ushered out. Once the kitchen door closed, he had the chance to have a one-on-one conversation with Sangwoo.
“Why do you make that face?”
“Why, what’s wrong with my face?”
“It looks like you’ve had botox.”
Jaeyoung burst out laughing and sat down on the sofa, keeping a safe distance from Sangwoo, afraid that the other party’s parents might notice. But after a while, he slowly moved closer and rested his head on Sangwoo’s shoulder. As he buried his nose in Sangwoo’s neck and took a deep breath, he heard a louder mocking laughter.
“You’re a brave one, huh? Always observing every detail when we eat.”
“....”
“Who said anything about hitting you? Why are you so scared?”
“Those are your parents, you know. It must be difficult.”
Jaeyoung closed his eyes and leaned fully on Sangwoo. Then Sangwoo embraced him.
“If I ever meet your grandfather, should I bow to him?”
“Don’t even think about meeting him.”
“Why?”
“You’ll get hurt.”
“He’s over seventy. I don’t think I’ll get pushed around just because of someone’s age.”
Jaeyoung laughed at Sangwoo’s playful words, but deep down he knew it wasn’t a joke and a sense of unease crept up. He had never heard before that Sangwoo respected and revered the elderly. Jaeyoung made up his mind that the two should never meet under any circumstances.
“I feel touché when I hear what you say.”
Jaeyoung looked away again after inspecting the surroundings and finding no one who would smell Sangwoo’s cheeks before sitting back away from the other party.
“Let’s strategize.”
“What strategy?”
“I am not confident to talk to your mother, so I will leave her to you. As for me, I will talk to your father.”
“Is this a game?”
“Well, the goal is to talk about our relationship without getting caught or cut off. Do you think we can do it?”
“Not right now.”
Jaeyoung grabbed Sangwoo, who was about to get up, and pulled him back down to sit again.
“You are a son that your parents can be proud of, raised well for sixteen years. You bringing a boyfriend home instead of a girlfriend means something, don’t you know? They will be shocked for sure. They might even tell you to break up with me or, worst case scenario, they might cut off your relationship with the family. Are you prepared for that?”
“No.”
Sangwoo’s face became confused and silent for a moment.
“I don’t quite understand. It’s my choice who I date.”
“In principle, that’s true, but...”
“My parents taught me that choices come with responsibilities. They said that when I became an adult. I have to take responsibility for my own choices, and even if something goes wrong, no one can solve the problem for me.” The other party’s eyes suddenly sparkled with confidence.
“In the sixteen years that I have known my parents, they have never done anything that contradicts their words. If they go against what you said about my relationship, it wouldn’t make sense.”
The keyboard that types correct words, a general who tries to solve all the problems with a sword called logic, Sangwoo’s posture is no different from what he has seen before, but in those words. Jaeyoung realized the trust that the other party has for his parents, even if the person himself says that he is a black mamba snake like this, but he also knows that the family is one of the strong pillars that support Sangwoo’s world. Jaeyoung felt love and guilt that he had for the other party.
‘I hope you are right.’
If it has to become an enemy with parents because of this matter. How much will Sangwoo be shocked, how much pain will he have, and how much will he suffer from the wrong feelings? Jaeyoung’s eyes met with a sincere gaze looking at himself with complex emotions. At that time, the kitchen door opened.
“Chu Sangwoo.”
“Yes.”
“It’s been a while since we’ve had a good conversation.”
“Okay.”
Sangwoo’s father put on a jacket from a hanger and walked to the front door. With a cigarette in his hand and a clear bottle out. Sangwoo looked at the ground before walking into the kitchen. Then he came out with a small glass. Jaeyoung stood up, grabbed what was in the other person’s hand.
“I’ll go instead.”
Sangwoo looked at the floor, contemplating before raising his head and locking eyes with Jaeyoung.
“I don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. I’ll handle your father myself.”
Sangwoo, who spoke like that, looked strangely radiant, so Jaeyoung realized for the first time that he had fallen deeply in love with the other party.
As he spread his arms. Sangwoo came in and hugged him as if it were certain. Jaeyoung forgot even the slightest fear and hugged the other party tightly, and that hug gave him great courage. Jaeyoung lightly kissed Sangwoo’s forehead before heading to the door.
“Wait.”
While putting on his shoes, Sangwoo called him. When he turned back to look at his neck, there was something wrapped around it, it was Sangwoo’s scarf.
“It’s cold outside.”
Sangwoo wrapped his scarf tightly and smiled a little, he had no other choice but to smile and accept. “I’ll be right back.”
Jaeyoung clapped his hands and walked outside.
Sangwoo’s father was smoking in the backyard, the view of the small mountains was peaceful, the neglected yard was filled with overgrown weeds. Only the fruit trees towering towards the sky seemed formidable. Jaeyoung thought this disorder suited the wandering poet and walked towards the round wooden table. As he sat on the chair shaped like a barrel, the middleaged man let out a surprised breath of smoke.
“Why is it you? Where about Sangwoo?”
“I wanted to talk to you sir, so I came instead of Sangwoo.”
As soon as he replied, an uneasiness filled the room, but Jaeyoung pretended not to notice anything and placed two glasses of liquor on the table. When he reached for the Soju bottle and opened it, the poet held up the glass reluctantly. After pouring the glass full, Jaeyoung’s turn came. He received the liquor gracefully and placed it in front of himself.
“It’s someone I know who sent it, I hope you’ll enjoy it.”
The other side smiled and turned to smoke the remaining cigarette, a nonchalant expression on his side face.
“I’m sorry.”
“Of course.”
He did not refuse and quickly drank the liquor. Jaeyoung turned to his side and drank along with the other, the strong liquor felt like it was burning his throat but he did not show any signs.
“I am worried and sad because he will cross the water and the sea far away, but I can’t help him. He managed to work at the company he always wanted to work at since he was a child. I am proud of my son. Not just talking, but if he wants to do something, he will do everything. I heard that company is a big gaming company, right? They must have around 200 employees, right.”
It seemed that Sangwoo would not properly explain the company to his father. As far as Jaeyoung knew, there were fewer than ten times the number of employees there.
“Not just Sangwoo, but it’s something that many people dream of working on. Sir, you should be proud.”
“That’s right. And he even brought his friend to the house... I was really surprised when I heard for the first time that he would be living with someone else. I thought he was doing it to save on food expenses because those kids were already disciples. So I sent him money, but he returned it and said he had enough. So I thought he finally had friends he could get along with.”
“Yes.”
“For me, I thought you were the same kind of person as Sangwoo, like math, science, friends who would split the groceries even if it was just ten won. But I didn’t think you were a normal person like this... Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to judge you, but I know that Sangwoo doesn’t maintain normal human relationships.”
“I understand.”
The second glass of liquor was refilled and emptied instantly.
“How did you become close with Sangwoo? Because as far as I know, that kid only has three friends, and they only meet when they want to play games. I don’t think they’re really close.”
Im Se-won, Kim Chung-ho, Kim Won-jong, one is an office worker. The other two are students, and they only contact each other about two to three times a year. They seem like normal good kids.
“We first met because of a group project for a class...”
Many details were skipped, but it wasn’t a lie.
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[1] Saengseonjeon. A Korean dish made by dipping fish meat in a mixture of flour and egg and then frying it. It looks similar to pancakes.
[2] Bulgogi. A Korean dish made by stir-frying marinated beef.