It would be a lie to say that the steady gaze coming from him as he rested one hand on the steering wheel wasn’t burdensome. Swallowing dryly, Yeonwoo fidgeted with his lips before firmly closing them. He tried to naturally avert his gaze, but before he could, Ho Munbeom’s hand moved more quickly.
While lightly touching the hair covering Yeonwoo’s forehead, he caressed his cheek with the back of his hand. Though it was a light touch, Yeonwoo was flustered by the burning sensation where the man’s hand had touched and looked at him while holding his breath. Regardless of Yeonwoo’s fluster, Ho Munbeom continued touching his cheek and chin, asking:
“You’ve definitely lost weight. I was planning to eat knife-cut noodles on the way, but we should eat something else.”
“…I like noodles.”
“I like them too.”
At this calm response, Yeonwoo’s heart beat strongly.
Before his surprise at his rapidly beating heart could show on his face, Ho Munbeom withdrew his hand and gripped the steering wheel.
“We can eat that next time.”
As the car entered the highway, Ho Munbeom contacted someone on his phone. Secretary Kang’s familiar voice answered the call, and after Ho Munbeom mentioned a restaurant name and asked to reserve baeksuk (boiled chicken soup) at a certain time, the secretary briefly replied, “Understood.”
…Given his current stomach condition, baeksuk might indeed be better than knife-cut noodles. But he didn’t want Ho Munbeom to miss out on what he wanted to eat because of him. Wondering if he should say that knife-cut noodles would be fine too, Yeonwoo carefully looked at Ho Munbeom, but at some point, he found himself just gazing at him as he drove with his head resting against the seat.
Ho Munbeom couldn’t help but notice that ticklish gaze.
Though he had been the first to look at Yeonwoo and touch his face, now that Yeonwoo had begun staring at him, he found it awkward to return the gaze. Still, not disliking Yeonwoo’s attention, he continued driving with a slightly excited feeling.
The restaurant, which could only be reached by going deep into the mountains, looked like an ordinary countryside house. A sign with “Chicken” written on it was placed on top of jars arranged in a circle like a fence, indicating that this was a restaurant. It seemed they were going to eat baeksuk, but Yeonwoo wondered if this was really the place. Just then, Ho Munbeom leaned toward Yeonwoo.
Sitting quietly and intently observing the outside, Yeonwoo hunched his shoulders when Ho Munbeom suddenly approached. Then, with one hand, Ho Munbeom unfastened Yeonwoo’s seatbelt and covered his clasped hands with his own.
“We’ve arrived, let’s get out.”
“…Is this the place?”
“Yes, it is.”
At the words delivered as if knowing his doubt, Yeonwoo relaxed his tensed shoulders.
Meanwhile, Ho Munbeom, who had already gotten out of the car, looked at Yeonwoo. With a gaze that seemed to ask why he wasn’t getting out, Yeonwoo opened the door and carefully exited the car. The soil touching the soles of his sneakers and the forest scent rushing into his nostrils put him at ease. The air was cold, but it seemed to clear his mind.
Though it wasn’t yet 6 PM, the surroundings were dark because they were in the mountains. Someone visiting such a place for the first time might have felt scared, but not Yeonwoo. Rather, feeling comfortable, Yeonwoo looked up at the pitch-black night sky. And Ho Munbeom was watching him.
Yeonwoo was wearing more layers than usual. So, on the surface, it might not seem like anything had changed, but to Ho Munbeom’s eyes, the weight loss was evident. It hadn’t even been a few days since they’d last met. He must have quit his mart job too, so what could be the reason for the weight loss? Was he the type who didn’t eat properly when staying at home?
As Yeonwoo gazed at the sky, the corners of his eyes relaxed and his lips curled upward. Only then did Ho Munbeom also raise his head to look at the sky. There was nothing in the sky. What was so good about the pitch-black night sky that he smiled like that?
“Young Master-“
At the familiar yet nostalgic title, Ho Munbeom lowered his head. He saw an elderly woman emerging from an old house, opening the door.
With her gray hair neatly combed back, the elderly woman, half-heartedly wearing rubber shoes, stretched out her hand toward him. Thinking she might fall, Ho Munbeom strode toward her.
“Move slowly. You might fall.”
“My goodness, seeing such a precious face after so long, how can I move slowly?”
After struggling to put on her rubber shoes while speaking, the elderly woman looked up at Ho Munbeom, who had come to her. Exclaiming “Oh my” as she had to crane her neck considerably to see the tall man, she took his hand.
“How could you go abroad for years without showing your face even once? This old woman feels neglected.”
“That’s why I sent you greetings from time to time, didn’t I?”
“Rather than greetings or gifts, showing your face even once a year would be better. People become like that when they get old. That’s why the Chairman also wants to see you. I’m still not dead, so I get to see our Young Master like this again.”
Grandfather, who was particular about his taste, had maintained steady relationships with people who made food he liked. As a result, Ho Munbeom had naturally grown up eating their food since childhood. Though he might not think of them when far away, now that he was back in the country, they came to mind once or twice. So he would visit occasionally if it wasn’t too far.
After speaking as if complaining, the elderly woman shook her head.
“Well, now you’re someone who can’t easily be seen by an old person like me. This old woman is being sentimental. Just let it go in one ear and out the other.”
“Not at all. Hearing your voice after a long time brings back old memories, and it’s nice.”
“I’m glad if you think that way. Ah, instead of standing here like this, please come in quickly. I’ve prepared dinner. But…”
The elderly woman, trailing off, turned her head toward Yeonwoo.
Yeonwoo, who had been quiet as a mouse while the two exchanged greetings, bowed his head toward the elderly woman.
“Hello, my name is Lee Yeonwoo.”
“…”
Despite receiving Yeonwoo’s greeting, the elderly woman showed little reaction.
She held Ho Munbeom’s large hand with both of hers and urged him to come inside, saying the food would get cold. Then the man took care of Yeonwoo.
“Yeonwoo, come in.”
Having just been ignored despite greeting, it was a slightly embarrassing situation for Yeonwoo. Nevertheless, without showing it, he quietly followed behind Ho Munbeom. Entering a separate building-like space on the right, there was a spacious table already prepared with basic side dishes such as vegetables, seasoned dishes, kimchi, and young radish kimchi.
As Yeonwoo’s Adam’s apple moved slightly while keeping his mouth closed, Ho Munbeom patted his back.
“Take off your outer garment and sit down.”
After saying that, Ho Munbeom went back outside.
Wondering where he was going, Yeonwoo peered through the half-open door. Wearing large slippers placed under the porch, somewhat crumpled from his hasty putting-on, Ho Munbeom headed toward the kitchen, which still remained in its old form. The elderly woman, who was transferring the appetizingly bubbling baeksuk from a large cauldron to a big plate, saw him and gave him a mild scolding, asking why he wasn’t sitting and had come out.
“You shouldn’t carry such heavy things alone. If something happens to you, I’ll be severely scolded by my grandfather.”
“Knowing that, you brought such a young child with you?”
“…”
“I shouldn’t speak freely given my position, but my goodness, is he really an adult?”
Yeonwoo was indeed an adult. Nevertheless, people asking like this was likely due to his still youthful appearance. It might not just be his appearance, but also his soft skin, the cheeks that still had down, and his cautious behavior and demeanor that made him look younger.
Though it had been a long time since she had seen him after he went abroad, she was one of the few people who knew him from his childhood. Telling such an elderly person, “It’s not what you think,” would be useless.
Instead, as he took the ladle and tongs to transfer the chicken to a plate, the elderly woman, watching him, clicked her tongue.
“Well, whatever problem could there be with adults meeting each other?”
Then, shaking her head, she patted Ho Munbeom’s arm.
“No, I spoke out of turn. Seeing that you brought him all the way here, he must have really caught your heart. Treat him well and cherish him. Then he’ll become your person right away.”
“…”
“In the whole world, there’s no one who wouldn’t fall for the Young Master’s efforts. If you date well like that, have a child that resembles you and that pretty one, and live together, wouldn’t that be wonderful? Before I die, please make a family like that and come visit.”
After saying exactly that, the elderly woman showed no further interest in Yeonwoo.
Placing a plate full of abalone and webfoot octopus beside the plate with two native chickens, she urged Ho Munbeom to take only this and closed the cauldron lid, saying she would get the radish water kimchi.
The elderly woman usually lived alone, but when a few people who knew her skill contacted her, she would boil chicken each time. It wasn’t a dish that could be prepared in just an hour or two. So when Ho Munbeom had suddenly contacted her, he had asked Secretary Kang to convey his request for something simple. But seeing the appetizing pot full as usual, it seemed like someone else was scheduled to come tomorrow. Or perhaps there was someone who had ordered and would pick it up.
And the thought occurred to him that this someone might be his grandfather. After all, he used to have health-boosting food every month.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
