#11
“It’s done…”
Nam Seonwoo couldn’t finish his sentence and just looked at Kang Jihan. Kang Jihan, wearing a vest over a jacket, had a black long coat over his three-piece suit. The coat, which he was seeing for the first time, was shiny even under the indoor fluorescent lights, and the neatly tied tie under the jacket was the same. Nam Seonwoo laughed as if it was absurd.
“Hey, I said it’s just a brief appearance today.”
“That’s why you need to look good. First impressions are important for adults.”
“Yeah, right.”
Where did he pick that up? Shaking his head, Nam Seonwoo put on a padded jacket. He thought he might need to wear a coat next to someone dressed so perfectly, but since they were just going to and from the car, he didn’t think it was necessary.
His parents were surprised when he said he would pick them up by car, but when he explained that he had an appointment with a friend near the airport who had a car, they readily agreed. Of course, the fact that the friend was his son’s lover, who had been looking forward to the meeting so much, was a secret. At least until today.
As they went down to the parking lot, they saw Kang Jihan’s SUV, not a speck of dust on it. It seemed he had washed it again. It was already nerve-wracking to have such an expensive car in a mere villa parking lot, but seeing it so shiny made him even more determined to move. Although Kang Jihan seemed to have a strong attachment to this house because it was a ‘house prepared by Nam Seonwoo,’ a house or apartment still seemed better.
As they approached the car, it seemed like there was something bulky in the trunk. Nam Seonwoo, who was carefully examining the unfamiliar object, suddenly burst into laughter.
“What is that?”
When he opened the trunk, there was a huge flower basket filling the space. The colorful and lush flowers were as excessive as the bouquet on graduation day.
“Are you crazy, Kang Jihan? Are you confessing or something?”
What son’s friend gives a flower basket just because he’s returning home? It was so funny that he almost cried.
“This is too much. Take it out. Besides, where are we supposed to put the carrier with this in here?”
“Ah.”
“Let’s just put this at our house. Anyway, my mom kills plants in a day, so it’s no use.”
The flower basket, which was as big as it was heavy, was quite substantial. As he waited to receive it, Kang Jihan didn’t take it but just stood there blankly, then suddenly took out his phone. The lens pointed at him, followed by the sound of a click. At the familiar déjà vu, Nam Seonwoo chuckled.
“What are you doing?”
“Because you look pretty.”
The following line was somehow the same as back then.
“I felt it before, but you really suit flowers.”
It seemed that Nam Seonwoo wasn’t the only one who thought of the graduation ceremony. Remembering that time, Nam Seonwoo grumbled, feeling a pang of conscience.
“Why do you keep saying pretty to a guy? And if you have to choose, isn’t it more handsome than pretty?”
Kang Jihan took the flowers with a clear dimple.
“Yeah, both.”
Nam Seonwoo silently watched Kang Jihan’s back as he carried the flower basket with one hand.
Click.
‘You suit them more.’
While Kang Jihan was putting the flowers down, Nam Seonwoo turned on the heater and seat warmer. Because Kang Jihan strongly opposed him getting a driver’s license, his designated seat was limited to the passenger seat, but now there was no reason to be proud of such trivial things. As he comfortably reclined the seat, Kang Jihan got into the driver’s seat. After habitually checking the passenger seat belt, he extended his right hand over the console box, and when Nam Seonwoo also reached out his left hand, their hands intertwined, and the car started.
The car filled with the scent of flowers arrived at the airport in about an hour. Kang Jihan, who had asked about his parents’ beverage preferences on the way, didn’t forget to put two cups of coffee in the back seat. Finally, Nam Seonwoo, who couldn’t stand it anymore, handed over his jet-black hair and said.
“Don’t be nervous. I told you, right? You’ll be halfway there just by being there without doing anything.”
Kang Jihan nodded with a frozen face. It seemed like he couldn’t hear any words right now. He wanted to comfort him more, but the arrival hall was crowded, and he quickly lost his mind. Fortunately, the plane arrived earlier than expected.
After waiting for a while in the waiting room in front of the exit, a familiar face appeared. Even though they should be tired from the long flight, his parents were walking out with flushed faces. Moreover, when Nam Seonwoo waved his hand, they even ran energetically.
“My son!”
Park Jiyoung flew in and hugged Nam Seonwoo in one step.
“Oh my, how long has it been? It feels like just yesterday when I was ironing your school uniform, and now you’re a college student. It’s amazing.”
“Back then, I was the one who ironed and wore the uniform, Dad. Give me the luggage.”
As Nam Cheolmin, who had been pulling four carriers, handed over two, Kang Jihan, standing next to him, took the luggage. Naturally, the gazes of the two turned to the neat young man.
“Oh my, you must be that kind friend! Thank you so much for taking the time on the weekend. What’s your name?”
“I told you my name. How many times are you going to ask?”
“Yes, nice to meet you. I’m Kang Jihan.”
“Oh my, your voice is handsome too. You look like a celebrity. Haven’t you heard that before?”
“Mom, why are you evaluating his appearance as soon as you meet him? Don’t you know that’s rude these days?”
“It’s not. You’re flattering me.”
At the robotic tone, Nam Seonwoo bit his lips hard to barely hold back his laughter. He had deliberately tried to make the atmosphere comfortable, but Kang Jihan was still stiffly bowing and stuttering. His face, which had become stiff with tension, was pitiful but cute.
Kang Jihan, who was stuttering, took his parents to the car. Park Jiyoung, who had been puffing out breath in the cold winter of Korea, sighed in relief as soon as she entered the car with the heating on. Nam Cheolmin pointed to the beverage in the middle of the seat and asked.
“Is this ours?”
“Yeah. Jihan bought it. The cold one is Dad’s.”
At the beverage that reflected Nam Cheolmin’s preference for cold drinks even in winter, Nam Cheolmin’s face also brightened.
“Thank you, Jihan. You’re really helping us a lot.”
“No problem. Please rest comfortably on your way.”
‘What’s with the ‘rest comfortably’? Is this the military?’
Wanting to tease him but holding back, Nam Seonwoo bit his lips again. Kang Jihan grabbed the steering wheel without even leaning back in his seat. Contrary to his tense appearance, his driving skills were perfectly consistent, and naturally, admiration came from the back seat.
“You said you were the same age, right? Since when did Jihan start driving to be this good?”
“Yeah, is this car your parents’?”
“That’s rude, dear.”
“No, it’s okay.”
With a neat appearance, driving an expensive car, and having both sense and manners, questions poured out to his son’s friend, and Kang Jihan answered diligently. Nam Seonwoo, who had been answering some questions on his behalf, soon stepped back with satisfaction as the conversation continued smoothly without his intervention.
Hearing that they were in the same class in their senior year of high school, studied together at each other’s houses, and eventually met at Korea University despite the difference in timing, his parents laughed, saying, ‘You two are really a perfect match.’ It seemed like he had made a good first impression.
“Should we have a daughter? Let’s marry you off to Jihan.”
“Ah, Mom!”
Nam Seonwoo glanced sideways. Depending on the context, it could sound uncomfortable. But contrary to his expectations, Kang Jihan seemed to be in a good mood.
“So, are you still living in that officetel?”
“Me? No. I got a separate house.”
After dozens of minutes of reunion, the topic finally returned to his son. As the three family members shared their belated stories, the car smoothly entered the apartment complex. As the conversation continued, Kang Jihan waited without turning off the engine even after finishing the parking.
“By the way, are you still dating well? When are you going to introduce us?”
Nam Seonwoo and Kang Jihan’s eyes met. Nam Seonwoo answered.
“Tomorrow is okay? Since it’s Sunday, it would be nice to have a meal together.”
“Tomorrow? That’s perfect! But won’t our son-in-law be burdened if it’s suddenly tomorrow?”
Their eyes met again. Kang Jihan smiled with his eyes. It seemed like he finally had some leeway to smile.
“He says it’s not burdensome. He wants to greet you quickly.”
While Kang Jihan was taking out the luggage from the trunk, Nam Seonwoo told his parents the address of the house where he was currently living after making an appointment for tomorrow. Although he hesitated for a moment because it was a house where he lived with Kang Jihan, he thought he should at least let them know where their son was living. Anyway, he would come out tomorrow, and there was no way his parents would break into the house within a day.
Nam Seonwoo opened the car door and said.
“Then go in and rest.”
“What? Are you leaving like this? Jihan even drove a long way, so at least treat him to a meal! Have a cup of tea and go. Let’s go in.”
There was a bit of a struggle with his parents who kept trying to invite Kang Jihan into the house, but Kang Jihan politely declined, saying, ‘I can’t intrude on a place where the two of you should be comfortable.’
“Oh, really, listen to Jihan. I’m thrilled.”
“Yeah. Then let’s definitely have a meal together next time, Jihan.”
Only after his parents, who had finally given up, went into the apartment and were no longer visible, did Kang Jihan bow his waist in greeting. Nam Seonwoo patted Kang Jihan’s waist, which had worked hard all day, and said.
“You worked hard. My mom and dad talk a lot, right?”
“That’s why they look good.”
And… Kang Jihan added with a small smile.
“They’re the ones who raised you.”
Naturally, their hands found each other and intertwined. Nam Seonwoo opened his mouth while tracing the veins on the back of his hand, which he could now draw with his eyes closed.
“Let’s go, us too.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
