Chapter 77
The adoptive father rose from his seat as if possessed by something, and the three of them hurriedly followed suit. The man who stopped in front of the table lowered the corners of his eyes and showed an apologetic expression. It was somewhat theatrical, an attitude that felt contrived and exaggerated.
“Hello. I’m a bit late, aren’t I? The previous meeting ran over. I’m sorry.”
In the heart of New York, at a table where Jiin was the only person who could be presumed to be purely Asian based on appearance, the man began the conversation in Korean without any hesitation.
“Not at all, Executive Director-nim. Thank you so much for inviting us.”
During the time when the family of five lived together, the adoptive father’s Korean skills were considerable enough that everyone communicated in Korean when they were together as a family. Nevertheless, after moving to America, he had only communicated in English with the twins and Jiin. It was the same when they last met in Miami, and it was the same now that they had come to New York.
Yet this same adoptive father immediately responded in Korean to his superior’s Korean.
“I heard that the head chef’s children are all specially visiting New York together, so I should at least treat you to dinner.”
“For you to take care of even these details when you’re so busy, I really don’t know how to express my gratitude…”
The adoptive father seemed excessively grateful for every word from his superior who was about twenty years younger.
Even before leaving ‘Mio palazzo’, he had already been changing for 3-4 years. The adoptive father from those days, who was the husband of the owner of ‘Mio palazzo’, Paeli’s finest luxury hotel, and the head chef of the Italian restaurant within ‘Mio palazzo’, never bowed his head to anyone. It was completely different from his previous self who treated people without formality and liked to share everything.
That’s why his appearance of being intimidated by his counterpart, even wiping cold sweat with a handkerchief, seemed so unfamiliar to Jiin.
“It makes me sad when you say things like that. But… won’t you introduce me, head chef? It’s also awkward to keep standing.”
“Ah, yes, Executive Director-nim, these are my children. This is Yui, and Ian.”
“The famous twins! Nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much about you. You don’t know how amazing the head chef’s paternal love is. I’m envious that you have such a father.”
While shaking hands with Yui and Ian in turn, the man lightly patted the adoptive father’s back who stood beside him.
“So from now on, come to New York more often. Your father gets very lonely.”
Since the adoptive father was looking down at the table and only moistening his lips repeatedly, the twins glanced at their father with puzzled looks even while shaking hands with the man.
However, the adoptive father seemed to have no leisure to notice such gazes from his children. Pointing to Jiin, who stood closest to the man’s right at the round table for five, he wiped the sweat from his temples with his handkerchief.
“Executive Director-nim… and here is my eldest, Jiin.”
“……”
The man turned his body slightly to the right toward Jiin.
Unlike with the twins, a handshake came first. The man lightly shook their clasped hands with a smile on his lips.
“I heard about him from the head chef and really wanted to meet him… photos don’t do justice to the real thing.”
“Thank you for inviting us today. I’m Jung Jiin.”
The man he faced directly up close was more handsome than average. With a height that positioned his lips at Jiin’s eye level, long limbs, and a sleek physique, he looked even taller and slimmer thanks to his sharp-patterned suit.
He was neat and sophisticated, with grace and composure in his attitude, and his expression wasn’t stiff. Perhaps because of his narrow lower jaw and sharp, somewhat demanding-looking impression, there was still something about him that made people tense. At least it wasn’t the friendly atmosphere where conversation would flow well, as the adoptive father had suggested.
After all five were seated, the restaurant manager came directly to the table to help with orders.
Four types of dinner courses were prepared. The man skillfully recommended menus while asking about each person’s preferences. Then when it was his own turn, he hesitated and put down the menu book.
“I’m sorry to say this right after sitting down, but I think I should just have one aperitif and go. I feel embarrassed for appearing to act busy, but I have a schedule afterward.”
“I know very well how busy Executive Director-nim is. Still, it’s such a pity.”
Contrary to his words, the adoptive father’s complexion showed signs of relief. The man interlaced his long fingers on the table and carefully continued speaking.
“Actually, I thought it would be more comfortable for you to dine as a family. Although I borrowed the form of an invitation… I didn’t adjust my schedule with the intention of leaving early from the beginning.”
The man, who paused briefly, looked toward Jiin on his right. It was a glancing gaze that couldn’t meet directly face-to-face.
“But now I’m… regretting that a bit.”
After saying that, he looked down and laughed softly, as if embarrassed by indirectly revealing his emotions.
At this unexpected side that he hadn’t anticipated from the first impression, Jiin looked at his profile again with fresh eyes. A faint smile lingered around the thin lips of the man who was scanning the wine list.
Jiin thought he might need to withhold or revise his judgment about the man.
The champagne he selected was served first, one glass in front of each person.
As a courtesy, the man asked everyone if the alcohol suited their taste, finally posing the same question to Jiin last.
“How is it for you, Jiin-ssi? Do you think I chose well?”
“The acidity is strong and refreshing… it seems like a very good choice for an aperitif. Actually, I was nervous, but drinking this champagne is making me feel hungry.”
At Jiin’s answer, the man smiled with his lips pressed together like a child who was happy but embarrassed to be praised. Then he naturally leaned his upper body toward Jiin while resting his arm on the table edge. It was behavior that went against formal manners, but he didn’t seem to be the type who cared about formalities as much as his appearance suggested.
“Since I grew up surrounded by people who were different in front and behind from a young age… I have a bit of an eye for reading people.”
The man’s voice wasn’t loud. He was naturally revealing through his body direction and voice that this conversation was directed only at Jiin, not everyone at the table.
“I think Jiin-ssi has excellent empathy.”
“……”
“Especially, I think you’re someone who can’t look at others’ pain indifferently. You know, the kind of person who hurts over the pain of separation that characters in movies experience.”
The man’s gaze, which had seemed harsh and sensitive, felt like it softened gently at that moment.
While the signals of favor he was sending were burdensome, Jiin had to acknowledge that his guesses were largely accurate.
The man introduced several decent New York restaurants worth visiting recently to Yui, who was already aiming to become a chef at the time. And before even finishing one glass of champagne, he checked his watch and stood up.
After shaking hands with each person faster and more concisely than when they first greeted, it was finally Jiin’s turn again.
“Jiin-ssi, I hope we get a chance to meet once more before you leave New York.”
“Yes… that would be nice.”
While observing the adoptive father’s complexion visible over his shoulder, Jiin nodded politely out of courtesy. The palm of the man who gripped Jiin’s hand once more tightly at the end was cold and dry.
After the man left, the atmosphere became much lighter. The adoptive father didn’t try to return to English conversation, and while all four conversed in Korean for the first time in a long while, some of the old harmony was revived.
The twins, who had been subdued by the adoptive father’s tense attitude, also regained their usual liveliness. Yui in particular was serious about appreciating and evaluating each dish with interest.
“New York definitely has more interesting elements than Paeli in a different way. No, it’s not that New York is the issue, but because he’s a Michelin star chef. When I looked it up at the hotel earlier, this person has two more restaurants just in Manhattan. To think our appa might soon become head chef in such a competitive city… I’m so proud.”
Yui, who lifted her bottom slightly from her seat, stretched her arms to embrace the adoptive father’s neck and showed affection. The adoptive father also patted Yui’s back.
“It’s not the kind of high-end restaurant Executive Director-nim recommended, but there’s an oyster restaurant I really want to recommend. Oppa, how’s your schedule tomorrow? It’s happy hour from 4 to 7 PM on weekdays, and during that time all oyster dishes are $1 each. Want to go together tomorrow? If it’s your first time in New York, you really must go there.”
Yui, who had become slightly excited with passion for cooking, even waved the fork and knife she was using to cut her venison steak.
The adoptive father stopped such behavior from Yui and gently reminded her of etiquette. Then he looked at Jiin, who had moved to the seat next to him after the man left, and spoke slowly with a somewhat complex expression, a face filled with sympathy or pity.
“It’s your first time as a trip, but strictly speaking, New York itself isn’t Jiin’s first time either.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“Because you stayed for about half a year for treatment purposes after the adoption.”
“That doesn’t count! Oppa doesn’t even remember it.”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
