# Chapter 145
“……”
“……”
Mo Eunje, startled, pulled his body away and reflexively covered his lips with his hand. Judging by where everyone was standing, it seemed Han Seola and Song Yeonhwa had entered first, followed by Grandmother, and Tae Iden had come in last. It appeared that only Han Seola and Song Yeonhwa had witnessed the problematic scene, as they stood frozen with shocked expressions.
“Eunje. Is this why you asked me that question earlier?”
“What are you saying to my son?”
“Mom, don’t say anything to Eunje. It’s me who likes him. I begged him to meet with me just once. Eunje said no, but I threatened that I’d never see him again if he didn’t meet me. Eunje didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Tae Igyeol, are you in your right mind? Who are you trying to ruin with this…!”
“Igyeol, how could you do this to our Eunje? Of all people, how could you…?”
“Can’t you all be quiet!”
With Grandmother’s single shout, everyone who had been speaking their own piece fell silent, quiet as mice. Mo Eunje had never, ever wished to be caught like this, but they had ultimately ended up in a scene straight out of a trashy drama.
The cool air conditioning had turned frigid, making him feel like the air had transformed into needles stabbing his entire body. Seeing all arrows pointed at Tae Igyeol, Mo Eunje was so shocked that he felt his heart stop and remained completely frozen in place.
“Even if they’re your children, don’t cross the line and maintain your manners. This is the children’s own life, and they have to live it themselves. I respect the children’s choices.”
Grandmother entered first, giving strength with her weighty words. Behind her, Tae Iden, who had been blinking his eyes without properly grasping the situation, was so surprised that he started hiccupping. The peaceful calm had shattered, turning everything into a complete mess in an instant.
“Mom…”
“…We’ll talk when your father gets here. Right now, I think I might be too angry at you, so let’s wait until your father arrives and talk together. I need to shower and… organize my thoughts… Anyway, we’ll talk when your father gets here.”
Han Seola, either with her thoughts frozen or suppressing her anger, spoke with unnatural pauses as she walked past Mo Eunje into her room. Mo Eunje had been prepared to be hit after seeing his mother’s shocked expression, but her unexpectedly cool and rational behavior hurt his heart even more. The reason there hadn’t been any shouting was because Grandmother had stepped in first, not giving Han Seola and Song Yeonhwa a chance to get excited.
“Right. This doesn’t seem like something we should discuss among ourselves. Let’s talk when the fathers get here.”
Song Yeonhwa also went into her room, appearing more composed than Han Seola, who had been trembling. Tae Iden’s hiccups, which had started while his face turned bright red from holding his breath, stopped.
“So, the men’s team was going to buy lunch since they lost, and they dropped us off at the main road… Well, Uncle said he was going to go all the way to the house, but Grandmother said she wanted to walk a bit…”
Now Mo Eunje could understand why he hadn’t heard the car. He took a deep breath and roughly messed up his hair. They had bought time until his father arrived, but that didn’t mean they had any clever solutions. His brain felt empty, as if it had shut down, and he couldn’t think of anything.
“I sent you messages that my team finished and was heading home! Why didn’t you see them! I also sent that the men’s team went to buy food and that we got off and were walking home…”
Tae Iden, who had finally come to his senses, spoke with a resentful voice and made a tearful face. Checking his phone, Mo Eunje saw that messages had indeed come from Tae Iden. He had been too distracted by the kiss to check them.
Still, it was absurd and ridiculous that neither of them had heard the others coming in. No matter how absorbed they were in the kiss, it was as if they had been under a spell. Otherwise, it would have been impossible not to notice people opening the door and entering the house. It seemed that what was meant to happen would happen one way or another.
“Sorry. I didn’t check the messages that came later…”
“What are you apologizing for? Tae Iden, go inside and shower. You smell like sweat.”
Tae Igyeol, who had been looking after Mo Eunje as he muttered with a dazed expression, gestured with his chin to Tae Iden. Tae Iden, looking like he might cry and not knowing what to do, reluctantly went inside when Tae Igyeol gave him a cold stare. They were alone in the living room again, but the atmosphere was distinctly different from before.
“What should we do…”
The psychological pressure was considerable. Mo Eunje barely suppressed the cowardly desire to hide behind Grandmother and ask her to persuade his parents on his behalf. Grandmother had already done the best she could. He couldn’t lean on or cling to her anymore.
“I’ll get permission when my father and your father come in.”
Tae Igyeol, who had wiped his face with one hand, spoke kindly in a low voice as if to say not to worry. Unlike Mo Eunje’s wavering eyes that couldn’t find their bearings, Tae Igyeol’s eyes were firm when they met. Seeing his resolute gaze, Mo Eunje was able to gather his courage.
“Igyeol. This isn’t something for you to take responsibility for alone.”
“But I started it first. I don’t want to make this difficult for you.”
“I feel the same way. You get permission from your aunt and uncle. I’ll get permission from my mom and dad. Let’s each handle our own parents.”
He could fully anticipate how Han Seola would react, and he couldn’t let Tae Igyeol face that humiliation. Of course, he wasn’t confident either. He was so afraid that his heart was pounding. He had no plan for what to do if they opposed them to the end.
But on the other hand, he also thought it was for the best. If he had tried to get permission on his own, he would never have found the courage to do it, instead postponing it again and again. The resulting discomfort would have prevented him from fully enjoying his happiness.
He wanted to turn this crisis into an opportunity, but he was afraid it might end in disaster instead.
&
Lunch bought by the men’s team was hamburgers. Under Grandmother’s direction, Tae Iden delivered the food to each person’s room so they wouldn’t have to face each other during the meal. It was consideration to allow everyone to eat comfortably before any discussions. But honestly, given the atmosphere, it was doubtful if anyone had eaten properly.
Mo Eunje said he felt like he might get indigestion and only took a few sips of cola, while Tae Igyeol didn’t touch his hamburger, worried about Mo Eunje. Mo Eunje seemed pitiful as he tried to respond calmly despite his fear, but Tae Igyeol felt even more affection than pity.
He approached Mo Eunje, who sat motionless near the bed’s headboard, hugging his legs with his chin resting on his knees. Tae Igyeol sat on the bed and lifted Mo Eunje’s head to meet his gaze. The warmth of his cheek transmitted through his palm was soft.
“Eunje.”
“Yeah.”
“In the worst case… I’m thinking of not seeing our parents.”
“I’m already scared to death, why would you say that?”
“I’m saying that I only need you. So don’t be too afraid.”
Tae Igyeol still couldn’t understand why he needed his parents’ permission for something he should decide in his own life. He wasn’t a minor who legally needed a guardian, nor was he at an age lacking judgment or discernment, so why did he need permission from others for his own love? It was difficult to comprehend.
But because Mo Eunje wanted it, because he knew that getting permission would put Mo Eunje’s mind at ease, he was willing to go through this troublesome and annoying process that he felt no need for, solely for Mo Eunje’s sake.
“Still, I can get permission somehow. So let’s get permission from your mom and uncle together.”
“I’ll… I’ll try on my own first. If I can’t do it alone, then we’ll do it together.”
Tae Igyeol could easily guess what Mo Eunje was worried about. Behind his suggestion that they each persuade their own parents was a desire to minimize hurt. Words that might cross the line but could be quickly forgotten between parent and child might become wounds that wouldn’t heal easily for himself, despite being considered family, because they didn’t share a drop of blood. Mo Eunje didn’t know that besides him and Grandmother, words from anyone else, parents or otherwise, wouldn’t affect Tae Igyeol at all.
“Okay. Let me know if it gets too difficult.”
“I will. You too.”
“I’m thinking of going to talk to them now.”
“I’ll organize my thoughts a bit more and then go talk to them.”
Tae Igyeol kissed Mo Eunje on the forehead and stood up. He gave a reassuring smile and left the room.
As Tae Igyeol went to knock on the door of the room where Tae Hyunseok and Song Yeonhwa were staying, his eyes turned cold. The affectionate, gentle gaze he had when looking at Mo Eunje had completely disappeared, leaving only indifference.
From inside, Tae Hyunseok’s voice told him to come in. He had probably already heard everything from Song Yeonhwa. Honestly, Tae Igyeol wasn’t worried about Tae Hyunseok. He was so unusual that he might become an unexpected obstacle and strongly oppose them, but as long as Grandmother was on his side, Tae Hyunseok’s opposition would definitely be resolved. The most difficult person to persuade would be Han Seola, who was cool and clear in every aspect.
As he opened the door and entered, he saw Tae Hyunseok and Song Yeonhwa sitting at a small tea table. The hamburger in front of Song Yeonhwa was untouched, while only crumpled wrapping paper remained in front of Tae Hyunseok. Despite probably being scolded about how he could eat at a time like this, Tae Hyunseok would have enjoyed his hamburger saying it was all about survival.
“Don’t think about opposing. Mom and Father, you don’t have the right to do that to me.”
After closing the door and approaching them, Tae Igyeol got straight to the point without even sitting down. There was nowhere to sit except the bed, but he had no intention of talking for long anyway.
In response to Tae Igyeol’s impudent words, Tae Hyunseok let out an ambiguous chuckle, while Song Yeonhwa hardened her expression and retorted.
“Why don’t we have that right? We’re your parents.”
“…When I needed you, you were never there for me, but now you want to claim your parental rights? I could understand if Grandmother opposed, because she raised me. But for both of you, work always came before me. Don’t try to claim your parental rights now.”
This was Tae Igyeol’s true feelings, which he had never expressed before. Despite Tae Hyunseok and Song Yeonhwa being his parents, he felt no particular affection for them, probably because they had never built emotional bonds or shared emotional connections.
Before moving out, he would see them briefly on weekends because they lived in the same house and were family. But for Tae Igyeol, parents were merely legal guardians or cohabitants, nothing more. Even after becoming an adult, he met his parents about as often as he met Mo Yeongwoo and Han Seola, and didn’t think of his parents as more special than them. Perhaps he never had the opportunity to develop special feelings for parents who were difficult to see even from childhood.
