TYW Ch 5.2

On the night after David left, Woogeon remained the same, keeping his distance, with his eyebrows deeply furrowed.

When Rieul finished showering, changed clothes in the dressing room, and returned to the bedroom, Woogeon sat on the sofa chair with his legs crossed, busy with his laptop, then looked at Rieul with a long gaze. Rieul tried to avoid that uncomfortable gaze and walked towards the bed, but he got up and approached.

“You said your relationship is normal.”

Woogeon looked at Rieul with an angry gaze, mixing complaints in his voice. He felt it was unfair.

“Our relationship is normal, right?”

“Where’s the normality? David looked at you with lustful eyes the whole time.”

“David is a good friend. David is the first real friend I’ve ever had. Don’t judge my friendship with David based on your measurements, Woogeon.”

Woogeon laughed in a way that startled Rieul.

“Between men and women, where is there such a thing as friends? You’re really naive, Rieul—”

“Don’t talk as if I don’t know anything. Don’t act as if you know everything, Woogeon.”

“I’ve at least lived 9 years longer than Yeon Rieul, and of course I have more experience than that.”

Rieul sighed annoyed, frowning. Woogeon didn’t care, went back to the sofa chair and started typing angrily on the laptop keyboard.

‘What a selfish man’

***

Rieul pouted and faced forward. The more she thought about it, the more annoying that man was.

“Why? Liv? Is something wrong?”

Rieul swallowed her lips and sipped the mint chocolate latte in her mug sweetly—Indeed, when feeling unwell, mint chocolate latte is the best.

“No, nothing. David. We’re good friends, right? You’ve been a good friend to me who has no friends at all, right?”

“Liv, yes. I’m your good friend, but…”

“But? Don’t you want to be friends with me?”

Rieul asked worriedly. David smiled faintly and sipped his coffee.

“It’s not like that. I’ll be a great friend to you, Liv. You’ll also be a great friend to me, right? Now that you’re married to Woogeon Hyung, you won’t pretend not to know me, right?”

“Of course. He’s my husband, and you’re my good friend. He’s sometimes childish. An incomprehensible man.”

“Do you love him?” David’s words made Rieul blush shyly.

“You didn’t date him, did you?”

“No. Because I suddenly got married.”

***

Rieul looked forward to her husband, Woogeon, coming home with a throbbing feeling.

“Rieul, you seem to be really looking forward to Woogeon today.” Hearing her grandfather’s words, Rieul was startled.

“M-me?”

“You seem to be constantly looking at the clock?”

Rieul pouted. “It’s not like that.”

“If it’s not like that?”

“Woogeon…”

“Woogeon what? Is that kid bothering you? Making it difficult for you?” Grandpa, who had been eating and sleeping diligently lately so his face looked fuller, asked.

“He’s not bothering me.”

“If it’s not like that?”

“He keeps saying I don’t know anything, says I’m still young and don’t understand.”

As usual, Grandpa laughed heartily. “That kid is like that. Thinks he knows best and everyone is below him. So, how are you going to make him realize?”

“Hmm, I learned some Korean slang from David. I’ll try using it on Woogeon.”

Seeing Rieul looking very confident, Grandpa laughed again.

Woogeon came home late after an office dinner. Although it was late, it wasn’t midnight yet, so Rieul, who was accompanying her grandfather, immediately welcomed him and went up to the room with Woogeon. Grandpa had encouraged her to make Woogeon ‘submit’. Rieul felt a little nervous and ready with her plan.

After Woogeon went into the bathroom to shower, Rieul paced back and forth on the bed, thinking about the best way to use the newly learned slang.

Shortly after, Woogeon came out of the bathroom with wet hair combed back and wearing a bathrobe—He went straight to the mini bar, took a bottle of drink, and drank it quickly.

Rieul kept observing Woogeon, looking for the right time to use those slang words.

“Do you want to talk about something?” Woogeon asked in his usual sharp tone.

“Was the office dinner today successful?”

“Yes, there was a division dinner. Yesterday I was childish, are you angry?”

“I won’t tell you.”

“Rieul.”

Rieul laughed amused at Woogeon’s call. “Because Woogeon keeps thinking he’s always right.”

“I’m not an old-fashioned person. I’m trying to keep up with the times and even tried to leave early during the office dinner.”

Woogeon looked at the small and petite Rieul with a confused feeling.

“Does that mean ‘keep it short’?”

“Rieul.”

Woogeon frowned with a serious expression, making Rieul laugh heartily. Rieul’s innocent laughter warmed Woogeon’s heart, and he unconsciously kissed his wife’s soft lips.

*****

After dinner with his parents, Rieul and Woogeon were about to go up to the room when his father-in-law called them.

“Rieul and Woogeon, wait a moment.”

They both sat side by side on the sofa. Father-in-law sat in the main chair, while motherin-law sat on the sofa opposite them.

“I know this is too sudden, Rieul.”

“It’s okay, please speak.”

Rieul smiled thinly while answering and glanced at Woogeon. However, Woogeon already looked uncomfortable as if he knew what his parents were going to talk about.

“Just stop it.”

As expected, Woogeon answered firmly and harshly.

“Woogeon.”

“I said no.”

“Woogeon, even if you think you’re the greatest, you shouldn’t act like that to your parents” Father-in-law reprimanded Woogeon in a high tone.

“We’re not animals”

“Woogeon!”

“We’re not animals that mate after marriage and then have children.”

“Son, what are you talking about?” Father-in-law was very angry.

Rieul didn’t understand Woogeon’s words and asked. “Sorry, Father, Mother. What does that mean?”

As Rieul asked, Woogeon stood up and pulled Rieul’s arm.

“Son, where did you learn manners?”

Hearing her father-in-law’s anger, Rieul was very surprised. Usually her father-in-law didn’t get angry easily.

“Rieul is still young. Because of Grandpa, there’s no intention to force having grandchildren.” Woogeon said firmly.

The words coming out of his mouth surprised Rieul even more. Rieul asked to make sure, then Woogeon pulled her up and took her to the second floor.

“Wait, Woogeon.”

Rieul was very surprised to see Woogeon angry and rude like this. This was the first time she saw Woogeon being impolite to his parents. Rieul felt something was wrong with her husband.

‘Grandchildren? He means… children?’

***

Arriving at the bedroom on the second floor, Woogeon released Rieul’s arm and headed to the bathroom. Rieul followed Woogeon’s long strides and called him.

“Woogeon, Woogeon…!”

Her husband, Woogeon, stopped with his back to her and then turned around, but his gaze was empty as if not looking at Rieul. His handsome face looked cold as if holding back anger.

“Woogeon, what do your parents mean?”

“It means exactly what they said.”

“So, they want us to have children?”

“I don’t want to yet.”

“Why?”

Rieul asked in an incomprehensible tone. Woogeon frowned and glared at Rieul.

“I’m not ready to have children yet—I don’t want to immediately get caught up in the routine of raising children without being able to enjoy the honeymoon period. Moreover, it’s not good for you, Rieul. We got married without dating, then immediately have children? Are we animals?”

“Woogeon, don’t talk like that—Your parents definitely don’t mean that.”

“No, that’s exactly what they mean. They treat us like animals.”

“Woogeon.”

“Don’t talk about children anymore, Rieul.”

“But, parents…”

“We don’t have to have children just because parents say so. You have the right to enjoy the honeymoon period.” Woogeon said firmly and then turned around.

It was clear that everyone was already out of their minds. After forcing marriage, they didn’t treat this like dog breeding. His wife’s face trying to hide her embarrassment suddenly came to his mind.

‘Even though Grandpa’s life may not be long, is it necessary to force people this far? What else to do in this chaos to fulfill Grandpa’s last wish? They’re really crazy.’

Woogeon cooled his head and body under the cold shower water.

‘Alright, let’s say I got married enjoying everything without feeling lost, but what’s wrong for Rieul?’

Woogeon rubbed his hair in frustration, turned off the shower and came out of the shower room. Tying the belt of his bathrobe, he bit his lip to hold back the overflowing anger.

***

Woogeon was so cold that Rieul found it difficult to approach him. Every time Rieul tried to talk, Woogeon wouldn’t even look at her and acted very cold.

“Woogeon.”

That morning, Rieul woke up at the same time as Woogeon and called him as her husband was about to leave the room. However, Woogeon still ignored her.

Rieul felt very disappointed when Woogeon, as if not hearing her call, was about to leave the room.

“Woogeon, are you going to keep acting like this?”

Hearing Rieul’s complaint, Woogeon stopped walking. Like the night before, he didn’t look at Rieul, but stared blankly ahead with a sharp gaze.

“Make time for me tonight. Let’s have dinner together.”

“I don’t want to talk about that anymore. I’ve made up my mind.”

“Woogeon, what about my opinion? Do I always have to obey you?”

Woogeon looked at Rieul with an incredulous expression. “Rieul.”

“I’m your wife, Woogeon. My opinion should also be heard.”

Woogeon was about to say something, but Rieul stopped him. She didn’t want to listen if Woogeon didn’t want to listen to her.

“Alright, let’s talk about it later. Just go to work now—”

Rieul tied her loose hair and went to the bathroom. Rieul washed herself with warm water in the shower, then dried herself with a towel and refreshed her skin. After that, she changed clothes and went to the dressing room in front of the mirror.

Then, she put on neat clothes and went to the first floor. Her mother-in-law was in the living room, sitting on a chair and drinking tea.

“Welcome, my child.”

“Mother.”

Rieul smiled thinly as she went down the stairs, and her mother-in-law preceded her to greet her.

“How are you? Want to sit and chat a bit?”

Her mother-in-law smiled anxiously and asked. Rieul also smiled thinly.

“Yes, Mother.”

Her mother-in-law immediately gently took Rieul’s hand and sat next to her on the sofa.

“I never wanted to be a mother-in-law like this, my child—Of course, this doesn’t fit my life values—”

“It’s okay, Mother.”

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. What’s certain is, I don’t want to be a mother-in-law like this—Yes, like what Woogeon said, this is more about human feelings than about appreciation. Because your grandfather is about to leave us, making you and Woogeon rush to get married, and even asking you to have children immediately. Truly, this is too much. Even if you have children, your grandfather won’t be able to take care of them…”

Her mother-in-law sighed deeply after a moment of hesitation. Rieul smiled as if she fully understood.

“Your grandfather seems to want to make sure you’re really stable.”

“Stable?”

Rieul and Woogeon felt their relationship was already quite stable.

‘Will the presence of children make their lives more stable?’

Rieul asked innocently, because she didn’t fully understand what she meant.

“Yes, maybe because with the presence of children, your relationship will…”

Rieul waited patiently to hear the continuation of her mother-in-law’s words.

“Your grandfather is sure that if you have children in the near future, you won’t easily separate, especially when he’s gone later.”

“Oh.”

Rieul finally understood. She then remembered Woogeon’s words before they got married.

“Sorry if this is unpleasant to hear, but after grandfather dies, I plan to divorce.”

‘Yes, Woogeon did say that. So, will having children make it difficult for Woogeon to divorce? Will it bind Woogeon?’

Rieul began to think hard.

“You must know better, Rieul. Your grandfather loves you very much, even more than his own family—”

“No way, Mother. He just said that.”

Rieul tried to smile while shaking her head. Her mother-in-law also smiled thinly and shook her head.

“No, I know—My father has never really loved someone like that. For over 30 years I’ve known him, he’s never been like that. But, he really loves you, Rieul. And I also like you very much.”

“Thank you very much, Mother.”

Rieul answered shyly, then her mother-in-law gently stroked her cheek.

“You’re very different from Jiah, my child. I’ve never met someone as innocent as you, Rieul. Because of that, I hope you and Woogeon can be happy together in this house forever, as Father wants—”

Rieul didn’t know how to express her feelings. She felt warm and grateful.

“It’s not that I don’t trust Woogeon, but…”

“After 31 years of living as that child’s mother, I feel he’s a very cold and calculating child. Sometimes, even though he’s my child, I often don’t feel close. How my child grows up is not entirely in parents’ control.”

Her mother-in-law stared somewhere in the sky, as if pondering the past while speaking slowly.

“For me, maybe that’s a perfect life. However, Rieul, I’m curious if life without knowing happiness and love can really be called happy. That child doesn’t understand how abundant those feelings are, and how much they are a great strength in life.”

Her mother-in-law showed a worried expression for a moment, then looked at Rieul and smiled faintly. Rieul also returned the smile.

“However, Rieul, you’re giving that to Woogeon. Maybe that’s why father is pressuring to connect you as Woogeon’s wife. Lately, I’m often surprised to see Woogeon caring about other people.”

Rieul felt a little embarrassed, so the tip of her nose turned red.

“For both of you. Close your eyes and quickly give birth to a child. After that, do what you want. What you want to do, and what Woogeon wants to do.”

“Mother, I have no desire to do anything.”

Her mother-in-law laughed lightly and shook her head. Her warm eyes were focused on Rieul attentively.

“No. Lately, while living with father, I heard a lot about you in Seattle from father. Rieul, you deserve to live a meaningful life.”

Rieul felt deep gratitude to her grandfather. For connecting her with Woogeon and his family so well.

“So, Rieul, once again, follow Grandpa’s advice, okay?”

“Yes, I will.”

Rieul felt strange when her mother-in-law asked in a repeating tone, so Rieul laughed casually.

“Rieul is really mature. More mature than Woogeon.”

“It’s okay, it’s okay.”

“But we also know that not having arguments makes someone feel uncomfortable,” Rieul said.

“Mother, any problem can be decided by sharing opinions. Any problem can be solved if we find common ground,” Rieul said in a firm tone.

Her mother-in-law smiled warmly, while pressing Rieul’s warm hand.

“Very, Rieul is very wise. Because Rieul is so wise, I’m very grateful to Rieul.”

When Rieul laughed, her mother-in-law also laughed, as if a few tears appeared in her eyes.

***

Rieul had made plans to meet Woogeon at a wine bar in Gyeongridang-gil. The exotic bar was located right in front of the Gyeongridang-gil alley. Rieul arrived first and had ordered a bottle of wine and food.

“I’m late.”

Woogeon came with long strides and pulled a chair to sit. Rieul smiled broadly.

“Welcome, husband.”

Woogeon, with a less than satisfied expression, immediately gulped down the wine Rieul had prepared as soon as he sat down. When he put the wine glass down on the table, Woogeon’s forehead was still furrowed.

“I repeat, I’m not interested at all.”

“You’re very selfish—”

Woogeon looked at Rieul confused and annoyed, as if defending himself.

“I hope you don’t just think about yourself, Woogeon.”

“Do you want me to marry a woman who has no thoughts just to describe the desired life, and then ask me to have children? Isn’t that selfish? I think that’s more selfish.”

“Doesn’t Woogeon like it?”

“Rieul. There’s no reason for me to be forced to follow what’s wanted if grandfather takes care of your life.”

“Let’s talk calmly. From the beginning, without rushing. I don’t understand why Woogeon is so opposed. Please explain to me.”

Rieul spoke calmly.

“Rieul, I’ve never had a meaningful relationship, I don’t feel the tension between us, and I haven’t enjoyed enough dates. At least, I want to feel the happiness of the honeymoon. Is that wrong? Am I selfish?”

“Thank you, you’re a good person, Woogeon.”

“I’ve never been a good man to anyone. However, I want to be a good husband to Rieul.” Woogeon turned his head and bit his lower lip nervously. Rieul felt warmth in her heart.

Even though Grandpa was gone, and if there was a baby between them, if one day Woogeon thought back about this marriage and proposed a divorce, Rieul felt she wouldn’t feel sad at all. Woogeon always gave his best to Rieul even in difficult situations.

Woogeon was the type of man who didn’t like short and immature women, so even if he went looking for women with a different style from her, Rieul felt she wouldn’t feel sad. Currently, she had received abundant love from Grandpa, Woogeon, and her mother-inlaw.

“Thank you.”

“That’s not something to be grateful for.”

“Does Woogeon have some kind of romantic dream?”

“What do you mean?”

“Ehm, I mean, if Woogeon really found a woman he loved, how would he date and how would he love her, some kind of small hope.”

As Rieul smiled thinly and spoke slowly, Woogeon let out a long breath.

“I have many things I want to do with Rieul.”

“That’s good.”

“Rieul is a woman too precious to me.”

“What? Me?”

Rieul was a little surprised and widened her eyes. Woogeon poured wine into an empty glass carefully and spoke softly.

“Rieul has many advantages, is young, and is a woman who deserves to enjoy the exciting things in the world. Not a woman who has to meet a man who has gone through everything like me.”

“Woogeon always utters sharp words, but his heart is very deep.”

“Woogeon, I’m a lucky person. Meeting rich people and being able to enjoy unlimited mint chocolate latte.”

“Rieul.”

Woogeon shook his head while muttering, and Rieul laughed casually.

“Want to hear my story a little more? Woogeon, do you know when was the happiest and fullest time in my life while living in an army camp? It was when I could buy mint chocolate latte every week or ten days with the money I collected dollar by dollar.”

“I don’t want to hear such stories.”

***