Chapter 220
Chapter 220. The Moment of Falling in Love
After that… so many things happened.
When I returned to Korea and told my parents I had a foreign boyfriend who followed me here, they nearly fainted. When this door-sized foreign man bowed at a 90-degree angle… that’s when I first learned my father was capable of collapsing in front of others.
Unfortunately, Liam Moore didn’t pass the meet-the-parents test on his first try. It wasn’t about his profession, appearance, or nationality. The reason was “we don’t understand what you two see in each other to talk about marriage.”
To others, we hadn’t been together long. Naturally, in my parents’ eyes, the young man their daughter brought back from abroad wasn’t trustworthy. Of course, neither was the daughter who wanted to marry him outright.
Anyway, since Liam still had plenty of time to stay here, we decided to try convincing my parents slowly.
So I safely graduated from university and passed the teacher certification exam. Now all that remained was waiting and hoping somewhere would hire me. When I heard a senior who graduated before me was still waiting for appointment, I briefly wondered if I should quickly give up on making a living in my major.
Liam remained by my side, still looking polished as ever.
Surprisingly, life in Korea seemed to suit him—his face looked even better than when we first met. Though he’d been handsome before, he’d had somewhat sharp, sensitive features, but now his atmosphere was comfortable and his expression relaxed, giving him an easygoing look.
Maybe that’s why? Mom would compliment how good his face looked every time she saw him. Calling him “Lee son-in-law” was a bonus. Something about Korean phonological rules. When told his surname was Moore, she said “Lee son-in-law” sounded better than “Moo son-in-law.” Anyway, once he’d won over Mom, the battle was practically won.
Smiling a bit, I roughly ruffled Liam like a puppy as he sat occupying a spot on my studio apartment’s sofa. Liam docilely offered his head, smiling with crinkled eyes.
“…Wait.”
With a strange “oh my” sound, I messed up Liam’s hair. I couldn’t believe it and rubbed my eyes hard. Liam Moore, his head captured by me, wore a confused expression.
“…You, you have a gray hair?”
At my words, Liam Moore jumped up.
“That’s impossible!”
“It’s true. You have a gray hair. I can’t pull it out to show you.”
“G-gray hair? Really?”
“Hold still. Let me see if it shows up in a photo.”
…And after checking my phone screen, Liam Moore crumbled. Watching him curl up in the corner of the sofa hugging his knees and sobbing pathetically was a bit heartbreaking.
A stream of mournful laments followed: shouldn’t even incomplete immortality block aging after saving the world, what if he becomes a white-haired grandpa before marrying Jane, and so on.
I… I honestly wasn’t worried at all. There’s this great technology called hair dye… and whether he ages or not, Liam is just Liam. Though Jonathan would certainly cackle and tease him about this. That’s something Liam would have to endure.
Anyway, I needed to offer some sort of comfort, so I reached out and gently patted Liam’s shoulder.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re still pretty. It’s just one strand. Probably from stress.”
“Jane, I’m completely serious. I’m over 180 years old. What if all those years catch up at once?”
“Surely that won’t happen.”
I think of the certain being who helped us, ‘El.’ Surely they would ensure Liam Moore’s shock stops at just one gray hair.
I felt certain that Liam Moore could now age similarly to me. Even when I become a wrinkled old grandmother, Liam won’t remain alone as a young and beautiful husband.
I carefully reached out and thoroughly messed up Liam’s hair. The single gray hair disappeared among the thick black strands. It would take quite a while to find it again if I tried.
“…And I’ll keep you whatever you look like, so stop worrying about stuff like that. Why does someone so clever become such a fool about these things?”
“Because it’s about you…”
I quietly smiled.
Just then, Dad contacted me. Liam, startled by the message notification sound, quickly moved away from me.
You’re from the 19th century. Actually much older than my parents, but Liam seemed strangely terrified of them. Should I say he’s very disciplined? Did my parents… scold him when I wasn’t around? Nah, surely not.
[Daughter. Let’s talk on the phone.]
Checking the message, I hurriedly jumped up and went outside holding my phone. For some reason, it felt like Liam Moore shouldn’t hear my conversation with Dad. Of course, he doesn’t understand Korean, but there are things you want to say away from others.
It was a nice day with good sunshine and pleasant breeze. Spring was ending and summer approaching. Weather is important. It softens the shock people receive. It’s like… a buffer. After preparing myself to calmly accept whatever Dad might say, I called him.
“Ah, yeah. Dad.”
A somewhat tired-sounding voice came through the phone.
―Ah, daughter. Dad just, well, it’s nothing much. Just wanted to ask a few things. Is Lee son-in-law with you now?
“No, he’s not. I’m alone.”
―You’re always together but alone today, huh.
“That’s, that’s how it worked out. Yeah. What’s up? Should I come home?”
―No need. Don’t bother coming all the way down.
I swallow nervously for no reason. Why is he being so serious about whatever he wants to say? After drawing it out for a while, Dad slowly asked me.
―…Does it have to be him?
“Huh?”
―Marriage, I mean. What do you like about Lee son-in-law?
At Dad’s question, I fell into thought for a moment.
If asked what I liked… I couldn’t point to just one thing. I simply loved everything about Liam.
And I sensed it. This was permission. Dad had never called Liam “Lee son-in-law” before—his using that title must mean he’d fully accepted Liam.
“Just, everything.”
Beyond the railing of the old corridor-style apartment building, I could see the clear sky. A sigh from Dad came through the phone.
―Still, Dad’s worried. About you rushing into marriage with someone we don’t know where he’s from.
“He’s from England.”
―…Sigh.
“Dad. You’ve seen his face. He loses himself just looking at me—how could that be a marriage scammer?”
In my rush to put on shoes and come out, a slipper must have gotten caught in the door. The door silently opened a crack and Liam Moore poked his head out. He mouthed the question:
Serious talk?
“…Dad. You know what?”
I couldn’t help smiling as I spoke. I felt like such a fool.
―What?
“You’ve been calling Liam ‘Lee son-in-law’ this whole time?”
As if shocked, there was no response from the other end of the phone.
Though Liam doesn’t know Korean, he does understand a few words, and one of them is “Lee son-in-law.” Our clever husband, who somehow perfectly recognizes when people are talking about him, seemed to have already caught on from that phrase.
When I quietly gave a thumbs up, Liam’s eyes went wide and he carefully covered his mouth. He seemed to have barely held back a cheer.
After several minutes of silence, Dad’s voice finally came with a long sigh.
―…Fine, get married. Actually, your mom liked him from the start. So how could Dad oppose?
And before I could respond, the call abruptly ended. He must be embarrassed. Our Dad, always unable to be honest. He clearly liked Liam but felt like he was giving away his well-raised daughter to some guy for free if he gave permission easily. That’s why he hesitated so long before giving his blessing.
Since I can’t see my own expression, I don’t know what face I was making when I heard Dad’s permission. Whether I smiled, or what. But Liam, seeing my face, stood frozen for a while, lost for words. The warm sunlight settled on both our cheeks. Our faces were warm. A gentle breeze briefly rustled both our hair as it passed.
Shortly after, a rosy blush spread across his entire face. Though spring had passed, it was as if cherry blossoms were blooming late just here. The pink glow spread fully until it dyed not only his ears but even his neck.
Watching that face, I think I realized it too.
There was no way not to know.
That was clearly the face of someone in love…
End of “Bailonz Street 13” Side Story
