Chapter 18
Gazing at the beautiful Jinhong-ri scenery quickly became boring. A sense of self-reproach washed over Heena as she wondered what she was doing lying around when she wasn’t on her deathbed or clinging to life like the last leaf.
Bored to the point of restlessness, Heena slipped on her slippers and went outside. She intended to take a walk around the village and go back in, but she couldn’t help but stop when she saw the elders gathered on the wooden platform in front of the village hall.
Heena approached them with a bright smile, happy and excited to see people other than Seo Yohan.
“Hello, I’m here! What were you all talking about?”
“Oh, you’re here. Want to help us trim these bean sprouts?”
“Yes, please. I’m good at trimming bean sprouts.”
The bean sprout lady and most of the other elders welcomed her.
“I heard Mr. Jeong’s house is also being renovated?”
“Yes, there’s a lot to fix.”
“Of course. That house is so old. But the granddaughter isn’t going to keep living there, is she?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
She felt bad about selling her grandfather’s house outright, and she also felt bad about leaving it as it was. She had made the decision to renovate it completely so she could come down and spend her vacations there occasionally.
Heena trailed off, feeling that there was no need to go into detail.
“Ahem!”
Mr. Park, deliberately clearing his throat to make his presence known, sat down on the platform. He was clearly annoyed with her because of the blind date with Park Donghan.
“Oh, right! How did the blind date go? He wouldn’t tell me anything.”
Heena chuckled and answered shortly.
“It was a disaster.”
“Huh? Why?”
The surrounding ladies all chimed in.
“What’s wrong with our girl? Why was it a disaster?”
“Oh, it’s not our girl’s fault. It must be that Park Donghan boy.”
“That’s right, that’s right. He’s been on so many blind dates, and he still hasn’t found anyone. It’s his problem.”
Thanks to the ladies taking her side, Heena felt her spirits lift after several gloomy days.
“I’m okay, though. I didn’t come down here looking to get married. I’m happy as long as I have you ladies.”
“So you only need the ladies and you’re telling the men to go away?”
Mr. Park, who had been listening quietly, raised his voice.
“Look at that drunkard acting up again.”
The bean sprout lady sighed and muttered. Heena had no reason to be intimidated. She purposely put on a sad face and replied,
“What can I do if he doesn’t like me?”
“I didn’t think you were that kind of person, but I heard you’re really into luxury goods?”
“I just carried one luxury bag, and that’s what it’s become?”
“And I heard you left with the boy next door in his car, even though you said you weren’t involved?”
The ladies murmured and glanced at Heena. To clear up this misunderstanding, Heena also raised her voice.
“We’re not involved! I just happened to meet him on his way back from buying plant supplements, so we rode together. ‘Left with him,’ that’s a bit harsh. Mr. Park Donghan was just as rude!”
“Oh, now your true colors are showing. Look at those eyes, do you want to get hit?”
“Why would I hit you? Do I want to go to jail?”
The people around them watched with interest as Heena and Mr. Park bickered, neither backing down.
“I’ve been looking all over for you.”
A low, deep voice cut through the raised voices. Looking back, Seo Yohan was standing with his hands in his training pants pockets, legs crossed. He looked like a young village head who had come out for his morning rounds. Heena frowned and scratched the back of her neck. Of all times….
“Oh my, he even came looking for you? Are you still going to deny that you’re involved?”
“No, what does my blind date with Park Donghan have to do with him…!”
“Stop it, Jeong Heena.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Yohan grabbed Heena’s wrist. Heena, still fuming, pouted and retorted.
“Yes, you should stop too. I’ve told you many times not to interfere in young people’s love lives.”
The bean sprout lady also stopped Mr. Park. The elders, who had been watching the argument with amusement, also chimed in, “That’s right, that’s right.”
Yohan started striding off somewhere, pulling Heena along. To keep pace with him, she had to not only take long strides but also jog slightly. She started to get out of breath. Just as she was about to ask where they were going, they arrived at the village bus stop.
“I understand you feel embarrassed about being rejected, but think about Mr. Park’s feelings too.”
“Why should I?”
“His cousin, who’s past marriageable age, keeps getting rejected on blind dates. Would you be happy if you were him?”
“So why should I care?”
“I’m just saying, think about how Mr. Park must feel. Then you could have handled it more tactfully.”
Just then, the village bus heading to town pulled up, kicking up dust. Yohan let Heena board first and tapped his card, saying, “Two.”
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.”
Yohan pushed Heena into the window seat of a two-person seat past the back door of the bus and plopped down next to her.
“Did you wash up?”
“Just brushed my teeth.”
“Let me see your face. I’ll check if you have eye boogers.”
Heena confidently turned to him and widened her eyes.
“I don’t. If you’re going to wander around first thing in the morning, at least tell me.”
“Are you acting like the landlord?”
“I’m not acting. I am the landlord.”
“So you’re saying I can come in as I please, but I can’t leave as I please?”
“You’ve been reading too many novels. You can leave as you please, but tell me where you’re going.”
“I was just going to get some fresh air….”
She just couldn’t pass by when she saw people gathered together. Embarrassed, Heena turned her head to look out the window.
“The village festival is coming up soon, and we have to hold a ritual before that. Do you want to keep arguing with Mr. Park every time you see him?”
“No, I wasn’t trying to argue…”
“You could have just played along, even if you didn’t mean it.”
“You know I’m not good at that.”
“Even if you’re not good at it, do it. You’re good at it when you’re working.”
“I came here to relax, not to work.”
“See? This is what I’m talking about. You never back down.”
“…….”
Even she had to admit that Yohan was right. She had gotten so comfortable in the village that she had reacted impulsively without realizing it.
“You’re quite the adult.”
“I was an adult when I was dating you, too.”
“You’ve changed.”
“People change.”
“Did I change too?”
At Heena’s question, Yohan stared at her face. Even after scrutinizing her eyes, nose, and mouth, there was nothing outwardly different. The same went for inwardly.
“No.”
Yohan chuckled as he answered.
You’re the same. Still the same. You haven’t changed a bit.
✦⋆🍒.₊ ⊹
After buying a large quantity of samgyeopsal (pork belly) at the supermarket, Heena and Yohan arrived at a makgeolli (rice wine) brewery. Yohan tilted his head, puzzled, as Heena had taken him somewhere unexpected when he had only intended to buy samgyeopsal to eat together at the village hall.
“Why are we here?”
“Mr. Park likes makgeolli. If I give him some makgeolli and apologize for earlier, he might calm down.”
“Okay. Do that. And explain what happened at the blind date.”
“Okay.”
When Heena nodded vigorously, Yohan smoothed down her messy hair. Then, his hand suddenly stopped.
Oh, I shouldn’t be doing this.
It was an old habit that had resurfaced unconsciously. So he quickly messed up Jeong Heena’s hair again.
“What are you doing…?”
Heena blinked and asked back with a dazed look.
“I just realized you didn’t wash your hair. How many days has it been? Be honest.”
“It hasn’t been days. I washed it last night.”
“You washed it yesterday, not today. I told you so many times to wash up before going out. You didn’t even wash your face earlier.”
“You’re making my hygiene habits sound like trash. Lots of people wash their hair at night. I’ll shower when I get home, so don’t worry.”
“Welcome, welcome!”
The owner greeted them as they entered the brewery.
“Mr. Park from Jinhong-ri comes here often, right? Please give me a lot of what he likes.”
Heena, shaking off Yohan’s hand, entered and responded in a clear voice.
