episode_0042

“It’s okay. There must have been a reason why it’s a great restaurant.”

“Uh…”

Oppa didn’t seem to be enjoying the food as much as expected.

“It’s always delicious when you make tonkatsu. It’s delicious today too.” He praised Hyehye’s tonkatsu as the best.

“Um… But everyone seems to be staring at us.”

Their gazes… Their gazes felt too intense.

I thought we were just having a meal.

Surely it’s because Oppa is exceptionally good-looking.

“You eat so cutely, that’s why.”

“It’s because you’re so handsome, Oppa.”

The restaurant was spacious for a popular spot.

Even though it was spacious, more than half of the seats were occupied.

It felt like they were watching us.

And somehow, the place became crowded.

Gazes kept lingering.

“Let’s eat quickly. I feel uncomfortable in my stomach right now.”

“Uh? Is your stomach hurting?”

Although Oppa seemed unfazed…

We managed to finish the tonkatsu somehow.

I ate a bit quickly, making my stomach feel uneasy.

“Did you not like the tonkatsu, Oppa?”

Even after getting into the car, Oppa seemed somewhat displeased.

“…It’s not that, but…”

“But what?”

And he shyly smiled at me.

“I keep thinking that the food you make is the most delicious…”

Success… Could it be?

No, that wasn’t the intention originally, but maybe past me planned for future me…?

“I can’t live without you…?”

“Yeah… I don’t think I can live without you.”

“Huh?”

I tried to pass it off as a joke, but Oppa responded seriously, as if he had contemplated deeply.

“Maybe… even if we went to Jeju Island, it would have been the same. Your cooking is the most delicious to me.”

“Heh…”

“To be honest… the food from work wasn’t tasty. It used to be delicious, but… at some point, I started feeling something was missing.”

“Oh…”

Just responding with onomatopoeia.

My cooking is the most delicious.

Everything else seems less appetizing.

I’ve captivated Oppa’s taste buds.

“I… really want to get married. But I’m slightly worried. Hyehye is still young, so marrying early might not be the right thing…?”

Marriage.

I know about that much.

It won’t be a carefree and rosy life.

Especially when it comes to having children.

Yes, having children might be the issue.

We’ve been living together well so far, enjoying what’s good and tolerating what’s not.

Both I and Oppa might get a bit busier once we have a child.

In the old days, it wasn’t just the wife and grandmother who took care of the child when it was born.

Well, there’s no grandmother to help.

No relatives around.

So, at my age, early twenties, when I have the most energy…

What can I do?

Raising a baby might be the hardest thing… but I want to give birth and raise one.

“Oppa, how many children do you want?”

“Uh… Marriage?”

“Of course, we should!”

“Then… I want 3.”

“Should we have a proper conversation in the back seat?”

Admirable.

Incredibly adorable.

As soon as I got in the back seat, I hugged Oppa and lay down.

“I… I’m fine. I really am. Actually… I’d like to have around 10 kids, but that would be tough, right?”

“T-That’s true. And Hyehye would have the toughest time. Even if she gives birth every year, by then, I’ll be 37…”

“Um… That’s true.”

It does seem a bit much to start a boys’ soccer team with just the kids.

– End –

“I really support marriage. Thank you.”

Thank you for choosing me, for telling me first.

“I… I’m thankful too.”

Gently stroking his short hair as if combing it.

“Would you like to go see Dad once…?”

“…Yeah. Sure. We should meet.”

His body trembled for a moment, but after taking a deep breath, he stood up.

“My father is… well, he’s a bit like that. Honestly, I don’t want to meet him, and I don’t want to either.”

“What happened?”

His brother slightly lowered his head.

“Sister… exists, and there’s tension between our parents. To be honest, I don’t know if they’ll even accept me now, considering how I left abruptly.”

His brother’s secret is revealed.

It was the first time hearing about the sister’s existence and that there was tension, all candidly shared by his brother.

“Thank you for telling me.”

“Uh… no problem.”

“Then let’s go meet him.”

“…Huh?”

I must definitely seek permission for marriage.

“I want to meet our parents.”

“Even so…”

“I want their approval. Please allow me to do so.”

I really want this.

Polite. Even if they dislike it, to the extreme like us…

“…Just in case, why aren’t things good between you and your parents…?”

Oh. No way. It can’t be.

“Wel…”

“Wel?”

“Since childhood, they only made me study… I just left home after graduating from college.”

…?

Is that all there is to it?

Is there really nothing else…?

“Why aren’t you on good terms with your sister?”

“Uh…? It’s not that we’re not on good terms. We said we weren’t, but that’s…”

Their relationship with their parents soured.

The reason being the pressure of studying excessively, leaving no time for leisure activities.

Rebellion against their parents.

Explained.

His brother hesitates for a moment, lost in thought, then returns.

“…Maybe I should say we had no connection. Anyway, we didn’t see each other much. When I was deeply focused on studying, my sister was already in a dormitory or had become an adult and gone to college, so we never met. At that time, I was just starting high school… I didn’t even have her contact information.”

“Uh… um…”

Seems like meeting his sister won’t be possible.

But it must be done.

We can’t continue like this with our parents. Permission.

“Brother… I really want to meet our parents. We can’t keep going like this forever.”

“Uh… that’s true… but can I really get their approval…?”

“Buy gifts, dress nicely, you’re earning money properly now and have a job. If you come back looking great, wouldn’t reconciliation be possible…?”

“I’ve blocked my parents’ contacts.”

“Uh… anyway! The house should still be the same.”

In reality, that’s true.

In reality.

His parents’ thoughts might be slightly different from ours.

They probably wanted us to live comfortably, to enjoy air conditioning in the building while others worked hard. Although they got the desired outcome, we don’t know it yet.

Even though I’ve made up my mind and don’t even accept calls from my parents. How would I know?

“Um… okay. Let’s go meet them.”

“Thank you for listening to me.”

“Uh-huh. No problem.”

Although his brother nonchalantly says it’s nothing, his expression already showed signs of tension.

“Brother.”

“Uh-huh…?”

“Hug me again.”

That expression… I think I used to have it too.

A stern household. Upon entering, tension arises, hoping for a day without any trouble, seeking blessings here and there, finding something for free, even praying for a stroke of luck.

But it was a futile illusion and dream.

“Why did I feel so empty and annoyed as if this were a trial for me?

When I casually glanced at the kitchen knife in my hand, a murderous impulse arose.

I scolded myself for such futile thoughts.

Perhaps the military didn’t seem like an escape for me here.

That’s why I didn’t leave quickly.

Before I couldn’t take it anymore. Wasn’t running away the answer?

Sometimes I regret it.

I should have treated Dad and Ji Hyuk better.

I don’t blame myself, but it feels like I’ve committed a great sin.

That’s why…

“Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side. If it doesn’t work out, grab my hand and let’s run together. I’m sorry for asking too much. Really sorry…”

I felt a sense of camaraderie with my brother.

*

“Sigh… Home.”

I returned home.

Although my husband says my tonkatsu is the best in the world, it should be made by the wife.

“Is there anything I can help with…?”

“No, go rest in the room. You’ve been driving for a long time.”

“It’s not that tiring…”

Above my brother’s head, a puppy-like creature with folded ears unexpectedly kept whining beside him.

“Fine… Just sit and cheer me on. That’s enough.”

“Really…? I won’t be of any help…?”

“Really, you won’t. You can’t ask someone who even jumps when frying oil to make tonkatsu.”

“Should I… chop some cabbage?”

As he held the knife with both hands like a sword, how could I trust him with that?

“Absolutely do not touch it.”

“Okay…”

Honestly, I’d like to help him even if he looks pitiful, but if an accident happens, I’m the only one who will bear that responsibility.

“Let’s… cheer up, wife!”

“That’s better.”

“Wisdom is a goddess…! The cutest in the world…!!”

“Why are you blushing while saying that?”

It’s filled with nice words, but it sounds stiff.

Words that should flutter in my heart naturally pop out, so why does it sound artificial now?

“I’m just… embarrassed…”

“Is cheering for your wife that embarrassing?”

“Uh… no. Not embarrassing. I won. I’ll cheer again.”

My brother’s face slightly grimaced as if he had said something he shouldn’t have, then he quickly seemed flustered.

He’s not really angry.

“My brother is cute too. Sometimes he looks really cool.”

“I-I do?”

Become even cuter. It means you’ll become a fool who can’t live without me.

“Ahem. Anyway, the tonkatsu is ready. You know it’s best eaten hot, right?”

“Of course! I’ve been waiting for so long.”

As the tonkatsu arrived, I transformed into a delighted elementary school student.

He’s become cute.

“Today… I made cheese and original. Can you eat both?”

“Yeah yeah. I think I can manage both today.”

“Enjoy your meal.”

My brother cuts a piece of tonkatsu and puts it in his mouth.

Seeing his satisfied expression, I also took my seat.

“It’s delicious… really delicious.”

I smiled along with him.

I was truly happy that such expressions only came from me.”