episode_0011

After bringing Eunju over to the passenger seat in Genesis, I opened the passenger door and said to Eunju,

“Would you like to get in, Miss Gongju?”

“Heh~ What’s this~ Thank you for opening the door~”

Eunju sat in the passenger seat while I closed the door and got into the driver’s seat.

“Then I’ll take you to your place, Eunju’s house.”

“Yes.”

I started the car and headed towards Eunju’s house.

As we chatted about this and that in the car, we arrived quickly.

I got out of the driver’s seat, opened the passenger door, and said to Eunju,

“We’ve arrived, Miss Gongju. Please get off~”

“Yes, thank you.”

Eunju got off from the passenger seat, and I held her hand as we walked to the entrance of the apartment building’s underground parking lot.

At the apartment entrance, I hugged Eunju, gave her a kiss, and said,

“Take care going in, Eunju.”

“Yes, you take care too when you go in. Let me know when you’re home.”

“Got it.”

Eunju entered the apartment by punching in the entry code, and I watched her go in before getting back into the car and heading home.

Once I arrived home and sat on the sofa, I texted Eunju:

– I’m home now! Did you finish preparing dinner and are you waiting for Myungwoo?

– (A picture of the dining table with kimchi stew, spam, and a few side dishes)

– Did you get in safely? I’m waiting for Myungwoo for dinner tonight.

– Wow~ Looks delicious! I want some too!

– What are you planning to have for dinner?

– Hmm, thinking of ordering something since I live alone and don’t cook much.

– I see. I’ll cook for you next time.

– Yes! Looking forward to it!

– Don’t get your hopes up too much.

– I think you’re good at cooking.

– I am pretty good at it hehe

– Oh! Myungwoo is here. I’ll contact you later.

– Okay.

After finishing the chat with Eunju, I called my sister-in-law Yeonju this time.

After a brief signal, Yeonju answered the phone.

“Brother-in-law!”

“Hello, sister-in-law.”

“Are you home now?”

“Yes, where are you, sister-in-law?”

“I’m at home too.”

“Oh~ Had dinner?”

“I did~ Did you have dinner, brother-in-law?”

“No, I’m thinking of ordering something since I live alone and don’t cook much.”

“It’s understandable when you live alone! I want to cook for you.”

“Then come over next time and do it.”

“Okay! I will!”

“I was just kidding; you don’t have to.”

“No, brother-in-law, I really want to cook for you!”

“Um… okay.”

“I wish I could come over right now and cook for you…”

“It’s okay, next time, next time.”

“Yes! I will definitely cook for you next time, brother-in-law.”

“Okay, got it.”

“What are you doing this weekend, brother-in-law?”

“Well… I have plans to drink with a friend on Friday, so I might be hungover on the weekend. I’m not sure yet.”

“How about a date on Sunday then?”

“Sunday?”

“Yes!”

“Don’t you work on Monday? If you’re a working person, Sunday dates might be burdensome.”

“I’m a swan right now, so it’s okay~”

“Alright, where should we meet?”

“Hmm~ I want to go for a drive and see the sea!”

“The sea… sounds good! I also miss the sea after a long time.”

“Yes!”

“Where do you live, sister-in-law? I’ll come pick you up.”

“I’ll send you our address via KakaoTalk.”

“Got it, see you on Sunday, sister-in-law.”

“Yes, brother-in-law!”

Yeonju seemed to have a more lively and cheerful personality compared to Eunju.

After ending the call with Yeonju, I lay down on the sofa and fell asleep.

When I woke up and checked my phone, there were messages from Eunju and Yeonju.

First, I read Eunju’s message.

– Myungwoo had dinner and is watching TV in the bedroom, Jinwoo, what are you doing??

– Jinwoo, are you sleeping??

– Seems like you’re tired, sleep well and contact me tomorrow.

After reading Eunju’s message, I replied:

– I lay down on the sofa and when I got up, it was morning haha

It seemed like

After finishing the KakaoTalk conversation with Eunju, this time, Yeonju checked the message from her brother-in-law, Bonen.

– Hyungbu, this is my home address.

– Kissing emoticon

– See you on Sunday, Hyungbu~♡

Yeonju also replied to her sister-in-law, Eunju.

– Address received! Let’s meet on Sunday, sister-in-law.

Getting up from her seat, stretching, Yeonju entered the address provided by Eunju into the navigation app. It was an apartment roughly 20 minutes away by car.

Putting down her phone, she opened the fridge, took out milk and cereal, and ate while watching TV.

After spending some time at home, it was time to meet Manu, so I went outside, hailed a taxi, and headed to the meeting place.

Getting off the taxi in front of the Water Bottle Bar, I stood there waiting when Myungwoo approached and said, “Hey, you’re here.”

“Yeah, did you really want to come here that badly?”

“Yes! I’ve been wanting to come here so much!”

“Oh, really? Let’s go then, let’s go.”

I entered the bar with Myungwoo.

Similar to last time, perhaps because it was early, there weren’t many people around.

A part-time worker with a gentle face whom I had seen before approached us with a smile.

The worker was wearing a black t-shirt with “Water Bottle” written on it and tight jeans that accentuated their figure.

“Welcome~ Are you two together?”

“Yes, we are two.”

“Please have a seat wherever you like.”

Myungwoo and I sat in a secluded corner.

The worker handed us the menu and said, “Please choose your dishes and call me.”

“Okay.”

Looking at Myungwoo, I asked, “What do you want to eat?”

“Just order something.”

“Oh, come on.”

I pressed the bell.

Upon hearing the bell, the worker came to our table.

“Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, please give us a fruit platter, one soju, one beer, and one soft drink.”

“Sure, got it.”

The worker turned around to enter the order into the POS system, and Myungwoo was watching the worker’s back.

Shaking my head, I said, “Hey, when they bring the snacks and drinks, suggest chatting for a bit. The worker seems bored.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

I casually replied and looked at my phone.

A while later, the worker brought the ordered fruit platter and drinks to our table.

As the worker was about to leave after placing the items on the table, Myungwoo said to them, “Since there are no other customers, you seem bored. Would you like to join us if it’s okay?”

After a brief hesitation, the worker gladly accepted, saying, “Sure, but I can’t drink alcohol as I’m working.”

Myungwoo smiled and said, “Have a soft drink, and if you want to eat something, feel free to order.”

“Can I order a mixed sausage platter then?”

“Sure, go ahead.”

“Okay, just a moment.”

The worker went to the POS system to place the order, and I looked at Myungwoo with a pitiful expression.

“Is this okay?”

“Yeah, it’s fine.”

When the worker returned with the mixed sausage platter, they sat next to Myungwoo after placing it on the table.

It seemed like Myungwoo initiated the conversation.

Smiling broadly, Myungwoo said to the worker, “I was here on Wednesday too, but I guess you don’t remember.”

“I do remember. There weren’t many customers on Wednesday, and you asked me about my age and if I had a boyfriend that day.”

“Oh, you remember.”

“But hey, aren’t you a married man? I vaguely heard about your wife that day.”

Myungwoo seemed flustered by the worker’s question but quickly pointed at me and said, “Oh, it’s him, not me.”

With a puzzled expression on my face, I looked at Myungwoo and then told the worker, “Yes, I am a married man. That’s what I mentioned that day.”

“I see, got it.”

Myungwoo quickly added, “I’m not married yet. Should I give you my business card?”

Taking out his wallet from his pocket, Myungwoo handed his business card to the worker.

Surprised after looking at the business card, the worker exclaimed, “You work at D-Sung?”

“Yes, I’m the head of the D-Sung Research Department.”

“Wow! D-Sung! That’s impressive. D-Sung is the top company in Korea, right!?”

“Do you know it well?”

“Yes, who doesn’t know D-Sung? I’m also

“Ah~ If I enter the company, I might become your junior, right?”

“I hope so.”

“You’ll be able to do it.”

“But you look young for your age. Are you already an executive?”

“How old do I look like?”

“Hmm, early thirties?”

“Haha, that’s right. I just turned 33.”

“You guessed it right.”

“Yes~”

Upon hearing Myungwoo being called an executive at the company, the part-timer transformed from a neighborhood uncle to an older brother, his eyes sparkling.

As they conversed, a bell rang from the kitchen, indicating that the assorted sausages were ready.

The part-timer informed Myungwoo before getting up from his seat.

“Just a moment, I’ll bring the assorted sausages.”

“Sure thing.”

While the part-timer went to get the assorted sausages, he said to Myungwoo,

“What were you trying to achieve with that?”

“I don’t know, I was flustered.”

“Sigh…”

Placing the assorted sausages on the table, the part-timer said,

“Enjoy your meal, guys.”

“Yeah, you should eat too. By the way, I still don’t know your name?”

“I’m Jina, and yours? I’m Myungwoo, and he’s Jinwoo.”

“Oh, nice to meet you, Myungwoo, Jinwoo.”

“Yeah, nice to meet you, Jina.”

Looking at me, the part-timer asked,

“So, Jinwoo, what do you do?”

“I quit my job recently, so I’m currently unemployed…”

“You’re married, right, with a wife…”

“Well… I have some severance pay, so I can manage for a few months… I’m trying hard to find a new job quickly…”

At the mention of being unemployed, Jina seemed less interested in me.

“I see…”