episode_0132

Time passed by in a whirlwind of busyness, and before I knew it, it was Friday evening. Just like any other day, I was driving Kim Taehyun home after work.

“Is it today?”

“Yeah. Um…should we go straight there?”

I was contemplating going home to change into nicer clothes before heading out to meet someone, but then I thought, why bother dressing up so much just to meet a good person.

“I’d like to go a bit more casually dressed.”

Well, considering it’s a drinking gathering, a suit can be a bit uncomfortable. Especially the tie.

One of the best things about my new body is not having to wear a tie anymore. Instead, I have to deal with wearing a bra.

There’s a common question people ask, isn’t there?

Is wearing a tie uncomfortable, or is wearing a bra uncomfortable?

Both are uncomfortable. Let’s not try to compare. It’s just a difference between feeling suffocated and feeling pressure on your chest.

“Alright then. I’ll do that. I’ll stop by home to change and then head out. I don’t need to look good for anyone.”

“Oh…Chulsoo…?”

“Oh, that guy! Always so annoying, telling people to come and go. Anyway, I’ll stop by home and then give you a call when I’m heading out.”

“Okay. See you later then. Haha.”

After dropping off Kim Taehyun at his place, I returned home.

“Mom’s back.”

Since the kids started school and there were days when I left work early, it became a common thing for the kids to be home before me, so greeting them as I entered the house had become a natural thing.

“Welcome back! Oh, didn’t you say you’d be home late today? Chulsoo’s dad said he went to the store for a drink and came back.”

As I entered the living room, Dayoung, who had been lying on the couch watching TV, suddenly sat up and greeted me.

“I have to go out right away. I just came back to change clothes quickly.”

With that response, I headed straight to the bedroom.

As soon as I entered the bedroom, I quickly discarded the suit I was wearing and rummaged through the closet for comfortable clothes to wear.

Comfortable clothes among the ones suitable for work.

Black slacks, a black sleeveless tee, and a white shirt over it.

Looking in the mirror, a young woman who didn’t look like she was in her 20s greeted me. It was a simple outfit that wasn’t too flashy but didn’t look too plain either.

“Well, this should do, right?”

As I was about to leave the room,

“Huh? Are you going out like that?”

Dayoung was surprised when she saw my outfit.

“Why? Is something wrong?”

I quickly scanned my outfit for any oddities. But if I had noticed anything strange, I wouldn’t have come out wearing this.

“No, it’s just…you look so pretty, hehe. You’re really our mom.”

With that, she jumped into my arms and hugged me tightly.

“Aw, what’s gotten into you? You scared me.”

I didn’t reject Dayoung’s actions and instead hugged her back, patting her head.

-Sniff sniff

“Mom, did you forget to put on perfume?”

“Huh? Oh, I forgot.”

I must have forgotten to put on perfume in my rush to leave. It’s summer, so I might have sweat a bit. She must have caught a whiff of that smell.

“Do I smell bad? Should I go wash up before I go out?”

Since my body changed, I had never really thought about my sweat smell or body odor being strong, but there’s a difference between smelling your own scent and having someone else smell it.

“Nah, it’s fine. I like your scent.”

I have no idea what kind of preference that is.

But seeing her happy expression, I just hugged Dayoung tightly and gave her a quick kiss.

“Mom, it’s already this late… Dayoung, Mom has to go quickly, so you can make dinner yourself. Just make some soup, and I’ve prepared your favorite braised fish and stir-fried kimchi.”

“Oh, really? Yes! You have to mix in the butter and eat it.”

By the way, Da-yeong likes dakgalbi, but she also really enjoys marinated meat in soy sauce like jjimdak or jangjorim.

Jangjorim with soy sauce and butter rice, hmm, that’s the truth.

“Oh, has Dabin not arrived yet?”

“Yeah, I contacted her and she said she’ll be a bit late today because of club activities. But she should have left by now, right?”

“Got it. Oh, she might come in late today, so don’t wait for her and just go to bed first.”

Strangely, our friends have a tendency to wait for me until I arrive. Even though I tell them not to bother.

“Why? Are you planning to get drunk again and pass out?”

“Well, that’s…”

Once I say that, there’s nothing more to say. The events have already happened.

“Drink moderately so you don’t get drunk.”

Honestly, even if it’s a friend’s house, if I drink enough to get drunk at a bar, wouldn’t it be a financial burden on the household? Oh well, it doesn’t matter much if I think about the 100 million won that will soon come in. But for now, let’s not drink the kimchi stew.

“Why? Are you planning to get wasted again and call Taehyun oppa?”

“No, I’m not planning to do that. And Taehyun is coming with us today.”

Da-yeong looks at me with wide eyes.

“Really?”

She looks at me meaningfully.

“Huh? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, nothing. Anyway! It’s a relief that Taehyun oppa is coming with us. Oh, right. We’re drinking together, right? I should tell Taehyun oppa to drink moderately.”

“What? Who are you to say that? And anyway, Cheolsu will be there, so it’s fine.”

“I’m saying! It’s not okay because Cheolsu is there, it’s because Cheolsu is the problem!”

Da-yeong doesn’t really like Cheolsu’s nosy personality. Well, when Da-yeong was young, she used to cry whenever she saw Cheolsu. Then Cheolsu would tease her even more, and that relationship has solidified until now. Yeah, you could say it’s like an annoying uncle position.

“Well, he’s still a friend who doesn’t cross the line, so don’t worry.”

What, am I going to use the same excuses with my daughter that I used with my mom when I was young? Will I live in regret?

“Anyway, be careful and come back safely. Call a driver if you both drink, and come back with a clear mind. The world is dangerous.”

“Got it, got it. Why does it seem like you’re my mom to others?”

“What you did to Taehyun oppa…”

“Oh no! I messed up!”

I didn’t feel the need to confirm what kind of nagging would follow, so I quickly left the house.

– Ring, ring

A rough coloring.

-“Yes, Chief!”

“Yeah, Taehyun, I’m about to leave. Are you ready?”

-“Yes, I’m ready to go as soon as you arrive!”

“Okay, I’ll be there in 5 minutes if you come down from your house.”

-“Yes, see you in 5 minutes.”

I hung up the phone, started the car, and left. When I arrived in front of his house a little over 5 minutes later, I saw a man in his 20s wearing a monami look and looking around.

– Honk!

I honked to call him over, and soon Kim Taehyun spotted the car and ran towards me. The passenger seat door opened.

“Chief, you’re here?”

Kim Taehyun boarded the car.

I glanced up and down at him, giving a thumbs up.

“You look good in that outfit. Is this the first time I’ve seen you in casual clothes?”

Although I had seen him when he stayed over at our house not too long ago, that was just him wearing my clothes because his were left behind. And even when he went to a wedding, he wore a suit, so today was the first time I saw him in proper casual attire.

“Oh, is that so? Hmm… I guess so. But, does that mean it’s my first time too?”

“Hmm? I saw you at our house not too long ago. Oh, should I count that as pajamas?”

I doubt there’s anyone else besides me who sleeps in a microfiber dress as pajamas. Usually, people wear slip dresses.

“I guess so, right? Hmm, oh! Ugh….”

Kim Taehyun looked at me intently, then suddenly blushed and looked embarrassed as if he had realized something.

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

Although his hurried denial seemed a bit suspicious, I didn’t press him.

Suddenly, his outfit caught my eye again.

“Oh! And come to think of it, our styles are kind of similar, aren’t they?”

Since I had my cardigan open, all I had to do was button it up to complete the matching monochrome look.

“Haha, that’s funny. We didn’t plan to wear the same style, but we ended up dressing alike. Have you seen the movie ‘Veteran’? They say that teammates should even have the same fart smell. It feels like that right now. Good, good. It’s a good thing. Hmm.”

Even though Manager Kwon isn’t here, I feel a sense of unity and it feels good.

I used to feel happy in the small coincidences of everyday life, like picking up a 500 won coin on the street or getting fewer red lights while driving.

I felt that same happiness now, so I smiled at him as we faced each other.

“Uh… Captain, you’re really… charming.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Now blushing all the way to his ears and covering his face, Kim Taehyun mumbled something as I ignored him and slowly stepped on the gas, moving forward.