Landing in Your Inbox

54 - the lone tree

In Seri's colorful dating history, she had only met a suitor's parents once and that was Cha Sang-woo's mother during a premiere one time so she had little choice in the matter. It still wasn't anything intimate like entering the sacred gates of a family home. She had no experience, no form of preparation apart from the gift that she was starting to think was wholly insufficient. She didn't even have a proper chat with Jeong-hyeok about what to expect. No one could advise her what to do and how to behave, though Seri was entirely to be blamed why she had no authority figures around her.

She wondered what Jeong-hyeok was thinking as he minded his steps going up the house. She would have offered her hand if she was not holding the wooden chest with 6 bottles of different tea leaves inside. He seemed calm and unperturbed, which she saw as a good sign. Then again he was a pilot who was used to emergency situations. Before opening the door, he asked if she was okay.

"It's going to be fine. Just talk as yourself." 

Seri didn't expect the interiors to resemble a traditional home, almost Victorian in style. Jeong-hyeok's mother was in the sitting room, watching the household staff put down the tea trays and there were also small plates of assorted cake slices. 

"Ah, Jeong-hyeok, you're here." His mother looked past him where Seri stood. "Hello, Seri."

Seri bowed her head, "Hello Mother. This is for you." She offered the chest.

"Thank you." Kim Yun-hui motioned for one of the staff to take the gift. "Please have a seat. I'm sorry for how short notice this is." She quite reminded Seri of an American first lady in elegance, poise and gentle temperament.

"It's no bother. Thank you for inviting me." Seri darted a glance at Jeong-hyeok to know where to sit. He gestured at the farthest of two chairs perpendicular to the main sofa where Jeong-hyeok's mother would sit. Jeong-hyeok would sit between the two, his crutch resting at the back of his chair. The staff would pour cups of tea for them, after asking them their preference.

"Jeong-hyeok, you are walking better." His mother commended with a pleased smile, "Maybe you could walk without crutches by next week."

"I hope so, too." Jeong-hyeok looked around him, "Where did father go?"

"He's having coffee with a friend from abroad. He won't be back soon." Yun-hui turned to Seri, "I hope you had a good Christmas?"

Just the memory alone was enough to summon a blush that Seri had to kill the memory in her mind with a smile, "It was good. We had a barbecue. Jeong-hyeok cooks well." She lifted her tea cup to her lips. This was going to be like walking on a field of landmines.

"You cooked?" Yun-hui asked her son in disbelief.

"It's not that complicated. It's grilled meat." Jeong-hyeok explained.

"Among other things." And before his mother could suspect that Seri was bossing him around while he was injured, she immediately spoke up, "I didn't tell him to. I kept insisting to do everything myself but he's very stubborn."

Which led Jeong-hyeok to throw her a stare.

His mother simpered, "That's how Jeong-hyeok is, I'm afraid. He doesn't want to take things sitting down, and never asks for help."

"It's not like they were hard." Jeong-hyeok defended himself. 

"Speaking of cooking...I enjoyed the red bean soup you made." Seri smiled with the memory of its warmth in her stomach, "I'm thankful to receive it. You are very kind."

"It was Jeong-hyeok who wanted to send it to you, but I am glad you enjoyed it. I'm cooking rice cake soup on New Year's Day. I'll send you some too."

"Oh...that's too kind." Seri had to turn to Jeong-hyeok worriedly, unsure why she was receiving such generosity. So used was she with the idea that there must be a catch that she didn't know.