Learning to Fall - skidadling - 사이코지만 괜찮아 (2024)

Chapter 1: Are you afraid of my daughter, Kang-tae?

Chapter Text

The sound of heels clicking on the wooden floors resonated through the office as Ko Moon-young made her way down the hall towards the conference room. As her hand reached for the door, the phone in her hand began to vibrate. She looked down at the screen to see her father's number pop up. Taking a step back from the door, she swiped the screen and brought the phone up to her ear, "Hello?"

"Moon-young, it's Appa."

She nodded and began to pace back and forth in front of the room, "Hi, Appa. I'm actually heading into a meeting, can I call you back?" she asked, looking at the door.

"I wanted to invite you to dinner tonight. Are you available?"

She stopped in her tracks. It wasn't unusual that she would go out and get dinner with her father, but typically it would be his secretary who would call to inform her or her assistant, not her father himself. "Is Sun Byeol out today?" she asked.

"No, why?"

"She's usually the one that calls to schedule dinner," she responded and looked at her watch. Seeing that the meeting is supposed to start in a few minutes and she hadn't set up yet, she cut in before her father could respond, "Could you have her send me a calendar invite, please? My meeting is starting in a minute and I still have to set up. I really have to go."

"7.30pm. Our usual place. Don't be late."

"Fine, fine. Bye, Appa," she hung up the phone and opened the door to the conference room. She looked around the room to see her colleagues waiting for her and nodded, "Good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for being here," she greeted, walking towards the front of the conference room. “As we’re nearing the end of the half, I want to make sure we’re all aligned on next steps to make sure that the products and solutions are reviewed and tested in a timely manner to mitigate any blowbacks at launch,” she began as she plugged her laptop into the projector and pulled up her presentation.

~

On the other side of the city, Moon-young's father, Ko Dae-hwan, was sitting on a leather sofa, staring at his phone in confusion, "She just hung up on me. Something about going into a meeting," he muttered.

Across from him, came a chuckle, "Well, one would assume that comes with the territory with her EVP role at the company."

"I never understood why she just doesn't work here," he muttered.

"She seems like the type of person who would rather work her way up the ladder, rather than being given the position at the top," came the reply.

"She's very much like you, Kang-tae. Ji-tae and I have been friends and colleagues for years, you could have gotten a management position at either of our companies. Yet, you turned down both of our offers in favor of an entry-level position.”

"We've talked about this before, Dae-hwan, how would I be able to run the company if I didn't know how it worked from the bottom up?" Kang-tae asked, a confident smile on his face.

At the age of 34, Moon Kang-tae was the COO of his father's company, Moon Holdings, Inc. During the past several months, both his father and Dae-hwan had decided, due to their old age, they had wanted to merge their two holding companies to form one large holding company.

"We're both very proud of you, you know that right, Kang-tae?" Dae-hwan asked.

Kang-tae nodded, "I know you are, Dae-hwan. I'm very happy that you and Appa entrust me with the future of these companies."

"We do. Which brings me to my next point," Dae-hwan's voice turned serious.

Kang-tae sat up straight in his seat, "What would that be? Are you alright? Is there something going on with the merger that we need to be concerned about?"

"No, no. Nothing to do with the company. The merger is progressing as smooth as a merger can go. You know your father and I see this merger as more than just two companies coming together as one," Dae-hwan began. "We see it as a merger of our two families as well."

“Well, of course. Our families have always been close. It makes sense that with the merger, we would become even closer as families,” Kang-tae reasoned.

“I want you to consider the possibility of becoming my son in-law,” Dae-hwan declared.

Kang-tae stared at Dae-hwan for a moment before clearing his throat and leaning forward, "I think I misheard you," he responded.

"You heard right, Kang-tae. You know I've always seen you as my own son," Dae-hwan told him.

"Yes, I know. And I've always seen you as another father figure in my life. But--"

"I want to make it official," Dae-hwan declared, interrupting Kang-tae's response. "Your father and I already spoke about it. He's quite agreeable. You're in your early thirties and an eligible bachelor. Moon-young--"

"Is going to kill you in your sleep if she hears what you're saying right now," Kang-tae cut in.

"She'll understand," Dae-hwan objected.

"Have you spoken to her about this?" Kang-tae asked.

"Not... exactly," Dae-hwan responded sheepishly.

"Your daughter and I aren't exactly friendly, Dae-hwan."

"I'm sure that’s not true. Besides, you're both mature adults," Dae-hwan countered.

Kang-tae thought back to the last time he and Moon-young were in the same room several months ago. It ended with him leaving an event reeking of one of Dom Perignon's finest vintage. Kang-tae rubbed the back of his neck before he answered, "I really think Moon-young would argue with you on that point."

"Kang-tae, I don't want anyone else as my son in-law," Dae-hwan told him.

"And I'm really flattered, honored even, that you feel so strongly about it. But I really think you should speak to Moon-young about this before you do anything," Kang-tae told him.

"Why do you think we're having dinner tonight?"

"I see. Well, you tell me how that dinner goes," Kang-tae told him.

"Why would I need to tell you. You’ll be joining us," Dae-hwan told him in a tone that left very little room for him to argue.

"Dae-hwan, you know I respect you and look up to you," Kang-tae began.

"But..." Dae-hwan urged.

"This may not be the best idea you've ever had in your life."

Dae-hwan let out a booming laugh, "Son, this is the best idea I've ever had in my life."

Kang-tae let out a sigh, “You're paying for my dry cleaning if your daughter decides that a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon would suit my skin tone."

"I'll buy you a new wardrobe if as little as a drop of wine gets on that suit of yours. Is that Armani you’re wearing today?"

"Zegna. Custom-tailored."

"Another great Italian. You have my word."

Kang-tae nodded reluctantly before he stood up and walked over to Dae-hwan's mini bar and poured himself a glass of whiskey. From behind him he could hear the rumble of Dae-hwan's chuckle. Shaking his head, he took a sip and made a mental note to make an appointment with his tailor first thing in the morning.

He couldn’t begin to explain to anyone how his relationship with Moon-young got to this point, or why. Their interactions over the past decade or so had always been the same, as if every moment was formulated for the precise chemical reaction. And that chemical reaction almost always resulted in him leaving with the residue of her drink of choice making itself at home on his clothes.

He looked down at his suit with a solemn smile. He’s only had it for a little under a year but it quickly became one his favorites. And it was one that had the fortunate luck of not having had the pleasure of meeting Moon-young. Scratching his temple, he turned around and sat back down on the couch and stared at the amber liquid swirling around the glass in his hand, “Do you really need me to be at the dinner?”

Dae-hwan leaned back in his seat, “Are you afraid of my daughter, Kang-tae?”

“Fear isn’t what comes to mind when I think of your daughter,” he responded carefully. Taking another drink, he emptied the contents of the whiskey glass, “But I want to make this very clear to you, I think this is a terrible idea.”

“I can see that from the way you’re consuming my whiskey.” He paused for a moment to consider his next words, “I’m not asking you to propose to my daughter tomorrow, Kang-tae. I’m at least practical enough to know it doesn’t happen that way. However, I know you’re a good man. And as a father, I want a good man for my daughter. And if you can look at me straight in the eye and tell me that you don’t see her as anything more than a sister to you, I’ll drop it right now. Can you do that?”

“If your intentions are for me to court your daughter, I want to make it clear that the moment I step out of this office, I will not discuss your daughter with you without her knowledge. Are we in agreement on this?”

“Agreed.”

“Great,” Kang-tae stood up from the sofa and headed towards the door before Dae-hwan’s voice stopped him.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Kang-tae turned his body towards the older man and looked at him straight in the eye, “For as long as I’ve known Moon-young, I never once thought of her as a sister.”

Chapter 2: You shouldn’t go to bed with an empty stomach

Chapter Text

One of the things Moon-young hated the most was being late. Even more so when it was in relation to meeting her father. Which is why at 7.45pm when she rushed into the restaurant, she quickly zeroed in on her father and rushed to his side after handing her coat to the hostess.

"I'm so sorry I'm late, Appa," she bent down to give him a quick peck on the cheek. "One of the partners decided today, of all days, to be extremely difficult about the timeline I presented and I spent the last four hours dealing with him and his team. Next thing I know it’s 7.00pm and I’m running out of the office. I swear, if I didn’t love my team, the work, and my career, I would tie him to a chair and burn that place to the ground," she laughed, taking the open seat next to her father.

"It's alright, sweetheart. Sounds like you had an eventful day. But knowing you, I’m sure you put that partner in his place and had him eating out of your hands in no time," Dae-hwan smiled, gently patting his daughter’s hair.

She nodded, taking the napkin in front of her and placing it in her lap like she was taught to do from the day she was allowed to join the adult’s table at dinner. “I am starving,” she told her father, “You know the halibut here is my favorite.” She looked around for the wine list when her eye caught an empty whiskey glass.

“Is someone joining us? You didn’t mention it when we were talking earlier.” She opened the list and quickly zeroed in on her favorite wine on the list before setting it down on front of her.

“You were also rushing into your meeting, so I couldn’t get much through other than wanting to have dinner with you before you hung up on me.”

“I’m sorry about that. You know what happens when we’re close to the end of the 2nd half. Everyone rushes to get things done to beat the code freeze and risk delivering sloppy work. Not on my watch,” she claimed, reaching for the glass of water and taking a healthy sip.

“Ah, here he is,” Dae-hwan smiled, gesturing to something behind Moon-young.

She smelt his cologne before she heard or saw him. It was just the barest hint but it a scent she was all too familiar with and one that never failed to bring back memories. Memories of her younger self spending a weekend shopping for a gift for Kang-tae’s 18th birthday. She spent the weeks before the big day trying to figure out the perfect gift. She wanted it to be personal but not too extravagant. So while she was browsing the Jo Malone store, sampling the different scents displayed in front of her as she waited for her own purchase to be wrapped, she picked up a bottle labeled “English Oak and Hazelnut”. She indulged in a small spritz to her wrist, letting it dry before bringing up to her nose for a sample. The scent was woodsy and warm. And the hazelnut in the name reminded her of the Nutella drizzled waffles his mom would make on the weekends she would frequent their house. She asked the associate helping her for a bottle. Then waited for another hour while they engraved his name and birthdate on the bottle.

At his birthday dinner, when she handed him the gift he smiled and thanked her while their dads teased him about smelling so bad someone had to buy him cologne. From that day on, it was the scent that she deemed synonymous with Kang-tae. Whether it be on the tux jacket he would place over her shoulder while they waited for their families’ cars after a charity function they attended with their parents. Or on a hooded sweatshirt that he would lend her when the sun would go down while they sat around the firepit at his family’s vacation home making s’mores and talking about plans for college and after. The sweatshirt was always a few sizes too large, to accommodate its owner’s body, but always made her feel like she was enveloped in the most warm and comforting hug. Back then, the tiniest hint of that cologne would bring a smile to her face.

Over a decade after that first bottle, he was still using it. What a shame that the very scent now makes her skin crawl.

"Hello, Moon-young," Kang-tae greeted, his voice too soft, his smile too familiar for her liking.

He took the empty seat to her right. She felt his eyes on her and spared him a quick glance before turning her attention back to her father, "Appa, what is he doing here?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him flagging the waiter. "Appa?" Moon-young repeated, her eyes still fixed on her father who has yet to answer her question.

"I invited him," Dae-hwan replied ignoring the glare his daughter was now sending his way. When the waitress reached the table, he asked, "What are you having to drink, sweetheart?"

Without reopening the list, she responded, "The Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile." At the request, Dae-hwan shot a glance at Kang-tae who showed no reaction.

The waitress nodded and turned to Kang-tae, “Would you like another glass of what you were having?”

“Actually, I’ll have what she’s having, thanks,” he smiled at the waitress who blushed and nodded before stepping away from the table.

Dae-hwan pointed to the menu, "What are you having for dinner, Moon-young?"

"I'm not hungry," she replied.

"You just told me you were starving."

"I was, but that was before I saw your dinner guest. I no longer have an appetite," she replied and Dae-hwan sighed at her stubbornness.

At that moment, the waitress returned with two glasses and bottle of wine in her hand. She showed the label to Moon-young who nodded. Opening the bottle, she poured a small amount into the glass for her to taste. Moon-young went about the process of tasting the wine before nodding. The waitress poured a generous amount into the glass before pouring the same amount in Kang-tae’s glass. She stepped back and started to walk away when Moon-young reached for her forearm. She stopped and turned back to see Moon-young picking up the glass and emptying it in one gulp before setting the glass down and pointing for her to refill it. Nodding silently, she complied.

When the waitress finally walked away, Dae-hwan opened the menu in front of Moon-young and pointed again, "Pick something."

"I said I wasn't hungry."

"You just drank a glass of wine on an empty stomach," Dae-hwan argued worriedly.

"Don't worry about my stomach. What's the purpose of this dinner? I figured it was just going to be the two of us. But figuring from your guest," she spat the word, "I assume that's not the plan."

"Pick something, Moon-young, or I am going to choose it for you and you won't be leaving this table until the plate is empty."

"I do not appreciate you treating me like a child, Appa," Moon-young began to pout before remembering the man sitting next to her and shifted her mouth into a deep frown.

"And I do not appreciate you acting like one," he responded in kind.

From where he sat, Kang-tae cleared his throat, attracting the attention of both Dae-hwan and Moon-young. "Maybe I should excuse myself for the night and leave you guys alone."

The father-daughter duo replied at the same time, "No."

"Stay for dinner, Kang-tae," Dae-hwan told him.

"I'm leaving," Moon-young declared, taking a final sip of wine.

"Where are you going?" Dae-hwan asked.

"Home. I just remembered I have something to do."

"And what is that?"

"Work, read, watch a documentary on the reproductive system of earth worms," she deadpanned. From his seat, Kang-tae let out a snort, causing Moon-young to whip her head in his direction, "What?"

"I didn't realize you were into that kind of thing," he answered.

"What I'm into is not really your concern, is it?" she responded, getting up and knocking over her wine glass in the process, splashing the deep red liquid onto Kang-tae's suit.

Kang-tae jumped back in his seat and stared at the stains seeping through the fabrics of his jacket and shirt, "Dammit, Moon-young," he muttered under his breath, grabbing his own napkin and trying his best to dry the stain, catching the tiny smile and spark in Moon-young eyes. The very same spark that appeared every time she “accidentally” spilled her drink on him.

"Ko Moon-young!" Dae-hwan called, grabbing her arm and catching her attention, "Apologize to Kang-tae. Immediately."

She turned her head back to Kang-tae slowly, "I apologize for my clumsiness," she said half-heartedly. "I'm sure you can afford the dry cleaning." She turned back to her father, "I'm going home. If you want to lecture me, have Sun Byeol send me a calendar invite," she told him, pulling out her phone to look at her calendar, "I'm open in the afternoon tomorrow."

"Since when have I been reduced to an entry in my daughter's calendar?" Dae-hwan asked.

"Since you decided to invite people to dinner without discussing it with me first." Moon-young replied calmly as she returned her phone into her bag, causing her father to wince. "I'm leaving, good night. Thanks for the wine," she leaned down to give her father a kiss on the cheek before turning towards the exit without even the smallest glance towards Kang-tae.

Dae-hwan looked up at Kang-tae, who was now standing by his chair, trying still, to no avail, to blot away the red liquid, "I guess I owe you that new wardrobe, don't I? Sorry about that."

"It's fine. I was in the market for a new one anyway," Kang-tae grinned, shrugging out of his jacket, tossing it over the back of the chair next to him, his tie following closely behind.

"I don't know what's gotten into her," Dae-hwan sighed.

"I told you your daughter doesn't like me," Kang-tae reminded him as he unbutton the top two buttons of his shirt.

"You did mention that,” Dae-hwan nodded. “However, I’m more curious about the fact that you also knew exactly which wine she would order. It makes me wonder how you knew that."

"I know and remember more about your daughter than she would like to think I do. She's been drinking that stuff for as long as she’s been able to drink," Kang-tae informed him, unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling the sleeves of his shirt up to his elbow.

Dae-hwan watched Kang-tae silently with a new level of appreciation. Prior to his conversation with Ji-tae, he never really considered Kang-tae’s interest in Moon-young. Sure, he knew they ran in similar circles, but that was a byproduct of their upbringing. His candid conversation with his best friend revealed more about Kang-tae than he thought was possible. The younger man next to him was like a son he never had. He loved his daughter more than anything in the world but having more children wasn’t in the cards for him and his wife. Lucky for him, Kang-tae was the next best thing and he was able to give his daughter a brother she never had. Or so he thought. Kang-tae’s revelation about never seeing Moon-young as a sister gave him pause but he wasn’t going to dig into that. Not yet anyway.

“So, are you still interested in dinner?" He asked Kang-tae with a chuckle.

"Of course. The suit's a lost cause now anyway," he swapped his chair with the one Moon-young was sitting in. When the waitress returned she apologized profusely for not checking on them sooner and offered to re-seat them elsewhere, which they gladly accepted. Once they settled into their new table, the waitress asked, "Will it just be the two of you now?"

"Yes, the other member of our party had to leave for another engagement," Kang-tae replied.

"May I take your orders?" The waitress asked.

Kang-tae and Dae-hwan both nodded, “My daughter mentioned the halibut here was her favorite. Do you have any other recommendations?”

“Absolutely. You can’t go wrong with our roasted octopus or signature sirloin. The lamb chops are my personal favorite.”

“Great, I’ll take the lamb chops, medium rare.” Dae-hwan ordered. He looked to Kang-tae, “What are you having?”

“I’ll do the sirloin, medium rare as well. Thank you.”

Once the waitress left, Kang-tae pushed his chair back, “I’m going to run to the bathroom real quick. My hands are still sticky from the wine.”

“Of course. Sorry again about that,” Dae-hwan sighed.

“It’s fine. I expected it but didn’t think she would be ballsy enough to do it in front of you. Learned something new,” he chuckled and got up from the table.

On his way to the bathroom, Kang-tae made a quick stop at the hostess stand. When the hostess looked up from the conversation she was having with someone who appeared to be the manager, she gave him a smile, “Good evening sir, is everything alright?” she asked when she saw the state of his clothes.

“Everything is fine. But I was hoping you could do me a favor?”

“I will try my best, sir. What can I do for you?”

“I know you don’t typically do delivery, but was hoping that you could make an exception. I’ll pay the premium for it,” he stated looking between the hostess and the manager.

“We can definitely consider it. Would you be able to let us know where you need the delivery to be made?” The manager asked.

Kang-tae rattled off Moon-young’s address and waited for confirmation from the team. When the manager agreed to the request, she asked for the order, offering him the menu. He refused it with a smile, “I know what I want to order. Let’s start with the baby gem salad, then the halibut, and finish it off with the mascarpone dessert.”

“Of course, sir. Was there anything else?”

“Could you also add a card that says, ‘You shouldn’t go to bed with an empty stomach’?”

The manager smiled, “Of course, did you want to sign it?”

“No thanks,” he shook his head and handed her his card, “You can put it on this. I’ll be right back.” He stepped away from the stand and headed to the bathroom.

While he was washing his hands, he finally let out the laugh he had been holding back. Who would have thought Moon-young would still find a way to ruin his clothes. There have been way too many to count. He knows he should be upset, or at least irritated, but more often than not he found it funny. The first time it happened, he was taken aback by shock and chalked the entire exchange up to coincidence. After the 5th time, when he finally caught that tiny little smirk, he realized it was intentional. If Moon-young was a ticking time bomb, he was the cut wire that made the timer speed up.

After he finished washing up, he went back to the hostess stand to pick up his card before heading back to the table. After sitting back down, it didn’t take Dae-hwan long before he brought up the subject of previous conversation, "So, you're not seeing anyone right now are you? I should have asked you that before I even planted my idea in your head."

"Right this second? No. But I've gone on a few dates here and there." Kang-tae answered honestly.

“Anyone serious?”

“No. And to be completely transparent, with the merger, I haven’t really had the opportunity to explore.”

Dae-hwan decided now was the time to test his luck, "And what about Moon-young?"

Kang-tae laughed, "You did see what just happened, right?" he pointed to his clothes. He ran his hand through his hair, "Look, Dae-hwan, I really don’t think I’m the one you need to be asking these questions. It takes Moon-young less than 5 minutes in my presence for her to snap.”

They paused for a moment for the waiter to serve their dishes and refilled their drinks. Kang-tae took the moment of quiet between the two of them to try the sirloin he ordered. Happy with his choice, he continued to savor the dish in front of him until Dae-hwan continued his train of thought.

"I know you think she hates you," he began.

Kang-tae laughed, "No, Dae-hwan, I will have to stop you there. I don't think she hates me. I know she does."

“You don’t seem too bothered.”

“That’s because I’ve become accustomed to your daughter’s reaction to me.”

"Again, I'm sure whatever happened between you two was just a misunderstanding."

"You should ask her that, not me. I still don't know the reason she despises me as much as she does. All you need to know is that this isn't the first time your daughter has left me having to send my clothes to the dry cleaner smelling like fermented grapes. I also have a feeling that it will definitely not be the last."

Dae-hwan sighed, "She has an interesting temper, that's for sure. I must apologize because I know I am partially responsible for it as well."

"It's not your fault. Something about my presence provokes her. I'm sure sooner or later I'll find out what it is,” Kang-tae told him, unbothered.

~

When she walked into her apartment, Moon-young tossed her keys in the catchall by the door. The nerve of her father to invite that man to dinner. She was doing so well with avoiding seeing him again.

Frustrated, she kicked off her shoes and made a beeline for her bedroom. She needed a hot shower to clear her mind. To forget that voice. And that smile that said she could do her darnedest to push all his buttons but it would never be the one that would make explode. At least not in front of her.

At the sound of her grumbling stomach, she pouted. It was Moon Kang-tae’s fault that she didn’t get to eat the halibut she had been craving the moment she saw the name of the restaurant on the calendar invite. She should have dumped the entire glass on his head. At least that would have been worth missing out on her dinner.

“No, Moon-young. He’s not worth it,” she muttered to herself before turning off the water.

Wrapped in her favorite robe, she went to her kitchen and opened her fridge to see that she forgot to order groceries, again. Sighing, she opened one of the many cabinets in her kitchen that housed the instant ramyeon that never failed her in a pinch. She set the pot of water on the stove when call from the front desk came through her security system.

She walked over to the monitor and answered, “Yes?”

“Miss Ko? You have a food delivery here,” the security guard informed her.

“I didn’t order anything,” she replied.

“I checked the contents and it’s definitely food. Looks like a salad, some kind of fish, and a dessert.”

“Where is it from?” she asked. In the background she could hear the security guard asking the delivery man for the name of the restaurant. When he got the answer and relayed it to Moon-young, she old him to send it up. When the delivery man arrived, she opened the door and took the bag, thanking him and the security guard that escorted him to her residence.

Taking the bag to her kitchen, she emptied the contents on the counter and smiled when she saw her beloved halibut. Before she opened the container, she remembered that the restaurant didn’t do deliveries, so she grabbed her phone and called. When the hostess picked up the call, Moon-young asked her about the food, “Hi, I was there earlier with my father and had to leave early. I just got a delivery from your restaurant. I know you don’t typically do deliveries and wanted to check if it was from your establishment?”

“Oh, yes, I’m so glad it got to you safely. One of the gentlemen that was with you came up to us after you left and ordered the meal to be delivered to your residence.”

“Wonderful. Thank you so much. I’m looking forward to devour all of this,” she laughed.

“We hope you enjoy it and we can’t wait to have you back here again soon.”

When she hung up the call, she smiled again at the food in front of her when she noticed a card that was taped to the salad box. ‘You shouldn’t go to bed with an empty stomach.’ She chuckled, so much like her dad to reprimand her for her eating habits. She turned on her phone camera and took a few snaps of the food before posting it on Instagram with the caption, Thank you, Appa ♥. Then, pulling the card off of the box, she put it up on her fridge as a reminder that her Appa would always be her Appa.

She’ll make sure to properly thank him tomorrow when she would inevitably visit his office for a lecture. But she wouldn’t worry about it now because she live through another day without resorting to a meal of instant ramyeon.

~

When Dae-hwan and Kang-tae finished dinner, they went separate ways with the promise from Dae-hwan that he would take care of both the dry cleaning bill and the cost of Kang-tae’s new suits. As Kang-tae was walking towards his car, his phone rang in his pocket. Seeing that it was his father, he picked it up right away, "Hey, Appa."

"Kang-tae, are you still in the office?"

"No, I just finished dinner with Dae-hwan and was about to head home. What can I do for you?"

"Could you come by to see me beforehand?" his father asked.

"Sure. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine. I just have a few things I'd like to speak to you about in person before meeting with the lawyers tomorrow."

Kang-tae looked at his watch, "Okay. I should be there in about 20 minutes."

"See you then."

Kang-tae hung up the call and reached for the door of his car when his phone buzzed again. When he looked at the screen, rather than a phone call, it was a notification from Instagram. Ko Moon-young just posted a photo. He got in his car before swiping through to open the app. When he saw the photo, he smiled. Then, he laughed at the caption before saying to himself, “At least the food won’t end up in the trash tonight.”

Chapter 3: I said hello

Chapter Text

When Kang-tae arrived at his parents’ residence, he was greeted by his mother, Park Yoo-jin, who opened her arms to welcome him, "Kang-tae!" she smiled brightly until she saw the state of his clothes. Dropping her arms, she reached for his shirt and stared, "What happened to your clothes?" she asked.

"Ah, just an accident at the restaurant. It's not a big deal," he brushed it off, throwing his arm over her shoulders.

"You're not drunk are you?"

"I'm completely sober, Eomma. You know I’d never get behind the wheel if I was inebriated."

"I know, but I’ve got to keep you in check,” she patted his cheek. “So, what brings you here this late?" She asked, looking at the clock saying it’s getting close to 11.00pm.

"Appa wanted to talk to me about something. Didn't he tell you?"

"He's been in his office since we finished dinner a few hours ago. This merger with Dae-hwan's company has him hunkering down in there for hours a day."

"It will be over soon, Eomma," he smiled, patting her arm.

"He’s spent so many years building and growing that company. He wanted to make sure you never had to worry about your future. But he lost out on a lot of time with you while you were growing up. I don't want you to be like that, Kang-tae. When you eventually settle down, I want you to be able to make time for your family," she looked at him with concern in her eyes.

"Although I’m in no rush to settle down, yet. Once the merger is complete, I'm going to work with Appa and Uncle Dae-hwan to restructure the business so that managers and directors have more responsibility for their work. I'm less of a micro-manager than those two and I've done fine in my role."

“Have you heard anything about whether Moon-young is going to join?” She asked.

He shook his head, “I’m not sure. I know that Uncle Dae-hwan’s been wanting her to join for years but she’s been hesitant to do so from what I’ve heard.”

“At least if you had her around, the two of you could share the responsibilities of running the company together.”

“She’ll have as much right to the merged company as I will. It would also make Uncle Dae-hwan really happy. I know he’s hoping that one day she’ll go to him and tell him she’s ready. But he’s getting older, and I think he’s getting impatient,” he laughed.

“I’m sure she’ll come around eventually. Some things can’t be rushed. If she’s not ready, you just have to be patient,” she patted his shoulders, “And when it comes to her, that’s never been a problem for you,” she smiled knowingly.

He let out a long breath, “I’m glad you think so, Eomma. It’s not my place to rush her, but I hope it’s sooner than later.”

She nodded, “She’s always had a mind of her own, our little Moon-young. Well, don’t let me keep you. The sooner you talk to your father, the sooner you can go home and get out of those clothes,” she ushered him down the hall towards the study. He looked back and smiled at her before continuing down the hall.

When he reached the study, he gave the door a knock and pushed the door open at the sound of his father's voice telling him to enter. He walked through the door, closing it behind him before walking over to the leather chair in front of his father's desk. Before Kang-tae could open his mouth to greet his father, Ji-tae asked, "What the hell happened to you?"

Pulling at his shirt, he smirked, "This? I had a little run-in with Ko Moon-young and a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon this evening."

"I thought you went to dinner with just Dae-hwan? She joined you?"

"Yes, and the moment she saw me decided she no longer had an appetite. She left before the food was ordered. But not before she made her feelings about me clear," he answered, pointing to his shirt, before dropping his body on the oversized leather chair across from his father.

"Did you say something to piss her off?" Ji-tae asked.

“I said hello,” he responded, causing his father to let out a booming laugh, “But really, I only need to exist to set her off."

"What did you do to her?"

"Must have been something terrible for her to despise me as much as she does. But in all the interactions we've had over the years, I don't ever remember anything I did that would upset her this much and have her hold a grudge for this long."

"I didn’t know that you two didn't get along; you never mentioned anything. You both always seemed civil whenever I've seen the two of you at events.”

"That's because her pedigree doesn’t allow her to make a scene when we're at public functions with other people. Don't worry about it though, I can handle it."

Ji-tae nodded, "That's good to hear. Speaking of Moon-young, I assume Dae-hwan spoke to you?"

"About the merger? Or about how the two of you are trying to arrange our marriage?" he paused, before asking the next question, “Does Eomma know?”

Ji-tae put his hands up, "I haven’t breathed a word to her. Kang-tae, I'm not going to force you into something you don't want. With our companies merging and Dae-hwan and I getting older, it's about time that we properly pass the torch down to you kids.”

“I’m already putting in the work. I’m not sure how marrying Moon-young changes any of that.”

“Look, no offense to either you or Moon-young, but I don't want to risk the chance of either of you marrying someone who thinks that they can find their way into getting their hands on what we've all worked so hard to create."

"I think there was a compliment in there somewhere," Kang-tae chuckled.

"I've seen your choice in dates, Kang-tae. And hers, too."

"I get it, Appa. So, how long have you and Dae-hwan been plotting this?"

Ji-tae smiled guiltily, "Longer than you can imagine. But up until recently, it was just us two oldies joking about how ironic it would be if our children, who have spent all their lives around each other, ended up together. But we figured you guys would have gotten married, to each other or other people, and have kids by now, but you're both still single."

"You want us to get married because we're both single and you think we're getting old?"

"You’re not that old. But you are single and have been for a very long time. But that’s not the only reason."

"Then why?"

“Can we be serious for a minute, no jokes, no teasing?”

“I didn’t realize the past ten minutes was your attempt at being a comedian.”

Ji-tae rolled his eyes before clearing his throat, "I've seen the way you look at her, Kang-tae. Which is another reason why I didn't realize that you two didn't get along."

Kang-tae shifted uncomfortably in his seat, "What look are you talking about?"

"You've got that smile on your face whenever she's in the room. And the fact that you're not the least bit annoyed that she destroyed a perfectly fine suit, confirms my suspicions."

"Are you implying what I think you're implying?"

"Are you in love with Moon-young, Kang-tae?"

Kang-tae let out a loud laugh, hunching over in his seat. When he recovered, he looked back up at his father, "Is that the conclusion you've come to? Because I smile and let her destroy my clothes? Good lord."

"Am I wrong?" Ji-tae asked, a serious look on his face. The two of them watched each other for a few moments before Kang-tae broke eye contact with his father and sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Ji-tae sat back in his chair, a small smile on his face, "Your secret is safe with me, Kang-tae," he told his son, "For the time being."

"So that's it? You think I'm in love with her, so we should get married?" Kang-tae asked. “You do realize, if, a big if, I am in love with her, one-sided love seldom works out. Wouldn’t you be setting me up for failure in that case?”

“You don’t know that. She could learn to fall in love with you,” his father reasoned.

Kang-tae shot him a skeptical look, “You’ve met Ko Moon-young, right? The very same Ko Moon-young we just spoke about taking an entry role at a company less than half the size of her family’s company. The one who still refuses to take her birth given place at that very same company almost ten years since entering the workforce? That Ko Moon-young. You think she’s going to learn to fall in love with me?” Kang-tae scoffed, “Even I’m not that delusional, Appa.”

“But… you are in love with her, right?” Ji-tae asked, smothering the grin on his face at the icy glare his son shot him. “I just want to be sure I’m not being delusional.”

Kang-tae stood up from the chair, “If you called me all this way just to talk about this, I’m going to leave. Thank you for the enlightening conversation about your thoughts on my love life.”

Ji-tae expression turned solemn as he gestured for Kang-tae to take a seat, "I’m guessing Dae-hwan didn't tell you about the other thing," Ji-tae rubbed his temple, realizing that this conversation was about to take a turn he didn’t want to take but had to.

Kang-tae co*cked his head, "What other thing?"

Ji-tae let out a long sigh, "Dae-hwan had a heart attack six months ago."

Kang-tae jumped up from his seat, "What? How did I not know about this?"

"It was dealt with quietly. He was in the hospital for three days."

“How did it happen? He’s never looked ill when I’m meeting with him.”

“It happened suddenly. We were at his place having some after dinner drinks and he complained about having chest pains. So I called for an ambulance and went with him to the hospital.”

"Why did you wait six months to tell me? Did you think it would have affected the merger?"

"The merger would have happened regardless of the outcome of Dae-hwan's health."

“But still, six months is a hell of a long time to withhold this information, Appa.”

“It was Dae-hwan’s wish to keep it quiet. He didn’t want to worry Moon-young.”

“She doesn’t know about this?” Kang-tae asked, incredulously.

“He doesn’t want to worry her.”

“Doesn’t want to worry her?!” Kang-tae shouted, “What if he has another heart attack out of nowhere? What is he thinking? I can’t believe this.”

“Good news is he’s taking medication and is under close watch from his doctor,” Ji-tae explained.

“That doesn’t make me feel better.”

“Look, Kang-tae. Ultimately, it’s his choice how he wants to handle his health. Initially, he thought that with the merger happening, maybe Moon-young would have reconsidered joining. He knows she loves her independence but figured with a massive change, she would want to be involved. When the heart attack happened, it was right at the beginning of our talks. He didn’t want her to join because she felt guilty.”

“I really don’t feel comfortable knowing this when she doesn’t.”

“I know, but it’s his choice, Kang-tae. I’m sharing with you because I know you care about both of them. I also want you to have the whole picture as to why I’m on-board with this whole marriage idea.”

"So, let me get this straight. These are the reasons you think Moon-young and I should get married: 1) You don't want some random people screwing with the company. 2) You think I'm in love with Moon-young. 3) Dae-hwan is ill?"

"At a high-level, yes. But I personally wouldn't be as on-board about it if I didn't believe you were in love with Moon-young. The other two, while important, isn’t as important as how you feel about her. Not in my book at least. And you know, at the end of the day, I'm not going to force you into something you don't want. So, just think about everything. I know it's a lot. Dae-hwan's been planning on talking to Moon-young about her coming over. I don't know how he'll do it, but I know that that is something he's determined to get done."

"Thanks for letting me know. I hope he tells her soon. If he doesn’t, regardless of how much more she’s going to hate me, I will,” he declared. “As for my feelings for Moon-young, I may find her attractive, but I wouldn't be too hasty about classifying it as love."

"Whatever helps you sleep more soundly at night, Kang-tae, but I wasn't born yesterday," Ji-tae chuckled. “That girl has been your one since the day you met her. I’ve also seen the photo on your desk,” he paused, “the very same one you’ve been carrying in that wallet of yours for years."

Kang-tae eyed his father suspiciously, “I’m afraid to ask when you ended up behind my desk and how you know about the contents of my wallet.”

“I’ve been behind your desk plenty, you just never realized it. As for the one in your wallet, you don’t do a great job at hiding it. Anyone can see it when you open it and pull out your ID.”

Clearing his throat, he stood up from the chair once more, “Well, this was eye opening. I'm going to head home then. I assume you won't be coming into the office tomorrow?"

Ji-tae shook his head, "I have another meeting with the lawyers tomorrow. I'll let you know what the outcome is."

"Great. I hope we get this process wrapped up soon. I think Eomma's starting to miss you. Have a good night, Appa."

"Get home safe and think about what we talked about."

"I will," Kang-tae replied before turning and walking out of the study.

He stopped by the living room where his mom was still reading by the unlit fireplace. He gave her a kiss and wished her a good night, promising to join her for dinner soon, before heading out the door.

In his car, he thought about the photo in his wallet that his father alluded to. He reached for the wallet from his pocket and pulled out that very picture. A smile crept to his face as he looked at the photo. Although it was old, faded, and slightly crumpled, it held a lot of personal value to him.

The photo was taken at their college graduation over ten years ago. It was a rather chilly day and the wind was more active than usual. They had finished taking group photos with both families when his mom suggested getting a photo of the two of them to add to the collection of “school day” photos she had of the two of them. As they were setting up for the shot, a gust of wind came and blew Moon-young’s long hair in her face. His mom commented about being jealous of those long locks, making Moon-young laugh as she tried to fight the strands off her face. Unknown to him at the time, the photographer had captured a shot at that moment. When his mother showed him the photo, mixed in with all the other photos taken that day, he had asked her for his own copy.

In the photo he had his arm around her waist, smiling at her as she shared a laugh with his mother while trying to tame her hair against the wind. He remembered the moment vividly as it was the first time he had seen her smile that big and laughed that loud in a long time. It was also the last time he had seen that kind smile and laugh from her over the past decade.

Chapter 4: Since when was I going to run any company with him?

Chapter Text

When Moon-young arrived at her father’s office the next day, she was greeted by his cheery secretary, “Good afternoon, Ms. Moon-young!”

Moon-young smiled, “Hi Sun Byeol, how’s it going?” She pointed at the closed door with her thumb, “He’s not working you to death, is he?”

Sun Byeol gigled, “Never. Your dad’s too nice to me.”

Moon-young grinned, “Lucky you. I’m about to get my ass torched when I walk in there. Wish me luck?”

“I’m sure that’s not true, your father adores you. But good luck nonetheless.”

“Thanks Sun Byeol. Let’s grab lunch sometime and see if I can poach you from Appa,” she winked before opening the door to her father’s office.

Dae-hwan looked up from the documents on his desk to see his daughter entering his office. Moon-young went behind his desk and wrapped her arms around his shoulders and gave him a customary peck on the cheek, “Hi, Appa.”

He gave her a stern look, “You won’t be able to sweet talk your way out of this one, Moon-young.”

Moon-young gave him a small pout, “At least let me sit down and get comfortable before you start lecturing me,” she grumbled, taking the seat across from her father. She crossed her legs and placed her hands over her knees, "Okay, lay it on me, Appa," she told him.

"You were extremely rude to Kang-tae last night, Moon-young."

She chuckled bitterly, “And here I was going to thank you for the beautiful dinner you sent me.”

Dae-hwan tilted his head and squinted in confusion, “What dinner did I send you?”

“Come on, Appa, stop messing around. I’m trying to sincerely thank you for the dinner I almost missed out on because of him.”

“Moon-young, I’m not messing around. I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.”

Confused, Moon-young described the dinner and card that was sent to her resident the night before, “I even called the restaurant to confirm and they said one of the gentlemen…”

Dae-hwan started laughing, “Oh, sweetheart, that gentleman was not me,” he shook his head as his laugh started to gain volume.

Realizing the true identity of the person who sent her the meal she had the night before, Moon-young clutched her stomach with one hand and her mouth with the other, “I think I’m going to be sick,” she grimaced.

Dae-hwan wiped his eyes, laughter still in his voice, “It’s too late to try to throw it back up now, honey.”

Regaining her composure, Moon-young sent her father an icy glare, “This isn’t funny, Appa. How did he know that the halibut was my favorite?”

Dae-hwan considered her question for a moment, “I think I mentioned it to the waitress when we were ordering and he heard,” he chuckled, “I guess in addition to the apology for ruining his suit--which we will get to, young lady--you’re going to have to thank him for that dinner he sent you last night,” he smirked, his admiration for the younger man growing by the minute.

Moon-young groaned, "I apologized already, I don't know what more you want from me? Do you need me to pay for his dry cleaning?"

Composing himself, Dae-hwan waved his hand, "That's not necessary. I already offered to replace his suit," he informed her.

“Then, as far as I’m concerned the damage has been controlled,” Moon-young decided.

"Not so fast,” Dae-hwan stopped her, “We need to talk about this issue you have with Kang-tae."

“No we don’t. There’s nothing to talk about,” Moon-young responded resolutely.

“Yes there is. Do you want to tell me what’s been going on between you and Kang-tae that compelled you to spill wine on him last night?” Dae-hwan asked.

"Not particularly. Besides, it's all in the past. Don't bother yourself with it." She waved him off. The last thing she wanted to talk about was her feelings about Moon Kang-tae.

"I need to bother myself with it. I can't have the two of you running a company together if you're going to go at each other every time you see each other."

It was Moon-young’s turn to tilt her head in confusion, "Since when was I going to run any company with him?"

"With the merger being finalized, I’ve been thinking that it’s about time you finally join me. I want you to manage the merged company with Kang-tae."

"Dad, I'm flattered, but I don't think I'm ready for that kind of responsibility, yet."

"You are more than ready for this. You’re an EVP at your company. You’ve got contacts all over the industry. People respect you. Why you've refused my offer for so long is beyond me, but I know you're ready. And I don't want anyone else but you and Kang-tae to manage it. Ji-tae agrees."

"I may not like him, but I'm sure Kang-tae is more than qualified to run the merged company on his own. As for Uncle Ji-tae, he always goes for whatever you say."

"There’s also one other thing..." Dae-hwan started.

Moon-young started rubbing her temples, "I have a feeling I'm going to like this even less than the idea of having to run a company with him."

"I’ve been thinking, don't you think it's about time that you settled down?" Dae-hwan asked gently.

She stopped rubbing her temples and looked up at her father, an incredulous look on her face, "Oh, no. We're not having this conversation. No."

"You're going to turn 32 soon. When am I going to get to see grandkids? You're so career-driven, which is fantastic, but don't you ever think about starting a family?"

"I'm sure you wouldn't be having this conversation with Kang-tae if he was your kid," she threw back. When Dae-hwan didn't respond and stayed silent with a somewhat guilty look on his face, Moon-young knew exactly what was on his mind. She stood up and shouted, "Oh no, absolutely not. No. No. No!"

"Ko Moon-young, sit down and lower your voice,” He chided her, “What’s wrong with Kang-tae? He's a great guy! He's successful. He's intelligent. He’s caring."

"Then marry him yourself. I'll even give you away if you want. I'm not interested," she crossed her arms across her chest indignantly.

"Ji-tae and I both agreed that you two would make a great match."

She threw up her hand, "That's wonderful, you’ve already talked about this with Uncle Ji-tae!" she exclaimed sarcastically. "I'm still not interested. There is nothing you can do or say to me to make me want to be married to someone like Moon Kang-tae. Nothing."

"Not even for the future of the company that our family has worked so hard to build?"

"Oh, real nice, Appa. Emotional blackmail is a new one for us. And what does the company have anything to do with this ridiculous idea of yours?"

“I don’t want someone to think that they can manipulate you and try to ruin a business we’ve worked so hard to build.”

Moon-young leaned in towards her father, “Appa, do you really think someone’s going to be able to manipulate me into anything? Besides, even if I married someone who’s not your choice and he tries to take over, your choice will have just as much control of the company as I do and we both know he’s not gonna let that happen.”

“I don’t trust anyone but you and Kang-tae with this company.”

“Okay,” Moon-young considered, “If I decide to join the company, will you drop the marriage thing?” she asked.

“I still think Kang-tae’s the best person for you,” he told her.

“Why are you being this pushy? You’ve never been this pushy before, what’s going on?”

“Nothing is wrong. I want you to have everything: a career, a family, a man who is crazy for you.”

“And you think that Moon Kang-tae is that person?” she scoffed.

"He's a good guy, Moon-young. And I think he likes you," he whispered the last part like a child with a secret to share.

Moon-young wasn’t moved in the slightest, "Still not interested. I'd rather just join the company and work with him if it means I didn't have to get married to him."

"It would be a step in the right direction. But I do want grandchildren in this lifetime."

Moon-young shook her head in exasperation, "Unbelievable. My father is actually trying to marry me off."

"Give the guy a chance. You might end up liking him."

"I've known him for most of my life. My feelings for him aren't going to change just because you want me to make grandchildren for you with him."

"They would be cute kids," Dae-hwan replied.

"No! That's final. I'm not having this conversation with you anymore."

"It's for the good of the future of the company."

"That's bullsh*t and you know it. You just want to have someone else keep an eye on me," she said sadly.

"No, Moon-young. I want you to be happy. And although you don't think so, I think Kang-tae could be very good for you."

"Are you really going to force me to do this?"

"There's no one else I can see helping you lead the merged company. And there's no one else I want as a son in-law."

"Well, that's unfortunate for you," she told him before getting up and leaving the office, slamming the door behind her.

Sitting back down in his chair Dae-hwan sighed, "Well, that didn’t go as bad as I thought it would,” he commented to himself, “She didn't break anything.” Picking up his phone, he dialed a number. After a few rings, it was picked up.

“Hello, Dae-hwan."

“Kang-tae. How’s it going?"

“Fine. I’m booked to meet with my tailor tomorrow for a fitting,” he chuckled. “How are you?"

Dae-hwan released a long, tired breath, “I just met with Moon-young and mentioned the idea about her joining the company… and planted a seed about you.”

“And?"

“She’s not happy."

Kang-tae barked out a laugh, “I’m pretty sure I already told you she wouldn’t be."

“Tell me something, Kang-tae, are you even considering what we talked about?” he asked.

“I can’t answer that question, Dae-hwan. But there is something I can tell you, I won’t entertain the idea of trying to court her if you don’t talk to her. I don’t want to lie to her. You have to talk to her and tell her what happened a few months ago. And if you don’t, I will."

“What are you talking about?"

“Appa told me about the heart attack.”

Dae-hwan cursed, “How much did he tell you?”

“That he was with you when it happened and that you were hospitalized for three days. I can’t believe it took this long for me to find out. And even worse, you haven’t told Moon-young about this,” Kang-tae muttered. Hearing himself getting angry, he took a big calming breath, “You have to tell her about your health. I can’t be complicit in keeping something this important away from her. I won’t start a relationship with a lie."

Dae-hwan sighed, “Alright, I’ll talk to her."

“Glad to hear it."

“Although, I don’t think she wants to talk to me right now. She just stormed out a few minutes ago.” Dae-hwan gave his office a quick look around while counting his blessings, “I’m surprised she didn’t break anything before she left."

Kang-tae chuckled, “Lucky you. I’m sure if it was me she was talking to, I’m going to need to remodel my entire office."

“I have no clue where she went, but I’ll send her a message to meet me at the house.”

Kang-tae considered his next words carefully, “There’s one place I know of that she goes to when she’s stressed or pissed off."

“Should I be worried about how well you actually know my daughter, Kang-tae."

“That depends, do you think I’m a danger to your daughter?” he asked. When the line remained silent, he continued, “Like I’ve told you, I know her a lot better than she’d like to think I do. I’ll go check and if she’s there and is willing to talk to me, I’ll send her your way."

“Thanks, Kang-tae."

“Anytime. But like I said, talk to her. She should know."

“Get her here and I will,” he promised.

~

Half an hour later, Moon-young found herself walking into her usual bar; one she’s been frequenting since her college days. The bartender smiled at her and waved a greeting when she walked into the door. Returning his wave, she grabbed a seat at the back corner of the bar. A minute later, he stepped up and set a napkin in front of her, "What can I get for you today, Moon-young?"

"Johnnie Blue, please, Min-seok. Neat and make it a double," she responded.

Min-seok winced, "Rough day?"

She shrugged, "You could say that. I don't want to think about it right now, or anything else for that matter."

"Heard that," he smiled as he poured her drink. He slid the glass over to her, "Enjoy."

"Thanks, Min-seok," she gave him a small smile before taking a sip. Closing her eyes, she let the liquid flow down her throat, letting the slight burn warm her. She thought about the conversation she had with her father and felt annoyance rise within her. She smelt the familiar scent of his cologne before she heard or she saw him. Tightening her grip on the glass, she took another healthy sip.

"I'd pace myself with that if I were you." Kang-tae pulled the chair next to her out and sat down.

She ignored him and raised her hand to get Min-seok's attention. When he walked over, signaled for her check, "Could you close my tab?"

He nodded and started to turn when Kang-tae called his name, "Min-seok, hold that thought. Can you get me what she's having? Put it on the same tab and I'll take care of it."

Moon-young, grabbed her purse and started to push back from the bar when Kang-tae circled his hand around her forearm. Curling her hand into a fist around her purse, she whispered, "You are the last person I want to see right now. Let go."

"I'm always the last person you want to see. Sit. Down."

When Min-seok came back with Kang-tae's drink, he looked between them. Addressing Moon-young, he asked, "Is everything okay, Moon-young?"

Before Moon-young could answer, Kang-tae handed him his card with a smile, "We're fine here. Please close the tab. Thanks, Min-seok." Min-seok took the card, but stood watching the two of them with a concerned look on his face. When Moon-young nodded, he turned and headed to the register.

"We need to talk." Kang-tae told her, trying his best to catch her eyes that were looking at everything but him.

"Unhand me," she responded through gritted teeth.

"Unless you want to cause a scene, you're not leaving until we speak," he answered, keeping a calm tone to his voice.

"Go f*ck yourself, Kang-tae. I don't want to talk to you," she replied, finally making eye contact with him.

He tightened his grip, "I swear to God, Moon-young, I am not in the mood. Your father sent me here."

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, "Of course he did. Did he tell you to come collect my thanks for the food last night?”

“Is there any to be collected?” He countered, as if he wasn’t surprised that she acknowledged the meal.

She reached for the glass still partially filled with her drink, “Let go of me, or it's going to be scotch on your clothes today,” she warned.

He looked at the glass in her hand, “That’s a hefty price tag just to ruin my clothes.”

“I can afford it.”

He took a step closer and leaned in, whispering in her ear, “But am I worth wasting all that money?”

She stood still, the tone of her voice as cold as ice, “The satisfaction of throwing it at you is worth all the money in the world.” She turned her head slightly to meet him head on.

His eyes softened as he delivered his response, “As long as it brings a smile to your face.” He took a step back and let go of her, then waited to see her next move.

She slammed her purse back down on the bar. “I don’t want to have anything to do with you. You already know that,” she answered. Catching Min-seok’s attention again, she pointed to her glass and lifted her index finger to signal a refill.

“The ruined suits tell me as much,” Kang-tae responded. “You know, I have a special line item in my budget just for you.”

She measured him with sharp eyes, “You do not.”

“With the amount I spend on dry cleaning, thanks to you, I might as well. And open my own while I’m at it.”

Exasperated with the conversation, she asked, “Is there a point to your presence here?” Moon-young avoided looking at him, smiling at Min-seok when he poured her drink. She took a sip before answering, “I don’t like you. Let’s just leave it at that and go on with our lives."

Kang-tae watched her take another healthy sip and sighed, “Let’s get something straight while I have you here on your way to being buzzed. Did you ever have any intentions of taking over your father’s company?"

“How is that any of your business?"

“Stop being difficult for a second, would you? You know exactly why it’s my business."

She continued to stare at her glass. “I figured I would sooner or later. Then, he announces he wants to merge his business with Uncle Ji-tae’s.” She turned to him. “You must have been thrilled. Not only would you get to run your father’s company, you’ll get mine, too."

Not taking the bait, he pivoted, “Why don’t you go and actually sit down with your father and find out why he wants you to take over from him as badly as he does."

Her suspicions heightened, “What do you know?"

“It’s not my story to tell. But ask him and listen. Then, you’ll understand why he wants you to come to the company as much as he does. And why he wants us to get married."

“Don’t tell me that you would actually agree to go through with this stupid marriage idea. We don’t like each other. We’d be miserable together."

He shook his head, “See, that’s where you’re wrong. The dislike is a one-way street. Even with all the hateful things you’ve said and done to me, I still like you. We’ve known each other since we were little. We got along and even liked each other. So no, while I’m not too happy about the circ*mstances, I don’t hate the idea of being married to you. I like you already, learning to love you won’t be that difficult,” he told her. Standing up, he pulled out a few bills and left them on the bar.

After he left, Moon-young sat in her spot for a few minutes, staring at her glass. Min-seok came up to her with a concerned look, “Are you alright?"

She looked up and gave him a small smile, “I’m fine. Thanks, Min-seok."

“Alright, let me know if you need anything."

“I’m good. I’m heading out, it was good to see you. Have a good night,” she got up from her seat and waved. She walked out of the bar and hailed a cab. When one pulled over, she got in and gave the driver the address to her father's home.

Chapter 5: You think he sh*ts pots of gold

Chapter Text

Moon-young spent the ride from the bar to her father’s residence thinking about her conversation with Kang-tae. Choruses of “Why don’t you go and actually sit down with your father and find out why he wants you to take over from him as badly as he does.” and “I like you already, learning to love you won’t be that difficult.” rang through her mind. It was all hitting her too much too fast.

Moon-young knew that her father’s plans were for her to take over the family company. Over the past ten years since she got her degree, her father had dropped hints about wanting her to join him. Every time she would tell him that she has so much she still wants to learn before taking on a role where her decisions could have an impact on many people’s lives. And for the past ten years, he had backed off with a request for her to think about his offer. They had a mutual understanding that she’ll join when she was ready.

When he told her about the merger, it had been a surprise to her. Although it wasn’t because she disagreed with the overall goal of the merger. But he never mentioned it to her before. The merger itself is a smart one, in her opinion. Because the two companies didn’t operate within the same space, merging allowed each to reap the benefits from the other while remaining competitive within their own industries.

Regardless of her own personal feelings about Kang-tae, she also knew and accepted the fact that he was a smart and effective businessman. And she was smart enough to not mix her personal feelings with business. If and when the merger is complete, she would be happy for her father. He worked hard to build the company, she witnessed it herself as she was growing up. She remembered the evenings he spent reading pages and pages of documents and planning the next big thing. She also remembered the moments where he would pause work to make sure he read her a story before bed and tucked her in. So, yes, she was going to be happy for her father. It was time for him to slow down a bit.

However, she wasn’t going to be thrilled about the possibility of having to share the responsibility of running a merged company with Kang-tae. She hated the prospect of having to see him every single work day, and then some. Over the past ten years since they graduated college and began their professional careers, Moon-young did her best to keep any and all their interactions to a minimum. She knew she couldn’t get away from family functions, not only because her father would suspect something, but so would Uncle Ji-tae and Aunt Yoo-jin. And she hated disappointing them almost as much as she hated disappointing her own father.

At least at those family functions, she could stick by Aunt Yoo-jin’s side as a co-hostess and not worry about having to spend an extended period of time with people she didn’t want to see. And for a few times a year, having to be within the same room as Kang-tae for more than a few hours was something she accepted as part of her social responsibility. But beyond those few family events, she did her best to avoid any and all interactions with him.

Seeing his face brought up thoughts and memories that to this very day, she still struggled to deal with herself. While she knew deep inside, deep, deep inside the only way to make it better was to face it head on, she just wasn’t mentally or emotionally ready because dealing with it meant accepting the fact that she failed. And it was easier for her to do whatever she can to keep him as far away from her as possible than to let him see how much seeing him truly affected her.

She rubbed her forearms where he touched her skin earlier and the thought of the words he delivered so confidently before leaving had her heart speeding up like it did at the time. There were so many things happening around her. It was all too much, too fast and all she wanted was for it to stop so she could think properly and not feel like she had to immediately make a decision on something that could ultimately turn her entire life upside down. So, just because Moon Kang-tae wanted her to know that he liked her, it didn’t mean that she had to accept it. And it sure as hell doesn’t mean she had to reciprocate.

When the taxi driver pulled up to her father’s residence, Moon-young thanked the driver and handed him a couple of 10,000s before she stepped out of the cab. She walked through the gate and entered in the key code before entering. Closing the door behind her, she looked for some of the staff before she called out, “Appa! It’s me!"

Not hearing a response, she walked down the hall towards his office. She saw a stream of light beneath the door and pressed her ear against it before knocking.

“Who is it?” her father’s voice boomed.

“It’s Moon-young,” she answered.

“Oh. Come on in,” he replied. When she opened the door and peeked her head in, he grumbled, “Trying to give your old man a heart attack?"

She scoffed before walking through the door, “I yelled for you before I got to the door. And please, you’re made of tougher stuff than that, Appa."

Dae-hwan frowned at her comment before gesturing for her to sit down, “I guess Kang-tae found you?"

She nodded, “Yes, I ran into your minion at the bar earlier. Or rather, he found me."

“Huh, I guess he really wasn’t lying about knowing her so well,” Dae-hwan mumbled under his breath.

“Sorry?”

He waved her off, “Nothing.” He leaned in towards her, "Do I have to buy him another suit?"

“Almost."

He threw up his hands, “Dammit, Moon-young, really?"

“Relax, Dad. I said almost. His suit was salvaged today. Happy?"

He sighed, “Happy wouldn’t be the right word. Relieved, perhaps. I can’t keep buying him new suits."

“He has his own money, you don’t need to finance his wardrobe," she argued.

“Enough,” he put his hand up, silencing her. “What did you two talk about?"

“He was rambling on and on about why you wanted me to join the company and why you insist on marrying me off to him,” she rolled her eyes. "Not that he actually told me anything. Just went around in circles like a dog chasing its tail. Are you sure you want someone like him running your company?"

“He’s much more capable than the idiots running the company you’re working for."

Moon-young glared at her father, “Well, thank you for indirectly insulting me."

“Moon-young."

She shrugged it off, “I’ve heard worse said about me directly, Dad. And I know you weren’t talking about me.” She waved her hand in the air, dismissing his words. “Anyway, he told me to come and see you and ask about your reasons why I should leave my current job and join the company. And why you’re so eager to have me marry him. Although I doubt it has anything to do with his gene pool."

He co*cked his head, “It’s not a bad gene pool. You could do a lot worse."

“Appa."

“I already told you, mostly, that I think the two of you together would make a formidable team. That, and I think it’s time that you take your rightful place as the head of our company."

“And I already said, I would consider it and that joining the company doesn’t mean that the next logical step is me marrying him."

Dae-hwan sighed and rubbed his face, “I don’t know how to say this, Moon-young."

“Just spit it out, Appa."

“I’m getting old, honey. And my health is deteriorating."

Moon-young frowned, “But that’s normal aging, Appa. It doesn’t mean you have to marry your daughter off."

“I… I was in the hospital for a few days about six months back."

Moon-young froze in her seat, “What?"

“It wasn’t anything serious,” he lied. "I was discussing contracts and the merger with Ji-tae and felt a little light headed. He suggested I went to see the doctor, so I did. My blood pressure was a little too high, so the doctor insisted I stay overnight so he could keep an eye on my status. I came home the next day with a few prescriptions and order for a better, healthier diet. I’m fine now."

“Well, thank you for being kind enough to let me know about it six months later. And only because I had to force it out of you."

“It wasn’t anything serious,” he insisted.

Moon-young felt tears filling up her eyes and bit her lips to keep them at bay, “Eomma passed away from Cancer because they caught it too late. So, don’t tell me it’s nothing serious when the doctor had to insist that you spend the night. I don’t even know where to begin."

“Sweetheart, I’m really okay."

“Don’t. I don’t even know what to be pissed about first. The fact that you didn’t feel the need to tell your own daughter that you were sick, or that he knew about it before I did."

“He only found out because his father told him."

“That does not make this situation any better. You want to entrust me with your company, but you couldn’t even entrust me with knowing the state of your health. What would I do if you just drop dead one day?"

“That won’t happen, Moon-young. Like you said, I’m made of tougher stuff. It’ll take more than high blood pressure to take me down."

She sighed, “Had I known sooner, I would have reconsidered your offer."

“Moon-young, I wanted you to come on your own. I didn’t want to force your hand."

“But isn’t that why you’ve been so adamant about this lately? And what about what you’re doing by trying to marry me off?"

Dae-hwan let out a sigh. "I don't want to force you, Moon-young. But I want you to be happy. I want you to be with someone who can really love you and look out for you."

“And you really think that person is Moon Kang-tae?"

“I know it’s him. That boy has adored you for as long as he’s known you. And I thought you liked him, too. You two used to be so close. I didn’t even realize that you didn’t get along until that night at dinner."

Moon-young diverted her eyes from her father, playing with the corner of the armrest of the chair, “We just drifted apart after he graduated.”

“Why do I find that hard to believe?"

“Because you think he sh*ts pots of gold,” she answered bluntly.

"Moon-young," Dae-hwan warned, softly.

"Fine but you have to admit that you think that he could do no wrong."

“Well, I do like him.”

“I know you do.”

“You should try to make nice with him.”

“Appa.”

“Try and reconnect. You’ll never know, you might start liking him again,” he suggested.

“Not likely, but I’ll at least treat him to a meal as an apology for spilling wine on him and a thank you for dinner last night and giving me a heads up on you,” she acquiesced.

“Baby steps,” Dae-hwan smiled.

Moon-young controlled the urge to roll her eyes at her father. Standing up, she walked around his desk and wrapped her arms around him, “Please don’t hide your health from me. I’ve already lost one parent. I can’t bear to lose another.”

Dae-hwan chuckled and brought his hand to pull her head towards him and kissed her forehead, “I’m not going anywhere, sweetheart.”

“I love you, Appa.” Moon-young lifted her head from his shoulders and kissed him on the cheek.

“I love you, too, honey.”

“Do you have plans for the rest of tonight?”

“Just looking over paperwork for the merger,” he pointed to a few binders stacked on his desk.

Moon-young looked at the binders for a moment before asking, “Could you have Jae-soo send them over to me?” Hearing about her father’s health condition had her worried. She wanted to get a look at the documents and see what has been going on with the merger. She may not be ready to change jobs but it won’t hurt for her to at least get a better understanding of the process.

Dae-hwan raised an eyebrow. Moon-young shrugged in response. He nodded, “I’ll have him drop it off for you.”

“Actually, it’s okay, I have his number. I'll give him a call instead. Thanks, Appa. I’ll take a look and will give you a ring if I have any questions.”

“Sure. You can ask Kang-tae, too,” he suggested.

“I’ll just call you. No one knows our company better than you, not even Kang-tae,” She gave him another kiss before standing up and heading towards the door. Dae-hwan smiled at himself hearing her call it “our” company.

“Let me know how dinner goes? Hopefully I won’t have to buy him another suit,” he warned.

Moon-young shook her head, “I will do my best. Take care of yourself, Appa. I’ll check in on you later,” she waved as she walked out of the study.

She stepped on to the street and closed the gate behind her. Flipping her wrist over and seeing that it was only 8.00PM, she decided to walk to the nearest subway station rather than calling a taxi. She pulled her phone out of her purse and hesitated for a moment before she dialed Jae-soo’s number. When the call was picked up, she greeted, “Hi Jae-soo, it’s Ko Moon-young. I hope I’m not interrupting you?”

Chapter 6: Speak of the devil and she shall appear.

Chapter Text

After leaving the bar, Kang-tae returned to his car and sat silently for several minutes as he tried to calm himself while contemplating his next move. He looked down at his hands to see that they were shaking. He slammed them against the steering wheel and let out a frustrated growl, “Get yourself together, Moon Kang-tae. Just because you’ve been half in love with her for most of your life doesn’t mean she’s going to reciprocate,” he told himself.

He had zero intention of touching her at the bar, but he had to make sure she didn’t leave before he told her what he needed to tell her. He knew well enough that if he touched her, he would want to, again and again. He also knew that he was entering dangerous territory when he thought about how soft her skin felt in his hands. He was starting to hope for something he knew he couldn’t have.

He spent the last few years playing the role of her personal verbal punching bag whenever they would see each other. They didn’t make a habit of seeing each other often, but running in similar circles made it inevitable that they would see each other. And although he’s yet to uncover the reasons for her dislike towards him, he dealt with it. Most times he found her venomous words amusing. But days like today, when he saw the internal war raging inside her head, all he wanted to do was pull her close and tell her that everything will be okay and that he would be by her side, always.

Realizing that sitting and brooding in his car wasn’t going to solve his problems, Kang-tae put the car in drive and headed home. Entering his residence, he tossed his bag onto the bench by the door. He walked to his room and changed into his workout clothes. A few hours at the boxing studio always helped him clear his mind. Maybe tonight it’ll help him forget about Moon-young, even for just a few hours. Heading back out, he grabbed his water bottle, and tossed it in his gym bag.

As he walked back out to his car, he dialed a number on his phone, after two rings, the call was picked up, “Kang-tae! What’s going on?"

“Hey Jae-soo, are you doing anything right now?" He asked.

“I’m just about to head out to the gym."

“How about you change that plan, grab your gloves and meet me at the studio?" Kang-tae suggested.

“I guess I could do that. Rough day at the office?" Jae-soo asked in a teasing tone.

Kang-tae chuckled, “Something like that. Just need to blow off some steam."

“Are you sure a beer wouldn’t be a better alternative in this situation?"

“Positive. See you in a few."

When he arrived at the studio 20 minutes later, Jae-soo had already secured two bags for them. Kang-tae dropped his bag off and headed towards his friend. He waved his greeting and gave his friend a tired grin, “Thanks for changing your plans."

“Not a problem, I’ve been planning on coming here anyway, so it was good timing. And it’s been a few weeks since we saw each other outside of work meetings," Jae-soo reasoned.

Jae-soo was one of Kang-tae’s closest friends and also one of the lawyers who were managing the merger for both his family’s company and Ko Holdings. The two of them met in college in their introductory business course Freshman year. After pairing up for a mid-term assignment, they hit it off and have been close ever since. He was one of the people he trusted most in his life, whether it was for personal or professional advice, most of which was given unsolicited to Kang-tae’s occasional annoyance. He knew Jae-soo always meant well and it was more often than not good advice, although Kang-tae would never tell him that to his face.

While Kang-tae began wrapping up his hands Kang-tae apologized, “Yeah, sorry about that. You know the merger’s been taking up a lot of time and energy."

Jae-soo chuckled, “I’m the one writing the agreements and contracts. Don’t talk to me about how it’s taking a lot of time and energy. All you have to do is read them.”

Kang-tae grinned, “I still have to read through them to make sure you’re not trying to swindle my family out of all our money." He stood up and walked up to his bag and began taking precise hits.

“Please, with the amount I’m getting out of you from my retainer, I don’t need to swindle you out of anything." Jae-soo countered, trying his best to match Kang-tae punch for punch at his own bag.

“In all seriousness, thanks for doing this for us."

“No need to thank me. I’m paid well enough for it. And merger and acquisitions are fun anyway. Kind of like dealing with a marriage," Jae-soo joked.

Kang-tae stopped and wiped the sweat off his forehead and looked at his friend with an unsure look on his face. Jae-soo paused and looked over at him, “What, did you find someone who actually wants to marry you?"

Kang-tae shook his head, “No, it’s not that."

“Are you okay? Is there something else bothering you?” Jae-soo asked, a little concerned.

Kang-tae shook his head and went back to his work out. They spent the next hour and a half quietly going through their routines, making comments at each other here and there. When they were finished, they headed off to the shower to clean off. As they were walking out of the studio, Jae-soo spoke up, “I’m thirsty. Let’s grab a drink. It’s been a while anyway, we’re due for a catch up that has nothing to do with your company."

“Sure,” Kang-tae nodded, “Let me toss this in the car. We can head to our usual place."

They both tossed their bags in their trunk and headed out to the street level. For late evening, the streets were still bustling with people. Kang-tae and Jae-soo headed to the bar that they had been frequenting since their college days. The owners and staff knew them by name and order. When they walked in, the owner shouted his greeting to them, “Kang-tae! Jae-soo! Long time no see!"

“Hey Cha-yong!” Jae-soo waved, “Good to see you! We’ll take the table in the back," he pointed to a table in the back corner of the bar and made a beeline towards it.

“All yours. Be over in a minute."

The two of them walked over to the booth and sat down. Grabbing the menus, they browsed silently until the Cha-yong came over. "Hey guys, how's it going?"

"Hey Cha-yong," Jae-soo greeted. "We're doing well. Just got finished working out and craving beer. You ready, Kang-tae?"

"Yeah, I'll just have whatever is your most popular on tap today," he told Cha-yong.

"Sure. You Jae-soo?"

"Same. Thanks, Cha-yong."

Cha-yong asked, "Any food?” When both Kang-tae and Jae-soo shook their head, he nodded and took a step back, “Coming right up."

"So, how are you feeling about this merger?" Jae-soo asked Kang-tae once they were alone.

"Pretty good about it. Appa and Dae-hwan are excited. Apparently they've been planning this for years and never told me," Kang-tae chuckled, “Which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. Those two are like two peas in a pod.”

Jae-soo nodded, "They really are. I'm meeting with your dad again tomorrow to hopefully finalize everything."

At that moment, Cha-yong came back with their drinks. They thanked him and Jae-soo asked the question that was on his mind, "So, are you ready to tell me what's really the reason you wanted to blow off steam tonight?"

Kang-tae looked at his best friend and sighed, "I told you, rough day at the office."

Jae-soo laughed, "That's bullsh*t and you know it."

"What do you want me to tell you?"

"I know you, Kang-tae. Work never bothers you. Sure, you get annoyed, but you never look like sh*t because of it. If it's not work, what is it? Or am I supposed to guess?"

"I'm telling you, it's work-related."

Jae-soo rolled his eyes, "Okay. Let me take a stab at this. You say it's work related. And the main thing you're dealing with work-wise right now is the merger. Your dad is happy about it. Dae-hwan is happy about it. I assume you're happy about it." Jae-soo paused for a moment, wheels turning in his head. He took a sip of his beer before asking his next question, "How does Moon-young feel about this merger?" Kang-tae turned his gaze from the beer in front of him to his friend. Jae-soo grinned, "I see what the problem is now."

"I didn't say anything."

Jae-soo shrugged, "Didn't have to." He took another sip of his beer and leaned back in his seat, "After all these years, she's still got you by the balls."

Kang-tae shook his head, "No she doesn't."

Jae-soo laughed, "Why are you lying to me? More importantly, why are you lying to yourself? You've been in love with her longer than we've known each other and I've known you for over a decade."

"I'm not in love with her," he responded.

"Okay, okay. So let's pretend you're not. What did she do to get you so riled up that you needed to punch things for an hour?" Jae-soo asked and grinned as Kang-tae recounted his earlier encounter with Moon-young. He chuckled, “At least she didn’t dump her drink on you?”

“Funny,” Kang-tae responded flatly.

Jae-soo was going to respond when his phone started buzzing. He smiled and turned the screen over so Kang-tae could see Moon-young’s name on the screen, “Speak of the devil and she shall appear.”

Kang-tae rolled his eyes and took a sip of his beer as Jae-soo answered the phone, “Hello, this is Jae-soo.”

“Hi Jae-soo, it’s Ko Moon-young. I hope I’m not interrupting you?” Moon-young greeted from the other side of the call.

“Hey Moon-young. Nope, you’re good. What’s going on?”

“I just met with Appa. We were discussing the merger. He said that you would have the documents regarding the whole process. Would you mind sending all the paperwork to me tomorrow?” she requested.

Jae-soo looked over at Kang-tae as he answered, “Of course I can send the merger documents over. Where should I have it delivered?” Kang-tae’s ears perked up at the word “merger”. Looking up from his beer and mouthed, ‘What?’ Jae-soo waved him off.

"Perfect. I’ll be in my office most of the morning, so if you can have it delivered by around 11.00AM that would be great.”

“No problem, I’ll make sure to have them delivered to you by then,” Jae-soo promised.

“Actually, do you have any documents that you could send over via email? I want to start going through them tonight,” she explained.

“Sure, I’ll work on that once we hang up,” he responded. Looking across the table at his friend, he grinned, “Actually, I think Kang-tae has hard copies some of those documents. I can have him bring it over to you,” he suggested.

Moon-young quickly declined, “No, that’s fine. I can work with a digital copy.” She paused for a moment, clearing her throat, “I would prefer if you can keep this between us for now. I want to get my head around everything before… other people find out.”

Jae-soo looked at Kang-tae, who’s still watching him from across the table and cleared his throat, “Uh…”

At his hesitation, Moon-young closed her eyes and stopped walking, “Is he with you?”

He winced, “…Yes.”

She let out a sigh, “Then I’ll let you get back to whatever it was you were doing before I called. I’ll be expecting the documents tomorrow.” She hung up and frowned. “Why does he always turn up in places I don’t him don’t want him to be,” she muttered.

Jae-soo grimaced as he pulled the phone from his ear. Kang-tae asked, “What is it?”

“Well, you already heard half of the conversation, so I’m going to assume you know.”

“I can make an assumption.”

“Good, because I can’t say anything else.” He held up a finger to stop Kang-tae from saying anything, “Before you say anything, I have to send her a note.”

“What documents did you suggest I bring over to her?”

“No need to worry about it considering she shut that idea down immediately.”

Kang-tae took a long sip, “If she’s curious about anything regarding the merger, it means that she went and spoke to Dae-hwan."

"She mentioned seeing him earlier," Jae-soo replied, tapping his phone. "If she's showing interest, this could be a good thing."

"It means Dae-hwan must have told her something to change her mind." Kang-tae thought back to their conversation. He was glad to see that at least she took his advice to go speak with her father. Whatever their conversation was, he felt relieved.

"I wonder if this would be a positive outcome for the sensibilities of one Moon Kang-tae," Jae-soo wondered out loud, grinning widely at his friend.

"Don't be an ass, Jae-soo."

"I am merely asking a question. I would venture a guess that you want her to join the company."

"Of course, she has as much right to it as I do. And she's intelligent, any company would be lucky to have her," Kang-tae reasoned.

"Uh huh and how would you deal with having to work very closely with her, every single day?"

Kang-tae shot his friend a dark look, "It would be enlightening to get her perspective on things as someone who is not as close to the business as I am."

"Your canned responses are insightful." Jae-soo responded, emptying his glass. He got up from his seat and pulled out a few 10,000 bills and tossed them on the table.

"What are you doing?" Kang-tae asked.

"I have to go home and prepare the documents to send over to Moon-young to review tomorrow."

"I thought you just emailed them to her?"

Jae-soo considered his next words carefully, praying that Moon-young didn’t have some kind of telepathic power, "She's going to kick my ass for telling you this but those were the summary documents. I have to gather everything else."

"Oh."

"A word of advice, if I may," Jae-soo started with a smirk on his face.

"It's not like it would stop you if I said no," Kang-tae frowned.

"You would be correct. Anyway, my advice is that you might want to rework your canned responses about her potentially joining the company so that the people who don't know you as well as I do don't catch on to how stupid in love with her you are."

"I'm not in love with her," he denied.

"Tell that to someone who hasn't seen the moony looks you've been giving her since we were in college. Not to mention the number of your million won plus suits you've let her destroy over the years." He paused, "Actually, do you know why she makes a habit of doing that? Did you kill her beloved dog when she was younger or something?"

"No. I'm sure she has her reasons but has not given me the honor of knowing what it is," he rubbed his face tiredly.

"Well, she's got you by the balls, that's for sure," Jae-soo chuckled.

"Get out of here," Kang-tae shooed him.

"Later, Kang-tae," Jae-soo waved and headed for the exit.

Kang-tae smiled at the parting. He and Jae-soo have been friends for so long and Jae-soo knew him better than most, which made his comment about Moon-young a little disarming; he had to be more careful. After finishing the last of his beer, he added another bill to the one Jae-soo left before getting up and waving to Cha-yong as he walked out of the bar.

He was walking back towards his car when he felt a buzz in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and nearly dropped it when he saw the name on the caller ID: Ko Moon-young. He quickly swiped to pick up the call, "This is Moon Kang-tae." He winced at his own greeting and tapped his head with his fists.

"Hi Kang-tae, it's Moon-young."

"Hi Moon-young, what can I do for you?" he asked. When she didn't respond right away, he pulled his phone away from his ear to make sure they were still connected, "Moon-young, are you still there?"

Moon-young cleared her throat, "Yes, I am. I am calling to see what your schedule looks like this week?"

"I’m pretty flexible, what can I do for you? Did you have questions about the merger?"

"No, it's not that. I want to apologize for my actions today and every other day I've seen you. And also to thank you for dinner last night and steering me towards talking to Appa today,” she paused. He held his breath as she continued, “And I was wondering if..." she paused, "If you were available for an early dinner on Friday?"

"Of course, absolutely," he answered.

"Does 5.00PM work?"

“Yes, definitely. 5.00PM is perfect,” he responded.

"Great. I’ll figure out the restaurant and have my assistant send over a calendar invite. I'll see you then. Bye,” she hung up, ending the call as quickly as she started it.

Smiling softly at the phone, Kang-tae felt a small weight lifting off his chest. If she was willing to share a meal with him, maybe there was a chance that he could try to repair whatever was wrong between them.

Chapter 7: Well, remind me to send your father a thank you gift.

Chapter Text

Moon-young didn’t mean to run late. After she finished her project in the office, she went home to change. Since it was a nice day out, she figured she could just hop on the subway rather than bother with driving or hailing a cab. She needed to walk and clear her mind before meeting up with Kang-tae anyway.

She knew the moment after she agreed to go have dinner with him that she was going to regret it. Moon-young loved her father dearly, even if they don’t often see eye to eye about how she wanted to live her life. Agreeing to meet with Kang-tae took more out of her mental and emotional stability than she would have liked to admit. She did it anyway because it was what her father wanted. And it was for the good of the company as well.

With her father’s trip to the hospital, Moon-young knew that it was about time that she stepped up and take her place at the helm of Ko Holdings, even if it meant having to work with Kang-tae. She could try and set aside her feelings about him in a professional capacity, but there was no way she was going to get married to him. She would rather live a life knowing she would never get married or have her own family than marry Moon Kang-tae. They weren’t good for each other. Working together was one thing, but living and being around each other 24/7 is a whole other thing that she didn’t want to think about.

When she walked into the restaurant, she gave the host her last name for the reservation. The host gave her a friendly smile and told her that Kang-tae was at the bar. She led Moon-young towards the bar where Kang-tae was sitting and nursing a glass of what Moon-young assumed was scotch. As they approached him, Moon-young took the opportunity to look at him without him seeing her. He was dressed more casually than he usually was, in a black sweater and jeans. His hair was more relaxed, parted to the side rather than swept up off his face.

There was no denying the fact that Kang-tae was good looking, with his jet black hair and dark eyes that made women go crazy stupid for him. They were the same pair of eyes that drove her mad. Back during their college days, female and male students, alike, would worship the ground he walked on. The fact that he was considered one of the nicest guys on campus made him even more appealing. The two of them maintained a friendly relationship during Moon-young’s first two years at college, but then drifted apart around the time Kang-tae graduated. Only their respective best friends knew how they drifted apart, but other than Moon-young herself, no one knew the reason why; not even Kang-tae. It was something she didn’t want to ever have to think about ever again.

The hostess walked up to Kang-tae and called his name, “Excuse me, Mr. Moon, the rest of your party has arrived."

Kang-tae turned and thanked the host before he turned to look at Moon-young. At that moment, Moon-young knew that agreeing to this meal was one of the dumbest things she’s ever done. He smiled widely at her and got up from the bar stool, “Moon-young, you made it."

She nodded and followed as the host led them to their table. Unknowingly to her, Kang-tae started walking next to her. He leaned in and said in a quiet voice, “I’m really glad we’re doing this."

She looked up at him, “It wasn’t like I had a choice in the matter. I’m only doing this because my father asked me to, not because I want to spend more than a minute in your presence."

Kang-tae chuckled at her response as the host placed their menus on the table and excused herself. He pulled out the chair for her and responded, “Well, remind me to send your father a thank you gift."

Moon-young closed her eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. She looked Kang-tae directly in the eye, “This isn’t funny. I just want this to be over as quickly as possible."

Kang-tae checked his watch, “Well, considering we’ve been in each other's presence for over three minutes and my sweater is still dry, we’re off to a great start."

She rolled her eyes and picked the menu up from the table and studied it, ignoring the chuckle she heard from across the table.

A few minutes later, Kang-tae cleared his throat, “Have you decided what you’d like to have?"

Moon-young set the menu down and nodded. Within moments, their server came to the table.

“Good evening, I’ll be your server tonight. Could I get you started with something to drink?"

“I’ll have a glass of the Chateau La Croix, please,” Moon-young responded.

“And you sir?"

“I’ll have the same." Kang-tae responded, his eyes not leaving Moon-young.

“Great. Are you ready to order, or should I give you a few more minutes?" The waiter asked.

“I’m ready,” Moon-young answered. Kang-tae nodded and motioned her to continue. “I’ll have the lobster tail with turf, medium rare. For my sides, I’d like the brussels sprout and sweet potato mash."

“And soup or salad to start?"

“Salad, please. With oil and vinegar."

The server nodded, “Great. And you?” he turned to Kang-tae.

“I’ll have the same, no sides."

“Great. I’ll go get these put in for you and grab your drinks."

They both thanked the waiter and handed their menus back to him. Once they were left alone, Moon-young picked up her water and took a long sip, staring out the window behind Kang-tae and watching the people passing by. Kang-tae clearing his throat brought her attention back to her dining companion. She slowly refocused her gaze from the street to the person sitting in front of her to see him grinning. Frowning, she put her glass back down and sat back in the chair.

“Did you have a nice day?” he asked.

“It was fine."

“What did you do?"

“Why the small talk?"

“We have to start somewhere, unless you thought that this dinner was going to happen in complete silence."

“I had hoped it would."

“I’m sorry to disappoint you."

“It’s not like it’s something new."

Shifting gears a bit, he pinned her with his gaze as it turned serious, “How was your visit with your father?”

“It was fine. He told me about his stay at the hospital a few months ago.” She paused as the waiter came back with their drinks. From the other side of the table, Kang-tae watched as she took the glass from the waiter and swirled the glass, took a sip, and carefully tasted the wine. She nodded her approval. The waiter poured Kang-tae his drink and walked away. Moon-young placed the glass on the table and looked back at Kang-tae, “Thank you for letting me know.”

“Absolutely. Did he give you any updates on his condition?”

“He said it was high blood pressure and he’s taking medication for it.”

Kang-tae nodded, although he was disappointed and bothered by the fact that Dae-hwan had lied to Moon-young, “I see. I’m glad to hear he’s taking medication for it.” Moon-young nodded silently and swirled her glass around absently. She stared at the wine and had a look of skepticism on her face. Confused, Kang-tae asked, “What is it? Wine not to your liking?”

She shook her head, “No, it’s fine. I actually like it.”

“What is it?” He pressed.

“I have a weird inkling that he’s still not telling me everything.” She swirled her glass around a bit before pinning Kang-tae with her gaze, “And I know that you know what it is.”

Kang-tae said nothing, but Moon-young could see the guilt in his eyes. He hated lying in general. It felt even worse to hide something so important from someone like Moon-young. He started to say her name when her hand came up to stop him, “Whatever it is, unless it’s the truth about my father’s health, you can save it.”

“You know I can’t tell you that.”

“No, I don’t think that’s the case. It’s whatever sense of loyalty you have towards him. Must be nice to have his trust, I wouldn’t know what that’s like.”

“Moon-young,” he reached for her hand instinctively. She didn’t pull her hand away, but the look in her eye was enough for him to take his hand off hers, “I can’t tell you what it is. That said, I can tell you that it wasn’t a simple hospital stay for high blood pressure. And your father trusts you more than you give him credit for. He has his reasons for not telling you.”

At that moment, the waiter came by to drop off their salads. If he felt the tension between the two diners in front of him, he didn’t acknowledge it. He left them as quietly as he came.

Moon-young turned her attention to her salad, “I highly doubt it’s a good one,” she responded. “He probably thinks that whatever it is, I’ll get overly emotional and dramatic.”

“Emotional and dramatic aren’t words I would use to describe anything to do with you.”

“Most men would call any woman who throws her drinks at him dramatic.”

He laughed, “I just figured that was your special way of showing me you liked me.”

Moon-young didn’t reciprocate the laugh, “Most people would have steered clear of me after the second time. You’ve let me do it for almost a decade.”

“It’s just clothes, Moon-young. It’s not like I can’t afford to get it cleaned… or buy new ones,” he shrugged.

The waiter returned and seamlessly removed their salad plates and served them with their dinner. Moon-young and Kang-tae thanked him before he walked off. They tucked into their dinner and stayed quiet for a few moments, enjoying the food in front of them. Moon-young slid the sides to the middle and gestured for Kang-tae to take some. He smiled his thanks and took a few helpings.

She spoke first, slicing her steak as she spoke, “I really don’t like that you’re not telling me something that you obviously know and want me to know.”

“I already told you it’s not my place to tell you.”

“If we’re going to have any kind of relationship, professional or otherwise, you shouldn’t be lying, nor should you be keeping important information about my father from me.”

He sighed, “Moon-young, that’s not fair.”

She scoffed, “Nothing about any of this is fair, and you know it.” She set her fork and knife down on the table and took a sip of her wine. Changing the subject, she brought up the merger documents, “Jae-soo dropped off the paperwork for the merger earlier this week, which I’m sure you know. If we’re ever going to work together, we need to set some ground rules."

Kang-tae leaned in closer, “You’re seriously considering moving over?”

“If my father’s health is as bad as you’re alluding it to be, I guess it’s only right that I take my place at the company.”

He smiled, “I’m sure your father will be happy to hear that.”

“He knows I’m thinking about it."

"Let me know if I can be of any help; I'd be happy to get you up to speed."

"I'll keep that in mind. That said, at this point I don't even know if I can trust you. So, there's a lot of ground that needs to be covered if we're ever going to work directly with each other."

"I'll do my best to earn your trust, Moon-young, if it's the last thing I do."

"We'll have to wait and see, I guess." She responded, picking up her utensils and going back to her meal. "When's the next board meeting?" she asked.

Kang-tae picked up his drink and took a sip before answering, "The end of next month. Board meetings tend to happen about once every quarter."

"Are the investors happy?"

"Considering the amount of dividend payouts they get, I would say so."

"What would make them happier?"

"A bigger payout."

"That's it?"

"You've been in the business world for almost as long as I have, Moon-young. Investors generally don't really care how we do what we do so long as they see a positive return on their investment. It's no different here."

"Of course, why should it be any different."

"Our operational costs may be higher than most places but that's because we do our best to compensate our employees well. And that obviously translates to better business and better ROI."

"I had noticed the high operational costs. I want to take a closer look at it."

Kang-tae nodded, "Sure; feel free to provide any feedback you have."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Did you have any other initial questions regarding the merger documents?"

"Not currently, I was only able to look through a bit of it this week. I'll reach out to Jae-soo if I have questions."

"You can talk to me as well, Moon-young."

"Until everything is finalized, I'd rather work with Jae-soo."

Kang-tae frowned at her words but didn't respond. Knowing Moon-young as well as he does, he knew that pushing would only make her retreat even further. So he decided to drop it.

As he continued his meal, Kang-tae felt more guilty over not sharing the truth about Dae-hwan with Moon-young. Remembering his own words to Dae-hwan, that he would tell her himself if Dae-hwan failed to do so, he realized if he was going to repair any relationship with Moon-young, he had to come clean, even at the risk of upsetting Dae-hwan.

When Moon-young signaled for the check, Kang-tae cleared his throat, “Moon-young,” he started. She turned her eyes to him, showing very little emotion, “I don’t want to lie to you.”

“You sure are doing a good job at showing that,” she responded flatly. When the waiter arrived with the bill, they both made a move to grab it. Moon-young reached first and pulled it towards her. Kang-tae grabbed his wallet and tried to hand her his card which she refused, “I invited you. I’m going to pay for it and hopefully we’re square.” She smiled at the waiter when she handed him the check and her card.

“Can we talk somewhere privately?” He asked.

“I don’t want to talk to you if you’re going to lie to me again,” she replied.

“Like you said, if we’re going to have any kind of relationship, we’re going to have to be honest with each other. I’m willing to get on your dad’s bad side if it means I can get on your good side. Or at least not be on your bad side,” he declared.

“Why can’t you say what you have to say here?”

“I’d rather not risk being overheard,” he explained.

She considered his words for a few moments before nodding in agreement, “Fine, I think there’s a park around here. That should be private enough.”

When they left the restaurant, Moon-young started heading towards the park when Kang-tae stopped her, "Do you want to grab coffee or something before we sit down?" he asked.

She shook her head, "No. Let's just find a place to sit so you can tell me what it is you know."

"Sure. There's a bench over there under the tree," he pointed to a seating area in a quiet corner of the park. The walk over to the bench was filled with silence as Kang-tae tried to gather his thoughts and Moon-young’s mind moved at lightning speeds.

When they reached the bench, Kang-tae sat down and waited for Moon-young to sit down next to him. He placed his hands on his knees and stared at the ground in front of him as he told her what he knew. “Six months ago, when Dae-hwan was admitted into the hospital, it wasn’t for high blood pressure,” Kang-tae paused before turning his head to look at Moon-young, “He had a heart attack.”

A small, sharp gasp escaped Moon-young’s lips, “A heart attack?” She turned to face him, “How? I don’t… understand. A heart attack?”

“I don’t know the details but what I know is Appa was with him, talking about the merger and how things were progressing from both sides when, according to Appa, Dae-hwan mentioned that he felt a tightness in his chest. Appa called for an ambulance and went with him to the hospital and Dae-hwan was admitted.”

“How could he keep this from me?” Moon-young asked herself, tears welling up in her eyes.

Kang-tae got up from the bench and moved over to crouch in front of her. He placed his hand on top of her shaking ones, “He didn’t want you to worry. Didn’t want either of us to worry, which is why he also forbade Appa to tell me until earlier this week.”

“I don’t understand, If I had known…” she trailed off.

“Had you known, would you have left your current role and joined the company?” Kang-tae asked.

Moon-young finally looked at him, “Yes.”

Kang-tae gave her a small smile and squeezed her hand, “That’s why. He didn’t want you to feel guilty about his health and having that be the reason why you decided to join him,” he explained.

“That explains why he’s been pushy about getting me to join the company now. But it doesn’t explain why he wants us to get married. Does he think that I couldn’t take care of myself if something happened to him?”

“I don’t think any of us doubt your ability to take care of yourself, Moon-young. Maybe he doesn’t want you to be lonely. I’m not really sure. But I do know that everything he does is in your best interest.”

“It doesn’t feel that way,” she argued.

“I understand. And while he’ll give me hell for telling you the truth, please know that Dae-hwan was trying to protect you.”

“What made you decide to tell me the truth. You said it yourself it wasn’t your story to tell,” she repeated his words.

“I don’t like lying. Least of all, to you,” he confessed. “I wished you could have heard it from your father yourself, but I saw the way you were looking at me when I wouldn’t tell you earlier. I didn’t want you to look at me like that. Or for you to think that I want to keep secrets from you. Like you said, if we are going to have any kind of relationship, professional or otherwise, you need to be able to trust me. And I want to earn that trust.”

They stayed there for a few moments, studying each other, thoughts running through both their minds. Suddenly, Moon-young broke eye contact and stood up. Kang-tae followed suit and watched as she wiped the trail of the tears that escaped and ran down her cheeks, “I need to go home,” Moon-young announced.

“Let me take you home?” Kang-tae asked.

“I think I need to be alone,” she told him.

“Then at least let me walk you to your car?” he asked.

“I didn’t drive. I’ll call for a car,” she told him. When it seemed like he was going to argue, she cut him off, “I promise I will let you know when I get home, so you don't have to worry.”

Surrendering, he nodded, “Please do. Thank you for dinner.”

She nodded, “Sure. And thank you for telling me.”

Kang-tae hesitated for a moment before waving, “Get home safe.”

“Goodnight, Kang-tae.”

When she arrived at her residence, Moon-young was still in a daze. She entered the front door and dropped all her belongings on the entryway bench and slipped out of her shoes. She knew that she had to regroup her mind and emotions before she could speak to her father. She felt angry, she felt betrayed, but most of all, she was terrified. Terrified of the prospect of her losing father, who was the only family she had left. For all their arguments and his recent bouts of pushiness, she couldn't bear the thought of not having her father. Not after the way she has lost her own mother all those years ago.

Standing up from the bench, she walked into her kitchen and headed straight for her wine rack and pulled out a bottle of wine. As she worked on opening the bottle, she looked over at the cabinet that housed her glasses. Deciding against a glass, she took a swig from the bottle, "Stay classy, Ko Moon-young," she muttered to herself before walking towards her bedroom.

She took another large swig from the bottle before setting it down on the ottoman at the end of her bed. Taking a deep breath, she opened the door to her closet. As she stood in the doorway, her eyes traveled towards a shelf in the back corner. She stared at the spot for a moment before closing her eyes and giving herself a pep talk, "It's okay, Moon-young. You can do this. You've kept it for a reason."

With slightly unsure steps, she walked towards the back corner shelf and with shaky hands, she reached for a small light blue box that had been sitting there since the day she moved in. She looked at the box with sadness in her eyes before taking it into the bedroom with her.

Sitting down on the floor in front of the ottoman, she placed the box in her lap. She ran her hand across the top of the lid before pulling it open. Inside the box was a small wooden box that had Moon-young taking in a few short shaky breaths and a small doll that drew a small, sad smile from her. Leaving the wooden box untouched, she pulled the doll out of the blue box before setting the box down on the floor. She pulled her legs in towards her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

As she brought the doll closer to her face, her eyes softened and she smiled at the oversized head and uneven eyes, "Hello, Mang-tae. I've missed you."

Chapter 8: Why are the eyes uneven?

Chapter Text

20 Years Ago...

Moon-young sat in front of the table where they had set a photo of her mom in the living room to commemorate her life. There were too many people in her house. People she's never met before. People who came up to her and gave her pitiful smiles while they told her how sad they were. People whispering, "That poor little girl; to lose her mother at such a young age." Moon-young didn't like being pitied. She sat and watched as person after person walked up to her father and expressed their sorrows. She didn't want any of these people in her house. She wanted them all to leave so that she could grieve the loss with her father privately.

Every time she heard the front door open, she hoped to see him. Her Kang-tae Oppa. He always knew the right words to make her feel better. Where was he? Why wasn't he here yet? After the tenth person came up and gave her a pat on her head, she stood up and headed towards her father's study. Her father was so preoccupied with receiving condolences, he wouldn’t even know that she disappeared. At least there she wouldn't be bothered by people who knew nothing about her.

When she reached the door of the study, she looked back behind her to make sure that no one followed her. She quietly pushed and slipped through the door. Closing the door behind her, she let out a long exhale. Finally, peace and quiet. She headed to the large reading chair by the window and curled up under a blanket. She watched as the clouds traveled from one side of the window to the other. As she stared, she wondered if her Eomma was up on one of those clouds.

It had been a few days since her Eomma passed away. A few months earlier, she had been diagnosed with terminal Cancer and the doctors told them that as far as the disease has progressed, there was nothing they could do to save her. So for the last few months of her life, the family spent as much time together as they could, visiting places where they had made memories previously and made new ones. It was the first time in a long time that her Appa took some time away from work. And while the circ*mstances were sad, Moon-young loved every moment she got to spend with her parents.

She didn’t realize she fell asleep until she felt someone brushing her hair out of her face. She opened her eyes, slightly disoriented, and looked around before seeing Kang-tae Oppa kneeling in front of the chair she was in, “Hi, Moon-young,” he greeted with a smile, his hand resting on the side of her head.

Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes, “Oppa? When did you get here?”

Kang-tae sat back on the heels of his feet, “Not too long ago. Eomma and Appa are with Uncle Dae-hwan. I didn’t see you, so I figured you were hiding in here. Are you okay?”

She shook her head sadly, eyes welling up at the thought of losing her mother. Launching herself into his arms, she wrapped her own arms around his shoulders and buried her face in his chest before letting out the tears she had been holding back since she woke up. As her tiny body shook and the sobs that escaped her lips, she held on tighter to him. She had her friends and her best friend Nam Ju-ri. But Kang-tae Oppa was her bestest friend in the world, the person who knew her better than anyone else. With him she didn’t have to hide anything. She didn’t have to wear a mask and smile and say she was okay.

Instinctively, Kang-tae wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into his lap and rocked them both back and forth as he rubbed her back soothingly, “It’s okay, Moon-young, it’s okay. Oppa’s here. You’re going to be okay.”

In the week since Aunt Do Hui-jae passed away, he and his family had been spending every day at the Ko residence. His parents did their best to be supportive of their friend who just lost his wife, whether it’s his Eomma working with the housekeepers to make sure all of Aunt Hui-jae’s belongings were packed and labeled properly or his Appa spending time with Uncle Dae-hwan talking business or anything to keep his mind off the loss of his wife.

For Kang-tae, he spent his time at the Ko residence by Moon-young’s side. Whether it was watching movies in the living room or playing playground games on the grounds of the residence, he never left her side. He was there to hold her when she cried about losing her Eomma. He was there when she wanted to watch something that would make her laugh so hard that she would let out a snort that he found adorable.

Each day, before he left for his own home, he would hug her with a promise that he would be back the next day to play with her again. And each day, before he would turn around and head for her front door, he would see a sad frown on her face that told him that the hours without him would be filled with sadness and longing for her lost Eomma.

On the third visit, as they were getting in their car to head home, Kang-tae pulled his Eomma aside, she looked at him with confusion in her eyes, “What’s wrong, Kang-tae?”

“Can we stop at the toy store before we head home? I want to buy a present for Moon-youngie.” He told her.

She smiled and nodded, “Of course, let’s go pick a present for her.”

At the store, he walked up and down the aisles looking for the perfect gift that he thought would bring a smile to her face. Nothing was right. It was either too common or it didn’t suit her personality. He was about to give up when his eye spotted a DIY kit. He pulled it off the shelf and showed it to his Eomma. She looked at it and asked, “Are you sure? We can get her something that’s already made.”

He shook his head, “No, I want to make her something special. Just for her.”

His Eomma nodded, a smile on her face, “I think she’ll love it.”

With the box in tow, he went up to the register and paid for the present with his own allowance money. In the car, he read the words printed on the box with ideas and inspiration for the gift.

Over the next few days, when he would arrive home after another day with Moon-young, he would spend the hours before going to bed putting together his gift for her. When he was finished he had tiny cuts and nicks on his hands that made him proud. When he was finished with the gift, he smiled. It wasn’t the prettiest or the most perfect, but it was something he put all of his efforts and 12-year old heart into making. He only hoped that Moon-young would overlook the physical appearance and saw the thought he put into the gift.

He set it on his desk and stared at it, trying to think of a name for it. “Mang-tae,” he declared, after a few minutes. “I’m going to name you Mang-tae. I’m going to bring you to your new owner tomorrow. Her name is Ko Moon-young. You’re going to have to keep her company when I can’t be with her and make sure she’s not lonely.” That night, he went to bed with thoughts about how Moon-young was going to receive his gift. He hoped that she would love it as much as he loved making it for her.

The next day, dressed in a suit he picked out himself, Kang-tae walked through the front door of the Ko residence with Mang-tae in his hand. He went to greet Uncle Dae-hwan before his eyes searched for Moon-young. The house was filled with people he assumed were distant family and friends of the Ko family. After walking around the living area, weaving through people he’s never met before, Kang-tae decided to expand his search and headed to a place he knew Moon-young liked to go when she wanted peace and quiet.

When he arrived at the door of Uncle Dae-hwan’s study, he turned the knob and pushed the door slowly, making sure to not make too much noise. Upon entering, he saw Moon-young’s tiny body curled up in her favorite reading chair. He walked over and kneeled in front of the chair, placing Mang-tae next to him. He watched as the blanket covering her moved up and down to the rhythm of her breathing.

When a piece of her hair fell over her eyes, he reached over and brushed it back, waking her up in the process. He smiled softly at her disorientedness as she slowly came to her senses. He knew the past few days, weeks, and months had been tough on her. And while she would smile and tell everyone she was fine, he knew her and could read her like an open book after all the years they spent in each other’s orbit.

When she jumped into his arms after he asked her if she was okay, he wished he could have done something to bring Aunt Dui-jae back. But knowing better than to hope for the impossible, he settled for hugging her and rubbing her back to show his support. As her sobs turned into soft sniffles, he pulled back and wiped the tears from her face, “Do you feel better?” he asked.

She nodded, before pressing her cheek back against his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist. And as he continued to rock her back and forth, her eye caught something laying on the floor next to them. “Oppa?” she called out.

“Hmm?”

“What’s that thing on the floor next to us?” she asked, reaching over and picking it up. She frowned at it, a look of confusion on her face, “Why are the eyes uneven?” she asked, turning the doll with a head as large as its gray body and long gangly yellow arms and legs. She’s never seen anything like it before in her life.

Kang-tae chuckled awkwardly and pulled one hand from her back and rubbed the back of his neck, “That’s Mang-tae. I made him for you.”

Eyes wide, Moon-young asked, “You made it for me?”

He nodded, “Do you like it?”

“I love it,” she exclaimed, bringing it to her chest for a hug.

“I know it’s not perfect and the eyes are uneven,” he admitted sheepishly.

Moon-young shook her head, “Oppa made it for me. It’s perfect. Thank you,” she smiled brightly, hugging him tightly.

“I can’t be with you all the time, but I want you to feel like you’ll always have me with you no matter where you are. Think of Mang-tae as an extension of me when we’re not together. So, whenever you start to feel lonely when I go home, just give Mang-tae here a hug and think that it’s me you’re hugging,” he told her.

Moon-young nodded enthusiastically as she stared at Mang-tae before she rose up and gave Kang-tae a peck on the cheek, causing his face to turn a light shade of pink. “Thank you so much, Oppa. I love it so much.”

He smiled, “Of course. Anything to make you smile, I’m happy to do it.”

She giggled, diverting her eyes down to his shirt when a frown appeared on her face. Confused, Kang-tae asked, “What’s wrong?”

She looked up at him, “I messed up your clothes when I was crying earlier.”

He looked down to see that his shirt was wrinkled and had tear spots. He grinned and waved it off, “It’s okay. I’ll have to send it to the laundry after anyway. As long as you’re feeling better, you can cry on my shirt any time.”

“Thank you, Oppa. For being here. For Mang-tae. And for making sure I’m never sad or lonely.”

“Take good care of him, he’s not perfect but he’s yours.”

“I will. I’ll take the best care of him,” she promised.

“Good. How do you feel about going back out and joining everyone? Eomma and Appa were worried about you when they didn’t see you earlier.”

“I feel better. I should go say hi to Aunt Yoo-jin and Uncle Ji-tae.”

They stood up and Kang-tae grabbed her hand and entwined their fingers together before leading her out of the study. With one hand in his and the other holding Mang-tae tight, Moon-young felt safe. For the rest of the day, he stayed by her side as people continued to give their condolences to the father and daughter duo.

That night, as she crawled into bed with Mang-tae clutched in her hand. She thought of her Kang-tae Oppa. After her Eomma and Appa, he was the one she loved best. And that night, for the first time since losing her Eomma, Moon-young didn’t cry herself to sleep.

Chapter 9: All you have to do is ask.

Chapter Text

When she woke up the next morning, Moon-young found that she still had Mang-tae clutched tight in her hands. Sitting up, she grabbed her head with her free hand and cursed, “f*ck. Why did I drink so much last night?” she asked herself, looking at the empty wine bottle still sitting on the ottoman at her feet. She reached for the bottle of water she remembered to place on her nightstand before going to bed the night before and proceeded to gulp down half the bottle.

She looked down at Mang-tae in her hands and laid back down on the bed. She ran her finger over the seams and smiled. In the years between when Kang-tae gifted her Mang-tae to when she put him away in the box, he had always been by her side. He was with her for most of her life’s biggest moments, whether it was her first boyfriend, her first kiss, her first time dealing with her period, her first car, her graduation, and, most importantly, her first real heartbreak.

Putting Mang-tae away was one of the most emotionally difficult decisions she’s ever had to make. But at that moment in time, she felt that it was that right decision. She needed the time to build other coping mechanisms and now, as she was looking at him, she knew she made the right decision.

Last night she needed his brand of comfort. The kind of comfort she needed when she lost her Eomma. She needed a warm hug type of feeling that she couldn’t get from her Appa currently. She was still too upset at the fact that he had kept the state of his health a secret from her. It was something she was going to have to deal with soon, but she wasn’t ready yet. She needed to gather herself, otherwise she was going to end up saying things that would fracture their relationship and that would be just as bad as losing him.

Getting up from the bed, she headed into the bathroom to get ready for the day. She had no plans for the weekend other than reviewing the merger documents. If she was going to be serious about leaving her current role to manage her family’s company, she wanted to make sure she knew what kind of situation she was going to get into.

In the shower, she stood under the rain shower head as the hot water washed over her, cascading down her body. She thought about her options, joining her family’s company means being her own boss and being able to impact the direction of the company. That was something that would not only be a new challenge for her, it would also be empowering. While it was a challenge she craved, she wasn’t sure that she was ready for that level of responsibility yet. Being an EVP is one thing, at the end of the day, someone else was ultimately responsible for the outcome of the company. Maybe she was ready and this was the opportunity for her to prove herself that she can do it. And she would have both her Appa and Uncle Ji-tae as advisors.

The thought of Uncle Ji-tae meant thinking about his son. She thought about her father’s words around the idea of settling down. While Kang-tae is the last person she wanted to marry, she didn’t have the luxury of dating. At least not the luxury of getting to know someone, decide whether or not she likes them, introducing them to her Appa, and then hope they would propose. At least if she agreed to her father’s absurd idea, she would be able to cut out a lot of the whole process, keep her father off her back, and focus on what really matters: the company.

She thought about the man. If she decides to agree to this, there would have to be ground rules. They could be married in name but exist independently. Each of them would be free to do whatever they want while keeping their parents happy. And if and when they find someone else, they would have the freedom to pursue it, no questions asked. It would be a business contract, nothing more.

Turning off the water, Moon-young felt proud of how rational she was being. She squeezed the water from her hair before walking out. After pulling on her robe, she grabbed her hair towel and used it to squeeze more excess water from her hair. As she dried her hair, she heard the ringing from her intercom. Confused at who would be at her apartment this early in the day, she walked over to answer it, “Hello?”

“Ms. Ko, you have a visitor. We’re at your door,” came the voice on the other side.

“I wasn’t expecting anyone this morning,” Moon-young replied, trying to think who it could be.

“He said you knew him.”

“Okay, give me a moment.”

She stepped back from the intercom and went to the door. When she opened it, her eyes zeroed in on the man standing behind one of the security personnel from her building. He was wearing a dark grey t-shirt under a long wool coat with dark jeans, a baseball cap, and a pair of glasses she hadn’t seen him wear in a long time. She closed her eyes and groaned, “Good lord, do you have a radar on my brain or something that tells you I was thinking about you?”

Kang-tae grinned, “You were thinking about me?”

The security guard interrupted before she could answer, “We tried calling you but you didn’t answer, so he insisted that we come up to check. Do you know this man, Ms. Ko?”

Moon-young’s gaze didn’t move from Kang-tae when she answered, “Unfortunately.” Then, turning her focus to the security personnel, she nodded, “It’s fine. He’s harmless. Thank you for escorting him, I can take it from here.” She stepped back and let Kang-tae in before closing the door behind him.

“What are you doing here,” she asked once they were alone.

“You never contacted me like you promised. I wanted to make sure that you got home safely and were okay.” He lifted his left hand and showed her the bag he brought with him. “And I brought breakfast.”

She eyed the bag suspiciously, “I don’t want breakfast,” she declined.

He lowered the bag, “It’s still early, so I’m going to assume you haven’t had breakfast.”

“I don’t want breakfast... with you,” she clarified.

“Humor me? I really want to make sure you’re okay.”

Rather than argue, she walked past him towards her bedroom, “If you’re going to stay, at least make me some coffee. I’m going to need it if I’m going to have to deal with you today. I’m sure you can figure your way around a kitchen.”

He watched as she walked away from him, the slight sway of her hips making his mouth go dry before he shook his head and averted his gaze. “Don’t be a creep, Kang-tae,” he muttered to himself. With the bag in his hand, he moved to the kitchen. He placed the bag on the marble island and went on the search for the components to make coffee. When he found her coffee making equipment, he had to let out a chuckle. Sitting on the counter by the window overlooking the city was an elaborate set up for pour over coffee.

He remembered when he taught her how to use one years ago when their families were vacationing together in Europe after she graduated high school. The rental they were in only had the pour over system, which was something Moon-young hadn’t used before.

~

12 Years Ago...

One morning, after over-indulging on wine the night before, Moon-young stumbled into the kitchen on the search for coffee. After rummaging through the cabinets and not finding anything, her eye caught Kang-tae sitting on the terrace sipping from a mug. She rushed out and over to him, eyes frantic, “Oppa, where did you get that?”

He grinned at her, “Good morning, Moon-young. I made it earlier when I woke up.”

She frowned, “Is there any left? I couldn’t find any in the kitchen.”

He shook his head, “Just whatever’s in here.” He gestured to his mug and she stared at it longingly. His grin widened and with his index finger, he pushed it towards her, “Have some and I can make us more.”

“Thank you!” She breathed, gratefully. She reached for the mug and brought it up to her lips and took a sip. Letting out a small moan, she leaned down and gave him a hug, “This might be the best coffee I’ve ever had and it’s not because I am terribly hung over.”

Kang-tae pushed back from the table and stood up before tossing an arm over Moon-young’s shoulder. “I’m sure it has something to do with it.” Leading her to the kitchen, he ruffled her hair, “Come on, I’ll make us some more and you can help me with breakfast.” She leaned into his embrace and nodded.

In the kitchen, he grabbed all the tools and spent the next 20 minutes walking Moon-young through the entire process. Once the coffee was done brewing, he topped up his mug and poured Moon-young her own. “This was worth the wait. You’re going to have to teach me every day for the rest of this trip so that I can make it myself.”

He nodded and walked over to the fridge to grab ingredients for breakfast, “Anything you’re craving? I was thinking of simple: eggs, bacon, and hash browns.”

“I guess Haejang-guk isn’t in the cards?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“If we were back home, sure. But considering most of the ingredients for it aren’t common commodities here, the answer would be no.”

“Bummer.”

“Let’s hope you won’t need any Haejang-guk any time soon since you won’t be allowed to drink once we get home,” he told her as he put all the ingredients out on the counter.

She pouted, “Don’t remind me. But I do need to take it easy while we’re still here. I don’t want a repeat anytime soon.”

“I won’t remind you that I told you to pace yourself last night when you were getting friendly with that bottle of wine,” he teased.

“But it was so good. Do you think Appa would let me take a few bottles back?” Kang-tae gave her a look. “That’s probably a no, too,” she frowned.

“You’ll be okay,” he reassured her. “Now, put that mug down and come over here and help me. You’re on potato duty. Eomma, Appa, and Uncle Dae-hwan should be down within the hour. That should give you enough time to prep the potatoes for me and to get ready while I finish up.”

She nodded and grabbed the potatoes she laid out for her, “What are we doing today?”

“The adults want to stay in and relax today. I figured you and I can go and explore the city some more? We can grab lunch while we’re out and then come back and meet them for dinner.”

“That works for me. I can’t wait to see what you’ve mapped out for the day,” Moon-young smiled as she went about diligently grating potatoes for Kang-tae.

~

Back in Moon-young’s residence, Kang-tae smiled at the memory. He missed their family vacations. Their parents always tried their best to make sure that they had time to spend with him and Moon-young during their summer breaks, even if it was just a week. They stopped taking them after he graduated, when asking for a two-week vacation as an entry level associate was not an appropriate ask. And once he was more established, Moon-young ended up in the same spot and then as they got older, they ended up doing their own thing.

He put the kettle for the coffee on before taking off his cap and emptying the contents of the bag on the island. He found a dolsot bowl and poured in the Haejang-guk he brought and put it on the stove. Then, he grabbed bowls for the rice and banchans. Once the rice and the banchans were set, he returned to the task of making coffee.

After closing the door to her bedroom, Moon-young went back into her bathroom to finish drying her hair. Once she got her hair into a state that she was content with, she headed into her closet and got dressed. She pulled on a pair of black, ribbed cashmere leggings and a loose-fitting funnelneck sweater. She thought about putting on makeup, then realized that she had no reason to impress Kang-tae and ultimately decided to opt for her bare skin, like she would any other day where she had no plans to leave the confines of her residence.

She opened her bedroom door and was hit with the fragrance of food from the kitchen. At the doorway into the kitchen, she caught sight of Kang-tae moving effortlessly around her kitchen prepping breakfast. She stopped and watched as he expertly poured the hot water into the pour over system, his sweater stretching over his broad shoulders as he moved the kettle over and around the dripper, evenly dispersing the water. He looked too comfortable in her kitchen, like he belonged there. The image made her feel disoriented because he shouldn’t look like he belonged anywhere in her life.

She stepped into the kitchen and cleared her throat, bringing his attention to her. She looked at the set up he arranged on the island, “This is elaborate,” she commented, sitting down on one of the bar stools.

He gave her a smile as he poured the brewed coffee into two pre-warmed mugs before passing one to her. “I felt like you were going to have a rough night after dinner. And when I didn’t hear from you, I got worried.”

She took a sip of the coffee, closed her eyes, and moaned, “Dammit, how do you make it taste so good?” She asked with a hint of annoyance that brought a grin to his face. “I’m going to chalk it up to the fact that I’m severely hungover.” She took another sip, “I may not like you, but all the best coffee I’ve had in my life has been made by you.”

“Happy to be of service,” he replied, turning around to turn off the gas. He pulled the dolsot bowl from the stove and placed it on the trivet before placing the soup in front of her, “I thought maybe you could use this this morning.”

She looked at the soup in front of her, then at him, “Thank you.” She took a spoonful of the soup and blew on it before bringing to her mouth. “Well, this will surely hit the spot,” she claimed, going back for more.

Kang-tae picked up his mug and took a sip. Leaning against the counter, he watched as Moon-young devoured her breakfast with a satisfied smile. He was glad that he went with his gut and came over. Even if she didn’t let him in, he would have been happy with seeing that she was okay.

With Moon-young, he always had an instinct to protect and care for her. Whether it was a scraped knee when she was younger, or when she dealt with the first guy who played with her feelings, he always wanted to be the one to pick her up, dust her off, and make her feel better. Although he hasn’t been as present in her day-to-day as he would have liked, with the recent changes around the merger, he wanted to become her source of support again.

Half way through the meal, Moon-young stopped and looked at Kang-tae who was still watching her as he sipped his coffee quietly. “Did you want to have some? I didn’t even think to ask before I went all in.”

He shook his head, “All yours. I had something before I came. I’m glad to see you’re enjoying it.”

“It’s very good. Thank you. You didn’t have to, but I appreciate it.” Before she went back to her meal, she realized that rather than letting him stand there and watch, she might as well engage in a conversation. It was the least she could do since he did bring her breakfast and made her coffee. “So, I’ve been thinking a bit about the merger.”

Kang-tae raised his eyebrows and pushed away from the counter and took a step towards the island, “Oh? What are you thinking?”

“You’re the COO of your father’s company. With the merged company and our fathers stepping down, most likely you’ll move up to become the CEO. Where exactly would I fit into the picture?”

Kang-tae placed his mug down on the island and crossed his arm, “If and when you decide to join, it only makes sense for us to run it together as co-CEOs.”

She considered his words as she poured the rest of her rice into the dolsot bowl and pulled it closer. Kang-tae chuckled at the move and she shrugged, “Since you’re not going to be joining, I’m not letting go to waste.” She took another bite before responding to his suggestion, “You’re okay with sharing? Most men don’t like sharing the spotlight.”

He waited for her to look up before he responded, when she did, he held her eyes, “I’m not most men. Regardless of the current state of our relationship, you know that better than anyone.”

“Do I?” she threw back.

He placed both hands on the island and leaned in, “I think that question is more for yourself than me, don’t you think?”

“Who you were ten years ago and who you are now are two different people. We might as well be strangers,” she replied.

“I won’t disagree that things have changed in the last ten years, but fundamentally, we’re still the same people.”

With a serious look on her face, Moon-young shook her head, “No. We’re not. I’m definitely not the same person I was ten years ago, fundamentally or otherwise.”

Kang-tae had a feeling that Moon-young was alluding to something he didn’t know about. But he also knew that probing into that meant going into dangerous territory. With the way this morning is progressing, he knew the best decision was to let it go and go back to the previous subject, “That doesn’t change the fact that I have no problem sharing with you. What about you? Would sharing with me be an issue?”

“I haven’t decided yet.” She put her spoon down and pushed away from the island. She piled all the bowls and took them to the sink. Staring out the window, she let out a long breath, “Do you really think we can effectively work together?”

“Absolutely,” his answer came immediately. “I know you have a lot on your mind right now. And I think you should take all the time you need to make your decision. Whenever you decide, the role is yours. No one’s taking it.”

“Right,” she responded. Turning around, she retrieved her mug and walked to the coffee pot and started to pour before looking up to Kang-tae, “Did you want more coffee?”

He shook his head, “I’m fine. All you.”

She poured the rest of the coffee into her mug and gestured towards the direction of her living room, “Do you want to sit down for a bit?”

“Sure, lead the way.”

She walked past him and turned towards her living room. Walking over to her favorite corner of the couch, she sat down and curled her feet behind her. She then gestured for Kang-tae to sit on the other side of the same couch. He placed his mug on her coffee table, fashioned from a vintage steamer trunk from one of her favorite luxury brands. It was unconventional for a vintage piece to exist in such a modern place, but Moon-young made it work. Kang-tae sat down and faced her, draping an arm across the back of the couch.

“So, other than the prospect of sharing the CEO responsibilities with me, what else have you been thinking about?”

Moon-young didn’t answer right away. She looked at the mug in her hand and thought about his question and the knowledge she gained the night before in relation to her father’s other wish. “How long has Appa been talking to you about… the other thing?”

“You mean him wanting us to get married?”

“Yes.”

“He’s never talked to me about it until the day we met you for dinner,” he answered. “Neither did Appa. I was as surprised as you are.”

“You don’t have an issue with this? The idea of being forced to marry someone you don’t love? Or being forced to give up your bachelorhood in general?” She asked, her annoyance at the idea ever so present in the tone of her question.

He shook his head, “Not particularly. Like I said to you before, I like you, Moon-young. I’ve liked you for most of my life. Regardless how you feel about me, that doesn’t change how I feel about you. And learning to love you wouldn't be difficult, but you would have to at least let me try.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend or something?” She threw out the question like a lifeline.

He chuckled, then shook his head again, “I’d be flattered if I thought that was your round about way of trying to learn about my romantic life but I know it’s not. To answer your question, there hasn’t been anyone in a very long time.”

She considered his answer for a moment before continuing, “Alright, then let’s say I join the company and we get married. We’ve appeased them for the time being. How long before they start seriously demanding grandchildren? Appa has already mentioned wanting some.”

He shrugged, “I don’t think it has to be decided now. And even if they want grandchildren, if we’re not ready, we’re not ready. If you’re asking me if I want children, my answer would be it depends on who their mother would be. If their mother would be you, then yes.”

“What if I don’t want children?”

“I would respect that, but I would want to know why.”

“Do I need a reason?”

“I’ve never known you to not back your beliefs without one.”

“What if I’m not capable of carrying one?”

“Then I would accept that and if we both still want children, adoption is always an option. The most important thing is that we’re open with each other about it. I’m not the one who will have to carry any child when we’re married. Ultimately you would be the one to make the decision and I would support you.”

She held up a finger, “If. If we get married. I haven’t decided yet.”

“If we get married,” he conceded. “The ball’s in your court, Moon-young. Whatever you decide, around the merger and our potential marriage, I will respect your decision.”

“You’re awfully accommodating.”

He grinned, “I don’t have much of a choice, do I? I can’t and won’t force you into anything where you’re not a willing participant. You’re going to do what you want to do and I respect you enough to support your decision.”

“Why do I feel like there’s a but coming?”

“No buts. The merged company would be lucky to have someone as intelligent as you as its co-CEO. And I would be lucky to have you as a wife because you know as well as I do that I could do so much worse in that department,” he joked. Then shrugging, he concluded, “At the end of the day, it’s up to you if you’re ready to take the role of the company and whether or not you feel I’m worthy enough to stand next to you.”

Moon-young remained silent while she contemplated what he said. His points were valid, as they infuriatingly often were. But she also knew that he had the company’s best interest at heart. And even more unsettlingly so, her best interests. The ball was, indeed, in her court. But she wasn’t even sure if she wanted the ball. While both decisions will have lasting impact on her life, one was a much easier and less stressful decision than the other. She looked at the man in front of her whom, to his point, knew her better than most. She had a lot to think about and didn’t want to rush into anything. As if he knew her inner thoughts, Kang-tae cleared his throat.

“It seems like you have a lot on your mind to think about. At this point, I hope you know where I stand on this. I want to be a good partner to you, Moon-young, if you’ll let me.” He stood up from the couch and grabbed his mug, “I’m going to head out and give you the space you need to think through all your options. I’m here if you have questions about the merger. It should be all wrapped up really soon.”

She nodded, “Thank you for checking in on me, bringing breakfast, and especially making me coffee.”

“Anytime. I’m always here. All you have to do is ask.” He gave her a little wave, “Take care of yourself and I’ll see you when I see you.”

She returned his wave and watched as he walked out of the living room. And then listened as he dropped his mug off at the sink in the kitchen and left her apartment. When she heard the click of the front door, she let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding in. She looked out her window and continued to weigh her options. She needed to strategize her next steps, whatever they may be. Running a hand through her hair, she laid down and stared at the ceiling, was she ready to take on running a company… and a husband?

Chapter 10: I’m sorry, what are you going to do?

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, Moon-young focused on reviewing the documents that Jae-soo had delivered to her. One night, in the middle of the week, as she was wrapping up another reading session, she received a call from one of her best friends, Nam Ju-ri. Picking up the call with a smile, she greeted, “Nam Ju-ri, it’s been a while. To what do I owe this pleasure?”

“We saw each other last week,” came the reply.

“A day without you is like a lifetime,” Moon-young teased.

On the other side of the phone, Ju-ri shook her head, trying to suppress a laugh, “Have you eaten anything yet?”

Moon-young looked at her watch and let out a curse.

“I’ll take that as a no.”

“I’ve been spending so much time reading that I lost track of time.”

“Yeah, yeah, this is not news to me. Well, it’s your lucky day, I’ve got food.”

“You’re here?” Moon-young asked.

“Yes, I just parked and am walking into your building now,” Ju-ri answered.

“What if I wasn’t here?” Moon-young asked.

“All you’ve been doing the past few weeks is reading pages and pages of legal documents. You’re not doing that outside of your home,” Juri-replied.

“You read me like an open book,” Moon-young joked. “Okay, I’ll see you in a bit.”

“See you in a few,” Ju-ri replied before hanging up.

Moon-young closed the file she was looking at and looked at her read and to be read piles and was relieved to see that she only had a few files left to read. Pulling her glasses off, she rubbed the tiredness out of her eyes before standing up and stretching.

Over the past few days since Kang-tae’s visit, Moon-young did a lot of reading and thinking about what he said. At this point, she realized that the move would be a no-brainer and that she was ready for this next challenge. Not only that, in doing so, she would be able to take most of the responsibilities off her Appa’s shoulders. He needed to be able to walk away knowing that his company was well taken care of. And while they all knew that Kang-tae would be capable of handling it, she also knew that her father’s dream was that she had a hand in it, too.

Her problem was that she didn’t want him to feel like she was only doing this because she knew about his health condition. She would have to figure out how to make him understand, even if that meant playing nice with Kang-tae.

Playing nice with Moon Kang-tae for the sake of the company was one thing, playing nice with him around a relationship she didn’t care for was another. But as she continued to think about it, it was almost too logical. If she was able to eliminate the element of her father worrying about whether or not she would get married any time soon and who her husband would be, she could focus her time on her work. As for Kang-tae, she’ll figure out how she was going to deal with him and keep him at arm's length.

Walking towards her front door, she thought to herself, this was either the most genius idea she has ever had, or the stupidest one. But this wasn’t time to dwell on it. When the knock came at the door, she pulled it open and greeted her friend with a beaming smile on her face, “Nam Ju-ri, a delightful surprise.”

“Someone has to feed you,” Ju-ri walked through the door and headed to the kitchen.

“And I am so lucky to have you in my life,” Moon-young followed her closely behind. She tried to peek in the bag that Ju-ri brought and asked, “Is it from your Eomma’s kitchen?”

“Who else would make me haul all this over here? Why don’t you set the utensils and I’ll open everything.”

The two of them spent the next few minutes in comfortable silence, as each of them tackled their own task in the kitchen. Ju-ri was Moon-young’s closest friend since childhood. They met in their first year of elementary school when Moon-young stepped in and stopped a group of girls from tormenting Ju-ri, who was a target due to her family’s modest background. Moon-young never cared about it and found Ju-ri to be a sweet girl who was always genuinely kind to her without expecting anything in return, unlike Ju-ri’s bullies who wanted to be around Moon-young because they knew her family had money. Not to mention, they all had a crush on Moon Kang-tae who would always go out of his way to check-in on Moon-young during breaks. If you couldn’t find Moon-young with Kang-tae, she was most likely with Ju-ri somewhere.

As they got older, they decided to attend the same college and roomed together. Moon-young was always thankful to have Ju-ri in her life. She was a friend she could rely on for anything. She was also one of the few people who knew about her and Kang-tae’s falling out but was always respectful to never pry. Moon-young smiled at her friend and nodded when she pointed to the dining table, signaling for Moon-young to sit down.

After everything was set on the table, Moon-young stared at all the delicious food that Ju-ri had brought with her. She grinned at her friend, “Please thank you Eomma for me. This looks amazing.”

“You can thank her yourself the next time you go over.”

Moon-young nodded, “I’ll make sure I do that.” She dug in happily, spooning soup, eggs, stir fried veggies, and grilled meats onto her rice bowl. After a few bites, she looked up to see her friend watching her with a small smile on her face. Stopping for a moment and wiping her mouth with a napkin, she asked, “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’ve been a little worried about you. You’ve been holed up here for a while. I know you have a lot on your mind around the merger. How is that going? Have you decided what you’re going to do?” Ju-ri asked.

Moon-young took a sip of her water before she answered. “I’m 99% sure. I’ll have to talk to Appa but I’m going to join the company.”

“You feel good about the decision?”

“I’m a little nervous, to be honest. It’s a lot of responsibilities and challenges that I’ve never had before.”

“But at least you’ll have your Appa to advise you right?”

“Of course and so will Uncle Ji-tae.”

“What about Kang-tae?”

“I’m sure he’ll have his own advice he’ll share with me.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“Are you going to psychoanalyze me?”

“Do I need to?” Ju-ri asked.

Moon-young ignored her and answered the initial question, “In many aspects, he knows the companies better than I do. He’s been on the board at our company for a while, so he’ll have useful knowledge about the investors. But he’s also good at his job. So I’m sure I’ll be learning a bit from him as well.”

Ju-ri smirked, “Do my ears deceive me, or did you just compliment Moon Kang-tae?”

“I’m mature enough to give credit where it's due, thank you very much.”

“Of course, of course.” Ju-ri responded. She had thought she was going to get a different kind of response from her friend, maybe a denial. Moon-young had been pretty clear to her about her dislike for Kang-tae. Ju-ri was curious about what her friend was thinking and when Moon-young remained quiet, she asked, “Is everything okay? What’s going on?”

Moon-young considered her next words. She knew that once it was out in the universe, she would have to live with the potential consequences of her decision. She was the kind of person who stuck to her decisions once she made them and knew that her pride wouldn’t let her walk back on her words. She took a deep breath, “I’m going to marry Moon Kang-tae,” she announced.

Ju-ri, who was in the middle of swallowing her food, started coughing aggressively. She haphazardly placed her utensils down next to her bowl before reaching for the glass of water in front of her and taking a drink before asking, aghast, “I’m sorry, what are you going to do?”

Moon-young looked at her friend and repeated herself, enunciating each word slowly, “I. Am. Going. To. Marry. Moon. Kang. Tae.”

“Are you sick?” Was the reply that came immediately.

Moon-young shook her head as if it was the most natural thing in the world, “Fit as a fiddle.”

Ju-ri looked at her skeptically, “Are you… sure?”

“About marrying Kang-tae or being sick?” Moon-young tossed back.

“Either? Both? Moon-young, are you insane?”

“I’ve thought about it and it makes sense,” she responded.

Ju-ri shook her head, “To whom? Last I checked, you hated the guy. So, I’ll have to disagree, marrying him makes zero sense,” Ju-ri argued.

“I may not like him but he’ll be resourceful.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Marrying him means Appa will get off my back. I can solely focus on work rather than trying to balance trying to do my job and listening to him talk about how I need to get married and give him grandkids.”

“Sure… that’s an option.”

“You think it’s a terrible idea.”

“I think you’re setting yourself up for a lot more than you’re bargaining for. But it’s your life, I’ll support your decision, as incredibly ludicrous as it may be.”

“Thanks?”

“Have you spoken to your Appa or Kang-tae about this?”

“No. I just decided before you called me.”

“How do you think they’re going to respond?”

“Appa would be thrilled since he thinks Kang-tae is the best thing since sliced bread. Kang-tae will probably go along with it just to keep everyone happy.”

“And how do you feel about marrying him?”

“I can suck it up. It’ll be temporary anyway. I just need to keep Appa happy and then once things settle Kang-tae and I can go our separate ways and tell our parents we tried and it didn’t work out.”

“You’ve really thought this out.”

“Did you expect otherwise?”

“I guess I shouldn’t’ve.”

“But…”

“But you should be careful. You two have history. And to this day you still haven’t dealt with whatever it is that caused you to drift apart. I’m your best friend and I don’t even know what happened.”

“It’s ancient history that’s not worth dwelling on.”

“But you are dwelling on it because something about it still has some kind of effect on you.” Moon-young didn’t respond but stared at the space in front of her, in deep thought. Ju-ri reached out and gently placed her hand on Moon-young’s arms, “You don’t have to tell me what happened. But eventually, you’re going to have to tell him because it’s going to impact more than your personal relationship; it will affect how you work together and have an impact on your business.”

Moon-young played with a grain of rice in her bowl, “I’m just not ready to talk about it yet.”

Ju-ri put her hand up as a sign of surrender, “Okay. I’m not going to push.” She paused for a moment before asking, “So, when are you going to tell your Appa about joining the company? And when are you going to tell your boss you’re quitting?”

“This week. I’ll talk to Appa first before putting in my resignation. They’ll probably want a 60-day transition period.”

“Do you think your boss will put up a fight?”

“I doubt it. They’ve probably been expecting something ever since the merger was announced. Maybe they’ll be disappointed, but they probably realize that there’s very little they can do to try to keep me.”

“They’re losing an important asset to their business,” Ju-ri agreed. “I think you’re going to do great at the company. I’m so proud of you, Moon-young.” Ju-ri got up from her seat and walked over to Moon-young and wrapped her arms around her. “You are going to kick so much ass,” she gave Moon-young another squeeze before pulling away.

“Thanks, Ju-ri. You’re going to end up hearing me bitch and moan about this for a long time to come. But I appreciate you having my back.”

“Always, you lunatic.” She flicked Moon-young’s forehead, making her laugh.

They spent the rest of dinner talking about Ju-ri and her work. Moon-young was glad that her friend was doing well. Sometimes she worried but also knew that Ju-ri was more than capable of helping herself. Over the years, her friend had grown from a meek young girl to a strong, yet kind-hearted woman. After Ju-ri left, Moon-young retired to her living room and phoned her father. After a few rings, Dae-hwan picked up.

“Moon-young?”

“Hi Appa.”

“Is everything alright? What has you calling me so late?”

“Everything is fine, I’m calling to see if you are free for lunch tomorrow? I have a few things I want to discuss with you.”

“I can be free for you for lunch tomorrow.”

“Great, I’ll send through the invite. And Appa?”

“Yes, Sweetheart?”

“No guests. Just us, please.”

“Noted.”

“Perfect, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

~

When Moon-young arrived at the restaurant the next day, she was happy to see that she arrived before her Appa. She gave the hostess her name for the reservation and then asked for a table by the window. She asked for a glass of club soda as she took her seat and took the menu that was offered to her.

After looking for a few moments, she placed the menu down on the table and stared out the window and thought about how she was going to tell her Appa. She had no reason to be nervous, he wasn't going to say no but he would be curious about the reason behind her decision.

She wasn’t able to give it too much thought before her Appa arrived. She got up from her seat and reached out to give him a customary hug and peck on the cheek, “Hi Appa.”

He returned her peck with his own before taking his seat across from her, “I was surprised when you called last night.”

“I’m sorry if I scared you, I’ve been doing some thinking and wanted to talk to you about it and wanted your advice.”

At that moment, the waiter came and introduced himself and took their orders. Moon-young opted for a simple salad and Dae-hwan went for a seafood stew and a glass of wine. He was surprised when Moon-young decided to stick with club soda, but didn’t question her decision.

When the waiter walked away, he asked, “So, what was it you’ve been thinking about.”

Pulling off the proverbial band-aid, she shared, “I’m going to give the partners my letter of resignation tomorrow.”

“You’re quitting? But you love that job and that company,” Dae-hwan exclaimed.

“I do and I do. But I think it’s time I finally move on and take on bigger challenges.”

Dae-hwan looked at his daughter and tried to make sense of what she was telling him. His mind went to the obvious, but he didn’t want to make any assumptions, “Do you mean what I think you mean?” He asked.

Moon-young nodded, “I’m ready to join you at the company.”

Daw-hwan got up from his seat and walked around to Moon-young, pulling her up into a hug. When he pulled back, his eyes were glassy with unshed tears of happiness, “Moon-young, are you serious? Are you really going to join me?”

She nodded and let out a giggle only the closest people to her ever get to see, “Yes, Appa, I’m going to join you. I think it’s time that I do.”

“Oh, I am so happy!” He gave her another hug, before heading back to his seat.

“The firm will probably ask for a 60-day transition period. I think during that period, it will be good for us to meet regularly so that you can show me the ropes.”

“I would love that,” he smiled.

They talked a bit more about her plans of tendering her resignation and what she was anticipating to hear from the partners. When the food arrived, they thanked the waiter and Dae-hwan worked on deshelling some of the shelled seafood in his dish. Moon-young watched her father meticulously prep his meal before deciding to go into the second reason why she wanted to meet him.

“Appa,” she began, catching his attention, “There’s another thing I think we need to discuss as we start working on my transition.”

Dae-hwan nodded and gestured for her to continue, “Yes?”

“I know about the heart attack,” she revealed. She watched closely as her father’s body tensed up and he put down his silverware. “Kang-tae told me the night I invited him to dinner as a thank you. And before you get upset that he told me, he only did it because I told him that we wouldn’t be able to work together if I don’t trust him and that I can’t trust him if he was keeping something important about you from me.”

Dae-hwan frowned, a look of shame and sadness all over his face, “I am sorry Moon-young. I didn’t want you to worry and the doctor mentioned that I would be able to recover just fine,” he paused and looked at her, as a new realization hit him, “You’re not quitting your job and joining me because of this, are you?”

“That’s an insulting insinuation, Appa. And what if I did? What’s wrong with me joining the company to help alleviate the stress you’re under?”

“I just don’t want you to feel forced into something that you don’t want,” he explained.

“You have no problem trying to push me to marry Moon Kang-tae. How is this any different?” she asked.

“You know it’s different, Moon-young.”

“Is it though?”

“You know it is. But let’s set that aside for now. We’re here to celebrate.”

Moon-young nodded, “Right.”

“So, you know that we’re going to have to tell Ji-tae and Kang-tae before it publically gets announced, right? They should hear it from you and not the news.”

“Of course. What do you advise?” She asked.

Dae-hwan thought for a few moments. “Why don’t we host dinner at my place. That way you can tell them and then we can celebrate together?”

“That can work, when were you thinking?” she asked.

“How about this weekend? If you’re resigning tomorrow, I think the sooner you tell them, the better. You know people will talk, so getting ahead of that would be crucial,” Dae-hwan explained.

“That’s fair. Dinner on Saturday then.” She quickly pulled out her phone and put in a calendar reminder. After she put it away, she asked, “Do you have the latest update on when the merger is finalized?”

“Should be mid-next week,” he replied. “What are your thoughts about us announcing your move when we have the press conference?”

Moon-young nodded, “If it works for everyone, then sure. By that point people might already know, but wouldn’t hurt to make it official.”

“Great, I’ll talk to Sun Byul and make sure that she works on prepping for that.” He reached out and patted her hand, “I’m so happy. You have no idea, Moon-young. Thank you.”

Moon-young smiled at her Appa. She was glad that she was able to put him at ease about the business. Then, as she finished her lunch, she realized that she was about to give her Appa another reason to celebrate in the very near future, much to her chagrin. But she was going to hold off telling him until she could at least speak to Kang-tae. The last thing she wanted was for her father to prematurely celebrate and say something to Kang-tae without her setting boundaries and expectations with the man himself first.

When she said goodbye to her father after lunch, she got into her car and drove back to her office. On the drive she contemplated how she was going to tell the partners about her leaving and how she was going to tell Kang-tae that she wanted to marry him. They were two very different, yet very stressful conversations to think about. But without having to do a side-by-side comparison, she already knew which one was going to make her lose sleep over the next few days.

Chapter 11: Moon-young, was there something you wanted to share?

Chapter Text

The next morning, when she arrived at her office, Moon-young walked over to the head partner’s office. She greeted his secretary and asked, “Good morning, is Chiwon in yet?”

“Good morning, Ms. Moon-young. Yes, he arrived a few minutes ago. His calendar is open for another 30 minutes.”

“Perfect.” She walked over to the closed door and knocked. She poked her head in to check to see Chiwon sitting at his desk staring at his computer monitor. “Good morning, Chiwon. Do you have a few minutes to chat?”

Chiwon looked up from his screen, “Morning Moon-young. Of course, come in, come in.” When Moon-young entered and sat down in front of him, he asked, “What’s going on? How can I help you?”

Moon-young pulled out an envelope from her bag and placed it on the table. Chiwon looked at it and knew immediately what the conversation was about. He didn’t interject, giving Moon-young the platform to speak. “As you’re probably aware, my father’s company is currently going through a merger with the Moon family. I think that at this moment, my place is next to my father. I want to be able to work with him and learn from him before he decides to retire. So, sadly, I will be tendering my resignation from the company today.”

Chiwon looked at her and nodded solemnly, “I can’t say I’m surprised but I am disappointed to be losing someone with your talents.”

“You know how much I love being here. It wasn’t an easy decision for me to make.”

Chiwon smiled, “I know it wasn’t. To be honest, I’m more surprised it’s taken you this long.”

Moon-young nodded absently, “Yeah, I’ve been hearing that a lot.”

Chiwon sat back in his chair, “Do you have plans for your transition?”

“I was thinking 60 days. That should give you some time to find my backfill and me time to bring the team and the new backfill up to speed.”

“That sounds reasonable enough. I appreciate you doing that.”

“Of course. And I appreciate the opportunities you’ve given me over the years. I’ve learned a lot from you,” Moon-young smiled.

“Of course,” he nodded. “Let me be the first one here to wish you the best of luck.”

“Thanks so much, I’m going to need it!” She laughed. Getting up from the chair, she gave him a small bow, “Well, I’ll notify the HR team. Please feel free to inform the other partners.” She paused for a moment. “Although, I do ask that this information not be shared outside of the partners and the HR team. There are still a few things my father and I need to finalize.”

Chiwon nodded, “Of course, I understand.”

Moon-young gave him one last nod before leaving his office. She held her head high as she walked back to her own office, taking in the little details around the office that she’ll miss when she’s gone. When she reached her office, she closed the door behind her and let out a long breath. It went a whole lot better than she imagined. With all the thoughts that have been running marathons through her brain lately, she was thankful that Chiwon was understanding.

She looked at the desk that has been hers for the past several years. She had so many great memories of coming up with ideas and solutions for new products sitting in that chair. To think that within a few months, it won’t be her desk anymore. She walked around and sat down on her chair; she was really going to miss this office.

She booted up her computer and started drafting a transition note. For the most part, each of her teams have all the detailed notes in place for all the projects that they’ve been working on. For her, the transition note is more around expectations of what policies and terms need to be outlined and approved by legal before they can launch to the public. She had trust in her team so that she didn’t have to micro manage them but still had enough in-depth knowledge where she can easily go to bat for the team if they need their deadlines to be extended. Going to bat for her team was one of her favorite aspects of the job. Moon-young was not one to shy away from confrontation; some would say that she thrived on it.

She spent the rest of the morning outlining her transition notes between meetings. Then, she spent her afternoon answering emails from some of the other partners around her resignation. It was a mix of congratulatory messages and ones bemoaning her departure. They all made her smile because she knew that, on most days, she was valued.

Later that evening, when she walked through her front door, she felt a combination of relief and exhaustion. She kicked off her shoes and left all her belongings, excluding her phone, on the entryway bench and made a beeline for her bedroom where she shed her clothing and entered the shower, turning on the water to the hottest temperature. As the hot spray hit her body, she felt herself loosen up slightly. She took a step closer, letting the water run over her hair. She grabbed her shampoo and dispensed it into her hands before bringing them to her hair and began to massage her head.

She felt good about her decision, although now she has to simultaneously prepare for both her transition from her current role, as well as her transition into her new role. Being the overachiever that she is, she wanted to get ahead of the curve and as much as she hated to admit it, she was already feeling slightly overwhelmed. Outside the walls of her residence, she wouldn’t let anyone see how much this was weighing on her. And she knew, soon enough she would be in a good place and everything would fall into place where it needs to.

As she blow dried her hair and prepared for bed, she thought about dinner the next day. It would be the first time in a while that she saw Aunt Yoo-jin and Uncle Ji-tae. Too long by her normal standards. She was looking forward to seeing and sharing the news with them. She wondered if they would be surprised or if they would expect it. Surprised or not, she knew for a fact that they would be happy. Turning off the blow dryer, she ran the brush through her hair a few times before setting it down.

~

The next day, after spending what felt like several hours contemplating her outfit, only to realize that she had no one to impress, she pulled on one of her favorite cowl neck sweaters and a pair of skinny black trousers. From her shoe closet, she grabbed a pair of mid-heel chelsea boots. She didn’t fuss over her makeup or hair, leaving her face relatively bare with only mascara and lip balm to add some pop and her hair in their natural loose waves.

She packed her purse, a large pouch for today, with her essentials of keys, wallet, lip balm, and a light scarf. Then, knowing that she’ll be indulging in drinking tonight, she opted for calling for a car. Once she got the notification that the car was nearing her residence, she grabbed a coat from her front closet and headed out.

The ride to her father’s residence was quick and she was happy that the driver didn’t engage her in a conversation. When she arrived, she was happy to see that she was the first to arrive. She thanked the driver and stepped out of the car.

When she entered, she hung her coat up on the coat rack and followed the scent of cooking food to the kitchen. She peeked her head in and was surprised to see Aunt Yoo-jin was moving around the kitchen with her family’s longtime housekeeper Yoo Eun-jung. She pulled up her sleeves and walked up to the older woman, “Aunt Yoo-jin! I didn’t expect to see you here. I didn’t see your car…”

Yoo-jin wiped her hands on a towel before turning towards Moon-young, “I had the driver drop me off. I wanted to make sure Eun-jung had some help in the kitchen. And thought maybe I’d get to catch up with you a bit before the boys get here.”

Moon-young wrapped her arms around the older woman, “It’s so good to see you!” She exclaimed, “I’m sorry I haven’t been good about meeting up with you lately,” she frowned apologetically.

Yoo-jin brought her hands to Moon-young cheek and gave it a loving caress, “You can make it up to me with a girls’ lunch next week. In the meantime, just make sure you take a little time for yourself when you can. I already worry enough about you without having to worry about whether or not you’re getting enough time for yourself outside of work.”

Eun-jung chimed in, “A visit here once in a while doesn’t hurt either,” she teased.

Moon-young moved away from Yoo-jin and wrapped her arms around the woman who practically raised her in her youth and gave her a kiss on the cheek, “I’m going to start scheduling visits in my calendar and then you’ll be so sick of seeing me.”

Eun-jung patted her arm, “I would never get tired of seeing you.”

Moon-young looked around, “Is there anything I can help either of you with?”

“Grab an apron and wash your hands, we’ve got plenty for you to do,” Eun-jung responded.

Moon-young nodded and followed directions. Once her hands were cleaned, she came back to the island and was handed a handful of onions. She pouted, knowing her fate but did as she was asked. Half way through the first onion, she felt the tears running down her cheeks. The two older women laughed at her struggle and she whined, “Is this punishment for not prioritizing seeing you?” she asked.

Yoo-jin, who felt bad for the younger woman, nudged her aside and took the knife and expertly chopped the onions without irritating her eyes. Moon-young grabbed a paper towel and wiped her eyes and thanked her past self that she used waterproof mascara, “You’re going to have to teach me that one day.”

“You know where to find me,” she smiled.

Eun-jung spoke up, “Alright, enough torturing you. Why don’t you wash the dishes and then watch us old ladies do our thing.”

Grateful for the reprieve, Moon-young headed to the sink and began tackling the dishes. The smells in the kitchen started to get better and better as the time went on and her two of her favorite women did their magic. As she was wrapping up the dishes, she heard the brisk and heavy footsteps of her father before she heard his voice, “Well, I’ll be damned. My daughter knows how to wash dishes?”

“Funny, Appa.”

Dae-hwan stepped up to Moon-young and planted a kiss on the crown of her head, “Good to see you sweetheart.”

“You, too, Appa.”

“Yesterday went well?”

She grinned and nodded, “Mmhmm.”

“Can’t wait to hear about it,” he patted her shoulder before heading over to greet Yoo-jin.

At that moment, the door rang. “I got it,” Moon-young told the other occupants before heading off to the front door.

When she opened the door, she was greeted by both Uncle Ji-tae and Kang-tae at the door. She put on a smile and greeted them, “Uncle Ji-tae! Kang-tae… Oppa,” she paused slightly on the title, “Come on in. We’re all in the kitchen.” She stepped aside to let the two in the door.

Ji-tae nodded at the apron she still got on, “Did those ladies wrangle you into cooking?”

Moon-young shook her head and giggled, “Oh no, after they saw me crying over the onions they made me chop up, they relegated me to dish duties.”

Ji-tae wrapped an arm around her shoulder, “Those onions are notorious. I avoid onion chopping at all costs when your Aunt Yoo-jin gets me into the kitchen.”

“I heard that,” Yoo-jin called out from the kitchen.

Ji-tae laughed as they reached the doorway to the kitchen, “Can’t get anything past you, Yeobo.” He walked up to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek, “Looks like you outdid yourself.”

“Eun-jung and I were always a good team,” Yoo-jin replied. “We’re almost done, so why don’t you two start taking some of these over to the dining room,” she nodded over to Kang-tae and Moon-young.

Kang-tae gave his mother a greeting, “Hi Eomma,” he kissed her cheek, “Everything looks delicious.”

She patted his arm before handing Moon-young a tray with a variety of banchan dishes, “You take these. And you,” she nodded to Kang-tae, “Take this pot of Kimchi Jjigae,” she pointed to the pot on the stove.

Kang-tae nodded and grabbed the pot and followed Moon-young into the dining room. He placed the pot on the trivet and observed as Moon-young placed all the banchan dishes on the table.

“Why are you staring,” she asked, without looking up at him.

“Ah, sorry. Just thinking,” he responded.

“About?”

“You look nice today.”

She looked up at him, “Right, well, thank you.” She picked up the tray and walked back towards the kitchen.

Kang-tae closed his eyes and muttered, “Idiot.”

~

Later, as they were seated around the table enjoying the feast by Yoo-jin and Eun-jung, with Kang-tae seated to Moon-young’s right, Dae-hwan cleared his throat, “Moon-young, was there something you wanted to share?”

Moon-young looked at her father and nodded before setting down her silverware. She took a deep breath, “Yes, thanks Appa.” She looked around the table, starting with Uncle Ji-tae, then Aunt Yoo-jin, and ending with Kang-tae, “I tendered my resignation at the firm yesterday.” She paused and looked at the shocked reaction from her aunt and uncle. She felt Kang-tae’s stare but didn’t turn to look at him. “And, I will be joining the company,” she smiled.

“Oh, Moon-young,” Ji-tae exclaimed. “I’m so thrilled to hear that, but I also know that it must have been a very difficult decision.”

She nodded, “It wasn’t easy, but I thought about everything that’s been going on,” she reached for her Appa’s hand, “And it made the most sense.”

“We’re so proud of you, honey,” Yoo-jin smiled.

“Congratulations, Moon-young,” Kang-tae gave her a smile.

“Thank you,” she returned the smile.

“So when should we expect you to be in our offices?” Ji-tae asked.

“I’m giving myself 60 days to prepare the transition. That will give the team time to look for my backfill. And if one’s hired during that time, I’ll start walking them through all the projects I’ve been working on,” she explained.

“But she’s already asking me to start bringing her up to speed,” Dae-hwan chuckled.

“Well, you let us know how we can be of help. Any of us here would be more than happy to help,” Ji-tae offered.

“Thank you, Uncle Ji-tae. I’m sure I’ll have questions,” she chuckled and he nodded in response.

~

After dinner, Moon-young and Kang-tae were given the task of washing and drying the dishes as their parents refused to let Eun-jung take care of it the next day. So, while their parents retired to the living room, Moon-young worked on washing the dishes and Kang-tae on the drying.

When she finished with the last dish, she placed it in the drying rack for Kang-tae. She stepped away from the sink and grabbed a glass of her drink that was sitting on the island behind them. Now that the news of her resignation was out there, she had one more thing she needed to address with the man standing in front her, diligently drying each dish of any and all signs of moisture.

She took a sip of her drink for courage, she cleared her throat and called his name, “Kang-tae, may I have a word with you?” she asked.

He turned towards her and asked, “Is everything okay?”

She nodded, “Everything is fine.” She considered the topic and figured their parents wouldn’t be too concerned with their absence, “Why don’t we go to the study?” she suggested.

He nodded and followed her lead. Once they were in the room, Moon-young closed the door and moved towards the window and stared out at the backyard she’s known all her life. Kang-tae stood in the middle of the room and waited for her to speak. After a few moments, without turning around to look at him, she spoke, “One year.”

Confused, he repeated her words, “One year? You’re going to need to elaborate, Moon-young. We could go in any direction with that.”

“I’ll marry you for one year,” she declared, still staring out the window.

“You’re not serious,” he replied in disbelief.

She turned around and looked at him, taking a seat on the window sill, “After a year, we separate. Tell everyone we tried and it didn’t work out and that at the end of the day, the success of the company was more important.”

Kang-tae shook his head, “Moon-young, please don’t joke about this.”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“I’m not exactly sure how to determine the meaning of your words by looking at you considering the amount of times you’ve destroyed my clothes with a smile on your face.”

“I’m serious. One year. I want to focus on the company’s inevitable reorganization from the merger without Appa breathing down my neck. I also don’t want him to stress. If I have to marry you to get it done, I’ll do it.”

“How romantic of you,” he scoffed, still trying to wrap his mind around her outrageous proposition.

“Romance was never in the cards for us.” Moon-young responded flatly and saw the flash of anger in his eyes before it disappeared. It wasn’t often that she was able to hit a nerve, and a twisted part of her was satisfied that her comment struck one.

Taking a few steps towards her, Kang-tae crossed his arms because it was the better option than grabbing and shaking her, “You sure that’s the path you want to walk down right now, Moon-young?”

“There’s no path to walk down,” she shot back and continued, “If you’re not interested, you’re more than welcome to tell our parents,” she challenged. When he didn’t respond, she carried on, “One year. If either one of us finds someone else, we can walk away, no hurt feelings.”

He doubted that there wouldn’t be hurt feelings in this situation. And he’ll be damned if he was going to stay still if someone was going to try to court Moon-young while they were married. He took a few more steps until he was standing in front of her, “And what else should I be expecting in this proposed marriage of yours?”

“We sleep in separate rooms, which means we’ll have to get a new place since mine only has two rooms and one of them is my office,” She explained.

He wasn’t going to address the issue of the proposed sleeping arrangements, not yet anyway, “My place has plenty of room.”

She shook her head, “I’m not moving into your place. I want neutral ground if we’re going to live together.”

“Fine, I’ll get a real estate agent to start looking.”

“I wouldn’t get ahead of myself if I were you, you haven’t heard the rest.”

“Go on,” he urged.

“In private when it’s just the two of us, no touching, no kissing, and absolutely no sex.”

“Are we allowed to solicit services of professionals, then?” He asked, knowing her answer before she delivered it.

“Absolutely not.”

“You expect us to be celibate for a year?” He asked.

“We both have hands. I know how to use mine, I assume you’re acquainted with yours,” she pointed to his hand.

He put his hands into his pocket, “It’s not the same and you know it.”

“You know what they say, adapt or die,” she smirked.

“I know the saying well. But this sounds like I’m the one expected to do most of the adapting.”

“Are you not up for it?”

He leaned in, his hands gripping the windowsill, caging her with his arms, “I’m not the one whose father is stressing about me not being married. If I were to say no, I can go tell our parents and mine would accept it. I doubt Uncle Dae-hwan would be as accommodating.” He grinned at the glare she shot him.

Taking a deep breath, she co*cked her head and asked, “Then what do you propose?”

“We share a bedroom because it’s logical. You can buy the largest bed on the market if you’re concerned that I am over to overstep boundaries,” he countered before she could.

“What else?” she asked, gritting her teeth tightly.

“Touching, kissing, and sex are on the table,” he held up a finger to stop her from interrupting, “With consent. I’m not going to force you into anything you don’t want but if I’m getting married, I’m going to touch, kiss, and make love to my wife.”

“And if I never consent?” She countered.

“It’ll be a lonely year for both of us. That said, during the year together, I’ll do my damnedest to convince you otherwise. And I’ll use the time we have to prove to you that I’m not going to hurt or betray you. You’re going to have to learn to trust me.”

“Now it looks like I’m the one doing more of the adapting.”

“Perhaps, but at least you have a choice. In your scenario, I had no say in any of the decisions. Think of this as a compromise.”

“And if I agree to this compromise?”

“The next year should go by smoothly,” he answered. He waited for her to consider his terms. “Do we have an agreement?”

She sighed and rolled her neck, “Fine.”

“So, when do you want to get married?” He asked.

“Within a month. That should give us enough time to pull everything together. I don’t want anything elaborate. Just a small reception,” she told him.

“Are you sure? People are going to expect more out of us,” he reminded her.

“That’s not my problem. I want small. If we could keep it to the five of us, I would have suggested it. But I know that Ju-ri would murder me. So let’s try to keep it to under 50,” she suggested.

“Fine by me,” he agreed. He wasn’t one for extravagance either. “If it’s alright by you, I’ll let you handle all the wedding decisions, unless you feel like my opinion is needed. And I can handle all the paperwork.”

“Whatever makes this go by quickly,” she responded.

He chuckled, “You really don’t want to do this.”

“I’d rather get daily pap smears, but that’s not going to get Appa off my back.” She gave him a quick once over, “Appa was right about one thing though.”

“What’s that?”

“I could do worse. At least he likes you,” she conceded.

He grinned, “You used to like me, too.”

She shot him a glare, “Don’t.”

He stepped back and lifted his hands, “Fine, fine. I won’t push.”

She decided it was time to change the subject, “This sweater looks nice,” she remarked as her eyes traveled down the length of his torso, taking in the fit of the gray crewneck sweater that was tapered to his lean frame.

He leaned back in and reached for the hand that was gripping the whiskey glass full of Old Fashioned, “I’d advise you against trying to soil it tonight, Moon-young, considering you need my help.”

She sighed disappointedly, loosening her grip from the glass and her hand from Kang-tae’s. “When do you suggest we tell our parents?”

“We should wait until after we formally announce the completion of the merger. That will give me time to get you a ring,” he suggested, looking down at her bare left ring finger.

“Don’t think too hard about it, it’s temporary anyway,” she reminded him.

“I’m getting you an appropriate ring, even if it’s temporary,”

“Fine,” she pushed away from the window. “We’re in agreement then?”

He nodded, taking a step back to give her room, “Agreed. I’ll have Jae-soo start drafting the prenup agreement and call my real estate agent to start looking at properties.”

“Great,” she replied, walking towards the door of study, lifting up her glass as a nod before emptying its contents.

After she left and closed the door behind her, he sat down on the leather reading chair and reflected on the last few hours of his life. He walked into this house without a potential co-CEO and single. And he was leaving with a partner to split his responsibilities at the office… and a fiancée.

He couldn’t even imagine what married life with Moon-young would be like. Hell, it’s been so long he didn’t even know what not having her scheming against him was like. He put his head in his hands and hoped that he wasn’t making a mistake. She was giving him a year and he was going to make sure that he used that time to make her realize that there was no one else better than him for her.

He reached for his phone and dialed Jae-soo’s number. When his friend picked up the phone, Kang-tae cut straight to the point, “Jae-soo, I need you to draw up a prenup and get me all the paperwork for a marriage license.”

Chapter 12: I don’t think you want me to answer that.

Chapter Text

Over the next few days, Moon-young was inundated with phone calls and text messages from Kang-tae about their upcoming wedding and impending marriage. By the 10th call that weekend she was ready to strangle him, “Just pick a ring, Kang-tae. I don’t care what it looks like.”

He stuttered his response, “I… uh… was calling about scheduling for us to meet up to go over the prenup that Jae-soo put together.”

“He already sent them over to me and I’ve sent it over to my lawyer,” she replied. “Was there something else you wanted to discuss?”

“About your ring,” he began.

“Kang-tae,” she sighed exasperatedly, “I already told you, whatever it is, it’s fine.”

“I actually got it already. Are you free to meet so that I can give it to you?” he asked.

“That was fast,” she remarked, surprised.

“We both like efficiency. I texted my jeweler friend after we spoke on Friday,” he explained.

“I see. I’m out running errands right now but am actually pretty close to your place. I can probably get there in about an hour if that works?”

“That’s perfect, I’ll see you in a little bit.” He hung up the call and looked around his apartment. Luckily because his personality didn’t allow him to be messy, he didn’t have much to tidy other than some paperwork that was scattered across the dining nook in his kitchen. He gathered the documents and stacked them into a neat pile and moved it towards the corner of the table.

He looked at his watch which told him that it was close to dinner time. And knowing that if she was out running errands, Moon-young probably hadn’t eaten anything yet. He went over to his fridge and stared at the contents for a minute before deciding on a simple kimchi fried rice.

He pulled the ingredients from the fridge and rolled up his sleeves. He spent the next few minutes chopping up the kimchi he picked up from his parents earlier in the week. After that, he prepared the spam before chopping the green onions for garnish and garlic for flavor.

He was glad that his Eomma forced him to learn how to cook when he was younger. It allowed him to be self-sufficient as he got older. And for him, cooking had become a form of therapy that he found soothing.

He spent the next 15 minutes cooking the kimchi fried rice and was happy with the result. He made enough to feed an army with surplus for a few future meals. He was turning off the gas when he heard the buzzing from his front door. He quickly washed and dried his hands before heading to answer it.

He opened the door to see Moon-young on the other side. Today, she was dressed in a pair of dark, skinny jeans, a tan oversized chunky sweater, low-heeled boots, and carrying a large Celine belt bag that was as wide as her body and matched the color of her sweater. “Hi, Moon-young,” he greeted, stepping back to allow her in.

She adjusted the bag on her arm and stepped over the threshold. She placed her bag on the bench by the entryway before taking off her shoes. Her nose caught the scent of garlic and kimchi and she instinctively sniffed the air, “Did you cook?”

“I just threw together some kimchi fried rice in case you were hungry after being out and running errands,” he told her, leading her to his kitchen.

She frowned, “You didn’t have to do that.”

He pointed to the dining nook, “I wanted it to. Take a seat, I just finished when you arrived.” He turned on one of the burners and placed a pan on it to heat. “You like eggs on yours, right? Crispy edges and runny yolk?” he asked.

Moon-young hesitated over her answer, causing Kang-tae to turn his head her way, “Yes,” she nodded. “How did you remember?”

“Hard to forget when it was something you always asked for when you were younger,” he grinned.

While he waited for the oil to heat up, he spooned the rice into two wide bowls for the both of them. When the oil was ready, he expertly cracked an egg with one hand into the pan and allowed for the egg to cook slightly before lifting the pan and gently spooning the hot oil over the eggs to cook the egg whites.

Moon-young watched as he deftly moved around, very much a man in his own element. She was reminded of the days back when they were much younger when they would hang out and relax in the kitchen and she would watch him experiment with a dish that he learned earlier in the week. She was always a willing guinea pig since everything he cooked ended up being to her liking.

The clanging from Kang-tae putting the pan back down on the stove after plating the egg brought her out of her thoughts. She straightened in her seat as he walked over and placed the bowl and a glass of water in front of her before taking a seat across from her on the other side of the table.

She took her spoon to the bowl and got a spoonful of the rice with some spam and a small piece of the egg. She took a bite and closed her eyes as the tart flavors of the kimchi danced with the saltiness of the spam. It really wasn’t fair that he could cook so well. She could try to reason that she was out all day and was hungry but even she knew better than to deny the fact that this was one of her favorite dishes and in the past he’s never disappointed when he’s cooked it for her.

When she opened her eyes, she saw that he was watching her expectantly, waiting for her feedback. She reached for the water and took a sip before commenting. “All these years, your kimchi fried rice still tastes the same. But, I guess, as they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Thank you for this. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.”

He smiled, “I’m glad you like it.”

She nodded and continued to help herself. She enjoyed it so much that she finished the bowl in less than 10 minutes. When she was done, she felt a twinge of disappointment, partially because she could probably eat more and because now it meant she’ll have to engage in a conversation with Kang-tae.

As if he could read her thoughts, Kang-tae asked, “Did you want seconds?”

She shook her head, “I probably shouldn’t, although a part of me wants to say yes.”

“I made plenty, so I’ll pack you some to take home,” he replied.

“You don’t have to do that,” she argued.

He stood up and cleared the bowl from in front of her, “When was the last time you bought groceries?”

She looked up at him, “Why do you care about the state of my groceries?”

“I think you know the answer to that. If you wanted to ask me how I know, I saw your fridge when I visited you last week. Emptier than a field after harvest.”

“What were you doing in my fridge?”

“I was looking for water,” he answered. “So, do you want to keep arguing about me packing you a box?” He asked as he dropped the bowls in the sink. She glared at his back before softening her eyes and shaking her head when he turned around. “Good. I made enough to feed a village anyway, so you’d be doing me a favor.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” she replied flatly.

He sighed, “Moon-young.”

“I said thank you,” she responded.

He shook his head, “I’m going to go get your ring before one of us gets hurt.”

She smirked, “You’re not already regretting this, are you?” She asked his retreating back.

“Not at all,” he shouted back. She rolled her eyes and sat back in her seat.

While she waited for him to return she looked around at the kitchen that looked like it wasn’t a place that existed for vanity. If the kimchi fried rice she just ate told her anything, it was that Kang-tae often frequented his kitchen. And while this was the first time she visited his residence, it was clear that he made the place a home for himself. The residence itself was located in an affluent part of the city and not too far from her own. She wondered what he was going to do with the place during the year they’ve agreed to live together.

In his bedroom, Kang-tae grabbed the ring box from his night stand. He opened it and looked at the set nestled between the velvet cushions. He knew that a simple diamond ring wouldn’t fit someone like Moon-young. When he messaged his jeweler friend, he mentioned wanting to do something special for her bridal set. For the engagement ring, he wanted a round-cut, natural blue diamond, set on a rose gold eternity band and a couple of matching curved diamond bands that would surround the centerpiece of the stack. He would have one of the curved bands be a base for the engagement set and the other he would give to her on their wedding day.

Armed with those specific requests, his friend didn’t disappoint. The blue diamond was light, almost an aqua color that contrasted nicely against the rose gold. The way the diamond ring fit perfectly into the curved band made him smile. Not only did his friend hit it out of the park, he was able to turn around the pieces within a 48 hours notice. Sure, he had to pay a hefty expediting fee, but he was glad to do so. He closed the box and headed back to the kitchen.

When he got back, he took a moment to observe Moon-young sitting in his kitchen. Someway, somehow she always seemed to fit into his world, even if she didn’t want to. Even as she was sitting, cross-legged on the nook bench as she scrolled through what he was sure was her emails, she looked like she belonged there.

He cleared his throat to signal his return. She put her phone down and shifted her attention to the small box in his hand. In front of her, he shifted his weight back and forth between his legs. She averted her attention to him and asked, “Are you nervous?”

“I don’t know how to do this,” he replied, his fingers still playing with the box.

“Opening the box would be a good start,” she chuckled.

“Right, right,” he scratched his ear lobe. Losing her patience, Moon-young yanked the box out of his hand and opened it and was rendered speechless. Her eyes were wide and her jaw slacked. Her eyes moved back and forth between him and the ring. “Do you hate it?” he asked.

“Kang-tae, this is gorgeous,” she put it down on the table and leaned in to inspect the pieces, “Are you sure this is appropriate for a fake, temporary marriage?” She asked.

“Nothing is fake about a marriage license, Moon-young,” he argued.

“Just because it’s legal, doesn’t make it real,” she countered.

“Do you like it or not?” he asked, slowly becoming bothered by the path the conversation was heading.

She looked at him blandly before going back to look at the ring, “I love it, infuriatingly so. Why do you always do this? I tell you one thing and you go and do the exact opposite.”

He grinned, “I could ask you the same thing.” He looked at the ring box again and asked, “How should I do this? Do I get on one knee?”

“Considering I was the one who technically proposed, I don’t think that’s necessary.”

“At least let me put it on for you?”

“If you insist,” she replied, extending her right hand to him. He looked at her with a confused expression on his face. “If it’s alright by you, I’d rather wait to put it on my left hand when we tell our parents. I don’t want someone seeing and telling them.”

He hesitated before nodding. He pulled the rings out of the box and grasped her hand and gently slid the rings onto her finger. And although it wasn’t the intended finger, the rings fit perfectly. He held on to her hand for a few moments longer and they both stared at the rings glittering on her finger.

“I’m going to have a hard time giving this back when it’s all over,” Moon-young stated.

“How about we not talk about it,” he told her before letting go of her hand. Taking a step back he quietly headed to one of the cabinets and pulled out a few containers. He knew he was starting to get frustrated with Moon-young’s repeated hammering on the temporariness of their impending marriage. He knew what she was trying to do and would typically be able to deflect it but today, it was proving to be difficult to keep his emotions at bay. He took a few deep, calming breaths as he started packing up the food for her.

From where she sat, Moon-young watched as Kang-tae moved around quietly. She could see the tension in his shoulders, which for someone who was always calm and relaxed was out of nature. She was starting the piece together some of the things that bothered him and it was apparent that her overall view of this impending marriage was one of them. She was going to store that in her memory for future reference.

Once he was finished packing the box, Kang-tae brought it over to Moon-young, “This should last you at least three meals.”

She stared at the box, “Did you leave any for yourself?”

“I have enough, plus a full fridge,” he replied.

She stood up, “Right. Well, thank you for this and the beautiful ring.” She held up her right hand. “I should get going before it gets even later.” She went for the container when his hands covered hers.

As if time stopped, they stared at each other for a moment before Moon-young broke contact by pulling her hand away. Kang-tae picked up the container from the table, “Let me take you home.”

“It’s okay, I can call a car,” she politely declined.

“What kind of fiancé would I be if I let my fiancée go home in a hired car when I’m capable of driving her myself?” he asked.

She grinned, “I don’t think you want me to answer that.” Realizing that agreeing was going to be the path of least resistance, she nodded, “Fine. Please take me home.”

He smiled and carried the box towards the front door. While Moon-young put her shoes back on, he grabbed his keys, wallet, and phone. When she was finished, Moon-young picked up her purse and followed Kang-tae out the door. He closed the door behind them and locked the door before pointing to the elevator for the garage.

In the enclosed space of the elevator, Moon-young could smell the distinctive smell of Kang-tae’s cologne and grimaced. Kang-tae saw the look in the reflection of the elevator and turned to face her, “What’s wrong?”

She bit her bottom lip for a second before responding, “Your cologne makes me nauseous.”

Her answer took him by surprise. “You were the one who bought me my first bottle.”

“I know that. It’s just over the years, something about it makes me really nauseous,” Moon-young admitted.

They stepped out of the elevator and Moon-young followed Kang-tae while he continued to probe, “It’s not the reason why you’ve been this way for the past decade, is it? Please tell me this wasn’t the reason all along.”

Moon-young scoffed and shook her head, “Of course not. Give me a little bit of credit. If that were the case, I’d tell you years ago and we wouldn’t even be here.” She waited for him to unlock the car before getting in and watched him carefully place the food container in the back seat.

He got in next to her and shut the driver side door. He turned and looked at her, “Thank goodness for that,” he paused for a moment before testing his luck, “Are you ready to tell me what is the reason?”

Moon-young felt her heart rate quickening at the question. Was she ready to tell him? Not at all. She wasn’t even ready to think about it herself. Will she ever be ready? Maybe, eventually. He waited for her to answer knowing that if he continued to push, she would only retreat further.

On a long exhale, she declined, “No. I’m not ready to talk about it yet.”

“We’re going to be married soon. Are we really going to have this hanging over our heads the entire time?” He asked. He turned away from her and pushed the button to start the engine. She answered as he reversed out of the spot.

“I don’t know. I just can’t talk about it right now. Can we please drop it?”

Kang-tae tightened his grip on the steering wheel but nodded, “I want to know so that I don’t make the same mistake again,” he explained.

“Don’t worry. You won’t get the opportunity to,” she told him. “Like I said, let’s drop this. Let’s focus on something else, like what are you going to do about your place while we’re married?”

“I’m going to rent it out. When I spoke with the real estate agent about looking for a property for us, I told him to put mine up for rent as well,” he told her.

“You won’t be putting it on the market for sale?”

He shook his head, “No, it’s a good investment property. It’s in a great area, centralized, close to transportation. Selling it wouldn’t be wise,” he told her.

“Do you think someone would rent it?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. With all the amenities, even at the market rate, it’s not cheap,” he told her.

“And if no one rents it?” she asked.

He grinned, “I guess I’ll use it as the proverbial dog house when I inevitably piss you off during our marriage.” He turned to look at her reaction to see her trying hard to not show that she thought it was funny. He turned back to the road in front of them and asked, “What about your place?”

“I’m still debating about it. Maybe I’ll also put it up for rent because it, too, is a good investment property. But I want to wait until we decide on the new place before I do anything.”

“That makes a lot of sense,” he agreed.

“What were the criteria you gave the real estate agent?” she asked.

“At least 3 bedrooms, 2 offices, a study and/or library, a big kitchen, his and hers closet, and a large master bedroom that gets natural light. Everything else is negotiable,” he told her.

She laughed, “Do you think such a place exists in Seoul?”

He shrugged, “If it doesn’t currently, we’ll just build it.”

“Are we going to be waiting for half our marriage before we get to move in?”

“We’ll make it work,” he told her.

“If you say so,” she responded, slightly skeptical.

As they got closer to her apartment, he remembered to ask her about the event happening in the upcoming week. “Did Uncle Dae-hwan tell you about the merger event on Wednesday?”

“Yes, he called me on Friday saying that the final paperwork is being signed Monday and that the event will be at the Four Seasons Hotel at 4PM.” She rattled off the information she was told.

“I was thinking of hosting dinner at my place afterward and then telling our parents then. What do you think?” He asked as they were stopped at the red light about two blocks from her residence.

Moon-young played with the rings on her finger as she considered the option for a few moments before nodding in agreement, “Sure.”

Kang-tae pulled the car to a stop in front of her building and turned off the engine. “Really?” He asked, watching her closely, “No arguments?”

Moon-young opened her purse and brought out her keys. She then looked up at him with humor in her eyes, “Do you want an argument?”

Kang-tae shook his head vigorously, “No.”

She unbuckled her seat belt and reached behind Kang-tae, her upper body brushing up against his arm as she retrieved the container of fried rice from the back seat. When she sat back she saw that his body was stiff as if he witnessed something otherworldly. “What is it?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he responded tightly.

“Alright then. If you don’t want an argument, I won’t give you one.” She tapped on the container before opening the passenger door, “Thank you for this. It’s one less thing for me to worry about.”

As she turned to exit, he reached for her hand. She looked at his hand on hers before looking at him. He let go and apologized, “Sorry, I was going to ask if you’d like for me to pick you up for the event?”

She thought about her schedule and shook her head, “No. I have several meetings that day. It would be best if I grab a cab when I’m finished. That way you don’t have to wait on me in case it runs over.”

“Right. Okay. Let me know if you change your mind or your schedule changes, I would be happy to pick you up.”

She nodded, “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind.” She grabbed her purse handle and stepped out onto the sidewalk. “Have a goodnight, Kang-tae. Thank you for the food and the ride. I’ll see you Wednesday.”

He waved, “Goodnight, Moon-young.”

She waved back and closed the door. He watched as she entered the building, stopped to say hello and chat with the doorman before heading towards the elevator. With a smile on his face and a feeling that he was making progress, as little as it may be, Kang-tae started the car and drove back home.

In her apartment, Moon-young placed the fried rice in her very empty fridge and made a note in her phone to order groceries. She looked around her kitchen and thought about how sad it was that she didn’t use it as much as she should. She herself wasn’t unfamiliar with being there but unlike Kang-tae, she was more of a baker than a cook. That didn’t mean that she couldn’t fix a few killer dishes she learned over the years. She’ll just have to get back in the kitchen once things start to settle down.

Later that night, as she was getting ready for bed, Moon-young reached for Mang-tae who had taken up residence on her bedside table. She sat up on her bed and brought her knee towards her chest. With Mang-tae in one hand, she admired the rings on the other. How was it that he knew her tastes so well?

She turned Mang-tae towards her right hand, “Do you want to see what your Appa got for me, Mang-tae? Isn’t it pretty?” She sighed dreamily as she stared at the way the diamonds glittered as she moved her fingers around.

“How am I going to survive the next year, Mang-tae?” she asked. “And what is he going to say when he realizes I still have you?”

She stretched out her legs and slid down onto her pillow, “I hope I’m going the right thing, Mang-tae. For Appa and the company.” She brought him to her chest and held him tight before closing her eyes and mentally forcing herself to calm her mind and go to sleep.

~

The next three days flew by as Moon-young was moving from one meeting to another, getting updates on all the projects her teams were working on. She was proud of all the work her teams have done. She would be sad to not be here when the products finally launch but she had the confidence that her team’s leadership would be able to see it through without her guidance.

And before she knew it, Moon-young was walking out of her last meeting of the day. In her office, Moon-young powered down her laptop and packed up all of her belongings into her trusty tan Loewe Hammock bag. She called for a car on her phone before grabbing her coat and made one last check of her office and turning off the light. As she was leaving the office, she made sure to bid everyone a goodbye and thanked them for their work.

The car ride from her office to the hotel was mostly free of traffic. When she arrived on the floor of the ballroom, she was greeted by Sun-byul who rushed over from where she was standing with some of the staff working the event. “Good afternoon, Ms. Moon-young. So glad you could make it.”

She smiled, “Of course. I wouldn’t miss it for anything. Are they all in there?” She asked, referring to her Appa and the Moons.

Sun-Byul nodded, “Yes. Let me take your jacket and bag and I’ll take you over to them.” Moon-young nodded and shrugged out of her coat. She grabbed her phone from her bag before handing her bag and jacket to Sun-byul who surveyed her outfit, a Max Mara cream colored distressed sweater worn over a Max Mara ivory dress with a skirt made with strips of fabric that allowed for movement and flow. “Your outfit looks amazing,” she commented, with a sense of admiration in her eyes, as they entered the room.

“Thanks, you don’t think it looks too casual, do you?” She asked, thinking maybe she should have worn a blazer over the dress instead.

“On someone else, perhaps. But you make it look very chic and fashionable,” Sun-Byul complimented.

Moon-young smiled as they entered the ballroom, “Thank you, Sun-byul. You’re too good for Appa. Are you sure you don’t want to come and work with me?” She teased.

“Well, with the merger I know he’s been talking about retiring, so I may need to look for a new job,” she replied, her tone sad.

As they got within a few feet of the group, Moon-young made eye contact with Kang-tae who looked over at her while he was engaged in a conversation with their Appas. Before splitting from Sun-Byul, she gave her shoulder a light, comforting squeeze, “Let’s talk later,” she winked. Then, walking up to her Appa, she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, “Hi, Appa. Congratulations.”

“Hi sweetheart. I’m glad you made it,” Dae-hwan smiled, running a hand over her hair gently. “You look beautiful,” he complimented her, eyes proud.

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world. And thank you,” she replied. Continuing down the line, she gave Ji-tae a hug and a peck on the cheek, “Congratulations, Uncle Ji-tae.”

“Ah, Moon-young, thank you, darling. It’s been a long time coming,” Ji-tae smiled.

“I know you, Appa, and Kang-tae,” she paused on her next word, “Oppa, have worked very hard on this merger. I’m so happy for all of you.”

“I know your Appa and I are happy about the prospect of retirement,” Ji-tae remarked.

“Oh, don’t I know it, Uncle Ji-tae,” Moon-young replied, giving her Appa a knowing look. Dae-hwan cleared his throat sheepishly in response. Turning back to Ji-tae, Moon-young gave his arm a light squeeze, “I’m sure Aunt Yoo-jin is looking forward to spending time with you.”

“She only thinks she does,” Ji-tae whispered, winking at Moon-young and getting a small giggle out of her in response.

Next to him, Yoo-jin, gave him a nudge, “I heard that.” She reached out for Moon-young and pulled her into a tight hug, “Our Moon-youngie, hello honey. Love the outfit.”

“Thank you, Aunt Yoo-jin. I know I owe you a lunch,” Moon-young grimaced, feeling guilty. “This week has gotten away from me,” she explained, quickly glancing over at Kang-tae. “But if you’re free, I can make tomorrow happen!”

“My calendar is always open for you,” Yoo-jin smiled.

“Perfect. Lunch tomorrow, it is.”

Yoo-jin gave her a motherly smile as she reached out for Kang-tae, “Kang-tae, why don’t you say hello to Moon-young before I take her to the bar to grab a drink before taking our seats.”

“Yes, Eomma,” he responded as he stepped up to Moon-young, “Hi Moon-young,” he greeted.

She received his greeting with a nod, “Congratulations.” She gave him a quick one armed hug which he returned by pulling her close with both his arms. After a moment, she pulled away awkwardly. She gave him a polite smile although her eyes said otherwise.

“You’re part of this celebration, too,” he reminded her.

“I’m joining at the end, so you all did the hard work. But I’m looking forward to diving in, soon,” she replied.

“I look forward to it,” he responded in kind.

She turned to Yoo-jin and placed a hand on her arm, “Aunt Yoo-jin, should we go grab our drinks?” Yoo-jin nodded and the two of them walked over to the makeshift bar in the back of the room.

Kang-tae watched the two of them walk away and felt a small shove from his Appa, “Kang-tae, remember that smile I was telling you about?” Ji-tae asked. Kang-tae looked at his Appa with a confused look on his face. Ji-tae chuckled, “All over your face, Son.”

Frowning, Kang-tae looked between his Appa and his uncle who both had satisfied grins on their faces, “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” He replied flatly, tugging at the lapels of his jacket. “I’m going to go check to make sure everything is ready.”

Ji-tae nodded, “Do whatever you need to do, Kang-tae.”

As they waited in line for the bar, Moon-young and Yoo-jin chatted and made plans for their lunch. “What have you been in the mood for, Aunt Yoo-jin?” Moon-young asked.

“Oh, I don’t know but let’s branch out from the usual traditional foods. I love it as much as the next person, but I wouldn’t mind a little change of pace,” she replied.

Before Moon-young could reply, the bartender signaled for their order. Yoo-jin ordered a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and Moon-young ordered a club soda and lime. At Yoo-jin’s look of confusion, Moon-young grinned, “There’s a lot happening today. I need to keep my head together.”

“With those three, you definitely need to keep your wits about you,” Yoo-jin joked and Moon-young nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

As they waited for their drinks, Moon-young returned to the topic of lunch, “I know of a great new sushi place that just opened up. Would you like to try that?” Moon-young asked.

“Sushi is perfect.”

When their drinks were ready, Moon-young grabbed them both and handed Yoo-jin her glass. At the movement, Yoo-jin’s eye landed on the rings on Moon-young’s right ring finger. “That’s a gorgeous stack,” she commented as they stepped away from the bar and started heading towards their seat.

Moon-young smiled, “It is, isn’t it? I got it as a gift.” She extended her hand for Yoo-jin to get a closer look.

Yoo-jin nodded, “Whomever gifted it to you sure has a keen eye for great jewelry. Just enough sparkle to catch your eye, but not so much that it’s in your face. Just like you,” she smiled.

Moon-young smiled brightly at the compliment. Once they found their seats, they both sat and watched as the three men got on the stage. The MC signaled for all the attendees to take their seats. Once everyone settled down, the MC introduced the three men before Ji-tae stepped up to the front of the stage.

“Friends, family, and honored guests, thank you for making the time in what I’m sure is a very busy schedule to be here with us today. As many of you know, several months ago, one of my best friends Ko Dae-hwan and I decided that as we begin to near our retirement, we wanted to merge our business into one. My son Moon Kang-tae has been learning his way from an entry level role to becoming my right hand man as the COO of our company. Not only that, over the past few years, he’s built a strong business relationship with Dae-hwan as well. So when we started thinking about the merger, it only made sense that Kang-tae will be stepping up as one of the CEOs of the company.”

Hushed whispers filled the room at his word, which was a signal for Dae-hwan to take over the mic. “You all must be wondering, what on earth is Moon Ji-tae talking about? Don’t worry, your ears didn’t deceive you.” He smiled and looked at Moon-young, who took a sip of her soda as her Appa continued his speech. “After what seems like a lifetime, I am thrilled to announce that my daughter, Ko Moon-young, will be joining our company. And with the merger becoming official, she will be taking on the role of co-CEO with Kang-tae. I couldn’t be prouder to have these two become partners as they lead our new merged company into its new chapter.” Dae-hwan gestured for Moon-young to join them, “Come on up, sweetheart.”

Moon-young took one more sip and placed the glass on the table. Yoo-jin gave her arm an encouraging squeeze and joined in on the clapping as Moon-young made her way up the steps to the stage. She stood next to Kang-tae as her Appa wrapped up his speech, “I know that these two will work just as hard to make sure that our company continues to grow and become something that all of us will be proud of.” He stopped for a moment and looked over to Kang-tae and Moon-young before ending handing the mic over to them. “I’m sure you all would like to hear a few words from these two how that Ji-tae and I have bored you to death.”

Kang-tae chuckled as he took the mic from Dae-hwan and gestured for Moon-young to join him. “Boring is not a word I would ever use to describe either of you,” he teased. “Yes, as our Appas mentioned Moon-young and I will be partnering together as we tackle the management of the merged company.” He looked over at her, pride in his eyes. “I couldn’t ask for a better partner as I navigate these new waters. We hope that together, we can make our parents proud and earn the trust from all of our esteemed colleagues.” He bowed slightly at the audience as they clapped for him. Then, wanting to make sure she had her opportunity to comment as well, Kang-tae handed the mic to her.

Moon-young took the mic from him and cleared her throat before bringing it up to her lips, “I should have known that these three would have wanted me to say something,” she joked. “After all these years, Appa has finally convinced me to join him. It goes without saying that I am thrilled to be joining these three incredibly talented men. I hope to bring a new perspective to the work and am looking forward to the opportunities to work with the teams here. Over the next two months as I transition from my role at my current firm, I will be working closely with Appa, Uncle Ji-tae, and Kang-tae Oppa to learn more about the work that’s been done and explore all the opportunities in front of us. I look forward to meeting everyone in a different capacity soon. Thank you.”

She took a step back and handed the mic to the MC before joining the other three at the back of the stage. Kang-tae, who was the closest to her, leaned in and whispered, “You did great.”

“A warning would have been nice,” she replied through a forced smile.

“I didn’t think they were going to pull that or I would have. You did fantastic, given the circ*mstances.”

“It’s over now and I survived.” She replied before hearing the MC saying that they will now be doing photos. “And now I have to put on a smile for photos,” she groaned.

He laughed, “You look beautiful and it shouldn’t take long. Then we can all get out of here and head to my place for dinner.” He offered his arm as they stepped down from the stage.

She took the offered arm and followed him towards where they were being directed for photos, “What’s for dinner?”

“Italian. There's a Ragu that was cooked for at least 5 hours with your name on it when we get there,” he informed her, signaling a quiet growl from her stomach.

“Did you make it?” she asked.

“I did. I also made the fresh pasta to go with it,” he revealed.

“Maybe marrying you wouldn’t be so bad after all,” Moon-young mumbled to herself, but was loud enough for Kang-tae to hear. He smiled to himself as they joined their Appas in front of the photographers.

After they took photos of the four of them together, the photographer asked for shots of Dae-hwan and Ji-tae together, before requesting shots of Kang-tae and Moon-young. After that was done, he requested solo shots of each of them before calling it. By the time the photos were finished, the ballroom was nearly empty.

Sun-Byul came up to them with all their jackets and Moon-young and Yoo-jin’s bags. Kang-tae took the bags from her as his Appa and Dae-hwan assisted his Eomma and Moon-young, respectively with their coats. When they were ready, he handed his Eomma her purse and held on to Moon-young’s.

“I can take my bag,” Moon-young extended her hand for her purse.

“I got it,” he told her. And rather than arguing in front of their parents, Moon-young let it go. Kang-tae turned to their parents, “I’ll take Moon-young with me and will meet you all at my place for dinner?”

Dae-hwan and Ji-tae nodded, although their eyes wide, “We’ll follow you,” Ji-tae told him. Kang-tae nodded and guided Moon-young towards the bank of elevators that would take them to the garage.

“That was unexpected,” Dae-hwan exclaimed.

“Maybe they found some common ground?” Ji-tae wondered.

“Both of you, stop gossiping about the children,” Yoo-jin chastised them. “Will you come with us or take your own car, Dae-hwan?” She asked.

“I’ll go with you and have the driver pick me up from Kang-tae’s later.”

“Great, let’s head out before the kids start to wonder why we’re taking so long,” she grabbed Ji-tae’s hand and led them all towards the valet.

~

The car ride from the hotel was quiet as Moon-young focused on answering the emails that came through while she was at the event. Kang-tae decided that for his own personal safety and mental health, he’d let her focus on work rather than try to engage her in a conversation.

When they arrived at his residence, Kang-tae parked his car in its designated spot. When he got out of the car, he opened the back driver side door and reached for his and Moon-young’s bag before meeting her at the trunk. He gestured to the elevator and started walking towards it with her following close behind.

In the elevator, she spoke up, “I can carry my own bag.”

“I know you can,” he replied. “But I want to carry it for you.”

She considered his comment for a moment before replying, “You know what, this is not a battle worth picking. If you want to carry it, fine.” She quickly exited the elevator when it opened, leaving Kang-tae standing behind her with a satisfied grin on his face.

Once they entered the residence, Kang-tae placed their bags on the entryway bench. He helped Moon-young out of her coat before he took off his own coat and suit jacket. He hung them up on the coat rack before heading towards the kitchen. Upon entering the kitchen, he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt and made a beeline towards the stove where he turned on the burner with a large stock pot sitting on it. He searched for two aprons, one for himself and the other for Moon-young. “You don’t mind being my sous chef while we prep, do you?” He asked as he grabbed another pot and started filling it up with water for the pasta.

She shook her head as she put the apron on and pushed the sleeves of her sweater up past her elbows. “What do you need me to do?”

“I have some salad greens in the fridge and dressing on the top shelf. If you could prep the salad, that would be great. And grab the garlic bread and pasta, too, if you can?”

“Anything else you need from the fridge?” She asked as she started pulling out the components of the salad.

“No, that’s it.” He shut off the water and placed the pot on the other burner, before turning on the gas and pouring some salt into the water. While he waited for the water to come to a boil, he grabbed the garlic bread from where Moon-young had placed it and turned on the oven to preheat.

The two of them moved around the kitchen so smoothly, as if they’ve been cooking with each other for much longer than their age. The only sounds were the sounds of the pasta water coming to a boil and the knife hitting the cutting board as Moon-young chopped up the salad greens.

The two of them were so in their element that they didn’t realize that their parents had arrived until Dae-hwan exclaimed, “Now this is a sight to behold.”

They both looked up from their current activity like deers caught in headlights. Kang-tae was the one to recover first, “We didn’t hear you come in.”

“Looks like you were both occupied,” Yoo-jin responded. “Is there anything I can help with?”

Kang-tae shook his head, “No, Eomma. All you three need to do is relax and pour yourselves a glass of wine.”

“Say no more,” Ji-tae remarked, heading towards the wine cabinet and pulling out a few glasses for all of them and picking out a wine.

It didn’t take too long for everything to come together. As the pasta cooked, Kang-tae pulled out the dishes for the pasta and salad. Moon-young dressed and tossed the salad headed to the dining table with the salad bowl and salad plates in hand. She placed the salad bowl in the middle of the table and quickly set the table as Kang-tae began to plate the pasta.

“This looks great,” Yoo-jin remarked, looking at the first bowl of plated pasta.

“I hope it tastes as good as you say it looks, Eomma.” Kang-tae smiled as he plated the second and third plates.

Moon-young retrieved the pasta bowls and went to set them at the dining table. When she came back for more, she asked Kang-tae about the bread, “The garlic bread should be done soon, right?”

“They should be finished now if you want to bring them out,” he told her.

She nodded and reached around him for the oven mitt. When she brought out the bread, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of garlic and butter. She placed the baking sheet on the cooling rack and transferred the half loaves into the basket Kang-tae prepped.

With the bread basket in hand, Moon-young grabbed one of the remaining pasta bowls while Kang-tae grabbed the rest and they all headed to the dining table. Their parents took their seat while Moon-young and Kang-tae shed their aprons. Kang-tae returned the aprons to their home and grabbed his and Moon-young’s wine glass before joining everyone at the table.

“This looks fantastic,” Ji-tae commented before taking the first bite. “Kang-tae, you really nailed it with this one. It’s like we’re back in Italy again.”

“I will forever be thankful that Eomma pushed me to take classes when I was younger,” he laughed.

“It’s definitely a gift that keeps on giving,” Yoo-jin agreed as she started taking a few bite of her own.

Kang-tae looked around the table, feeling thankful to be surrounded by all the people that he loved and admired. The dinner went as smoothly as he could have hoped. When they were all finished, he and Moon-young helped each other collect the dishes and brought them to the kitchen. He told their parents to head to the living room and that they will join them shortly.

When the kitchen was empty, Kang-tae turned to Moon-young, “Are you ready?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” She considered her next words as she pulled the rings from her right hand. Kang-tae offered his palm, taking the rings from her. “Once we tell our parents, we’re locked in for a year,” she stated, as he slid the ring onto it’s proper home on her left hand.

He caressed the back of her hand softly as he said his next words, “We’re going to be fine, Moon-young. We’re in this together.”

“Right.” She took a deep breath and shook out all of the nervousness before nodding, “Let’s do this.”

Kang-tae led her into the living room where his parents had taken their seats on the large sofa while Dae-hwan took one of the two armchairs in the room. Moon-young took the seat across from her father and Kang-tae hung back before lowering himself on the arm of Moon-young’s chair, drawing curious looks from their parents. Yoo-jin caught the glitter of the rings Moon-young wore, only now it was on a different finger. She didn’t want to get ahead of herself, so she waited to hear what her son had to say.

Kang-tae cleared his throat, “With the completion of the merger, Moon-young and I have been having a few discussions around the next steps in our partnership. And we’re excited to share with you all that we’re engaged,” He smiled as he placed a hand on Moon-young’s shoulder.

Moon-young smiled nervously before placing a hand on Kang-tae’s thigh, “Yes. I’ve been thinking a lot about what you’ve said to me, Appa. I shouldn’t only focus on work. And…,” she nearly choked out the next words, “Oppa is, by far, the best partner for me in every single way.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Dae-hwan exclaimed.

Yoo-jin observed her son and Moon-young, who she considered a daughter she never had, from where she sat. A mother’s instinct had told her years ago about Kang-tae’s feelings for the younger woman. As for Moon-young, over the past few years, she became more and more reserved around Kang-tae. Their decision, perhaps under other circ*mstances wouldn’t have surprised her, but in this case it had her a little perplexed, “I didn’t realize the two of you were seeing each other?”

Moon-young squeezed Kang-tae’s thigh as a signal for him to answer. He placed a hand on top of hers as he addressed the question, “I think Moon-youngie and I are in a different situation than most. We’ve known each other for so long that there’s not much for us to learn about each other. We know each other’s likes and dislikes like they’re our own. And we figured, why waste time when we already know, right?” he exclaimed, gazing down at Moon-young a look of adoration apparent on his face.

Moon-young nodded, “Why waste time indeed.”

“Have you picked a date for the wedding?” Yoo-jin asked.

“We were thinking at the end of the month,” Moon-young answered. Then, seeing the shocked expressions on their parents' faces she continued, “With everything that’s happening around us and knowing that we wanted to keep it to our closest friends and family, we figured that we would have more than enough time for us to prepare for it. Oppa,” she was surprised at how easily it was starting to come out of her mouth, “Has already started working on the marriage license.”

“Leave it to our children to expedite everything once they’ve made their decision,” Ji-tae chuckled. He got up from his seat and walked over to the younger couple, “Congratulations, you two!” He pulled them both into a hug, “This calls for a celebration!”

Kang-tae and Moon-young stood up to receive the hugs from their parents. When their Appas pulled Kang-tae aside, Moon-young stepped up to Yoo-jin and wrapped her arms around the older woman. “I’m sorry I lied to you about the ring. We wanted to make sure we told you first before someone else does. So we agreed that I would wear it on my right hand until we do.”

Yoo-jin smiled, “I’m glad that it was the two of you who told us. Now let me see that ring again now it’s sitting where it’s supposed to.” She reached for Moon-young’s left hand and admired the ring, “Kang-tae did a great job picking this out. It suits you perfectly.”

Moon-young looked at the ring before giving Kang-tae a quick glance. “He did, didn’t he?” she replied, looking back at Yoo-jin with a smile.

“I’m very happy for the both of you. And selfishly for myself. I’ve always wanted a daughter like you. And while you were always one in my heart, making it official is even better,” she cupped Moon-young’s cheek before giving her a motherly kiss on the other cheek. “Welcome to the family, my darling.”

“Thank you, Aunt Yoo-jin. I couldn’t ask for better in-laws than you and Uncle Ji-tae. Definitely hit the jackpot in that department,” she laughed.

“And us, you.” She pulled Moon-young to sit down on the sofa with her. “So, how are wedding plans coming along?”

“We want something small and after today’s event, I think the Four Seasons would actually be the perfect venue. We can rent one of the smaller ballrooms for the reception. We don’t really want more than 50 people there.” She reached for Yoo-jin’s hands, “Would you be upset with us if we kept it small?”

Yoo-jin shook her head, “Of course not. You two do whatever you feel is right. As public as our family is around the business, we’ve always been private personally. So it makes sense that you would want to keep it small.”

“That makes me feel so relieved, you have no idea,” Moon-young admitted. “Also, I was wondering, would you be open to helping me with some of the details around the planning? I’ve got most of it down, but I would love to have your thoughts and opinions as I decide on things like dresses, flowers, and china.”

“I would be delighted. We can start tomorrow at lunch,” Yoo-jin winked. Moon-young gave her another hug when a male voice interrupted them.

“What are you ladies chatting about?” Ji-tae asked.

“Lunch plans for tomorrow,” Yoo-jin replied before looking at the clock to check the time. “Speaking of which, it’s getting late, we should probably get out of these kids’ hair so that they can clean up.

“That sounds good to me. Dae-hwan, why don’t we take you home so that you don’t have to call and wait for your driver?” Ji-tae asked.

Dae-hwan nodded, “That sounds good to me.” He bent down and kissed Moon-young’s forehead, “I’m so happy for you, Moon-young.”

She smiled, “Thanks, Appa.”

Yoo-jin stood up from the sofa and hugged Kang-tae goodbye before leading Ji-tae and Dae-hwan towards the front door. When the door closed behind their parents, Moon-young collapsed onto the sofa. Kang-tae sat down by her feet and let out a long breath.

“It’s done. We’re in for it,” Moon-young exclaimed into the throw pillow.

Kang-tae laughed, “We’ll figure it out.” He tapped her ankle to get her to look at him. “Come on, I’ll take you home.”

She flipped over on to her back, eyes closed, “I can call a car. I also still have to help you with the dishes.”

“Nope, I’ve got a dishwasher.” He stood up from the sofa, “As for getting you home, you have two choices, either I take you home or you spend the night here. What’s it going to be?”

She opened her eyes and glared at him, “Fine. Take me home.”

“An acceptable answer,” he replied and offered her his hand. She considered it for a moment before placing her hand in his and letting him pull her up. He brushed her hair that became mussed from the throw pillow back, “You must be exhausted,” he commented.

“sh*t, I must look terrible,” she replied.

“You know you look beautiful. But we’ve both had a crazy few days and I know you’ve been in meetings all day and then everything after. I’m exhausted thinking about it, so I can’t imagine how you feel having experienced it.”

“I’ve had better days,” she commented tiredly, walking out of the room and towards the front door. Kang-tae helped her into her coat and grabbed her bag before leading her out the door.

The drive to her residence was silent as Moon-young nodded off within minutes of Kang-tae getting on the road. He wished there was a way he could convince her to take a break but he knew better than to try to make her do anything she didn’t want to do. All he could do is keep a close eye on her and make sure that she’s taking care of herself.

When they arrived at her building, he cut the engine and turned on the emergency signal before getting out and helping Moon-young out of the car. He paused to greet the doorman and asked him to keep an eye on his car while he helped Moon-young get in.

In the elevator, Moon-young gathered herself and rummaged through her purse for her keys. When the elevator reached her floor, she headed straight for her door. As she unlocked the door, she thanked Kang-tae tiredly, “Thanks for bringing me home.” She stepped through the threshold and grabbed her bag from him, “Get home safe. Goodnight,” she waved before shutting the door in his face.

Kang-tae let out a shocked laugh before heading back to the elevator and his car. Later that night, as he was lying in bed, he received a phone call from his Eomma. He wasn’t surprised and was glad she called because she was someone whose opinion mattered a lot to him. Thankfully, she didn’t waste time cutting to the chase.

“Look, Kang-tae I’m not going to stop you from doing what I know deep down you want. But I want to be sure that the both of you have taken serious considerations into this. This isn’t a game of pretend. We’re talking about binding legal documents being signed,” Yoo-jin reminded him

“I’m sure, Eomma. She might not love me the way I want her to, yet and it might take a bit longer than I would like, but I know when we get there it’ll be worth it,” he replied.

“If you’re sure.”

“I am.”

After he hung up with his Eomma, he laid back on his bed and stared at the ceiling. He wanted their wedding day to come quickly so that he could focus on figuring out how to convince Moon-young that their marriage shouldn’t be temporary. That night, he went to bed running a million different scenarios in his head about how to make sure he gets to keep Moon-young as his forever wife.

Chapter 13: Do you know who else besides my son I can read pretty well?

Chapter Text

When she woke up the next morning, Moon-young thought about the dinner the night before. It brought a smile to her face to be with many of the people she loved most. She wasn’t lying when she told Aunt Yoo-jin that she hit the in-law jackpot. She was looking forward to being a part of their family, even if it was temporary.

She got out of bed and went through her morning routine quicker than usual today. She knew that once the news of her leaving the firm was out, she was going to have to deal with the potential fallout from her team. She made a point to get to the office early so that she can prep herself for the meeting with her team first thing in the morning.

At around 8.50AM, she heard a knock at her office door and looked up to see Chiwon standing in her doorway with what she assumed was the daily business newspaper under his arm. “Good morning, Chiwon,” she greeted as she continued to type out additions to her transition document.

He stepped into her office with a knowing grin on his face and dropped the newspaper on her desk. “I guess the cat is out of the bag,” he commented nodding towards the front page where a photo of her and Kang-tae with the headline “Moon & Ko Heirs Poised to Lead Merged Moon-Ko Company” was front and center.

She spared a quick glance at the article and frowned, “Our last name should have come first,” she mumbled. Returning to her task she replied, “You knew it was going to happen,” she replied as she continued to type.

Chiwon was about to respond when his eye caught the rings on Moon-young’s left ring finger. “Is there more news I should be aware of?” he asked.

“What are you talking ab--. Oh, this,” she lifted her hand when she connected the dots. “Right, I guess I should tell you that I got engaged,” she revealed.

Chiwon let out a shocked laugh and waited for her to continue before he asked, “Care to elaborate on that? Like to whom? And when is the wedding?”

She saved her presentation before closing her laptop and standing up and smiling. “It’s Moon Kang-tae and the end of the month,” she told him.

Chiwon nodded, “I see. I didn’t realize you two were dating. I guess congratulations are in order, then.”

“Thank you.” She looked at her engagement rings, not believing it herself still. “We’re both private people and didn’t want to invite unnecessary attention.” She let out a soft chuckle, the smile changing her face completely, “But I guess the rings don’t help with that, do they?”

Chiwon shook his head, humor in his eyes, “You’re not only going to be inundated with questions about your departure but your impending wedding as well.”

She sighed. “Yeah, lucky me. I’m about to head into the firing squad as we speak.” She ran her hand through her bob. “I hope I don’t disappoint them too much,” she admitted.

Chiwon gave her a reassuring smile, “They’ll be disappointed but that’s because they all love and respect you.”

Moon-young didn’t say anything in response but nodded. They two of them walked out of her office and headed down the hall towards the conference room where Moon-young was meeting her team. “Have you started the recruiting process for my backfill?” She asked.

“The posting is up, so I’m sure we’ll start getting resumés shortly. But you know you’re going to be nearly impossible to replace,” he told her.

She chuckled, “I’m flattered. But I know you’re going to find the right person. I would also recommend looking internally as well. We’ve got some great talents here.”

“If you have a recommendation, don’t hesitate to pass it along.”

“I will,” she replied. They reached the conference room and Moon-young took a deep breath, “Wish me luck in there.”

Chiwon grinned, “You don’t need it but good luck anyway.”

Moon-young gave him one final nod before opening the door and walking into the already filled room. The deafening silence that greeted her had her chuckling, “I assume you all have heard or read the news.” She sat down on one of the chairs in the back of the room. She looked around and saw heads bobbing up and down. “Well, it’s true. And while we’re talking about news. I want you all to hear this from me rather than the papers.” She paused, “I’m also getting married.”

The deafening silence was filled by an equally deafening chorus of, “What!?”

She lifted her hands and signaled for everyone to quiet down. “Relax. The point of this meeting is to discuss my departure and, apparently now, my engagement. I will answer most of your questions. But first let me give you the updates.” She moved her seat close to the table, “I will be here working through my transition until the end of next month. As for my engagement, you’re probably all wondering who my fiancé is,” she began. The responding nods had her continuing, “It’s Moon Kang-tae, who, yes, will be my partner at the merged company. But that’s a different story. And not that anyone should care, but for the sake of full transparency, we’re getting married at the end of the month.”

She looked at all the curious faces, “I know it’s a lot happening in a very short period of time, but please know that over the next two months, my main focus here is to make sure you are all equipped to move forward with all the projects you’re working on. I am very lucky to be working with a team of absolute rock stars. And while I will miss you all dearly, I have the highest confidence in your abilities and know that the products are in the best of hands to make them come to life. It’s truly been an honor and a privilege to have been able to lead this team through a number of product launches. Please know that I am your biggest fan and I will continue to cheer you on, even when I’m not here.”

Once she finished taking questions from the team around her upcoming departure and wedding, Moon-young spent the rest of the morning going through timelines for new product launches and roadmaps for updates and added features to existing products. By the time she walked out of the conference room, she felt a sense of relief that she was leaving all her “babies” in the right hands.

Upon returning to office, she noticed that it was nearly lunch time. She hurriedly plugged her laptop back into its dock before grabbing her large Goyard Senat pouch in black and tan from the credenza behind her desk. She threw her Loro Piana wool trench over her shoulders before walking out of her office again. The last thing she wanted was to be late for a lunch date with her future mother in-law.

~

Moon-young arrived at the restaurant just moments before Yoo-jin. Her eyes brightened at the sight of the older woman. She said a quick hello before leaning in and giving Yoo-jin a kiss on the cheek, “I’m so glad we finally made it happen.”

The hostess led them to the chef’s table where the two of them were seated in a quiet corner. Moon-young pulled out her seat and placed her coat over the back and her bag against the back of the seat. Yoo-jin did the same before taking her seat. They smiled their greeting to the chef and waited for their first course to start.

Yoo-jin reached for Moon-young’s left hand and brought it up to look at the ring again, “I just want to keep looking at it. It’s so beautiful.”

Moon-young leaned in and admired the ring with her, “I know, right? I keep finding myself randomly staring at it.”

Yoo-jin nodded. They spent a few more moments admiring the ring before the hostess came back with hot tea for the two of them. She quickly explained the process of the meal before stepping back and returning to her station.

While they waited for their first course, Yoo-jin asked Moon-young about the wedding preparations, “How’s the planning going? You’ve got the ring and the venue. Have you thought of your dress or the cake?”

Moon-young shook her head, “Not too much. I know what designer I want to go with and made an appointment at a bridal studio in Gangnam later this week to try on a few dresses. Would you like to join me?”

“I would love to! If you need anything while you’re planning, let me know.” She patted Moon-young’s hand. “The downside of only having a son is that I don’t have a daughter whose wedding I can help plan.”

Moon-young put her other hand on top of Yoo-jin’s, “Aunt Yoo-jin, I would be delighted if you would help me with the planning of this. Ever since Eomma passed, you have been like a mother to me. And if I can give you a pseudo “mother of the bride” moment, I would love to give it to you.”

Yoo-jin felt tears brimming in her eyes. She pulled Moon-young to her and kissed the crown of her head, “You precious little thing. How did we get so lucky to have you in our lives?”

Moon-young smiled brightly, “I’m lucky to have you, too. So, you’ll come with me to my appointment?”

“You’d have to have me dragged away to keep me from joining you,” Yoo-jin joked.

Moon-young sat back up and laughed, “I will do no such thing. I’ll forward the invite to you after lunch.”

At that moment, the chef stepped over to where they were sitting and placed a small dish in front of both of them. After explaining what the dish was, he stepped back and returned to his station.

Yoo-jin and Moon-young each took a bite. Moon-young let out a satisfied groan, closing her eyes in happiness. “I think I just died and went to seafood heaven.”

“I’m right there with you,” Yoo-jin replied, before going back for more.

After they finished their first course, Moon-young turned to Yoo-jin. “I have to admit, one of the many things I love about Omakase is the fact that all the decisions are made by someone else. Half the time I just order a steak or some kind of fish because everything looks good and I can’t ever decide. And then when the dishes come, I end up regretting my choice because everyone else’s orders look better. At least here everyone gets the same thing so I don’t have to regret my choice.”

Yoo-jin let out a laugh, “Oh, I know. I remember when you were younger and we would go out to dinner together, Kang-tae would always give you a bite of what he ordered, then you would always end up liking it better than what you ordered and he would swap with you. Then, he started ordering the same thing you did so that you didn’t have to keep swapping.”

Moon-young’s smile faded slightly. She thought about the dinner they had a few weeks back. How Kang-tae had barely looked at the menu and just ordered what she ordered. Sometimes he would even order the same drinks as she. She just figured he was trying to make sure they were operating at the same level, even though they both knew that biologically, he had an advantage. “He still does that,” she replied quietly.

“Old habits die hard,” Yoo-jin grinned, nodding at the chef as he brought over their second course. She brought the piece of sushi to her lips and took a bite. Moon-young joined her in tasting her sushi. They both took their time savoring before popping the other half in their mouths. “This is even better than the first course,” Yoo-jin remarked.

“Right? We’ve got another 18 to go,” Moon-young informed her excitedly.

“Great choice of restaurant, Moon-young,” Yoo-jin complimented before reaching for her tea cup. She took a healthy sip before setting it back down. “So, back to what we were discussing. Seems like my son is a creature of habit when it comes to you.” Moon-young stayed silent and let the older woman talk through her thoughts. “Somethings never change.”

Moon-young tilted her head in confusion, eliciting another laugh from Yoo-jin. “If he could, Kang-tae would move mountains and part the sea if it meant that you’d be happy.” She paused and looked at Moon-young, who was fidgeting slightly in her seat. “Ever since the day we met you all those years ago, as a tiny baby wrapped up in a bundle in your Eomma’s arms, Kang-tae has always had a soft spot for you. He might not say it, but as his Eomma, I can read my son pretty well.”

Moon-young smiled awkwardly, as she tried to process her aunt’s words. “Kang-tae oppa has always been caring.”

Yoo-jin shook her head and chuckled. “Moon-young, do you know who else besides my son I can read pretty well?” She asked and watched Moon-young process the question. “You, my darling.”

Moon-young picked up her own tea cup and took a healthy sip. She loved her aunt but she was also getting a little concerned about the turn this conversation was heading. Over the years, she tried her best to hide her disdain for Kang-tae when it came to their parents. She faked the smiles and the pleasantries with him when she was in their presence. It was only recently with her father that she unveiled her true feelings about Kang-tae. She didn’t have the heart to do that to Aunt Yoo-jin. “I can only imagine what you’ve uncovered,” she joked.

Yoo-jin’s expression turned serious while her eyes were still full of affection. “I’m going to tell you the same thing I told Kang-tae last night when we spoke on the phone after I got home from dinner.” She reached for Moon-young’s left hand and squeezed it. “I know that the reason that you’re getting married isn’t because you love each other. Or if you do, it’s not the kind of love people get married for.” Moon-young opened her mouth to counter but Yoo-jin shook her head. “It’s okay, really, Moon-young. Let me get it all out.”

She took a breath before continuing, “I support both of your decisions to go through this if it’s what you both truly want. All I want is for you both to be happy. And selfishly, I’ve always wanted you as a daughter. That all said, I do want to caution that this isn’t a game where you can tidy up any of the messes that come from it and walk away, unscathed. Marriages are hard and take a lot of compromise. So, if anything, all I ask is that you and Kang-tae think carefully before you both sign the dotted lines on the marriage license.”

Moon-young didn’t know how to respond. So she did the one thing she knew always made her feel better; hugging Aunt Yoo-jin. She leaned over and wrapped her arms around the older woman, “Thank you, Aunt Yoo-jin. The last thing either of us wants to do is to disappoint you. I appreciate you sharing your concerns. And while Kang-tae oppa and I aren’t the perfect couple, we will work hard to make it work as best as we can,” Moon-young smiled.

“That’s all I can ask for,” she replied as the chef brought over their third course. “Now, with that all settled, let’s enjoy the rest of this phenomenal meal.” Moon-young nodded in agreement and sampled the first taste of their third course before finishing it within a few bites.

After they finished their meal, they got up from their chairs and Yoo-jin extended her arm for Moon-young to loop hers with. They walked down, arm in arm, to where Yoo-jin’s car was parked. Before she got into the car, Yoo-jin gave Moon-young kisses on each cheek in parting, “Think about what I said, alright?” Moon-young nodded her response. “Get back to your office safely, honey.”

“I will, Aunt Yoo-jin. You get home safe, too! I love you!” She waved.

“I love you, too, Moon-young,” Yoo-jin responded in kind.

Moon-young watched her aunt drive off before she headed back to her own car. On her walk back, she thought about her aunt’s words. She knew the potential consequences that come with her decision but it wasn’t going to stop her from doing what she needed to do. When she reached her car and climbed into the driver seat, she pulled her phone from her bag and sent a text to her Appa, “We need to talk.”

Chapter 14: Don’t worry, it’s not rat poison.

Chapter Text

In his office, Kang-tae was reviewing some documents when he saw his father’s head pop into the doorway of his office. “Good afternoon, Appa. I didn’t realize you were in the office today.”

“Well, your Eomma went out to lunch with Moon-young and I didn’t want to be home alone.”

Kang-tae laughed, “You didn’t want to be home alone while Eomma was out?”

Ji-tae shook his head, “No. Besides, I wanted to come talk to you anyway.”

Kang-tae sat back in his chair and gestured to the chair in front him, “Take a seat.” He waited for Ji-tae to take a seat before he continued. “You could have called.”

“I could have, but then I wouldn’t be able to see your face when I did this,” he said as he leaned forward and grabbed the photo from Kang-tae’s desk. He brought it to his lap and left it face down. A sneaky grin appeared on his face as he tapped the frame. “I wonder if my suspicions are right.”

Kang-tae remained in the same relaxed position in his chair. “You already know the answer, Appa.”

“You’re no fun.” He flipped the frame over and looked at the photo. The same one he knew his son was carrying in his wallet. “It’s a great photo.” He remarked. “Moon-young looks exactly the same besides the haircut. You’re looking a little worse for wear,” he teased.

Kang-tae chuckled, “Yeah, well, try being on her bad side for 10 years,” he nodded to the photo. “Then, you can talk to me about looking worse for wear.”

Ji-tae looked at the photo thoughtfully, “You got her to agree to marry you, though didn’t you?”

Kang-tae nodded, “Yes.”

Ji-tae leaned over and returned the photo to its home. “Rather quick turn of events. One day she was spilling wine on you and then all of a sudden you’re getting married.” Ji-tae looked at his son pointedly.

“I thought you would be happy for me, Appa.” Kang-tae crossed his arms across his chest.

“I am happy for you. But I would be doing my job as your Appa if I didn’t say that I want to be sure you’ve thought about it.”

“I’ve done plenty of thinking, Appa.”

“When it comes to business, you’re one of the smartest people I know, Kang-tae. But when it comes to Moon-young…” he trailed off.

“You don’t have to worry about me, Appa. I’ve got it under control.”

Ji-tae co*cked his head as he considered his son’s words, “That’s what I’m worried about,” he replied under his breath. He knew Kang-tae was good at keeping his feelings close to his chest. He would be a fool to say that he wasn’t worried about the potential fallout. He loved Moon-young like she was his own daughter, but he also knew his niece and future daughter in-law well enough that she usually gets her way, regardless of the path she takes to get there. He had a pretty strong feeling that this wasn’t going to be smooth sailing. But they were adults and he would have to let them figure it out on their own. “Just be careful. For yourself, and for Moon-young.”

“You know I wouldn’t hurt her,” Kang-tae countered.

“It’s not her I worry about,” Ji-tae responded.

“We’ll be okay, Appa. I promise,” Kang-tae reassured his father. “So, what else did you want to talk to me about?”

“That was pretty much it.”

He tilted his head and gave his father a skeptical look, “Really? You came all the way here to talk about that?”

“Most of it. The other was around next steps with the merger.”

“What about it,” he asked, giving his father more attention now than before.

“Have you started thinking about the reorg?”

“Some. I was planning on working with Moon-young on that once the news settle and she wraps things up with her work. We only announced it a few days ago, we’ve got time.”

Ji-tae nodded, “You’re right. That makes sense.”

“Would you like to be consulted when we do?” Kang-tae asked, suspecting that there was something bothering his father.

“Yes, definitely. I’m sure Dae-hwan will as well. We trust you and Moon-young to make the right call, but,” Ji-tae went quiet for a moment, seeming to have something on his mind. Before Kang-tae could ask, he voiced another concern that has been running through his mind, “I’m worried about some of the layoffs we may have to do due to the merger and reorg.”

“I’ve been thinking about it a bit myself, to be honest. I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to find a solution where we keep layoffs, if any, to an extreme minimum.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Ji-tae smiled. He stood up from his seat, “I’ll get out of your hair and check on a few other folks before I head home.”

“Sounds good. I’ll talk to you later,” Kang-tae replied, waving to his father. He felt the buzz from his cell phone, signaling a text from his mother. He opened the message and grinned at the photo of his mother and Moon-young enjoying their lunch together.

He knew he was lucky that the two most important women in his life loved each other as much as they do. He sent a quick response back to his mother, “You both look like you’re having a great time!”

After hitting send, he tapped his pen on his desk and stared at the framed photo on his desk. Unlocking his phone, he dialed a number and waited for someone to answer. When the call was answered, he made a few requests to the person on the other side. When he was finished, he hung up the phone with a grin on his face. He gave the photo on his desk another glance before returning back to his work. His father was right about one thing, it was a great photo.

~

The next day, at around 4.30PM, Moon-young was sitting at her desk working through another resume of another candidate for her backfill when her desk phone rang, catching her off guard. She picked up the line, “This is Ko Moon-young.”

“Ms. Ko Moon-young, you have a visitor in the lobby,” the receptionist informed her.

She opened up her calendar and frowned, “I wasn’t expecting anyone.”

“It’s Mr. Moon Kang-tae.”

Her brows furrowed as she tried to think up reasons why he would be at her office at this hour. Not being able to come up with anything, she responded, “Alright, give me a minute, I’ll be right there. Thank you.” She quickly saved her work and got up from her chair and headed for the lobby.

When she arrived, she saw an all too familiar silhouette sitting on one of the seats in the lobby. The receptionist stood up to inform her but Moon-young held up a hand to stop her with a smile. She quickly walked over to where Kang-tae was sitting, “What are you doing here?” she asked, taking the open seat next to him.

Kang-tae looked up from the article he was reading with a smile, “Hi Moon-young.”

She looked around, before she forced a smile, “What. Are. You. Doing. Here?” She asked through gritted teeth.

“I was thinking about taking you on a date,” he responded, placing the article back on the coffee table in front of them.

She kept the smile on her face, but Kang-tae could see the cold snap in her eyes as she stood up, “Why don’t you follow me to my office and we can discuss.”

He stood up and followed her through the door and down the hallway towards her office. As they made their way towards her office, he noticed the confused and interested stares coming from the desks lining the hall. He shouldn’t have been surprised, considering the announcement of their relationship, but it did definitely make him feel slightly self conscious.

After entering the office, Moon-young shut the door behind them for privacy before stalking over to her desk and sitting down in her chair, “Why are you here?” She asked, a bit more heatedly than before.

He took a seat on the sofa before repeating his answer from earlier, “I want to take you out on a date.”

“Kang-tae, this isn’t funny. I am working. And we’re already engaged, why would we need to go on a date?”

“Because we got engaged without ever going on a date.”

Exasperated, Moon-young put her head in her hands, “I am working.”

“I can wait,” he grinned.

“This could take a while,” she argued.

“I can wait,” he repeated.

Giving up, she turned back to her computer, “You know what, suit yourself.”

Over the next few hours, Moon-young continued to look through resumes and work-related emails. And with Kang-tae in her office, she opted to communicate with her teams through an internal chatting system, rather than having people come and go as they usually would. She didn’t need any more distractions and didn’t want to have to introduce him to everyone. As she worked, she found herself stealing glances at him from time to time, only to see him contentedly scrolling and typing away on his own phone.

At around 6.30PM, there was a knock on her door. “Come in,” she called back before looking up to see Chiwon entering her office. “Oh, hi Chiwon, you’re still here?”

“So are you apparently,” he replied, walking through the threshold. He was about to say something when he noticed Kang-tae sitting on the sofa. “Oh, hello! You must be…”

Kang-tae stood up from the sofa and extended his hand, “Moon Kang-tae. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Ah, the man who is not only stealing my best VP but also making an honest woman out of her,” he laughed, taking Kang-tae’s hand and shaking it. “It’s great to finally meet you and congratulations.”

“Thank you very much. And I would apologize for stealing her, but that means I would have to feel bad about it.”

“Moon Kang-tae!” Moon-young gasped.

Chiwon let out a boisterous laugh, “Oh, I like him. He’s good for you.” He gave Kang-tae a friendly pat on the back. “I’ve heard great things through the grapevine.”

“I’m sure none of it was from my fiancée. She’s not generous with her compliments,” Kang-tae joked.

Moon-young gave him a stern look, “I give out compliments where they’re due,” she argued.

“You’re not frivolous with your compliments, which makes receiving them all the more meaningful,” Chiwon mediated. “Anyway, I wanted to check-in and tell you to head home since it’s Friday and you’ve been pulling late nights all week. I’ll let you finish up whatever you need to so that you can head home.” He gave Kang-tae one more nod, “Great meeting you. Good luck with everything.”

“Pleasure is all mine. Take care, have a good night!”

Once Chiwon was gone, Moon-young shut her laptop and stood up, an agitated look on her face, “Why do you insist on infuriating me?”

“It’s not my intention.”

“Please don’t make fun of me in front of my boss.”

“Moon-young, that’s not what I was trying to do. And I am more than confident that your boss didn’t even think anything of the exchange other than the fact that I’m a guy who very much likes his fiancée and wants her to laugh at his jokes.”

“Either way, please.”

Kang-tae raised his hands as a sign of surrender, “Okay, I won’t do it again. Promise.” He nodded over at her closed computer, “Are you finished?”

Moon-young picked up her laptop and slipped it into her bag, “It’s not like I’m able to get anything done with all the distractions anyway.”

Kang-tae felt the grin creeping up on his lips. He pursed them so that Moon-young couldn’t see. He stood up and went to retrieve her coat from the hanger. When he turned around, she was right behind him, her purse in hand. He held up the coat for her to slide her arms through. She gave him a look before letting out a resigned sigh. She slipped one arm through the sleeves and as she was working to switch the hand that was holding the straps, Kang-tae reached around for the bag with his free hand eased her into the other sleeve with the other.

With the coat on, Moon-young adjusted the sleeves and lapel for a better fit. She reached behind her neck and swept out any hair that was trapped under the collar of the coat. She extended her hand for her bag but was met with a head shake from Kang-tae, “I got it.”

This was how it was going to be then, she thought. Nodding, she extended a hand, “Can I at least have my phone then?”

Kang-tae opened the bag for her and Moon-young reached in and retrieved her phone before walking out the door of her office. He followed her out of her office and saw that she was already back to work, typing vigorously away on the touchscreen keyboard. He was always fascinated at how she could confidently walk so quickly without barely looking up and still manage to not walk into anything.

At 6.45PM, the office was quiet, save for a few people who were still typing away on their keyboards. As they neared the lobby, Moon-young stopped in her tracks in front of a row of desks. She turned to Kang-tae, “Wait here for a sec,” she directed before heading towards a desk where a man who appeared to be in his late 30s was typing away on his computer.

Moon-young leaned against the desk barrier with a kind smile that Kang-tae didn’t see very often as she knocked on the desk. The man jumped slightly before taking off his headphones and looking up at her, “Ah, Ms. Moon-young. You’re still here?”

“So are you, it would seem.”

“Just have a bit more code to write and then I should be done,” he replied.

She shook her head, “No Woo-shik. Save it and sign off. It’s closer to 7.00PM than it is to 6.00PM.”

“But--.”

“No buts, the code will be there on Monday and it’ll need to go through review before landing anyway, an extra hour or two today isn’t going to change that. Your poor wife might not be around much longer if you miss another dinner.” She took a step back and crossed her arms, “I’m not leaving until you do. And my fiancé over there isn’t going to be happy if I make us late for our dinner reservation,” she told him, pointing over to Kang-tae who waved back with a smile.

Woo-shik let out a long breath and nodded, “Alright, Boss. Signing off now.”

Moon-young smiled, “Good.”

Woo-shik made quick work of packing up his belongings into his backpack. Moon-young waited for him and when he was finished they walked over to where Kang-tae was waiting together. When they reached Kang-tae, Moon-young patted Woo-shik’s back and with a proud smile, introduced him to Kang-tae, “This is Park Woo-shik, the best Engineering Director in all of Seoul, if I do say so myself. Woo-shik, this is Moon Kang-tae, my fiancé and the COO of Moon Holdings.”

Woo-shik bowed and smiled sheepishly, “It’s very nice to meet you, Sir. Ms. Ko is too kind.”

Kang-tae waved him off, “No need for sir, Kang-tae is fine.” He looked at Moon-young, “And knowing Moon-young, I have no doubt you are one of the best at your job.” He gestured to the front door, “Shall we?”

Moon-young nodded and led the way towards the elevator bank. Kang-tae glanced over at Woo-shik and asked, “How long have you been working here?”

“A little over three years at this point,” he replied.

“Woo-shik’s was the first role I hired,” Moon-young revealed. “One of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she grinned, pressing the elevator call button. “We’ve been through hell and high water together over the years, haven’t we?”

Woo-shik nodded, “Definitely have. Remember the time we were a week out of launch and someone landed the wrong set of codes that pretty much broke everything?” He asked.

Moon-young chuckled at the memory, “How could I forget, I spent the next two weeks revamping the whole internal QA system.” At the ding signaling the arrival of the elevator, they all stepped inside and Moon-young pressed the button for the ground floor.

Woo-shik moved to one side across from the couple. He looked at Kang-tae, “I couldn’t have asked for a better leader for our team during that time. Ms. Ko didn’t blame anyone, no one lost their job, and stayed in the office with all of us through it all. No one left after she did, she made sure of that. She also made sure we were all fed and if anyone needed to be home, she made it happen. It was a rough week, but we survived it with our sanity intact, in major part due to her leadership.”

Kang-tae glanced at Moon-young, who had a grin on her face, “Moon-young always looks out for and takes care of her own,” he replied, earning him a quick surprised look from Moon-young.

“We’re going to miss her a lot when she leaves,” Woo-shik smiled sadly. “But I know the team that she’ll lead is going to be very lucky.”

“I’m going to miss you, too, Woo-shik,” she replied, reaching out to give his arm a supportive squeeze. When the elevator doors open, they stepped out and Moon-young pointed towards the front door, “Now, go home, have dinner with your family, and I’ll see you Monday morning.”

Woo-shik gave them a parting bow and bid them a goodnight. The couple waved to him as he exited the building. “They’re really lucky to have you,” Kang-tae remarked, his eyes still on the man who was now running across the street towards the subway station.

Moon-young shrugged and started for the exit, “I’m just as lucky to have them,” she replied, pushing her way through the front door of the building. Outside, the wind was brisk but not too strong. Moon-young wrapped her coat a little tighter around herself before turning to Kang-tae, “Where are we going? Or are we just going to stand here?”

Kang-tae placed a hand on her mid-back and led her towards his car, “Come on, let’s get you out of the cold.” He opened the door behind the driver’s seat and placed her bag on the seat, “Do you need anything else from there?” he asked. When she shook her head, he closed it and got in the car when he saw that she was opening the door for herself.

“Was everything okay back there? What did you say to Woo-shik to have him jump up and pack so quickly?” Kang-tae asked once they were on the road.

“Oh,” she grinned at the memory, “I told him that he needed to go home and that you would be very upset if we were late for our reservation.”

Kang-tae barked out a laugh, “Well, I’m glad that got the response you wanted.”

“It’s a good thing he doesn’t know that you’re a softie. He actually believed that you would be upset.”

“I’m not a softie,” he countered. She gave him a knowing look. “Okay, I’m not a softie with everyone,” he conceded, giving her a knowing look.

“He works harder than anyone else. He’s a good leader for his team. I’m thinking about nominating him as my potential successor,” she revealed.

“That’s high praise, coming from you.”

“There’s not many people I would trust with the work that’s on my plate. He’s definitely one of them.”

Kang-tae nodded, “I can understand that.”

“I am worried, though. He has a young family and is already putting in so many hours as it is. If he gets promoted to a VP or even a senior director he’ll end up working even more. But if there’s anyone who has earned a promotion, it’s him.” She caught herself and realized that she shared more than she meant to. “I’ll figure it out. You don’t want to hear about this.”

Kang-tae shook his head, “I have no doubt you’ll make the best decision for your team and company. And I don’t mind hearing about it. I like hearing about your work because then I get to understand your work style a little better, too.”

She nodded absently as she looked out the window and watched the city lights pass her by. “That’s fair,” she replied. “How was your day? What possessed you to leave your office early and come to mine?” She asked. It was very unlike Kang-tae to leave his work. She knew he was as heads down with work as she was, which was one of the many reasons why she was so surprised when the receptionist told her he was in their lobby.

“Appa,” he replied, a tone of humor in his voice.

Moon-young whipped her head towards him, “What about Uncle Ji-tae?”

“He visited me the other day when you were out for lunch with Eomma. He asked about our decision to get married, which was an enlightening conversation in and of itself.” Moon-young let out a tiny groan which Kang-tae responded with a light laugh. “We can table that discussion for later. He also mentioned wanting to start the process of mapping out the reorg.”

“The merger was just official a few days ago,” she countered.

“I know, I think he’s just a little antsy.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him that we were going to work on it together once everything settles. He agreed it was a good idea.”

She nodded, “Right.”

He pulled up to the curb where the valet stand was located. Moon-young looked up to see their destination. “Bold of you to choose this place.” It was the same restaurant where they had dinner with her father. Well, he did. She left after she made sure she left her mark.

“I’m hoping that the outcome will be different than the last time we were here.” He turned off the engine.

“It’s only 7.15PM. The night is still young,” she grinned slyly.

“I’ve already hit my dry cleaning quota for the month,” he deadpanned

She rolled her eyes and bit her bottom lip to keep a chuckle from escaping, “I’m going to go get a table.”

“Sure, it’s under my name. I’ll deal with the valet and grab your bag, then meet you inside.”

Moon-young stepped out of the car and quickly made her way into the restaurant. She was greeted by the hostess who led her to the table after Moon-young gave her Kang-tae’s name.

When she was seated, she took the drinks menu from the hostess and looked at the options. It didn’t take her long to find exactly what she wanted. As she closed the drinks menu, the waitress came up to the table. “Good evening, I’ll be your waitress for tonight. I’ll get you started with water and can come back and get your drink order when your companion arrives.”

“Actually, I can order our drinks. I know what he wants,” Moon-young replied.

“Sure. What can I get for you?”

“He’ll have a Macallan 15, neat. And then we’ll do a bottle of the Le Dix to share,” she ordered.

The waitress wrote down the order on her pad before closing it, “Great, I’ll get working on that and will be back.” Moon-young nodded her response before the waitress left the table.

She picked up the menu and started perusing the different offerings when Kang-tae walked through the entrance and pointed to her to the hostess before joining her at the table. He placed her bag on the empty seat next to her before taking the seat across from where she was sitting. He grabbed the water glass and took a sip before picking up the drinks menu. “I already ordered drinks for us,” Moon-young told him, not looking up from the food menu.

“Oh?”

She turned the page of the menu, “Don’t worry, it’s not rat poison.”

He laughed again, “I would hope that your love for my parents outweighs your dislike for me, and upsetting them by killing me wouldn’t be something you’d want to do.”

“It’s very close,” she replied.

He smiled but didn’t reply. He picked up the food menu and thought about what Moon-young would want to order. As was his habit, he asked, “Anything that looks interesting to you?”

Moon-young looked up from the menu and remembered Aunt Yoo-jin’s words. So rather than answering the question, she responded with her own, “There are a few things. What are you thinking?”

He was taken aback by her response, “I remember you saying that you liked the halibut here.”

She nodded, “Yes, it is. But I don’t know if I’m in the mood for fish tonight.” She watched as Kang-tae tried to make sense of the situation. She could see him trying to process the change of pace between them and decided to hand him a lifeline, “I’ve noticed that over the years, you like to order the same things I do. I never thought much about it other than the fact that maybe you just like to annoy me.” She grinned at the thought of her aunt before she continued, “But then Aunt Yoo-jin mentioned to me that when we were younger, I used to end up liking your food better than mine, so you started ordering the same things I did so that I would finish my food.”

“It’s been so long that I forgot about why I did that,” Kang-tae replied.

“You didn’t forget,” she shook her head. “You can pinpoint almost every little thing about me, this isn’t something you forget about.”

“Okay, I didn’t forget. But it’s become a habit that’s hard to break, like many things when it comes to you.”

“Let’s try breaking this habit,” she suggested.

“How?” He asked.

“Sharing. We can order a mix of things and then just share. That way we get to try more than one dish. A win-win in my book,” she explained.

“That works for me. Why don’t you order for us then?”

“Are you sure?”

“You already ordered my drink. I trust you.” He closed the menu and placed it back on the table.

“Alright then.” She looked up to see the waitress coming to their table. “Here’s the waitress.”

The waitress placed the whiskey glass in front of Kang-tae, “Macallan 15, neat.” Kang-tae looked up at Moon-young, a surprised look on his face but didn’t say anything. He thanked the waitress and took a sip while she placed wine glasses in front of them. She then presented the wine bottle before opening and pouring out a taste for Moon-young who went through the process of smelling and tasting the wine. Seeming to be satisfied with her choice, Moon-young nodded and let the waitress pour out a glassful for her.

“We’re ready to order,” Moon-young informed the waitress.

“Perfect, what can I get for you?”

“We’re going to share everything. We’ll start with the lobster salad and the truffle and potato soup. Then, for our main course, we’ll do the halibut and the sirloin, medium rare,” Moon-young placed the order without looking at the menu.

The waitress nodded, “Great. Would you like any sides?”

“Let’s do the asparagus.” She looked at Kang-tae, “Does all that sound okay with you?”

He nodded, “Sounds perfect.”

“Great, I’ll go put the order in. Enjoy your drinks and I’ll check in with you in a bit,” the waitress smiled before leaving their table and heading back to her station.

Alone, they each grabbed their glasses and took sips of their drinks. Kang-tae set his down and tapped the rim of the glass, “You knew my whiskey order.” There was a tone of surprise and fascination in his voice.

She shrugged, “I’ve been to your place and I’ve seen your liquor cabinet. Besides, you know my wine preference. It’s not that shocking.”

“Sure, but I didn’t think that you’d commit any knowledge of me into your memory.”

She placed her glass back down on the table and rested her chin on the back of her free hand, “Are you trying to prove something here?”

“No, just making an observation. Either way, thank you for ordering everything.” She nodded her response but didn’t say anything. They remained silent for a few moments before he broke. “You’re still good with our plans for the weekend?”

“Venue walkthrough and tasting tomorrow. Then we’re meeting with the photographer and florist for the engagement shoot on Sunday?”

“Yes. It’s a packed weekend but at least we’re checking off the boxes.”

“The less we have to worry about going into the day the better. So, I don’t mind packing it all in up front.”

“Agreed.” Their shared love for efficiency meant things got done. But being efficient didn’t mean being careless. Kang-tae knew that for all her love of all things efficient, Moon-young was also all about the details. It was one of the many things he admired about her. She was fast but just as precise.

When the waitress returned with their appetizers, neither of them wasted time before taking their first bites. When he saw that she tried both dishes, he asked, “How is it?”

“You’re eating the same thing I am.”

“I know, but I want to know what you think.”

“Like everything else here, it’s delicious.” She went for another spoonful of the soup.

He nodded his agreement before taking a bite of his salad. Returning to their conversation, he asked, “Have you found a dress yet?”

“I have a few that I sent to the bridal boutique. I’m going to go and look and try some on in a few days with Aunt Yoo-jin. Do you want to see?” She asked, a mischievous spark in her eyes.

“As much as I would like to, I know that it’s bad luck… so do you.”

She let out a soft laugh, “Foiled again,” she claimed before taking another sip of her wine.

When she laughed that way, he didn’t have the heart to be bothered by it. “I’m glad you find the potential demise of our impending marriage funny.”

“I’ve finally found the one thing that can get a rise out of you, you know I’m going to milk it for as long as I can,” she replied.

He rubbed his temples, “Of course you would.”

“Yet you find it charming and endearing,” she teased.

He finished the last spoonful of his soup before responding, “You’re in an uncharacteristically… playful mood tonight.”

She swallowed her bite of the salad, “You bombarded me at my office and set up camp for 2+ hours so that you can take me out. I made the choice to compromise rather than to fight it. Unless you want me to be moody and pissy the rest of the meal. I can oblige.”

He put up his hand, “No, I’m good with this Moon-young.”

“That’s what I thought,” she smirked.

They spent the rest of the meal talking through their plans for the weekend. They had made a significant dent in their to-do list. And although she didn’t ask him to, Kang-tae stepped in and helped with a lot of the planning, like finding the photographer and coordinating with the rental studio for the traditional outfits for their shoot. Other than finding her dress, there wasn’t much left to figure out. To think it had been less than 10 days since Moon-young propositioned him.

When they finished their meal, Kang-tae took care of the bill before helping Moon-young into her coat. “You’re welcome,” she stated as walked towards the exit.

“For…?”

“Your clothes were salvaged tonight,” she nodded over to his outfit.

He laughed heartily at her words, “They are lucky to survive to see another day.” He pulled out the valet ticket from his jacket and handed it to the valet attendant. When he turned back to Moon-young, he saw that she had wrapped coat tightly around herself and was rubbing her arms. “Are you cold?”

“A little bit. It wasn’t this cold when we got here. These heat lamps aren’t helping either,” she shivered slightly.

Kang-tae pondered about a potential solution. He unbuttoned his coat and took a few steps towards her. “What are you doing?” She asked, eyes wide. “I don’t want to be responsible for you freezing to death.”

“I’m not taking my coat off,” he chuckled. “Now, don’t freak out. I’m going to try to get you warmed up,” he told her and stepped behind her. “I’m going to wrap my coat around us and hopefully that will warm you up a bit.”

She considered the option for a moment, “Alright, fine. Don’t even think about trying anything,” she warned.

“Give me a little credit; we’re in public,” he replied. He took a step closer and opened the front of his coat. Pulling her so that her back was against his chest, he wrapped the front of his coat and arms around her. “Is that better?”

It took her a moment before she nodded stiffly at the proximity of his body to hers, “Mmhmm.” After a few seconds, she felt herself relaxing. She closed her eyes and sank into the warmth of his chest. Kang-tae peered down and a small smile crept to his face. He pulled her a little closer and laid his cheek on the crown of her head.

“Are you still cold?” he asked.

“A bit, but this helps.” She brought up a hand and hugged his crossed arms to her chest.

“The car should be here soon. We can blast the heat and I’ll get you back home right away,” he told her, while gently rocking back and forth.

“Okay,” she responded tiredly.

When he got her home later that night, he made sure that he walked her to her door. When they entered her building, he didn’t even have to ask the security guard to keep an eye on his car. The guard said hello to both of them and addressed Kang-tae by name and promised to keep an eye on his car. Kang-tae couldn’t say that he was unhappy that the people around Moon-young knew who he was. When he left, he made sure to stop at the desk and spent a few minutes getting to know the people keeping her safe when he wasn’t around.

Chapter 15: Did we even discuss a Plan B?

Chapter Text

The next day, Kang-tae found himself waking up at 6.25AM, a mere five minutes before his alarm was scheduled to go off. By the time his alarm was supposed to go off, he was dressed in his running gear and in the process of tying his running shoes. Before heading out his door, he checked his watch for the time.

Before starting his morning run, he walked down the street to a small, family owned restaurant in his neighborhood. He had been a patron of theirs since the first week he moved into his residence years ago. The older couple who owned the establishment always made him feel like their family. There was no formality in their interactions, which made building a relationship with them easy. And the traditional, home cooked meals made up for not getting to eat his mother’s cooking in the morning.

As was his habit, he stuck his head through the door and said hello to the owners. They both looked up from their morning prep tasks and waved at him. “Good morning, Kang-tae!” They greeted. “We’ll have your usual ready after your run,” they smiled, referring to the breakfast he usually frequents their restaurant for on an almost daily basis.

“Actually, if you don’t mind, could you pack it for me? And make it two?” He asked, thinking about a certain person who he was almost 100% sure still had not done her groceries.

The older woman gave him a questioning stare, “This is the second time you’ve asked for two orders of breakfast this month. You know, you’re going to have to introduce us sooner or later. You’re making me feel like a kept woman,” she told him.

He chuckled, “I would never hide you. I’ll bring her by one of these days. Things have just been a little hectic over the past few weeks but I’ll introduce you both to her soon.”

“You know I’m going to hold you to it!” she replied, pointing the finger resting on the wide side of the blade of her knife at him.

“Yeobo stop giving the boy a hard time,” the older man laughed, “He’ll introduce us when he’s good and ready.”

Kang-tae nodded, “I will, I promise.” When the older woman nodded in response, he waved before taking a step back, “I’ll stop by in 60-75 minutes to pick up.”

“Have a good run, Kang-tae,” the older man returned the wave.

Back out in the chilly morning, Kang-tae plugged his Beoplay E8 earphones and set off on his run. The rush of cold air entering his lungs had him picking up his pace. As he made his way on his route he thought about the itinerary for the day. Things were quickly coming together. He was surprised at how smoothly things were falling into place, considering the time crunch they were operating in. Today alone, they were going to check off three of the things on their to-do list.

There were moments where he wondered if Moon-young would look back and regret not having a proper wedding. She would have to think that this was actually a real proper marriage first. He thought to himself as he went in for the last effort of his run.

When he was back in front of his residence, he had finished 5 miles in a little over 30 minutes. He did a few post run stretches on one of the benches by the building before heading in.

Back in his apartment, he quickly shed his running gear before jumping into the shower. He let the hot water run down his body, occasionally moving around to allow the pressure of the hot water to hit some of the sore muscles.

When he got out of the shower, he reached for his towel before heading into his closet. He stared at his wardrobe for a moment, contemplating what he should wear. Per the instructions that were sent to him via email from Moon-young, he had set aside a few outfits, including a suit for the formal shots.

After a few moments, he opted for his usual weekend wardrobe of a sweater and jeans. They were going to be running around the city and changing in and out of clothes, he might as well be comfortable for most of it. He chose a light grey crew neck sweater and paired it with a pair of dark jeans. When he was dressed, he grabbed his garment bag and the duffel where he packed a few pairs of shoes. He figured the more options Moon-young had, the easier his day would be.

He threw on a coat and headed back out towards the front door. He pocketed his wallet, phone, and keys before walking through the door and locking it behind him. He found his BMW X3 in the line of cars a few minutes later. On most days, he typically drove his more compact Audi R8, as the uniquely tight streets of Seoul sometimes made maneuvering a bigger car slightly difficult. But with all the cargo he was transporting today, the trunk space in the R8 didn’t allow him to carry much. He opened the trunk and carefully placed his garment and duffle bags, making sure to store it in a way to mitigate as much potential wrinkles as possible. Last thing he needed was to have Moon-young frowning at a wrinkled shirt or suit jacket. He chuckled at himself, they weren’t even married and he was already afraid of his wife-to-be. Then again, that wasn’t new.

He backed the car out of its spot and headed out. He made a quick stop at the restaurant, parking his car on the street in front of the building before hopping out and picking up his order. He paid them and promised the older woman to bring Moon-young around. He carefully placed the bag on the floor behind the driver seat and sent a quick message to Moon-young to inform her of his ETA before pulling out into the traffic, heading towards her residence.

~

A few neighborhoods over, Moon-young was jolted awake by the sound of her alarm at 7.45AM, her hand clutching Mang-tae tightly in a firm grip. Ever since the day she reopened the box that housed Mang-tae all those years, he had become her bedtime companion. She gave him one last squeeze before placing him carefully on her night stand.

As she stretched her arms over her head, the comforter and bed sheet that covered her bare skin slid down and pooled at her lap. The cold ambient air hit her naked skin, causing goose flesh to appear. She got up from her bed and slipped into her silk house robe. Kang-tae was picking her up at 9.30AM but knowing him, he’ll be knocking on her door at 9AM or worse, sooner.

She was in the doorway of her room when she heard the ping of her cell phone. She backtracked and picked it up from where it was charging. She rolled her eyes when she saw the name of the sender of the message.

I’m on my way with breakfast. Be there in 20.

A tiny grin appeared on her face, not because she was happy at the thought that Kang-tae was coming over but rather that she was right about her assumption. She looked over at the clock on her nightstand and weighed her options. She wanted to shower but didn’t want to wait for him. She tapped his name and dialed. While she waited for him to pick up, she strolled over to the kitchen to grab herself a glass of water.

After two rings, the line connected, “Moon-young?” Kang-tae answered. “Is everything okay?”

“I want to shower,” she replied.

He chuckled at her declaration, “I don’t think anyone’s trying to stop you,” he replied.

“I don’t want to wait for you to get here to shower,” she continued. “I’m calling to tell you that I’m going to tell the front desk to let you up and I’ll leave the door unlocked for you.”

Kang-tae paused, “Is that wise? What if someone tries to break in while you’re in the shower?”

“While I appreciate the concern, I didn’t pay as much as I did for this place for them to have amateurish security. Not to mention, there are so many units in this building that it’ll be blind luck if someone somehow bypasses security and finds my door between now and when you get here. It’ll be fine.”

“Moon-young…” Kang-tae sighed.

“You’ll be here soon, right?” she asked, ignoring his tone.

Kang-tae looked at the clock on the dashboard, “A little over 10 minutes.”

“Great, I’ll see you when I finish showering and getting dressed. And if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll lock my bedroom door and you can beat up whoever decides to break-in, okay?”

“I don’t like this,” he replied.

“You don’t need to and I’m not asking you to. I’ll see you in a bit,” she told him, hanging up before he could respond.

She headed to her door and unlocked the deadbolt before calling down to the front desk to have Kang-tae added to her approved visitors list. Once she hung up, she went back to her bedroom. In her room, she shut the door and locked it, as promised. Shedding her robe, she stepped into the bathroom and went about her morning routine.

~

When Kang-tae arrived at Moon-young’s residence a few minutes after hanging up from the call, he pulled his car into one of the visitor’s parking spaces in the garage below the building. Upon entering the lobby of the building, he was greeted by a receptionist he had yet to meet, who asked him for his name and identification. Once his identity was verified, he was allowed up to Moon-young’s unit.

When he arrived at the door, it was unlocked as Moon-young informed him it would be. When he entered, he was met with silence. He took off his shoes and took the bag in his hand with him towards the kitchen.

He placed one order of the Miyeok Guk and all the Banchans that came with it on the counter and took the other order and placed it in the perpetually empty fridge. He found one of Moon-young’s dolsot bowls and emptied the Miyeok Guk into it to reheat while he waited for her. As the Miyeok Guk was heating back up, he grabbed a few more dishes and plated the Banchans and rice for the both of them. He made sure to get the coffee started before she could come out.

As he was finished setting up, he heard the sound of Moon-young’s bedroom door opening. When she entered the kitchen, she was wearing a burgundy silk blouse with a pair of joggers. Her hair was blow dried and styled into loose waves. “Good morning,” he greeted, pushing the coffee mug in front of her.

She took the coffee glady and took a sip before responding, “Doesn’t look like anyone broke in while I was in the shower.” He gave her a bland look and ignored the comment. She frowned, “Come on, you know this place is safe and nothing was going to happen between when you called me and when you arrived.” She paused, “You’re not actually mad at me, are you?”

He breathed out a long sigh, “I’m not mad, but I just want you to be careful. You live alone and anything can happen.” He put a hand up to stop her before she cut in, “Before you get all upset, I know you can take care of yourself. I can’t stop you from doing what you want to do as much as you can’t stop me from worrying about you as much as I do,” he explained.

She placed the mug back on the counter and walked out of the kitchen. Kang-tae rubbed his temples, fighting with Moon-young was not on his agenda for today. He put his own mug down and started towards the hallway when Moon-young returned with something clutched in her hand. She grabbed his and placed a small object in the palm of his hand. He looked down and saw that it was a key.

“As you probably realized when you were downstairs, I added you to my visitors list. And since you’re probably going to be coming here more often anyway, you might as well have a key so we don’t have to do this again.”

He reached into his pocket and retrieved his keyfob and proceeded to add the key to his own set, “I’ll take care of this and promise to not abuse it.”

“Just don’t lose it. Getting a new one is a hassle here.” She grabbed her mug and brought it up for a sip. “What are we having for breakfast?” She asked, taking a seat.

He walked back to the counter, “Miyeok Guk. There’s a small restaurant near my place that’s owned by a sweet couple. I go there multiple times a week for breakfast. I brought two orders. The other one is in the fridge.”

“This is a lot for two people.”

“They’re very generous.” He sat down next to her, “I figured since we have the tasting today, we probably shouldn’t have too big a breakfast so we have room.”

She spooned some of the soup, “That was probably a good call.” She brought the spoon for a taste, “This is delicious.”

“I’ll pass along the compliments to the owners when I see them.” He took a spoonful of his own, “They actually want me to bring you by.”

She stopped for a moment, “Why?” She asked.

“They were getting suspicious about why I’ve been ordering more food than usual.”

She nodded pensively, “If they make food like this, I can’t say no.”

“I think you’ll really like them.”

“If they make food this good, I don’t doubt that they’re wonderful people,” she replied.

“I’ll bring you around sometime soon, then.”

“I’d like that. At least I’ll be able to thank them for feeding me.”

He smiled at her before going back to the meal in front of them. They spent the next half an hour sharing the meal quietly, chatting about the plans for the day. It wasn’t long before they were finished and the dishes were rinsed and loaded into the dishwasher.

“I just need to grab my garment bag and my purse. Then we can go,” she started down the hallway towards her room.

He started to follow her, “Can I help carry it?”

She thought about Mang-tae who was sitting on her nightstand and stopped, “I can grab it. Why don’t you go get your coat and shoes on and I’ll meet you by the door.”

He nodded and followed her direction. In her room, Moon-young quickly grabbed the garment bag and shoe bag she had hanging in her closet. She pocketed her phone and retrieved her gray Celine Triumph purse from her shelf before heading out into the hallway. She closed the door behind her and Kang-tae met her halfway, taking the bags from her hands. “I hope it fits in your trunk. Otherwise, we can take my car.”

“I brought my other car today,” he told her.

She put on her coat and slipped into her sneakers, “Oh, great.” She patted her purse and her pocket to check for her phone. Once she was sure she had everything, she opened the door, “Shall we?” Kang-tae nodded, walking through the door and waited for her to lock up before they headed to the elevator towards the garage.

~

The drive over to the hotel was quick with minimal traffic, although quiet as Moon-young evaded all of Kang-tae’s attempts at conversation for the majority of the 30 minutes they spent on the road.

“You really have no preference on the flavor of the cake?” He asked again.

She gave him a look that told him he was entering very dangerous territories, “It doesn’t matter to me because we most likely won’t be eating it anyways.”

“I would hope that we would get some,” he replied wistfully.

“What flavor do you want?” She asked, placing the phone that occupied her hands into her lap and turning to give him her full attention.

He took less than five seconds to consider the question before answering with a grin, “Mocha and hazelnut.” Moon-young frowned at the answer, causing the brightness in Kang-tae’s expression to dim a bit, “Is it too out there?” he asked.

She shook her head, “No. I didn’t mean to frown. I was trying to think about what it would taste like. That’s not a combination I would imagine for a cake, that’s all.”

“Well, you’re in luck,” he smiled as he pulled into the garage at the hotel, “I requested they make a sample for us to try.”

She gave him a confused look, “But I already confirmed the list the hotel sent over the other day.”

“I know. I called after we confirmed and made the request.” He shut off the car and stepped out of the driver seat.

Moon-young followed suit and stepped out of the car. She adjusted her bag across her body before meeting Kang-tae near the trunk of the car, “You didn’t tell me.”

He shrugged, “Must have slipped my mind.” He grinned at the glare she threw his way. Ko Moon-young wasn’t one to appreciate when people threw surprises her way. “I didn’t think it would bother you since you went with one of the traditional menus anyway.”

“I don’t like surprises.”

He placed both hands on her arms and was happy to find that she didn’t flinch away from him, “I’ve known you long enough to know that. But please just trust me enough to know that I wouldn’t do anything to intentionally upset you,” he paused to let his words sink in. “Should we head in so we’re not late for our appointment?” He nodded towards the door.

She sighed, “Fine. Let’s go.”

He nodded and let go before placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, leading her towards the door of the hotel lobby. Inside, they were greeted by a woman from the Events Team who introduced herself as Park Min-hee. After greeting them, she led them to a bank of elevators that would take them to the ballrooms.

“Thank you for considering us for your wedding venue,” she began once they stepped into the elevator.“

Moon-young smiled, “Your team did such a wonderful job for the merger event that I knew we’d be in good hands,” she replied. “We’re just glad that you were able to fit us in on such short notice.”

They stepped out of the elevator when they reached the sixth floor of the building. Min-hee responded to Moon-young as she led them towards one of the ballrooms on the floor, “We were thrilled we could make it work,” she smiled. She pulled one of the doors to the ballroom and gestured for them to enter.

She followed the couple into the ballroom where a few banquet tables were set up to showcase the space. As Moon-young and Kang-tae observed the space, Min-hee continued her walkthrough, “I know you mentioned this being a smaller ceremony with around 100 guests in attendance. I think this space and the foyer we just walked through will work very well for the reception and dinner.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, “After the ceremony, we’ll have the guests mingle in the foyer while you’re getting photographed. We can set up high tops around the area and a couple of bars to cover the area. For food, we’re thinking a selection of hors d'oeuvres and canapés. Then, the dinner will be held in this room. I know it looks large for what you’re thinking. This is two ballrooms, since I think it would be a little crowded when everyone sits down. We can make the space work with the way we’ll space the tables and set up the cake, flowers, and decorations.”

Moon-young nodded along as she listened to Min-hee layout her thoughts. She reached for Kang-tae’s arm to get his attention, “What do you think? I’m happy with the space and think once all the elements are in here, it’ll look full.”

Min-hee smiled, “Definitely.”

Kang-tae glanced down at Moon-young and smiled, “If you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“A smart man,” Min-hee teased.

Kang-tae chuckled, “As they say, happy wife, happy life,” he responded, catching the eye roll Moon-young couldn’t hide very well.

“If you want to take a seat at one of the tables, I’ll have the catering team bring out the food for you to sample.” She left them and headed towards the door they came in.

Alone, Moon-young turned to Kang-tae, “What are you thinking?”

“I like the space. And to your and Ms. Park’s point, once everything is in here, it will look different.”

“I like it,” Moon-young told him, taking off her purse and coat and placing them on the chair next to her before taking a seat.

“Then let’s do it,” he told her, following her actions. “Did we even discuss a Plan B?”

She shook her head, “Nope.” She drummed her fingers on the table and continued to take in the small details of the ballroom. “Assuming we like the food and the venue for the ceremony, I say let’s book it.”

Kang-tae leaned back in the chair and grinned, “Considering that we’ve dine at multiple dining establishments in this building, I double that we wouldn’t like it.”

When Min-hee returned a few minutes later with the catering team and a cart brimming with food, Moon-young nudged Kang-tae’s side, “It’s a good thing you insisted on sharing breakfast,” she whispered.

He laughed quietly, “I know your appetite. Even if we didn’t share, I know you’ll find space in there for all the food we’re about to try,” he teased, wincing slightly when she pinched his side in annoyance.

When Min-hee reached the table, she nodded for the catering team to start moving the dishes from the cart to the table. “Thanks so much for waiting. As I mentioned earlier, we’ll have you sample the different meal options from the menus you choose. And you can decide which one makes the most sense for you.” She handed them a few cards that had the name of each dish and space for them to write comments and tick off boxes on their thoughts on the dishes. “And once we’re done with the food tasting, I’ll have the pastry team bring out the cake samples. After that, I’ll take you up to the terrace, where we’re thinking the ceremony should be held.”

Both Moon-young and Kang-tae nodded as they surveyed the food in front of them. They spent the next 45 minutes going through and tasting all the dishes in front of them. After some deliberation, they came to an agreement around the assortment of hors d’oeuvres and canapés for the reception, options for chicken, beef, seafood, and vegetarian for the main courses, and a fruity dessert to offset the sweet that will come from the cake they select.

When the table was cleared, Min-hee collected the cards from both of them before signaling for the pastry team to bring over the cake samples. “Are you ready for the next part? I hope you saved room!”

Moon-young and Kang-tae nodded as 10 plates were set in front of each of them. On five of the plates were un-iced miniature cupcakes of different flavors: vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, lemon, and what they both assumed was some kind of cake for the mocha hazelnut variety Kang-tae requested. On the other five plates were small ramekins with a variety of frosting flavors: vanilla, chocolate, cream cheese, raspberry, and a light caramel-colored one they assumed was of some kind coffee variation.

“These look great,” Moon-young commented.

Min-hee nodded, “Take a few tastes and feel free to mix and match the cake and frosting options. And if you feel like something is missing, please let us know and we’ll work with you to get the right combination.”

As they went through the different flavors of cake, the two traded their thoughts and opinions about the flavor and texture of each cake. When they got to the last of the five cakes, Min-hee spoke up, “So, this is the cake Mr. Moon requested. When you mentioned wanting a mocha hazelnut cake, the pastry team went through a few iterations of cake to get the flavors and texture the way they think would showcase the cake well.”

She pointed to the cake as she described it, “So, this cake is actually made with Hazelnut flour. The team thought that the flavors from the flour would do a better job at showcasing the flavor profile than using an extract. And then for the frosting, as you have probably guessed, is this last one here which is a mocha buttercream. As you taste it, you can probably tell it packs a bit of a caffeine punch, so it might not be something we want to serve to the little ones, if you plan on having children in attendance. We wouldn’t want parents upset that their children are jumping off the walls into the night,” she laughed.

Moon-young took a spoon to the frosting and brought it to the cake and gently spread it across the top. With a dessert fork, she forked a small piece before giving it a taste. As the combination of the nuttiness from the cake and the bittersweetness of the frosting came together, Moon-young closed her eyes and let out a tiny little moan that was going to haunt Kang-tae for the foreseeable future. When Kang-tae did the same, he couldn’t blame Moon-young for her reaction.

“This cake is incredible,” he complimented. “Far better than I imagined. When I made the request, I was thinking of a simple vanilla cake with a coffee-hazelnut frosting. But the team took my request and exceeded my expectations.”

Min-hee broke out in a huge smile, “I’m so glad to hear that. I will share the feedback with the team.”

Kang-tae looked at Moon-young, “I know what cake I want,” he smiled. “What do you think?”

“I think that if you aren’t choosing the combination we just tasted, we shouldn’t get married at all,” she deadpanned, making Kang-tae and Min-hee laugh.

“I think we have a winner,” Kang-tae told Min-hee.

“Fantastic, I’ll make a note of that and let the pastry team know.”

“One more thing,” Moon-young stopped her, “To your point, the cake might be a bit strong on the coffee for kids, especially later in the night. Do you think you could do a smaller version of the cake and do a chocolate frosting? That way the kids don’t feel left out?”

“I think that’s a great idea and I’ll make sure to communicate that to the pastry team as well.” Min-hee nodded and took down more notes.

Moon-young finished the last of the cake and let out a sad sound, “I’m going to end up calling you for this cake regularly now that I’ve had it.”

“I think we can arrange that,” Min-hee smiled. “Mr. Moon, great call on the cake.”

Kang-tae nodded, “Thank you. It’s a little nod to when our family used to take trips to Italy and Moon-young would put Nutella in her coffee at breakfast,” he smiled.

Moon-young looked at Kang-tae, surprised that she was surprised that he remembered the habits of her youth. Min-hee giggled, “That’s so sweet. I can’t wait to hear more about how you both met.” She stood up from the table, “If you’re both ready, I’ll take you upstairs and you can tell me all about your history. That’s my favorite part of learning about the couples who share their big day with us.”

The both of them stood up from the chair and Kang-tae reached for Moon-young’s coat and helped her slip into it before putting on his own. Moon-young grabbed her purse and the two of them followed Min-hee out of the ballroom and towards the elevator. Kang-tae started sharing the story as they waited for the elevator and continued when it arrived. He finished his story as they reached the fifteenth floor of the building, “So essentially we’ve known each other all our lives, before spending a little time apart. After a while we realized we’re better together than apart, right?” He tossed to Moon-young who forced out a smile and a nod.

“I love that story. You’re both quickly becoming one of my favorite couples to work with and I don’t say that lightly!” She led them out of the elevator bank and towards a door that led to a terrace. When they stepped out onto the terrace, where a team of people were moving around setting up decorations and equipment, they were left without words at the view in front of them.

“Wow. This is incredible,” she remarked. “I’ve been here so many times and have seen the skyline more times than I can remember, but the picture that you’ve put together here is amazing.”

“I purposely left this part for last because it is breathtaking. It’s one of the many selling points of this property. I may be a bit biased, but this is my favorite. Some days I’ll bring my laptop up here and set up camp on one of these seats and chug away on work and it’s great.”

Kang-tae looked around at the people moving around, weaving in and out the space in front of them, “Are you setting up for an event?”

Min-hee nodded, “Yes. We have a wedding tomorrow and the couple wanted to do a small reception and rehearsal dinner up here with their family and bridal party. The set up will be a little different for you, but as you can see, there’s a lot that can be done with the space.”

“This is great. I love it,” Moon-young smiled.

“I’m so happy to hear that,” Min-hee replied excitedly. “I need to grab something really quick. Why don’t you take some time to take it all in and talk it through. Obviously no need to decide now, but let me know if you have any questions.”

The two of them nodded as Min-hee excused herself. They moved to a quiet corner of the terrace and observed as the team continued to set up. Moon-young rested her arm on top of the wall that wrapped around the terrace and looked out over city. “I don’t think we need a Plan B. This is perfect for what we need. It’s decently sized where it’ll be intimate without us looking like we’re trying to pinch pennies,” she explained.

“I doubt anyone is going to think we’re pinching pennies when we’re having our wedding at a Four Seasons Hotel, Moon-young.”

She scoffed, “You know what I meant.”

“I do. And I agree. I think it’s a great place. It’s centralized and we can rent out a block of rooms for any guest who wants to stay,” Kang-tae suggested.

Moon-young nodded her agreement, “Works for me.” She turned and leaned her back against the wall and looked at him, “Good call on that cake. I shouldn’t have doubted you.”

His eyes crinkled as he smiled widely at her roundabout compliment, “They outdid themselves on that one. I’m glad you liked it.”

“You knew I would.”

“I hoped you would.”

She watched him for a few moments before asking, “How much space do the little tidbits you have memorized about me take up in that brain of yours?”

He shifted his gaze from her to the skyline in front of them before he answered, “More than you’re probably comfortable with knowing about.” His eyes returned to hers when he finished.

Moon-young felt her heartbeat speed up slightly at the confession. She pushed herself off the wall, “Right.” She put her hands in her coat pocket before stepping around him, “I’m going to walk around a bit more before and try to visualize how they can set up for the ceremony.”

“Sure, do you want me to come with?”

“No, I’m okay. Why don’t you keep an eye out for when Min-hee comes back?”

“If that’s what you want me to do.”

“It is,” she replied before walking away. Kang-tae kept his eyes on her as she headed towards the other side of the terrace.

As she walked around the perimeter of the terrace, making sure to stay out of the way of the crew, Moon-young pulled her hands out of her coat pocket and began to twist the rings on her finger like a nervous tick. Looking at the tables being set, hours away from being occupied by what she assumed was a happy couple and their loving families, she thought about her predicament.

She looked out towards one of the mountains in Seoul and thought about the man she was going to be marrying. She wasn’t in love with him the way a woman on the cusp of marriage should be. But over the past few weeks, she found that she didn’t feel as apprehensive at the idea of being around him; she didn’t hate it when he stopped by, especially when food was involved.

When she turned around to head back, she saw that Min-hee had returned with a box in her hand. She took the same path back to where Kang-tae and Min-hee were chatting as she handed him the box. She gave Moon-young a warm smile before asking, “Isn’t the view just wonderful?”

Moon-young nodded in response. Looked at the box in Kang-tae’s hands and asked, “What’s in here?”

“When Mr. Moon made the request for the mocha hazelnut cake, he mentioned that you were also planning to do your engagement shoots on the same day. So, as a thank you for considering us, I had the pastry team make a few extras for the road.”

Moon-young let out a chuckle, “Oh, Min-hee, you’re good.” She looked up at Kang-tae, “Can I see?” He nodded and opened the box to unveil a dozen cupcakes, perfectly iced, arranged neatly in rows. She placed her hand on top of the lid and pushed it close, “You’re going to have to keep that away from me. Or else I will devour them all in one sitting.”

“We can share.”

“Speak for yourself. If I have one, no one else is getting any.”

Min-hee smiled at the two of them, “You two make a lovely couple.”

Kang-tae responded before Moon-young could, “Thank you.”

“Did you have any other questions? You have my contact information. If you have any follow up questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.”

Moon-young and Kang-tae shared a look before Moon-young spoke, “No follow ups. We’ve decided that this will be the perfect place for our wedding.”

“That is wonderful news! I’m so happy to hear that!” Min-hee responded.

“Thank you for making it an easy decision,” Kang-tae smiled.

“Absolutely. I’m really looking forward to working with the both of you.”

“Was there anything you needed from our end to hold the date?” Moon-young asked.

“I have your card on file. I can email you the contract for you to sign and then we can go from there.”

“Fantastic. Thank you again for your help and the flexibility.”

“It was my pleasure. You both made it easy and fun.”

Moon-young checked her watch and glanced over at Kang-tae, “We should probably head out, right? Our appointment is in an hour and we have a bit of a drive.”

He nodded, “Thank you again, Ms. Min-hee.”

“I’ll walk with you to the elevators,” Min-hee replied, leading them through the door and towards the elevator bank. She waved goodbye to them as they entered the elevator.

On their way back down to the lobby, Moon-young looked over at Kang-tae who held onto the box like it was precious cargo. She grinned, “Don’t forget you said that we’re going to share.”

He laughed, “There’s more than enough for the both of us.” He turned to her, “One down, one more to go for today.”

She nodded, “Two less things to worry about.” She gave him one of her rare smiles, “Thanks for making it easy.”

He smiled back, “I aim to please.”

Chapter 16: Do you want a litter of puppies?

Chapter Text

In the garage, as they headed towards the car, Moon-young looked at the box in Kang-Tate’s hands and warned, “If anything happens to those cupcakes, I will be very upset.”

Kang-tae barked out a laugh, “Should I secure it with a seatbelt?”

“Do you think that will help?” She asked, seriously.

Kang-tae shook his head, “I’m not sure if you’re just messing with me, but no, I don’t think it will help, sorry.” He walked around the trunk towards the driver side before opening the backseat door, “If you don’t mind, I’m going to put it on the floor so that it won’t move around much.”

In her seat, she turned her head and observed as he carefully placed the box on the floor behind his seat, “Okay.” Her eyes moved up as Kang-tae shrugged off his coat and placed it on the backseat. She watched as the fabric of the sweater expanded over his wide-shoulders as he reached across the seat to place the coat.

She thought back to how much she used to rely on those shoulders, whether it was him giving her a piggyback ride when she was tired, or sitting on his shoulders during a game of Chicken Fight, or crying on them on days when she was upset about something. Those were the days when he was her most trusted confidant.

“Is everything okay?” Kang-tae asked.

Realizing she got caught staring, Moon-young nodded before turning around in her seat.

Kang-tae smiled to himself before getting behind the wheel. “You don’t have plans after we finish with the photos, do you?” He asked once they were back on the road.

Moon-young shook her head, “No. With everything we decided to fit into the day, I decided to keep my schedule clear.” She paused, “Why?” she asked.

“I need to make a pit stop on the way back to your place, if that’s okay?”

“Sure. If it’s quick you can stop there before we head out to Appa’s.”

“We can go afterwards.”

“Sure.”

For their engagement shoot, they decided that they would utilize the grounds at Dae-hwan’s residence because it provided plenty of options for shots. And the place itself had a lot of good memories for the both of them. And the savings on a venue was an added bonus. Once they decided on where to do the shoot, Moon-young called up her father, who was more than happy to oblige and made the residence available to them.

As they got closer to Dae-hwan’s residence, Kang-tae began to think about what was typically required of engaged couples in their engagement photos. Knowing that Moon-young was still cagey about the idea of physical intimacy, he wasn’t sure exactly how to bring up the topic. Unknowingly, he began to tap his thumb and fingers across the steering wheel.

From where she was sitting, Moon-young heard the tapping before she saw Kang-tae’s nervous tell on full display. It was a habit she remembered him developing in their youth. If Kang-tae had something on his mind and had difficulty verbalizing it, he would start to tap out random rhythms as a way to soothe himself or to gain courage to ask or say something.

She kept staring at his long fingers as she broke the silence, “Whatever it is that’s on your mind, you can say it or ask. I’m not going to rip your head off, if that’s what got you worried enough to be tapping away on the steering wheel like that.”

Kang-tae let out a nervous chuckle and gripped the steering wheel, “You remember my tell, huh?”

“I can remember the handful of times over the years that something would drive you to this state of nervousness. I didn’t realize I made you that nervous,” she replied, a tiny hint of a tease on her voice.

Kang-tae grinned, “I guess you’ve always had that special power over me.”

She shifted her body in her seat so that her attention was fully on him, “Well then, Moon Kang-tae, what about me is making you nervous this time?” She asked.

He let out a nervous exhale, “I was thinking about what the photographer might ask of us today.”

“What would she ask of…Oh…” She trailed off once she realized what it was that he was nervous about. She was quiet for a bit, leading him to glance over to check. When she regained her composure, she continued, an air of blaséness around her words, “Us kissing shouldn’t make you that nervous. It’s not as if we’ve never kissed before. You were my first kiss after all,” she reminded him.

~

20 years ago…

It was the last day of the school year. For Kang-tae, it meant leaving behind the place that was his second home for the last three years. It also meant leaving Moon-young behind until she joins him in two years.

With the loss of her mother still fresh, Kang-tae was worried about the younger girl. Moon-young had a few close friends but for the most part enjoyed her solitude. He wasn’t worried so much about Moon-young getting bullied, but was more concerned about the person who ended up on the wrong side of her moods.

As he did everyday after school, Kang-tae waited for Moon-young on the front steps of their school. Unlike Moon-young, he wasn’t one for hanging around in the classroom with classmates after the last bell, so he was always the one who ended up waiting for Moon-young.

It wasn’t long before he saw her small form marching out the door and down the steps to where he was waiting, her pigtail braids swinging behind her. He gave her a smile before he saw the frown on her face. When she got close, he asked, “Are you okay? What’s wrong.”

She didn’t answer but stepped up to him, “I’ll tell you later. Just go with it, okay?”

“Uh, sure?”

Moon-young nodded and took a deep breath and within a breadth of a second her arms were thrown around his neck and her lips touched his. And just as quickly, she pulled back from him. She turned her head towards a group of girls he recognized from his class who were staring at them with shocked expressions on their faces.

Moon-young sneered at them before grabbing his hand. She stayed silent as she led him towards the front gate of their school where the driver was waiting for them by the car. Handing the driver their bags, the two climbed into the backseat of the car.

Once they were buckled in, Kang-tae broke the silence, “Should we talk about what just happened?”

“They were being annoying,” she replied, still not believing what she did in front of a crowd of people.

“You’re going to have to tell me more than that,” Kang-tae pushed.

She let out a frustrated sound, “I was packing up my bag when those girls from your grade came into my classroom and demanded that I leave you alone.”

He frowned, “Why would they do that?”

“One of them likes you, I guess. And I think she thinks you like her back.”

“Who?”

“Park Nayoung.”

“I don’t like her,” he denied.

“I didn’t think you did. And told her so. Then she called me a little brat and said that you only let me hang around because our parents were friends and that you pitied me because Eomma died.”

He frowned deeply, “That’s a terrible thing for her to say.” He shook his head in disbelief, “And you know that’s not true, right?”

“I know that. I told her she was being stupid and that you probably didn’t even know who she was beyond her name. Then she got angry with me and said that I couldn’t prove that you weren’t only hanging out with me because our parents said so. And I told her that I could prove it and I was going to show her.”

“And you thought that was going to prove it?” he asked, referring to what just happened.

She shrugged, “It was the only thing I could think of on the walk from my classroom to the front steps of the building. I’m sorry that I kissed you without asking.”

He chuckled, “Moon-young, that wasn’t a kiss.”

She gasped in surprise, “Oppa! Yes it was! Our lips touched.”

“I barely felt it,” he replied.

She pouted, “Well, it was to me.” Then quietly to herself, she mumbled, “And that was my first kiss, too.” She crossed her arms and scooted away from him and stared out the window, a frown on her face.

Kang-tae turned his head towards the window to hide the small grin that appeared on his face upon hearing her words. He brought his hands up to his lips, whether or not it was real by a 14-year old’s standards, it was his first, too.

~

Kang-tae grinned at the memory, “I still don’t know if a peck between a 14-year old and a 12-year old counts as a proper kiss,” he replied, looking over with a playful grin, hinting at the longstanding disagreement they’ve had since their youth.

Moon-young crossed her arms, “To a 12-year old, lips touching counts as a kiss,” she argued.

“For a 14-year old, lips have to touch for at least 5 seconds for it to count,” he countered.

“Well, real or not, it was good enough to get those idiots off my back back then,” she replied, thinking about the group of older girls who used to give her a hard time because their leader liked Kang-tae.

“That’s right. It was one of the many times you used me to prove a point,” he recalled.

“I never heard you complaining when those girls left you alone.”

“Because I didn’t like them and it made you happy.”

“Happy isn’t the right word,” she replied. “But I did enjoy messing with them.”

“I benefited from it. After that, none of them really tried to get close to me.”

“You’re welcome.”

Kang-tae laughed, glancing over at her to see the slight upturn of her lips. He resisted the urge to reach over and pinch her cheeks. Had they had a closer relationship, he would have done just that. As he turned his attention back to the road ahead, he wanted to make sure they were on the same page about what was expected of them.

“Just to be sure, you’re okay with it, right? If the photographer asks us to kiss?”

“It would be very awkward to tell the photographer that we won’t be kissing for our engagement photos, wouldn’t it?”

“Probably.”

“Then you have your answer. Just don’t try anything funny.”

“I would prefer to be alive when I marry you.”

“Marrying a dead person wasn’t in my plans when I agreed to this, so let’s plan to stay alive for the next few weeks, at least.”

“Sure. I’ll try my best,” he replied, a grin on his face.

They arrived at Dae-hwan’s residence about 25 minutes later. Within moments of pulling into the roundabout in front of the house, another car pulled up behind them. Moon-young got out and walked to the trunk while keeping an eye on the occupants of the other car. Kang-tae worked on grabbing their belongings from the back of the car. “I’ll go in and let your father know we’re here.”

Moon-young nodded and closed the trunk once Kang-tae collected their stuff, “Okay. I’ll go say hi to the photographer and meet you inside in a bit.” He nodded and headed towards the front door and Moon-young headed to the other car.

When the photographer got out of the car, Moon-young gave her a smile, “Hi Naeun, how was the drive?”

“Good afternoon, Moon-young! The drive was really easy, thanks for asking.” Naeun walked to the back of her car and with the help of her assistants, began unloading her equipment. “This house is gorgeous,” she commented, tossing her camera bag over her shoulder.

“That’s very kind of you. It’s been in the family for several generations and holds many fond memories.”

“I’m really looking forward to photographing you and your fiancé here.”

“Well, follow me. I’ll show you the interior and you can settle in. I’ll also introduce you to Kang-tae, too. And while we get ready, you and your team can explore some of the grounds as well.”

“Sounds great to me.”

Moon-young led Naeun and her team inside the house where they found Kang-tae and Dae-hwan standing in the main foyer chatting with each other. They stopped talking when they saw Moon-young, Naeun, and her team. Kang-tae headed towards them with Dae-hwan following closely behind.

Moon-young looked at Kang-tae’s empty hand and he answered before she asked, “I handed our stuff to Myunghee. She took it up to the rooms.”

“Ah, okay. Thanks.” Moon-young replied before she introduced the group to each other. “Appa, Oppa, this is Naeun. She’ll be photographing our engagement photos today with her team. Naeun, this is my fiancé Moon Kang-tae and my father, Ko Dae-hwan.”

Naeun extended her hand towards Dae-hwan and gave him a bow, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. Your home is beautiful.”

“Thank you. I can’t take any credit for it, the staff does all the hard work of keeping this place as nice as it is,” Dae-hwan replied with a laugh, shaking her hand.

Kang-tae gave Naeun a smile, extending his hand for a shake, “It’s great to meet you. Excited to work with you today.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” she replied. “You’re a gorgeous couple, so you’ll make my job really easy.”

Moon-young grinned, “Let me show you where you can set up for the day.”

After showing Naeun to the dining room where the staff had already cleared off the large table, Moon-young excused herself to get dressed. When she first reached out to Naeun to discuss the plans for the engagement photos, they agreed to a few sets of photos; one on the grounds and garden, one in the kitchens, and one in her father’s study.

When she entered her old bedroom, she found that Myunghee had laid out all the clothing she brought on her bed. She reached first for the sweater dress she packed for the outdoor photos and quickly changed out of her current outfit and slipped the dress on over her head. Dressed, she sat down at her vanity and opened up her makeup bag and began applying products to her face. As usual, she kept her makeup minimal but enough to give her complexion some color. And just as quickly as she applied the makeup, she gave her hair a similar treatment, leaving it down and loosely wavy.

As she left the bedroom, she grabbed a pair of boots and a jacket she prepared. In the hallway, she found Kang-tae who was exiting the guest bedroom at the same time. He wore a pair of slacks with a light sweater and a long wool jacket. In his hand were a pair of leather loafers. His hair was styled up so that his bangs were out of his face.

“You clean up nice,” Moon-young commented.

“This look okay?” he asked, turning around for her to survey.

She nodded, “You can dress yourself, you can cook, and you brew a mean cup of coffee. How did I get so lucky,” she joked.

Kang-tae stood still at her comment, “Was that… a compliment?”

“I can toss you an insult to balance it out,” she offered.

“I’d rather you didn’t. My ego can only take so many meticulously crafted jabs in a day.”

Moon-young laughed and headed down the stairs, “And here I thought nothing could bother you.”

Kang-tae followed her down the steps, “I just do a better job at hiding it,” he replied quietly to himself.

Moon-young stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned back to look at Kang-tae, “No witty reply?” Kang-tae gave her a small grin and shook his head in response.

The two of them put their shoes on by the door and open the door into the relatively chilly afternoon. Kang-tae grabbed the jacket Moon-young placed on the bench while she was putting on her shoes and placed it gently over her shoulders before taking one of her hands and rubbing them between his to keep them warm.

“Starting to question why I suggested photos outdoors for this,” Moon-young muttered.

“Well, if you can pretend to like me for a bit, we can get this part done quickly and get you back inside,” Kang-tae suggested.

“Fine.” Moon-young agreed, begrudgingly, as they made their way closer to where Naeun and her team was waiting.

When they reached the group, Naeun rounded everyone up and gave the brief of what she had in mind; a few solo shots of each of them and a few couple shots. Feeling the chill from the air, Naeun and her team moved quickly. The first set of photos were taken in a span of 20 minutes, with Naeun directing Moon-young, Kang-tae, and her team in an extremely swift and efficient manner.

The shots varied from the couple walking hand-in-hand through the meticulously manicured garden, smiling brightly at each other to shots of Kang-tae hiding a bouquet of flowers behind his back, a playful smile on his face before bringing them out for Moon-young to see.

“Alright, I think we’re good here,” Naeun called out after the last shot. “Do you want to come and look at the monitor before we head inside?” The two of them nodded and walked quickly to the makeshift table that was set up with a laptop sitting on top. Kang-tae gestured for Moon-young’s jacket that she took off earlier from one of the team members and quickly draped it over her shoulder to warm her up.

Moon-young looked up from the laptop screen, “Thanks.” Kang-tae grinned as she pulled it tighter around her. Turning her attention back to the screen, she nodded her approval. “I think these look great.” She turned to Kang-tae, “What do you think?”

“If you’re happy with them, I’m good.”

Moon-young turned to Naeun, “Looks like we can all get back inside.”

“Perfect. Why don’t you two get changed and we’ll clean up here and set up the next set,” Naeun told them.

“Great. The kitchen staff should have everything mostly set up. If you need anything, let one of them know and they’ll get it for you,” Moon-young told her.

“Will do. We’ll meet you in the kitchen in 30 minutes?” Naeun asked.

“That should be enough time,” Moon-young replied. With hurried steps, she headed back towards the house with Kang-tae following closely behind. In the foyer, she sat down at the bench and took off the boots while he toed his off and put them aside by the door. “How did it get so cold so quickly,” she muttered to herself. Kang-tae opened his mouth to answer but she put her hand up, “That was a rhetorical question. Don’t answer.”

Kang-tae put his hands up as a sign of surrender before bringing one hand down to his lips and mimed zipping up his mouth. Moon-young eyed him skeptically before letting a tiny chuckle escape her lips. Kang-tae’s eyes lit up at the sound, but he tampered it down before she could see. They both made their way back to their rooms to change.

“What am I cooking?” Kang-tae asked when they got to the top of the stairs.

Moon-young turned to him, “Kimchi bokkeumbap and kimchi jjigae. I thought those would be the easiest and the ingredients should be things we already had in the house.”

“That should be easy enough,” he replied. “I’ll see you in the kitchen in a bit then,” he told her before heading for the guest bedroom.

In her old bedroom, Moon-young took her time changing out of her outfit and folding them into neat piles to be packed later. She reached for the more casual outfit she prepared. She reached for the Max Mara dress she wore to the merger announcement. She paired it with the same sweater she wore for the same event. As she pulled the sweater on, she wondered if she made a mistake by wearing something cream colored to cook with kimchi.

She headed back down to the kitchen where Kang-tae was already working on ingredient prep. He had changed into a navy-colored linen shirt. He rolled up the sleeves to his elbows so his forearms were on full display. He was chatting with Naeun and her team, putting on a show as he started chopping up the vegetables for the dishes. When she walked into the room, he looked up and scanned her outfit. “I remember that outfit. You wore it the day we told our parents about the engagement,” he smiled.

She nodded and walked around to the side of the island where he was, “Yes, the same day as the merger announcement.” She walked around him and grabbed one of the aprons hanging by the pantry. “What can I help with?” she asked. When she was next to him, she was reminded that without her heels, he towered over her by several inches.

“Do you want to start a pot of water for the yuksu?” Kang-tae directed. Moon-young made an agreeable noise, walking over to the stove to grab one of the pots the staff had prepped for them. She headed to the sink and filled the pot with water. After she returned the pot to the stove and turned on the burner, she pulled a bottle of wine chilling in the fridge and grabbed a few wine glasses in the cabinet, “Would you and your team like a glass, Naeun?”

Naeun looked at her team who gave enthusiastic nods. “We’d love a glass. But not too much since we’re still working!”

Moon-young chuckled, “Sounds good.” She opened the wine bottle with a pop and poured out a few glasses for everyone. Naeun took this as a sign to start taking photos.

Moon-young handed a glass over to Kang-tae, “It’s not the usual red, but it’ll do.” They clinked their glass and took a sip before going back to prepping. She assisted Kang-tae where she could, following his directions. For a while, it was just sounds of vegetables getting chopped and the clicking of the camera shutter.

“For the next shots, let’s do some poses. Moon-young, can I have you stand behind Kang-tae.” Naeun continued directing them. “Great. And then if you can wrap your arms around his waist for me. Perfect.” Then, addressing Kang-tae she continued to direct, “Kang-tae, turn your head a bit so that you’re looking at her. Okay, good. Watch your fingers, you’ve got a knife in your hands,” she warned when she noticed Kang-tae’s grip on the knife handle tightened. “Okay, Moon-young, move a little closer. Alright, stay there. And smile at each other. Let me get a few more, and... perfect.”

Within minutes, the aromas from food being cooked and the sizzling sounds of eggs being fried filled the room. Naeun let the two of them naturally move and pose with each other while she moved around them, capturing candid shots. After Kang-tae was finished with the kimchi bokkeumbap and fried eggs, he gave the kimchi jjigae another stir. “We just have to leave that to cook a bit more.”

“I think we got everything we need here,” Naeun told them, checking the photos on the laptop.

Moon-young took off her apron and handed it to Kang-tae’s waiting hand before she joined Naeun. “These look great, Naeun. I can’t believe you were able to capture this considering we weren’t even posing.”

“You’re both naturals, it didn’t take much to make you look gorgeous since you’ve done 95% of the work,” Naeun replied. She checked her watch for the time. “Would 30 minutes be enough for you both to change for the next set?” she asked.

“That should be fine for me,” Moon-young replied. “If you need anything while you’re setting up, feel free to flag one of the staff members.”

Naeun nodded, “Will do. We’ll go and set up the study.” She grabbed her laptop and headed toward the study, her team following closely behind.

When it was just the two of them, Moon-young let out a long breath. Kang-tae spoke up from the stove behind her, “You okay?”

She turned to him, “Yeah. I’m going to sleep like the dead tonight.”

“We’ve had a packed day. Why don’t you head up? I’ll have Myunghee start to pack some of this up,” he told her, turning off the burner for the kimchi jjigae.

“Can you let her know to pack some for Naeun, her crew, and the staff here as well?”

“Of course. I made enough to feed at least 20 people.”

“Great. I’ll head up now and see you in a bit.” Moon-young finished the last of the wine before she turned towards the hallway up to the stairs.

When they initially outlined the plan for their engagement shoot, they all agreed that they would do a more formal look for the last set of photos. Moon-young wanted to keep it simple, so after a few days of contemplating, she picked a white, long-sleeved, open-backed, floor-length Stella McCartney gown. The design was simple with clean lines. The way the crepe fabric flowed ever her skin, it felt like being wrapped up in butter.

She had no problem zipping up the back of the dress, but struggled with the hook and eye closure that held the top together. After struggling for five minutes, she gave up. Grabbing the skirt and the train, she headed out of her room and towards the guest bedroom. Outside the door, she took a breath before knocking, “Kang-tae, I need help.”

Within moments, the door opened. Behind the door, Kang-tae stood with his shirt mostly tucked into his tux pants, with a few buttons still unbuttoned and the bowtie hanging by the collar. “Hey, are you okay?” He asked, slightly breathless from rushing, scanning her up and down, “Wow, you look incredible in that dress.”

“Uh, thanks.” She stared at the exposed skin of his chest before looking up at his face, “I, uh, need some assistance.” She secured the top of her dress by holding it against her chest before turning around, exposing her back to him, “Can you help with the top’s closure? My arms can only turn so much.”

“Yeah, of course,” Kang-tae swallowed and brought his hands up to hook the closure. When it was secured, Moon-young let go off the top and turned to face him, “Thank you.”

“Of course,” he replied and began to button the rest of the buttons on his shirt. Looking at the dress again he co*cked his head, “That’s… not… is it?”

“Not what? The dress?” She asked, guessing his thoughts. “No, it’s not. My first fitting is tomorrow, remember? This was the only acceptable white dress I had in my closet.”

“Oh right,” he rubbed his neck, slightly embarrassed.

“Even if I had the dress, I wouldn’t be wearing it today. I might like giving you a hard time, but I’m not that mean. Well, not today at least. You can breathe now, I’m not going to jinx it,” she told him.

“Right,” he chuckled. Clearing his throat he asked, “Actually, before you go, can you help me?” He touched the bowtie, “30 plus years and this thing continues to mystify me.”

Moon-young smirked, “Of all the things to confuse the mighty Moon Kang-tae, it’s the formidable bowtie.”

He shrugged, “We all have our weaknesses.”

She let go of the gown’s skirt and train to free her hands, then reached up and flipped his collar up before taking hold of the tie. “Who’s been tying them for you all these years?” She asked as she proficiently looped and tied the tie into the perfect bow.

“Either Eomma or a pre-tied tie,” he admitted sheepishly. “I was in a bit of a rush and grabbed the wrong one today. Glad you haven’t forgotten,” he smiled.

“I’ve tied enough of these for you in my lifetime, it’s practically muscle memory at this point,” she replied, lowering the collar over the tie and making a few final adjustments before she ran her hands down the front of his shirt to smooth it out.

“Well, now I’ve got at least another year without having to learn,” he joked as he buttoned his cuffs. “Are you finished getting ready?”

She nodded, “Yeah, I just have to grab my shoes,” she pointed back at her room.

“Great, let me grab my jacket and shoes and we can head down together,” he told her before heading back into the room to grab them. When he came back out, Moon-young was working on closing the door while trying to hold her shoes and dress. He quickened his steps and reached for the shoes in her hand, “Let me take those for you.”

She handed them over to him, “Thanks. I always forget how much fabric this dress has.” She shut the door and walked with him towards the stairs. She checked him out from the corner of her eye as they headed back down towards the study, “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you in a tux.”

“A year at least since I last wore one,” he replied.

“Is this a rental?” she asked.

“No. I did have to get it cleaned though,” he chuckled.

“Hmm, not sure if I should hate you or be impressed that you didn’t have to have it altered after a year of not wearing it,” she replied.

“Impressed. Definitely impressed,” he provided, a grin on his face. She rolled her eyes in response and walked through the threshold of the study where Naeun and her team had finished the set up.

Naeun turned around at the noise and felt her jaw drop, “Good lord, give me a moment to take it all in.”

Moon-young laughed, “This is fine then?”

“Are you kidding? I’ve shot a ton of models, actors, and actresses in my time and none of them hold a candle to the two of you. This is more than fine.”

“You’re sweet,” Moon-young replied. She dropped the skirt and train of her dress and reached for the shoes in Kang-tae’s hands. “What are you thinking for this set?” She asked Naeun, putting the shoes down on the floor before stepping into them. Kang-tae stepped next to her and offered his arm for balance.

“I’m thinking a few standing shots by the window. The lighting is great right now. And then some seated shots,” she replied. “If you want to head to the window when you’re ready?”

Nodding, Moon-young pulled up the front of her dress and walked carefully over to the window that looked out to the property’s vast grounds. She stood and waited for Naeun’s directions.

“You look great. Can you turn slightly towards the window for me? Great. Now I just need the bouquet and to straighten out the train.” She turned to find one of her team members only to see Kang-tae standing behind her with the bouquet in hand. “Oh, you have it. Great.” She took it from him and handed it to Moon-young before adjusting it so that the rings were in full view. “Perfect. Stay like that, I’m going to grab my camera.” She turned to her team, “Can someone help set the train?”

“I got it,” Kang-tae spoke up. He stepped behind Moon-young and crouched down on one knee and pulled and straightened and smoothed out the creases.

Moon-young turned her head and looked over her shoulder down to where Kang-tae was carefully setting her train, “Thanks, Oppa.” Kang-tae looked up and smiled at her, nodding his response.

From where she stood, Naeun quietly took a few snaps of the two in their own world. She looked at the photo and grinned to herself making a mental note to make a special print for them. Clearing her throat, she brought them back into the real world. “I’ll grab a few solo shots of you first, Moon-young. Then you can join, Kang-tae.”

He stepped back a bit and watched Naeun work. He pulled out his own cell phone and took a few shots of Moon-young for himself. When he was done, pocketed his phone and turned to see a few members of Naeun’s team watching him with wide grins on their faces. He nodded to them with a shy smile on his face. When he turned back to Moon-young and Naeun, he saw that they were wrapping up.

“We’re ready for you, Kang-tae,” Naeun called over. He walked over to the two and listened to Naeun’s direction. When he was standing in front of Moon-young, she gave him a quick once over and adjusted his bowtie one more time and straightened his lapels for him. She gave his chest a light pat when she was done.

“For the first shot, I’ll have Moon-young keep the bouquet at waist level. Kang-tae, can I have you bring your hands up to her face and cradle it gently. Good. Then, lean in and kiss her forehead. Moon-young, you can close your eyes. Perfect. Hold it there.” Naeun moved around, quickly snapping photos from multiple angles. “In the same position, touch your foreheads. Great. Smile, you’re both doing fantastic.”

Then, she took the bouquet from Moon-young and directed the next shot. “For the next one, can I have you move a little closer. Good. Kang-tae, I’ll have you place your hands on Moon-young’s lower back. Moon-young, with your right hand, can I have you put that on Kang-tae’s waist. And then your left hand, bring it up to his neck. Okay. I’m just going to adjust it a sec so we can see the rings,” she carefully moved Moon-young’s hand to where she wanted it. Great, now turn towards each other and hold.”

Kang-tae grinned at Moon-young who was trying to avert her gaze. After a few moments of the only sound in the room being the click of the shutter, Naeun spoke up, “Great. We can move over to the chair now. I’ll take Kang-tae first and then Moon-young can join.”

Moon-young stepped off to the side and watched Naeun work with Kang-tae, instructing him on how to sit properly. She found herself trying to suppress the laughter bubbling in her throat when Kang-tae got jumpy when Naeun touched his leg to get him to move into a position she wanted him to get into. “Just need you to cross it over this way, good. Then just clasp your hands over your knee. Hold that position. And then turn and look over there for me,” she pointed to a spot on the floor a few feet from them.

“Alright, the last stretch!” Naeun announced. “Moon-young, come on over,” she waved for Moon-young to join them by the oversized chair. “Alright, Kang-tae, can you scoot over a bit and switch the legs you have crossed. And then, with your right arm, let’s put it on the back of the seat.” She turned to Moon-young, “Alright, can you sit right next to him there?” Moon-young followed the instructions and sat down next to Kang-tae. She carefully draped the skirt of the dress in front of her. “Okay, lean back against Kang-tae for me. Good. And then rest your left arm on his leg for me and place your hand on his knee. Okay. And then just drape your other arm across your tummy. Perfect.” Naeun stepped back and while looking through the viewfinder she gave them additional directions, “Moon-young, look over to the window. Kang-tae, look at me.” She took a few more shots and continued to instruct them on where she wanted them to look.

“How are you doing, Naeun?” Moon-young asked with a smile when Naeun paused to catch her breath.

“Good! We’re almost done, I promise,” she grinned. “Alright, Moon-young, do you want to stand up real quick?” Moon-young nodded and stood up from the seat. She turned to Kang-tae, “You can stay put, Kang-tae. I’ll just need you to move back to the center a bit. And then re-cross your legs one more time. And Moon-young, I’ll have you sit down between Kang-tae and the armrest. And let’s drape your legs over his and angle it towards the front.” She helped Moon-young get into position and adjusted her dress in the process to the way she wanted it. “Is that uncomfortable for either of you?” she asked.

“No, this is fine,” Moon-young told her.

Naeun smiled, “Good. Can you lean back into Kang-tae again and place your head in the space between his head and shoulder. And Kang-tae, I’ll have you wrap your arms around her waist and then Moon-young, can I have you hold his hands.” She stepped back, checked the two of them and let out a dreamy sigh, “You both look so good.”

In the chair, Moon-young let out a tiny snort, “I guess we do clean up well.”

Kang-tae glanced down at her, grinning, “I guess so.”

Naeun took a few shots before she lowered her camera. “For the last few, I’m going to have you kiss each other. I’ll let you figure out which position will work best and be the most comfortable for both of you.”

Moon-young and Kang-tae nodded their acknowledgement. They spent the next few moments shifting around until they found a comfortable position. Kang-tae brought his hand up to Moon-young’s cheek and she held onto his forearm. “Does this work?” Kang-tae asked Naeun.

She turned to look at them and walked around to check the lighting before giving them a thumbs up, “Perfect!”

Kang-tae returned his gaze to Moon-young. He took a small gulp of air before asking, “I’m going to kiss you, if that’s okay?”

Moon-young looked into his eyes, as if she was looking for something before she nodded, “It’s okay.”

He smiled, releasing the breath he was holding, and ran a thumb across her cheek, “Thank you.” He pulled her closer and gently touched his lips to hers. She jolted slightly at the touch and instinctively tightened her grip on his forearm, but quickly relaxed at the familiar sensation, although it had been a while since she’s felt it. Kang-tae took it as a sign to tighten his hold on her and deepen the kiss.

Naeun took this moment to capture as many photos as possible. She was quick and precise in finding all the right angles. When she was done, she put the camera down. “And that’s a wrap!” she announced.

Kang-tae pulled back and watched as Moon-young opened her eyes. She stared back at him but with slightly clouded eyes. “Moon-young?”

10 years ago…

It was another Friday evening where Kang-tae found himself sitting on the second floor of the library on campus. Dressed in his casual study outfit of a crewneck sweatshirt, jeans, a baseball cap, and his reading glasses, he was transcribing his notes from the latest lecture on international economics when he felt a tap on his shoulder, bringing him out of his concentration. He looked up to see his friends Oh Cha-yong and Joo Jeong-tae.

“Moon Kang-tae! It’s Friday night, why are you still here?” His friend, Oh Cha-yong asked.

Kang-tae grinned, “Hey! Are you guys heading out?” He looked at their outfit and noticed that none of them had their backpacks, “Or…”

“We saw you from outside,” he answered, pointing behind him to the floor to ceiling windows lining the building.

“Ah, I didn’t even realize where I was sitting. So, what are you guys up to?”

“We’re going to head out to the bar for a bit. Ah-reum is meeting up with us with a few friends of hers,” Jeong-tae replied, referring to his girlfriend Lee Ah-reum, “Do you want to join us?”

Kang-tae looked at his notes for a second before closing up his notebook and laptop, “You know what, why not. I can probably go for a drink.”

“That’s what we like to hear,” Cha-yong cheered, giving Kang-tae’s back a firm tap.

As Kang-tae was zipping up his backpack, Jeong-tae asked, “Did you see Moon-young when you came in? We saw her sitting downstairs.”

Cha-yong scoffed, “Please, if he saw her, he’d be sitting with her and not up here by himself.” Kang-tae sent him a glare meant to get him to shut up. He shrugged, “Am I wrong?”

Kang-tae ignored him and started heading towards the staircase. Cha-yong wasn’t deterred, putting his arm over Kang-tae's shoulders, “Kang-tae, between us, we all know how you feel about Moon-young. You’ve known each other forever and never once have you ever thought about pursuing her?”

Kang-tae continued to ignore his friend as they walked down the steps towards the exit. A few steps down, he began scanning the area until his eyes zeroed in on Moon-young sitting at one of the large tables in the back corner, typing madly on her laptop.

When they got on the ground floor, Kang-tae stopped and pivoted towards the back corner. He turned to his friends, “I think I’m going to stay a little longer.”

Cha-yong frowned, “It’s a Friday night, Kang-tae. And you already said that you’d have at least a drink with us.”

“I know,” he began.

Cha-yong looked at Jeong-tae, “You shouldn’t have told him about Moon-young.”

“You think he wasn’t going to see her? Guy’s got a radar on her that’s more sophisticated than any radar system known to man. He would have figured it out before we walked out the door,” Jeong-tae replied.

Cha-yong rubbed his temples, “I hate that you’re probably right,” he replied. He nudged Kang-tae's shoulder lightly to get his attention, “So, you’re not going to go with us for drinks?” He asked.

Kang-tae shook his head, "No, thanks. I'm good tonight," he told his friends.

Cha-yong shook his head but knew that arguing was pointless when Kang-tae made his decision, "Alright man, later. If you and Moon-young want to join later, we’ll be there for a bit."

He nodded, “I’ll ask her.”

“We’ll see you on Monday,” Jeong-tae waved to Kang-tae. “Come on, Cha-yong. I don’t want Ah-reum to wait too long.”

“Alright, let’s go. Later, Kang-tae,” Cha-yong waved and followed Jeong-tae out of the library.

Kang-tae returned the wave before he turned back towards the rear of the floor and walked over to the table that Moon-young was occupying. He pulled out the chair across from her before sitting down. He waited for a reaction and ended up watching her as she worked on whatever it was she was working on for about 10 minutes before clearing his throat and waving to get her attention.

She looked up before taking out her headphones, "Oh! Oppa! Hi! Sorry, I didn't see you there."

He chuckled, "It's okay, it looks like you're in the middle of something important."

"Oh, I've got an exam on Monday. Business Law," she grumbled.

He winced, knowing her struggle well, "Yikes. I took that course last semester. Insanely difficult, but the professor is pretty reasonable. His exams are all open notes, if I remember correctly."

"They are, that's what I'm working on now," she told him, pointing to her laptop.

He thought back to his pile of old notebooks, "I think I still have my notes from that class in my apartment. Do you want it? I won't have any need for it."

"Really? That would probably be helpful. You did pass the class didn't you?"

He laughed, "I did. I was heading back now, do you want to come with me?"

She looked at her laptop and then her watch before nodding, "Sure. I'll have all weekend to work on this anyway," she told him, closing her laptop. Standing up, she started packing her bag. When she was finished, she put her bag on her shoulder, "Okay, ready."

"Cool," he smiled, getting up from the chair. "Have you eaten dinner yet?"

She shook her head, "No, I was thinking about grabbing something from the cafe before I head back to my apartment."

They started for the exit, ignoring the looks from fellow students who knew who they were. "My fridge is fully stocked, I'm sure there'll be something there that can be whipped up into something you like," Kang-tae smiled as he pushed the door open and held it for Moon-young.

"Oppa, it's Friday night, don't you have a party to go to or friends to meet?" she asked, pulling her coat closer to herself as they slowly made their way through the campus.

"No, I wanted a quiet night tonight. And besides, I’d rather hang out with you," he told her.

She laughed, "Really? Are you sure I won't be bothering you if I went over?"

"Of course not. You know you’re never a bother. Besides, I’m the one inviting you. And it’s not like I have roommates."

Moon-young considered his reply, “I guess you’re right.”

They walked through the campus together talking about classes and exams. Kang-tae gave his opinions on professors that Moon-young had and gave her suggestions on ones she should take during her upcoming semester.

Although the both of them lived close to the campus, their apartments were in opposite directions; Moon-young lived on the north side, while Kang-tae lived on the south side. And ever since he moved into his new apartment at the beginning of the academic year, Moon-young hadn’t had the opportunity to see it.

When they reached the building, Kang-tae opened the door and let Moon-young enter ahead of him. In the lobby was the security guard who manned the front desk. He welcomed Kang-tae and Moon-young with a smile, “Welcome back, Kang-tae. Staying warm, I hope?”

“Trying to! I hope you brought a heavy jacket, it’s freezing out there,” Kang-tae replied.

“I did! Thanks for the warning. You have a good rest of your night!”

Kang-tae waved at the older man and led Moon-young towards the elevator. It didn’t take long after Kang-tae hit the call button for the elevator to arrive. They stepped in and Kang-tae pressed the button for his floor. When the doors closed, he turned to Moon-young and asked, “Anything you want for dinner?”

“I’m happy with whatever you make. You know I’m not fussy when it comes to your cooking. It’s always good,” she smiled.

“I wished that everyone I offered to cook a meal for felt that way,” Kang-tae replied.

Moon-young co*cked her head, “There’s someone who doesn’t like your cooking? Were they born with no taste buds?”

Kang-tae chuckled, “They would rather me take them out to a nice restaurant for an expensive meal. And no one is as easy to please with food as you are.”

She shrugged, “Their loss.” She gave his shoulder a reassuring pat, “Don’t worry though, if they won’t eat your cooking, I’ll still eat it.”

He put an arm around her and guided her out of the elevator towards his unit. “If I were able to find someone who loves my cooking as much as you do, I wouldn’t look anywhere else.”

“Good luck finding someone who loves your cooking as much as I do,” Moon-young told him as he unlocked the door.

“Lucky for me, I’m in no rush.” He dropped his backpack by the door and headed for the kitchen and proceeded to pull out ingredients for dinner from the fridge and pantry. He pulled out some bowls and his chopping tools and began to prep.

Moon-young followed him and walked past the kitchen area to the living area. The apartment was a simple one-bedroom apartment with high ceilings which gave it a roomy feeling. The main area was designed in an open floor plan design with the kitchen counter overlooking the main living area. The large floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the bustling streets of the city.

Moon-young took her time scanning the place and nodded her head in appreciation. “This is really nice. And the perfect size for a bachelor.”

Without looking up, he replied, “I like it. Doesn’t take long to clean and close to campus.”

She took a glance over to where he was still chopping away, “What are you making?”

“I’ve got some pork here, so I was thinking of some bossam. And pajeon to start.”

“Oh, yum. That sounds good.”

“I was home over the weekend and Eomma and ahjumma packed me a ton of kimchi and enough namul to feed an entire army.”

“The homemade banchans from Aunt Yoo-jin are the best,” Moon-young remarked thoughtfully. She dropped her bag on the floor by the couch and walked over to the windows and looked out on the horizon, “You’ve got a pretty great view here, Oppa.”

Kang-tae looked up from chopping and stopped. One of the benefits of his unit facing west was that he always got a nice view of the sunset in the evenings. But seeing Moon-young standing at the window, looking out at the city, something just felt right. He wiped his hands on the towel by the cutting board and placed him on his hips, “Yeah, it’s pretty hard to beat.” He smiled to himself before going back to chopping.

Moon-young leaned in a little closer to the window, “Oppa, I think it’s snowing.”

“Really? It’s a little late for the first snow of the season, isn’t it? I figured at this rate we might not get any this year,” he replied, tossing the cutting board into the sink and filling a pot with water.

She shrugged, “Better late than never. And at least with the snow, I’ll insulate and warm up a bit.” She stepped back and turned away from the windows, “Do you mind if I look around a bit more?”

“Sure, make yourself at home.”

Over the next few minutes, Moon-young walked around the apartment and checked out the different rooms. She stepped into the bedroom and sat down at the end of the bed before she took note of the closet that lined the front walls. Off to the back corner by the bed was a desk with textbooks neatly stacked on a shelf in front of it.

“Moon-young?” Kang-tae called over.

She looked up at his voice and noticed that the walls separating the bedroom from the living area didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling, making it easy to hear Kang-tae. “Yes, Oppa.”

“You’re in my bedroom?”

“Uh huh.”

“The notebook is on the shelf if you want to grab it.”

“Okay,” she called back. Standing up from the bed and walking over to the desk. She looked at the shelf and slowly ran her fingers over the spines of the books and notebooks on the shelf, “What color is the notebook, Oppa?”

“It should be the light blue one on the second shelf.”

She leafed through the spines before finding the notebook in question, “Found it!”

“Help yourself to it! It’s yours.”

She pulled the notebook from the shelf and flipped through the first few pages before her eyes caught a picture frame in her peripheral vision. She picked it up and smiled brightly at the photo in the frame. It was a photo taken from a few summers prior when their family visited Europe. In it, she and Kang-tae were sitting on a bench, Moon-young’s head on his shoulders and his arm wrapped around her, in front of a lake with the majestic Italian Alps in the background. She had great memories of the trip, including the first time where she felt her heart beating just a little bit faster than usual whenever Kang-tae draped his arm around her and pulled her close.

She put the photo back down on the desk and with the notebook in hand, headed back into the living area.

“Why don’t you go and hang on the couch, I should be done soon.”

She set the notebook on the counter and sat down on one of the stools tucked under it, “I’d rather keep you company here and watch, if that’s okay?”

Kang-tae gave her a smile, “I would never turn down your company.”

She blushed slightly and ignored the quickened thump of her heart. “I saw the photo on your desk. I really want to head back to Italy again. That was so much fun.”

Kang-tae’s ears reddened just slightly. He hadn’t thought about the photo on his desk when he told her to make herself at home. “That’s not a bad idea,” he replied.

“What’s not a bad idea?”

“A trip to Italy. Maybe we can go between graduation and when we have to start at the office?”

“That would be fun. I’d like that a lot. I’ll start looking into it.”

“You were always the better planner between the two of us,” he laughed, plating the pajeon and placing the plate on the counter. “Do you want to take that over to the coffee table? We can eat there.”

Moon-young grabbed the plate and brought it to the coffee table, moving the decorations to the media console. "So how many girls have you brought back here?" she asked.

"You’re the first," he replied as he sliced the pork into bite-sized pieces.

"You expect me to believe that?" she asked incredulously, "Did you forget that we go to the same school and I hear things?"

He shrugged, placing the plate of bossam on the counter for Moon-young to take. "That may be, but I don't make a habit of bringing women back to my apartment. So if you heard anything, it’s not true," he answered. He retrieved plates and utensils from the cabinet and set them on the counter before opening the fridge one more time, “Do you want wine or soju?”

“Soju’s fine.”

Kang-tae grabbed a few bottles of soju and the wrapped containers of banchan his mother packed for him before heading over to join Moon-young on the floor at the coffee table. He sat down next to her on the floor in front of the sofa and opened all the containers before gesturing for her to dig in.

Moon-young looked at all the banchans in front of them and stared, “You weren’t kidding when you said that Aunt Yoo-jin packed you a ton. Are you going to be able to finish it all?”

“It’ll take less time now that you’re here to help.”

“I’ll do my best.” With her chopsticks, Moon-young picked a few things and served herself while Kang-tae did the same. It was quiet for a little bit as they each built their wraps and fed themselves. The only sounds coming out of either of them was from eating.

“This is really good, Oppa. Much better than whatever it was I would have picked up from the cafe.”

“Glad you like it. Feel free to take some back with you to share with Juri, too.”

“I will not decline your kind offer. Although I can’t promise that Juri will get to eat any.”

He gave her hair a little ruffle, “I will always make you more if you want. So make sure Juri gets some, too.”

“Okay, okay. But Oppa, back to what we were talking about before we started eating. Have you really not brought any girls here? Even when you had a girlfriend?”

“No. And when was the last time you saw me with a girlfriend?”

“It’s been a while but I figured that was because there are stretches of time where we don’t really see each other. But if you don’t bring girls over, what do you do?” she asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

Kang-tae finished putting together a wrap and brought it up to her mouth, “Open.” She obeyed his command and immediately opened her mouth to receive the wrap. When she remained quiet as she chewed, he gave her a little pat on the head, “If and when I am seeing someone, I go over to their place because it’s easier for me to leave than it is for me to kick someone out. Now, stop asking.”

"Do you have a dead body in your closet or something? Is that why?" she asked, ignoring his request.

"No, I just like my privacy."

"Then why did you let me come over?" she asked. Before he could answer, she put her hand up, "Stupid question. I’m like a sister to you, so I don't count."

“I know we’ve never really had this conversation, but since you’re bringing it up now, might as well talk about it,” he paused. “I’ve never thought of you as my sister, Moon-young," he confessed.

“But you’re always taking care of me and making sure I’m doing okay,” she argued.

“Of course I do, because I care about you and want to always make sure you’re okay. But I don’t have to think of you as a sister to feel that way,” he explained.

“Okay, sure, maybe you don’t think of me as a sister. But we’re so close and grew up together that I’m in a different category than other people.”

“You are different from any other women who come and go in my life.” He put down his chopsticks before turning his body so that he was directly facing her. “You never wondered why?”

“I’ve known you all my life, I never thought of it as anything but normal.”

Kang-tae thought about her words. She wasn’t wrong in thinking that him taking care of her was normal. While they were growing up, he had done it because he was always taught to take care of those closest to him. But as he got older, taking care of Moon-young was less about what was expected of him, but more about him wanting to be the one she could always count on. He wasn’t sure when his view of their relationship changed, but it felt like one day he woke up and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He knew that what he was going to say next was going to turn their relationship as they know it on its head, but he also didn’t want to avoid it anymore. “Have you ever thought about us?”

Moon-young placed the chopsticks down next to her plate and reached for the glass of soju. She pondered Kang-tae’s question, uncertain about how to answer the question. They’ve never kept anything from each other and it would be weird to do so now. “Do you mean in a romantic way?” she asked back. Kang-tae didn’t say anything, but nodded his answer. She took a healthy sip of the soju before responding, “I would be lying if I said no. I think there were always moments where I wondered what it would be like if we ever pursued something beyond what we have now. But I never thought about whether or not you thought the same way.”

Kang-tae reached over and placed his hand over hers before slowly intertwining his fingers through hers, “What if I told you that I’ve thought about it too?”

"Stop joking around, Oppa," she responded on a nervous chuckle before averting her eyes to the windows where it looked like the snow was coming down harder than earlier. “Oh, no, it looks like it’s coming down hard. I’ll have to call for a cab later then.”

Kang-tae was unfazed, “We can figure out getting you home later.” He considered his next words carefully, "Moon-young, we’ve been around each other all our lives. You know when I’m joking around and when I’m being serious.” He paused for a moment, “You realize that you're one of the most gorgeous girls on campus right?”

She chuckled, “I’m not shameless enough to blatantly admit that.”

“Do you know how many guys have asked me to introduce them to you?” he asked.

“Do I want to know?” she asked back.

“Ten,” he replied.

“That’s not terrible,” she countered.

“This week,” he cut in.

“Oh.”

“And do you know why I haven’t introduced any of them to you?”

She looked at him suspiciously, “What did you say to them?”

“Nothing.”

“Then where are they?”

He shrugged, “Not here. But do you know why I didn’t introduce them to you?” He repeated his question.

“I’m sure you’re about to tell me.”

“Because none of them were good enough for you.”

“And who do you think is good enough for me?”

“No one.”

“Come on, Oppa. You don’t expect me to be single for the rest of my life, do you?”

“No.”

“Then what, you’re going to drive anyone who tries to pursue me away?”

“None of them are going to try to pursue you if we’re together.”

Moon-young felt her face heating up. She wasn't sure if it was due to the alcohol or the way Kang-tae was looking at her. "That’s hilarious, but I don't think comedy is your thing, Oppa" she laughed, shoving him with her free hand.

He tugged lightly at their intertwined hands, “Moon-young, look at me.”

Looking at their hands she replied, “I don’t know if I can.”

He reached for her with his free hand and turned her to face him. He saw the nervous shyness in her eyes and smiled tenderly, “You don’t have to be shy with me. I wouldn’t dare to do anything to hurt you. You know that right?”

Moon-young remained silent but nodded. Kang-tae inched closer to her. Surprised, Moon-young asked, “What are you doing, Oppa?”

“I’m going to kiss you, if that’s okay?” he asked.

Moon-young searched his eyes to find any glimpse or hint that Kang-tae was messing with her. When she realized that he wasn’t playing around or teasing her, she slowly nodded. His smile somehow got brighter than it already was. With his free hand, he gently brought it to the back of her neck and leaned in to touch his forehead to hers, “Thank you.”

Moon-young let out a rare giggle before Kang-tae kissed her.

~

“Moon-young?” Kang-tae called her again when she didn’t respond, the look of worry marring his face.

When her eyes focused back on Kang-tae, she got up from his lap and took a step back to distance herself before turning to the photographer, “Are we finished here?”

Naeun, who felt a change in the air, thought about the photos she was able to capture before the tension crept up between the couple and nodded, “We’ve got everything we needed.”

Moon-young gave her a tight smile, “Thank you so much for your time, Naeun.”

Sher nodded and returned the smile, “Of course. Thank you for considering us for this. You are a lovely couple.” She put her camera on the table, “We’ll get working on the edits and will send proofs over to you by mid-next week.”

Moon-young’s smile softened slightly as she nodded, “Great. Look forward to seeing it.” Then, remembering the food they made earlier during the shoot, she called over to Naeun, “Please feel free to help yourself to the food Oppa made earlier! I’m sure Myunghee has it all packed and ready for you.”

“That’s very kind of you, thank you very much! We’ll definitely take some. They looked amazing.”

Moon-young grinned, placing a hand on Kang-tae’s arm, “Oppa’s very much at home in the kitchen. I’m only there for moral support so that I don’t feel guilty since all I do is eat.” Naeun and her team laughed, feeling relieved that the earlier tension left the room. Moon-young turned to Kang-tae and quietly asked, “Are we on a tight schedule? I want to shower and wash my hair before we leave, if that’s okay?” Holding on to his arm, she pulled off the heels she was wearing before setting them on the floor by her feet.

“Of course. How long do you need?” he asked.

“An hour should be enough,” she replied. “Can you help with the clasp one more time?” she asked.

“Of course,” he waited for her to turn around. Once he unhooked it, she gave him a quiet thanks. When he nodded in response, she pulled up the skirt of the gown and headed for the door that would lead her to the hallway towards the stairs that would take her to her childhood bedroom.

Upon entering the bedroom, Moon-young quickly unzipped the dress and took it off, leaving it lying in a pool of white fabric on the floor. She took off the jewelry she wore and tossed them on the bed, followed by the pins in her hair. She ran her hands through her hair, mussing up the styled look.

Left only wearing her underwear and engagement ring, she walked into her bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror. Her hand came up to her lips which still stung where Kang-tae had kissed her earlier. With the back of her hand, she started vigorously rubbing at her lips, wanting to physically remove any reminder of the kiss. Her actions only made her lips pinker and stung more from the friction, leaving trails of pink on the skin at the corners of her mouth.

She opened one of the drawers in her vanity and grabbed the makeup remover wipes she always kept in the house for when she slept over. She pulled out one of the wipes from the container and proceeded to once again, rub at her lips. She tasted the bitterness of the chemical on the tips of her tongue and turned on the faucet to rinse her mouth.

Once the bitter taste left her mouth, she turned off the faucet and looked at herself again in the mirror to see that her normally flawless face was marred by her earlier actions. She looked down at her hands and saw them shaking slightly and that her breath was slightly shaky.

She didn’t expect to have such reactions to the kiss. It wasn’t her first kiss, nor was it her first kiss with Kang-tae. She knew it was coming and expected it but didn’t anticipate her own reactions to the kiss. It was as if her subconscious rejected the idea of any form of intimacy with the man who was about to become her husband.

Realizing that standing in front of the mirror and waging a war on her own face wasn’t going to solve the issue, Moon-young leaned into the shower and turned on the water to the hottest setting. She removed the last of her clothing before stepping into the shower. When the scalding hot water hit her body, she instinctively flinched, before her body adjusted.

She took her time lathering her hair and body before spending no less than five minutes standing still under the showerhead and emptying her mind. After she washed off all the soap and conditioner, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. She grabbed the bathrobe from the hook behind the door and slipped into it before grabbing one of the towels and wrapping it around her head.

Moon-young used the next half hour to get dressed, redo her hair, and clean the mess she left in the wake of her need to wash off the sensation of the earlier kiss. After she was done, she packed all of her belongings, clothes, and accessories that she brought into the bags she packed them in. She tossed the towel into the laundry basket in the bathroom before turning off all the lights.

With all her things in hand, she headed back down to the first floor and dropped off her things on the bench by the front door before going on a search for Kang-tae. The first place she went to was the kitchen.

Instead of Kang-tae, she saw Myunghee cleaning up from earlier. She stopped her cleaning when she saw Moon-young and smiled, “Were you looking for something? I have all the food packed and ready for you when you leave.”

Moon-young returned the smile, “Thank you, it’ll last me a few days!” She looked around the kitchen and asked, “Have you seen Oppa?”

Myunghee thought for a moment before answering, “I think he mentioned that he was going to say goodbye to your father.”

“Thank you, I’ll go and look in his office. Do you mind having someone take the food and my things in the foyer to the car? It should be unlocked.”

“Of course, I’ll get right on it.”

“And if you don’t mind having someone retrieve my shoes from the study? Thank you again. It was good to see you!”

“You, too, Ms. Moon-young.”

Moon-young made her way towards the office. As she got closer, she could hear the voices behind the door chatting away. At the door, she gave a knock before turning the knob and poking her head in.

Kang-tae and Dae-hwan both turned their heads in her direction. Daehwan spoke up first, “Ah, Moon-young, come in. Sit down and join us,” he invited, waving her in.

Moon-young entered the office and took the seat next to her father on the couch, “Sounded like the two of you were in the middle of a lively conversation.”

“Kang-tae was just telling me about the venue tour and the tasting you both did earlier. Sounds like things are moving along quickly.”

Moon-young nodded, “It is. I am going to a bridal boutique tomorrow with Aunt Yoo-jin to look at dresses. There’s a few more things with florists and things like that, but I’m not too worried. We can always delegate, too.”

“That’s good to hear,” he responded. He looked between Moon-young and Kang-tae before asking, “Are you two staying for dinner?”

Moon-young looked at Kang-tae before answering, “Not tonight, Appa. We have a few more errands to run.” She looked at her watch, “Speaking of which, should we head out?” she asked Kang-tae.

Kang-tae looked at his watch and nodded, “We should. I’ll head to the car and make a quick call to make sure that the person I’m meeting with is on their way. I’ll see you in the car.”

“Sure.” She watched him as he got up from the sofa, said goodbye to her father, and walked out of the study.

“You wanted to talk?” Dae-hwan asked once the door closed behind Kang-tae.

“Yes. We haven’t really talked since we told you we were getting married,” Moon-young replied.

“Is there anything you wanted to talk about?”

“I think that’s my question for you. Did you have any questions, or really anything to say?”

Dae-hwan pondered the question. “It’s happening a lot quicker than I imagined it would but you two have also known each other for so long that all the getting to know each other part wasn’t necessary.”

Moon-young wondered if her father really wasn’t suspicious of the turn of events. She knew her father well, he was perceptive and he always had a question about everything. For him to not have any now was out of character. “That’s it?” she asked.

“It feels like you want me to have questions.”

She gave him a shrug, “I figured when one’s daughter decides to get married, one would have a lot of questions.”

Dae-hwan shook his head, “If the groom was anyone but Kang-tae, I probably would have some. But no, I don’t have any currently. If one comes up, I’ll let you know,” he smiled.

Moon-young stayed silent for a few moments before nodding, “Alright, then.” She stood up from the couch before she leaned back down to give her father a kiss on the cheek, “I love you, Appa.”

Dae-hwan smiled, “I love you, too, Moon-young.”

“I’ll get going before Oppa has to wait too long. I’ll see you later, Appa.” She waved to her father before leaving the study.

Dae-hwan grinned, “It’s been a while since you’ve called him that.”

“I guess certain circ*mstances change things,” she replied. “Bye, Appa.”

Exiting the office, Moon-young quickly made her way towards the front door. While she stopped to put her shoes on, she snuck a peek through the window and saw that Kang-tae was still on the phone, standing by the car. She put on her coat and grabbed her purse and made her way towards the car.

Kang-tae heard the sound of the front door opening and turned to see Moon-young making her way towards him. He turned away from her and wrapped up the call, “We should be there within the half hour. We’ll meet you outside. Thanks again for being flexible, I do appreciate it.”

When he hung up and turned around, Moon-young was a few feet away from him, “Everything okay?” she asked.

He nodded, “Yeah. You ready?”

“Yes,” she replied, walking around the car and climbing into the passenger seat. Kang-tae joined her on the driver's side a few moments later. Once he got the car onto the road, she asked, “So where are we going?”

“Samcheong-dong. An acquaintance of mine had something to show me and had a limited window of time he was available. I hope you don’t mind?”

Moon-young shook her head, “I had no other plans. As long as he doesn’t mind that I am tagging along.”

“Not at all. Thanks for coming with me. I would appreciate a second opinion,” Kang-tae told her.

“I’m not sure how helpful I’ll be, but I will try.”

He gave her a grin and a nod as he maneuvered the car through the traffic towards Samcheong-dong. Moon-young looked out her window and admired the buildings they passed as it progressively changed from modern to a more traditional build. She didn’t get around to the Samcheong-dong area often because she didn’t have a regular need to. But when she did, she always took her time admiring the architecture of the hanoks that lined the streets.

After a few more minutes of driving, Kang-tae brought the car to a stop on a quiet street and turned off the ignition. “We’re here.” He told her, unbuckling his seatbelt and getting out of the car. He waved to his acquaintance who was waiting by the front door of one of the many hanoks on the street and waited by the driver door for Moon-young to make her way around to join him. When she did, he brought his hand up and placed it gently on the middle of her back and guided her across the street to where his acquaintance was waiting.

“Mr. Kang-tae, thank you for making time to meet me.”

“I should be thanking you for making time on a Saturday.” He turned to Moon-young, “Moon-young, this is Park Woo-seok, he’s the acquaintance I was telling you about. Woo-seok, this is Ko Moon-young, my fiancée.”

Woo-seok extended his hand, “It’s so nice to meet you, Ms. Moon-young.”

Moon-young smiled, “Same to you, Mr. Park.”

“Shall we go inside?” Woo-seok asked.

“Yes, please. Lead the way,” Kang-tae responded.

Woo-seok stepped up to the security panel by the doors and input the password for the lock. At the beep of the password being accepted, he pushed the door in and gestured for Kang-tae and Moon-young to enter ahead of him.

Through the door was a decent sized courtyard that led to a large hanok. The courtyard itself had a seating area off to the side that appeared to lead into a kitchen. While the property looked small from the outside, the inside was large but cozy.

“You have a beautiful home,” Moon-young complimented as she took in the architecture of the traditional style of the home.

Woo-seok looked over at Kang-tae and chuckled, “Thank you, it’s not mine but I’ll pass the compliments along to the owners.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize. Kang-tae mentioned that you were showing him something, so I made the assumption.”

“It’s not a problem at all. This was what I wanted to show Kang-tae,” Woo-seok smiled and spread his arms to show the house.

Moon-young gave Woo-seok a small smile and Kang-tae felt the tension at her back. Realizing that he probably should have gone a little easy on the surprises today, Kang-tae took the lead in answering, “Woo-seok is actually the real estate agent I’ve been working with. When I had him list my place, I also mentioned that I would be looking for a house as well. I didn’t really have anything in mind since we were still planning logistics but told him that we both liked the idea of marrying the traditional with the modern and that if he found anything of interest to let me know.”

Woo-seok spoke up, “This property belongs to a family friend of mine. They’re an older couple who are planning to move abroad and planned on putting the property on the market. When Kang-tae mentioned what he was looking for, I thought this would be a potential fit for you both. It’s not on the market yet but the owners haven’t lived here in a while since they’ve been restoring and renovating it for the past year. I would be happy to give you a tour or you’re also welcome to walk around and look for yourselves as well.”

Moon-young responded before Kang-tae could, “We’ll walk around, thank you.”

“Sure. I put together an info packet for you with all the information around the history of the property, as well as the updates that were done and are currently being done. I’ll wait over in the kitchen and will be happy to answer any questions after you walk through.”

“Thank you so much,” she responded. Turning to Kang-tae with a tight smile on her face she asked, “Shall we?”

Kang-tae knew that the moment they were alone, he was going to have a very unhappy Moon-young on his hands, but he wasn’t bothered in the slightest because he already knew she loved the place.

When they arrived at the first room in the house that was far enough from where Woo-seok was waiting, Moon-young shoved Kang-tae away from her, “This is your errand?”

“Yes.”

“Should I be expecting any more surprises today? Am I going to return home to a litter of puppies waiting for me?” she asked, sarcastically.

“Do you want a litter of puppies?”

She shoved a finger at his chest, “You’re not funny.”

“No more surprises, I promise. I just couldn’t pass up showing this to you. And the pictures that Woo-seok sent, while well photographed, did not do the place justice. I wanted you to see it for yourself first. And I knew if I told you that I may have already found a place for us, you were going to do everything you could to avoid coming to look at it.”

She didn’t respond but opened up the info packet and began leafing through it. Kang-tae gave her a few minutes to look through the packet and to glance around the room before he dared to speak, “What are your thoughts?”

“About you? I’m extremely frustrated. About the property? I don’t hate it. And the price is reasonable, considering the updates,” she replied. She walked out of the room into the hallway and peered into the rooms lining the hallway. There were a few rooms that can be fashioned as bedrooms or offices. The living room looked out into the courtyard with its panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows. The sunken seating area in the center of the room gave it a cozy, inviting feel.

When they reached what appeared to be the master bedroom, Moon-young asked, “What’s the intended sleeping arrangement?” She opened the door to the walk-in closet and took in the amount of storage space it offered. Not waiting for Kang-tae’s answer, she walked in and ran her hands over the wood of the shelves, admiring the dark color of the wooden fixtures. When she reached the far end of the closet, she stopped at the vanity that looked out to an unobstructed view of Namsan Tower and caught Kang-tae’s eye in the reflection.

Watching her closely from the door of the closet, Kang-tae replied, “If we’re going to be married, we should be sharing the same room and bed.” He saw the way her hands flexed against the wood at his response but didn’t comment on it. He wasn’t going to lie to make her feel better about the situation. The reality was, if they were going to be legally married, he wanted them to live as a married couple.

“And if I don’t want to?” she replied, still looking at him in the mirror rather than turning to face him.

He walked into the closet towards her, stopping just inches away from her body. He felt the tension in her body radiating around her like a force field. “I think you know that I would do my best to convince you otherwise.” He responded, staring back at her reflection in the mirror.

“How?” she scoffed, crossing her arms across her chest. “By running to my father?” she asked, sarcastically.

Kang-tae placed his hands on the wooden top of the vanity on either side of her, trapping her between the wooden structure and his equally hard body. He leaned in, so close that his lips were millimeters from her ear and the mingling light fragrances of her perfume and shampoo tickled his nose. His eyes never left the reflection of hers in the mirror as he delivered his response, “I think we’re adult enough to resolve our issues on our own without the interference of other people, don’t you?”

Moon-young turned around and faced him, “Are we? You’re the one who’s still meeting with Appa on a regular basis about lord knows what.”

“You know I only speak to your father about work. Don’t try to change the subject,” Kang-tae replied, his face serious.

Crossing her arms again in hope that it would put some space between them, Moon-young shrugged, “I’ll think about it. But right now I don’t even want to share a house with you, let alone a bed.” She pushed his chest to move him out of her way before making a beeline for the door back into the bedroom.

Kang-tae’s eyes followed her out to the bedroom. He leaned against the vanity and let out a sigh, followed by a resigned laugh. At the rate they were going, a possible divorce might be the least of his worries. He pushed himself back up and followed Moon-young back out to the bedroom. When he didn’t see her, he called out her name.

“In the bathroom,” she called back.

He followed her voice to the master bathroom where she was in the middle of an inspection. LIke much of the house, the master bathroom was much bigger than he expected it would be. On the far side was the shower and tub that was floating above smooth rocks, save for a few large stone tiles by the shower that was enclosed by a glass wall. The ceiling above the tub opened up to a skylight that offered natural lighting during the day.

“It looks like they put in a lot of work in the updates.”

“Seems like it. What do you think? Should we put in an offer? Or do you want to wait?”

“I like it. It’s unique and the owner’s did a good job at preserving some of the original structure while updating the infrastructure so that we don’t have to worry about outdated pipes or electric wiring.”

“It’s in a good location, too. It’s set far enough back in the neighborhood that it’s more quiet than the parts closer to the palace. But it’s close enough that we can easily get onto the main road.”

“What are we going to do with it after?”

“I don’t know. Maybe keep it? It’s a good investment. But I’d rather think about anything but what you’re referencing.”

“Have you already found someone for your place?”

“There have been inquiries. I’m still working through them.”

“I think we should strongly consider putting in an offer. But I’d like to see it during the day before we commit.”

“I’m sure Woo-seok can make it happen.”

“If it can happen tomorrow, that would be perfect.” Moon-young followed Kang-tae as he navigated his way around the house towards the kitchen where Woo-seok was waiting for them.

“Isn’t your dress appointment tomorrow?” he asked.

“Not until early afternoon. If Woo-seok can have the place available mid-morning, that should work.”

They stepped into the kitchen where Woo-seok was seated at the counter waiting for them. He smiled, “What are your thoughts?”

Kang-tae looked at Moon-young, signaling her to give her thoughts, “It’s beautiful. And it looks like the owners put in a lot of effort into the update.”

“I’ll pass the word along to the owners. Did you have any questions?”

“Before we make any decisions, would it be possible to see the place during the day?”

Woo-seok nodded, “That shouldn’t be a problem. When would you like to come and look at it?”

“Does tomorrow late morning work for you?” She asked.

“I think I can make it work,” Woo-seok replied, pulling out his phone and looking through his calendar. “Does 11.30AM work?”

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

“Great! It’s a beautiful home. And one that I think you can easily grow into. And I think it checks off a lot of the things you were looking for, Kang-tae.”

“It does, I’m very impressed.”

“I can’t disappoint my best client,” Woo-seok joked.

Kang-tae grinned, “You never do.”

Moon-young reached for Kang-tae’s elbow, “We should head out and let Woo-seok close up before it gets even later.”

“I should get you home, too,” Kang-tae responded. He looked back at Woo-seok, “We’ll be heading out. Thanks again for doing this last minute. We’ll see you later.”

“Have a good night!”

Later, when Kang-tae dropped Moon-young off, she had him park his car in the other open spot assigned to her unit. Kang-tae didn’t comment initially, but felt like it was another big step in their relationship. He followed up to the elevator, garment bag in one hand and a bag with all the leftovers and cupcakes in the other while Moon-young carried the duffle with her shoes and her purse. When they were inside, she leaned back against the wall and closed her eyes.

“We accomplished a lot in a day,” Kang-tae remarked.

“Mmmhmm,” she replied.

“Are you hungry? Other than the food at the tasting, we barely ate anything.”

“I don’t know if I have the energy to try to eat,” she mumbled.

“Even if it’s something light. You shouldn’t go to bed hungry,” he told her.

She opened one of her eyes and looked at him, “You’re not going to leave until I eat something, aren’t you?”

He grinned and shook his head, “You would have to get your security to drag me out.” He followed her to her door when the elevator opened on her floor. As she unlocked the door, he continued, “If you don’t eat now, you’re going to wake up in the middle of the night cranky and hungry. I’m saving you from interrupted sleep.”

“Oh my god, fine,” she replied. She placed her purse on the entryway bench and took the garment from Kang-tae’s hand. “Do whatever you want,” she nodded to the kitchen. “I’m going to change into pajamas.”

He headed for the kitchen, “Okay. It should be ready by the time you’re back.”

Moon-young made a beeline for her room, shutting the door behind her once she was inside. With the bags in her hand, she took them into her closet and hung up the garment bag and placed the duffle bag on the floor by the door. She reached for the cashmere pajama set in one of the drawers and changed into them.

She tossed the clothes into her laundry hamper before she headed into the bathroom. At the vanity, she grabbed her contact lens case and twisted the caps off. She removed her contacts before she began to wash her face and remove her makeup. When she was done, she patted her face dry before putting on her glasses. She hung up the towel before she stepped out of the bathroom and headed back out towards the kitchen.

When Moon-young returned to the kitchen, she found that Kang-tae had already prepared two portions of the kimchi bokkeumbap and fried eggs for each of them. At the sound of her footsteps, Kang-tae looked up and stared at her for a moment.

“What is it? Do I have something on my face?” She asked, touching her face self-consciously.

He shook his head, “No. It’s just been a while since I’ve seen you wearing your glasses.”

“Take a good look. This is what you’re signing up for,” she declared before sitting down at the island counter.

Kang-tae moved around the island and sat down on the stool next to her, “You could be wearing a potato sack and I would still think you’re beautiful.”

“You don’t have to keep throwing compliments at me, you know. We’re still going to get married,” she told him.

“I know,” he nodded to the food. “Eat up. It’s getting cold.”

Moon-young gave him a dirty look before she dug her spoon into the bowl of rice and brought it up to her mouth.

They ate the meal in what could be considered comfortable silence. When they were done, Moon-young took their dishes and placed them in the sink. “Don’t worry about it,” she told Kang-tae when he reached to turn on the water. “I’ll take care of it in the morning.”

Pouring herself a glass of water, she asked, “Are you in a hurry?”

Kang-tae shook his head, “No. What is it?”

“Why don’t we go to the living room? I have a few logistical questions before you leave.”

“Sure, lead the way,” he gestured for her to walk ahead of him.

In the living room, they sat down on the couch, Kang-tae off to one side with an arm resting on the back of the seat and Moon-young sitting a seat away from him with her knees folded up towards her chest facing him. She leaned down so that her chin was resting on her knees, “Have you picked out your outfit for the wedding?”

Kang-tae nodded, “I had my fitting a few days ago. Just a few alterations and it should be good.”

“We’ve almost checked off everything on the list,” she replied.

“We’re close. I have the rings as well, so we’re set on that,” he told her.

She nodded tiredly, shifting her body so that her back was against the backrest. Kang-tae didn’t comment when the back of her neck touched his arm; he went along with the moment. He watched as the exhaustion slowly took over her, he lifted his hand up to absently play with the ends of her hair.

In the quiet, Moon-young leaned closer to Kang-tae, resting her head on his shoulders. He remained still, unsure of what to do next, when she spoke up, “Your shoulder is comfortable, that’s all it is.”

“That’s fine. It’s always here when you need it.” He felt his heart beating a little faster and tried to calm it down. It wasn’t the first time they were in this position. In their youth, they would often sit together just like this, her head on his shoulders with no words exchanged between them, just each other’s company. Kang-tae missed those days the most because it was as if nothing else mattered because they had each other. He wanted to return to those days, when things were easy between them.

“Oppa,” she mumbled tiredly.

“Hmm?”

“Are we really going to be okay?” she asked, her eyes still closed.

“Of course. We’ll do our best to make it work.” His hand found its way to the side of her head and caressed it gently. “It won’t always be easy but all we can do is try our best.”

“I don’t want to get hurt again,” she confessed. “I don’t think I have it in me to survive that again.”

Kang-tae’s hand stilled on her head and he felt his heart thumping hard against his chest, “What happened, Moon-young?”

She continued quietly, as if she didn’t hear his question, “It was really hard.”

“Moon-young?” Kang-tae called quietly, not sure if she was still awake or already asleep. When she didn’t respond, he shifted her slightly, “Moon-young?” he called once more.

She groggily opened her eyes, slowly adjusting her vision. When her blurry vision started to clear, she rubbed her eyes sleepily, “Oh, you’re still here? Did I fall asleep?”

Kang-tae nodded, “I think we should get you to bed.”

She nodded, unfolding herself and standing up on her feet, “I must be more tired than I thought I was.”

He stood up with her, holding her arm gently, “Can I help you to bed?” he asked, still concerned about what she said earlier.

She shook her head, “No, it’s okay. I’m fine. You should get home. It must be late,” she told him.

“I’ll walk you to the door. At least I’ll know you’re in your room.”

She didn’t argue, “Okay.”

He slowly led her to her bedroom, still thinking about her words earlier. By the time they were at the door, Moon-young was a bit more awake. “Sorry I fell asleep on you.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind.” He rubbed the back of his neck before asking, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She tilted her head to the side, “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shook his head, “You’re right. I’m just being overly concerned.”

She nodded, “I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”

“I know. But can you blame me? I’ve been concerned for your well-being since the day we met.”

“You worry too much.”

“You’re right about that, too.”

“Go home, Kang-tae.”

“I’m leaving.” He leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the side of her forehead. “Have a good sleep. I’ll see you in the morning.” He stepped back and turned before walking down the hallway towards the front door.

Moon-young stood frozen at the kiss before she shook her head. “There’s an extra garage tag in the drawer,” she called over as he reached the entryway table by the door. “Take it just in case you need to park here again.”

Kang-tae opened the drawer and retrieved the small plastic tag and waved it in the air for her to see before he walked out the door. When the front door closed, Moon-young lifted her hand up and touched the side of her forehead where he kissed her. She felt the slightly elevated heartbeat in her chest. “Don’t even think about it, Moon-young.”

Chapter 17: I’ve always been on your team.

Chapter Text

The next morning Kang-tae was still wracking his brain about what Moon-young had said in her sleep the night before. He knew that he wouldn’t get an answer directly from her, and he wasn’t close enough to any of her friends beyond normal civility. The only person he could think of who may have an idea about what happened was his mother. Deciding to be efficient and also a good son, he grabbed his phone and gave her a call. It was picked up after two rings.

“Hello, Moon residence. May I ask who is calling?” An elderly female voice answered.

Kang-tae brightened at the familiar voice, “Good morning, Ahjumma. May I speak to Eomma, please?”

“Ah, good morning, Kang-tae! Of course, let me go and find her.”

While he wanted for his mother to come on the line, he went into the kitchen and started making coffee. When his mother’s voice came on the line, he smiled. “Kang-tae, what has you calling me this early in the morning on a weekend, honey?”

“Hi Eomma. How are you this morning?” he asked.

“I’m doing alright. I was getting ready before I head out to meet with Moon-young in a bit.”

Kang-tae frowned in confusion, “I thought her dress appointment wasn’t until the afternoon?”

“It is. But she messaged me last night saying that there was something she wanted to get my thoughts on. So I’m meeting her in Samcheong-dong first.”

“I’m actually heading over there as well. Can I pick you up?” he asked.

“That would be wonderful. I haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Great, I’ll head over there in a little bit.”

“I’ll let the driver know to not worry about driving me then. So, what was it that you wanted to talk to me about? That’s why you called, right?” she asked.

“I can wait until I see you.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’ll go get ready and head over in a bit.”

“Alright, honey. I’ll see you soon. Drive safe!”

“I will. See you in a bit, Eomma.”

After hanging up, Kang-tae poured himself a cup of coffee and walked over to the small reading nook in the kitchen. He opened the messaging app on his phone and reread through the message he got from Woo-seok after he got home the night before. The message said that another offer had come in for his residence and that the prospective tenants would be ready to move in as early as next weekend. The offer looked good on paper and the tenants seemed to be stable: a young couple with one child. Both had director roles in their respective companies. With a weekend move-in, that would give him 5 days to pack, move out, and find a place to stay until he and Moon-young close on a house.

Even if they put in an offer on the hanok today, it would still take several weeks. He knew that his parents would be more than happy to have him back home, but the distance from their house will add at least 45 minutes to his commute to and from the office. He made a mental note to talk to Moon-young and get her opinion before giving Woo-seok a definitive answer later. In the meantime, he replied to Woo-seok to tell him to schedule an interview with the couple. It was going to happen sooner or later, so he would rather get it out of the way and try to make sure his current home will be in good hands while he’s gone. After tapping send, he finished the rest of his coffee and headed back to his bedroom to get ready for the day.

~

Moon-young’s alarm went off the next day around 8.00AM. She reached over to the nightstand to turn off the alarm and stretched her arms. Before sitting up, she thought about her plans for the day. The two most important things on her agenda was the dress fitting and going back to the hanok to see it in the daylight. She had a pretty good feeling about the place by the time she and Kang-tae left. The best part was that it was already updated, which means less work to be done before they move in. She opened her eyes and mentally reminded herself to not think about moving logistics yet since they haven’t even put in the offer.

She flipped over onto her stomach and reached for her phone that was resting on the charging pad on the nightstand. She unlocked and opened up the messaging app to see whether or not Aunt Yoo-jin had responded to the message asking her to join when she went to look at the hanok later that morning. She smiled when she saw the response from her aunt agreeing to meet. Then sighed at the next message telling her that Kang-tae will pick her up and join them.

At this point, Moon-young wasn’t sure whether she was annoyed or curious about how well Kang-tae really knew her. Sure, they’ve known each other since the day she was born, but the past 10 years, they barely saw each other. She could count on her two hands, and some years on just one, the amount of times they saw each other. She often believed that she was a relatively hard person to read, and most people have told her this in the past. But for some odd reason, Moon Kang-tae had the ability to read her like an alphabet book. She didn’t like that he saw so much. There were many things she didn’t want him to know. Not yet, anyway. As she thought about it, she wondered if the reason she didn’t want him to know her secret was because she wasn’t ready for his reaction to it. Deciding that dwelling on it wasn’t going to solve her issues, she pushed herself up to a sitting position to climb out of bed and get ready for the busy day ahead of her.

~

When Kang-tae arrived at his parent’s residence later, he was greeted by his mother in the foyer, “You got here quick.”

He nodded, “Traffic was pretty light today.” He looked around and asked, “Is Appa around?”

“He’s out back reading his Sunday papers. I told him you were picking me up. Did you want to say hi?”

He shook his head, “I can catch up with him later. If I say hi now, we won’t be leaving for a while.” He took her purse and led her towards his car.

Once they were on the road, Yoo-jin turned to Kang-tae and asked, “So, is this a good time for us to talk about the reason why you called earlier?”

Kang-tae let out a nervous chuckle, “Am I that obvious?” he asked, glancing at his mother whose eyes were fixed on him.

“I raised you myself. If I can’t read my own son, then I didn’t do my job.”

He reached over for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, “You are a fantastic mother, Eomma. And I didn’t turn out too bad.”

She placed her other hand on top of his, “You turned out great. So, what’s going on?”

“Do you recall anything happening with Moon-young after we graduated from university?” he asked.

Yoo-jin took a minute to think. “Nothing is sticking out in particular. What makes you ask?”

“I must be overthinking things,” he replied.

“What is it?”

Kang-tae let out a long breath, “She said something last night when we were together. I can’t figure it out.”

“Did you try asking?”

“I don’t think she’d tell me if I did.”

“What happened between you two?”

Kang-tae tried to think through everything that could have truly caused a rift in their relationship and kept coming up empty. There was one thing that made their relationship slightly awkward but the issue was resolved years ago. He looked over at his mother who was still waiting for his answer, “Nothing that I can think of.”

“Didn’t say something offensive?”

He gave her a look, “I have nothing offensive to say about or to her.”

She gave his hand a motherly pat, “I know. But even if you don’t, certain things we say can be taken the wrong way.”

“It’s like I lived half my life where I couldn’t say or do anything wrong in her eyes and then, practically overnight, the mere action of breathing within 10 feet of her was a crime. Nothing I do or say is ever the right thing to her,” he revealed, frustration lacing his words. He pulled the car up to the front of the property and put the gear in park.

“You sound frustrated. I don’t see you frustrated often,” she replied.

He turned to face his mother, “She won’t talk to me about it. When I ask, she brushes it off. I just want her to talk to me about it so that I can work on fixing whatever it is I broke,” he told her.

She gave him a motherly smile and brought her hand up to cup his cheek, “You were always a fixer, Kang-tae. But sometimes the things that we think are broken, aren’t broken at all. Maybe it’s just got a few cracks here and there. And rather than a fix, it just needs some TLC to get it back to its previous glory.”

“She won’t let me,” he argued.

“Give her time.”

“Eomma, it’s been almost ten years.”

“That long, huh? I never really realized. Then again, I stopped worrying about the two of you the moment we sent you both off to university. I always knew she was special to you, so that wasn’t my worry. And I figured that once you both graduated, you wanted to try different things and life always has a way of keeping us busy, which was why you didn’t see each other as much. You were always civil to each other when we got together.”

“You and Aunt Dui-jae taught us how to behave ourselves in public. We became really good at it.”

She asked him the question that’s been on her mind since they announced their engagement, “Are you in love with her?”

“I wouldn’t be going through with this if I wasn’t. You of all people know that.”

“I had to be sure. There’s a difference between loving someone and being in love with them. I know it can be hard, but have patience. I trust that everything will work itself out. Give her time and respect her needs to process whatever she needs to process in her own way. Show her she can trust you again. And have patience for yourself. You can’t fix everything and not everything needs fixing.”

“I’m trying my best. But there are moments where she just pushes the right buttons and it makes my head want to explode.”

“But you never do,” she smiled. “I taught you that.”

At that moment, Kang-tae saw Moon-young’s car pulling up behind them in the rear-view mirror. “She’s here. I should message Wooseok to tell him we’ve arrived.”

“You’re going to be okay?”

“I will, Eomma. I have to be.”

“We all have our demons. I can’t guarantee it will be easy or that it will ever go away. But have faith in her and yourself. Everything will work itself out the way it’s supposed to. And between you and me, I would be shocked if she didn’t love you as much as you love her. She might not realize it, but I know my girl as well as I know you. I raised you both after your aunt passed.”

Kang-tae smiled, “Thanks Eomma.”

“I’ll go say hi to her while you message Woo-seok.” Yoo-jin opened the door and stepped out while Kang-tae pulled out his phone to send the message. She smiled at Moon-young as she got out of the car.

“Good morning, Aunt Yoo-jin!” Moon-young smiled and rushed over to her aunt’s side and gave her a hug.

“Hi honey. Did you have a good morning?”

“I did!” she responded. Then, looking at her outfit of a cropped hoodie, leggings, and sneakers, she gave Yoo-jin a sheepish smile, “Sorry I’m not dressed nicer to see you. I definitely prioritized comfort today for the fitting.”

“You look fine. No need to dress up for me,” Yoo-jin told her.

Locking her arm with Yoo-jin’s Moon-young pointed to the door in front of them, “Thanks for meeting earlier than planned. Oppa brought me here yesterday to look at a property for us. I wanted to see it during the day and wanted your thoughts before we decide on it.”

Kang-tae stepped out of the car and waved to Moon-young, “Hi, Moon-young,” he greeted.

Moon-young looked past Yoo-jin and returned his greeting, “Hi Oppa.”

“Woo-seok’s here. He said he’ll meet us in a moment,” he told them.

“Is this the only place you’ve looked at?” Yoo-jin asked.

Kang-tae nodded, “It is.”

“No plans to look at others?”

“I liked what I saw last night. If it holds up in daylight, unless Oppa feels differently or you have reservations, I don’t see why we don’t put in an offer.”

“My opinion shouldn’t have that much weight on your decision. If you both like it, I will wholeheartedly support your decision,” Yoo-jin replied.

“I would personally feel better if you like it,” Moon-young told her.

“Well, if you insist on getting my opinion, who am I to refuse?” she smiled.

When the front door opened, Kang-tae led Yoo-jin and Moon-young across the street to meet with Woo-seok. “Good morning, Woo-seok. Thanks for being flexible and allowing us to visit again last minute.”

“Happy to be available! Come on in.” He let them through the door and closed the door behind him. He bowed to Yoo-jin and extended his hand in greeting, “Good morning, it’s very nice to meet you.”

“The same to you.” She gave the property a cursory glance, “This is a beautiful home.”

“I agree. I’m not sure if Kang-tae or Moon-young have filled you in but the owners are family friends. They’ve been planning on moving away for their retirement and wanted to sell. They spent the last couple of years updating and renovating. Structurally, it’s almost all original. The updates were made in the wiring, plumbing, appliances, and a few other details.”

“I can’t wait to see all of it.”

“Would you like me to give the tour, or would you two like to do the honors?”

“We can show her around,” Moon-young offered.

“Then I’ll be in the kitchen if you have any questions!” Woo-seok smiled and headed for the kitchen.

Kang-tae moved to follow him, “I’m going to chat with Woo-seok really quickly. I’ll meet you inside.”

Moon-young gave him a nod before leading Yoo-jin towards the entrance of the house, “Wait until you see the master suite.”

Kang-tae watched as his mother and Moon-young entered the house from front before he turned and followed Woo-seok to the kitchen, “Thanks again for being flexible.” He thanked Woo-seok.

“For you? It’s never a problem. What can I do for you?”

“Thanks for sending over the application last night. Do you think you can work to set up a meeting for me to meet with the prospects?”

“Of course. What’s your availability like?”

“The sooner, the better. I’m available as early as this afternoon.”

“Got it. I’ll give them a call and see if they’re available.”

“Great,” he replied. “Let me know what they say. And if you don’t mind, I haven’t told Moon-young yet that there’s interest. So, just text me.”

“Of course.”

“Thanks. I’ll leave you to it then.”

After leaving Woo-seok in the kitchen, Kang-tae went to find where Moon-young and his mother were. He followed the light sound of their voices that came from the second floor. He took the stairs by two and quickly made his way towards the master suite. He stopped short at the door when he heard the sound of Moon-young’s laughter. It was a sound that he hadn’t heard in a very long time. The sound of her laughs were always a few pitches higher than her usual deep and sultry voice. He missed her laughs.

He gave the door a knock before sticking his head in the doorway, “Sounds like you ladies are having fun.”

Yoo-jin waved him in, “Come join us.”

“What were you talking about?”

“I was reminding Moon-young about how when you both were little, you would somehow find a way to sneak into my closet and play dress up. And by the time we found you, you were both asleep on a pile of dresses on the floor,” Yoo-jin told him.

“I told her that I never remember ever getting in trouble for it. And that I never remember how we always somehow always ended up in their bed,” Moon-young jumped in.

“Your Eomma and I would pick you two up and tuck you into bed. It was easier than waking you up. And by the time you woke up, we forgot to reprimand you,” she laughed. Turning to Kang-tae, she asked, “How was your chat with Woo-seok?”

“It was fine. I wanted to thank him again for helping with this whole process.” He pointed around the room, “What are your thoughts so far, Eomma?”

“I think it’s great. I love the melding of the old and new. And it’s nice that the updates complement what was already there. The only thing is it doesn’t look like there’s a lot of room for entertaining big groups of people. But I think you both would prefer it that way anyway,” she smiled.

Kang-tae shared a look with Moon-young before replying, “Outside of family dinners and maybe a few close friends, we probably won’t be entertaining too much. We’ll leave the big parties to you, Appa, and Uncle Dae-hwan.”

“As long as Moon-youngie still helps me plan and host,” Yoo-jin replied.

Moon-young stepped to Yoo-jin’s side and slipped her hands in hers, “Always,” she smiled, resting her head on Yoo-jin’s shoulder. Yoo-jin smiled and gave Moon-young’s cheek a loving pat.

“You always put together the best parties,” he commented. “Are you ready to look at the rest of the house?”

“Lead the way,” Yoo-jin told him.

They all made their way out of the master suite, with Kang-tae leading the way. They continued their walk through, surveying the four smaller bedrooms on the other side of the second floor before heading back downstairs. There, Kang-tae showed his mother the room that he wanted to turn into a study/reading room. When they were done, they headed back to the kitchen where Woo-seok was waiting for them.

“It seems like you both really like this place,” Yoo-jin commented.

“It's cozy and warm. And I love how much natural light it gets. That was one of the things that made me want to come back during the day after seeing it last night,” Moon-young responded. “I think there’s a lot of potential in terms of furnishing and decorating.”

“And I like that there’s a lot of room to grow into here, if you both wanted to,” Yoo-jin commented.

Moon-young and Kang-tae shared a look before Moon-young joked, “Maybe a few fishes. Something manageable.” Yoo-jin smiled and nodded in response.

When they arrived at the kitchen, Woo-seok met them with a smile on his face, “So, what do we think?”

“It’s a great place. Checked off a lot of boxes for us,” Moon-young replied.

“This is a great find, Woo-seok. Would it be alright with you both if I speak with Moon-young privately?” Kang-tae asked.

Yoo-jin nodded, “Of course, sweetheart. I’m curious to hear more about the history of the property, so Woo-seok and I will have plenty to chat about.”

Moon-young looked at him with a confused look but followed his lead out of the kitchen towards the living room. When they were out of earshot of the kitchen, she asked, “What is it?”

“So, I got a really good offer on my condo.”

Moon-young’s eyes widened, “That was quick. Is it a good offer?”

“It is. Best out of the ones I’ve gotten so far. I’m planning on meeting with the prospects either today or tomorrow.”

“That’s good. But you’re acting weird. Why do I get the feeling there’s something more to it? What’s going on?” she asked.

“They want to move in next weekend,” he shared.

“That… is insanely quick.”

“I know,” he let out a nervous breath.

“We haven’t even put in an official offer here, or anywhere yet. The wedding is in a few weeks.”

“I know. A lot is happening right now.”

“What are you going to do if you like them?” she asked.

“I guess I’ll have to pack and move out.”

“And where are you planning to stay?”

“That’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about,” he responded, a slight nervousness to his voice.

“I’m not going to like this, am I?”

“Probably not. But I’m hoping that you’ll be agreeable.”

She let out a sigh, “You want to stay at my place, don’t you?”

He was taken by surprise at her response, “If you wouldn’t mind. It would make things a little easier.”

“Why not move back in with Aunt Yoo-jin and Uncle Ji-tae?”

“I could, but they’re a bit further from the office than I would like.”

“If I say no?”

“I’ll have to figure something else out. If you agree, it’d save me a whole lot of time and effort in trying to find a temporary place to stay.”

“I don’t have a guest room. I turned it into an office a long time ago.”

“I can sleep on the couch.”

“Until we find a place? It’s not very comfortable.”

“I can manage.”

“I’ll think about it. But don’t put your hopes up, you’re not giving me a lot of time to mentally prepare myself for a roommate yet. And I like being on my own.”

“I know you enjoy having your own space. I’ll let you know how my meeting with them goes.”

“Okay.”

“Sorry to spring this on you.”

“It’s becoming a habit that I really hope you break soon.”

“I’m going to try to be more communicative with you, I promise. Should I swing by later to go over the rest of the stuff we have to finalize?”

“That should be fine. Just text me before you plan to come over and I’ll let you know if my plans have changed.”

“Alright.”

After they returned to the kitchen, they spoke to Woo-seok for a few minutes with Kang-tae asking Woo-seok to send through the paperwork to get started on the purchase process of the house. Excited for a potential sale, Woo-seok nodded enthusiastically with a promise of sending something over to Kang-tae before the end of the day.

~

When Moon-young and Yoo-jin arrived at the dress boutique, they were greeted by enthusiastic associates. “Hello, Ms. Ko. Welcome!”

Moon-young smiled, “Hello. Thank you for fitting me into your schedule today.”

“Of course! We’re so honored that you wanted to work with us for your wedding dress. My name is Hye-yoon. I’ll be assisting you today,” the associate replied.

“Nice to meet you, Hye-yoon. I’ve heard great things,” Moon-young told her. She brought Yoo-jin forward, “This is my future mother-in-law, Moon Yoo-jin.”

“Hello ma’am,” she bowed. Yoo-jin smiled and nodded in response. “Let me show you the way to the fitting area,” Hye-yoon gestured towards the hallway leading to the back of the boutique before leading them down the hallway.

As they walked down the hallway, Hye-yoon talked Moon-young and Yoo-jin through the process. “You mentioned that the wedding was happening very shortly, so a custom dress was out of the question. Thank you for sending through a list of the dresses you wanted to try on. Fortunately, they were available in your size and we were able to get them shipped here on time for today.”

Moon-young smiled, “That’s great news. I’m glad it worked out.”

“Us, too,” Hye-yoon replied. “If you’re happy with any of the dresses and we run into fit issues, we have a team of seamstresses in-house who will be able to make any alterations ahead of your wedding date.”

“That’s a relief,” Yoo-jin commented.

Hye-yoon nodded, “We try to be a one-stop shop for all wedding dress needs.” She led them to a plushy sofa in the middle of the fitting area, “Please sit. I’ll get you both something to drink and will bring out the dresses. Anything you’d like to drink in particular?”

“It’s a celebratory occasion. Let’s have some champagne,” Yoo-jin suggested.

“Champagne it is,” Moon-young declared.

“Great, I will bring that right out,” Hye-yoon smiled before heading towards the back of the store.

While they waited for Hye-yoon to return, Yoo-jin turned to Moon-young, “I can’t wait to see the dresses you picked out.”

“Me, too.”

Yoo-jin reached for her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, “Thank you for inviting me, Moon-young. I wish your Eomma were here to see you. She would be so happy for you.”

Moon-young leaned over and rested her head on Yoo-jin’s shoulder, “Thank you for being here with me. I couldn’t ask for a better person to be here with me today.”

With her free hand, she gave Moon-young’s cheek a few light pats before giving her a motherly kiss on the crown of her head. “My Moon-youngie. You’re going to be such a beautiful bride.”

Moon-young closed her eyes and felt the tension of the past few days drain away. After a few moments of comfortable silence, she opened her eyes and lifted her head up from Yoo-jin’s shoulder to see Hye-yoon returning with the champagne and her assistant following closely behind with a rack full of dresses.

Hye-yoon’s assistant rolled the rack up to the front of the fitting room before she moved off to the side of the room with her pen and notepad. Hye-yoon took a few moments to go through the dresses, “So, in the front, we have the dresses that you requested. And then I pulled a few others that were similar so that you had multiple options. Feel free to take a look and let us know your thoughts. And when you’re ready, we can get started on having you try them on.”

Moon-young spent the next 10 minutes looking through the different dresses on the rack, making sure to get Yoo-jin’s opinion on the different pieces. When she showed Yoo-jin her choice for the ceremony dress, she could see Yoo-jin tearing up slightly. Moon-young gave her a pout and Yoo-jin responded by giving her a pat on the arm, “I’m sorry. As your imo I can’t believe my little Moon-young is getting married. As your future mother-in-law, I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

Moon-young felt a small weight of guilt in her stomach. She hated lying to Yoo-jin. All she could do in response was smile at that moment. “I feel the same way,” she told her. Then, pulling the reception outfit from the rack she showed it to Yoo-jin to get her thoughts, “I know it’s not traditional, but I think the top is the same as the ceremony dress, which makes it a bit more cohesive.”

Yoo-jin nodded, “It’s definitely different and not something I’ve seen often, or at all ever. But if anyone’s going to make it work, it would be you, Moon-young. Both are beautiful and I have no doubt you will look exquisite in them. Or whichever outfits you decide on.”

Moon-young considered her words for a moment before she grabbed the two hangers, “Thank you for your vote of confidence, Aunt Yoo-jin.” She turned to Hye-yoon, “Let’s try these on first. And if it doesn’t feel right, I can try on the others.”

Hye-yoon took the hangers from her, “Of course. And even if you love these, you can still try on the others for fun,” she suggested with a smile.

~

When they finished a little over an hour later, Moon-young offered to drive Yoo-jin home. When they arrived, Yoo-jin invited her to stay for lunch. “Do you have plans?”

“I would love to join you and Uncle Ji-tae but I have a few things I have to do and Oppa’s coming over in a bit to talk through the rest of the wedding logistics,” she explained. “May I join you for lunch sometime during the week, or maybe next weekend?”

Yoo-jin nodded, “You can join me for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks at any time, Moon-young.”

Moon-young let out a relieved breath, “Thank you! You know I hate having to say no to you.”

“I know. That’s why I don’t get upset when you have to say no. We have plenty of time to spend together. And if it wasn’t important, I know you’d say yes.”

“Definitely. I’ll give you a call later tonight once I wrap my head around my calendar for next week.”

“Take your time, sweetheart. Get home safe.”

“I will. Please send Uncle Ji-tae my hello.” She waited for Yoo-jin to enter the house before she made her way back down the drive onto the main road.

As she drove through the weekend traffic back to her apartment, she took note of how long the drive was from Aunt Yoo-jin and Uncle Ji-tae’s residence. Half an hour later, she was still at least another 15 minutes away from her own residence that was about 20 minutes away from Kang-tae’s office. And weekend traffic had nothing on the morning commute traffic in Seoul. Thinking back to Kang-tae’s request earlier in the day, she let out a curse, “Dammit.”

When she arrived home 20 minutes later, the first thing she did was give Kang-tae a call. He picked up after the first ring, “Hi Moon-young,” he answered.

“I just got home. Where are you?” she asked.

On the other side, Kang-tae grinned, “I just finished meeting with the prospect renters.”

“I see.”

“Are you okay if I come over?”

“That’s fine. You can update me on your situation and then we can align on logistics and all the things we need to do before the wedding.”

“Sounds good. Have you eaten yet?”

“No.”

“I’ll pick up food on the way then,” he offered. “Anything you’d like in particular?”

“I trust you to not poison me,” she replied. “I’m hopping in the shower. I’ll see you when you get here,” she informed him before hanging up.

“Bye,” Kang-tae replied to a dead line. He turned back to the younger couple, “Thanks for making time on short notice. I’ll have Woo-seok send over the agreement. If you can give me until Saturday, you should be fine to move in on Sunday. If any issue arises, I’ll let you know.”

“Thank you so much for your time. We’ll do our best to take care of your place while we’re staying there,” the younger man smiled.

“I appreciate it,” he grabbed his jacket from the chair, “I have to get going. If you have any questions in the meantime, feel free to reach out to Woo-seok. Otherwise, I’ll see you on Sunday morning to hand over the keys.”

“We’ll see you then!”

Once he exited the cafe, Kang-tae made quick work of getting in his car and calling one of his usual restaurants to order food for pick up. He arrived at Moon-young’s residence about 45 minutes later with a bag of food in hand. He unlocked the door with the key she gave him and stepped in as she stepped out of her bedroom.

“Ah, you’re here,” she greeted him.

“And I have dinner,” he declared, proudly holding up the large bag in his hand.

“Perfect. I’m starving. Are you okay if it’s a working dinner?” she asked. “I have a few things I need to do before work tomorrow.”

“Of course, do whatever you need to. I’ll set the table,” he offered.

“Okay. I’ll be right back,” she told him before heading towards her home office. A few minutes later, she returned wearing her glasses with her laptop and notebook in hand. “What smells good?” she asked.

“Samgyetang,” he replied. “Do you want to eat at the table or the island?”

Moon-young looked around her kitchen, “Let’s do the table. I need to spread out anyway.”

Kang-tae brought the bowls over to where Moon-young was setting up her workstation, “What are you working on?” he asked.

“Reviewing notes on the product launch,” she answered, sitting down and opening her laptop. She took the bowl Kang-tae set down next to her and moved it closer before having a taste of the broth, “Mmm,” she sighed happily, “Thank you for this.”

He sat down with his bowl a few seats over to give her space, “Sure. Always happy to keep you fed.” He began eating and then paused, “So, I met with the prospects earlier.”

“That’s right. How did it go?”

“I liked them. We agreed to a six-month lease with the option to extend, depending on how we both feel about the situation. They’re a younger couple. A few years in the industry with strong roles in their respective companies.”

She nodded then paused, turning to face him, “And when are they moving in?”

“I told them I could have the place move-in ready by Sunday.” He wasn’t sure how she was going to take it, but was secretly hopeful that she was in an agreeable mood. He waited while she took her time to consider what he shared.

“How much stuff are you moving? And what are you doing with it?”

“I’ll move everything out since they said they had furniture of their own. And I’ll put it in storage until we close on the house.”

“Are you hiring packers and movers?”

“Yes. I’ll figure out logistics tomorrow.” He put his spoon down, “Have you decided what you’re going to do with this when we move?”

“Not sure yet. I like that it’s so close to the office but there’s no way we can both live here long-term. Maybe I’ll do the same and rent it out.” She turned away from the screen and looked at Kang-tae when he didn’t respond. “What?”

“You’re okay with me staying here with you while we wait to close on the house?”

“Oh, that. Yeah. I’ll have to figure out your sleeping arrangements but I did the drive from your parents and even on the weekend it was almost an hour in traffic. And I’m hopeful the house situation won’t take too long to get settled.”

“Thanks, Moon-young. This is one less thing I have to worry about. I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t thank me yet. You’re most likely going to end up on the couch,” she told him before turning her attention back to the laptop in front of her. Taking bites in between typing and clicking her mouse.

“I’ve dealt with worse. I’ll sleep on the floor if it means not having to look for a place to stay,” he replied. Mentally checking one thing off his mental checklist, he asked, “How did your dress fitting go?”

She kept her eyes on her screen, typing away as she answered, “It went well. Fortunately both outfits for the ceremony and reception fit well, so there shouldn’t be too much in terms of alterations before the wedding date. I’ll go in again the week before for the final fitting.”

“Great news. I think we’ve pretty much checked off everything on the list at this point,” Kang-tae told her. “How are you feeling about everything?”

She stopped typing and gave him her full attention, “To be honest, it’s all moving too quickly for my liking.”

“I can understand that. The only changes for me are my relationship status and residential address. You’re dealing with that on top of an occupational change and concerns about your father’s health.”

“Thanks for reminding me of why we’re doing this in the first place,” she responded flatly.

“I’m saying all of that is because I want to help you, Moon-young. You don’t have to do everything on your own. I’m on your team. I’ve always been on your team.”

“Just because you want to be on the team, doesn’t mean you’re wanted on the team,” she replied. “Like it or not, I still don’t trust you. I know what you’re trying to do, even if I don’t understand your motives. Me not arguing left and right doesn’t mean I’m going to let you push your way into whatever it is you want.”

“That’s not--” he began but stopped when her hand came up.

“You don’t think you’re doing it, but you are. I know that you’re programmed to be a problem solver. But I’m not a problem for you to solve. And until you realize that, we’re never going to see eye to eye.” She closed her laptop and stood up. “I have an early morning tomorrow, so I’m going to turn in for the night.” She looked down at the samgyetang bowl, “Thank you for dinner. Feel free to leave it and I’ll take care of it in the morning. Please lock the door on your way out,” she dismissed him before walking out of the kitchen towards her bedroom.

Kang-tae sat in the chair for several minutes replaying the conversation in his head. What the hell just happened?

Chapter 18: I like the sound of that.

Chapter Text

Moon-young was sitting in her living room, reviewing the paperwork for her transition on Saturday evening when a knock interrupted her. She looked at the clock to see that it was a little after 5PM, which was when Kang-tae had told her he would be arriving. Standing up, she headed towards her front door. “I gave you a key,” she started when she opened the door.

“I didn’t want to startle you,” he replied.

She stared at the man standing in front of her, “This building is secure and you’re the only other person with a key.” She looked behind him to see no more than two suitcases and a handful of garment bags next to him, “Is that all you have?”

Kang-tae nodded, looking down at his suitcases, “I told you I wasn’t planning on bringing a lot. Just enough to last me until we move into the house.”

She gave him a skeptical look before letting him through the door. “Alright then. I’ll show you where you can put them.” She led him down the hall towards her guest bedroom turned home office. Kang-tae followed closely behind, pulling the two suitcases behind him.

The guest bedroom that Moon-young turned into a home office wasn’t small by any means, but due to the way she had set it up, it was no longer usable as it was originally intended. Bookshelves lined the long wall and her large desk took up most of the space in the room. She walked towards one of the doors off to the side and opened it to show Kang-tae the walk-in closet she utilized as her off-season closet, “You can store your suitcases here and feel free to use the space for your things.”

She pointed to the other door in the room, “The guest bathroom is yours, so you should be good to go on that front.”

“Perfect.” He replied.

She crossed her arms and looked around, “We can figure out a schedule of some sort if you need to use it while I'm here working.”

“I’m not worried about it,” Kang-tae replied.

She stepped back into the hallway and he followed, closing the door of the guest room behind them. “My bedroom is the only place that’s off limits. Other than that, you’re free to go anywhere and use whatever you need at your discretion. If we’re low on something, let me know.”

“Noted.”

“As for your sleeping arrangements, when you’re ready to turn in, I can set up the sofa for you,” she offered.

“If you want to bring the linens, I can do it myself.”

She hesitated before nodding, “Okay. Let me grab them for you.” She turned and headed towards her bedroom.

Left alone, Kang-tae wandered over to the large floor to ceiling window that framed the Seoul skyline which was lit up brightly in the night. He crossed his arms and stared out the window and let the multitude of thoughts that have been on his mind run wild. There were so many things happening and balancing that with Moon-young’s temperament had him feeling like he was constantly walking on eggshells, or rather shattered glass that would eventually slice his feet with one wrong step. He didn’t want to have to be careful with his words or actions for fear of setting off some unknown mine.

He stared at the sparkling lights from below, as if it would offer him some kind of answer on Moon-young but none came. As he watched the lights he caught Moon-young’s reflection in the window staring at him intently. The benefit of his vantage point was that he could watch her watch him without her realizing it. He waited for her to make her move, as he always does, wishing more than anything that he knew what was running through that mind of hers.

After a few moments, Moon-young cleared her throat and Kang-tae turned his attention to her. “Here are the sheets, pillows, and blanket for you.” She placed them on the armchair adjacent to the sofa.

“Thanks, Moon-young,” he smiled.

“No problem.” She looked at her sofa, which was more than fine to accommodate her 5’7” frame but may be less than accommodating for Kang-tae’s own 5’11”. “Are you sure this is okay?”

“Don’t worry about me. I’ve slept in worse conditions when I enlisted. This is a luxury compared to that,” he told her.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t provide better accommodations.”

He shook his head, disagreeing. “No need to apologize. I sprung this on you. The fact that you’re willing to let me stay with you for however long it will take for us to move into the house is already more than I can ask for.”

“Like I said the other night, I did the drive from your parents’ and the stickler for efficiency in me wouldn’t do that to you, despite whatever issues we have with each other.”

He chuckled. “I appreciate your love for efficiency. And one of these days, we should probably deal with those issues.” When it looked like she was going to protest, he put up his hand, “Doesn’t need to be today. Whenever you’re ready.”

They stood in silence, watching each other until Moon-young broke the silence, “Actually, I want to apologize for snapping at you the other night, too. It’s my instinct to think the worst when it comes to you. I know you’re trying to be helpful and supportive through all of this.”

Kang-tae felt a sliver of hope enter his heart. He took a step towards Moon-young and wrapped his arms around her in a hug. Startled, Moon-young tensed for a moment, before bringing her hands up to hold his waist. She should have pushed him away but something in her didn’t want to and a voice in her head told her she didn’t have to.

She closed her eyes and leaned into the hug. His hugs used to be her favorites. The ones she would seek out regardless of whether she was having a good day or a bad day. Today was no different. It was still the same hug that brought warmth to her, even when she didn’t think she’d want it.

When he felt her relaxing, he hugged her a little tighter, “Thank you. Hopefully one day it won’t be instinctual anymore.”

“I make no promises,” she replied.

He chuckled, “We’ll take it one day at a time. The fact that you haven’t shoved me away is a sign we’re moving in the right direction.”

“One day at a time,” she repeated his words. They stayed in the hug for another moment until Moon-young started sniffing the air.

Kang-tae pulled away but kept his arms around her, moving his hands to the middle of her back. With a perplexed expression on his face, he asked, “What is it? Do I smell?”

She shook her head, “That’s the thing, you don’t.” She took another inhale near his neck, “You’re not wearing your cologne.”

“Oh, that. I stopped wearing it after you told me it made you nauseous,” he replied.

She pulled back and looked up at him, “Really?”

“Of course. I can’t have you getting nauseous when you’re around me. Especially if we’re going to be married and living together.”

“Hmm, I guess you have a point there. That means you’ll have to find a new cologne.”

He shrugged, “I’m not picky. You can pick out another one for me.”

“You sure you want me to do that?”

“Of course. The last time you picked out my cologne, I wore it for over a decade,” he reminded her. “Do you have plans tomorrow? We can go pick one out if you’re free.”

Moon-young thought for a moment. She could make an excuse about having work that she needed to finish but as she waited for the hesitation to come, it never did. She shook her head, “I don’t have anything planned.”

“Perfect.” He responded with a grin before his stomach decided to remind him that he had yet to eat anything today. Both he and Moon-young looked at his stomach before he smiled sheepishly, “I guess I should also figure out dinner. Have you eaten yet?”

“No, not yet. I had thought about ordering in before you got here.”

“Are you craving anything?” he asked.

“Not particularly. But if you don’t mind going out, there’s a barbeque place around here that I like to go to when I’m craving it.”

“I can do barbeque. It’s been a while since I’ve been.”

“Okay, let me go grab my jacket and bag, then we can head out.” She stepped out of his embrace and walked to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her before she leaned back against it, rubbing her hand against her beating heart. She shook her head and told herself that it was only because his hug caught her off guard, that’s all.

~

When they arrived at the restaurant, at the request of Moon-young, the hostess led them to a table near the back. As they settled into their seats, Kang-tae and Moon-young stashed their jackets in the compartment under the seat cushion.

As she settled, Kang-tae handed Moon-young one of the menus the hostess left for them. “How hungry are you?” he asked.

“I can eat,” she replied, opening the menu to the page with the a la carte menu.

“Do you still like to eat the same things?” he asked as he flipped through the pages of the menu.

“My gastronomic likes and dislikes remain mostly the same.”

“Nothing’s been added to the dislike since we last had barbecue?”

She shook her head, “No.”

“Great. Do you want anything to drink?”

“Sure, since we’re not driving. I’m good with soju.”

He nodded and signaled one of the servers. He ordered a round of galbi, samgyeopsal, and chadolbaegi with a bottle of soju to start. Within minutes, the server returned with a variety of banchans and their soju. Moon-young reached for the soju bottle when the server placed it on their table. Kang-tae watched as she shook the bottle with a grin on his face.

She twisted the cap and poured Kang-tae his shot before handing the bottle over to him to do the same for her. He took the bottle from her hand and asked as he poured, “Should we toast to something?” He set the bottle down next to him and reached for his shot glass.

Moon-young thought about it for a moment before bringing her glass up, “To whatever this is,” she gestured between them.

Kang-tae let out a laugh that caught the attention of some of the patrons around them. Unbothered by the stares, he kept his eyes on her, “To whatever this is, indeed,” he smiled before tapping his glass to hers. Moon-young bit the inside of her lips to hold back a tiny grin that was fighting to appear before she took a sip.

The meats arrived at the table and Kang-tae told the server that he’ll take care of cooking for them himself. The server set everything in front of him and stepped away from the table and told them to flag someone down if they needed anything.

Throughout the meal, Kang-tae made sure to take care of Moon-young, always checking to see if her plate was full and checking if she needed anything. Their dinner conversation was focused around how they were going to furnish their house once they move in. Kang-tae was more than willing to let Moon-young own the entirety of the process, if that was what she wanted.

Moon-young found herself softening up slightly to Kang-tae throughout dinner and smiling a bit more. His actions didn’t come off as an act but rather a reinforcement of who he was at the core: a caretaker. Tonight, she allowed herself the rare permission of enjoying Kang-tae’s company.

~

When they left the restaurant, the two of them had a good buzz going from the multiple bottles of soju they consumed with dinner. Moon-young was in a friendlier mood than usual, which had Kang-tae relaxing as they walked down the street back to her residence.

She swayed slightly as she walked and Kang-tae offered his arm, which she took happily, “This is nice,” she mumbled, leaning her head on his shoulders. He smiled to himself, enjoying the calm between them.

Stopping at the entrance of the apartment building, Moon-young asked, “Do you think married couples keep secrets from each other?”

Kang-tae thought about it for a moment before walking through the lobby door, “I’m sure there are couples who do but I think trust is important to any relationship. But I can understand that everyone has their own demons and some demons are harder to vanquish than others.” He glanced down at her, “Why do you ask?”

Moon-young didn’t respond until they stepped into the elevator. She released his arm from her hold and leaned against the wall, looking at him with a thoughtful gaze, “Do you have any secrets you’re keeping from me?”

He thought about his feelings for her but shook his head, “You know me better than anyone else. To you, I’m an open book. I have nothing to hide from you.” He took a step closer and touched her cheek, “What’s going through that mind of yours, Moon-young?” he asked quietly.

When the elevator rang their arrival to her floor, Kang-tae mentally wanted to kick the door for making him lose his chance to get some answers. He followed Moon-young out of the elevator, giving her space. Then, she surprised him again as she unlocked the door. “I have too many secrets,” she confessed as she pushed the door open. Kang-tae followed her through the door and closed it behind him before engaging the lock. She took off her shoes and sat down at the entry bench. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep them to myself.”

Kang-tae joined her on the bench. He reached for her hand and when she didn’t flinch or pull away, he clasped it with his, “I won’t force you to tell me your secrets but I want you to know that whatever those secrets are, it’s not going to change how I see you or how I feel about you for that matter. I promised to be all in, that’s not going to change. Ever.”

“You don’t even know what kind of secrets I’m keeping from you,” she argued

“Whatever it is, I can promise you this, when you’re ready to tell me, I will give you the space to explain everything,” he reassured her.

She let out a rough exhale, looking down at their intertwined hands, “I’m still having a tough time coming to grips with it myself. What if when everyone finds out, they will hold it against me? What if it’s something that you can’t ever forgive?”

“Why do you think that people will hold it against you? And why would you need to be forgiven?” he asked.

“Because as much as I want it to be different, I know that it's mostly my fault. I’m not the perfect person everyone thinks I am. I still can’t forgive myself for it,” she confessed.

“You are who you are. You don’t need to change for anyone. No one is perfect. I don’t need perfect from you, Moon-young. Your dad doesn’t need perfect from you. My parents don’t need perfect from you. Everyone who loves you, loves you the way you are, flaws and all.”

She looked up at him, “How can you be so understanding of everything?”

“Because life is too short and we’ve already wasted almost a decade avoiding each other. Or rather, you avoided me for almost a decade,” he chuckled, giving their connected hands a squeeze.

“But somehow you found a way to work around that.”

“You didn’t make it easy. But I didn’t mind too much and I think it’ll all be worth it.”

“Why are you trying so hard to make this work?” she asked, searching his eyes for an answer.

He smiled, “For reasons that you’re not ready to accept yet.”

“What reasons are they?”

“You’ll know when you’re ready to accept it.” With the hand that wasn’t holding her, he pulled her head towards him and kissed the crown of her head.

She pulled back and looked at him, “You’ve been doing that a lot lately.”

He grinned, “I can’t help it. Does it bother you?”

She shook her head, eyes getting sleepier, “Not as much as it should.”

He grinned and pulled back for a kiss on her forehead. Then, leaning his head against hers, he gave her hand another squeeze, “That’s a relief.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Kang-tae rubbing his thumb over the back of Moon-young’s hand. When her head felt heavy on his shoulder, he realized that he needed to get her to bed before he ended up breaking the one restriction she put on him. “Moon-young, you should probably head to bed.”

She lifted her head from his shoulder and looked at him through sleepy eyes before she nodded, “That’s probably a good idea.”

He stood up and pulled her up with him. They walked hand-in-hand down the hallway towards her bedroom. When they arrived, Kang-tae let go of her hand and opened the door for her. “Sleep well, Moon-young.”

She nodded, “You, too, Oppa.”

Kang-tae stood in front of the closed door for a few minutes, his head pressed up against it, trying to make sense of Moon-young’s words. He was confused and unsure about what to do. Purposely getting her drunk so that she would reveal the truth was out of the question because as much as it was slowly killing him to not know, he wanted her to share because she was ready to and not because he manipulated her into it.

Pushing away from the door, he headed towards the guest bedroom turned home office. Grabbing his pajamas, he headed for the bathroom to get ready for bed. In the bathroom, he took in the meticulousness of how everything had its place. He chuckled to himself, unsurprised. Moon-young was nothing if not meticulous. When he finished, he arranged his belongings so that it didn’t throw off the aesthetics and headed back to the living room.

He laid down on the couch but couldn’t get himself to sleep. Thoughts were still running through his head. He stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours. When he realized that running on little sleep was going to be detrimental to himself the next day, he rolled over to his side.

He closed his eyes and grimaced, he should have known better, or at least anticipated it. Maybe it was because all he could think about was sleeping under the same proverbial roof as her that he didn’t realize that everything would have the essence of her. The pillows, sheets, and blanket all smelled of Moon-young. Giving himself a moment of selfishness, he pressed his nose against the pillow and took a deep breath. Closing his eyes, he slowly allowed sleep to take over.

~

The next morning, Moon-young woke up to the scent of coffee wafting through the air into her room. Still sleepy, she grabbed her glasses and threw on her knee-length silk robe over her naked body, tying the sash around her waist before making her way to the kitchen.

Upon her entering the kitchen, Kang-tae was already working on pouring her a mug of coffee, “Good morning, Moon-young,” he greeted as he placed the carafe back on the counter. When he turned to hand her the mug, he froze in place, hand outstretched.

“Good morning,” she greeted. When he didn’t respond and just stared, she carefully extricated the mug from his tight grip. When she took a sip, she closed her eyes and let out a moan that was sure to haunt Kang-tae for the foreseeable future. “f*ck, it’s so good. How do you always make it so good?”

When she opened her eyes, he was watching her intently, looking slightly stunned and a little uncomfortable, leaning against the island in what looked like running clothes. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“Uh huh,” he nodded. “I’m glad you like the coffee.”

She took another sip, “It’s never this good when I make it. Being married to you might not be so bad if this is what I get every morning.” She nodded to his outfit, “Are you just getting back from a run?”

He nodded, straightening up and taking a sip of his coffee, “Yeah. I wanted to figure out my new morning route while I’m here.”

“Did you figure it out?”

“I’ve got a pretty good idea,” he replied, thinking about his new route.

“Do you still run regularly?”

“Every morning. It helps me clear my mind before the day.”

“I see.”

“What about you? Do you still swim regularly?”

“You remember?”

“Hard to forget when you were a star swimmer for most of your youth.”

“Right, of course you remember. We went to the same school.” She took another sip before continuing, “I try to get a few laps in a few times a week downstairs in the gym, which of course, now that you’re staying here, you have access to as well.”

“That’s good to know. I’ll check it out later.” He drank the rest of his coffee before setting the mug in the sink. “Are you still good for us to go out and run some errands, namely picking out a cologne that won’t make you sick?” he grinned.

She nodded, “Yes, that works. Would you be okay if we skip breakfast and do brunch instead? I’m not very hungry this morning. I think I ate too much last night.” She walked over to the fridge and opened the door, causing the hem of her already short robe to rise slightly.

“That’s fine.” Kang-tae did his best to not let his eyes stray from the back of her head but there was nothing that he could have done to avoid seeing the inch of creamy thighs that was revealed with her movements. He closed his eyes, willing the growing discomfort in his pants since the moment he saw her to go away. Get it together, Moon Kang-tae. You’re not a f*cking teenager anymore.

Her voice brought him back from his thoughts. “I think we might need to do a grocery run, too.”

He opened his eyes and walked up behind her, leaning in to get a better look at the interior of the fridge, “Good call. I can make us dinner tonight, too, if you want?”

“Sure.”

He turned towards her, “Anything in particular you’re craving?”

She stood still, eyes locked on a random container in the fridge, “I’ll eat whatever you make.”

“Sounds good.” He stepped back. “I’m going to go shower.” He glanced down at her robe, “I assume you already did, so I’ll be quick.”

“Not yet. I only woke up when I smelled the coffee.”

“Oh, I thought since you were wearing your robe that you’d already showered.”

“Oh, no. I sleep naked,” she revealed.

He let out a rough breath, “Got it. I’ll go get ready then.” She nodded her response and he quickly made his exit.

When she heard the sound of the guest room door closing, she closed her eyes and pressed her head against the fridge door, letting out a long breath she didn’t realize she was holding. She didn’t know what compelled her to tell him she slept in the nude. But when his breath grazed her skin as he asked her about what she was craving, she lost all ability to think properly. She took a deep breath, recalling how her lower abdomen tightened at the look in his eyes when he watched her drinking the coffee. It was a feeling that she hadn’t felt in so long that she forgot that it was something she could feel at all.

~

I sleep naked. Her words echoed in his head. Within the confines of the guest bathroom, Kang-take shed his running clothes before he jumped into the shower. The cold water sent a shock through his system but did little to resolve the current issue he was dealing with. He looked down and let out a groan. He wasn’t too unfamiliar with the act of relieving himself in the shower; he was a healthy, grown man of a certain age, after all. He only didn’t anticipate having the need to do so so quickly after moving in with Moon-young. He should have known better. No one made him feel the way he feels like her. No one made him feel desperate like she did. It was always her, it will always be her. No one could make him feel simultaneously hopeful and lost like she did. He had gone far too long without sex that if anyone knew the truth, they would think he was either a priest or a monk. But when you know, so absolutely, what you want, wasting time and energy on anything but that wasn’t worth it.

The moan she let escape as she took a drink of her coffee was seared so permanently into his memory cortex that the simple routine of drinking coffee would never be the same for him. The sound was both music to his ears and pure torment to his mind; it was a reminder of what could be and what he couldn’t have all wrapped up in one beautiful package.

With one arm, he braced himself against the wall of the shower, pressing his forehead into the back of his forearm. With his free hand, he reached down to deal with the problem that refused to go away. As his hand found its rhythm, he closed his eyes and let his brain fill his mind with the sounds and images of the only person who could ever bring him to this point.

As he got closer to his release, he bit down on his lower lips so hard, to avoid making a sound, that he could taste the metallic taste of his blood as he broke skin. With one last quiet whisper of a groan, his body sagged against the wall, his breath heavier now than when he finished the five-mile run he took earlier in the day. “f*ck,” he breathed, as he let the water wash away the evidence of his release. Once his breathing evened itself out, he straightened up and went about with showering, refusing to turn the dial to warm up the water.

~

When he was finished showering, he stepped out of the shower and toweled himself off before getting dressed in a thick sweater and jeans. He grabbed a pair of sneakers from his suitcase and left the guest room. He dropped off the sneakers in the hallway near the front door before returning to the kitchen. Seeing that Moon-young wasn’t waiting for him, he went over to the sink and washed the dishes they left earlier.

When Moon-young joined him in the kitchen a few minutes later, she was dressed in an oversized button-down shirt, tucked into a pair of skinny jeans that accentuated her long, slim legs. Her hair was left down in its natural, wavy state and she wore minimal makeup. “Are you ready to go?” she asked.

He dried his hands on a towel and nodded, “Yes. Should we take my car or yours? I’ll drive either way.”

“Let’s take yours, since we have to pick up groceries,” she suggested.

“Sounds good,” he replied, grabbing his keys from the catch-all dish by the door and pocketing it. He opened the door for Moon-young and followed her out, making sure the door was locked behind them. When they got in the car, Kang-tae emptied his pockets and placed his wallet, keys, and phone in the cupholder.

Moon-young looked at the cup holder and asked, “Do you want to put that in my bag?” she asked, nodding to her oversized pouch.

“Would you mind?” he asked. She shook her head and grabbed everything but the phone and placed it in her bag and set it in her lap.

As Kang-tae pulled out from the parking spot he asked, “So, where are we going?”

“Oh, we should have talked about that. Uh, did you want to try the brand from last time?”

“Will it make you nauseous?”

She rolled her eyes, “They have more than one scent. The one I use is from there, too. So, I’m sure we can find one.” She looked down at her phone, “Why don’t we go to the Galleria then? And do you mind if we walk around for a bit there?”

“Works for me.”

When they arrived at the Galleria, they spent some time walking around the different designer stores, with Moon-young picking up a few things here and there. With anyone else, Kang-tae would have excused himself to go do something else but with Moon-young, he happily stayed by her side as she compared different shoes and bags against each other. By the time she was finished, he walked out of the stores with several shopping bags in his hand.

She looked up at him sheepishly guilty, “Should we go do what we actually came here to do?”

“I’m in no rush.”

She shook her head, “If we stay here any longer, you’re not going to have enough hands to carry anything else,” she nodded to all the bags. “You sure you got it?”

“I’m good.”

“Okay. Lucky for us, the store is just a little further down there,” she pointed to the Jo Malone store.

Upon arriving at the store, the sales associate came up to them and greeted them. “Welcome! How may I help?”

Kang-tae and Moon-young exchange a look before he nodded for her to take the lead. Moon-young smiled at the associate, “We’re here to pick out a new cologne for my fiancé.” At her calling him her fiancé, Kang-tae felt a grin creeping up his face.

“I’ll be more than happy to help. Do you have a preference in the type of scent you’d like?”

“Oppa?”

“Whichever one you like,” he told her.

The associate smiled at Moon-young, “Why don’t we go through the different options and pick out your top four and then your fiancé can test it on himself and then go from there?”

Moon-young nodded, “That’s perfect.”

Moon-young spent the next few minutes smelling the different scents that were on display. When they reached Kang-tae’s old scent, she skipped over it and told the confused associate that she wasn’t a fan of that particular scent. After about 15 minutes, Moon-young picked her favorites for Kang-tae to try. While the associate gathered the different bottles, Moon-young walked back to Kang-tae and reached for him to help roll up the sleeves of his sweater, exposing his forearms.

The associate handed her the bottles one by one. Moon-young sprayed a single spritz of each scent, two on each arm. The associate left them, promising to return in a few moments with the items that Moon-young asked for herself. Moon-young blew on his arm to help speed up the drying process. Kang-tae cleared his throat, swallowing his saliva as he watched Moon-young. She looked up at him, a small flush coloring her cheeks at the look in his eyes.

“Do you like any of them?” she asked.

He took his time smelling each of the scents before extending his arms out for her to smell the scents now that it got the chance to mingle with his natural scent. She brought his arm up close to her nose and carefully breathed in the scents. She did it a few times, comparing and contrasting before landing on one that she liked most on him. She tapped the area on his forearm where the scent was and brought his forearm up to his nose, “I think that one’s my favorite.”

He smiled, “Then let’s get it.”

“Okay. I’ll grab the associate who was helping me and get it rung up. She went to grab some stuff I needed to pick up for myself too,” she told him and headed towards the register.

He grabbed the bags he placed on the floor and followed her, “You can have them put it all on my card.”

At any other time, she would have argued and insisted that she pay for it herself but she was starting to learn where to pick her battles with Kang-tae. If he wanted to get her some perfume, a home diffuser, and some candles, she wasn’t going to fight it. They both can easily afford it, so what was the point in arguing?

As the associate was ringing up the order, she commented, “You’re both such a lovely couple. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. I hope to see you again in the near future; it was so nice to chat with you.”

Moon-young pulled out Kang-tae’s card from his wallet and handed it to the associate, “Thank you for your help. I had a lot of fun picking out the different colognes.”

The associate grabbed the receipt and placed it on the counter for Kang-tae to sign. As he signed the slip, she handed Moon-young the card. When Moon-young slipped the card back into the wallet, she noticed a worn out photograph. She only got a quick glimpse of the photo before she closed the wallet and returned it to her pouch.

When the associate handed Moon-young the bag, it was intercepted by Kang-tae. Moon-young shook her head with a grin to the associate, “Let him have it. There’s no point in fighting the fight.” The associate let out a laugh and handed the bag to Kang-tae.

“Have a great rest of your day and thank you again for visiting!”

They both waved to the associate as they walked out of the store. As they walked past the different stores that lined the path, Kang-tae asked, “Were there any other stores you wanted to visit?”

Moon-young shook her head, “No. I’m actually getting hungry now.”

“Okay, let’s get you fed, then.”

~

Lunch and grocery shopping went by with ease. Moon-young found herself getting slightly more comfortable with Kang-tae as the day went on. By the time they got back to Moon-young’s residence, the trunk of Kang-tae’s car was filled with bags. Moon-young looked at all the shopping bags and sighed, “Why didn’t you stop me?” she asked with a frown.

“And risk upsetting you? No, thank you.”

“Do I scare you that much?”

“Scared is not the word I would use.”

She sighed, “We’ll, whether you are or not isn’t important right now.” She co*cked her head to the side, “Do you think we can get all of this in one trip?”

“If you want to grab the shopping bags, I should be able to grab all the groceries.”

“Are you sure? I can probably take a few, too.”

“I’ve got it. If you can get the button to close and then lock, that would be great.”

“Sure,” she replied. She fished the keys out of her pouch, before placing the pouch in one of the shopping bags. She did some quick consolidation of bags before she removed them from the trunk and set them aside on the ground as she waited for Kang-tae to retrieve all the grocery bags. When he had everything, she pressed the button to close the trunk and hit the lock button on the key fob before grabbing the shopping bags. “Are you sure you’ve got it? I can still carry a few more bags.”

“Yup. I got this. If you can get the elevator and the door later, I can manage.”

“Okay,” she replied and walked ahead of him towards the elevators and hit the call button. Once it arrived they stepped in and Moon-young pressed the button for their floor. As the elevator ascended, she brought out her cellphone and took a picture of Kang-tae leaning against the wall, hands full of grocery bags.

He looked at her with a confused look on his face, “What was that?”

“I want to send it to Aunt Yoo-jin. It’s not everyday that you’re walking around with your hands full of bags of produce. Did we have to buy this much for dinner?”

As they stepped out of the elevator, he answered, “This should last us at least a week,” he paused, “You didn’t think this is only for tonight?”

She shrugged as she unlocked the door, “I honestly don’t know what you’re planning to make. I just followed you around the store and assumed you knew what you were doing.”

He laughed, “I’m truly afraid to ask how often you did groceries.” He headed straight for the kitchen where he deposited the bags on the counter.

She paused in front of the entry to the kitchen, “I don’t. I usually get my meals from Aunt Eun-jung when I go to Appa’s.”

He stared at her, “That explains a lot.” At her glare, he continued, “The state of your fridge. Why there are only containers of meals and not much else.”

“Well, now that you’re here, I’m sure there’ll be plenty of non-container things filling the fridge.”

He started unpacking and putting things into the fridge and freezer, “That’s the plan.”

She rolled her eyes, “Well, I’m going to go unpack my purchases and change. Do you need help with anything?”

“Nope, just come back with an empty stomach when you’re ready.”

“Don’t burn anything,” she called from the hallway before entering her room. He chuckled to himself as he continued to organize the fridge and began to prep the ingredients for dinner. He rolled up his sleeves and quickly found all the things he needed to make dinner. For someone who didn’t cook often, Moon-young’s kitchen was well-equipped with all the things needed to make almost anything. He smiled to himself as he began to pan sear the mackerel they bought, realizing that he was definitely going to be the cook in the marriage.

About 45 minutes after she left for her room, Moon-young returned to the kitchen with her laptop in hand, dressed in leggings and an oversized cowl neck sweatshirt. “So what’s for dinner?” she asked, sitting down on the bar stool at the island.

“I’m just finishing up the mackerel. I made some soondubu jjigae, as well. And then of course an assortment of banchans,” he pointed to the small plates sitting on the island. “It should all be ready in a few.”

“Can I do anything?”

“If you want to grab utensils and get us both some rice?”

She hopped off the stool and went to the cabinets to grab a few bowls for the rice and jjigae. Then, she collected the utensils from the drawer. “Should we eat at the island or at the dining table?” she asked.

“Whatever you want,” he replied, turning off the stove and plating the mackerel.

“Let’s eat at the table,” she suggested, taking the rice and utensils to the dining table, before returning to grab the banchans.

Kang-tae placed the mackerel plate on the island and turned back to the stove to ladle out a bowl of jjigae. “Did you want something other than water to drink?” He asked.

“I’m just going to stick with water tonight, I have an early start tomorrow,” she told him, taking a seat at the table.

He joined her with the mackerel and jjigae, “Oh? What time do you need to head out?”

“I’ll probably try to get on the road around 6.30AM,” she replied, ladling jjigae into her bowl.

“Do you have an early meeting?” He asked, placing pieces of mackerel in her rice bowl.

She nodded, “I have to start transitioning work to other people, so I want to make sure I’m giving them as much time as I can for them to ask any questions.” She took a bite of mackerel and looked at it.

“Is it okay?” He asked.

“This is really good. I haven’t had mackerel like this in a while,” she revealed.

“Good, I was worried when you were staring at it.”

A grin appeared on her face, “You just continue to surprise me. I knew you took classes when you were younger, but I didn’t realize how much of a cook you were.”

“When I moved out, I forced myself to make use of what I learned. And it’s become kind of therapeutic for me,” he confessed.

“Do you have that much on your mind that requires you to use running and cooking as therapy?”

He held her eyes for a moment, “I have enough.”

“Well, selfishly, I’m glad you enjoy cooking. I don’t cook as much as I probably should and cooking for one is much harder than it looks.”

“You know that I will gladly keep you fed,” he told her.

“Yes, you’ve proven that multiple times,” she replied.

They were quiet for a bit as they both enjoyed the food that Kang-take made. When they were close to clearing the plates, he asked, “How’s your wedding to-do list going? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“It’s pretty much done. I think we’ve covered everything. I have my outfit, you have yours. You covered the rings and the license portion of the list. Naeun is coming back to do the photography. We got the venue, food, flowers, and officiant sorted through the hotel. I’m pretty much done with the seating chart. I think that’s all of it.”

“There might be one more thing we should talk about.”

“What is it?”

“The wedding vows.”

“What about them?”

“Should we write them ourselves?” he suggested, hopefully.

She frowned, “Can’t we just use the standard script?”

“If it’s okay with you, I’d like to write mine. You know, for the sake of looking authentic.”

She sighed, “If you think it’s necessary.”

“It’s not necessary, per se. But people would probably expect us to have something written for each other,” he told her.

She averted her eyes and looked at the bowl of rice in front of her, pushing the remaining grains around, “You know I’m not good with the mushy stuff.”

“I think you’re not giving yourself enough credit,” he told her. When she looked back up at him, he grinned, “If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”

“No, you’re probably right. I’ll figure something out.”

“I’m sorry to add more work to your plate.”

“It’s fine. You can’t hold it against me if it doesn’t turn out well.”

“I’m more than confident that whatever you end up doing is going to be just fine.”

“I’m glad one of us is.”

~

Over the next few days, Moon-young and Kang-tae slowly got into the routine of living together. Kang-tae was the one who got up first in the morning, and without fail would have coffee brewed and ready for Moon-young the moment she stepped out of her room. More often than not, he would also have breakfast waiting for her.

There would be evenings after they both returned home from the office and shared dinner that they would spend time at the kitchen table with Kang-tae bringing Moon-young up to speed on the work that’s been happening at the company.

Although the work she would be taking on was different from the work that she was currently doing, Kang-tae was impressed but not in the least bit surprised at how quickly Moon-young picked up everything. She offered him a new perspective which he appreciated.

Where they didn’t see eye to eye, they would discuss their different viewpoints and on most topics, reached a consensus that worked for both of them. For things that they couldn’t agree on, they would table it for future discussion, with the option of bringing in other opinions.

The living arrangement was turning out to be more tolerable than Moon-young anticipated. She was getting a little too comfortable with relying on Kang-tae. It was no surprise to her since that was Moon Kang-tae at his core, someone who always wants to fix things. When she found herself seeking him out, she had to tell herself to not get used to having him around all the time because eventually, they will have to go separate ways and she knew better than to rely on anyone but herself.

~

In the days leading up to the wedding, Moon-young felt like she was having an out of body experience. Marrying Kang-tae was no longer a date circled on a calendar but rather a thing that was definitely happening in the upcoming weekend. She kept waiting for that feeling of apprehension to descend upon the depths of her stomach, but it never came. She didn’t want to overthink it, she’ll have plenty of time to feel apprehensive about her marriage to Kang-tae for a year later.

As she stepped into the boutique to pick up her gowns after leaving the office on the Wednesday before the wedding, she ticked off her mental check-list. The team were quick and efficient in bringing out the garment bags and thanking her for using their services. She gave them her thanks, taking the garment bag and heading back out to her car.

When she returned home to an empty condo, she took the garment bag and hung it up in the back of the closet. As she stepped back from where the dresses hung, her eye caught the large blue box that continued to haunt her, even on days where she didn’t lay eyes on it. It was a reminder of things she needed to deal with but wasn’t ready to. Shaking her head, she quickly made her exit from her room and headed to her office.

At her desk, she powered up her laptop and opened the Google Doc she started for her vows. All she had was an outline of things she could say. She started and deleted what she thought she should say at least ten times before she stopped and took a step back to think.

All the things she would say now about Kang-tae were rooted in animosity. Even as she tried to be heartfelt, it just felt… wrong. She stared at the words in front of her and thought about what 18-year old Ko Moon-young would say about 20-year old Moon Kang-tae. As she thought back to those days, the words came out like a flood.

She didn’t realize how long she was working on the vows until Kang-tae walked into her office/his “room” at 7.30PM. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you were in here,” he said when he entered.

“It’s okay, I wasn’t looking at the time.” She checked the clock on her monitor, “You’re back later than usual.”

He took his suit jacket off and walked into the closet where he hung it up in the space Moon-young made for his clothes, “We had a directors meeting that ran over and then traffic was terrible getting back.” He loosened, removed, and rolled his tie before placing it on top of the dresser. “I messaged you about dinner, but I see now why you didn’t respond. I thought you were stuck at the office, too.” He stepped back out into the room as he rolled up the sleeves of his dress shirt.

Moon-young watched the movements closely, her eyes fixed on his forearms. She didn’t realize she was staring until his voice calling her name caught her attention. “Sorry, I was thinking of something. What did you say?”

“I asked what you were working on and if I could sit,” he repeated, pointing at the chair in front of him.

“Oh, sure,” she gestured to the chair. “I’m working on the vows. Do you think sharing that destroying your expensive suits is a favorite pastime of mine would land well with the guests?” She asked.

He let out a laugh, “I almost want to encourage you to keep it in just to see the reaction.”

“Appa would absolutely have something to say about it; and it won’t be to compliment my literary prowess.”

“You never know, he might find it funny. You know, that it’s our thing.”

She shook her head, “Let’s not test our luck.” She sighed, “I’m going to stop for now. I think it’s in a decent place. I’ll finalize it before the weekend.”

“Thanks for agreeing to do this. I know it’s not something you wanted to do.”

“Compromise. I hear it’s something normal couples do from time to time.”

He grinned but didn’t comment on the couple's comment. Instead he asked, “So what should we do for dinner? Do you want to go out or should we order in? If I cook, we won’t be eating until closer to 9.30PM probably.”

“Let’s just order in, maybe Italian?”

“From the usual place?” he asked, pulling out his phone and opening the delivery app.

“Yeah and I’ll take the spaghetti alle vongole.”

“Okay. Would you split some parmigiana di melanzane with me if I ordered it?”

“Ohh, yes. Order that. And lots of bread, please.”

“Done. Should be here in 45 minutes.”

“Perfect, I’m going to shower and get out of my office clothes then. Thanks for ordering.” She closed her laptop and stood up from her desk.

“Sure. I’ll see you in a bit.”

When Moon-young left, Kang-tae got up from the chair and made his way to the adjoining bathroom to get ready for the night himself. As he unbuttoned his shirt, he thought back to the way that she watched him roll his sleeves. It wasn’t the first time he noticed her looking at his forearms, and he couldn’t say that it bothered him in the slightest when she would check him out, thinking that he didn’t notice. Unfortunately for her, he noticed too much when it came to her. With a small grin, he finished undressing and stepped into the shower.

After they both showered, they retired to the living room where Kang-tae’s bedding was set aside on one of the side armchairs. Moon-young took a seat on the sofa, leaning back against the arm rest. “How has sleeping on this been?” she asked, tapping on the backrest.

“Honestly? Fine. It’s actually much more comfortable than you think,” he shared.

She gave him a skeptical nod, “If you say so.” Then, thinking about the house they were planning to move into, she asked, “What’s the status on the house? Do you know when everything will be wrapped up?”

“Woo-seok called earlier today. We should be good to move in in about three weeks’ time.”

“That’s pretty soon.”

“It should give us enough time to figure out logistics of things.”

She nodded at his answer at the same moment that the notification on Kang-tae’s phone announced that their dinner had arrived. He got up from the sofa and when Moon-young made a move to do the same, he held up his hand, “I got it. I’ll plate it and bring it over. Why don’t you find something for us to watch while we eat?”

“Okay, shout if you need reinforcements,” she told him as she reached for the remote.

He nodded before heading to the front door to retrieve the food. He brought it to the kitchen where plated the food in different dishes. For Moon-young’s dinner, he took time to deshell all the clams, making sure there were no pieces of shell mixed in with the pasta. He placed all the dishes on a serving tray he found in one of the cabinets. As he went to the drawers to get the utensils, he called out to Moon-young, “Moon-young-ah.”

“Do you need help?” she called back.

He chuckled, of course she would immediately think something was wrong, “No. But do you want wine with dinner?”

“Sure! A glass of sauvignon blanc, please.”

“Okay!” He went over to the wine fridge and pulled out a bottle of wine and poured it into a glass for Moon-young before pouring a glass for himself. Depositing the glasses on the tray, he gently picked it up and headed back to the living room where Moon-young was still scrolling through the streaming options. “Nothing striking your fancy?” he asked.

“There are a few options,” she replied as she turned around in his direction. “Wow. What service,” she nodded to the tray.

“Please leave a review and a five-star rating,” he joked.

She snorted, “Funny.” She grabbed her bowl of pasta and glass of wine and settled into the sofa. When she saw the contents of the bowl, she looked back at Kang-tae, “You deshelled the clams,” she exclaimed.

Taking a seat, he shrugged, “Less dishes and you won’t have to get your fingers oily.”

She looked at the bowl again, at a loss for words, “This is very… sweet of you.”

“Happy to do it,” he replied.

“I’ll definitely leave a five-star review; thank you,” she returned the earlier joke.

Kang-take settled into the sofa with his bowl of tagliatelle al ragù. “So what did you decide on?” He nodded to the tv.

“A documentary on the reproductive system of earthworms,” she replied, referencing a comment she made a few months back when he showed up to a dinner she thought she was having with Dae-hwan.

He looked at her incredulously, “Are you serious?”

“Of course not. I figured we’ll just watch Inception. That okay?” She asked. When he nodded in response, she pressed the remote to start the movie.

A few minutes into the movie, Moon-young looked over at Kang-tae’s bowl, “What did you get?”

“Ragù. Do you want to try?” She hesitated for a moment before nodding. Kang-take chuckled and twirled a forkful of pasta making sure to get an ample amount of sauce in the bite. “Come here,” he instructed. Moon-young scooted over next to him and leaned in to take the bite. “How is it?” he asked.

“It’s good,” replied, licking the sauce off her lips.

“Would you like another bite?”

She shook her head, “I’m good. Thanks though. Do you want some of mine?”

“I’m alright, we still have the parmigiana, too,” he nodded to the other plate on the tray.

They ate the rest of their meals in companionable silence. When she finished, Moon-young placed the bowl on the tray and finished off her wine. “That was so much food,” she sighed happily.

“But you finished it like a trooper.” He pointed to her wine glass, “Do you want another glass?”

She looked at the glass, debating. “Maybe a half pour?”

“I’ll be right back,” he told her. Getting up and removing the tray.

“Do you want me to pause?”

“Keep watching, I’ve already seen it, so I’ll catch up when I get back.”

As she waited for him to return, she grabbed a throw blanket and snuggled into the sofa. When he came back, she took the glass from him and took a sip before placing it on the table, “Thank you.”

He sat back down on the sofa and she tucked her legs closer to her body to give him space. “You can stretch out. Just put your feet in my lap. I don’t mind.”

“Okay,” she slowly extended her legs and gently laid her feet on his upper thighs. He adjusted the blanket so that it covered both of them and rested his hand on her shins. After a few minutes, he started tapping her shins absently. She glanced over at him, and while it looked like he was focused on the movie, she knew better, “You’re doing that thing where you’re nervously tapping again. What’s bothering you now?”

He cursed, “sh*t. Sorry. It’s nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t lie to me. You know that won’t end well for you.”

He sighed, “I was thinking about asking you about where you wanted to go for our honeymoon.”

She frowned, “Honeymoon? Why would we go on one?”

He shrugged, “Because that’s what married couples do?”

“But–,” she began.

He cut her off, earning himself a glare, “People will expect us to.”

“Why do we have to do what people expect us to?” she asked, annoyed.

“Think of it as a regular trip rather than a honeymoon,” he offered.

“Do you want to go on a honeymoon?” she asked, trying to better understand the situation.

He avoided her eyes, “It would be nice to take a vacation.”

“When would we even go? There’s so much going on right now.”

“Can you take a few weeks before you start at the company?” he suggested.

She sighed, “I’ll think about it.”

He nodded, taking the small win, “I’ll take it.”

“Okay. Now stop using my leg as a drum; it’s distracting,” she nudged him lightly with her foot.

He chuckled, sheepishly, “Sorry.”

They watched the rest of the movie in comfortable silence. About half way through, Kang-tae started rubbing circles in her shins with his thumb. But rather than finding it bothersome, Moon-young found it soothing and didn’t complain. Once the movie ended, Moon-young stretched and sat up. “I forgot how long that movie is. I’m going to head to bed.” She stood up and folded the blanket, “Thank you for dinner.”

“Of course. Have a good night, Moon-young.”

~

The morning of the wedding, Moon-young found herself awake and staring at the ceiling of the hotel suite at 6AM. She thought about all the decisions she made that led her to this moment. Many would call her calculating, making sure that every move she made would result in exactly what she needed. She became even more calculating in her twenties when one decision she made changed her life completely. However, as she raised her hand to look at the rings on her ring finger, she felt like this decision was anything but calculating but rather one done in great haste with very little opportunity for her to dissect it before she changed her mind. She already knew that this was another decision that was going to change her life, again.

Realizing that laying in bed wasn’t going to prolong the inevitable, Moon-young threw the comforter off her body and rolled out of the plush hotel bed. In the lead-up to the wedding, she and Kang-tae agreed that for the sake of logistics, they would each book a suite at the hotel so that they didn’t have to worry about trying to navigate Seoul’s traffic.

She made her way into the living area of the suite and walked up to the window where her wedding dress hung next to her reception outfit. She crossed her arms and tilted her head, sizing up the dress that she handpicked herself and wondered what Kang-tae would say when he saw her wearing it. She stepped up and touched the lace fabric and admired the intricateness of the patterns. They were both so lovely that she felt slightly guilty that she wasn’t wearing it for a real wedding, even if everything about it was legal and binding.

Trying to shove those thoughts out of her head, Moon-young headed to the bathroom to shower before the hair and makeup people arrived. She took a nice long shower, enjoying the way the water warmed up her skin. She took her time, making sure to cover every reachable inch of her body. Finishing up, she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, reaching for the plush bathrobe hanging from the wall.

Back in the living area of the suite, she went back and stared at the outfits she would be wearing today. She wondered if this would be the kind of design she would have worn if she married the man she loved. More than a decade ago, she would have wished for this day. But now that it was here, she felt the weight of something heavy in the pit of her stomach. She wasn’t going to back out of this but there was a voice in her head that told her that this decision was going to cost her more than she bargained for.

She began to pull herself out of her spiraling thoughts again when a knock on the door did the job for her. She looked at the clock that told her it was still too early for anyone else to arrive. She went and looked through the peephole to find a room service cart on the other side. Not expecting anything, she opened the door slightly before stating, “I didn’t order anything.”

“Ms. Ko Moon-young?”

“That’s me.”

“A Mr. Moon Kang-tae had this sent up for you,” the employee replied.

“Oh, okay, come on in. You can just put it anywhere.” The employee pushed the cart into the room and placed it near the small dining area before handing Moon-young the check. She signed it and said her thanks before the employee left. She closed the door behind her and walked to the cart where she found a card sitting on top of one of the domed lids which read: You shouldn’t get married on an empty stomach. I promise to keep you well fed even when I’m not with you. I am counting down the minutes until I get to see you. ~ Your Oppa.

She let out a snort before she set down the card and opened the lid to find a breakfast platter filled with eggs done the way that she preferred, over easy, with bacon, potatoes, and a croissant. Additionally, the cart had a full assortment of pastries, bowls of fruit, and assorted juices and coffee that she assumed he meant for her to share with everyone else.

Taking a little moment for herself, Moon-young took a photo of the cart and then a selfie of her and the croissant that she might show him later. She sent the former photo of the cart to Kang-tae with a message.

Moon-young: Thank you for breakfast because you know I would have forgotten to order it for myself.

Kang-tae: Always. It’s going to be a long day, make sure you eat enough in case we get too busy to eat later.

Moon-young: Like you would actually let me go hungry.

Kang-tae: You’re right; I wouldn’t.

Moon-young: I’m going to enjoy this now before everyone gets here. I’ll see you later.

Kang-tae: I’ll be the one waiting in the tux.

Moon-young: There’ll be a lot of men wearing tuxedos today. What if I end up marrying the wrong guy?

Kang-tae: Over my dead body.

Moon-young reread the last message, feeling a sharp pull in the belly and warmth in her cheeks. It had always been fun to tease and poke fun at Kang-tae when she could because it meant avoiding the awkwardness and tension that sometimes hung in the air around them. But moments like these when she jokingly pushed a little far and he came back with a comment that made her think there was more truth to the things he’s said to her than she would like to believe. It was in those moments where she feared asking him for help was probably not the best idea for her head, and definitely not her heart.

She was able to get a few hours of alone time before her suite was filled with people. For another several hours, she was poked and prodded from all directions. It was enough for her to decide this will be the only time she ever did this. Everyone was kind and attentive to her needs. All she had to do was sit while everyone worked around her, which just happened to be the worst thing that someone with her personality had to do.

With her hair and makeup done, she said goodbye to the hair and makeup team. Soon after the suite emptied out, a knock came at the door and she opened it to find her friend Ju-ri on the other side. She smiled at her friend, “Nam Ju-ri, how lovely to see you.”

Ju-ri rolled her eyes and walked through the door. “I still can’t believe you’re doing this.” She sat down on a chair next to the room service cart and surveyed the remaining offerings before grabbing a croissant from a basket.

Moon-young sat in the chair across from her, “Believe me when I say that no one is more surprised as I am.”

“You’re sure you want to do this?”

“Even if I don’t want to, I’m not backing out now,” she shrugged.

Ju-ri gestured with her croissant, “So, are you going to have sex with him tonight?”

“No,” she answered immediately.

“Does he know that?”

She shrugged, “I’m sure he does.”

“But you are going to share a bed with him?”

Moon-young sighed, “Apparently so. Would be weird for a married couple to sleep in separate suites.”

Ju-ri smirked slyly, “Are you going to be able to keep your hands off him? I remember a certain 16-year old being quite smitten with her oppa before he left to enlist in the military, which turned into a full blown hormonal crush when he returned when she was 18.”

Moon-young frowned, “That 18-year old doesn’t exist anymore. Long gone are the days where she gets starry eyed over a guy with a pretty face and a nice body.”

Ju-ri leaned in, “Is the body still nice?”

Moon-young glared at her, “Don’t ask me these things.”

Ju-ri guffawed, collapsing back into the chair. “You don’t have to answer that question. I have eyes and I’ve seen the way the man wears a suit. I already know the answer.”

She pouted, “I hate you.”

Ju-ri gestured to say her mouth was zipped, “I won’t tell anyone that you still think your husband-to-be is hot.”

“Please stop.”

Ju-ri popped the rest of her croissant in her mouth before wiping her hands clean of crumbs. “Fine.” She stood up from the chair and walked over to where the wedding gown was hanging, “Let’s get you into the dress before your Appa gets here. I saw a few guests starting to trickle in when I came up.”

Moon-young got up from her chair and walked up to where her friend was standing. They stood next to each other and stared at the dress. Ju-ri turned to her, her expression serious, “Moon-young-ah, it’s not too late to back out. You know that right? You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

Moon-young untied her robe, “I’m doing this, Ju-ri. I’ve already made my decision.” She shrugged off the robe and let it fall to the floor.

Ju-ri turned to look at her friend and let out a gasp, “Jesus Christ, Ko Moon-young. Are you trying to send your husband to an early grave?” Under the robe she was wearing, Moon-young was dressed in a three-piece sheer lace La Perla set, complete with a lace garter, that left very little to the imagination.

“What? You don’t think he’ll like it?” she asked, twirling.

Ju-ri scrunched up her nose, “I think you should be more concerned that he’ll like it too much.”

Moon-young looked at herself in the mirror, “I rather think it’s pretty.”

“Of course it’s pretty. That’s not what I’m worried about. I’m worried that I can literally see everything and I’m not even looking that hard.”

“When else would I get the opportunity to wear something like this ever again?”

“You know that most women wear this on their wedding day to encourage their husbands to f*ck them. Last I checked, you want the exact opposite to happen!” She paused, narrowing her eyes, “Unless you were lying to me earlier.”

She ignored the accusation and placed her hands on her waist. What kind of wedding night would it be if she couldn’t drive him just a little insane? She remembered the way he looked at her when she moaned over a cup of coffee. A sneaky smile appeared on her face before it was replaced by a stubborn expression, “I’m not taking it off. What he thinks about it is his problem, not mine. I think it looks good on me and I’m going to keep it on.”

“I wasn’t trying to convince you to take it off, I only want to make sure that you know what you’re doing.”

“Of course I do,” she muttered. She reached for the hanger and pulled the dress down. She unzipped the dress and stepped into it before turning her back to Ju-ri to help with zipping it back up. Ju-ri pulled up the zip and hooked the closure at the top. She made a few quick adjustments before stepping back.

“You look gorgeous, Moon-young-ah.” She rested her chin on Moon-young’s shoulder, “I can’t believe you’re getting married to the man of your 18-year-old dreams,” she teased.

“Ju-ri, stop,” Moon-young groaned.

“Okay, fine, fine. I just hope that whatever happens, he doesn’t do anything to hurt you,” she replied.

“He hasn’t been able to do that in a very long time, Ju-ri.”

“You know, you’ve never told me what happened back then. It’s been almost ten years and you still haven’t told me. I worry that you’ve been keeping this to yourself all this time. It must be eating at you. Does anyone else know?”

“No. And I don’t want to talk about it, Ju-ri.”

“Oh, Moon–young.”

She waved her off, “Don’t worry about it. I won’t let him get close enough ever again.”

“Oh, Moon-young. I think he might already be a lot closer than you think.” She took her friend’s hand in hers, “Just be careful, okay?”

Moon-young gave her friend a reassuring smile, “I will.”

A knock came at the door and Ju-ri walked over to open it, “Ah, Mr. Ko, good morning,” she greeted.

“Nam Ju-ri! It’s been a long time,” Dae-hwan greeted. “How are you?”

“I’m doing well, thank you. How are you?”

“I’m great! My daughter is getting married, I couldn’t be happier.”

Ju-ri shared a look with Moon-young before she excused herself, “Yes, a very exciting day indeed. I’ll head out and give you both time together.” She nodded to Moon-young and bowed to Dae-hwan before heading out the door.

Left alone with Moon-young, Dae-hwan gave her a smile and walked over to give her a hug. She closed her eyes and leaned into the hug, “Hi, Appa.”

Dae-hwan pulled back and looked lovingly at his daughter, “Moon-young-ah, you look so beautiful today. When I look at you, I think of your Eomma, and how proud she would be to see the person that you are today.”

“Days like today make me miss her a bit more than usual.”

“I know what you mean. She would have been thrilled to see you and Kang-tae together.”

“Probably not as thrilled as you,” she replied sarcastically.

“Oh, probably more,” he argued. He reached for Moon-young’s hand, “Moon-young-ah, I know that this wasn’t an easy decision for you. I think I’m pretty sure I know why you’re doing it. And selfishly, I am not going to put a stop to it because I know, deep down, this is the best thing for both of you. I hope you come to see that eventually.”

“Appa,” Moon-young began.

He put his hand up to stop her, “We all have our reasons for doing things and I think between the two of us, it’s to protect each other, even if we disagree on the method,” he chuckled.

Moon-young grinned, “You are right about one thing, Appa. I could do much worse. And at the very least, he and I have some common goals when it comes to how we want to move the business forward. Everything else can be a work in progress.”

Dae-hwan sighed, “I love you, Moon-young. I hope you know that.”

“I do Appa. And I love you,” she squeezed his hand, “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. Take care of yourself and stay healthy for me.”

Dae-hwan felt himself getting emotional, “When did my little girl grow up?”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” she replied with a chuckle.

Another knock came at the door and Moon-young let out a laugh. Dae-hwan smiled at his daughter, “You are popular today.”

“It is my wedding day,” she replied. “There should only be one other person who would visit me today,” she told him.

Dae-hwan went to the door, “Well, I’ll give you time with them. I’ll come back in a bit to get you for the ceremony.”

“Okay, Appa. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Dae-hwan opened the door to find Yoo-jin standing behind it, dressed in a hanbok. He turned to Moon-young, “Of course, I should have guessed.” He turned to Yoo-jin, “I’ll give you time with each other.”

Yoo-jin nodded, “I’ll see you in a bit.” As Dae-hwan left the room, she rushed over to Moon-young’s side, smiling brightly, “My Moon-youngie!” she exclaimed, “You look absolutely breathtaking.”

“Thank you, Aunt Yoo-jin.”

“Your Eomma would be so happy today,” she echoed Dae-hwan’s words. “You've grown up so beautifully, my darling.”

Moon-young reached for Yoo-jin and pulled her in for a hug, “Thank you for being the mother figure I needed since Eomma passed.” She led Yoo-jin to the sofa and sat down next to her.

“It’s been both an honor and a privilege to have been able to watch you grow into the beautiful person that you are, inside and out,” Yoo-jin smiled. She paused and looked at their hands, “This is a little weird since, as someone who loves you like her own daughter, this would be the time I tell you that if your husband ever makes you feel like you need to leave you should feel like you can do it without fear. But your husband-to-be happens to be my own son.”

Moon-young laughed, “I know that if Oppa ever does anything even remotely questionable in our marriage, you would absolutely support me. But I’m hopeful that we will be able to deal with our issues together,” Moon-young replied.

Yoo-jin reached for her hand, “You know that Kang-tae cares deeply about you right? He’s always had.”

Even without going back too far, Moon-young thought back to all the days since he moved in and how he made sure she was fed for every meal, that anything she needed was done even without being asked. If she thought even further back, she’d have enough examples to list for days. She nodded, “Yes, I know. I’ve had to increase the frequency of my laps in the pool ever since he moved in to maintain my weight,” she laughed.

“It seems like food and acts of care and service is his love language,” Yoo-jin pondered. “I’m glad he’s taking good care of you. Thank you for letting him stay with you while everything with the house is getting finalized.”

Moon-young nodded, “It’s like a trial run of what it’ll be like to live together.”

“I’m happy to hear it’s working out.” She paused for a moment before she asked, “How are you feeling about everything?”

Moon-young let out a long exhale that ended in a light laugh, “I’m very much ready for all of this to be over. Trying to plan a wedding in a month was not my brightest idea,” she confessed.

“There’s only a few hours left and then you can finally relax.”

“I’m looking forward to it, Aunt Yoo-jin. Thank you again, for everything. Really.”

Yoo-jin reached for Moon-young’s cheeks and gave her a loving kiss, “I love you so much, Moon-young.”

Moon-young reached out for another hug, “I love you, too, Aunt Yoo-jin.”

As they hugged, Yoo-jin smiled at the thought that entered her head, “You know what Moon-young?”

Moon-young pulled back, “What is it, Aunt Yoo-jin?”

“Don’t you think it might be time for you to call me something else?”

“Huh?”

“Eomeoni. I would love you to call me Eomeoni, if you’re comfortable with it.”

Moon-young smiled, feeling her eyes get glassy, “I would love that, Eomeoni.”

Yoo-jin pulled her in for another hug, “I feel like I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment.”

“It’s a bit full circle, isn’t it?” Moon-young asked.

“Almost 32 years in the making. Thank you for making this old lady’s heart a little fuller today,” she replied. Looking down at her watch she exclaimed, “Oh, it’s almost time. Let me go and get your Appa.”

Moon-young nodded, “I’ll see you at the ceremony. Eomeoni,” she smiled widely as Yoo-jin got up made her way to the door.

~

In the groom’s suite, Kang-tae fussed with the bowtie in front of the mirror when Ji-tae stepped up behind him. “Do you need some help with that?”

He turned his head towards his Appa and with a smile, he nodded, “I won’t refuse your help.”

“I think it’s my job as father of the groom to do this.” Ji-tae brought his hands up and began working on the bowtie. “How are you feeling?”

“It’s hard to verbalize. It’s a lot of feelings jumbled up together.”

“You’re not having second thoughts, are you?”

Kang-tae shook his head, “Absolutely not.”

His father let out a laugh, “I didn’t think so.” As he finished up with the bow-tie, he patted Kang-tae's chest, his face turning serious, “I already know the answer but I have to ask you anyway. You’re absolutely sure this is what you want to do? You know Dae-hwan, your Eomma, and I wouldn’t be opposed if either of you decide this isn’t what you want to do. We won’t hold it against either of you.” He paused before he continued, “What happens today will change your lives forever.”

“I know, Appa. I’m sure this is what I want. The only person who can stop this from happening is Moon-young. And if she decides she doesn’t want to go through with it, I will respect her wishes. But I really hope she doesn’t. It’s a little backwards but I know this is the right decision for me. I hope she eventually realizes that it’s the right one for her, too.”

“How long are you willing to wait for her to realize it? And what will you do if she never does?”

“I’ve waited for her for most of my life, Appa. I’ll wait for her for as long as she needs me to.”

“And if someone else comes into her life that she wants to have a future with?”

Kang-tae frowned at his father, “Please don’t speak it into the universe.”

Ji-tae chuckled, “I love that girl like she’s my own. I wouldn’t want anyone else as my daughter-in-law anyway.”

“I think she and I were meant to get here for much longer than any of us even realized it was a possibility.”

“Oh, I think we oldies knew we would get here from the moment you laid eyes on that girl, Kang-tae. We just didn’t think it would happen this way.”

Kang-tae gave him a skeptical look, “Really? You knew that early?”

“We all did.” Ji-tae gave him a pat on the back, “Come on, have a drink with your old man and I’ll tell you what I remember. And then you can go and verify with your Eomma.”

Kang-tae chuckled and followed Ji-tae to the sofa that faced the window. As he poured them each a drink, a knock came at the door before Dae-hwan entered. Ji-tae smiled at his friend and waved him over, “Dae-hwan, you’re just in time to listen to me tell the story about how long my son’s been in love with your daughter.”

“Appa,” Kang-tae groaned.

Dae-hwan let out a laugh, walking over to join Ji-tae on the sofa, “Oh, I’m definitely going to need a glass of whatever you’re pouring out, Kang-tae.”

“I really hope this isn’t embarrassing,” Kang-tae commented, handing the drinks out. When he gave Dae-hwan his, he asked, “Is everything okay with Moon-young? Did she kick you out?”

“I was getting too sentimental. Your Eomma came in right on time, so I saw myself out before I embarrassed Moon-young and myself,” he replied.

Kang-tae nodded as he took a seat in the chair next to the sofa, taking a sip of the amber liquid in his glass, “Alright, let’s hear it, Appa.”

~

31 Years Ago…

Kang-tae was sitting in his playroom when Yoo-jin came into the room, dressed in a short-sleeve dress with a full skirt. “Kang-tae-ah!” she called with a smile. “Are you ready to go, sweetheart?”

He returned his mother’s smile and nodded, “Yes, Eomma.” He got up from his reading chair and reached for her outstretched hand. They walked down the hall towards the foyer where Ji-tae was waiting for them. “We’re visiting Aunt Hui-jae and Uncle Dae-hwan today?” he asked, sitting down on the bench to put his shoes on.

While Ji-tae helped Kang-tae with his shoes, Yoo-jin grabbed his bag from the front closet. “We are,” she replied. “There’s also someone else you’ll get to see, too.”

As they walked out the door and headed towards the car, Kang-tae looked up at Yoo-jin and asked, “Who?”

“Remember the baby in Aunt Hui-jae’s belly? She’s finally here!” she exclaimed excitedly, opening the car door for him.

Ji-tae lifted him up and set him in his seat before securing him in place. “Baby?” he asked, looking at both his parents, who nodded in response.

“We’ll all get to meet her soon,” Yoo-jin told him, getting in the car herself before Ji-tae joined her.

The drive to the Ko residence wasn’t too long from their own residence. In under half an hour, Ji-tae was already pulling up the drive towards the house. He parked the car at the top of the drive in front of the steps leading up to the front door. He unbuckled Kang-tae from his seat and carried him up the steps where Yoo-jin was already waiting at the door. They let Kang-tae ring the bell and waited for a few moments before Eun-jung opened the door.

“Hello!” Eun-jung greeted, stepping back to allow the trio through the doorway. “How was the drive?” she asked, closing the door behind them.

“Traffic was pretty clear today, so we got here quicker than planned,” Yoo-jin replied. She helped Kang-tae out of his shoes and jacket before she took him from Ji-tae and perched him on her hips. “Are they upstairs?” she asked.

Eun-jung smiled, “They are. Little miss just woke up a little bit ago. Ms. Hui-jae just finished feeding her before you arrived.”

“Perfect, thanks Eun-jung. We’ll get cleaned and then head up.” she responded. Eun-jung gave her a smile before heading off towards the kitchen. She turned to Ji-tae, she pointed towards one of the doors further down the hall, “We should wash our hands before we meet her.” Ji-tae nodded and followed her down the hall.

“Eomma, why do we have to wash our hands?” Kang-tae asked, once they entered the bathroom and Ji-tae turned on the faucet.

“Because the baby is still very small and she can get sick easily. We don’t want her to get sick, do we?” Yoo-jin responded, helping him wash his hands thoroughly with soap.

“No,” he responded, shaking his head.

Yoo-jin smiled at her son and gave him a kiss on the cheek, “Should we go see the baby?”

“Yes!” he replied.

The three of them headed up towards the second floor where the bedrooms were located. They followed the sound of hushed voices to find Hui-jae and Dae-hwan in their bedroom cooing at the baby in Hui-jae’s arms. Ji-tae knocked the door frame and poked his head through the doorway, “I hope we’re not interrupting,” he greeted.

Dae-hwan looked over and smiled, “Not at all! Come in, come in!”

They entered the room and headed towards the bed where Hui-jae was sitting, propped up against the headboard, rocking the tiny bundle. “We’re so glad you could visit. This is Ko Moon-young,” Hui-jae introduced.

Yoo-jin leaned down and gave her friend a kiss on the cheek, “We wouldn’t miss it for anything.” She looked at Moon-young’s tiny body and felt a surge of adoration, “She’s beautiful. I’m so happy she’s finally here. How are you feeling?”

“A little tired but so worth it.” She looked over at Dae-hwan, whose eyes were filled with love and affection for his wife and daughter, “Dae-hwan’s also doing his fair share of diaper changes, to the surprise of even himself.”

“I can’t let you do it all alone,” he argued.

“And I love you very much for it,” she replied.

“It gets slightly easier as time goes on,” Yoo-jin shared.

“I hope so,” Hui-jae replied, looking at her daughter. She looked back up at Yoo-jin and asked, “Would you like to hold her?”

“May I? I would love to.”

“Of course.”

Yoo-jin turned to Ji-tae, passing Kang-tae to him before turning back to take Moon-young from Hui-jae, “Hi Moon-youngie, I’m aunt Yoo-jin.” She turned towards her husband and son, showing them Moon-young, “This is Uncle Ji-tae and Kang-tae Oppa.”

“What do you think, Kang-tae?” Ji-tae asked, bringing Kang-tae a little closer so that he could see her.

Kang-tae stared at the baby in his Eomma’s arms for a few moments before looking towards his Appa, “This is the baby in Aunt Hui-jae’s belly?” He leaned in closer, taking in the tiny nose, lips, ears, and eyes that were staring back at him.

“It is! Isn’t she pretty?” Yoo-jin asked.

Kang-tae nodded, leaning over even more to get a closer look, causing Ji-tae to lose his firm hold on his small frame. “Careful, Kang-tae. I don’t want to drop you,” he warned.

“Do you want to get closer?” Dae-hwan asked. Kang-tae looked at his uncle and gave him a nod. Dae-hwan chuckled. “Why don’t we put her down on the bed and then Kang-tae can get closer,” he suggested.

Yoo-jin stepped over towards the bed, gently placing Moon-young on the center of it. Then, taking Kang-tae from Ji-tae, she sat him down next to her. He got on his knees and reached his hand out to touch her when Yoo-jin’s voice stopped him, “Be gentle, okay? She’s still really little.”

“Yes, Eomma,” he replied. Turning back to Moon-young, he reached out to touch her hand and was caught by surprise when her tiny fingers gripped his own tightly. He looked up at all the adults around him who had bright smiles on their faces.

“I think she likes you, Kang-tae,” Hui-jae told him. He smiled at her and scooted closer to Moon-young, gently swinging their linked hands.

“What do you think, honey? Do you like her?” Yoo-jin asked.

“Yes,” he replied, not taking his eyes off of Moon-young, who still held on to his hand.

“Do you want to hold her?”

“Hold her?” he repeated her words before agreeing, “Yes.”

“Okay, why don’t you sit up against the pillows and then I’ll put her in your lap.” She gently pulled their hands apart, causing Moon-young to let out a cry. Kang-tae frowned at the loss of contact and at the sad sound coming out of Moon-young's tiny body. “Uh oh, I think I made her upset,” Hui-jae chuckled. “Let’s get you by the pillows,” she told Kang-tae, who quickly moved to sit with his back against the fluffed up pillow.

Moon-young was still wailing when Hui-jae put her on Kang-tae’s lap. “Okay, Kang-tae, put your arm under her neck like this,” she moved his arm so that Moon-young’s neck could rest comfortably in it. “And then you can hold her hand again with your hand.” With her hand back in his, Moon-young stopped crying, calming down almost immediately. He leaned down and kissed her head like his parents would do with him everyday. “That’s very sweet, Kang-tae,” Hui-jae told him.

“Huh, would you look at that,” Dae-hwan remarked. “It’s like he’s the Moon-young whisperer.”

“You’re going to take good care of her, right Kang-tae?” Yoo-Jin asked him.

Keeping his eyes on Moon-young, he nodded, “Yes.”

“She’s going to be yours to protect and take care of,” Ji-tae told him.

“Mine,” he declared quietly.

The adults watched with smiles on their faces as Kang-tae watched Moon-young in his arms. They didn’t do anything but stared at each other, holding each other’s hands. After a few minutes, Moon-young began to rub her eyes with her free hand, signaling her need for another nap.

“Kang-tae, why don’t we go downstairs for a bit so that Moon-youngie can take a nap?” Yoo-Jin suggested.

“No. I want to stay,” he argued, shaking his head.

“We can’t do that, honey. She needs to sleep.”

He shook his head again, “Stay here.”

“It’s okay, I can keep watch,” Hui-jae told them.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, why don’t you all head downstairs.”

“Okay. I’ll take the monitor. Just wave if you need reinforcement,” Dae-hwan told her, kissing her head.

She nodded, “I will.”

Once everyone left the room, Hui-jae grinned at Kang-tae, “Thanks for staying to help me. I’m going to take her and lay her down so she can sleep properly.”

Kang-tae watched as Hui-jae adjusted the bedding before she took her out of his lap. She gently laid Moon-young on her stomach, turning her head towards Kang-tae who moved to lay down next to her. “Do you want to lay down, too?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, darling. Let me get you a pillow and a blanket so you don’t get cold.”

While Hui-jae went to grab him a pillow and blanket, Kang-tae moved closer to Moon-young and reached out for her hand and held it gently in his, “Mine,” he said to himself, closing his eyes as well.

When Hui-jae returned with the blanket, she found the two of them asleep holding hands. “Oh boy,” she breathed out. She slid the pillow under Kang-tae’s head and tucked him in under the blanket before stepping out of the room.

When she joined the other adults downstairs in the kitchen, they all looked at her confused, “Is everything okay?”

She nodded over to the monitor in front of Dae-hwan, “Take a look for yourself.”

Everyone got up and gathered behind Dae-hwan around the small screen where they saw Kang-tae and Moon-young napping and holding hands. Ji-tae looked at his best friend and let out a chuckle, “I think we’re in big trouble.”

~

Kang-tae took a sip of his drink as Ji-tae finished the story. “You’re definitely making that up.”

“Dae-hwan, back me up here.”

“That story is accurate. And after that day, you somehow convinced your parents to bring you over almost everyday.”

“You were smitten with her from day one,” Ji-tae told him.

“Interesting that you’re only telling me this now.”

“No better time than the day you’re about to be bound to her for the rest of your life.”

Kang-tae thought of a quippy comeback when a knock came at the door and Yoo-jin poked her head into the room. “It’s almost time, honey,” she told him. He nodded and placed his glass on the table before standing up and walking up to her.

Dae-hwan also stood up, “I guess that means it’s my cue to make sure my daughter hasn’t run off,” he laughed.

Yoo-jin shook her head at him, “Don’t even joke about it, Dae-hwan.”

Dae-hwan laughed, “Of course she hasn’t. Moon-young’s not one to run away from anything.” Giving Kang-tae a firm pat on the back, he says, “Take good care of my girl. She’s tough but it’ll be good for her to know that she has someone by her side.”

Kang-tae nodded in response and watched Dae-hwan walk out into the hallway. He mentally replayed his uncle’s words and thought about how for the past near decade, Moon-young did her darndest to get away from him at any opportunity. He knew he was being selfish by agreeing to marry her in this manner. He could only hope that down the road, she would eventually see what he already knew.

Yoo-jin looked at him and adjusted his tie and lapels, resting her hands on his chest, she asked, “Are you ready?”

He gave her a nod, “Yes, Eomma.”

“No second thoughts or hesitations?” she asked.

Ji-tae approached them, placing his hand on her waist, “I already asked, Yeobo. The boy’s heart is set on seeing this through.”

She smiled up at her husband, “Is that what you were talking about when I came in?”

Ji-tae shook his head, “Oh no. I was telling him the story of the day we all met Moon-young.”

Yoo-jin’s eyes lit up, “Oh, you mean when he refused to leave her side and ended up napping with her?” She smiled at the memory, “You were so upset when we had to leave. And every day after, you kept asking for Moon-young. At first we thought you wanted a baby sister of your own and then we realized that wasn’t what you wanted.”

Ji-tae smirked, “What did I tell you, Kang-tae.”

Kang-tae sighed, “I didn’t realize it was that obvious to everyone.”

“Oh, no, sweetheart. We just know you better than most.” Yoo-jin grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “Now that that’s settled, we should head up.” Kang-tae nodded his response, offering her his arm and they stepped out into the hallway together with Ji-tae following closely behind.

~

Kang-tae and his parents made their way up the elevator towards the rooftop terrace where the ceremony was being held. When they arrived, Min-hee was waiting with her clipboard in hand. “Perfect timing,” she greeted. “All the guests are here and Moon-young and her father are on their way up.”

“Great,” Kang-tae replied. He looked to his parents, “Shall we?” He linked arms with them both and waited for the signal to walk towards the altar. Once the music started, they all walked up the aisle, they made sure to exchange smiles with the guests in attendance. Because the invite list was so short, it was only the people they both deemed were important in their lives.

Once they arrived in front of the altar, Kang-tae gave his parents a hug. Yoo-jin grabbed his face and kissed him on the cheek, “I’m so happy for you, Kang-tae. I hope that while you continue to prioritize Moon-young’s happiness, you don’t forget yours either.”

He nodded, “Thank you, Eomma. I’ll do my best.” She gave him one more kiss before joining Ji-tae at her seat. He stepped up to his spot and nodded a greeting to the officiant before turning back to watch the doorway, waiting for Moon-young’s arrival.

When the processional music starts, Kang-tae felt his heartbeat racing, as if his heart was trying to jackhammer its way out of his rib cage. Then, the moment he laid eyes on Moon-young, he felt all the air leaving his lungs. With the way his body was reacting, he wasn’t sure if he was going to live to hear her say “I do.” He took a deep breath and took in the vision that is his bride.

The wedding gown that she’s been trying to trick him into seeing was a strapless, mermaid cut lace gown with a deep v neckline. A wide silk sash separated the top and the skirt with an oversized accent bow. Her hair was styled in a glamor era wavy updo with a birdcage style veil. If he wasn’t already head over heels for her, the small grin she gave him when their eyes met would have done it. He didn’t see any hesitation or apprehension in her eyes. To anyone else in the room, she looked like she was as in love with him as he was with her. In that moment, he reaffirmed his mission to make her love him again.

When Moon-young and Dae-hwan reached him, Dae-hwan took his hand and placed Moon-young’s in it. “Please take good care of her for me, Kang-tae. She is my everything.”

“I promise that she will always be my number one priority,” he told Dae-hwan.

Moon-young looked at him and he gave their joined hands a squeeze, “Looks like I found the right guy in the tux after all,” she said quietly only for him to hear.

“I would have fought anyone who tried,” he responded. “You look beautiful, Moon-young.” Then, giving her hand another squeeze, he asked, “You ready?”

She nodded, “Let’s do this.”

He let out a chuckle as he led them to the front of the altar. The officiant looked at them both, nodding his greeting before he began, “Family, friends, and honored guests, thank you all for coming today to share in this wonderful occasion. Today we are here together to unite Moon Kang-tae and Ko Moon-young in marriage.”

The officiant went through the process of the ceremony, bringing people up to readings before he returned and looked at both of them, “Are you both ready to share their vows?” They nodded and the officiant gestured for Kang-tae to begin.

When he made no move to bring out a card or something written, Moon-young smirked, “Gonna freestyle your vows?”

The guests in the front row, including their parents, chuckled at the quip. Meanwhile, Kang-tae shook his head and pointed to it, “It’s all in here.” He took a breath and began.

“Moon-young, I can’t remember the day I met you since I was two and you were only a few days old. But there are at least three people here today who do. From them, I learned what I already knew for as long as I could remember, which is that it was you from day one. The one that I wanted to spend my waking hours with. The one whose smile I sought on any given day. The one I always knew I wanted to protect, not because I had to but because I wanted to. Everyday with you is new and different from the day before. And with every day, I love you more than the day before. While we may have lost a bit of time together over the years, I hope to make it all up with you in the years to come. Most importantly, I promise to have coffee ready for you when you wake up every morning and that you will always be my priority. I will do everything within my power to make sure you never doubt it.”

When he finished, he gave her a smile that chipped away at a small piece of her closed off heart. “Moon-young?” the officiant prompted. She gave him a nod and began her own vows, reading from a small card she prepared. Kang-tae kept her free hand within the firm hold of his own.

“Kang-tae Oppa, I’m not able to pick or tell you what my earliest memory of you was because my entire childhood was filled with you. Every single milestone I can think of, you were always there with a smile on your face and a hug at the ready. But the one memory I have that assured me that I could always rely on you was the week after losing Eomma. Every single day, it was you who was by my side. It was you who made sure that even on the worst of days, there was a reason to smile. While life led us down different paths for a while, it’s as if the universe knew that the only time anything makes sense and feels right is when you are by my side and brought you back to me. I can’t promise you that I will always be the easiest person to be around or that your clothes are ever safe–sorry Appa–but I promise to always do my best to love you in the ways that you deserve to be loved.”

With the last words, she slipped the card back into the hidden pocket of her dress. When she looked back up at Kang-tae, he was smiling at her. The smile itself was no different than the smiles he’s given her before, but the look in his eyes made her stomach clench in a way she wasn’t accustomed to. He looked like someone deeply in love with the person in front of him. She refused to read into it because that wasn’t the kind of relationship they had. She was going to chalk it up to the fact that he was really good at putting up a front for the masses.

After the vows, they exchanged their wedding rings. Moon-young was thrilled to see her set being completed. For himself, Kang-tae chose a simple platinum band that suited him perfectly. Moon-young smiled to herself as she slipped the ring onto his finger.

With the ring exchange complete, the officiant began the pronouncement. “Before these witnesses, you have pledged to be joined in marriage. You have now sealed this pledge with your wedding rings. By the authority vested in me, I now pronounce you married. You may kiss your wife!”

Kang-tae took a step towards Moon-young bringing her body close against him. He had a smile on his face, “My wife,” he exclaimed, “I like the sound of that,” he told her before pulling her in for a kiss to the sound of a cheering crowd.

Chapter 19: Happy Wife, Happy Life.

Chapter Text

My wife. I like the sound of that. Kang-tae’s words rang in Moon-young’s head as he pulled her in for a kiss in front of their wedding guests. As he leaned her back, she wrapped an arm around his neck so as to not fall backwards, not that she thought he would let her fall. Her other hand found itself pressed up against his chest where she could feel the rapid beats of his heart. While the kiss wasn’t deep, there was a feeling of intention behind it.

When they pulled apart, Moon-young looked up at Kang-tae feeling more conflicted than she’s felt in a very long time. As he helped her stand back up, she quickly removed her arm from his neck. He reached for her hand and together, they walked back down the aisle towards the back of the terrace where they met up with Naeun who ushered them away from the guests to get photos.

Naeun worked quickly to get the photos they needed with both their parents before pulling them away for couples shots. She made quick work to get all the shots she needed, her team working around her, Kang-tae, and Moon-young with the efficiency of a team that’s been working with each other for years. Once she got the last formal shot, she lowered her camera, “Okay, I think I got everything I need from this. I want to get a few posed shots of you in your reception outfit. Should we meet back here in 15 minutes?”

Moon-young nodded, “That works.” She looked to Kang-tae, “Are you coming with me?”

He took in her face for a moment. For anyone else, she didn’t look any different than her normal self but Kang-tae had an inkling something wasn’t quite right. It didn’t take too long for something to click in his mind. “I’ll follow you up in a minute.”

She hesitated for a moment before nodding, “Okay. You remember my room number?”

He nodded and squeezed her hand that was still in his, “Yup. I’ll be right behind you. You won’t even know I’m gone.”

They let go of each other and Moon-young headed towards the elevators with a few of the wedding and Na-eun’s team following her closely. Kang-tae quickly went on a search for Min-hee, who he found less than a minute later talking to her team. When she saw him, she ended her conversation and met him halfway, “Is everything okay? Where’s Moon-young?”

“Everything is fine but I need what I hope is a quick favor.”

“Of course, what can I do to help?”

“Can you find me a few protein or breakfast bars?”

“Protein or breakfast bars?” she repeated.

“Yes, please.”

She nodded, “Of course, I’m on it. Give me a minute, I know where to grab them.”

He smiled, “Thank you, I appreciate it.” Min-hee nodded and went off in the opposite direction. A few moments later, she returned with a handful of individually wrapped bars in hand.

“I grabbed a bunch of different flavors,” she told him, handing them over.

“This is perfect. Thank you for finding them so quickly.”

“Of course, was there anything else you needed?”

“I should be fine. Thanks again,” he gestured with the bars before making his way to the elevators that would take him up to Moon-young’s suite. When he arrived, he knocked on the door and waited for a response. A moment later, someone from the wedding team opened the door, “Come on in,” she stepped back, letting him through the door.

In the middle of the living area of the suite, Moon-young stood barefoot in a lace jumpsuit, the top in a similar style to that of her ceremony dress. The pants were a smooth, white satin that was tapered to the shape of her legs. While her attention was still elsewhere, Kang-tae took a moment to take in his wife and thought about how they got here, still not believing that somehow she agreed to marry him.

It didn’t take too long for Moon-young to feel the shift in the air and look over to see Kang-tae watching her intently. “You’re here,” she remarked, relief in her voice. Did she think he was going to run away without her?

He lifted his hand that was carrying several bars, “I am. I grabbed you something to fill your stomach in case we don’t have time to eat at the reception.”

“Oh, thank you,” she reached her hand over to take one from him when the team member helping her with the jumpsuit said her name.

“Do you mind holding the front of the sash so I can tie the bow?”

Moon-young deflated but nodded. Kang-tae took the bar in her hand and unwrapped it before bringing it up to Moon-young’s lips to feed her. She hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth and taking the offered bite. She took her time to chew, holding Kang-tae’s eyes as she did so. He continued to offer her the bar until she finished it, then he grabbed her water bottle and held the straw so that she could take a sip.

“Thanks for that. I didn’t even realize I was getting hungry,” she told him. “But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, it’s like you have a sixth sense about my hunger.”

“Something like that,” he smiled.

The team member finished adjusting Moon-young’s outfit before stepping back, “There we go. Thanks for helping. How does it feel? Not too tight?”

“No, it feels perfect, thank you,” she smiled.

“Amazing. Let me grab the shoes for this outfit and then you should be good to go.” She left Moon-young’s side to retrieve a pair of white lace heels with a signature red sole sitting off to the side of the dressing area. “Do you want to grab a seat and I’ll help get these on for you.”

Kang-tae extended his hands, reaching for the shoes, “I’ll do it,” he offered.

The team member paused before nodding and handing him the shoes, “Of course.” She stepped off to the side and waited.

Kang-tae crouched down to one knee and placed the shoes by his side before reaching for one of Moon-young’s ankles and slipping the shoe on. “Do you remember the first time I tried to teach you how to put your shoes on?” he asked.

Moon-young let out a light chuckle, “It’s a little fuzzy, but I’m sure you were more patient than you should have been for your age.”

He smiled, placing the encased foot down and reaching for the other, “You were getting so frustrated and wouldn’t let anyone help, until I offered. It was one of my earliest life’s accomplishments,” he placed her foot on the ground but left his hand on her ankle. He looked up at her and smiled, stroking her ankle lightly, “You ready?”

She didn’t say a word in response, but nodded. He stood up from where he was crouching and offered her his hand. She took it and stood up before he moved it to the crook of his elbows and held her hand there with his. As they headed for the door, he leaned his head down towards her, “You look really beautiful today, Moon-young. If I hadn’t already said that to you.”

She looked up at him and grinned, brushing away the invisible dust on the lapel of his jacket, “Thanks. You clean up pretty well yourself.” He let out a laugh in response as they walked through the door that was being held open by one of the team members.

~

After the second round of post-ceremony photos, Kang-tae and Moon-young made their way to the ballroom where the reception was being held. They stood in front of the closed door and waited to be announced. Kang-tae offered his hand to Moon-young who took it after a second’s consideration. He gave her hand a couple of squeezes, asking, “How are you holding up?”

“There are worse things I could be doing with someone much, much worse,” she replied.

From the corner of her eye, she saw the slight upturn of his lips, “Not being the worst option feels nice.”

“Seeing how happy our parents were makes it much better than I thought it would,” she confessed.

“Yeah?”

She nodded, “I’m sure they’re somewhat relieved that neither of us will die alone.”

“Careful, Moon-young, your romantic side is showing. I might start to think that you might not hate this after all,” he teased. She rolled her eyes and tugged at the hand clasped in his, only to have him grip it tighter.

When the MC announced them, they both plastered smiles on their faces and entered the ballroom to the sound of claps and cheers. Kang-tae led them to the center where a dance floor was set up. He spun her around before pulling her flush against him as the first notes of the song for their first dance rang through the room.

It took Moon-young a moment to realize what song it was before she let out a quiet laugh, “I let you pick the song and this is what you went with?”

“Who doesn’t love Adele?”

“No flack against Adele. I thought you would have picked something… older and more traditional?”

“Like?”

They swayed around for a few more moments before Moon-young rested her temple on his chest, “I don’t know, something from the 60s or 70s?”

He smiled, tightening his hold on her, “Don’t worry, they’re on the list somewhere.”

As the music signaled the start of the last verse, Kang-tae quietly sang the words so that only Moon-young could hear them.

I could make you happy, make your dreams come true
Nothing that I wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the Earth for you
To make you feel my love

Kang-tae stopped singing and hummed the last line of the song before the music faded. Moon-young lifted her head and looked at him, “How do you know the lyrics?”

“You didn’t actually think that I would have just randomly picked a song without actually looking at the lyrics?”

“I’m not surprised that you know the lyrics. I’m surprised that you know how to sing them.”

He shrugged, “I had to listen to it before I told them.”

She gave him a questioning look, “How many times have you listened to this song?”

He shook his head, “I’d rather not say.”

She shook her head, but a ghost of a grin was present on her lips. As the song came to an end, Kang-tae led them to their table at the front of the room and sat down. The next few minutes was a whirlwind of movements as the catering staff began serving the first course.

~

Moon-young and Kang-tae spent the next few hours meeting and speaking with guests, many of whom were friends of their parents and their families. They fielded questions around how long they’ve been together and comments saying that the union was inevitable, knowing who they both were. They both took those questions and comments in stride, with Kang-tae handling the most probing of inquiries.

Throughout the night, Kang-tae kept close to Moon-young, making sure that she was never without him for more than a minute or two at a time. If she felt her hunger bubbling to the surface, he made sure there was food for her within a minute.

By the time the last of the guests left around 11PM, Kang-tae had rid himself of the jacket and placed it over Moon-young’s shoulders to keep her warm. He rolled his shirt sleeves to expose his forearms while Moon-young was cursing the person who first designed heeled shoes. The newlyweds were exhausted but content with how the day went. After bidding goodbye to the last guests, they turned to their parents who were waiting for them to see off the guests.

Yoo-jin walked up to both of them and gathered them both into a motherly hug, “My babies,” she cried. “I can’t believe how quickly the day came and went. I am so happy.”

Moon-young squeezed her tight, “You’re the best part of this package.”

“I won’t take that personally,” Ji-tae remarked.

“Same,” Kang-tae added.

Yoo-Jin laughed, “I love you both so much. Thank you for making me the happiest Eomma in the world today.”

“We love you, too, Eomma,” Kang-tae smiled at his mother.

Ji-tae reached for his wife, “Come on, Yeobo. Let’s let these kids get some rest.” He turned to Dae-hwan, “Breakfast tomorrow?”

“You bet. You two have a goodnight.”

The three remaining waved at the older couple, sending them off for the night. Dae-hwan gave them both a smile and pulled Moon-young in for a hug, “Congratulations, sweetheart. I love you.”

“I love you, too, Appa.”

He turned to Kang-tae, “You’ll take good care of my girl, won't you?”

“Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“Good,” he nodded. “We’ll, I’ll let you both head in for the night. Congratulations again. I couldn’t be happier.”

Moon-young gave him a smile before he turned around and walked out of the ballroom. The moment Dae-hwan was out of sight, Moon-young exhaled and her shoulders immediately sagged, the last of her “on” energy depleted. Kang-tae wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, just really tired.”

“I know. Here comes Min-hee. Let’s check with her and we can head up to the room.”

She let out a yawn, “Okay.

Min-hee walked up to them with a smile on her face as she approached them, “Thank you again for partnering with us for this. I hope that it was everything you wanted.”

“It was exactly what we wanted and more. Thank you so much for everything. It felt like you knew exactly what we needed when we needed them.”

“Oh, that was all your husband. We were just following his lead. Everyone was commenting on how attentive he was and could only hope that there’s someone out there like that for the rest of us,” Min-hee joked.

Moon-young looked over at Kang-tae, “He’s something, isn’t he?” she responded. Kang-tae felt the heat of a blush on his face.

Min-hee smiled, “Well, I know it’s late so I won’t keep either of you any longer. Here are the keys to the suite for tonight. I had all your things moved from your respective suites over. I’ll make sure that there is a table booked for you and your family tomorrow morning for breakfast. Otherwise, everything should be settled but if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and we’ll make sure that everything gets sorted.”

“Thank you for all your help,” Kang-tae replied as he took the offered keys and waved to Min-hee before she walked away. He looked at Moon-young, “Should we head up to the room?”

“Yes but I really need these shoes off,” Moon-young responded, kicking the beautiful heels off her sore feet.

“Were they hurting you?” he asked, concern laced his voice.

“We passed that point a good three hours ago,” she told him, wiggling her toes to recirculate blood flow to her toes. She bent down to grab them, “What did I do to you to make you hurt me like this,” she asked of the shoes.

“Do you want me to carry them?”

“I got it.” She grabbed his hand, “Let’s go before I get in trouble for walking around almost barefoot,” she told him.

They quickly made their way towards the elevator holding hands. Luckily they didn’t have to wait after pressing the call button. Stepping into the elevator carriage, Kang-tae pressed the button for their floor before leading Moon-young towards the back wall. They stood next to each other, Kang-tae untied his tie with his free hand. Moon-young leaned her head against his shoulder as she watched the floor numbers go up.

When they reached the honeymoon suite, Kang-tae used the keycard to unlock the door. Before they entered, he turned to Moon-young and asked, “Should I carry you over the threshold?”

“I’m feeling nice and tipsy, so knock yourself out,” she replied, spreading her arms out.

With a foot wedged in the door, Kang-tae leaned down and slid one arm under her knees and the other around her shoulders and picked her up bridal style. Moon-young let out a surprised giggle and wrapped an arm around his neck to steady herself. “How much did you drink?”

“Not enough to be drunk,” she replied.

Kang-tae pushed the door open with his back and carefully carried Moon-young over the threshold into the suite. He gently placed her down on her feet once they reached the living area. Moon-young turned her head side to side to get rid of the tiredness that came as a result of a long day. She tossed her shoes off to the side before walking into the bedroom where the hotel staff had already brought their luggage from their previous rooms.

“I’m glad that that’s finally over. I don’t think I’ve had to keep a smile on my face for that long in a very long time.” She puffed out her cheeks and rubbed at them vigorously.

Behind her, Kang-tae chuckled while forcing himself to not reach over and pinch her cheeks, “It was no different than all those events we’ve attended in the past.”

“But those events weren’t about us, were they?”

“You got me there.”

She gave him a look before rolling her suitcase over to the luggage rack. Before she could lift it up, he already had it placed on the rack for her. “Thanks.” He nodded his reply before doing the same with his own suitcase.
She grabbed her toiletries and sleepwear before heading into the bathroom. She was in there for a few minutes before Kang-tae heard him calling for her.

“Oppa,” Moon-young called from the bathroom.

It still took him by surprise when she called him that, especially in private. “Yes?” he called back.

“Can you help me with the buttons?” she asked. Within a few moments, he stepped into the bathroom and stood behind her in front of the mirror. “The ones further down are a little difficult to deal with.”

“Is it stuck?” he asked.

“I don’t think so. It’s me. I can’t seem to reach it.”

Kang-tae nodded and brought his hands up to where the hook closure was on the jumpsuit. With the hook unclasped, he slid the zipper down Moon-young’s back. He took a step back when he finished. Moon-young let the jumpsuit drop to the floor, revealing her undergarments to Kang-tae, whose throat immediately went dry at the sight before him.

Kang-tae closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, “Moon-young,” he groaned.

Moon-young stared at his reflection in the mirror and asked, “What? Do you not like it.” She watched his Adam's apple bobble as he took a swallow before he answered.

“You’re not really asking me that question,” he replied, eyes still closed.

“It’s a legitimate question,” she replied, stepping out of the jumpsuit and bending over to grab it from the floor at the same moment that Kang-tae opened his eyes.

“Moon-young,” he groaned. “Now I know you’re doing this on purpose to torture me.”

She stood back up and laughed and put her hand up, “I swear that was not on purpose. You had your eyes closed! I didn’t think you were going to open them when I bent down to grab my jumpsuit.”

“That might have been a coincidence but what you’re wearing is definitely on purpose.”

She looked down at herself, “Is it really that bad?”

When she looked back up, he was right in front of her, “Why are you asking something you already know the answer to?”

“You don’t look like you like it.” He grabbed her hand and placed it on his groin, “What are you doing?” she asked, a blush surfacing on her face at the feel of his erection touching her hand.

“Does that answer your question?” he asked, his eyes dark. She hadn’t seen his eyes like that in a very long time and never as a recipient.

She swallowed before tugging her hand, “Let go.”

He released her hand immediately as if he was burned. Kang-tae leaned down, bracing his hands on the edge of the vanity on either side of Moon-young, his forehead on her shoulder, “Moon-young. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that. I respect you more than to do something like that.” He took a deep breath, “You’re making it very difficult for me to think straight.”

“Do I really have that kind of effect on you?”

He lifted his head and looked at her, “You can’t seriously be asking me that.” He stepped back and leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, “How could you not know what kind of effect you have on me? Just because I’m not constantly trying to jump you, doesn’t mean I’m not wildly attracted to you. I thought I'd made that quite obvious.”

She felt the heat in her cheeks and hoped that the make up masked it, “I… hadn’t noticed.”

He eyed her skeptically before scoffing, “Yes, you have. You’ve just chosen to ignore it.” He stood up straight, “I’m going to leave so you can do whatever you need to do to get ready for bed.”

She waited for him to leave the bathroom before she let out the breath she was holding. She felt the thump-thumping in her heart. She would be lying if she said that she was familiar with the bolder side of Kang-tae. She had thought that maybe he would have frozen up and walked out. She definitely miscalculated his reaction. She looked down at her hand that was still shaking from where it was placed earlier.

She shook her head to regain some sense. She began to get ready for her shower, starting with taking off her bra. She looked in the mirror and saw in the reflection that her nipples were slightly erect. Frowning at her body’s reaction to Kang-tae’s actions she continued to undress, removing the garter belt before her underwear. As she slid her underwear down her legs, she noticed the patches of moisture in the fabric. She felt her face heat up and turned her face towards the closed door, glaring and sending daggers at the person who she knew was somewhere on the other side of the same door. She pulled it off completely before bunching it up in her hands.

I won’t tell anyone that you still think your husband-to-be is hot. Ju-ri’s voice rang in her head like a taunt. She let out a groan at the reminder. She stepped into the shower and turned on the water. She spent a decent time in the shower before she stepped back out and toweled herself off. She grabbed her pajamas, a short sleeved knit set. When she stepped out of the bathroom, she found Kang-tae sitting on one of the chairs in the living area, looking out the window, “The bathroom’s yours.”

Kang-tae turned around, bracing himself to find her naked, because at this point he was sure she was willing to do anything to drive him completely insane. When he found her dressed in a knit pajama set, he let out a relieved breath. “Thanks, I shouldn’t be long.” She said nothing and walked over to her side of the bed.

The bathroom smelled like Moon-young, which didn’t make things much better for Kang-tae. He undressed and thought about what happened earlier in this very bathroom. He hadn’t been thinking straight, something he was apparently incapable of doing in the presence of his, now, wife. When he saw what she was wearing under her jumpsuit, he was flabbergasted. And when she taunted him, he wanted her to know just how much she affected him, even if she couldn’t, or rather refused to, see it.

He stepped under the cold spray as the image of Moon-young in lingerie entered his mind. He sighed and looked at his hand, “We’re going to become even better friends in the coming days.” He closed his eyes, leaned back against the wall, and proceeded to relieve himself.

45 minutes later, Kang-tae stepped out of the bathroom in sweatpants and a t-shirt. He looked at the bed to see that Moon-young had already tucked herself in and built a pillow barrier in the middle of the king sized bed. Shaking his head, he walked back out into the living area and turned off all the lights and went to the door to make sure it was locked.

Kang-tae climbed into the bed, the exhaustion finally hitting him at full blast. He stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, listening to the even breathing from the other side of the bed. He rubbed his eyes, catching the ring on his finger. He stared at the simple band, a symbol for love and commitment. He envisioned this for so long in random moments but never thought that this was the way he would get a ring on his finger. He turned his head and watched Moon-young’s body move with each breath. He really hoped that they both survived this marriage.

~

Something didn’t feel right. Moon-young thought to herself. She opened her eyes and found that her head was resting on something firm. Firmer than the pillow she knew her head was on before she fell asleep. The pillow barrier she built was nowhere to be found. She gave her eyes a few moments to adjust itself to the low lighting of the early hours of the morning. Waking up to find herself draped all over Kang-tae was less shocking than the fact that she didn’t feel any adverse emotions about being in this position. Not even at the fact that Kang-tae’s arms had found their way wrapped around her. Telling herself to take a few more minutes before getting up, she snuggled closer and drifted off as she felt the arms around her tighten around her.

When she woke up later, she found herself alone in bed. She sat up and looked around to see where Kang-tae was but only found the pillows from her barrier laying on the floor on her side of the bed. The sound of the bathroom door opening had her turning her head towards it to find Kang-tae walking out in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist, abs on full display, and hair still damp from the shower. “sh*t,” he cursed. “Sorry, Moon-young, I thought you’d still be asleep. I’m just going to grab a few things from my bag.”

She nodded but said nothing. When he was back behind the closed door of the bathroom, she let out a long breath. She touched her face, feeling the warmth from it. She slid back into bed and turned away from the bathroom. It had been a while since the last time she saw him without a shirt on. Back then, it was almost a common sight, especially during the summers when they would spend time together at the pool or on a beach. His body wasn’t bad back then, her 16-year-old self can attest. But now almost 20 years later, he’s filled out in the places that made her blush. If she was honest with herself, from the physical department, she did well in the choice of husband. If she was truly honest with herself, she would admit that did exceptionally well in most departments that mattered.

A few minutes later, she heard him coming out of the bathroom again. She felt him stopping by his side of the bed before making his way into the living area of the suite. She waited another moment before making her way into the bathroom.

The air was still steamy from Kang-tae’s shower and the scent of his cologne lingered in the room. Moon-young took her time through her morning routine, telling herself it was because she always took her time in the morning and not because she wanted to avoid seeing Kang-tae.

Unlike most couples, they had no plans to take a honeymoon after the wedding, but took a few days off to plan the move. So they were spending another day at the hotel before checking out the next day and heading back to her place. She pulled on a pair of balloon jeans and a silk blouse. Putting on the final finishing touches to her make up. She turned off the light and headed back into the bedroom. She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and went to the living area to join Kang-tae who was speaking to the person delivering room service.

He turned to her and grinned, “I didn’t know what you wanted, so I ordered a bunch of different things.”

She stared at all the food on the dining table. On it were congee, pancakes, eggs, all the congee sides imaginable. She looked at Kang-tae, “You think we’re going to finish it all?”

“I’m sure between the two of us we’ll manage,” he replied, sitting down on one of the chairs. “What would you like? You can have the first choice.”

Moon-young reached for the bowl of congee before folding herself into the other chair. She spooned all the sides she wanted before grabbing a couple slices of bacon and adding them to the bowl. She heard Kang-tae’s chuckle and looked up at him, “What?”

“That’s new,” he nodded at the bacon.

She shrugged, “Protein.”

“I’ve never put bacon in my congee. Will have to try it next time.”

“You should, it’s good,” she told him

“I definitely will.” He reached for the pancakes and the rest of the bacon for himself.

They ate in comfortable silence, Moon-young scrolling through her inbox while Kang-tae read the paper that was delivered to their room that morning. When she was done, Moon-young returned the bowl to the dining table and unfold herself from the chair and stretched. She grabbed the large mug of coffee and walked over to the sofa in front of the TV before turning it on.

“What’s the plan for today?” she asked as she scrolled through the different channel offerings.

“No plans,” he replied. Her shocked face had him laughing out loud, “I think we’ve both earned a rest day after all of this,” he waved his arm around.

“So I got dressed for no reason?”

“Do you want to do something?”

She considered it for a moment before shaking her head, “No. A rest day would be nice.” She stood up from the sofa, “I’m going to change back into comfortable clothes.” She disappeared into the bedroom only to emerge a few minutes later wearing her pajamas. “I won’t be leaving this sofa for anything outside of food and the bathroom today.”

“Works for me,” he replied. “I’m going to take your lead and change, too.”

“Okay,” she replied, eyes glued to the show on the TV. When he returned from the bedroom wearing his reading glasses and a book in hand, he found her laying down across the length of the sofa under a hotel-provided blanket. Moon Kang-tae in glasses made her feel things she hadn’t felt in a very long time. When she saw him contemplating joining her on the sofa, she tucked her legs to make room for him. After he sat down, he patted his lap, “You can put your legs on my lap, I don’t mind.”

She gently stretched out her legs over his lap. He draped the end of the blanket on both of them before opening his book. He rested his free hand on her leg, only taking it off when he turned the pages of the book. Once her show was over, she looked over at him engrossed in his book and watched as different expressions flicker across his face as he read through the passages.

“What are you reading?” she asked.

He put the book down and turned his attention to her, “I’m rereading Lord of the Rings.”

It was her turn to chuckle, “Again? You’re such a nerd.” She shook her head and turned back to the TV where a new episode started.

He gave her leg a squeeze, pulling her attention back to him, “I remember my being a nerd being something you liked about me at one point in time.”

She shrugged, “Hmm. I don’t recall,” she replied. But the tiniest upturn of her lips told him otherwise. Smiling to himself, he cracked open the book and returned to his reading.

They spent the rest of the day on the sofa, each doing their own thing together. True to her words, Moon-young only got up when Kang-tae ordered them lunch and dinner and when she needed to use the bathroom.

Later that night when they were getting into bed, Moon-young did away with the barrier—what was the point when she knew how she was going to end up in the morning anyway?—and climbed in on her side. When Kang-tae joined her a few minutes later, she turned on her side facing him. “Thanks for today. I didn’t realize how much I’ve missed not doing anything; it was really nice.”

“Anytime,” he responded. He leaned close and kissed her temple, “Goodnight, Moon-young.”

She held his eyes for a quick moment and responded, “Goodnight,” before turning around. Kang-tae spent the next several moments doing the same thing he did the night before, watching her sleep. The exception was that tonight there was no barrier blocking her from him.

~

For the second day in a row, Kang-tae woke up to Moon-young cosplaying as an octopus. Her head found its way on his chest, one of her hands was placed next to head on his chest, while her other hand was tucked between their bodies. One of her leg was draped dangerously close to his groin where someone was more than eager to come out and play, as it always did around Moon-young. His arm under her made its way around her waist.

He held his breath when she snuggled closer and her shin grazed his morning wood. She was going to kill him and make herself a young widow with the way things were going. He tucked her in closer and shifted so that her shin wasn’t so close to the danger zone. After a little while, he closed his eyes and relaxed.

The sound of Moon-young whimpering had Kang-tae’s eyes snapping open. The hand on his chest was clutching and pulling at his shirt.

“Oppa, please,” she quietly sobbed. She pulled his shirt again and shook her head against his chest, “No, you don’t understand!” She paused for a moment, before continuing almost at a whisper, “I didn’t mean to but it’s my fault. Please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”

He reached for her hand on his chest and linked it with his and held it gently while running his hand up and down her back to soothe her. Kang-tae wasn’t sure what she was dreaming about, but it seems like whatever it was someone was angry at her. She didn’t call too many people Oppa, so he made the assumption that he was the person in her dream. However, he was unsure what it was that Dream Kang-tae would be mad at Moon-young for.

It wasn’t long before Moon-young’s sobs and whimpers stopped. She let out a long exhale and woke up still clutching him. She opened her eyes to see him watching her carefully. She let go of his shirt and slowly disentangled herself from him. She sat up and touched her cheeks that were wet with tears from her dream. “Well, this is embarrassing,” she muttered.

Kang-tae also sat up, leaning against the headboard. Treading carefully, he asked, “Are you okay?”

Moon-young looked at him and seemed to be internally debating with herself before she answered, “Yeah. Just a really weird dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked, testing the waters.

“Absolutely not,” she replied. She looked at his shirt to see wet patches from her tears and the wrinkles from where she was clutching it for dear life and grimaced, “I’m sorry about your shirt.”

He shook his head, “While I wish it wasn’t from you crying, this is far better than the other liquids you’ve bestowed upon my shirts,” he teased.

She frowned, “You’re not allowed to be this annoying first thing in the morning.”

He laughed and ran a hand through his hair, “Okay, when can I start being annoying?”

“Preferably never. But if you really can’t help it, at least let me get a cup of coffee in me first.”

“Done. Do you want to get ready and I’ll order us breakfast and coffee?”

“How resourceful of you.” She gave his cheek a little pat before climbing out of bed.

“What’s the saying? Happy wife, happy life?”

“Right now it’s an annoyed wife,” she replied before closing the door to the bathroom.

Kang-tae was left chuckling. He got out of bed and walked out to the living area where he picked up the phone and ordered breakfast with the in-room dining team. He ordered another sizable breakfast for the both of them. He returned to the bedroom after hanging up to pack his suitcase. He pulled out the clothes he was going to wear for the day and made sure there was room for the rest of his things.

It didn’t take long for Moon-young to come out from the bathroom, dressed today in the balloon jeans she wore the day before with a sweater. “Bathroom’s open,” she told him.

“Thanks. The food should be here shortly,” he replied, grabbing his clothes.

“I’ll pack in the meantime then.” She walked to where her suitcase was and placed her pajamas and toiletry bag on the chair next to it. He nodded and went into the bathroom.

By the time Moon-young finished packing and Kang-tae finished his morning routine, their breakfast arrived. Moon-young signed for it and poured herself a mug of coffee as Kang-tae joined her. She sighed and shook her head, “I needed that.” She looked over at him as he poured himself a cup, “Yours is still better though.” He grinned into his mug before taking a sip.

They enjoyed a quiet breakfast with Moon-young taking the pancakes today and Kang-tae getting the congee. He added the bacon to his congee and Moon-young watched as he took his first bite of the congee and bacon combo. He was completely stoic as he savored the bite. She waited for his reaction.

“A very interesting combo, but then again, bacon is similar to salted pork,” he remarked.

“I like the smokiness from the bacon. Adds another dimension to the flavor.”

He nodded, taking another bite. “That’s very true. I’ll have to add it to my repertoire for the future.”

“You’re welcome,” she responded.

After breakfast, they gathered their belongings and called for the porter to help with their bags and calling for the car from the valet. Kang-tae helped Moon-young into her coat before putting on his own. They followed the porter out of the suite, with Kang-tae’s hand on Moon-young’s lower back. In the lobby, Kang-tae took care of checking out. Min-hee came out to meet with them as Kang-tae signed the invoice..

“Good morning!” she greeted.

Kang-tae nodded, “Good morning.” Seeing Min-hee, Moon-young walked up to join him.

“Did you enjoy your stay?”

Moon-young smiled, “We did. We had a quiet day in yesterday and I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I got it.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you again for choosing us.”

“Thank you for making this whole process so easy. We really do appreciate it,” Moon-young replied.

“Our pleasure. The porter should have all of the gifts from the wedding and can help you load it into your car.”

“Perfect. I was about to ask,” Kang-tae responded.

“Can I walk you both out?” Min-hee asked. They both nodded and followed her to the exit.

They watched the porter and the valet work on packing the back of Kang-tae’s SUV. “Feel free to use the back seat if you need more space,” Kang-tae offered. The porter and valet nodded and opened the door to the back seat and started filling it up.

“I didn’t realize we got that many gifts. We’ll have to figure that out with the moving logistics,” Moon-young told Kang-tae.

“I’m sure between the two of us, we’ll figure it out. We always do,” he told her.

“I guess you’re right.”

Once the car was packed, Kang-tae handed the porter and valet a generous tip before turning to Min-hee and handing her an envelope from his coat jacket. “I know gratuity was already added to the invoice, but we wanted to add a bit more as a thank you for everything.”

“You’re both too kind. Thank you very much. The team and I appreciate it.”

“It’s the least we can do,” he told her. He turned to Moon-young, “Should we head out?” She nodded her response before walking over to her side of the car where the valet was waiting with the door opened for her. She gave him her thanks as she climbed in.

“That was very kind of you,” she told Kang-tae once they were on the road.

“What was?” he asked.

“The envelope you gave to Min-hee,” she clarified.

He shrugged, as if it was nothing. “Well, this is the one and only time I plan on ever getting married,” he replied, keeping his eyes on the road.

Moon-young stared at him and wondered if somehow she’s being outmaneuvered in all of this. She didn’t say anything but cataloged it in her mind. For the rest of the drive, she told herself that they both know what the end goal of this was. She had to be careful to not let him get too close because if she was being honest with herself, she wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep him at arm's length. It was one thing when they saw each other every so often at public events. It was a completely different thing when they’re cohabitating and she had to see him every single day doing little things for her. Maybe now that they’re married, he’ll take a step back and leave her be. She could only hope.