Date Me! - Chapter 72

It was just past 9 PM when I got home after drinking coffee.

Juwon changed into the short-sleeved t-shirt and sweatpants Youngmin had given him after a quick wash.

Juwon came out to the living room and stared intently at the family photo hanging on the wall, which he hadn’t noticed earlier due to the commotion.

The old family photo showed Ina’s maternal grandmother, aunt and uncle, Ina’s parents, and very young versions of Youngmin and Ina.

Juwon quietly took in the images of the grandmother and Youngmin’s father, Ina’s father, who were now deceased, before turning his gaze to the adorable Ina.

A smile naturally formed on Juwon’s lips at the cute sight of Ina in a pink princess dress with her hair braided into two pigtails.

“How old were you here?”

Juwon asked, pointing to the cute Ina in the photo, and Ina pondered for a moment.

“Hmm, probably… when I was eight years old?”

“Eight? I thought you were about six. You looked young for your age even then?”

“What are you talking about?”

Ina giggled and playfully hit Juwon’s arm.

“But really, isn’t it too cute? Even then, your skin was as white as rice cake?”

“Hahaha!”

Youngmin, who was standing nearby, burst into laughter at Juwon’s words.

“Elder brother. How did you know that sister’s childhood nickname was Rice Cake?”

“Shut up!”

Ina said, pinching Youngmin’s side.

“Sister was incredibly fair and cute when she was young. The neighborhood elders would always say she was as white as rice cake whenever they saw her, they adored her so much.”

“She’s still fair and pretty now.”

Ina’s cheeks turned red at Juwon’s words as he gazed at her intently.

“No way, not anymore! Sister is almost thirty, and when a woman turns thirty…”

Youngmin, who was excitedly chattering, quickly changed his tune when he noticed Juwon’s sharp gaze.

“She’s in her prime! Isn’t it when a woman’s beauty peaks? Look at our sister! Who would believe she’s turning thirty next year when her skin is still as soft and white as rice cake?”

As Youngmin spoke while touching Ina’s cheeks, Juwon’s eyes grew even sharper, causing Youngmin to quickly withdraw his hands.

“That’s right. No one would believe she’s turning thirty soon.”

Juwon said, reaching out to gently caress Ina’s cheek.

“…”

As Ina’s face turned red from embarrassment, Ina’s mother and aunt entered through the front door.

“You’re back now?”

Juwon stood up and greeted them.

“I left the store closing to the staff so I could play Go-Stop with you. So, did you have a delicious dinner?”

The aunt asked with a smile.

“All three of us weren’t hungry, so we just went to Dolsan Park and rode the cable car.”

Youngmin answered on their behalf.

“What? So you’re saying you didn’t eat dinner?”

“Yeah. We just had a cup of coffee each.”

“Oh my, oh my!”

The aunt’s face showed surprise.

“How can you skip dinner like that? Ina, aren’t you hungry?”

“It’s okay, aunt. I think I ate too much for lunch earlier.”

“How is that okay? You should eat something, even if it’s just a little.”

The aunt said, rolling up her sleeves as she entered the kitchen.

“No, aunt. It’s really okay.”

“It might be okay for you, but a strapping young man like this shouldn’t go hungry. Young man, how about I make you some spicy whelk salad and you have a beer?”

“Yes, aunt. If you make it, I’ll gratefully eat it.”

“Alright, alright. It’ll be ready soon, so just wait a bit, okay?”

“Mom, then make me a lot of cold noodles.”

Youngmin said as he followed his mother into the kitchen.

“Okay, just wait a bit, alright?”

Ina’s mother also got up and followed her sister into the kitchen.

A while later, at Youngmin’s call, Ina and Juwon went to the kitchen.

On the table was a mouth-watering spicy whelk salad sprinkled with sesame seeds.

“Wow, that looks delicious.”

Ina said, licking her lips as she quickly sat down.

Although she wasn’t hungry until just a moment ago, her mouth watered as soon as she saw the spicy whelk salad.

Youngmin took three cans of beer from the refrigerator, gave one each to Ina and Juwon, and hurriedly opened his own.

“Aren’t you two having any?”

When Juwon asked, the aunt grinned and took out a bottle of makgeolli from the refrigerator.

“We’re having makgeolli.”

“Ah. Then I’ll have makgeolli too.”

“Will you be okay to drive tomorrow?”

Ina asked in a worried voice, and Juwon nodded.

“One glass should be fine.”

“Alright. Then have just one glass.”

The aunt said as she poured makgeolli for Juwon.

The mother, aunt, and Juwon raised their makgeolli glasses, while Ina and Youngmin raised their beer cans, and they all clinked them together.

After drinking alcohol with delicious spicy whelk salad and chatting about various things, the four moved to the living room and played Go-Stop as promised.

After two hours of Go-Stop, the ones who won the most money were the aunt and Juwon.

“Well, well, you’re quite good at Go-Stop, aren’t you?”

“You’re quite skilled yourself, aunt.”

The aunt chuckled with satisfaction at Juwon’s words.

“Well, it’s getting late, so let’s go to bed now. You need to get a good night’s sleep for the long drive tomorrow.”

At the mother’s words, Juwon bowed his head to the aunt and mother.

“Yes. Have a good night, both of you.”

“Alright. You get a good night’s sleep too, okay?”

Ina also went to her room with her mother and aunt as she watched Juwon follow Youngmin to their room.

* * *

The next morning, Ina was shocked to see her puffy face when she opened her eyes.

It was the combined result of the spicy whelk salad and beer she had eaten the night before.

“Wow, is this face for real? It’s like a steamed bun. Seriously.”

As she was making a sad face looking in the mirror, she heard her aunt’s voice from outside.

“Are you already up?”

“Yes. Did you both sleep well?”

“Yes. We slept very well.”

As Ina came out to the living room touching her face, Juwon, who had just finished washing up, smiled brightly at her.

Ina smiled back but quickly covered her cheeks with both hands as she remembered her steamed bun-like face.

“Just sit down for a moment. I’ll quickly prepare breakfast. We need to leave before traffic gets heavy.”

Her mother said as she prepared the meal in the kitchen.

Just then, Youngmin came out of the room, rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Elder brother, you’re already up?”

“Yes, you rascal. Your elder brother has been up for a while and has already washed up. You should quickly wash up too and come grill some meat.”

At his aunt’s words, Youngmin asked with round eyes.

“Meat? For breakfast?”

Hearing Youngmin’s words, the aunt looked at Juwon and asked.

“Is it a bit much to eat meat for breakfast?”

“Not at all. Meat is perfect for breakfast.”

Ina burst into laughter at Juwon’s immediate response.

The aunt and Juwon looked just like a sergeant and a private to her.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Oh? It’s nothing.”

Ina giggled and followed Youngmin to wash up.

Youngmin turned on the grill pan and took out the Korean beef set that Juwon had bought from the refrigerator.

Youngmin’s eyes widened when he saw the contents inside.

“Wow! The marbling is no joke. Elder brother, this must have been really expensive, right?”

“No, it wasn’t that expensive. Give it here, I’ll grill the meat.”

“No, elder brother. I’ll grill it.”

“I’ll grill it, so just sit down and eat comfortably.”

Juwon took the tongs from Youngmin and told him to sit down.

“Ah, but I should be the one grilling…”

Youngmin sat down on the chair reluctantly with an apologetic expression.

“Mother and aunt, please sit down too. The beef should be eaten quickly after being lightly grilled.”

“Alright, just let me put this down first.”

The aunt placed a bowl of steaming hot seolleongtang at each seat.

“This is seolleongtang from our restaurant. Have a taste. The broth is very rich and incredibly delicious.”

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it gratefully.”

After the mother and aunt sat down, Juwon quickly started grilling the beef.

Juwon quickly grilled the mouth-watering beef to the perfect doneness and distributed it evenly among the three people while continuing to grill more.

“You should eat some too.”

At the aunt’s words, Juwon smiled and replied.

“Yes. I’m eating bits while grilling, so don’t worry about me and please go ahead and eat.”

As he said this, Juwon placed another piece of beef on the aunt’s plate.

“Oh my, oh my. It really melts in your mouth.”

“That’s right. Elder brother, this is really, really delicious. It’s the best!”

Youngmin gave a thumbs up as he stuffed his mouth with meat.

“Good. Eat a lot.”

Juwon smiled and put more meat on Youngmin’s plate.

Throughout the meat grilling, Ina and Youngmin took turns making ssam (wrapped meat) for Juwon.

“You can stop grilling now. Come sit down and try some seolleongtang too.”

At the aunt’s words, the mother added.

“Yes. Stop grilling now and sit down to have some seolleongtang.”

At the two elders’ words, Juwon put down the tongs and sat next to Ina.

Juwon nodded as he took a spoonful of the hot seolleongtang.

The rich seolleongtang with its deep beef broth flavor was truly exquisite.

The homemade kkakdugi (radish kimchi) and cabbage kimchi were also really delicious.

“The seolleongtang is really rich and delicious. I can see why you have so many customers.”

At Juwon’s words, the aunt wore an expression full of pride and said.

“That’s right. We’ve been running this seolleongtang restaurant for 30 years in this very spot. How could it not be delicious? I’ll pack some seolleongtang for you when you leave, so you can heat it up and eat it with rice later, okay?”

“Ah, yes, aunt. If you give it to me, I’ll eat it deliciously.”

After breakfast and a cup of coffee, the two changed their clothes and came out.

Then they loaded the food packed by the aunt and mother into the trunk.

With the seolleongtang and various side dishes, the quantity was enormous.

“Thank you for the delicious meal. Aunt, mother.”

The aunt patted Juwon’s shoulder, looking at him fondly as he bowed politely.

“Yes. Come visit often, okay? At least once every three months. I’ll make lots of delicious food for you.”

“Yes. I will.”

“Drive safely and come visit us again next time.”

Ina’s mother said to Juwon with a smile.

“Yes, mother. Then we’ll be heading back now.”

“Mom. I’ll call when we arrive.”

Ina also greeted, and her mother nodded.

“Alright. Be careful on your way back.”

Ina waved her hand and got into the passenger seat.

Youngmin looked at Juwon getting into the driver’s seat with a gloomy face.

“Elder brother. Come visit often. I’ll visit Seoul often too.”

Juwon flinched for a moment at the words ‘often’, but still gave a smile.

“Okay. Let’s meet again next time.”

“Elder brother. Is it okay if I call you sometimes?”

Juwon flinched again, wondering how much chatter he would have to endure on those calls, but he smiled and said.

“Sure. Call sometimes.”

Juwon greeted Ina’s mother and aunt once more before starting the car.