Chapter 13 - Halmeoni

While leaving the place, Jeong Won wondered why a rich girl like Jin Ae would work in a Chinese restaurant. Aside from that, if it was her part-time job, why was the name in the payslip different? These questions wandered around his head as he remained silent, staring at her suspiciously while she walked ahead of him.

"You think I'm robbing somebody else's job, don't you?" Jin Ae asked suddenly, not turning her head as she spoke.

"No. It's not like that," Jeong Won replied with eyes quivering for she said exactly what's on his mind. Well, everyone would think exactly that way, wouldn't they? She was an elite, elite were bullies, bullies extort money from helpless people. And... she took a payslip with a different name.

‘But not Son Jin Ae,’ Jeong Won repeatedly said that to himself.

"But... where are we going?" he asked. She stopped and turned around to face him.

"....somewhere. And you're not coming with me with those tacky clothes on."

* * *

Kim Jeong Won must have been so confused about what was happening that he did not notice that Jin Ae was actually wearing a pretty dress that was hidden underneath her air-resistance jacket. She told him to go back and change his clothes to something nicer than his tacky clothes. He begged to disagree and explained that his clothes looked nicer at first but delivering around town made them crumpled. She dismissed his explanation and instructed him that she'll be waiting in front of the school.

Jeong Won arrived fifteen minutes later in a plain white polo shirt and khaki pants, just right to look nice. Upon seeing him, Jin Ae stood up from the waiting shed and went to her bike. She wasn't wearing her jacket anymore and thus he could already see the details of her dress. It was a plain white dress with a collar with little pink flowers embroidered to it.

She put a small basket in front of his bike and they drove uphill. Jeong Won followed Jin Ae because he did not know exactly where they are going. Upon reaching a curve, a refreshing breeze greeted them as they crossed a small lake. They got off their bikes when they arrived on a steep uphill area where he could see a couple of houses ahead. Jeong Won thought that they have already reached their destination when Jin Ae stopped in front of an old gate.

"Wait."

She fumbled over the bag resting on her bike and brought two pigtails. She gave one of the pigtails to him and turned around such that the back of her head was facing him.

"Help me braid my hair."

She divided her hair into two sections and started to braid the left side. Jeong Won just stood there not knowing what to do which prompted Jin Ae to look back at him impatiently.

"Come on!" Steering him to do exactly what she was doing in her hair. With slightly nervous hands, Jeong Won took her hair and meticulously braided it. Jin Ae was smaller so he lowered himself while doing it. Her hair was smooth in his hands and he could smell her shampoo. He was never been that close to a girl before.

They went inside the yard when they found the gate open and an old woman went out of the house hurriedly. It seemed like she was expecting them.

"Halmeoni (grandmother)?"

"Oh, you're here already. You arrived just in time, the foods are ready."

She held Jin Ae's hands and ushered her to come up to the balcony. Jin Ae sat on the available cushion next to the table.

"Oh, who's here? What a handsome young boy."

Jeong Won bowed to her and sat next to Jin Ae. He couldn't find any words to say.

"He's my chingu (friend), Halmeoni," Jin Ae replied.

"Ah, your namja chingu (boyfriend)."

"Aniyo (No), halmeoni! Chingu. Chin-Gu," she said, pronouncing each syllable slowly and louder for the old woman to hear clearly.

"Ey! You'll end up that way soon," the old woman remarked. Jeong Won and Jin Ae both looked at each other at the same time, and she batted an eye at him.

"Animnida (No). There's nothing like that, halmeoni," Jeong Won replied. His tone appeared more defensive because of embarrassment and it made Jin Ae scoff in disbelief.

"Arasseo, arasseo (I understand)," the old woman said, waving her hand.

She opened the lids of the bowls in front of them and revealed Naengmyeon (cold buckwheat noodles) and around three more simple side dishes. Fortunately, it was good enough for three people.

"You both had a hard time traveling here. Let's eat."

Jin Ae glanced at Jeong Won and pointed through her nose the basket beside him. He lifted it up and gave it to her. She brought out a packed lunch box full of kimbap.

"Omo. You even brought something," the old woman said. Jin Ae smiled.

Jeong Won wasn't convinced that she made it. ‘Maybe she bought it in the market,’ he thought. They started to dig in, but whatever dish he choose to get, Jin Ae’s chopsticks were up to steal before he got them. She was already munching on and had her bowl already full while his bowl was still empty.

Jin Ae glanced at him when she realized him looking at her and her bowl.

"Why? Eat," she ordered.

"Here." The old woman put a special dish on top of Jin Ae's bowl, "You must be so hungry after working in the Chinese restaurant."

"There were so many orders this morning. I was so tired and hungry. Thanks for the food, halmeoni," Jin Ae replied and she took a big bite heartily.

"But I was the one who-" Before Jeong Won could finish his sentence, Jin Ae put a kimbap on his mouth with eyes glaring at him, while she flashed a sweet smile to the unsuspecting old woman in front of her.

The old woman went inside the house after the meal and Jin Ae stood up to follow her. She instructed Jeong Won to clean up and before he could protest, she left him already. With a big sigh, Jeong Won cleared the table and put all the dishes near the water pump.

"Ah, really! She brought me here to work. She wouldn’t even give me a break after she had eaten almost everything," he exclaimed as he rolled his pants up and glared in her direction. He let out another deep sigh when his stomach growled, realizing that he was still hungry.

"She's a piece of work. Aigoo. How could a girl eat so much?"

After several minutes, he saw Jin Ae come out of the house. She went directly where Jeong Won was.

"Animnida (No)?.... There's nothing like that?" She scoffed while repeating what Jeong Won said a while ago. She was annoyed at the thought that he was so against the idea that there was a possibility for her to be his girlfriend. As if she herself like that.

"I don't usually say this but-"

"Then don't say it," he said, interrupting her.

She paused for a second then continued: "-I have a long line of suitors begging for me to be their girlfriend."

She crossed her arms in front of her while saying this.

"I have not seen anyone following you around though," he said, trying to beat her.

Jin Ae scoffed and kicked the large basin in front of him, the bowls rattled inside.

"Finish that fast!" She glared and left him.

"Can't you just help me lift this up?" Jeong Won asked, but she did not look back.

He saw her sit on the pallet in front of the house and sulked, pouting her lips while staring blankly ahead. He gazed at her. When she said that she had many suitors, he did not think that was totally untrue. He was just teasing her. With her white dress and braided hair, she looked so innocent and kind at that very moment.

'And beautiful,' Jeong Won whispered to himself.

* * *

Jun Ho looked at his watch impatiently. Son Jin Ae was still out of sight. He was about to call her when he finally saw her coming out of the building. Wearing a black body-hugging blazer dress, Jin Ae confidently strutted in his direction.

"Okay. Let's go," she said.

A sweet smile above her low neckline dress formed on her face. Jun Ho forgot to complain.