Chapter 15 - Piggy Ride

Jun Ho looked at the woman who was busy trying the foods in the buffet corner of the room. Aside from directly eating some finger foods, she was also holding a plate. He shook his head and took a plate as well. He went to her side and cleared his throat.

"So, did he ask where your school at?"

"Huh?"

Jin Ae glanced at him for a second then brought her attention back to the food in front of her.

"You said before that men usually ask you that. I saw you talking with someone a while ago."

"Ah," she responded. She sensed that he looked somewhat not in a good mood so she thought of teasing him.

"But.... he did not just ask me that."

Jun Ho faced her this time with a distraught look.

"He asked for my number," she said while giving him a giddy smile.

Jun Ho scoffed. He almost told everyone in the room that she was his girlfriend, but how could she managed to flirt with another guy. Jin Ae was contented with the look Jun Ho showed when she said that. She took a grape and ate it deliciously in front of him.

"Once you're done here, join me on the table. Okay!" Jun Ho said sternly, then he left her with a death stare. She chuckled softly.

* * *

Jin Ae made her way to the table where she spotted Jun Ho sitting. He was with the first couple who greeted them a while ago. The man was still welcoming and the woman still looking displeased at her. Jin Ae glanced at Jun Ho who was busy listening to the host. The host was presently introducing the last alumni awardee.

".....again, congratulations to the Doctor of Psychology Jun Ho-ssi. Please join us in front."

Everyone clapped. Jun Ho stood up and fixed his coat. Jin Ae smiled at him when he passed in front of her but her smile disappeared when she noticed that he was still standing gazing at her. Only then she realized that his hand was stretched out in front of her.

'Does he want me to come up with him?'

She turned to look around and it seemed that everyone was waiting for her as well. 'What should I do?' She panicked. Well, she did what was the most logical thing.

Jin Ae found herself coming up to the stage with their hands clasped together, shaking hands with the upper members of the alumni board, and, receiving congratulations for her "boyfriend's" achievement. She was so embarrassed but dared not show it. She stepped back when Jun Ho gave a very short speech, he was embarrassed too, she thought.

"Thank you, Jun Ho-ssi. Can we have a picture of him holding his award? Ah, yes. With his girlfriend," the MC said.

She joined Jun Ho reluctantly.

"This is so embarrassing, Jun Ho-ssi," she mumbled through her teeth, loud enough for him to hear but soft enough to be noticed by the people in front of them. She gave him a piercing look while she's still smiling at the cameras in front.

"Just smile, sweetie," he responded, mumbling through his teeth as well.

"I'm doing it, jerk!"

Jin Ae froze when Jun Ho suddenly grabbed her other elbow which moved her closer to him. She gave him a death stare which he responded with his sweetest smile ever, paired with deep dimples.

"Smile with your eyes or I'll kiss you right here, right now."

She was surprised with what he just said, adamantly admitting to herself that he could really do that so she flashed an eye smile instantly, captured by a flick of a camera.

* * *

"Yah! Jun Ho."

Jin Ae found that she was eight months older than him. She could call him like a dongsaeng, she thought. And after what happened a while ago, she believed she could talk with him comfortably now. She had saved him from something, wasn't she?

Because Jun Ho did not want to put Jin Ae in any discomfort, he asked a buddy to give them a ride back to Daegu. A hundred meters away was left for a walk. He was two steps ahead of her. But he could still see her in his peripheral vision. He thought of not responding to her but he saw her stop so he also stopped and turned back to her. They were like four meters apart.

Jin Ae was looking at him sharply. They haven't talked from the moment they got in and got out of the car. Jun Ho just managed to cover her with his coat that she was wearing over her shoulders.

"You were bullied by that Gong Yoo. Right?"

Jun Ho was surprised by what she said. He was thinking that she will scold him for putting her in place as his girlfriend.

"So that's it. They teased you for not having a girlfriend in your record and they told you that you should bring a girlfriend."

He just stared at her. That was true.

"Oh, yes. And maybe they even bet with each other!-"

"Aniya (No)!" He denied firmly. What she said was actually absolutely true. "No. It's not like that," and his eyes looked somewhere else.

"I knew it. The moment I saw his arrogant face, I know he's not a close acquaintance of yours. When he winked at me, I wanted to pull his eyes out." She put his hands in the air and acted pulling something.

"You're mistaken. I'm not being- pushed.... over."

"Oh! That sounds fake!" She said as she walked closer.

"You see. You're a doctor of psychology so you should know that your behavior right now is a strong denial of the truth."

"And what about you? A doctor of assumptions?"

She smirked at that then returned to her serious expression.

"But.... why in the world did I end up being your girlfriend tonight?" She lifted an eyebrow.

He couldn't find any excuses so he looked away and started to trace his steps ahead. Jin Ae followed.

"What if I already have a boyfriend?"

"You wouldn't be here right now if you have."

Jin Ae looked at him with disdain. How did he know? Did he ask around about her relationship status? She got irritated by that thought.

"Okay. So did it satisfied you to have a very lovely girlfriend tonight, huh?"

He stopped and turned around. She flashed him her eye smile. 'Yes, very.' he said to himself. But he will not say that.

"You are too full of yourself, Son Jin Ae-ssi."

She lifted her shoulder and started to walk ahead. After walking a few steps, she gasped and touched her ankle. Jun Ho ran to her side.

"Why? Does it hurt?"

"I've been standing and walking with these stilettos, I think it peeled a little skin."

She scooted away from him and walked ahead, slowly, enduring the pain. But it is useless. She stopped and was about to un-clasp her stilettos when she felt his hand on her elbow stopping her. Then he bends his upper body and his knees in front of her, surprising her.

"Climb over. I'll carry you."

"No. It's okay. I'll just...."

"Walk barefoot? Do you think I will let my girlfriend do that?"

"Yeoja-chingu, anigu- (I'm not your girlfriend)"

"Don't be so stubborn, Jin Ae-ssi."

He whimpered impatiently. She knew that there's no way he would let her walk. She climbed on his back, her chin against his shoulder and her hands on both sides of it. When he managed to stand and walk a step and two, he exclaimed:

"How could a woman be this heavy?"

Jin Ae blew her nose soundly, annoyed.

"Are you a food connoisseur? The women just stayed on their table eating a one or two but judging how heavy you are now it seemed like you tasted all the foods there."

"It's not my fault if the women in your alma mater eat so little. If you'll just complain about my weight, just put me down, alright?"

She wiggled herself off but he was holding her thighs firmly with his mannered arms. Finding a way to show her annoyance to him than just hitting his shoulders, she pinched his tall nose.

"Aaargh!"

They never became peaceful on their way home until she fell asleep on his shoulders.

* * *

Kim Jeong Won tightened his grasp on his bike and assisted Son Jin Ae's bike as well while they make their way down on the steep downhill. Jin Ae did not have an idea that her bike was balanced well thanks to his grip. It was a cool afternoon, Jin Ae did not ride her bike so did he. They pushed it slowly in the small road in between the fields. Drinking the fragrant smell of the earth and embracing the wind.

Jin Ae stopped, so did he. She put the stand on her bike, so did he. She sat on the side of the road, so did he, feet closer to her. He was waiting to follow what she would do next when he was surprised to see her giving him a lunch box. He was confused but accepted it anyway. After giving it to him, she gazed at the vast farm in front of her.

Jeong Won was surprised to see a neatly placed kimbap when he opened the lunch box. By the looks of it, they seemed to be her trial kimbap. She gave her perfectly made kimbap to halmeoni (grandmother). Nevertheless, Jeong Won hurriedly ate the deformed and unsightly kimbap. They were delicious after all.

"They are so sweet."

Jeong Won looked up at Jin Ae and turned his gaze to where she was looking and saw a farmer carrying his wife on his back.

"Isn't that too cheesy?"

Jin Ae looked at him with disdain but she did not utter anything.

"Are you done?" She asked sharply.

"Yes. We can go now." He started to stand.

"Ande (No)" she said that made him wonder.

"Huh? You want to stay more?"

"I did not stop here to feed you, silly. My tummy is still heavy."

She looked at him with an embarrassed expression. He couldn't help but laugh.

"You're tummy is heavy?" He said teasingly, laughing heartily.

"Yah! Uljima (don't laugh)!" She cried.

Jeong Won stopped laughing and looked at her with a serious expression.

"Ok then. I'll carry you in my back."