Chapter 47. Mmm, Pah, Mmm, Pah.
🔹 Arrival in Pohang
After arriving in Pohang with a premium KTX ticket costing ten times the normal price, Taeseong immediately called Haeyoung.
He had told her to come pick him up, but she replied telling him to come by himself.
“I-I just finished my part-time job, so I can’t pick you up. I need to wash up. Uh… you know the address, right? Just come.”
Hearing her familiar voice made all his built-up frustration disappear.
All his hurt melted away, and smiling, he looked around.
The station was bustling with people, as Homigot was the place where the first sunrise in Korea could be seen.
Although Pohang was an unfamiliar city to him, this time it didn’t feel strange or unpleasant – because it was Haeyoung’s hometown.
His request for her to pick him up was just childish whining.
“If a nineteen-year-old can’t even ride a bus alone, what would that make me but an idiot.”
Smiling to himself, he began to walk, feeling grateful for his grandfather’s wisdom about living a normal life.
🔹 Haeyoung’s Preparation
Haeyoung rushed home like she was running a 100m sprint, urgently showering despite the cold bathroom.
“This was an emergency.”
She quickly dried her hair and applied some sunscreen. Then she opened the bottom drawer containing makeup her friends once gave her.
Normally, she didn’t bother with makeup, but today was different.
“I want to look pretty to Ju Taeseong. Even just a little… I want him to see me as a woman.”
She recalled her friends’ advice:
“You have pretty eyebrow hairs, just fill in the empty spots lightly while keeping your wrist loose.”
“Curl your lashes from the roots so they don’t droop. Then use clear mascara to set them.”
“For lips, too strong looks tacky. Just dab it inside and go mmm, pah, mmm, pah.”
“Mmm, pah, mmm, pah.”
Feeling her heart flutter, she pressed her lips together as instructed.
When she checked the mirror:
“Not bad.”
Her features looked clearer and neater, and though it wasn’t like the professional makeup from Chairman Ju’s party, she liked this more, feeling a quiet excitement spread in her heart.
She then went to pick out her most radiant clothes.
🔹 Taeseong’s Taxi Ride
After taking the city bus to nearly the last stop, he transferred to a taxi, thinking Haeyoung needed time to get ready and also enjoying the new scenery.
He couldn’t stop smiling.
“It was like he was making up for not smiling the entire past month.”
The taxi driver asked warmly if something good happened, and Taeseong replied:
“Yeah. I’m finally going to see the person I missed.”
The driver then shared his first love story all the way to the village. As they neared, Taeseong spotted Haeyoung in a pale strawberry milk-colored jacket.
Seeing the boy’s face drenched in excitement, the driver quietly refrained from making a teasing comment.
“Here we are, student.”
Paying quickly, Taeseong got out, and the taxi left, leaving them standing face to face with only a car-length between them.
🔹 Their Reunion
They stood silently for a moment before he spoke first:
“Hi.”
The simple greeting cut through the cold air like a warm breeze. Feeling ticklish, Haeyoung fidgeted and licked her lips.
“H-Hi…”
‘Hi’ – a word she’d said thousands of times before – felt so awkward now.
She thought she’d be prepared by the time they met again, that she would be the one deciding when.
She never imagined he would come to find her first.
She had done her makeup and wore her prettiest clothes, rushing out in excitement. But seeing him, her rationality returned, and fear crept in.
She feared her carefully planned resolve would crumble.
Avoiding his gaze, she asked softly:
“Why… are you here?”
Closing the distance by a step, he answered:
“Let’s hang out.”
“…Huh?”
Meeting his gaze, he repeated with a firm voice:
“Let’s hang out, with me.”
His smiling face was so beautiful that she dazedly nodded.
🔹 Lunch Together
Haeyoung took the starving Taeseong to a small local restaurant in the market. Though he was suspicious of the shabby place:
“Is this really a restaurant?”
She assured him:
“This is a place only locals know about.”
The owner, Ms. Jang, welcomed them warmly, recognising Haeyoung from her wedding and referring to Taeseong as her husband.
Ordering two bowls of mulhoe (cold raw fish soup), they sat, and he asked:
“…She came to our wedding?”
“Yeah. She’s from our neighborhood and knew my grandma since I was little.”
Relaxing at her words, Taeseong awkwardly changed the subject:
“No wonder… this place feels so homey.”
“Homey, my foot.”
Haeyoung traced circles on the table with her finger before abruptly asking:
“But… why did you come here?”
However, without flinching, Taeseong asked back with intense eyes and a low, serious voice:
“Why didn’t you contact me… even once?”
