Chapter 39. Legal Guardian

“It was just a bad first impression. He’s actually a good guy now.”

Haeyoung quickly defended Taeseong, but Grandma Boksun pressed the issue.

[You like him, don’t you.]
“…Me? No way.”

Haeyoung hesitated for a moment before denying it.

“I’m just trying to get along, like you said. We’re family after all.”
[Still, since you’re already married, wouldn’t it be nice to have a real romance too?]
“I’m still underage!”
[Oh please, you’ll be twenty soon. I’m a progressive grandma, you know.]
“Come on…”

Boksun’s teasing made Haeyoung’s cheeks turn red.

She fanned her face with her hand to cool down.

A passionate romance? No way.

She tried hard to stop her thoughts, but they spiraled out of control and shattered the wall she had built up.

She imagined it all in vivid detail.

If she could still be by Ju Taeseong’s side when she turned twenty…

If she could have the kind of deep, passionate love her grandma mentioned…

Scenes played out like a movie—walking hand in hand on a college date, drinking for the first time together…

And their first kiss…

[Haeyoung! Haeyoung!]

Right before the imagined kiss, Boksun’s voice brought her back to reality.

“Huh?”
[What on earth were you thinking about?]
“N-Nothing. Grandma, I have plans! I’ll call you later.”

Thinking about kissing Taeseong—Haeyoung rushed to end the call, unable to admit such a thing even to herself.

“Whew—”

Go away, dirty thoughts. Please go away.

She chanted like a spell to cool herself down.

When she brought her bags down to the living room, the house was full of people for the first time in a while.

Gijun, Taeseong, Chairman Ju, Mrs. Jincheon, Hyuk, and Cha Kyung were all there.

Taeseong had said, “The more, the merrier,” and suggested everyone bring a friend.

“Cha Kyung!”

Haeyoung rushed down the stairs and clung to her.

“I thought you couldn’t come!”
“Yeah, but I canceled some stuff. When else will we go on a trip like this?”

Cha Kyung smiled and whispered in Haeyoung’s ear.

“I didn’t know he’d be here too—your husband’s friend.”
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.”

Haeyoung scratched her head and whispered back.

Then Cha Kyung whispered even more quietly:

“Hey, does he have a girlfriend?”
“Hmm, I’ll ask Taeseong later.”

It was the first time Haeyoung saw Cha Kyung interested in a guy. She grinned teasingly.

“If he doesn’t, want me to set you up?”
“W-What? No!”
“Gosh, you’re blushing.”

Haeyoung giggled, poking her in the side.

Just then, Gijun came over.

“Looks like everyone’s here and ready. Should we head out?”

As he spoke, Taeseong walked up from behind.

“Hyung, you could’ve asked us too, you know.”

At his playful tone, Gijun turned around and replied smoothly:

“Let’s go, Taeseong.”
“Pfft.”

“Can you help load the car? Mrs. Jincheon packed lunch. I’ll get the A/C going so it’s cool when you all get in.”

He jingled the car keys and headed to the front door.

Taeseong muttered under his breath.

“What’s so great about driving? Just wait ‘til I finish the college exam—I’m getting my license right away.”

He stomped off to load the food.

Haeyoung and Cha Kyung said goodbye to Chairman Ju and Mrs. Jincheon and headed out too.

After everything was packed and ready, Taeseong and Hyuk got into the car.

Gijun sat in the driver’s seat and looked back.

“Alright, let’s go!”
“Okay!”

Haeyoung and Cha Kyung answered cheerfully, while Taeseong and Hyuk nodded.

Just like that, their last summer trip as teens began.

They arrived at Gijun’s vacation house in Yeoncheon after about a two-hour drive.

Haeyoung stepped out of the car and stared wide-eyed at the log cabin-style house.

“I thought houses like this only existed in movies…”
“Right?” Cha Kyung nodded.

Gijun came up to Haeyoung and said,

“My grandfather gave me this house the first time I ranked #1 in school.”

As an illegitimate child, Gijun always had to prove his worth. He couldn’t expect love or leniency from family.

Even though his grandfather would call him “lowborn,” he liked that Gijun proved himself.

So their relationship became a give-and-take.

“Wow! You must’ve been so happy!”

Haeyoung clapped, guessing how Gijun felt at the time.

She had no idea about the deeper story, but her innocent reaction made Gijun smile.

“Yeah, I was. I realized that if I worked hard enough, I could get anything.”

Then he changed the subject.

“There’s a stream out back. Want to dip your feet in?”
“A stream?”
“Yeah.”

Just then, Taeseong came walking over.

Gijun asked him,

“Taeseong, want to check out the stream down the hill?”
“Nah. Playing in water’s for kids.”

When Taeseong replied curtly, Gijun smiled and turned to Haeyoung.

“But you’ll go, right?”
“Of course! I love water!”

Haeyoung’s excitement made Taeseong’s expression twitch.

She grabbed Cha Kyung’s arm.

“You’ll come too, right?”
“Sure, if you’re going, I’m going.”

Haeyoung flapped her arms with joy, and Taeseong’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Man, how annoying.”

He glared at Gijun like he could burn a hole through him.

Then Gijun turned his head. Their eyes met—Taeseong’s intense glare vs. Gijun’s smug grin.

Tension sparked between them.

Then Gijun smiled and said:

“Alright, then. You stay here, Taeseong. I’ll take the others.”

“I’m going.”

Taeseong suddenly raised his voice and walked over to Haeyoung. He put a hand on her shoulder and said in a low voice,

“If she’s going, I’m going.”

Haeyoung widened her eyes and glanced at his hand.

Taeseong stood tall and added,

“I’m her guardian. I need to watch her. Streams can be dangerous.”
“Guardian? I’m not a kid!”

She glared at him.

But Taeseong pressed her shoulder gently and replied:

“Legally, I am your guardian.”
“……”
“And you’re mine too.”

Neither Haeyoung nor Gijun could argue—because it was true.

In the end, they all moved their things inside and headed to the stream together.

Because it had rained recently, the clear water was cool and flowing.

“So refreshing!”

Haeyoung crouched down and splashed water, laughing brightly.

Taeseong, who had called water play childish, stood on a large rock, watching her like a guardian.

She’s totally a kid, laughing like that over a stream.

“Definitely a kid,” he muttered, shielding his eyes from the sun.

“Hey, Haeyoung!”

Suddenly, Haeyoung grinned mischievously and splashed Cha Kyung.

“Oops—sorry, that was more than I meant to splash.”

Cha Kyung was soaking wet. Haeyoung shrugged awkwardly.

“You little—!”

Even calm Cha Kyung laughed and splashed her back.

So much for just dipping their feet—they went full water fight.

As Haeyoung’s smile widened, Taeseong smiled too, his lips curving deeply.

Then Hyuk came up to him and said,

“You’re really into her, huh?”

“Whoa! You scared me!”

Taeseong jumped at the sudden voice.

“Jeez, make some noise when you walk!”
“Your ears are just bad.”
“What?”
“I was crunching on gravel the whole way, idiot.”

Taeseong frowned at the sharp comeback.

“So, what’s your point?”

Feeling flustered, he snapped. Hyuk nodded toward Haeyoung.

“You really like her, don’t you?”

“……”

“Your legal guardian.”