Side Story (Part 4)

“Hmm.”

Seowoo tossed and turned under the sunlight pouring onto her face. With the blackout curtains removed, it was impossible to sleep in past the morning. Seowoo reached out, feeling for the person who was always beside her.

“….”

He wasn’t there. Seowoo slowly opened her eyes and sat up.

“Ah! Be gentle… It hurts mommy.”

The babies’ kicks were quite strong, so intense that it almost made her cry out.

The commotion was so loud in the morning that it sounded like something was breaking. Seowoo gently stroked her protruding belly, and rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Had he gone to work? Or maybe he went to the gym.

Checking the clock on the wall, it was already 10 o’clock. 

“I woke up late. Sigh.”

Perhaps it was because of the pregnancy, she felt sleepy. Yawning, Seowoo got out of bed. She had a doctor’s appointment at noon today. After the appointment, they planned to go to the department store together.

To buy the baby stuff she had been eagerly wanting to do. It was something they’d never done before when she was pregnant with Byul because Jiwook had been so busy.

She walked out into the living room and looked for him. The house was quite spacious, so she had to check the places he might be.

“Not here either.”

Opening the door to the study, she saw an empty desk. Her guess about him being in the study was completely off.

“Not here either.”

She couldn’t find Jiwook even in the place where he usually worked out. 

As she walked across the living room, a pleasant smell tickled her nose. 

What’s that smell? 

Since it was the weekend, she had asked the staff not to come in so they could be alone. Seowoo walked toward the kitchen.

“….”

There, Jiwook was standing over the dining table with a somewhat serious expression, his sleeves rolled up.

“Is it all done?”

After carefully inspecting each item, he let out a small sigh and looked up. Seeing her there, he paused, seeming a bit surprised.

“What are you doing?”

“When did you wake up?”

“Just now.”

What’s going on here? 

Seowoo looked back and forth between the table and Jiwook. The table was neatly set with dishes. Two bowls of freshly cooked rice, a few side dishes, and a pot were placed in the center of the table.

“I was going to wake you, but let’s eat.”

Jiwook gave her a faint smile and gestured to the table. Seowoo stared at him blankly, then, as if mesmerized by something, pulled up a chair at the table and sat down. Jiwook then placed a glass of lukewarm water in front of her and sat down across from her.

“Oh my.”

Jiwook lifted the lid of the pot, revealing a bowl of miso stew. Seowoo looked at him in surprise. Unlike usual, his face looked awkward.

“What is this? It’s not……is it?”

“What’s not?”

“There’s no way you could have made this.”

“Why not? I made it.”

Seowoo’s lips parted in surprise. The miso stew was still bubbling from being freshly cooked, had neatly sliced tofu on top, and ingredients were visible here and there. What was even more surprising were the side dishes.

A salad full of vegetables, a nicely rolled egg roll, and fried meat and grilled beef. Seowoo, who had been quietly observing, suddenly raised her head again.

“You even made the fried meat?”

“… I just reheated the one I made with the teacher yesterday.”

“Jiwook, you made this? What about the egg rolls? When did you make them?”

“That was this morning.” 

Jiwook handed her a spoon, who was still stunned.

“It’s getting cold. I made it deliberately to match the time you woke up. Go ahead and eat.”

“….”

“You said you wanted miso stew. Of course, it won’t taste like the one your father used to make……. but it’s made with the famous miso.”

Seowoo took a sip of the broth with the spoon she was holding. 

Jiwook didn’t know what to make of this, he was so nervous about how she reacted to it that he stared at her nervously.

I hope it’s delicious. Hopefully, it would fill her up and make her feel a little better.

“Wow!”

Fortunately, her face brightened after taking a bite. Letting out a relieved sigh, Jiwook spoke up.

“Is it good?”

“It’s so delicious. But…”

Seowoo narrowed her eyebrows, looking serious. Jiwook found her expression cute and waited for her to continue.

“What teacher are you talking about?”

“….”

“Did you learn cooking? Really?”

“Yes.”

“When did you learn?” 

She seemed to have a lot of questions today. Amused by her rapid-fire questioning, Jiwook chuckled softly and picked up his spoon. 

“Eat. You can listen while you eat.”

“Have you ever cooked before?”

“It’s my first time.”

First time, huh. Yet the taste is so good. 

The perfect Kwon Jiwook even had perfect cooking skills. Whether he had learned a few times or not, the taste was so convincing that it seemed he had talent.

“The taste is pretty good, isn’t it?”

Seowoo suppressed a laugh at his slightly arrogant tone.

He had been so anxious until she took the first spoonful.

Seowoo took another spoonful and stared at Jiwook, staring at him intently. His sincerity made her feel warm inside.

“Yes, it’s really good.”

“I’m glad.”

“I really wanted Dad’s miso paste stew. Now I can ask my husband to make it for me. Will you do it?”

“Of course.”

Seowoo’s face brightened.  With tears pooling in the corners of her eyes, she scooped up a large spoonful of rice and popped it into her mouth. The rice was a bit soggy, but it was still excellent, and she gave him a thumbs up.

“Take your time eating. Don’t choke.”

“The egg roll is moist and delicious too. The meat is tasty as well.”

The staff who prepared their meals every day was quite skilled, but it was Jiwook’s cooking that made it feel like home. Seowoo quickly emptied her bowl. 

Jiwook then served some cockles onto her plate.

“You even debearded the clams?”

“I bought them already prepared. I learned how to do it, but  I didn’t have the mental energy to do that myself.”

“It’s so amazing.”

“What’s so amazing about it?”

Seowoo’s clear eyes, her lips moving as she spoke. Jiwook smiled, finding her cute.

“I didn’t think you’d actually do it.”

She thought it was just something to say in passing. At most, she thought they would go to a famous Korean restaurant together. But to actually learn and practice cooking just to make a meal for her… Moreover, it tasted good, making her smile involuntarily.

“I haven’t really done anything for you.”

He had no memory of doing anything for her. He hadn’t even said small things to her, only causing hurt. The only way to make up for his past mistakes was to work hard and be sincere from now on.

To avoid being hurt again. He knew that he had to work hard to forget the painful past. 

“I haven’t even started yet, and your face is already so moved. It’s a bit awkward.”

“You must have been busy. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing to thank me for.”

It was sincere. She was so grateful that she almost cried. 

She knew that his company was just starting up, so he must have been busy. Yet, he managed to find time to learn cooking.

Wondering what he had been thinking while making the meal, Seowoo couldn’t contain her curiosity and asked.

“Wasn’t it difficult?”

“It was manageable, thankfully.”

“And what were you thinking while making it?”

“Hmm…”

Jiwook reminisced for a moment. Seowoo ate her salad, waiting for his answer. The yuzu dressing was refreshing, stimulating her appetite.

“I wondered what expression you would have when you saw it and if it would taste good.”

“….”

“I just hoped you would enjoy it. Something like that?”

Seowoo’s heart raced at Jiwook’s warm gaze. When Seowoo finished the rest of her rice, Jiwook glanced at her empty bowl and stood up.

“I’ll get you some more.”

“No, thank you! I might get too full if I eat more rice. I’ll just have more side dishes.”

“Okay.”

Jiwook sat back down and started eating again. He said he had reheated yesterday’s leftovers, but the beef and the egg roll were delicious. Dipping it in soy sauce, Seowoo brought it up to his lips, and he silently accepted it.

“We’re going to the hospital after this, right?”

“Yes.”

It was time for her regular check-up. Every time they went to the hospital, Seowoo looked anxious, so Jiwook reassured her countless times. Today, too, she seemed a little nervous.

“After the hospital, let’s stop by the department store.”

“Sounds perfect.”

Seowoo smiled happily and nodded her head.