Tensegrity

While the two of them were discussing passionately except for those who are not interested in marriage, Jun-Kyung looked around the cafe with a sneer. Since he was sitting on the side facing the entrance, people coming and going naturally caught his eye.

At the entrance of the cafe decorated with gold metal and marble, a glamorous person like a model from a magazine entered. His eyes automatically turned towards that person. She wore a rich black blouse and a bright floral skirt with a tight waist and a neat bob. Despite her low shoes, she stands out for her slender stature. Someone greeted her.

“Hello, miss.”

The two sat down at a table for two near the entrance, together with a woman who looked like an office worker. The lady, who sat on the side facing Jun-Kyung, smiled very elegantly from her sitting posture to her voice ordering drinks. It was evident that she was from the upper class.

Bzzt. Bzzt.

The phone rang. It was Executive Director Min.

—Where are you?

“We are in the lobby cafe. I will come out now.”

—Okay.

As soon as the simple phone call was over, his parents, who checked the time, stood up nervously and resolutely just like the examinees before the entrance exam.

As Jun-Kyung stepped out of the entrance, he naturally glanced at the two people he had watched earlier. It feels good to watch pretty people. It was a natural instinct as a man.

‘I can’t believe I am looking at a woman even though I am pregnant.’

It’s terrifying, but what can he do? It’s not entirely his fault.

As soon as he left the cafe entrance, he saw Executive Director Min approaching from afar. Thanks to his over-sized physique and overwhelming aura, passing hotel guests spyed on him or looked at him openly. As a giant Siberian tiger passes by, people automatically look at it. That is as natural as Jun-Kyung admiring a beautiful woman.

Director Min blinked slightly at Jun-kyung and bowed politely to his father.

“Hello, Father.”

“Uh, Executive Director Min. No, son-in-law.”

Because of his father who dared to use this awkward name, Jun-Kyung coughed in vain. Unlike his squeamish father, his mother rejoiced like a fan of the idol she had cherished all her life. Maybe it’s because he’s a handsome man.

“Min Seobang, isn’t the road blocked on your way?” (T/N: Seobang means son-in-law but in a cute and close way).

“No. I came here comfortably.”

Thanks to his mother who spoke informally and naturally, Jun-kyung and his father looked at each other at the same time. It was over when his mother said, “Oh, I’m going to the bathroom. Wait a minute,” as she left the three of them.

“Have your parents arrived yet?” Jun-Kyung asked.

“I just got a call that they have arrived.”

“Why is he so busy now? He has to come here in advance.” Jun-Kyung’s father was just grunting. There were still five minutes left until the appointed time. Just as he was about to say so, someone approached him.

“As expected, I was right.”

At the sound of a slightly husky yet gentle voice, the three of them looked back at the same time. Surprisingly, it was the same lady that Jun-Kyung had been watching.

“Min Hyun-Seung.”

She smiled broadly and at the same time opened her arms and embraced Director Min. Jun-Kyung became numb for a moment. His jaw dropped as he lost his strength and his mouth opened. The father, who came to his senses first, grabbed his arm.

“Who?” It was not Executive Director Min who answered his father’s question. With her bright smile, she tilted her head at her angle.

“Hello. I’m Hyun-Seung’s friend.”

“Oh, is it?” The bright greeting of the beautiful woman blocked his father’s speech.

“Did I interrupt your work?”

“No.” Director Min denied it. In an instant, strength entered Jun-kyung’s eyes. He silently watched the nearby Executive Director Min.

“It’s much more important than work. It’s a meeting.”

“What? Meeting?”

The opponent, who was still hanging on Executive Director Min’s arm, looked at Jun-Kyung. He reflexively raised the corners of his lips and used his work smile.

“Go down a little.”

Executive Director Min pushed the person who was clinging to him. The intruder, recognizing the situation, trembled with fuss belatedly.

“I guess they are here for a meeting. It’s so nice to see a friend after a long time that I made a mistake. I’m sorry, what should I do?”

She apologized to Jun-Kyung’s father as if she was not sorry at all to Director Min and Jun-Kyung.

“Well, it could happen.”

His father took the apology by mistake. The opponent, who did not intend to leave even after an apology, completely ignored Jun-Kyung and asked Executive Director Min.

“Then your parents will be here too?”

“She is waiting for you.” Executive Director Min threw his gaze towards the cafe entrance. Jun-Kyung and his father looked back, but the person concerned did not even care.

“It’s a meeting, so you can wait a little.”

It was an insulting remark. At the far end, Jun-Kyung’s mother appeared. It was just the right time for her.

“Mom is here.” Jun-Kyung pushed his father’s back slightly and headed toward his mother. “We will go first. Say hello and come back.”

Jun-Kyung showed a hospitality smile towards Executive Director Min. Hyun-Seung said he would go with him, but Jun-Kyung pretended not to hear. If you’re coming with me, take off the person attached to you like a leech.

“Who is it?”

“His friend.”

“Is it someone you know?” Jun-Kyung shook his head at his mother’s question. He thought about the outspokenness of the other party and the gentle low attitude of the Executive Director Min as if he was helpless to it. She was probably the one who cried while talking on the phone. He has to run to appease her before dinner is ready.

Upon entering the Korean restaurant where he could hear the gentle sound of water, the staff immediately recognized them and guided them to a separate space. As soon as he stood in front of the private room, a great energy hit him from the side. It was the Executive Director Min. The wind blew through the hem of his clothes.

“You came quickly.”

“It’s not a place to be late.”

Executive Director Min, who was about to say something more, was unable to do so because an employee opened the door. Unlike the slightly dim hallway, the interior was very bright.

Although there are no glass windows, there are large traditional hanok windows on each wall, each emitting a very bright light. A couple of white eggs were placed in the luxurious porcelain place here and there, and there was a decorative ceramic fountain next to it. There was also an oriental painting of a suitable size, a scroll, and a pavilion, etc. It was the perfect place for a meeting.

The president and his wife, who were sitting in one of the banquet seats, immediately stood up. In particular, madam skipped her son, who would have been the first to stand out, and smiled brightly at Jun-kyung.

“Come in, Jun-Kyung.”

“Hello. I’m Executive Director Hyun-Seung Min’s father.”

It was the chairman who met Jun-Kyung’s parents. He suddenly smiled wildly and held out his hands to Jun-Kyung’s father, unlike his usual fierce self.  Unlike his tense appearance earlier, Jun-Kyung’s father, who was more determined than expected, held the hand of his future in-law.

“Hello, I’m Jun-Kyung’s father.”

“You have worked hard to come this far. Please sit this way.”

“Yes.”

As soon as they sat down, the chairman picked up the small soju bottle.

“Do you drink alcohol?”

“I do, a little.”

“Let’s have a drink.”

“Well, thank you.”

Jun-Kyung’s father, who was determined to follow order and morality, was immediately bewitched. Glasses were passed before the others were even seated. No matter how you look at it, Chairman Min Chang-Heon is ten times more advanced.

“Nice to meet you.”

“Hello.”

The president is wearing a suit similar to usual, but his wife is in an elegant hanbok. Jun-Kyung’s mother, who had put her hand on her chest and dressed in a western style, greeted her with a look of bewilderment.

“Thank you for coming.”

There was no other member of the National Assembly who held out his hand in the same way as the president did. It was completely different from the comfortable appearance he had shown at home.

“Our Jun-Kyung resembles her mother, so he’s so handsome.”

“I’m very flattered. I wondered who Min Seobang looked like that he’s so cool and wonderful, and now I know.”

‘She doesn’t know that’s not my real mother?’

Director Min looked at Jun-Kyung and asked with his eyes. Jun-kyung also poked her mother’s side in bewilderment. His mother’s eyes, which were just smiling in greeting, became fierce.

“Why are you doing this when grown-ups say hello?”

“Please sit down.”

The only person who didn’t panic was madam. With her graceful smile consistently throughout, she offered a seat to his mother. Thanks to the polite and bright first greetings from the president and his wife, unnecessary tension was relieved from the meeting that could have been rigid.

The four of them exchanged business cards and the conversation blossomed. The agenda prepared today was, of course, for the two sons to be married.

“I did not know that my in-law was such an easygoing person. In addition, the future of our people will be brighter because you are the economic growth of our country.”

“It’s just a gimmick. Haha. Our Executive Director Min is a bit blunt because he looks so much like me, but Jun-kyung was by my side and took good care of me, so I let it go. Every time I saw how kind and polite he was, I wondered what kind of people raised such an upright young man.”

The two fathers were busy talking to each other with their son as an excuse, but the married people were just listening. The chairman and Jun-Kyung’s father empty the soju bottle quickly and share another bottle.

Discussing marriage details was already behind the scenes. From the economy in general to recent politics and stock trends, the two had conversations that had nothing to do with the meeting. His mother and madam were faithful to the purpose of the meeting. But it’s because they remain too faithful that Jun-kyung feels troubled just hearing it.

“It seems that the newlyweds have already prepared between themselves.”

There was a bit of awkwardness in the expressions ‘newlyweds’ and ‘between them’. It is home appliances that was originally in the house of Executive Director Min and was used purely by Hyun-Seung Min himself.

“I heard that it is not necessary to change it because it is a new product that you just bought, right?”

“Yes. If you need anything, tell me right away.”

After receiving the words of madam, Executive Director Min tossed towards Jun-Kyung. Jun-kyung, who listened silently, shook his head.

“Not at all. I like it the way it is.”