Chapter 11

The moment they stepped through the main entrance of the department store, Soo-ae’s hand instinctively wrapped around Seo-young’s. It was a familiar, affectionate touch, as though she had been doing it for a long time. At that warm touch, Seo-young involuntarily gasped.

“Joo-young.”

The name slipped from Soo-ae’s lips.

Whether she was truly confused or simply desperately wanted to believe that Seo-young was Joo-young, Seo-young couldn’t tell. Yet the warm temperature and steady grasp flowing from their clasped hands were an undeniable reality.

At least at this very moment, she had entered Soo-ae’s world.

Even if it was as ‘Joo-young.’

Holding Seo-young’s hand, Soo-ae moved from one section of the store to another. Whenever an employee approached, Soo-ae smiled brightly—as if showing off to the entire world—and said without hesitation:

“My daughter is getting married next week.”

“Oh my, congratulations! Your daughter is such a beauty.”

Holding Seo-young’s hand tightly, Soo-ae crinkled her eyes picture-perfectly and put on a gentle fuss.

“She’s pretty because she takes after me.”

“Of course, she’s the spitting image of her mother.”

Seo-young’s heart grew heavy with emotion. The customary compliments brushed past her ears, while only that ordinary phrase, ‘my daughter,’ melted deep inside her. Her heart, which had been crumbling every time she saw her mother looking for Joo-young in her, was now being filled with warmth.

Still holding Seo-young’s hand, Soo-ae slowly looked around the shop. Then, picking out a piece of clothing from between the racks, she held it up against Seo-young’s body.

“How about this?”

It was a bright-colored dress. Looking back and forth between Seo-young’s face and the outfit, Soo-ae nodded. Keeping the dress held against her, Soo-ae pulled Seo-young over to the mirror.

“Look, it really brings out my Joo-young’s pretty face.”

Seo-young stared at herself in the mirror.

“Things like this suit Joo-young well.”

Sweeping through the shop, Soo-ae picked out other clothes and piled them into Seo-young’s arms: a blouse that subtly exposed the shoulder line, a jacket that neatly nipped in at the waist, and a knit sweater that softly revealed her wrists. There was no calculation in the hands that held each garment up to her—only a mother’s genuine wish to dress her daughter up beautifully.

Sitting on the chair in front of the fitting room, Soo-ae couldn’t sit still. She repeatedly stood up and sat back down.

Inside the fitting room, Seo-young bit her lip softly. Although she had changed into everything her mother handed her, it wasn’t easy to open the curtain and step out. She had always been forced to wear dull, neutral colors.

You must never stand out in front of others.

Looking at the drawn curtain, Soo-ae’s face contorted slightly with anxiety. Eventually, staring at the closed fabric, she spoke as if probing:

“You used to like this color. Even back in college, whenever you saw clothes in this color, you always made sure to try them on at least once.”

At those words, Seo-young slowly pulled back the curtain and stepped outside.

A vivid coral-toned knit sweater paired with a bright ivory skirt. It was an outfit so bright and eye-catching that the usual Seo-young would never have dared to reach for it.

Soo-ae’s eyes moved slowly, following Seo-young. Soon, a tender smile spread across her lips.

“Yes. This is it. How does my daughter look?”

Complete satisfaction dripped from that single phrase. Like someone who had rediscovered a daughter she had known for a very long time, Soo-ae looked at Seo-young with a deeply gratifying gaze.

“Yes, I like it too. Mom.”

Upon hearing that, Soo-ae’s face relaxed into an even brighter smile. Placing her arms warmly around Seo-young’s shoulders, she guided her to the mirror.

“Look. You look so beautiful.”

Reflected in the mirror were the two of them standing side by side. Looking in the same direction and smiling, anyone would take them for a loving mother and daughter.

Seo-young gazed quietly at the sight and involuntarily gasped.

If only I can feel Mom’s love like this, living the rest of my life as Han Joo-young might not be so bad after all.

Upon entering the shoe shop, Soo-ae personally picked up a few pairs. Sitting Seo-young down on a chair, she knelt down in front of her as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“You shouldn’t strain your feet. You’ll have to stand for a long time on your wedding day.”

Those few words made Seo-young’s heart swell once again. That was why, even though the shoe width was loose when Soo-ae tried them on her, Seo-young said nothing. She simply smiled quietly as she watched her mother rejoice that they fit perfectly.

Guiding Seo-young to the handbag section, Soo-ae held up various bags and agonized over them for a long time. Then, selecting two bags she liked, she held them out in front of Seo-young.

“Carry this one every day. And this one will look pretty when you go on your honeymoon.”

As she spoke, Soo-ae raised her head as if something had suddenly occurred to her.

“Ah, right. Did Son-in-law Baek say you’re postponing the honeymoon for a bit because he’s busy?”

“Yes.”

“Right, well, you can go on a trip anytime.”

Standing before the checkout counter, Soo-ae pulled a card out of her wallet without a moment’s hesitation. At the sheer naturalness of the act, Seo-young belatedly reached out her hand.

“Mom, I’ll pay…”

But Soo-ae smiled and lightly pressed Seo-young’s hand down.

“Mom is buying this for you.”

Her voice was warm, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“You must be hungry by now. Shall we go eat the steak you like?”

Seo-young couldn’t bring herself to answer right away. After hesitating for a moment, she slowly lifted her head.

“Mom. Not steak.”

“Hmm?”

“There’s something else I want to eat with you.”

At those words, Soo-ae stopped in her tracks. She looked at Seo-young, her eyes locking quietly onto hers.

“What is it?”

After catching her breath for a second, Seo-young spoke honestly for the very first time.

“Eating at a traditional market. Tteokbokki, gimbap, and bindaetteok.”

Soo-ae looked at Seo-young with a surprised face—an expression showing she hadn’t expected this at all.

“That’s what you wanted to eat?”

Seo-young nodded.

“I really wanted to eat it with you, Mom.”

After a brief silence, Soo-ae let out a soft laugh.

“Alright. Let’s go.”

The traditional markets she had often seen while attaching English subtitles to K-dramas exported overseas… The mother and daughter shopping together inside, sharing the same food, and laughing together… She was finally able to do the very thing she had always envied.

Holding Soo-ae’s hand, Seo-young’s heart surged with excitement.

As they entered the crowded alleyway, the aroma of oil and savory spices rushed over them all at once. Though Soo-ae looked around awkwardly at first, she soon squeezed Seo-young’s hand tightly once more.

They shared tteokbokki piece by piece. They cut the gimbap in half and handed pieces to each other, and the bindaetteok puffed warm steam off a paper plate.

“My daughter… you wanted to eat things like this?”

At those words, the rims of Seo-young’s eyes burned. Tears welled up, but instead of letting them fall, she smiled with all her strength.

“I love this so much, Mom.”

“Joo-young. Mom loves today so much, too. You were always so busy back then, so it was hard to make time like this.”

Instead of replying, Seo-young lowered her head. She couldn’t bring herself to meet her eyes because of her burning vision. The reality that the person reflected in Soo-ae’s eyes today was Joo-young became so painfully clear that a tingling pang spread through Seo-young’s heart.

Even so, to Seo-young, this time was unbearably precious.

Walking like this, holding her mother’s hand—it was overwhelmingly good.

Clasping their hands tightly together, the two walked deeper into the market.

Seo-young could not loosen her grip on her hand, terrified that this warmth might disappear.