Lost in translation

Chapter 21: The Dinner Confrontation

Later that evening, Min-jun headed to his parents’ house. As he walked through the grand entrance, he was greeted by his father, Mr. Park, his mother, Mrs. Cha, and his brother, Tae.

“Good evening, Father, Mother, Tae,” Min-jun said, bowing respectfully.

“Good evening, Min-jun,” Mr. Park replied. “The Joen family will be here soon for dinner. Let’s wait in the living room.”

As they settled in, Mr. Park turned to Min-jun. “Min-jun, could I have a word with you in my study?”

“Of course, Father,” Min-jun replied, following him to the study room.

Once inside, Mr. Park closed the door and turned to his son. “How are you doing, Min-jun?”

“I’m well, Father. How about you?” Min-jun asked.

“I’m fine, thank you. But I need to know why you canceled the deal with the Joen family,” Mr. Park said, his tone serious.

Min-jun took a deep breath. “Father, the only reason the deal was to happen was if Hani and I got married. But it wouldn’t be fair to either of us since we don’t love each other. I’m in love with someone else, and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with someone I don’t love.”

Mr. Park nodded, understanding his son’s point of view. “I see. Love is important, Min-jun. I understand your decision.”

“Thank you, Father. I also wanted to let you know that I recently signed a new contract that is much better than the one the Joens offered. It’s with a company in Busan,” Min-jun explained briefly.

Mr. Park’s eyes lit up with approval. “That’s excellent news, Min-jun. I’m proud of you.”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door. A worker entered and informed them that the Joen family had arrived and were waiting in the dining room.

“Let’s go greet our guests,” Mr. Park said, leading the way.

Min-jun and his father entered the dining room and greeted Hani and her father, Mr. Joen.

“Good evening, Mr. Joen, Hani,” Mr. Park said warmly.

“Good evening,” Mr. Joen replied, though his expression was tense.

They all sat down, and the food was served. The atmosphere was polite but strained. After the meal, Mr. Joen couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Mr. Park, why was our contract canceled?” Mr. Joen asked, his voice tight with anger.

Before Mr. Park could respond, Mrs. Cha interjected. “I don’t agree with this decision either. The engagement and wedding were important for both families. Min-jun, you should reconsider.”

Min-jun looked at his mother, his expression firm. “Mother, I understand your concerns, but I can’t marry someone I don’t love. It’s not fair to Hani or to me.”

Mr. Park took a deep breath. “My son is right. Marriage should be based on love, not business. Therefore, we have no other option but to cancel the engagement and the wedding.”

Mr. Joen’s face turned red with fury. He slammed his hand on the table, causing the dishes to rattle. “You will pay for the embarrassment you’ve caused us!”

Min-jun remained calm, meeting Mr. Joen’s gaze steadily. “I understand your frustration, Mr. Joen, but this decision is final. We must all move forward.”

The tension in the room was palpable, but Min-jun felt a sense of relief. He had stood up for his beliefs and his love for Evelyn, and he knew it was the right thing to do.

As Kang-Dae drove back, Evelyn felt a renewed sense of happiness and contentment. She was looking forward to the adventures that lay ahead and the new friendships she was forming.

When they arrived back at Min-jun's house, Evelyn thanked Kang-Dae for his assistance and headed inside. She found Min-jun in the living room, engrossed in a book. He looked up and smiled as she entered.

"Hey, how was your day?" Min-jun asked, setting the book aside.

"It was wonderful. I had a great time with a friend. We had brunch and then took a walk in the park,” Evelyn replied, sitting down next to him. “How was your day?” she asked.

"My day was chaotic but besides that, it was just fine. I'm glad to hear that. You deserve to have some fun and relaxation," Min-jun said, taking her hand in his.

Evelyn leaned in and kissed him on the cheek.

"Thank you for the card this morning. It was such a lovely surprise."

Min-jun smiled. "I'm glad you liked it. I just wanted to make sure you had a great day." They sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, enjoying each other's company. Evelyn felt a sense of peace being with Min-jun, knowing that he always had her best interests at heart.

"I'm glad you're making new friends," Min-jun said, squeezing her hand.

Evelyn nodded. "Me too. It's nice to have someone to talk to and share experiences with."

As the night wore on, they decided to have a quiet dinner at home. Min-jun cooked a simple yet delicious meal, and they enjoyed it together, talking about their plans for the future.

They spent the rest of the evening discussing their plans, feeling more connected than ever. The future seemed bright, and they were ready to face it together.

The next few days passed in a blur of happiness and new experiences for Evelyn. She spent her time exploring Seoul, meeting new people, and deepening her relationship with Min-jun.

Evelyn woke up feeling refreshed and excited about the day ahead. She had plans to explore more of Seoul and maybe visit some of the art galleries. As she got ready, she received a text from Byoel.

Byoel: “Good morning, Evelyn! I had a great time yesterday. If you’re free today, how about we visit the art gallery?”

Evelyn smiled and quickly replied.

Evelyn: “Good morning, Byoel! I’d love to. What time should we meet?”

Byoel: “How about 11 AM at the entrance of the Seoul Museum of Art?”

Evelyn: “Perfect. See you then!”

Feeling excited about the day, Evelyn finished getting ready and headed downstairs. She found Min-jun in the kitchen, preparing breakfast.

“Good morning, Min-jun,” Evelyn greeted him with a kiss on the cheek.

“Good morning, Evelyn. Did you sleep well?” Min-jun asked, smiling.

“I did, thank you. I am going to visit the Seoul Museum of Art today,” Evelyn said, grabbing a piece of toast.

“That sounds like a lot of fun. Enjoy your day,” Min-jun said, handing her a cup of coffee.

“Thank you. What are your plans for today?” Evelyn asked.

“I have a few meetings, but I’ll be free in the afternoon. Maybe we can have dinner together?” Min-jun suggested.

“I’d love that,” Evelyn said, smiling.

After breakfast, Evelyn headed out to meet Byoel. The city was bustling with activity, and she enjoyed the vibrant energy of Seoul. When she arrived at the museum, she saw Byoel waiting for her.

“Hi, Evelyn! Ready for a day of art and culture?” Byoel asked, giving her a hug.

“Absolutely! Let’s go,” Evelyn replied enthusiastically.

They spent the next few hours exploring the museum, admiring the various exhibits and discussing their favorite pieces. Evelyn found herself deeply inspired by the art and enjoyed the insightful conversations with Byoel.

As they were leaving the museum, Byoel turned to Evelyn. “I’m really glad we did this. It’s been a wonderful day.”

“Me too, Byoel. Thank you for inviting me,” Evelyn said, feeling grateful for the new friendship.

“Anytime. Let’s do this again soon,” Byoel said with a smile.

They parted ways, and Evelyn decided to do some more shopping before heading back home. She wandered through the streets, enjoying the sights and sounds of the city. Eventually, she made her way back to Min-jun’s house, feeling content and happy.

When she arrived, Min-jun was waiting for her in the living room. “Hey, how was your day?” he asked, pulling her into a warm embrace.

“It was amazing. The museum was incredible, and I had a great time with Byoel,” Evelyn said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“I’m glad to hear that. I missed you,” Min-jun said softly.

“I missed you too,” Evelyn replied, looking up at him.

They spent the evening together, enjoying a quiet dinner and talking about their day. As they sat on the couch, Min-jun took Evelyn’s hand.

“Evelyn, I want you to know how much you mean to me. I’m so grateful to have you in my life,” Min-jun said, his eyes filled with sincerity.

Evelyn felt her heart swell with emotion. “I feel the same way, Min-jun. You make me so happy.”

They shared a tender kiss, feeling more connected than ever.

One evening, Evelyn received a call from Nomsa. “Hey, Evelyn! I’m back in town and would love to meet up.”

Evelyn’s face lit up with excitement. “Nomsa! It’s been almost four months. I’d love to see you.”

“How about we go to the spa together?” Nomsa suggested.

“That sounds perfect,” Evelyn agreed.

As they chatted, Nomsa asked, “How are things going with Min-jun?”

Evelyn smiled. “Everything’s great. Min-jun is treating me very well.”

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Min-jun was preparing tteokbokki. He placed the dish on the table, and the aroma wafted through the air. Evelyn suddenly felt nauseous and rushed to the kitchen sink to throw up.

Through the phone, Nomsa asked, “What’s going on, Evelyn?”

Min-jun, worried, hurried to her side. “Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

Evelyn took a deep breath and replied to Nomsa, “I’m fine. I’ll call you back.” She hung up and turned to Min-jun. “It’s the smell of the tteokbokki. It just disgusts me.”

Min-jun looked puzzled. “Since when? You love eating tteokbokki with noodles.”

“It’s a new thing,” Evelyn said, shaking her head. “It just disgusts me now.”

Min-jun apologized, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

Evelyn smiled reassuringly. “You don’t have to apologize.”

“Should I prepare something else for you?” Min-jun offered.

Evelyn shook her head respectfully. “No, it’s okay. I’ll just have some snacks.”

She headed to the fridge, took out a tub of ice cream and a spoon, and made her way to the bedroom. Evelyn walked into the room, eating her ice cream, and tucked herself into bed.