Chapter 29: Reunion
Seo Aera asked with a puzzled expression.
"But son, why didn't you even change your clothes?"
"I wanted to see Mom and Dad."
"Huh?"
Seo Aera blinked in surprise at Seo Juhwan's casual response. It wasn't the way her son usually spoke. Normally, her son used a somewhat cold and stiff tone. But such warm words? To her, who didn't know about his regression, it was shocking.
Meanwhile, Seo Juhui, standing next to them, made a gagging sound as if she'd seen something she shouldn't have.
"Ugh. Did you eat something bad?"
"Oh. Oppa got swigged."
"Soo-ah, it's not 'swigged,' it's 'sweet.'"
"Oh. That works too."
Han Soo-ah said with a silly giggle.
Seo Juhwan clutched his stomach with both hands.
"I haven't eaten because I came straight here, so I'm starving. Could you give me some rice, Mom?"
At those words, Seo Aera's eyes widened again. It seemed like her forehead was going to wrinkle multiple times today. Not only her, but Seo Juhui and Han Soo-ah also spoke in amazement.
"What? You must be really hungry? You said you hated tteokbokki. Mom, hurry and feed this pig."
"Did oppa finally realize the value of tteokbokki? My recommended menu is spicy rice cakes!"
This was a strange reaction just for eating rice.
Seo Juhwan smiled wryly and shrugged his shoulders.
In his previous life, he had never even set foot in the restaurant out of fear of causing problems for the shop. On top of that, he had kept it a secret from his classmates that this tteokbokki restaurant was operated by his parents.
Seo Juhui and Han Soo-ah clearly knew this fact, but they were so kind to pretend not to know. He was truly grateful for that.
"Then can you make me spicy rice cakes like Soo-ah suggested? And put two boiled eggs on top."
"Then I'll have assorted fried items."
"Auntie Aera, I'll have fish cakes. Let's all share!"
"O-okay. Honey! He's eating too, so make it delicious!"
At those words, his father Seo Jaepil's shoulders trembled once, and soon the sound of his knife work began to speed up.
Seo Juhwan was looking at his father's back with a bit of concern when Han Soo-ah spoke to him.
"Oppa, did you grow taller?"
"Huh? Oh, height. A little. I've been growing suddenly again lately."
"I knew it. It's been harder to look up at you than usual."
As she spoke while standing on her tiptoes, Seo Juhui interjected.
"What? Our Soo-ah has to look up at everyone anyway, right?"
"Tch. That's why it's even harder than usual."
"My point is, was there even more angle to raise?"
"Ugh. You, Juhui!"
Though Han Soo-ah glared at Seo Juhui with irritation, unfortunately her glare from an egg-shaped face standing at 149cm was not threatening at all. It was like a sparrow getting angry.
Seo Juhwan laughed along with them but quickly changed the subject when he saw Han Soo-ah's eyes asking how even he could laugh.
"Anyway, why are you two at the restaurant?"
It was meant to change the subject quickly, but now that he'd asked, he was genuinely curious. Today was January 14th. Winter break should still have plenty of time left.
At that question, the two bickering girls stopped moving simultaneously and let out a heavy sigh.
"Life is definitely a tragedy..."
"God gave humans freedom, so why are we trapped in the prison called school?"
What were they suddenly saying? As he stared at them with bewildered eyes, Seo Aera answered with a chuckle instead.
"Those two are third-year students starting this year. I guess third-year students have to come to school even during breaks to study."
"Oh, really? But was there such a requirement for third-year students? I don't think there was when I was in third year."
When he was in third year of high school, only those who wanted to attended school to study. It was like going to a reading room instead. He also recalled that they separated good students and created elite classes.
Seo Aera answered this as well. The two younger girls pretended not to hear and lay slumped over the table.
"Both of them got perms and dyed their hair, so that's why. I told them to wait until the break ended, but they went ahead and did it anyway and got caught, of course."
"Hehe. But did you leave it like that? If a parent contacted the school about it, they might overlook it."
"Huh? Why would I? She doesn't even go to academy or study anyway, so I was so happy when she said she'd go to school during break to study. Soo-ah's parents are the same way."
Seo Juhwan and Han Soo-ah's families are very close with each other. They had lived next to each other for over 20 years, so it was natural. The sly smiles of the two parents who got along so well came to mind warmly.
"Tch. Mom's an idiot."
"Yeah. Our mom's an idiot too."
The two murmured while slumped over the table.
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