Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world-Chapter 453: Meeting her mom [2]
The three of them sat around the low dining table in the living room with their legs folded comfortably under the kotatsu blanket that radiated gentle heat from below.
The table was crowded with dishes.
Hyejin had prepared steaming bowls of kimchi jjigae with extra tofu floating on top, japchae, perfectly seared bulgogi, tteokbokki, bean sprouts, and kimchi, and a big pot of rice still steaming in the center.
Hyejin sat across from them watching with obvious satisfaction as Brandon and Dhayun filled their plates.
"Taewon-ah, try the doenjang jjigae first," she urged, already pushing the bowl closer to him.
Brandon smiled and picked up his spoon "Thank you, Ajumma."
He took a careful first bite and savored the doenjang flavor blooming on his tongue, the soft tofu melting against the roof of his mouth.
"Still perfect," he said quietly.
Hyejin’s smile widened "Of course it is. I’ve had years to practice."
Dhayun laughed and reached over to steal a piece of bulgogi from Brandon’s plate with her chopsticks.
"Eomma’s cooking is dangerous," she said around the mouthful.
Brandon chuckled and retaliated by placing a generous portion of japchae on her plate.
"Eat more. You’re too skinny."
Dhayun gasped dramatically "You’re calling me skinny? After everything we did on the plane?"
Hyejin’s eyebrows shot up, her spoon pausing halfway to her mouth "Plane?"
Dhayun’s face turned red in an instant "Nothing! Nothing, Eomma! We just... talked. A lot. About... life."
Brandon coughed into his fist, trying and failing to hide his grin.
Hyejin looked between them and shook her head with a faint smile as she continued eating.
Dhayun kicked him lightly under the table and leaned forward to whisper, "I’m not skinny, and if I eat a lot, I would get fat."
Chuckling under his breath, he whispered back "It’s a good thing; if you get fat, I get more space to grab on your body."
Upon hearing this, she blushed and lowered her head before elbowing him gently "Bastard."
Hyejin noticed their interaction, and her gaze softened.
They ate slowly as conversation flowed easily between mouthfuls.
Hyejin asked about the academy and classes and about how Dhayun was doing with her training.
Dhayun answered enthusiastically while occasionally sneaking food from Brandon’s plate.
Brandon listened mostly and added quiet comments when asked.
---
Brandon and Dhayun slipped away from the dining room after the meal, leaving Hyejin humming happily in the kitchen as she started on the dishes.
Dhayun pulled him gently by the hand, leading him up the narrow wooden staircase to the second floor.
She pushed open the door to her bedroom.
It looked almost exactly the same as he remembered, with pale lavender walls, a single bed with a white quilt and too many throw pillows, a small desk still covered with old notebooks and stickers; and posters of K-pop groups and fantasy art taped to the wardrobe doors.
Dhayun closed the door behind them with a soft click.
Brandon walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and looked around slowly.
Dhayun knelt beside her old bookshelf, pulled out a thick, slightly faded photo album with a floral cover, and carried it over.
She sat beside him and opened it on her lap.
"Look," she said softly. "Eomma kept everything."
The first page was them as children, maybe seven or eight years old.
Dhayun, in a bright yellow dress, grinning widely with missing front teeth, arms thrown around Brandon, who was half-hiding his face behind her shoulder.
Another photo showed them at the park with Dhayun dragging him toward the swings and him looking mildly terrified, but following anyway.
Brandon’s gaze softened as he looked at the photos.
He slowly turned his head to look at her and saw the genuine joy in her eyes as she flipped through the pages.
Gently, he leaned in and kissed her cheek.
Eh? Dhayun froze, and she touched her cheek where his lips had been, her fingers trembling slightly.
"Why... sudden kiss?"
Brandon let out a soft sigh and reached over to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"I just remembered the old days," he muttered quietly. "All those years, we were just kids running around together. I never thought... we’d end up together like this."
Dhayun’s eyes trembled, shimmering with sudden moisture and she quickly glanced away, pretending to look at one of the middle-school photos still visible on the page.
"Don’t say emotional stuff like that out of nowhere, idiot." she mumbled, but her voice cracked just a little at the end.
She stared at the photo, her fingers tracing the edge of the plastic sleeve absentmindedly "I also never expected this..."
With a deep sigh, she rested her head on his shoulder and he hugged her closer.
She muttered against his chest, words half-muffled, "Staying with you and the other sisters in the same house... I’m very happy. I wish we could stay like this forever."
Brandon’s gaze lowered and he looked at his image in the album "...Forever huh."
*knock* At this time, they heard a knock on the door "Yun-ah, Taewon-ah."
Hearing Hyejin’s voice, Dhayun raised her head "Eomma, come in."
Hyejin opened the door and stepped inside carrying a small tray.
On it there were two delicate glass bowls of patbingsu with shaved ice piled high with red bean topping and fresh fruit slices, sweetened condensed milk drizzled over the top.
"I brought dessert," she said with a gentle smile as she took in the sight of them sitting close on the bed.
She set the tray on the low desk beside the bed and straightened.
"Alright then, I will leave you two alone."
With that, she turned and left the room.
Dhayun excitedly got down from the bed "Woonie, come on; let’s eat the dessert."
"Mhm."
---
Brandon walked downstairs and pushed open the swinging door to the kitchen before stepping inside.
Hyejin stood at the sink with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, scrubbing a large pot under running water.
The overhead light cast a soft golden glow over the small room, and she had a dish towel draped over her shoulder.
She didn’t look up at first because her focus was on a stubborn spot on the pot but when Brandon spoke, her movements slowed.
"Ajumma, need my help?"
Hyejin turned her head and a tired but fond smile curved her lips. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
"No, it’s okay," she said automatically, shaking her head. "You’re a guest. Go rest."
Brandon stepped closer anyway, rolling up his own sleeves without asking.
"I insist," he said quietly. "Let me help. Please."
She let out a soft sigh but handed him a clean dish towel anyway.
Brandon took it with a small smile and moved to stand beside her at the sink.
He picked up the first washed plate and carefully dried it in slow, thorough circles, then set it neatly in the drying rack.
They worked in comfortable silence for a while.
After a few minutes Hyejin spoke again "I heard a lot about what happened..."
Brandon’s hands paused for a second and resumed drying.
She continued, rinsing another bowl under the tap "About your awakening. The Church. And many other things."
She turned off the faucet, shook water from her hands, and reached for the towel over her shoulder, drying her fingers slowly.
"I know it would be quite dangerous to be with a person such as the first male awakener... But I know you will protect her."
Brandon set the plate down carefully and nodded his head "I will."
Hyejin nodded and leaned her hip against the counter, "That girl..."
She let out a weary sigh "I told her many times when she awakened... just destroy her core and be a normal human,"
Her gaze drifted to the window "But she refused and was very stubborn about being an awakener."
"Well... she is very happy right now. So as long as she is happy with her life, I will also be happy."
Looking at her, his gaze softened "I will also do my best to keep her happy."
With a soft giggle, she patted his shoulder "I know you will. You are the best man I could ever find for my Yun-ah. So I have no complaints on that part."
Brandon just smiled upon hearing this and continued cleaning the dishes "I will try to live up to your expectations, mother-in-law."
"Hahahaha..."
