She had never seen Hyejin so stiff before. Nor has she ever seen her grandmother glare so much before. Her mother was none the wiser and she had to suffer alone. Wheein had to bite her tongue to keep from letting out a small, high pitched whine. Oh how she wanted to skip this cutscene. 

“So, Hyejin, what’s your major?” Her grandmother coldly asked while taking a calculated sip of water. Her eyes never once leaving Hyejin's form. 

Hyejin visibility gulped and clenched her fists under the table. After making such a scene, Wheein’s grandmother asked for all of them to sit down in one of the outside tables so she could “rest”. But her plan was obvious. 

“I, uh, well,” Hyejin felt caged. As much as she wanted to cling onto Wheein for comfort, she also knows that if she so much as reaches out to touch Wheein, without proving herself, then she’s as good as dead.

“Grandma, can you not--” Wheein attempted to get her grandmother off of Hyejin’s back, but that’s impossible at this point. The tiger had it's sights on the lion.

“No, no. She can answer the question herself, it’s a simple one anyway,” Her grandmother calmly put down her cup of water and stared at Hyejin. Waiting for her to answer.

“Oh, they got a new desert menu! But we need to get up to order it. Wanna come with me Wheein?”

Wheein bit her tongue. She now truly understood why her mom would attempt to whack her mother. She can't tell if her mother is just oblivious to the situation or just playing it as if she was oblivious. 

“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Her grandmother beamed at the thought of finally getting a moment alone with Hyejin, “Wheein, why don’t you join your mother? She has a terrible habit of getting me the worst desert.”

“I--That was one time!” Her mother said as she got up.

Wheein opened to protest but received a fierce look from her grandmother that she felt an intense fear so she obeyed without question. She did manage to give an apologetic look to Hyejin. Her poor Hyejin. She looked like a tiny cub in time out. She fought the urge to cradle Hyejin to her bosom as she knows that that won’t help Hyejin’s case. All she could do now is hope that Hyejin survives. 

So, with one last wistful look, Wheein finally left with her mother to go to get some deserts.

Hyejin looked at Wheein until she was out of sight, desperate to not meet the eyes of the tiger.

“Now I can ask the question I really wanted,” Wheein’s grandmother was smooth as it was cold. 

Hyejin couldn’t help but fear for her life. Wheein swears that her grandmother is a nice old woman and that she worked in an office but Hyejin thinks that’s a lie. From the way she examines Hyejin, to the calculation in her eyes, it seems more like Wheein’s grandmother was an agent of some sort. Maybe being a regular officer worker was a cover story. No, it definitely was a cover story.  

“Ahn Hyejin…”

“Yes, ma’am??” Hyejin surprised herself. She expected herself to squeak but she didn’t. Maybe there’s hope for her left. 

Leaning in, Wheein’s grandmother finally spoke the words that have been on her mind ever since she heard Wheein talk about Hyejin.

“What is your intention with my granddaughter?”

In an instant, Hyejin felt calm. She knew her answer deep within her mind and soul. It was an obvious answer. An answer that she held close to her heart, and now she has the chance to verbalise it.

So, taking in a breath and squaring her shoulders, Hyejin looked at Wheein’s grandmother in the eye and told the truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By the time they made it back home, her mother was tired and her grandmother was smug and knowing like she held a secret. A secret that Wheein tried to get out of her but her grandmother was tough as nails. No amount of pouting or puppy eyes could break her ironclad will. 

“But why can’t you tell me what you two talked about?” Wheein whined as she escorted her grandma into the house. Leaving her mother behind once again to carry the bags. 

“It was nothing, you silly pup,” Wheein’s grandmother answered kindly while pinching Wheein’s cheek.

“But--”

“Bout time you guys came home!” 

Her mom popped her head out of the kitchen doorway once they made it into the entryway. Her bright smile blinded them both and made them flinch. 

“Yongsun, how are you so bright all the time?” Wheein’s grandmother closed her eyes and let Wheein lead her.

“It’s because my loved ones are here!” Yong beamed.

“Did you make bread again?” Wheein asked once she saw all the flour that covered her mom. Just how does her mom manage to cover herself with flour? Also the fact that the smell of freshly baked bread blanketed the household.

“Yup! I needed to punch something but I didn’t want to bring out the dummy, you know?”

“A little help would be nice,” Byul grumbled as she came into the entryway. All around her were the bags of stuff that was bought during their small trip into town. 

“Did you guys buy out whole stores??” Yong questioned as she quickly made her way to Byul to take some of the burden off. 

“They practically did!” Byul exclaimed with a pained tone. Shopping with her mom in  her youth was a drag, and that still remained true to this day. 

Yong took a majority of the bags, and easily carried them off. Leaving Byul to stand there dumbfounded. She had a tough time carrying all of these bags and yet Yong made it look easy. With a small shake of her head, she followed Yong to go put up the bags, leaving her own mother and Wheein by themselves for a bit. All while complaining still. 

“I hope your married life is full of love,” her grandmother softly muttered, “Full of love and adventure.”

“Hm?” 

“Ah, nothing, just the musings of an old woman,” Wheein’s grandmother quickly brushed her comment off and dragged Wheein into the kitchen to steal some bread.

“Married life??”

“Don’t be so surprised. I want to be a great-grandmother one day!” Her grandmother laughed brightly as she left Wheein at the doorway and stole a piece of bread. They arrived right in time as the bread just came out of the oven only a while ago and cooled down just enough to be picked apart by hand. 

Wheein stood there taken aback. Marriage only crossed her mind a few times when she let her mind wander. But she never took those thoughts seriously. If she were to take them seriously then that would mean---

“Oh, your face is flushed. You finally get what I’m hinting at?” Her grandmother stated through a mouthful of bread.

“I--” Wheein finally felt that her face was red. Did her grandmother ask Hyejin about marriage plans? If so, then what did Hyejin say? Was it good or bad? Well, knowing Hyejin, it probably wouldn’t be bad but remembering how calm and relieved Hyejin looked when they came back, Wheein could only wonder what Hyejin’s confession was. Did Hyejin have plans for marriage? Wait, is she ready for marriage? She loves Hyejin, and if she could be with Hyejin for the rest of her life then she would gladly take it. But, doesn’t Hyejin deserve better? 

“Hinting? What are you hinting at mom?” Byul asked as she strode in to also steal a piece of bread. 

“I’m just hinting that Wheein needs to consider marr--”

“This is why we don’t have enough bread in this house! Everyone keeps eating the moment it’s out of the oven!” Yong whined as she saw Byul and her mother nibbling on bread.

“It’s like you, Yong. It’s irresistible,” Byul proudly stated with a smile and a wink. 

“Honestly, I don’t know where you picked up these terrible lines.”

“M-mom!!” Byul almost choked on a piece of bread from her own mother's statement. 

“Do you want to take her back, Mrs. Moon? I’m sure she needs a firm reminder of where she came from,” Yong easily said as if this was something she had been thinking about.

“Oh no, the moment you two tied the knot, I washed my hands of her,” Wheein’s grandmother easily shrugged.

“M-mom! Why are you so mean?”

“Ah, such is my burden,” Yong sadly sighed as she leaned on Wheein for support, “At least my daughter--”

“Our daughter.”

“Our daughter is here to support me.”

“If you knew mother was going to be such a pain, would you have married her still?” Wheein asked the question that she’s been holding ever since she was small. Why? Who knows. 

The room went silent at the question. Her grandmother looked between Byul and Yong, eager to hear their answers but also not wanting to be roped into the question. Byul looked at Wheein with something between betrayal, shock, and confusion. Meanwhile, Yong had a blank face, showing no emotion as to what she was really thinking. But she did feel her mom’s grip on her shoulder tighten. 

“Well, Wheein, once you are married, you will know the answer for yourself,” Yong happily stated while her grip on Wheein’s shoulder did not lessen.

“Wait, but I’m curious too. Would you’ve married me still?” 

“Byul, I swear to god--”

“Or would you still marry mother because of me?”

Wheein’s grandmother finally snickered as Yong floundered about trying to answer Wheein’s question. Byul continued to look at Wheein then moved her gaze to Yong. 

“Well, Yong?” Byul asked with raised brows. Her face was serious but there was the hint of a smile on her lips.

“Wh-- Of course I would still marry her! No matter what, I would still ask even if I knew the future that awaited me” Yong exclaimed. Wondering how this even became a topic.

“Despite how--” Wheein was prepared with a lifetime of evidence but her grandmother cut her off. 

“Now, now. We can have this discussion later,” Her grandmother quickly said while gently shoving Byul out of the way so she can get more bread.

“Or we can be done with the topic and finally discuss what we are going to do the rest of the week now that Wheein is here!” Yong hurriedly said while taking Wheein’s grandmother away from the bread, and dragging Byul back with her to the living room.

“I forgot to tell you this but the gym is under renovation so I need your help,” Yong looked back towards Wheein who took her own piece of bread. 

“How do you forget to tell me something like that?! I had plans!” Wheein whined. Her plans this week was to catch up with Ggomo, her parents, and spend some tender moments with Hyejin without interruption. 

“Hyejin’s mom texted me just before you guys got here that they have to spend the rest of the week cleaning the land by the river so Hyejin won’t be available anyway.”

“Mom, why--”

“Distance makes the heart grow fonder, and it makes it so when Hyejin touches you again--”

“BYUL.”

“MOTHER.” Wheein felt her face flush and hot. 

“You get that from your father, I swear. Where did I go wrong with you, Byul?”

“The fact that all of you came to that conclusion says more about you than me honestly.”