Instinct

The highway stretched endless ahead as the late afternoon sun painted everything gold. Outside the window, cars zoomed past, their metallic coats casting shining refractions onto each other.

Y/n rested one hand on the steering wheel while the other absentmindedly tapped rhythms against the hand in his own. The radio was playing some Tchaikovsky, The Sleeping Beauty Waltz. Beside him, Gawon stared out the passenger window. she hadn’t spoken for twenty minutes.

“You’re thinking too loud.”

Gawon slowly turned toward him. Hand still gripping and playfully rubbing against his.

“…Maybe"

“Babe. Please relax, there’s no way my mother doesn’t like you.”

“…But what if she doesn’t approve?”

“She likes. Actually no, she loves you. She asks constantly whether I’m taking care of you or not. Whether I’m supporting my girlfriend like a good son. She even asks if I attend some of your schedules!”

“Well…I know she likes me.” Gawon sighed dramatically. “But liking me as your girlfriend and liking me as your wife are different.”

“They’re…pretty similar. I think?”

“NO!” she argued. “Dating is like…’Aww, she’s cute. My son is happy with her.’ Marriage is like, “She’s joining the family forever. Is she ready to shoulder that responsibility?”

“I feel like that’s a tad bit dramatic no?”

“NO! What if she changes her mind? What if she throws water at me?”

“Like a makjang?”

“EXACTLY! She stands up, screams ‘You’re not worthy of my son!’ then splashes water in my face.”

“Babe. If you weren’t worthy enough for me. Who the hell would I bring home? Do I have to bring home like…a CEO? Someone like Kim Yuna? Or even IU or BoA? Hell, someone like Jun Jihyun?”

“Well…when you put it that way…”

“Exactly. There’s nothing for you to worry about. My mom would be thrilled that someone like you is dating me. She’d be proud her son is dating someone like you.”

“Fine…I guess. But still it’s a valid concern.”

“It really isn’t but let’s see if some food can banish them away.”

Approximately ten minutes later, they stopped at a highway rest area.

The smell of friend food, tteokbokki, roasted chestnuts, and even some walnut pastries wafted through the air. Y/n had ordered soondae gukbap while Gawon ordered a tonkatsu plate.

They found a quiet table with their food. As they sat down, Gawon took out the utensils and water while Y/n got to cutting her tonkatsu plate. They ate in peace for a few minutes until Y/n noticed her staring out into the distance.

“…What if she asks why me?”

“Are we still on this?” Y/n chuckled as he took a spoonful of soup.

“Well sorry…”

He took her hand in his. “No no. It’s okay. Maybe my inner T came out strongly. But I’ll just tell her.”

“Tell her what?”

“That I chose you. Listen, my instincts have never been wrong.”

Gawon raised an eyebrow. “Really? because about two week ago, you said the weather app was wrong yesterday. You said you’d bring an umbrella, forgot the umbrella I gave you, and then got sick for a week.”

“Well…my instincts about people have never been wrong. And they were right about you.”

Gawon’s cheeks reddened and her speech stuttered. “Y-Yo-You…can’t just…say that out of nowhere!!”

Y/n smiled but he took her hand and kissed her hand. “You’ll live.”

By late afternoon and early evening, they had arrived. The town was much smaller than Seoul. The streets were peaceful, the buildings were made of brick, and there was a tiny bakery that looked older than both of them.

“It’s so…peaceful.”

“I miss it sometimes.”

“So you grew up here your whole life?”

“Well…I lived here my whole life, But I was all over Korea going to piano camps and stuff.”

She giggled. “I can imagine little Y/n running around.”

“I was actually very quiet. Very model student.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“My report cards described me as a ‘pleasant and quiet student’”

“Blasphemy.”

“Nuh uh.” he said as he stuck his tongue out.

His parents welcomed them warmly. His mother immediately hugged Gawon with the force your in-laws do.

“My goodness you’re as pretty as ever. I can tell you’ve been eating well. But you’re so thin. Come! I’ll give you some food.”

His father brought out some snacks. His mother instantly brought out the Mother-In-Law Special Platter with sliced fruit, some mini pastries, and even some premium chocolate Y/n had never seen in their house. Within twenty additional minutes, Gawon had somehow become wrapped in a blanket while listening to embarrassing childhood stories.

“He used to cry if someone touched the church piano.”

“…Mooom.”

“I was seven.”