Enn-Ho came over for a visit one evening looking very distinguished in his army uniform and ate supper with the Im family. After they had finished the meal, the whole party returned to the living room.
Sang-Jin settled down with a book of poetry while Im Ji-Sun and Enn-Ho sat together on a sofa watching Im Ji-Hye play the piano.
"My dear, Enn-Ho, if your mother doesn't want you marrying my daughter, which I totally agree with, why go through with it?"
"I think it's a maternal conspiracy."
"Please think it through before making a foolish mistake," Im Ji-Sun beseeched.
"Your lovely daughter and I have thought it through. When two people feel the way we do for each other, it becomes the sole responsibility of people to stand against the union."
"I have been making inquiries about your family. Your father was a Lieutenant and an alcoholic, and died in a car crash when you were ten," Im Ji-Sun divulged with malicious intent.
"I don't know why that has anything to do with me marrying your daughter," Enn-Ho interrupted crisply.
"Who knows, but as the saying goes the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
"If you are implying that I may end up an alcoholic, then I will assure you that I won't. I do not drink."
"So you say."
"Do you have objections because I am not rich enough?"
"Is your salary enough to support a family?"
Im Ji-Sun demanded without scruple.
"When I make a name as a Military Prosecutor, it will be."
"Oh, please spare me," Im Ji-Sun moaned while rolling her eyes dramatically.
"I love your daughter with every fiber of my being."
"I think you must wait a year," Im Ji-Sun finally declared.
"A year?"
"Yes, a year and you must show proof of your affection and so must she. Maybe by then you may have made a name for yourself."
"So that means you will give us your consent," Enn-Ho cried with excitement.
"Wait a year?"
Im Ji-Hye looked up at her mother over the gleaming piano.
"Yes, my daughter. You two must wait a year."
"Mother nothing will stop me from marrying Enn-Ho, not even you," she confirmed with a steely, silent resolve.
"Oh dear, oh dear, you do not know what you are letting yourself in for," Sang-Jin teased Enn-Ho as he looked up from his book of poetry.
Sang-Jin got up and moved over to his sister as played the piano and whispered into her ear.
"I hear he is very extravagant, spending the little money he has on you."
Im Ji-Hye giggled as her fingers flew over the keys. "Well it's all true."
"Dear sweet sister, you are not getting a husband, rather you are getting your own personal ATM."
Both Sang-Jin and Ji-Hye broke into laughter with Enn-Ho and Ji-Sun wondering the reason behind it.
Ji-Hye finished playing her concerto.
"There, what about that?"
She asked her audience.129Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GJMmY4eZV
Enn-Ho immediately stood up clapping his hands. "Please, play another one for us."
"Enn-Ho is being polite but I think we have had enough."
Enn-Ho quickly got the hint of Im Ji-Sun's words.
"I will take my leave now. Thank you for the wonderful hospitality. Good evening and goodbye."
With that Enn-Ho shook hands with Im family and left.
Immediately after Ji-Hye had closed the door behind him, Sang-Jin sat down opposite his mother.
"Mother I have something to tell you."
Ji-Sun retrieved a hand mirror from behind a sofa pillow and inspected her face. "You do?"
"I am going to move out."
Sang-Jin announced.
"What?'
The hand mirror dropped to the floor.
"You are doing what?"
"I will not be living here with you and Ji-Hye. At least not for a little while," Sang-Jin spoke calmly as he looked at his mother.
For Im Ji-Sun, this was a complete bombshell and was ill equipped to handle such information.
"What did you say?"
Ji-Sun sat up straight.
"You are moving out?"
"Yes, mother, I will be moving out."
"Why would you move out," Ji-Sun insisted as she tried to make sense of what her son was telling her.
"Mother please don't get upset."
Ji-Hye sat next to their mother in order to calm her down.
"I have thought about it and it's something I must do."
"Something you must do?" Ji-Sun challenged.
"I cannot talk about it now," Sang-Jin offered apologetically.
"Who are you going to live with?"
Im Ji-Sun demanded.
"What's wrong with me wanting to move out?"
"Because children are supposed to live with their parents," she snapped at Sang-Jin. "Why do you want to fly out the nest?"
"Mother I am old enough to decide where I want to live."
"What?"
Im Ji-Sun was under great distress. "Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today? What has gotten into you? Is it because of that golf player? Is that it? Did he put you up to this?"
"Don't jump to conclusions. I came to this decision myself."
"What?"
His mother cried.
"Mother please calm down. You don't want your blood pressure to go up, do you?"
Ji-Hye said as she caressed her mother's hair.
"I am going to bed now."
Sang-Jin stood up and left the living room.
"Fine! Just leave if that's what you want!"
Ji-Sun screamed after her son.
She began beating her chest while wailing. "Wicked, wicked children! How can you be so treacherous with your mother?"
Once inside his bedroom Sang-Jin's heart broke as he listened to his mother ululate.
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