Enchanted (Bbangsaz)

82

In the kitchen, the sound of chatter and laughter from the living room faded into the background, muffled by the soft hum of the refrigerator and the quiet clinking of fruit being arranged into a tray.

Hanni stood by the counter, carefully picking through a bunch of grapes, trying too hard to act like she wasn't distracted. Her fingers moved mechanically, but her mind was a mess of quiet spirals.

Mrs. Kim glanced at her from across the counter, dicing some apples with a steady rhythm. She didn't say anything for a while, letting the silence settle in gently. She had raised two beautiful girls. She knew exactly what it looked like when someone was overthinking—especially someone who loved deeply.

"You know," she said softly, eyes still on the apple, "when Jennie was little and upset, she'd run to the kitchen, too. Always acted like she was helping, but mostly she was hiding. You two had that in common."

Hanni looked up for a moment, a little startled.

"I'm not hiding," she said too quickly, then winced at how obvious that sounded. "Okay. Maybe a little."

Mrs. Kim smiled, still not looking directly at her. "It's okay to need a moment. The living room's a little... crowded right now."

"Yeah." Hanni let out a short breath. "It's not even anything bad. I just—sometimes I get in my head."

"I know," Mrs. Kim replied, her voice gentle and calm. "You care a lot. You feel a lot. That's not something to be ashamed of."

Hanni nodded slowly, pressing her lips together. "I just don't want to be that person. You know? Jealous or insecure. Sullyoon's a good person. And I know Minji loves me. It's just... hard sometimes."

Mrs. Kim finally looked up at her, eyes kind but knowing. "Even good people can trigger complicated feelings. Doesn't make you a bad person. Just makes you human."

They worked in silence for a bit, then Mrs. Kim suddenly set down her knife and dusted her hands on a towel. "I think it's time."

"For what?" Hanni asked, brow furrowing.

Mrs. Kim pulled open a cabinet and revealed a small, elegant bottle of wine. "For a glass of wine with my daughter-in-law."

Hanni blinked.

Mrs. Kim gave her a teasing look. "I think we've earned it, don't you? Come on. Let them have the living room for a while. Besides, the breeze is nice tonight."

With a soft laugh and an almost shy smile, Hanni followed her out onto the balcony. The night air greeted them, cool and quiet. The city lights glittered in the distance.

Mrs. Kim opened the bottle with practiced ease and poured two glasses—one for Hanni and one for herself. She handed Hanni a glass with a small smile, then took a slow sip before setting hers down gently on the railing.

"I'm not here to give advice," she said suddenly, her voice light, almost casual. But something in her tone—so steady and warm—hinted at something deeper. "I'm not going to tell you what you or Minji should do. That's not my place."

Hanni looked at her, quiet, the wine glass cool between her fingers.

"But," Mrs. Kim continued, turning slightly toward her, "what I do want... is to be someone you can rely on. I may be Minji's mom, but I see you, Hanni. I see how much you love her. And I see how much she loves you. How much she lights up when she's with you."

Hanni stared at the city skyline for a moment, blinking quickly. "That means a lot," she murmured. "I... I feel weird sometimes. Like I don't know where I fit. I'm just her girlfriend, and I don't want to be a burden in her world. But sometimes, it's hard not to feel... out of place."