Chapter 24: Nice to Meet You, Mom. My Name is Heena. (3)

    TL: looloo

    Schedule: 4/Week Wed-Sat

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    On a peaceful Sunday, our house radiated calmness, in stark contrast to the bustling day I had with Heena yesterday. My dad, due to his job, occasionally works on weekends. He left for work today, his face tinged with regret.

    Mom was at home, as usual, casually attending to household chores while waiting for Heena to arrive. She had overheard my agonizing over the gift I''d chosen for Heena yesterday and seemed to have taken special care with her appearance today.

    "Son."

    "Yeah?"

    While we waited for Heena and watched TV on the sofa, Mom addressed me.

    "Do you have enough money for the beach trip?"

    "I''ve saved up some allowance, and I made a good amount from my part-time job recently. I think I''m good."

    "Have you sorted out where you''ll be staying?"

    "Not yet. Isn''t it a bit early? I haven’t even planned out the entire trip."

    "You said you wanted to head there as soon as the holidays began, right? It might be getting late."

    "Come on, how many accommodations can there be by the beach?"

    Mom chuckled at my naive remark.

    "If you want your girlfriend to sleep in a place crawling with bugs, then suit yourself."

    "...Really?"

    To be honest, I''ve never made accommodation arrangements without adults before, so it hadn''t been a concern. But her comment got me worried. Mom isn''t one to tease me about such things without reason.

    Even if it''s peak summer season at the beach, could the bookings already be filled up?

    "Should I make a reservation now?"

    "No need. I booked a hotel near Sokcho yesterday. Just head there."

    Wait, what? Mom?!

    "Really, Mom?"

    "Stop overreacting."

    "How could I ever speak so carelessly to you?"

    "I can still change my mind, you know."

    "I''m sorry..."

    With a cool demeanor, she returned her focus to the TV.

    Filled with admiration, I watched her for a moment. But when my phone rang, I immediately prepared to leave.

    It had to be Heena calling.Th.e? most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

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    Raei Translations

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    I brought Heena home.

    As we entered the house, my mother came to greet us at the entrance. Before Heena could even take off her shoes, she bowed deeply, almost at a 90-degree angle, and said politely, "Nice to meet you, ma''am. My name is Heena."

    Heena greeted with a gentle smile. My mother, seemingly frozen in place, just stared at her without blinking.

    Heena often wore skirts on our dates, but today she opted for crisp black slacks and a soft beige linen tee. Her outfit was simple yet incredibly neat and polished.

    Her hair, silky and neatly done, suggested she had spent time on it in the morning. Her makeup was faint, almost imperceptible.

    At a glance, I could see her intended style: a natural look, not overly done up but still very tidy—clearly aimed to make a good impression on the elderly.

    However, Heena today exuded a particularly mature vibe.

    She always had an aura of being older than her age, but today it was even more pronounced. If I had passed her on the street without knowing her, I might have guessed she was a college student.

    She lifted her head, her gestures and expression never faltering, looking at my mother with a soft smile.

    Finally responding to Heena, my mother said, "Welcome. It''s been quite hot recently, hasn''t it? I hope your journey here wasn''t too tiring."

    I''d never seen my mother smile so warmly before. She addressed Heena respectfully and invited her inside.

    As I watched in slight confusion, wondering what was happening, Heena replied, "Yes, the weather was quite pleasant today. Ma''am, may I give you this?"

    Casually, Heena handed over a gift that she had spent hours deliberating over the previous day.

    To be honest, I initially thought there was no need for a gift, but Heena seemed to think otherwise. After much contemplation, she had chosen a diffuser set.

    My mother has always loved such items, and my father kept one in his car, showing some interest in them. Moreover, it was an affordable choice that seemed just right.

    "Yes. In fact, my mother mentioned she''d look into getting a room for us."

    "Really? ...Just one room?"

    "Yes, just one."

    "Hmm..."

    "Wait, this is the first time I''m hearing this. She''s booking only one room?"

    Taken aback by this unexpected news, I blurted out in surprise. But Heena''s face didn''t show the slightest hint of discomfort.

    Seeing our contrasting reactions, Mom narrowed her eyes, alternating her gaze between us. Eventually, she settled her gaze on Heena and spoke.

    "I booked two single rooms... should I change it?"

    "Would it be possible to change it to a double room? It might be less of a burden for you."

    "That could be arranged..."

    "Don''t worry about us, ma''am. We''re still students."

    "I''m not worried, but shouldn''t my son have a say in this?"

    "Exactly my point..."

    I couldn''t keep up with the rapid pace of the conversation.

    I naturally assumed that Mom had booked two single rooms. So, I was shocked to hear she intended to book just one for both of us.

    Did she trust me, or did she simply not care about potential issues?

    Moreover, Heena''s nonchalant attitude towards this topic seemed impressive.

    Even listening made my face burn.

    Oh well, it doesn''t matter. Even if it''s one room, there will be two beds. It''s like a school trip.

    However, the two people in front of me were wrapping up the conversation, seemingly without considering my perspective.

    "So, we''ll change the room booking. What''s the plan for today?"

    "If it''s not too much trouble, can I meet your father as well?"

    "He''s coming home late, so that might be difficult."

    "I see..."

    It wasn''t a face of relief from an awkward situation; it was genuine disappointment at not meeting my father.

    "I''ll be stepping out for a bit. You two can hang out until then."

    "Huh? Where are you headed?"

    "To see your aunt."

    Ah, maybe she''s visiting her because of the room change. The younger aunt lives nearby. I''ve heard she has some connections at the hotel reception.

    "Make yourself at home, Heena."

    "Yes, ma''am."

    With that, Mom stood up from her seat. Judging by how she immediately got dressed and left, she might be catching up with her sister about her encounter with Heena.

    We browsed some albums in my room and finalized the exchange we had discussed earlier.

    It was a swap of photos from our middle school days. Ecstatic about the great deal, I quickly stashed the picture in my wallet, planning to revisit it from time to time.

    After spending another hour reminiscing through the albums, we left my house.

    With my brother''s return uncertain, staying home felt pointless. Heena seemed curious to see what my brother looked like, but I wasn''t keen on the idea.

    Considering the likelihood of Yoonjung, my brother’s girlfriend, showing up, I wasn''t ready for our paths to cross just yet.

    Introducing my girlfriend to my brother also felt a bit daunting.

    Instead of wandering around, we headed to a cafe to sketch out our travel plans. Although it felt somewhat excessive labeling it as an "itinerary" for a mere overnight trip, it was a big deal for me. It was the first time I was traveling with a peer, and that peer happened to be my girlfriend.

    The anticipation made my heart race, and I couldn’t hide my excitement.

    Heena seemed to share the sentiment, chatting with a flushed face.

    Our final exams were behind us, and the vacation was just around the corner.

    Our first trip together was about to begin.

    Author''s Note:

    This novel is suitable for all ages...

    There might be some mature content, but...

    It won''t appear during their high school days at the very least.

    Thank you for your comments, likes, and support! I love you all!

    Love you! So much! Thank you!