Black Label [EN]: Chapter 31

Black Label 30

31. Mothers’ Chit-Chat? Mothers’ Feud

The day of the mothers’ alumni meeting.

“I’m home.”

Jaeseung returned home as soon as school was over, intending to grab a quick bite before heading to his studio.

He soon heard his mother’s voice from the master bedroom, “Son, you’re home?”

Jaeseung went to the bedroom door, peeked inside, and asked, “You haven’t left yet?”

His mother, Kim Eunhyung, who appeared to have finished her makeup, was standing in front of the closet.

“Yeah. I was just getting ready.”

“What time do you need to be there by?”

“I just need to be there by eight. Son, have you eaten?”

“I’m about to. I’ll fix something for myself.”

Jaeseung’s gaze drifted to the bed, which was covered in clothes.

It seemed she was having trouble deciding what to wear to the alumni meeting.

“Were you picking out clothes?”

“Huh? Yeah. I don’t know what to wear,” Kim Eunhyung replied softly, giving an awkward, embarrassed smile.

Jaeseung began to examine the clothes scattered on the bed one by one.

‘Hmm…’

It seemed she really didn’t have anything suitable to wear. Despite the number of clothes, nothing quite matched the handbag he had gifted her.

Lost in thought for a moment, Jaeseung glanced at the clock on the wall and asked, “You said you have to be there by eight, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

Jaeseung smiled and replied, “I’m going to change, so let’s go somewhere for a bit.”

“Where…?”

Jaeseung smiled deeply. “The department store.”

* * *

If he could, he would create everything for her, from her hairstyle to her shoes.

If he had the time, he would have.

Although he couldn’t make all her clothes from scratch, he could certainly buy them, couldn’t he?

Jaeseung took Kim Eunhyung straight to a department store near Ilsan Jeongbalsan Station.

As soon as they entered the women’s section on the fourth floor, Kim Eunhyung spoke in a slightly hesitant voice. “Jaeseung, it’s just an alumni meeting. I could just go as I am…”

Jaeseung grabbed Kim Eunhyung’s wrist and replied firmly, “I won’t allow it. Let’s go there first.”

The first place they headed to was the women’s brand ‘Polno’, also known as the ‘Ralph Lauren Lady’ store.

Although labeled as a casual brand, it offered clothes comparable to semi-luxury brands.

“Jaeseung, isn’t this place too expensive…?”

“It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Jaeseung replied briefly and immediately spoke to the employee. “Excuse me, could we get the dress displayed on the mannequin? We’d like to try it on.”

“Of course. Just a moment, sir.”

There was a turtleneck dress with a waist-cinching string that caught Jaeseung’s eye.

While his mother was being guided to the fitting room by the employee, Jaeseung began to browse the clothes on the rack.

‘Let’s see…’

Soon, Jaeseung picked out a neat and simple black wool-cashmere coat.

*Toc-.*

The fitting room door opened, and Kim Eunhyung appeared in the dress Jaeseung had chosen.

The store employee clapped her hands and said in a friendly tone, “Wow, ma’am! You look absolutely beautiful!”

Kim Eunhyung blushed and gave an awkward smile.

At that moment, Jaeseung handed her the coat he had picked out and said, “Mother, would you like to try this on over the dress?”

As Kim Eunhyung received the coat, the store employee began to compliment, “Your son has a great eye for clothes,” and “This is a new coat that just came out,” half sincere and half sales pitch.

Eventually, Kim Eunhyung, wearing the cashmere coat over the turtleneck dress, looked at herself in the mirror and asked in a slightly trembling voice, “Son, how is it? Does it look okay…?”

Jaeseung smiled and nodded.

Jaeseung handed his card to the employee and said, “Please pay with this. She’ll be wearing it, so please remove the tags.”

“Yes, I understand. How many months would you like to pay over?”

“Please pay in full.”

Then, in a small voice, he whispered, “Please don’t mention the price.” He thought she would be uncomfortable if she knew the cost.

The employee nodded and quietly handed him the receipt.

‘Let’s see…’

The total price of the turtleneck dress and coat was 620,000 won [approximately $470 USD]. It was a considerable expense, but he didn’t regret it at all.

After all, it was only about the average daily sales of Wallflower [Jaeseung’s business].

“Mom, let’s go.”

Jaeseung said briefly and left the store.

* * *

The two mothers’ [referring to Jaeseung and his mother] shopping trip ended 30 minutes later.

They left the Ralph Lauren Lady store and headed to the women’s shoe corner. After buying suede shoes, they went down to the first floor and bought a gold necklace and earrings with a modest design from the ‘Swarovski’ store.

The last stop was perfume.

“Smells good, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Please give me this one.”

Dress, coat, shoes, necklace, earrings, and finally perfume – they spent a total of 1.1 million won [approximately $830 USD] that day.

Kim Eunhyung asked worriedly, “Jaeseung, aren’t you overspending? How much did you spend?”

“It’s a secret.”

Jaeseung replied briefly, adding softly, “I spent within a reasonable limit, so you don’t have to worry.”

Then, with his eyes wide open, he began to scan Kim Eunhyung’s appearance.

‘Hmm…’

A tight-fitting turtleneck dress that accentuated her figure, an elegant coat, and suede shoes.

It was an ensemble that blended well with the lambskin flap bag Jaeseung had made himself, without any sense of incongruity.

The necklace revealed above the neckline of the turtleneck dress and the earrings dangling below her earlobes added a touch of elegance.

Perhaps because she was already in good shape, she resembled a middle-aged missy model who hadn’t lost her youthful charm.

Jaeseung smiled with satisfaction and continued, “Now your beauty is shining.”

“Really? It still feels awkward to me…”

“You look like a rich housewife.”

“You…”

Kim Eunhyung waved her hand, pulled her chin in, and looked at Jaeseung with deep eyes, saying softly, “Son.”

“Yes.”

“Thank you.”

Jaeseung shook his head and continued in a nonchalant tone, “You’re welcome. Mother, go quickly. You’ll be late.”

It was already 7 p.m. There was only an hour left until his mother’s alumni meeting.

* * *

Inside the bar where the alumni meeting of the 11th graduates of Korea Women’s Commercial High School was in full swing.

As soon as Kim Eunhyung stepped in, several of her high school classmates greeted her.

“Oh? Eunhyung is here!”

“Eunhyung, come and sit here.”

Kim Eunhyung swept her hair behind her ear and said softly, “Am I too late? Sorry, the traffic was really bad.”

After speaking, Kim Eunhyung sat down next to her best friend, ‘Moon Jungwon’, who handed her a glass and said in an exaggerated tone, “Oh my, look at Eunhyung! She’s getting prettier as time goes on!”

“Oh, stop it…”

Soon, the attention of the classmates sitting around began to focus on Kim Eunhyung.

Their biggest interest seemed to be the clothes and bags Eunhyung was wearing.

“Eunhyung, the coat and dress, are they from Ralph Lauren Lady’s new collection? I saw them at the department store!”

“What about the bag?”

“Wow, amazing. Isn’t that Chanel?”

Just as questions were pouring in on Kim Eunhyung, ‘Lee Kyungsook’, who was sitting across from Kim Eunhyung with her brows furrowed, chewing on dried snacks, began to speak sarcastically. “Eunhyung, aren’t you overdoing it for the alumni meeting? The bag and clothes all look brand new.”

She was the one who usually caused resentment from other classmates due to her slightly twisted personality.

Just as Moon Jungwon was saying, “She’s starting again…” as if whispering.

A subtle power struggle, a battle of nerves that often occurs when women gather, had begun.

“Overdoing it?”

Kim Eunhyung said briefly, looking at Lee Kyungsook with clear eyes and continuing fluently, “The coat, dress, shoes, necklace, earrings – my son bought them all for me. He bought them for me because it’s my mother’s alumni meeting.”

“Really? Did you buy the Chanel bag on installment? No, is it a fake? Well, it’s just us, so what if it’s on installment or a fake?”

After speaking, Lee Kyungsook covered her mouth and gave a fake smile.

“Chanel? This isn’t a Chanel bag?”

“What?”

“My son made this bag for me.”

At Kim Eunhyung’s words, the attention of the classmates sitting nearby focused on the bag again, and various comments began to pour out from everywhere.

“Oh? Come to think of it, it’s not a real Chanel bag? Isn’t Eunhyung’s son still a high school student? He’s really talented. We should recommend him to Younghye’s husband?”

“Come to think of it, isn’t Younghye’s husband a professor of fashion design? Tell her when Younghye comes later.”

“That’s right. Who knows? If you can get in touch, maybe a good opportunity will arise.”

Lee Kyungsook bit her lower lip and turned her head away.

Moon Jungwon, who was watching the scene, whispered to Kim Eunhyung, “Why is she acting like that when she won’t even make a peep when Younghye comes?”

“Leave her alone. It’s not like it’s new.”

“Well, I wish Kyungsook wouldn’t come to the alumni meeting.”

“Still, don’t hate her too much. She’s not a bad person, even if she says things like that.”

After the argument between Lee Kyungsook and Kim Eunhyung subsided, a friendly atmosphere continued for a while.

Laughter was heard, and the clear sound of glasses clinking together echoed.

Lee Kyungsook spoke again, “By the way, does Eunhyung’s son have a part-time job these days? To be buying all his mother’s clothes.”

Just as Kim Eunhyung was about to answer, Lee Kyungsook continued without giving her a chance. “Our son got into Seoul National University this time. Shouldn’t you be educating your son too? You can’t do anything without a college degree.”

“Kyungsook, I’ll take care of our son’s education…”

“Well, Eunhyung’s son was a huge troublemaker, right? It’s better to have a part-time job than to wander around and cause trouble.”

The atmosphere noticeably subsided due to Lee Kyungsook’s excessive remarks. Moon Jungwon, who had been silent, said sharply, “Hey, Lee Kyungsook, watch your mouth.”

Words of agreement such as “Yeah” and “That’s right” began to emerge.

“Hoo…”

Kim Eunhyung, who had taken a long breath, picked up the soju [Korean distilled rice liquor] glass in front of her and drank the alcohol in one gulp.

And then.

*Taat-*!

She slammed the empty glass on the table and opened her mouth.

“Hey, Lee Kyungsook.”

A voice that was endlessly bleak. Kim Eunhyung and Lee Kyungsook’s gazes locked, and the venue became as quiet as if cold water had been poured on it.