Peaceful Bullpen Life [EN]: Chapter 149

149. The Engagement Meeting

“Um….”

Hmm….

“Excuse me….”

Ah….

“…….”

A fancy Korean restaurant. Inside, a luxurious room. Inside that room, six people.

“…Yes. That’s right.”

“What is?”

“No, well….”

I think I’m the only one who feels uncomfortable here.

“Haha, Hanwool seems very nervous.”

“I know, he’s not usually like this. I don’t know why he’s acting like this.”

My future father-in-law explained my behavior, and my mom responded appropriately.

Haha hoho.

The engagement meeting was very amicable. Both Minyoung’s family and mine.

But there’s one person,

“Hanwool, eat something, quickly. You must be hungry.”

“Yes? Ah, yes!”

I was the only one sweating from nerves.

I’m fundamentally trying my best. Of course, I need to do well for my mom and dad, and I definitely need to do well for my future in-laws.

But the reason I’m nervous is the next issue. In some ways, it’s nothing, and in some ways, it’s a simple problem….

“So, when do you think would be a good date?”

“Does it matter what we think? We should *matchwoojwooyagetjyo* [accommodate] to whatever date the kids want.”

“Ah, that’s right. Minyoung, you’re free anytime, aren’t you? It’s not just any event, it’s a wedding. The company will understand.”

“Yes. I think it’s better to *matchwoojwooyagetjyo* [accommodate] to Hanwool’s schedule.”

“That’s right. His baseball schedule might get complicated. Hanwool, when is good for you?”

Unintentionally, the attention of five people here, except for me, keeps focusing on me.

My mom, my dad, Minyoung’s father, Minyoung’s mother, and Minyoung.

As the story about the season came out, five pairs of eyes naturally turned towards me, sitting awkwardly.

“Well… first, I’d like to finish the season basically. Since Wonha is doing well, I think we can easily make it to the post-season, if not the Korean Series [Korean baseball championship]. So… I think it would be good if it’s a little after the Korean Series schedule.”

Fortunately, all five nodded simply as I explained my thoughts in a disorganized manner.

But my father, who had been thinking quietly, raised one question.

“But I understand that you’ll easily make it to the post-season. But you need to know if you’ll make it to the Korean Series.”

“Yes?”

“You have to go. No, you have to win.”

“Ah….”

Next to my father’s determined expression, Minyoung nodded firmly.

“…Yes, considering the Korean Series schedule and some leeway, I think mid-December would be good.”

“Mid-December….”

“That sounds good.”

“Yes, that sounds good.”

The date was quickly set,

“Have you thought about the honeymoon home?”

“Ah, yes. I’m thinking of living with Minyoung in my current place for about a year and then finding a new place to move to.”

“Why bother? Is it because of the *jeonse* [lump-sum deposit rental agreement]?”

“Yes. The contract is still valid until next year.”

“Don’t worry about the *jeonsegeum* [jeonse deposit], just move out and live separately. We can easily take care of that.”

“It’s okay, Dad. I was the one who suggested it first.”

“No, but….”

“The kids want to do that, dear.”

The direction of the honeymoon home was quickly decided,

“What about the wedding hall and stuff? Are you looking into it?”

“Ah, yeah. I asked a friend who works in that field for help.”

“There’s a lot to prepare besides the wedding hall, like invitations and the honeymoon.”

“Yes, I have acquaintances working in those areas, so I’m getting help from them.”

“Hanwool is definitely a good person. Your in-laws raised him really well. You can feel it in every polite thing he says.”

“Oh, did we raise him? He left home as soon as he turned twenty and grew up on his own.”

“Oh, Mom, please….”

Other subsidiary stories were also progressing smoothly,

“Then let’s proceed as we discussed today, and all that’s left is to wait until the date.”

“Yes, it’s a shame we live in the countryside. I didn’t know we’d get along so well, haha.”

“Oh, we’re even more grateful that you say so. Please come visit often.”

“I’d like to, but I’m worried the kids might not like it.”

“Ahahaha!”

The engagement meeting concluded very successfully, with even the farewell greetings being exchanged smoothly.

“Then I’ll head in first. I look forward to seeing you again soon.”

“Yes, yes, go ahead.”

“Yes, go safely!”

Minyoung’s parents bowed politely, and my mom and dad also bowed politely. Oh, and me too, of course.

“…But what about Minyoung?”

“Yes?”

“Weren’t you going with your father and mother?”

“Well….”

“Yes.”

“Why are you so clueless?”

“Huh?”

As I was having a somewhat awkward conversation with Minyoung, my dad came over and nudged my arm.

“We’re leaving first.”

“Huh?”

“Your in-laws are giving us some space, you idiot.”

“Ah….”

“We’ll give you some space too, so have fun and go home. Take our daughter-in-law home safely.”

“Ah, Dad!”

“We’re leaving.”

“Ah….”

Empty- Boong-!

“…Pa.”

My dad looked at me pitifully and then quickly got in the car and left. My mom was already in the car, so I couldn’t even see her.

“…….”

Thanks to that, I was left alone with Minyoung, and a slight awkwardness filled the air.

“…Does Hanwool not like being with me?”

“No, there’s no way. How could I dare to have such crazy thoughts? That’s really absurd, right? Of course.”

“Then why are you asking if I’m staying?”

“That’s….”

Listening to Minyoung, who was puffing air into her white cheeks and pouting, I realized, ‘Ah, I made a mistake.’

But what can I do? It’s true that I feel awkward.

Of course, the reason is,

“…It’s just that I can’t believe it.”

“What can’t you believe?”

“We’re really getting married in just five months.”

“So?”

“Before, I felt it vaguely. ‘We’re getting married, we’re going to get married.’ But now that we’ve even had the engagement meeting, it doesn’t feel real.”

“What is that?”

It might sound like nonsense from the listener’s perspective.

“Should I just go?”

“No, no, no. Don’t go. I can’t live if you leave, Minyoung.”

Even after hearing my explanation, Minyoung still didn’t seem to be appeased, and she was still pouting.

I know I shouldn’t do this, but her expression was so cute that I struggled to suppress the laughter that was about to burst out.

“Let’s… go to the car first.”

“Yeesh….”

Hmph, tch, pooh, pshaw.

Minyoung freely expressed her emotions and followed me to the car.

As soon as I got in the car, I unknowingly let out a cold sweat.

“Hanwool.”

“Yes, yes?!”

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, I wasn’t really surprised….”

I just feel like I’ve done something wrong.

“…What’s wrong?”

“Do you really still not feel it?”

“Yes? Ah… a little.”

“Why?”

“Um….”

I dragged out the end of my sentence to buy time to answer, but I didn’t avoid Minyoung’s gaze as she looked at me.

Quietly, I looked into Minyoung’s brown eyes and slowly recited what came to mind.

“Us meeting like this, eating together. Occasionally watching movies and drinking coffee.”

“Yes.”

“We can do that every day now, you know.”

“Right?”

“Not only that, but also sleeping together, living together, bumping into each other. Together….”

“You mean we’ll be doing everything together now?”

“Yeeees….”

“You still can’t believe it?”

“A little….”

“You must be expecting a looot.”

“Expecting… expecting? Expecting, yeah? Right, expecting.”

Minyoung smiled at my dazed reply.

“Besides that, we’ll also… go grocery shopping together, cook together. If something breaks in the house, we’ll worry together, if something happens, we’ll think together. Right?”

“Th-that’s right.”

“Like when Han Kyu-jin got married, other people will congratulate us, and we’ll go on a honeymoon together. Ah, before that, I have to look at dresses while choosing a wedding hall. I think Hanwool will be really looking forward to that too.”

How can she be so pretty when she puts her index finger to her lips while talking?

“Minyoung will be very beautiful.”

“When I wear a wedding dress?”

“Yes. You’ll be really beautiful.”

“Of course!”

Giggling, Minyoung laughed playfully.

“Do you want to see it soon?”

“Of course. Ah, I think this is the first time I’ve wanted the season to end this quickly.”

“There are only 5 months left. It’ll go by quickly.”

“Saying it’s 5 months makes it seem so far away.”

“Far away? It’ll be here in no time!”

I know very well that I’m acting like a child. But what can I do? I really can’t help but whine like a child waiting for a picnic.

Minyoung gently soothed me like a kindergarten teacher skillfully comforting a child.

“There’s the All-Star game this week, and as soon as the All-Star game is over, it’ll be August in no time. If we’re a little concerned about the league standings, August will be over quickly. In September and October, we’ll be busy finishing the season. In November, we’ll be busy wrapping up the post-season.”

Clap!

“Oh my, it’s already December?”

She was so impressed with her own words that she even clapped her hands and showed exaggerated surprise, very playfully, like Minyoung.

“Oh my, oh my, doesn’t it feel like we’re getting married tomorrow?”

Minyoung is saying such nonsense too.

After laughing hollowly once, the stuffiness that had been filling my chest seemed to dissipate slightly.

“Shall we go?”

“I always think about this, but I always drive 10km slower than the speed limit when I’m driving Minyoung home.”

“Really?”

“Because that means we’ll be together longer.”

Ehehehe!

With a strange laugh, the car slowly started towards Minyoung’s house.

Left hand on the steering wheel. Right hand holding Minyoung’s two hands tightly on her lap.

As I kept looking ahead to drive, my right cheek tingled. I glanced at the side mirror and made eye contact with Minyoung.

“…Why do you keep looking at me like that?”

“Do you not like me looking at you?”

“No, it’s not that….”

“Why! I just want to look at the face of the person I love!”

Oh my.

Minyoung seems to know the power of her words now. If it were the old Minyoung, she would have said something like that and her face would have turned red.

“Hehehe….”

See, she’s laughing strangely to herself again.

“But, Hanwool.”

“Yes?”

Minyoung, who had adopted a playful concept, seemed to have decided to stick to it for now.

“How long are you going to keep calling me Minyoung-ssi [formal address], Minyoung-ssi?”

“Ah… that’s right. Now that we’re a couple, it’s a bit weird to keep calling each other -ssi….”

“Call me ‘noona’ [older sister].”

“…….”

“Quickly. Say ‘Minyoung noona’.”

I was reminded that this person is one year older than me. I often forget because she’s such a cute and adorable person.

“I need to focus on driving….”

“Say ‘noona’.”

“…….”

“Quuickly.”

Please.

“Noo, noo….”

“Good job!”

“…….”

“Hanwool is doing well!”

Oh my…….

About 3 years after I first met Minyoung. I said ‘noona’ for the first time, and I heard ‘Hanwool-ie’ [endearing suffix] for the first time.

She must have been very happy to hear that noona sound for the first time.

“One more time!”

“Noona….”

“No, no, ‘Minyoung noona’.”

“Mi, Minyoung noona….”

“Pfft!”

In the short few minutes before arriving at Minyoung’s house, I had to say noona several times.

Arrived at destination.

“One last noona.”

“Noona.”

I think I’ve become enlightened. It comes out very naturally now.

“Hehe….”

So what,

Swish- swish―

She’s such a cute person.

“Ah, I’m the noona!”

As I stroked her hair, Minyoung pouted again and tried to express her anger.

Not scary at all.

“I, I’m the noona….”

Ignoring her and continuing to stroke her hair, her voice gradually faded and her head gradually lowered.

Swish- swish―

“Minyoung.”

“…Yes.”

“Thank you.”

“Out of the blue.”

I could laugh more happily at her blunt voice.

“…I’ll go now. Drive carefully, and text me when you get there.”

“Okay. I’ll go in first.”

“Then I’ll see you next week.”

“Yes, I’ll contact you again.”

Minyoung has to get out of the car, and I have to go home. But neither of us moved easily.

No, we couldn’t move.

After stroking her a few more times, I struggled to bring my hand back when I thought Minyoung would be tired tomorrow.

“I’ll go now.”

“Okay. Go in carefully.”

“Hehe….”

I checked everything: her taking the bag from the legroom, opening the passenger seat door with her left hand as I had told her before, and waiting in front of the car door.

And as I was about to open the passenger seat window for a final greeting,

Tap tap tap-!

Minyoung quickly ran around the front of the car. Minyoung arrived in front of the driver’s seat.

“…Minyoung?”

Wondering what was going on, I left the passenger seat window I was lowering and lowered the driver’s seat window all the way down.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hanwool, didn’t you forget something?”

“Yes?”

“You forgot something.”

“Uh….”

I stared at Minyoung’s face.

As I was doing that,