He had anticipated this reaction from his mother, so he wasn't caught unaware by her questions.
"No one would dare mistake you for a fool, you know? Don't be ridiculous, mother; I love Min-jung; she's my girlfriend. Why would I go into a relationship just for a wedding?" He asked, feigning annoyance.
Mrs Kim considered him briefly, thinking about whether to believe him or not. "Ok, how long have you known her?"
"I've known her for quite some time now," He said, trying to answer the question diplomatically.
"Do I look stupid, boy? That's not an answer. I want specifics. Days, weeks, or months?" She asked as her eyes dimmed with suspicion.
"I've known her for a year," He lied through his teeth.
"So how come I never knew of her existence until today?"
"That's because we met on a dating site. We've been communicating online, and this is our first time being together," He said.
He had no idea where the lie had come from, but he was very grateful for it... It wasn't entirely a lie anyway, or was it? He just hoped his mother wouldn't ask Nana before he got the chance to tell her first.
"Dating site? So it has become so bad that a grown-up man like you had to find love on a dating site? Yet you turned down all my attempts at matchmaking." She said, feeling disappointed and offended.
"What kind of woman looks for love on a dating site anyway?" She asked.
"She's a great lady, and you will love her. Quit nagging already," Tan said, leaving her in a hurry to meet Nana.
**********
Meanwhile, Nana had been eavesdropping on their conversation the whole time. Mi-Ok had caught her standing by the door.
"Mrs Kim wouldn't like that, you know?" Mi-Ok had said disapprovingly, making Nana's jaw drop in shame.
Mi-Ok had left her and had gone back to the kitchen, but Nana followed behind. "I trust you won't tell her?" She had asked Mi-Ok.
"I have no reason to tell her. I won't tell unless I'm asked," She said with a shrug.
"Tan told me you were his Nanny and have been with him all his life. He really loves you," Nana had said, wanting to strike up a conversation with Mi-Ok.
Mi-Ok had smiled fondly at the mention of Tan; he was just like a son to her, and she had served them for almost 25 years of her life. She had been with Tan since he was three years old, excluding the year he travelled to further his education abroad. That had been a terrible period for her; she had missed him like a mother missed her child. She had gotten married before he returned. When he came back to Korea and offered her a job, she had accepted it without a second thought.
Nana smiled at the proud look she saw written all over Mi-Ok's face. Without saying a word, Nana picked up the bowl of bean sprouts on the kitchen table and started using her fingers to snap off the stringy tails.
Mi-Ok quietly observed Nana as she continued selecting the bean sprouts. She liked the girl; she was pretty, down to earth, and well-mannered. Tan deserved a girl as lovely as this one.
Her face folded in displeasure as she remembered Tan's ex-girlfriend. She'd never liked the girl, so obnoxious and vain was she. That one could never have sat to select bean sprouts because of her nails. Neither would she have made a good home; she wasn't homely as this one was.
Mi-Ok decided then and there that she would make sure things went smoothly between them.
**********
Tan hadn't gotten a chance to talk to Nana before dinner; he was scared she would screw everything up.
They all ate quietly for some time. Mrs Kim silently observed Tan and Nana.
"Is it usually this quiet between the both of you, or are you not saying anything because I'm here?" She asked them as they were quiet.
Nana glanced at Tan, hoping he would say something to relieve the tension in the room.
"We are just tired, and we had a long day. We just want to eat and rest," Tan said.
Mrs Kim fixed her gaze on Nana. "What do you do for a living?" She asked, making Nana choke on her food.
Nana raised pleading eyes to Tan, begging him to save her from his mother.
"She's into hire purchase business," Tan said, making Nana want to kick him from under the table. She glared at him, but he simply shrugged in response.
"You joke too much, darling. I'm a realtor, ma" She had no idea about hire purchase businesses. But she knew a lot about real estate as that was what she did for a living. She could hold intelligent conversations on the subject.
Tan looked at her in amazement. Mrs Kim looked from one to the other in mild confusion; she had no idea what was going on between them.
"That's nice. Which of the companies do you work with? Is it located here in Incheon or Seoul?" Mrs Kim asked, giving her rapt attention.
Nana glanced at Tan giving him a look he only too well understood, and he immediately started coughing; Nana got up to pat his back and provide him with water, thus distracting Mrs Kim.
She was satisfied for the night; now she knew the girl's name and job. Finding out information about her would be easy. She smiled to herself and stood up, yawning.
"I'm tired. I need to sleep. You both should have a goodnight's rest. And Tan, when you ravish her, do well to do it quietly." She winked and chuckled at the look on their faces as she left.
They released the breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding all night.
"Realtor? how did you come up with that?" Tan asked, looking at her inquisitively.
"Because that's what I do for a living," She said with a slight arch on her brows.
"Then what are you doing here?" He asked, perplexed.
She shrugged, saying nothing, making him more curious. He had to know who she was and what she did. He just needed to know.
"You'll be spending the night in my room," He said as she was about to leave.
"What?"