Mimo was glaring at the woman sitting next to Unsoo, while she sat next to Jaesoo. When Jaesoo's family entered, he introduced her:
"This is my girlfriend, Han Mimo."
Caught off guard, she found herself exchanging greetings and sitting down, although she was more preoccupied with the woman next to Unsoo than with Jaesoo beside her.
Who is she? In the past three months, I haven't seen anyone who looks like a girlfriend... And I heard with my own ears him answering the aunties that he didn't have a girlfriend. But why does she look so familiar? Why...?
Mimo glanced over at Unsoo's mother.
I've seen her somewhere before too. Where was it? Where...?
"Mimo."
Jaesoo nudged her arm as he called her name.
"Yes?"
Startled out of her thoughts, she replied, only to find everyone staring at her.
"Sorry. I'm just a bit nervous..."
"It's alright."
Unsoo's mother, Jung Soorin, said warmly, then looked around at everyone before continuing.
"These kinds of gatherings can be intimidating. I don't like them either. But then my youngest suddenly says he's getting married. His older brothers haven't even properly introduced their girlfriends yet. I told them if they brought their girlfriends to a family gathering, I'd approve of the marriage, but who knew they'd find girlfriends so quickly? I'm still in shock. Maybe I should've said to bring someone they're actually going to marry. Haha."
Mimo nodded in understanding. It finally made sense why Jaesoo had asked her to pose as his girlfriend so suddenly.
"Mimo, do you remember meeting me before?"
Looking at Jung Soorin's face, Mimo tried to recall.
I've definitely seen her somewhere... but where? The only people her age I know are the ladies from the shopping mall... Shopping mall...
"The shopping mall owner!"
The words slipped out of Mimo's mouth, and Jaesoo, sitting beside her, chuckled. Ignoring his laughter, she continued speaking.
"Oh my! You remember now."
***
Mimo recalled an incident from six months ago. When she first signed the lease for her office space, she had no idea what she was doing. She had found a listing online, close to home and within her budget, and immediately called the real estate agent without even seeing the place in person.
"I'll sign the lease."
The next day, she went to the real estate office, where a woman in her 50s was sitting.
"Have a seat."
"Thank you."
The real estate agent directed Mimo to sit across from the woman.
So, she's the landlord.
The lease process moved quickly. They wrote up the rental contract, she transferred the deposit, and once the contract was signed, the landlord spoke to her.
"You think it's all done just because you signed?"
"Yes, it seems like everything went smoothly."
"Smoothly? Oh dear... I can tell this is your first time renting. You didn't ask a single question! What about leaks? Or mold? Well, I guess if you don't know, you wouldn't even know what to ask."
"Huh? I didn't check because I hadn't visited the place yet..."
"You haven't even seen it? But you said you lived nearby. You should always check the property before signing."
"When I called yesterday, they said it would be fine to sign today."
"Mr. Park!"
The landlord abruptly called the real estate agent.
"How many times do I have to tell you! Explain everything clearly, especially to first-timers! It's not just about signing the contract and getting your fee."
"What? The contract's done, that's all that matters."
The agent, making light of the situation, slipped outside, avoiding the landlord.
"Listen carefully, young lady. Before you sign a lease, you should always inspect the place. Check if the walls and floors are in good condition. Make sure there are no issues with the electricity or leaks. If there are any problems, you need to address them before signing."
"Okay."
"The basement office has been vacant for over a year, which is why the rent is so low. It'll probably be in terrible condition... Plus, it's in a basement, so it'll be damp and moldy. Do you have the budget to renovate? From what the real estate agent said, you only plan to bring in a desk and shelves for your startup office."
"Is it really that bad? I hadn't thought about renovation... As long as the walls and floor are in decent shape..."
Seeing Mimo's hesitation, the landlord interrupted.
"When are you bringing in the furniture?"
"Huh? Oh, I haven't bought it yet."
"Alright. I'll fix up the walls and floors for you since you remind me of my daughter... even though I only have sons. I'll get everything sorted out for you, so come back in a week."
"Really? Are you serious?"
"Of course. I never go back on my word. I hate lying too."
"Thank you! Thank you so much."
The basement office renovation began, and when Mimo finally saw the space on the first day of construction, she was horrified. It was like a dark, musty cave that no one had entered for a long time.
But after a week, the place was completely transformed. The floors, ceiling, and even the bathroom were brand new. Mimo called the landlord, thanking her profusely.
***
Mimo had only met the landlord once, which is why she hadn't recognized her right away.
"The shy young lady who could barely speak is now sitting next to my son as his girlfriend. Since we've met before, feel free to speak casually with me."
Jung Soorin, the landlord and Unsoo's mother, smiled, and Mimo felt a pang of guilt.
She's the person I owe the most in my life, yet here I am pretending to be her son's girlfriend. This is wrong... I should confess the truth.
"I..."
"Mother..."
Just as Mimo was about to speak, a sweet voice interrupted from across the table.
"Gyeoul is the second one to meet you. I was so surprised the first time I saw her. I couldn't believe Unsoo liked someone like her. I heard she even has a son in elementary school."
"Mom... We can talk about that later."
At the mention of a son, Unsoo quickly cut her off to stop her from saying more.
"We'll have to talk about it eventually. I don't mind."
Gyeoul placed her hand on top of Unsoo's and lightly patted it.
"I think everyone should know. I got married at 20 and divorced at 23. I'm 29 now, a yoga instructor, and I'm raising my 9-year-old son on my own. He's in second grade, and he's adorable. Unsoo oppa has accepted all of this, and we've fallen in love. Plus, we're a perfect match since we're four years apart, and I think we're soulmates. Right, mother?"
Gyeoul, in her sweet and confident tone, looked at Unsoo's mother, who stared back at her with a troubled expression, while Mimo glared at Gyeoul with icy eyes.
Yoga. That's why she looked familiar—she's the yoga instructor from the second floor of our building. Divorced with a kid! Unsoo oppa... Did you fall for her because of her body and her sweetness? Snap out of it! You're too good for this. This isn't right... Look at your mother's eyes. You're breaking her heart. Don't worry, mother. I'll make sure to separate that fox from him.
Mimo clenched her fists.
As the meal continued, Mimo felt her stomach tighten with tension. She quietly excused herself to go to the restroom.
***
"Finally, I can breathe."
After coming out of the restroom, Mimo spotted Gyeoul applying lipstick by the sink. Mimo washed her hands and shook off the water, which accidentally splashed onto Gyeoul.
"Hey, watch it. I'm right here."
Gyeoul brushed off the droplets from her clothes. Mimo smirked, only half-apologizing.
"Oh, sorry about that."
As she walked past Gyeoul, Gyeoul spoke up.
"Unni! Wait a second."
"What?"
Irritated by the sudden casual tone, Mimo shot back, matching her rudeness. Gyeoul stepped closer and scrutinized Mimo's face.
"What are you staring at?"
"I can tell from your face... You're trying too hard. It's obvious."
"What are you talking about? If you have nothing to say, I'm leaving."
"You're faking it, right? About being Jaesoo oppa's girlfriend."