After visiting Hauen's parents, Suho drove toward the Kim mansion. Hauen sat quietly, her gaze fixed outside the car window.
She was still not okay. Because she had revisited all those untouched pains for years.
Suho glanced at her while driving, careful not to disturb her. But the silence… it gnawed at him. She was never this quiet.
Hauen always filled spaces without trying. Soft teasing, random thoughts, playful laughter. Even her silence usually came with warmth. This silence, however, felt heavy, distant, like she was somewhere he couldn't reach. Watching her like this, withdrawn and lost in her thoughts, was unbearable.
Without a word, he slowed the car and pulled over onto a quieter street. The sudden stop pulled Hauen out of her thoughts. She turned toward him, confused.
"What happened?"
Instead of answering, Suho unbuckled his seatbelt and smiled, the kind of smile he used when he was up to something. "Come. Let's eat something."
She frowned slightly. "Why? Are you hungry? We're having lunch at the mansion, right?"
He sighed dramatically, then reached over and gently unfastened her seatbelt too. "Yes, I'm hungry," he said, voice slipping into a childish lilt. "And I want to eat street-style tteokbokki with my hauenie."
Before she could protest, he softly squeezed her cheeks, smiling like a boy who had already won."Now stop looking so blank and staring into space. Come."
She shook her head and stepped out of the car after him.
They walked up to a small roadside mobile stall, the kind that looked like it had lived through decades of rain, sun, and passing seasons. An elderly couple ran it, steam rising from bubbling pots, the smell of gochujang and warmth filling the air.
"Halmoni… two servings of tteokbokki, please," Suho said gently.
The old woman smiled, the lines on her face deepening with familiarity. "Ye," she replied, then turned toward the tiny kitchen behind her. "Yeobo, two plates of fresh tteokbokki."
"Ye… five minutes," the old man's voice came back, steady and calm.
Hauen watched the halmoni closely. She looked far too old to still be standing there every day, hands moving out of habit more than strength.
Suho reached into his wallet to pay. As he did, Hauen quietly slipped out an extra 10,000-won bill and placed it with the rest before handing the money over.
Suho looked at her, confused.
The halmoni took the cash with slightly trembling fingers, blinking slowly as she counted. Then she paused. "You gave 5,000 won extra," she said, pulling the bill out and holding it up.
Both Suho and Hauen looked surprised.
"No, halmoni," Hauen said softly. "He paid the correct amount."
The old woman blinked at her, then smiled, calm and certain. "I've been selling tteokbokki since I was fourteen, young lady. I don't make mistakes with money."
Hauen smiled at the confidence in her voice.
The halmoni tried to return the bill, but Suho gently pushed it back. "No, halmoni. Please keep it."
She smiled again and shook her head. "I don't need extra money, my son. You should only pay for what I offer."
Just then, the old man emerged, carefully carrying two plates of steaming tteokbokki, his smile warm and proud, as if he were serving something far more precious than street food.
"Thank you," Hauen said with a bright smile, taking the plate, eyes lighting up as she looked at the steaming tteokbokki.
She took a bite, then another, and her face softened instantly."Hmmm… this is really delicious," she said, genuinely pleased. "The most delicious tteokbokki I've ever had."
Suho watched her closely, a quiet smile settling on his lips. That familiar spark in her eyes, the way she spoke with small excitement… she was slowly returning to herself.
He took out the same 10,000-won bill again and gently handed it to the old man. "Haraboji," he said warmly, almost coaxing, "you made my wife smile today. Please take it now."
The old man hesitated and looked at his wife. The halmoni sighed, then nodded. "Alright," she said, finally accepting.
Suho smiled. Hauen smiled too.
Suho picked up his own plate and inhaled deeply. "Hmmm… this really smells good," he said, then took a bite and, without thinking, fed Hauen from his plate.
She smiled and accepted it easily, then scooped a piece from her plate and held it up to him. He grinned widely before leaning in and eating it.
The old couple exchanged a knowing glance, smiling quietly at the young love before them.
Between bites, Hauen began talking about old memories tied to tteokbokki, little stories spilling out as if the food had unlocked something warm inside her. Suho listened, content, eyes soft. This was exactly what he wanted. Her voice filling the silence again.
"Hmmm… if we could skip family lunch," she said, finishing her plate, "I'd totally order another one. This is really that good," she said regretfully.
Suho chuckled softly and fed her another piece from his own plate. She pouted, feeling a little guilty for stealing his share, but still didn't refuse. Suho smiled, and together they finished the remaining tteokbokki from his plate, sharing the last few bites without any hurry.
When they were done, Hauen turned toward the halmoni and bowed her head slightly. "Thank you, Grandma, for the delicious tteokbokki," she said sincerely. "We really loved it."
The old woman smiled, waving her hand lightly. "My husband makes it delicious," she replied proudly. "You should thank him."
Suho turned toward the small kitchen and called out loudly, playful and warm, "Gomawo, Haraboji! You really made my wife smile today!"
The halmoni chuckled at the young couple's sweetness, eyes crinkling as she watched them.
With full hearts, satisfied stomachs, and noticeably lighter moods, Suho and Hauen bid the old couple goodbye and walked back toward the car, carrying a little warmth from the street with them.
As the engine started and the road to the Kim mansion stretched ahead, Hauen leaned back in her seat, lighter than before.
And Suho drove on, quietly proud of the small pause that had healed more than words ever could.