Page 111 of Marked By Him

Mom beams and claps her hands together. There’re few things my mom loves more than gifts. Her round face always lights up and she takes great joy in opening them. I can’t help smiling alongside Jin as she takes the box and flowers into her arms.

“See, Moni! Now this is what I’m talking about. A man of means and culture. Jin-tae is the son-in-law any mother would be happy to have.”

I almost groan her name again. She means well, but Jin isn’t her son-in-law…

Jin seems to feel differently. He slides an arm around my hips and pulls me even closer to his side. “I’m the lucky one. Two beautiful ladies in my life. Motheranddaughter. Both having dinner with me.”

Mom giggles, and my smile widens despite the roll of my eyes.

We settle around the small kitchen table, the wood glowing warmly under the ceiling lights. I’ve spent the afternoon cooking, wanting to make something special for our last dinner together. Mom’s flight leaves tomorrow morning.

On the table are plates of beef bulgogi, japchae noodles, and fresh banchan. All recipes I’ve practiced and almost perfected from a Korean cooking class I’ve been taking in my off time.

“Everything looks delicious, sweetie,” Mom says, reaching for the japchae with her chopsticks.

Jin nods approvingly. “My girlfriend cooks Korean dishes better than some natives.”

I know he’s talking me up like he always does, but it still makes my heart flutter fondly inside my chest.

We eat slowly, savoring every bite and the combination of flavor, as well as each other’s company.

“I can’t thank you both enough,” Mom says, her tone soft. “You showed me everything there was to see. It was an even better vacation than last summer.”

“What part was your favorite?” I ask.

“Jeju Island was one of a kind,” she answers. “I’ll never forget these two weeks. And all the souvenirs I’ve bought! I need a second suitcase going home.”

“Got you covered,” I say. “I already set out an extra one of mine.”

“Now, Jin-tae, you know I’m gonna expect you to come visit with my baby girl for Christmas, right?”

I groan, half laughing. “Mom… we talked about this. We’ll do our best, but we’re both so busy?—”

“We’ll make time,” Jin interrupts calmly. He wipes his mouth with a napkin and sets his chopsticks down. “It’s fitting that we visit your home, Tokki-ya. Then you can show me around. I can be the tourist.”

He’s teasing me as he says it, a spark in his dark gaze. More heat washes over me as I try to play it cool and pretend like Jin isn’t making me feel things that are inappropriate given the setting. But what else would be new?

That’s what happens when your hunger for a person is insatiable.

Mom notices and sighs—one of those deeply pleased, maternal sighs—like she’s witnessed magic before her eyes.

I know why she would; after a few years of seeing her daughter in grief, it brings her joy to see me like this.

I’m happy and thriving the way she’s always wanted me to.

Jin has prioritized me and our relationship, no matter how crazy his life gets. Even now, with his role as Baekho-je, he still makes time for me. Several nights a week he puts aside time to spend together. Sometimes at my apartment. Sometimes at his. Other times we go for adventures around Busan and the rest of South Korea.

I’m living in a new neighborhood. I couldn’t return to my old apartment building after everything that had happened. But I’m a little closer to Suyeong Academy, where I still teach English to students I treasure.

In my off time, I volunteer at the orphanage. Kelly and I have grown closer, taking that cooking class together, and she even seems relieved she doesn’t have to set me up on any more blind dates.

As dinner winds down and we start on dessert—a fruit plate I put together of melon, strawberries, and pears with honey drizzled on top—Mom studies the jewelry box.

“This is beautiful, Jin-tae,” she says. Her finger runs along the delicate luminescent inlay.

“It’s handmade, lacquered with mother-of-pearl inlay. Traditionally crafted.”

“Lord have mercy. Wait ’til all the biddies on the block see me with this. They’re gonna be acting like fools.”

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