New Normal - Chapter 86

A strange, indescribable expression flickered across Jisoo’s face as she stared silently at Juwon. She stayed quiet for a while, as if trying to find the right words, then finally took a deep breath and spoke softly.

“Juwon, you’re not joking right now, are you?”

“I’m not. I’m being completely serious.”

As he said, there wasn’t a single trace of playfulness in those dark brown eyes. Juwon let go of her awkwardly held frame, clasped his hands together, and lowered his gaze to meet hers again.

“Not just a house—a home. The kind my father built for us. A home that could still hold us even after time passes.”

Jisoo bit her lip, her brows knitting together. The news that he’d quit his job was shocking enough, but her heart had started pounding long before that—ever since he began to speak.

“Wait, are you saying—”

“I told you, didn’t I? I want to keep being with you, Shin Jisoo. I can’t even imagine any other choice anymore.”

A deep light rippled through Juwon’s eyes.

“Sure, maybe quitting my job and telling you all this right now is a bit impulsive. But what’s clear is… wanting to build a home for my family, with my own hands—that’s not something that just came to me recently. It’s been there in my heart for a long time. I want to be honest about everything with you now. I don’t want this to just be a plan or a dream—I want it to become our real life.”

Jisoo looked at him quietly for a while before finally sighing, as if she couldn’t help it. Her gaze, when it met his again, was warm.

“Still, how can you do this with no plan? What are you even going to start with? Do you have a place in mind?”

Juwon smiled faintly and looked around. The cold air, the quiet garden, and the old house standing there as if watching them—it all seemed to hold its breath.

“Well… one thing’s certain. I’ll keep this place. It needs to be brought back to life somehow. It’s my father’s legacy.”

Jisoo opened her mouth to say something, then stopped. Something complicated passed over her face. Juwon watched her carefully.

“When I was little, the time I spent in this house meant more to me than just memories. It made me feel connected to my father… and reminded me of who I was.”

His eyes deepened.

“But that meaning doesn’t matter anymore. Now, I want to make new memories—with you. To build a future on top of the past.”

At his earnest confession, Jisoo slowly exhaled. Then, as if she had finally made a decision, she asked quietly,

“Are you really serious?”

“Yeah. Really. I’m done hesitating.”

There was no wavering in his eyes. Jisoo stared at his face for a moment before laughing softly. It was absurd and a little ridiculous, but his sincerity came through clearly.

“Chae Juwon, you’re a lot more reckless than I thought.”

When Jisoo murmured that, Juwon shrugged, slightly embarrassed.

“Yeah, I didn’t know I was this reckless either. Guess I found out now.”

Jisoo sighed, but her lips curved faintly as she reached out and cupped his face with both hands.

“Then I guess I’ll have to be reckless with you.”

Her warmth spread through her gaze, and Juwon’s face filled with relief and joy.

“You sure you won’t regret it?”

Jisoo asked teasingly, and Juwon nodded firmly.

“Not a chance.”

Their breaths mingled into faint clouds in the cold air. Juwon pulled her close and whispered quietly,

“Maybe someone reckless but honest suits you better than someone perfect.”

Jisoo chuckled softly in his arms.

“Took you long enough to figure that out.”

For a while, they stayed there, silently sharing warmth. When the winter wind finally brushed past them, Jisoo spoke again.

“So, what’s our dream house going to look like?”

Juwon’s gaze turned both gentle and determined. Looking toward the old house standing peacefully under the sunlight, he said quietly,

“I don’t know. But I hope it’s a place where everyone can feel at peace.”

Then he turned and smiled brightly at her.

“A place where you and I, and someday our family, can live every moment of our lives together.”

Under the clear sky, a new, reckless dream was taking its very first step.

***

The room was warm, faintly scented with lavender. Mrs. Kwak Changja lay comfortably with her eyes closed, muttering in her usual sarcastic tone.

“How much sacrifice can you really make in your life, huh? Just think of it as doing charity.”

Jisoo, sitting beside the bed and carefully stirring a bowl of facial pack, froze mid-motion. She stared down at her grandmother in disbelief.

“…Didn’t you once tell me never to waste my life supporting a man?”

Snapping back with a flat tone, Jisoo watched her grandmother squint one eye open and glance up at her. Mrs. Kwak muttered again in a grumbling voice.

“Well, that was before I saw Juwon’s face. What, can’t I change my mind? Besides, with a man like him, you shouldsupport him. He’s worth it.”

Though she pretended to grumble, her expression was filled with quiet satisfaction as she looked at her granddaughter. Jisoo couldn’t help but laugh.

“Wow, Grandma. You sure change your tune fast.”

“I was just worried you’d suffer, that’s all. Not that you’d have listened to me anyway. You’ve gotta live your life the way you want.”

Jisoo shook her head, amused, as her grandmother mumbled under her breath.

Not long ago, Juwon had come to visit her family—arms full of gifts, greeting everyone politely, then calmly sharing his future plans and intentions.

“Please give us your blessing to get married.”

The family had been stunned at first, but seeing how steady and sincere he was, they soon accepted him warmly. After that, Jisoo also made plans to visit Juwon’s grandfather to formally introduce herself.

With a small smile, she gently spread the cool pack over her grandmother’s cheek.

“It’s going to feel a bit cold.”

Mrs. Kwak flinched at the chill but quickly relaxed, a pleased smile forming on her lips.

“Ahh… that’s refreshing.”

Jisoo carefully spread the mask across the fine wrinkles of her grandmother’s face, moving slowly from her eyes to the bridge of her nose, then over the deep lines on her forehead.

“If I don’t do this, my face dries up like a desert these days,” Mrs. Kwak sighed.

Jisoo nodded with a small laugh.

“Yeah, it’s been so dry lately. Doing it regularly at home’s the only solution. Oh—by the way, Grandma, you asked about Juwon’s house plans, right? He hasn’t fully decided yet, but he’s been checking out some plots. He’s been running around nonstop these days.”

Since quitting his job, Juwon had somehow become busier than ever. If anything, his days were more disciplined and intense than when he was working. Every morning he woke early, exercised, and spent the day visiting real estate offices, scouting land, and consulting friends in the construction field to shape concrete plans.

“Well, with his personality, I doubt he’s leaving anything to chance. Especially not the house he’s going to live in with you,” Mrs. Kwak murmured softly, her expression warm.

“Grandma, you’re totally on Juwon’s side now, huh?”

“Well, technically, I’m on your side. I’m just being nice because you like him.”

“Right. Thank you, Grandma.”

Jisoo grinned playfully, and Mrs. Kwak chuckled.

“By the way, when did you say Harvard would announce that visiting scholar result? Wasn’t it this week?”

“Oh, right!”

Startled, Jisoo jumped up from her seat, remembering what she’d completely forgotten. She set the bowl down on the side table and hurried out of the room to her own.

Her hands trembled slightly with tension as she opened her laptop and refreshed her inbox. There it was—an email already waiting with the subject line:

[Decision on Visiting Scholar Application.]

Her heart began to race. Taking a deep breath, she clicked it open. The words on the screen made her eyes widen.

[We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a visiting scholar at Harvard University…]

In that moment, a cry of pure joy burst from Jisoo’s lips.