1.
It was an incredibly naive thing to say. And yet, hearing that she didn’t have a boyfriend made me laugh for some reason.
“Who would even investigate whether or not you have a boyfriend? Just find a suitable time later and say you broke up.”
Na-Eun looked even more surprised by that.
“If I date someone after receiving such an expensive car and then break up, don’t I have to return the car?”
At that, Choi Kang-woo burst into laughter.
“That’s a first. What kind of loser takes back a gift they gave? Is that how you are, Na-Eun? You give a gift and take it back? When you break up with a man, do you demand back everything you gave him?”
I didn’t know—I hadn’t really dated. But Choi Kang-woo teased me once more.
“Or was it that the man you dated before was like that? Did he demand back everything he gave you?”
“No.”
Na-Eun hurried to excuse herself, insisting it wasn’t like that. If one were to date a man, would he really give gifts like this? Fearing the conversation might get too complicated, Na-Eun offered a stiff greeting.
“Thank you very much for the car.”
“I’m not the one who bought it for you. So there’s no reason to thank me.”
That was true, too. His mother was the one who had bought it. The air grew even more awkward at his indifferent reply. Na-Eun rolled her eyes and muttered,
“I’ll be going in now.”
“Aren’t you going to try driving it? It looks like the kids are taking a bath with Ms. Kim right now.”
“Oh. Right.”
I did want to try driving it. After all, I had a car now. Just then, Choi Kang-woo said,
“Then let’s take it for a spin. You said you have a license, right?”
“Yes. I have a license.”
“How long has it been since you last drove?”
Na-Eun suddenly pressed her lips together.
“Why? Has it been a long time?”
As Na-Eun couldn’t answer and her face turned red, Choi Kang-woo began to laugh, as if he found it absurd.
“Don’t tell me you’ve never driven even once since you got your license?”
Na-Eun nodded. There hadn’t been any opportunity. I didn’t have a car, and I had been living frantically, raising my baby. Regardless, since it was true that I possessed a “License for Show,” I couldn’t say anything, but Choi Kang-woo spoke again.
“Then what guts did you have to ask for a car?”
“I can just take lessons and drive.”
As Na-Eun said it as if there was nothing she couldn’t do, Choi Kang-woo nodded.
“Lessons? Get in first.”
When Choi Kang-woo opened the door, the scent characteristic of a new car wafted out. It was that smell, as if it had just finished being assembled at the factory—a blend of leather seats and newly coated metal. The scent, growing more intense with the warmth, filled the interior, giving it a fresh yet slightly chilly feeling unique to a new vehicle.
“It might be a bit cold, but since it’s a new car, it’s best to keep the windows cracked open.”
Then, walking around to the front, Choi Kang-woo sat in the driver’s seat and fastened Na-Eun’s seatbelt. In that posture, which felt like an embrace, Na-Eun’s heart pounded wildly. Still, it was too awkward a situation to push him away.
“Don’t let your mind wander and watch closely.”
“Pardon? My mind wandering? I, uh, have never let my mind wander.”
Watching Na-Eun suddenly bristle, Choi Kang-woo chuckled.
“I’m going to give you driving lessons from now on, so don’t let your mind wander and pay attention, Han Na-Eun. But I’m really suspicious now. What were you thinking about that makes you so adamant? People are usually like that when they’ve got something on their conscience, you know.”
“It’s nothing. Please start.”
Choi Kang-woo started the car without another word.
“Pressing this starts the engine. Give it a press. You need to feel the sensation at your fingertips.”
I pressed it once, but then I pressed it again, and the engine turned off.
“Press it one more time.”
While turning the engine off and on, I could feel the sound of my pounding heart and the car engine. The sound of my heartbeat reached me much louder than the machine’s hum.
* * *
It was a sudden driving lesson. I hadn’t expected to start immediately. We had come out in light attire and moved to a secluded area, where Choi Kang-woo eventually pulled the car over. Na-Eun looked around.
“Where is this?”
“This road doesn’t get much traffic. Perfect for your first driving lesson, right?”
At Choi Kang-woo’s words, Na-Eun lost her confidence. It was strange enough to have a lesson so suddenly, but at night, too!
“Wouldn’t it be better to have the lesson during the day?”
Choi Kang-woo countered as if he didn’t understand.
“Once you start driving, you’ll be doing it day and night, so what does that have to do with anything? Besides, you said you had a license, right?”
“I do. Look.”
Na-Eun took her driver’s license from the card holder in her pocket and showed it to him. Choi Kang-woo looked at the plastic card and laughed again. In the photo, Na-Eun looked much younger than she did now.
“Why are you laughing?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just that the photo came out pretty.”
At those words, Na-Eun immediately snatched the license back. I knew all too well how the photo had turned out. My hair was chopped short, and since I had taken it in a rush at a photo booth, even in my own eyes, it was a photo I didn’t like. It was humiliating, to say the least.
“You can try it yourself now, right?”
The two changed seats and climbed back into the car.
“The brake is this one, right?”
When I pointed with my foot, Choi Kang-woo nodded.
“And this is the accelerator.”
“Yes, right. You can drive if you just know that much. Just learn the feel while turning the steering wheel. Try starting it.”
Na-Eun took a deep breath and started the engine.
“Now. Press the accelerator slowly.”
At Choi Kang-woo’s encouragement, Na-Eun took a deep breath and stepped on the pedal. As the car began to move bit by bit, Na-Eun stared ahead with a look of nervousness and excitement mixed together.
*The car is moving. I am driving.*
Na-Eun was moved. But at that moment, a cynical voice echoed in her ear.
“Na-Eun, you realize this is slower than a bicycle, right?”
“Oh? Is it?”
“If you’re going to go this slow, why did you ask for a car instead of a bicycle? Try pressing it a little harder.”
Na-Eun bit her lip and nodded.
“Okay.”
When she stepped on the accelerator with more intent, the car finally began to glide forward. Choi Kang-woo glanced out the side window and shook his head.
“Hmm, that’s about the speed of a slightly faster bicycle. If you drive like this, you’ll get into an accident. Other cars are going much faster. This isn’t a bicycle path, after all.”
Hardly had the words left his mouth when other cars sped past hers in an instant. Only then did Na-Eun put more pressure on the pedal, and the car began to pick up speed smoothly. The chassis moved as if sliding, and it pulled onto the road with ease.
Na-Eun’s eyes sparkled as she smiled.
“Wow, this is easier than I thought!”
Seeing Na-Eun’s expression, Choi Kang-woo nodded with satisfaction.
“Exactly. It’s easy. So have some confidence and give it a go.”
Choi Kang-woo smiled as he watched Na-Eun gripping the steering wheel tightly with both hands.
“Take it slow and get a feel for it.”
Na-Eun steadied her breath and pressed the accelerator with more force, and now the car was speeding down the road. Her eyes sparkled as if she were having fun, and in the passenger seat, Choi Kang-woo could not hide his pleased smile.
The car gathered more speed. Na-Eun’s face was flushed with excitement.
“This is really fun!”
“Turn on your signal and try changing lanes.”
At that, Na-Eun turned on her left turn signal and changed lanes. She was doing quite well, moving with surprising naturalness.
“You’re doing as well as someone who’s driven a lot.”
“Right?”
“Keep going straight. Try changing lanes one more time.”
And Na-Eun changed lanes one more time. Because going straight like this meant entering the highway, she had to change lanes again.
“Change lanes one more time…”
However, just as Choi Kang-woo was speaking, another car zoomed past, and a startled Na-Eun froze, missing her chance to change lanes. Her speed remained high.
“Slow down a little.”
However, while Na-Eun was hesitating, the car had already entered the highway.
“What do I do, what do I do! Isn’t this the highway?”
“It is. It’s the Gyeongbu Expressway to Busan. Were you planning on going all the way to Busan while you were at it?”
At Choi Kang-woo’s teasing remark, Na-Eun looked like she was about to cry.
“What do I do?”
“What do you mean, what do you do? We can just turn back halfway there.”
Na-Eun’s face, which had been bright with confidence, was washed over with a sense of disaster. Looking at her, Choi Kang-woo thought she was cute to the point of death.
“Don’t slow down.”
Suddenly, Choi Kang-woo covered her hand, which was gripping the steering wheel, with his large one.
“Keep going at this speed. It’s more dangerous if you stop here.”