“I told you, I came to visit you, because you never come to see me anymore!” She gives an exasperated sigh.
“Ma, I saw you last week at your appointment with Dr. Ryan. And I’m coming to family dinner tomorrow, too.” Jae rubs her shoulder. “I’m sorry, I’ve just been busy finalizing things for the restaurant opening later this month.”
“You and this restaurant—will be the death of me,” Young-mi sighs loudly again. “Why can’t you be a nurse?”
“I’d be even busier if I was a nurse!” Jae sighs louder than her. I slink back to the table where Jae and I were sitting and try to make myself as invisible as possible.
“Don’t talk back to me,” Young-mi picks up a piece of mango from the plate Jae brought her and inspects it. “This is not even ripe. How are you going to run a restaurant if you can’t even make your mother a proper fruit plate?”
“Yes, it is,” Jae takes a bite of mango to confirm. “Juicy and perfect. Try it.” He encourages her kindly, even after she’s been rude with him. “Are you coming to the opening?”
“No,” She shakes her head. “I can’t watch you embarrass your mother like this.”
“Ma, please, it would mean a lot to me if you came and tried the food.” Jae whispers to her. I can’t fathom how she thinks this is embarrassing. I’m so proud of Jae.
“No,” She declines. “The reason I’ve come here tonight is to try and convince you not to go through with opening the restaurant. It’s not too late for you to go to college.”
“I’ve told you a hundred times, Ma. College isn’t for me. This is where I want to be.” Jae holds her hand. “Nothing you can say will convince me otherwise.”
“No nice girl will ever marry you if you don’t get an education. You are destined to smell like fish and live by yourself forever!” Young-mi shouts angrily. “You know, 60% of restaurants fail in the first year! And within five years, 80% of them have closed. What makes you think you are any different?”
Jae doesn’t answer, and I wince. She’s too harsh on him.
“This is not the life I wanted for my son!” She wipes a tear out of her eye.
“This is the life I chose for myself, Ma. What about what I want?” Jae says.
“What does it matter if you have a failed business on your record?” Young-mi asks. “No one will give you another loan. And no nice girl will want to marry you, either!”
“You don’t know that,” Jae shakes his head. “I think I should call you a cab now.”
“I do know that. Riley, would you marry him if his restaurant failed?”
“I don’t—” Is she really asking if I’d marry him? I don’t know how to answer this hypothetical. I can’t picture marrying him right now, but that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t at all, right? Regardless of his restaurant surviving or failing. “I don’t think?—”
“Of course, you young girls these days don’t know how to settle down anyway.” She doesn’t know I was engaged before.
“It’s time for you to go, Ma. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jae stands up from his chair, and helps Young-mi up. She doesn’t fuss. After he hails an uber from his phone, they go outside.
I’m left sitting alone in The Red Kettle. Of course she doesn’t know my fiancé died. Why would Jae tell her that? I sit for a moment, trying to figure out what on earth I’m going to say to Jae as soon as she leaves. His own mother comes here just to shit all over his career path?
I watch out the window, and they’re still talking until a black SUV pulls up. Jae helps his mother into the backseat. As the car pulls away, he turns his back to the car, rubbing his face. He takes a deep breath, before pushing the door open. I head over to meet him in the doorway.
“Riley, I’m so sorry about that, she can be a bit abrasive but once you get to know her?—”
“Jae, there’s nothing to apologize for,” I say. “If anything, I think she should be apologizing to you. I’m worried about?—”
“That’s just how she is,” Jae says.
“I want you to know I’m proud of you,” I say. “I see the work you put into this place. Your restaurant will do well.”
“I’m glad you think so…but maybe she’s right.” Jae sighs, leaning on the wall. “Maybe this was a mistake.”
“Jae,” I say quietly. “She’s not right. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about.”
“I think she might though,” Jae laughs, pushing his hand through his hair. “She certainly has some statistics.”
“You have to take your chances. And this is one of them.” I say firmly. “I would know.”
