Chapter 5: Sunday Lunch and Subtle Lies

Sunday arrived faster than Chae Bora would've liked.She sat at the dining table, nervously folding and refolding her napkin as her mom scurried around placing side dishes like it was the Chuseok feast. Her dad was already seated, reading a newspaper but peeking over the edge every time someone moved."It's just lunch," she mumbled to herself. "A normal, totally fake-boyfriend-filled lunch..."The doorbell rang."It's him!" her mom squealed, wiping her hands on her apron. "Bora, go get the door! Make sure he's not standing out there like a guest. He's family now."Bora cringed. "It's been one week, Mom."Still, she went to the door — and there he was.Han Noah stood outside, bouquet of flowers in one hand, box of high-end tea in the other, and a disarming smile that made her heart skip even as her brain screamed danger."Hey, baby sprout," he greeted smoothly. "Did you miss me?""You're two minutes early.""Always eager to impress the in-laws."Bora narrowed her eyes. "You brought gifts?""I did my research," he said, holding out the flowers. "Your mom loves peonies. And your dad likes tea. Also, I'm charming.""Debatable.""Painfully true," he replied with a wink.When she let him in, her mom all but squealed, ushering him into the apartment like a celebrity had arrived. "Oh, look at you! So handsome! Bora, he dressed up for lunch!""She notices these things," her dad muttered from behind the newspaper.Noah bowed politely, handing over the tea. "It's not much, but I thought you might enjoy this. I read it's good for digestion.""You read?" her mom blinked. "He researches! Bora, he's a keeper!"Noah caught Bora's eye as he straightened, and she knew he was loving every second of this. She kicked him under the table the moment they sat down."Ow," he whispered."Act normal," she hissed."I am normal. This is me in boyfriend mode.""If that's the case, I want a refund."

Lunch started off painfully wholesome.Noah praised her mom's cooking like it was the best food he'd ever tasted — which, to be fair, wasn't a lie. Bora's mom was a genius in the kitchen.He laughed at her dad's dry jokes, remembered things from their last conversation ("Yes, I looked up that hiking trail you mentioned, sir"), and even held Bora's hand under the table once, just to sell the performance.She nearly flung her chopsticks at him."So," her mom said between bites, "how did you two really start dating? You never told us the full story."Bora froze. Noah didn't."She was wearing this oversized sweater, trying to reach the top shelf in the laundry room," he began, his voice perfectly wistful. "She wouldn't ask for help, obviously, so I walked over, handed her the detergent, and she gave me the coldest 'thanks' I've ever received."Bora blinked. That... did kind of happen."And?" her dad prompted."I said, 'If you keep looking at me like that, I might fall for you.'"Her mom gasped in delight."You did not," Bora muttered, eyes wide."I did," he said proudly. "She ignored me. For a week.""You deserved it.""But then," he continued smoothly, "she asked me out.""Liar!"Her mom beamed. "Young love..."Bonggu, who had been suspiciously quiet the whole meal, suddenly spoke."If you two are so in love, when's the next date?"Bora tensed."Probably soon," Noah replied, not missing a beat. "We're thinking of going to the aquarium. She likes jellyfish."That... was true too.How did he know that?Bora stared at him, confused and just a little shaken. Noah didn't just make up things — he remembered them. Things she said in passing. Things she didn't even know he'd heard.Her mom sighed contently. "You know, I wasn't sure at first, but now I see it. You really do like her."Noah glanced at Bora and, for just a second, the teasing fell away."I do."She nearly dropped her spoon.

After lunch, as they stood by the door, Bora's mom slipped Noah a container of leftovers."Take care of her, alright?" she said with a wink. "She acts tough, but she's a softie.""I know," he replied gently. "Don't worry."Once the door closed behind them, Bora walked him to the elevator, heart still doing uncomfortable flips."You're dangerous," she said."I'm charming," he corrected, grinning. "Big difference.""That aquarium thing? That wasn't part of the plan.""Maybe not," Noah said, pressing the elevator button. "But maybe we should go."The doors opened.He stepped in, turned to face her, and just before they closed, he added, "Oh, and Bora?""...What?""I wasn't pretending when I said I liked you."And then he was gone.Leaving her in the hallway, heart thundering and the line between real and fake blurring more than ever.