Eomma, I like your new house. It's

Eomma, I like your new house. It's perfect for you," I said, making conversation. Mark followed me and sat on the floor next to me.
"Ne, I like it too. But enough of me, I want to know about you two. Why did you both decide to date after all these years?" My aunt was clearly too eager to know this gossip, but I thought it was cute. I was about to answer, but Mark beat me to it.
"Well, honestly, eomma, I had this secret crush on her ever since we met. I never had the guts to tell her until we finished our last year of college," Mark surprisingly confessed. Wow. Wait. Did he just say he had a secret crush on me since high school?! It's been how long and he's never even told me this?
"Bwo?"
"Hm? Oh, yeah…ah..I didn't tell you, yeobo. Mianhe?" Mark was quite embarrassed, but it was really cute.
"So wait. Mijoo, you never knew about this until just now? Wah~ how cute! You must be really embarrassed, right Mark? It's okay, when I first met my husband a long time ago, we went through this exact situation," my aunt explained trying to comfort Mark a little.
"Ah really? Well, it's true. I mean, to be truthful, I did date other girls before Mijoo because I never thought that I would have a chance with her. My confidence went down every time I thought about telling her because I didn't think she thought of me in that way. I started having feelings after she told me that her sister, Eunji eonni, got proposed to by Hoya hyung," Mark confided.
I was speechless. I just sat there feeling kind of guilty for some reason. I really had no clue Mark thought this way of me for such a long time. My mouth was slightly agape and I didn't notice it until my aunt said, "Mijoo, close your mouth, you're gonna catch bugs in your mouth. Ahh well our Mijoo is pretty oblivious to these things, as always."
Mark chuckled and looked at me. He closes my mouth for me and turned his attention towards my aunt and started to say, "Eomma, since we're here, is there anything new I should know about Mijoo since I just told my biggest secret?" He had this anticipating look on his face that would make anyone like my aunt squeal and fall for.
"I-I'm going to go to the bathroom, excuse me," I pardoned.

Author's POV
Auntie sighed and started to peel fruit.
"You must be someone special to Mijoo, hm? She's only had 2 boyfriends that I've known of and they're all whom I've approved. I remember one time during her last semester of high school, she locked herself in her room for the whole day after school because of this boy. I don't know if she's told you about him, but he left her so heartbroken that her sister nor myself could get through to her," Auntie told Mark.
Mark was curios and confused. He remembered that she came to him crying her eyes out, but didn't want to question her on it. He only remembered this day because it was the only day he saw Mijoo cry. Both of them had talked about their relationships, but Mijoo never went into depth with her most recent one. Mark did't question it.
"She actually didn't tell me about this guy. But I knew that he had left her heartbroken like that, and it's his loss. She deserves someone better than that--no…she deserves someone even better than me. I don't know where I would be without her by my side all this time. There's something about her that--I don't know..that makes me excited about waking up and starting the day, you know? I don't think I can see myself living without her..." Mark was speaking his mind at this point, not noticing that he was just saying things out loud unintentionally. He heard Mijoo's aunt put her knife down and that was when he was pulled out of his trance.
"..Oh..ah..um, mianhe, ajumma. I didn't mean to carelessly talk like that.."
"Talking like that only proves how worthy you are for my niece. I'm glad she found a treasure like you, Mark," Auntie said with a genuine smile. Mark looked down and grinned a bit at her compliment.
"Now, about Mijoo, hmm, I have a photo album of her when she was a child, let me grab that from upstairs, I'll be right back," Auntie announced cheerfully.

Mijoo's POV
"…I'm glad she found a treasure like you, Mark."
I leaned my back against the wall of the hallway soaking in this new information as I heard Mark's ramble. If I was speechless before, I didn't know what I was now. I know Mark was never one to be really affectionate with words, but somehow I always knew what he meant. This? This is something entirely different. It's a good different though.
I straightened up and braced myself to turn the corner. I walked towards Mark, but he didn't know I was coming because his back was faced me. Since I couldn't speak, I let my actions speak for me.
His head was tilted downwards checking his phone. I smiled and sat down behind him giving him a back hug resting my head on his back. Something about this whole scene in front of me gave me a wave of comfort. Maybe it was the fact that my aunt thinks he's the one (I know she didn't say it, but she thought it). Maybe it was the fact that Mark was so comfortable around my aunt. Or maybe it was the fact that Mark has been more affectionate that he's ever been. I'm not sure, but whatever it was, I was at bliss at this very moment.
I felt Mark's body jump a bit at my surprise hug, but then felt his hands wrap around my arms on his stomach. His thumb tan across my arm comfortingly and he turned his head to the side said, "you surprised me, jagi."
Without releasing my hold on him, I transitioned to move next to him as his arm was slung around my shouder. I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek then moved to snuggle into his chest without a word. I decided not to tell him that I overheard their conversation. He grabbed my hand and kissed it, also without a word.This is one of those times I'm thankful for his obliviousness.
•••
The rest of the evening was spent reminiscing about my time with my aunt. We shared laughs and lunch and the happiness we all felt never faltered. She told stories of me as a child when Eunji eonni and I would spend the entire summer with her. She even told Mark my embarrassing moments. Aish, they weren't even sugar coated; she just blurted them out like nothing. But being with my aunt today really made me miss her.
After several hours of visiting, we lost track of time and almost missed the last bus to town. It was around 4:45 pm and the last bus was going to leave in 15 minutes. We said our goodbyes and gave my aunt one last hug before parting ways.
"I promise to visit more often in the future, eomma. Don't move anywhere, it was hard to find your house here," I joked.
"Of course my beautiful angel. And don't come until you've given birth to this baby," My aunt said bluntly.
Was it easy to tell when someone was pregnant?!
My eyes went wide and I looked at Mark who was a step behind me. He, too was shocked and said, "I didn't say anything, I was waiting for you," and held his hands up in surrender.
"Oh, you think you could hide things from me? Don't you know: mothers know best," she said with a wink.
"Arasso, eomma. I'm only a few weeks pregnant. I was going to tell you, but you beat me to it," I admitted.
"How could you hide it? You're already glowing! That, and I can see a small bump. I know you haven't gained weight either because I remember no matter how much you eat, you would hardly gain anything. Anyway, go now! You're going to miss the bus. Don't worry about me. Your sister is coming down after New Year's, so I won't be that bored in the mean time. Mark, you take care of her as you've been doing. She's very stubborn. I can't wait to see my grandchild."
"Bye, eomma, saranghae," I said while walking and blowing a kiss behind me.
And just like that, we parted ways again.
•••
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped by to get some ice cream because I was craving something sweet. We went to a parlor not too far from our hotel and sat on a bench outside while eating. We watched traffic pass by as we sat in silence enjoying our little treat. I broke the silence by saying, "oppa. thank you," and rested my head on his shoulder enjoying the sensation of bliss and satisfaction I felt at this moment.
This has been the happiest I've been in months all thanks to an oblivious boy named Mark Tuan.