Page 12 of Public Image, Private Heart (K-Drama Love Story #1)

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Ji-yong

O n a rare day where I didn’t have a jam-packed schedule (just a quick photoshoot for a luxury apparel brand I’m the face of), I decided to drop by my grandmother’s place for an afternoon tea.

She lives in Suwon, a satellite city just outside of Seoul, so it was quite easy to reach her place with a one-hour ride.

After the short drive, I rang her doorbell, holding a cake that my manager, Sangwook, had helped me pick out.

Knowing her sweet tooth, I was sure she’d be delighted with my gift.

“Halmeoni, hello!” I greeted her with a warm hug, barely containing my excitement.

Visiting her felt like walking down memory lane: school vacations at her house were the best—running through alleys with my brother Ji-sung, engaging in epic “gang fights” with the neighborhood kids, trying to snag the best Monstera cards, and inevitably hearing my grandmother’s booming voice at the end of the day, calling us back inside for dinner.

Grandma reached out for a hug. “Ji-yong, it looks like you’ve grown taller since my last visit!

” As usual, she playfully “complained” about my increasing height.

I grinned, ready for our well-worn exchange.

“Must be all the delicious food you keep sending me,” I joked, knowing full well it’s her way of showing love.

Stepping into her house felt like stepping into a time capsule.

The old radio was still in its corner, crackling away like it was auditioning for a role in a vintage radio drama.

The TV, with its bulging screen, looked like it had been borrowed from a museum exhibit, and the stack of newspapers, complete with a magnifying glass, seemed more like a set piece from a retro detective show than actual reading material.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. The house had clearly been stuck in a time warp since the 80s. The decor was almost untouched since my childhood. Even the old armchair, where I was about to plop down, seemed to have a permanent indentation from years of use.

Standing there, I wondered about Grandma’s daily routine.

Did she still spend her afternoons listening to that ancient radio, trying to decode the static like it was Morse code?

And was she using the magnifying glass to scrutinize every newspaper article, or was it just a clever way to avoid getting up for a new pair of reading glasses?

I hoped she wasn’t feeling too lonely since Grandpa passed away. Although she had a circle of friends and stayed active, I still worried about her being alone, especially with all her children and grandchildren having such busy schedules.

Despite that, she was as spry as ever. I waved the cake at her like it was a prize before placing it on the table, right next to the mountain of empty containers from the last time she sent me a food shipment.

Her eyes sparkled with delight when she saw the cake. At 85 years old, she’s a petite dynamo with a no-nonsense attitude that could rival any drill sergeant. Though she might look like the quintessential kind and gentle grandmother, her tongue is sharp enough to slice through any pretense.

“The cake looks delicious,” she said, hurrying to the kitchen counter to boil water for tea. “And you finished my food faster than usual! Did you enjoy it with someone?” Her instincts were as sharp as ever.

“Maybe I did,” I replied with a grin. “The jangjorim was especially delicious.” I smiled, recalling how Yumi had gushed about it.

Grandma tapped my arm affectionately as she took the first bite of the cake. “Ji-yong ah, food is meant to be enjoyed together. It’s great to hear you have someone to share it with.”

“You know,” she continued, “I don’t understand what’s up with the younger generation nowadays. You all have stopped procreating and now prefer to live solitary lives.”

“ Halmeoni! ” I yelped at her remark about procreating, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. It was definitely not a topic I wanted to discuss with my grandmother . She let out a soft “tsk,” seemingly unimpressed with my prudish attitude.

“It’s true,” she said. “When I was your age, I already had three children and a fourth on the way.” She gazed around her living room, as if reminiscing about the past. “You all think too much nowadays, with too many distractions. Ji-yong ah, if you meet someone special, just marry her already. You’re not getting any younger. ”

I choked on my tea. Here we go again, my grandmother’s favorite discussion topic. I ate the cake in silence, trying to focus on it so I wouldn’t have to respond. “Your brother Ji-sung is already married with a kid. You’re good-looking and nice too. I’m sure you’ll have no trouble finding a wife.”

I nodded awkwardly, pretending to check my watch. “Ooh, look at the time, I have an appointment I can’t miss. I need to run now.”

But Grandma saw right through my charade.

“I know I’m just an annoying grandma to you, but I just want to see you happy, Ji-yong.

Don’t work too hard.” She tapped my hand again before diving into her fridge to pull out the next batch of homemade food.

“Take this and enjoy it with your ‘friend’, okay?” she said with a wink.

“Thank you, Halmeoni.” I accepted the container, full of my favorite homemade food. “And you’re never annoying to me.” I pulled her close with my free arm and gave her shoulder a light squeeze. “I’ll come visit again to return your container,” I promised.

“Right,” she mentioned, “Ji-ho’s birthday is in few months, so we’ll see each other then. But come visit me any time before that, okay?”

I nodded, waved goodbye, and stepped outside, wondering what else to do with my free time. As I walked to my car, I chuckled, thinking about Grandma’s relentless concern for my love life. Maybe she had a point, or maybe she was just bored. Either way, I had a lot to think about.

My phone buzzed with a new message, waking me from the accidental nap I had taken on the sofa. I glanced at the screen and saw several messages from my mom, all about the surprise birthday party we were planning for my nephew Ji-ho in a few months.

A chuckle escaped me. My mom could be such a drama queen sometimes—or maybe she was feeling a bit bored like Grandma.

Ji-ho’s birthday wasn’t for another two months, yet she was already knee-deep in planning and discussing every detail.

I wondered what more there was to plan for a 2-year-old’s party.

After all, how much excitement and fanfare can a toddler really handle?

But I tried to sympathize with her. With my busy shooting schedule and my big brother Ji-sung working at a military base in Pyeongtaek, along with his family, we didn’t have many opportunities for family gatherings. I should check in with her more, I thought to myself.

Not long after, my phone buzzed again. A quick swipe revealed Min-hee’s name.

Wrong person , I thought with a wistful smile, trying to manage my disappointment.

I opened the message anyway and read her invitation for dinner with other actors at a trendy rooftop restaurant.

I considered the offer but politely declined, citing my exhaustion.

I felt like an old geezer for passing up a socializing opportunity.

Determined to blow off some steam and make up for missed workout sessions, I decided to do a few pull-ups on the bar I’d installed at home. I counted to twenty before hearing my phone buzz again. I hurried over to check, and this time it was Yumi.

I beamed at my phone screen as I read her message detailing her first few days of shooting, but it wasn’t all good news. She recounted her endless blunders and the nervousness she felt working with her new colleagues, especially Ryan.

She tried to lighten the mood with self-deprecating humor. “I tripped over a cable and almost took Ryan down with me. He looked at me like I’d just set the place on fire,” she wrote. “And don’t even get me started on how I called the PD ‘sir’ by mistake. Twice.”

I frowned at the text. She seemed a bit tense these last few days, and I really wished I could be there to help ease her nerves.

The earlier conversation with my grandma about procreating popped into my mind again.

Do I have someone in my life that I’d like to procreate with?

How long has it been since I even attempted to procreate ? I realized it’s been quite a while.

I dated fellow actresses once in a blue moon, considering we were both in the same line of work. We all understand the challenge of juggling a script and a camera while keeping certain aspects of our lives hidden despite laying everything else on the table.

It’s been years since I last saw someone, but it wasn’t anything serious, and we kept it a secret, never releasing it to the press.

Life as an actor isn’t as glamorous as it seems; my busy schedule leaves little room for personal matters, and I’m always on edge about who I can fully trust. I’ve witnessed too many actors and actresses have their careers derailed by blackmail, false accusations, or similar issues from current or former partners—it’s a real nightmare.

My mind then wandered to Yumi... With her, it’s different. I don’t feel like I need to second-guess myself, and I’m never on edge. Time spent with her is always easy and enjoyable, reminiscent of the carefree, innocent days of my childhood, filled with laughter.

And something did happen during our last meet-up.

My mind keeps drifting back to us cuddling the entire night on her sofa.

Oddly enough, it feels quite natural to me, almost like it was something I should have expected.

I haven’t brought it up with her yet because I don’t want to make things awkward, especially given how nervous she can be. I’m trying to play it cool.

I leaned back on the sofa, a thoughtful smile crossing my face as I typed a quick reply. “Sounds like a tough day, but I’m sure you handled it like a pro.”