Chapter 58
- Why did you do that? 2021.11.17.
“Hello!”
Yena greeted cheerfully. Then, pointing to Jeong-o, who was further behind, she said,
“Mister, this is my mommy. My mommy is a copywriter.”
Jeong-o still couldn't approach. She was frozen, her face clearly showing her surprise. Ji-heon could understand her reaction. He had been the same. Ji-heon confessed honestly to Yena.
“Mister knows too.”
“How do you know?”
“Mister works at that company too.”
“Huh? Mommy! Does Mister work at Mommy's company too?”
Yena turned her head and asked Jeong-o.
“Uh……”
Jeong-o barely opened her unmoving mouth to answer. She was speechless and unable to say anything more.
“Uncle, what about the present?”
Do-bin's question followed immediately, changing the subject. Ji-heon opened the passenger seat door and took out two boxes, handing them to the children.
“Wow! It's a koala!”
One side of the box was open, so they could quickly see what was inside. Do-bin, recognizing the koala doll, shouted loudly. Jeong-o also recognized the boxes the children were holding. Was it the day before yesterday at lunchtime? It was when there was a traffic accident in front of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne. After hearing about the progress from the police who were dispatched to the scene, and having to wait for the road to be cleared, Jeong-o stopped by a nearby souvenir shop. Fortunately, the shop had the kangaroo doll that Yena had mentioned. Jeong-o happily picked up the kangaroo doll, and then Ji-heon walked into the shop. Jeong-o, hastily concluding that Ji-heon had followed her, quickly ran to the checkout, paid, and left the shop. She used the door opposite the one Ji-heon had entered from when she left. She had run away like that, but he had also been trying to buy a gift. That koala doll next to the kangaroo doll. Recalling the memory, Jeong-o felt inexplicably awkward. Anyway, she was glad she hadn't run into him then. If he had advised her that kangaroos were good for the kids' gifts, Yena would have received two kangaroo dolls. Yena's mouth was wide open as she tore open the box on the spot and took out the doll, hugging it tightly. The baby koala clinging to its mother's back looked just like Yena.
“Yena, you have to say thank you.”
“Thank you, Mister!”
“Thank you, Uncle!”
Following Yena, Do-bin also greeted loudly.
“Thank you for taking care of my daughter as well. …It's time for the kids to go to their academy now.”
Jeong-o bowed and mentioned the next schedule. It was a signal that she was leaving. Her nose was tingling and her eyes were hot, so she couldn't face him any longer. If tears fell, the wall of reason would collapse. She needed to think, but her head seemed temporarily paralyzed. In fact, she had achieved her first goal. The goal of showing Yena to him. He didn't know yet that Yena was his daughter, so it was only half achieved. The scene she had only imagined created a much larger emotional surge than she had expected. Rather than being happy, she was overwhelmed, and on the other hand, her heart ached and felt heavy. Jeong-o had drawn a line, but Ji-heon's heart was different from her will.
“Go on. Let's talk.”
Jeong-o felt completely trapped. But she couldn't show conflict in front of the children. Jeong-o didn't answer Ji-heon and took Yena and Do-bin's hands.
“Let's go into the academy. Say goodbye to Mister.”
“Goodbye, Mister!”
“Goodbye, Uncle!”
The children waved their hands, following Jeong-o's words.
Jeong-o took the children and went up to the academy.
“Yena's mother is here today!”
When she opened the door and went inside, the director of the Go academy greeted her warmly. Jeong-o also greeted him.
“Yes. Hello!”
“That's great. If you have time, can we talk for a moment? There's something I want to tell you.”
She was just going to say hello and leave, but the director led Jeong-o inside.
‘He'll be waiting outside.’
She was briefly worried about Ji-heon. But her concern for Yena pushed it aside. What was he going to talk about? Did Yena seem very depressed? Did someone tease her for being from a single-parent family? Jeong-o followed the director into the director's office with a nervous heart. However, the story the director brought up was on a completely different topic than Jeong-o's worries.
“Yena's mother, you know Yena is smart, right?”
“Ah……”
“She's very smart. She's the smartest seven-year-old I've ever taught. Her ability to analyze numbers is genius.”
She was very surprised by the director's words. It was amazing. She had never taught her Go. Six months ago, she suddenly said she wanted to go to a Go academy, so she sent her. She was a very smart child, but the rules of Go couldn't be easy for a seven-year-old. She thought she would get tired of it after a month or two, but already six months had passed. A little girl who couldn't even open a bottle of water on her own. Her eyes sparkled whenever she held a Go stone in her hand.
“If it's okay with Yena's mother, I'd like to try to teach her well. There are many Go prodigy competitions for children. Yena also has a strong competitive spirit, so I think it would be very stimulating for her to go to a competition. What do you think, Yena's mother?”
“Well, I think I should ask Yena first.”
“Actually, I asked Yena indirectly. Her eyes sparkled when I talked about the competition. I think Yena would also like to meet someone her age to compete with.”
The child was growing up much faster than she thought. It was amazing that she was making her own way alone. Jeong Ji-heon. Our daughter is a prodigy. Hearing about her daughter made her heart race and feel better than if she had been praised herself. Jeong-o finished talking with the academy director and came outside. Ji-heon was standing right outside the door.
“I was wondering why you weren't coming out.”
Before she could ask why he was standing here, Ji-heon spoke first. He seemed to think that she was deliberately not coming out of the academy to avoid him. Before Jeong-o could think of anything else, Ji-heon took Jeong-o's hand.
“Let's go down.”
His grip was strong, as if he was worried she would pull her hand away. Only when Jeong-o stood next to him, matching his pace, did the grip loosen. The two sat facing each other on a bench in front of a convenience store. Ji-heon handed Jeong-o a cold drink. Jeong-o's lips were parched, but she couldn't bring herself to drink it.
“Aren't you going to work?”
“I left work early.”
“Ah.”
Ji-heon hid a smile at her blank reaction. This may be a welcome connection for me, but it may be a burden for you. You must have been very surprised. Maybe you even thought I was scary. I've been so obsessed all this time, so this coincidence might make you suspect that it's all my scheme. Or maybe you feel pressured from all sides? I followed you at work, and now I'm doing this outside of work too? Of course, I want to hold you tight so you can never escape me. I instinctively have that feeling, but I want to pressure you, but I don't. I just hope you don't run away again. But there's nowhere to run now. He hid his selfish heart and made excuses.
“You might not believe me, but I really didn't know. I only found out when I asked for your phone number to give Yena a gift.”
It wasn't all a lie. Giving Yena a gift was definitely part of his plan. The day before yesterday, Ji-heon followed Jeong-o into the souvenir shop in Melbourne, failed to catch Jeong-o, and ended up buying a gift. He bought the gift on the spur of the moment, but he clearly thought of Yena along with Do-bin and his sibling. When he started talking, Jeong-o also shook her head.
“No, it's the same for me.”
“……”
“I didn't know. Really.”
Jeong-o couldn't suspect his words either. If he had known before going on a business trip abroad, he would have brought it up first somehow. Knowing Ji-heon's aggressive nature well, Jeong-o could quickly agree. If he wasn't Yena's biological father, if they had just met at work, she might have been a little scared. The trembling about that connection remained as an aftershock, continuing to torment her heart, but Jeong-o tried to calm down and asked another question.
“Did you, did you used to play Go?”
“I liked it when I was young.”
“I didn't know that either.”
“You couldn't have known since I never told you.”
“That's right. Why didn't you tell me? You should have.”
She meant that she didn't know even seven years ago. She was learning for the first time now that he knew how to play Go. Not knowing her feelings, Ji-heon smiled because her grumbling was cute. Behind the smile, a slightly heavy feeling came. Her world is much bigger than he thought. He will never be able to surpass Yena in his life. He has to admit that, but he was worried about the child's father. Lee Jeong-o had said that about her ex-boyfriend. That he was doing very well. Even if there's no contact now, if he has such a pretty daughter, he might come looking for her at any time. Then will Lee Jeong-o waver? He's the child's father, after all. That can never happen. Can I beat the child's father? The desire to ask about the child's father was stuck in his throat, tormenting him. He was barely about to part his lips when he heard a woman's voice from the other side.
“Yena's mom!”
Jeong-o, recognizing Jin-seo, jumped up from her seat. Ji-heon also stood up. Today's meeting was a collaboration between Jin-seo, Seung-gyu, and Ji-heon. Ji-heon asked Seung-gyu to let him meet Yena and Jeong-o, and Jin-seo came up with the idea. Ji-heon's expression hardened when he faced Jin-seo. He was worried that Jin-seo would tell everything about today's scheme. But Jin-seo was a quick-witted and understanding woman. Jin-seo's lengthened lips were meaningful, but Jin-seo didn't say anything else.
“I see you here. Ji-heon.”
“Yes. Hello. Thanks to you, I was able to deliver the gift well.”
When Ji-heon greeted her, Jin-seo said to Jeong-o,
“I heard that our Do-bin's dad, Ji-heon, and Jeong-o all work at the same company. The world is full of such connections.”
Jeong-o's cheeks flushed for no reason at Jin-seo's voice emphasizing 'fate.' Jeong-o conveyed the plan she had been thinking about since morning.
“You must have had a hard time, so if you're free today, would you like to come to my house with me? I want to invite Do-bin too. I'm so sorry for all the favors I've received so far.”
“Oh, don't mention it. It's nothing. It's not hard at all to look after Yena. Don't think of it as a favor.”
Jin-seo waved her hand.
“I'd love to go to Yena's house, but my parents are coming from the countryside today.”
“Ah... you must be busy.”
“I'm not busy. Now that I'm pregnant, I feel like I want to eat something other than what I make. I'm going to pick up Do-bin now, would you like to come with me?”
“Yes, yes. Okay.”
Jeong-o followed Jin-seo. Ji-heon was left alone again. Fortunately, this time the wait wasn't long. Soon, Jeong-o and Yena, Jin-seo and Do-bin appeared holding hands. Jin-seo looked at Ji-heon, who was waiting, and asked carefully.
“I think I should go first today... Will Ji-heon drive them home?”
“I should.”
Ji-heon's answer was easy. Jin-seo smiled, stretching her lips long as before.
“Okay. Then we'll go first. Yena's mother, thank you for taking Do-bin today.”
“It's nothing. Be careful going home.”
After Jeong-o's greeting, Do-bin also waved cheerfully.
“Yena, bye! See you tomorrow! See you again tomorrow!”
“Okay. Bye!”
Only Jeong-o, Ji-heon, and Yena remained on the road where Jin-seo and Do-bin had left. Jeong-o became nervous again as she faced Ji-heon with Yena. It felt like the constantly overwhelming emotions were blocking the passage of thought. She didn't even feel this nervous during the Competitive Presentation.
“Director, we'll just go. It's within walking distance.”
“I'll give you a ride. Let's go together.”
Ji-heon grabbed Yena's hand, thinking Jeong-o might refuse again.
“Yena. Let's go.”
It seemed better to move the child. Yena took Ji-heon's hand and looked up at him, asking.
“Are you the director, mister?”
“Yes.”
“Then are you the director who gave my mom those cookies?”
He had given Jeong-o cookies sometime ago. Ji-heon turned to Jeong-o with a happy heart and spoke.
“Yena knows too.”
“Yes. I took a few home.”
But Yena had something else to say. This time, Yena asked Jeong-o a question.
“Mom. Then is this the mister who made you work late?”
“Uh. That's...”
“Then is this the mister who made you work late on Yena's birthday?”
The child was frighteningly sharp.
“Mister. Did you make my mom work late on May 27th? It was Yena's birthday then.”
Yena stopped walking and confronted Ji-heon. The child's bright smile could no longer be seen. In that moment, Ji-heon's heart sank. He made Jeong-o work late the next day, so was it May 28th then? Jeong-o had said something like that then.
“I wouldn't trade everything you have for all of me.”
I see. It's Lee Yena. Lee Jeong-o's everything. Ji-heon finally realized why Jeong-o had said that. Yena, who had cleanly withdrawn her affection, raised her chin and asked firmly.
“Why did you do that, mister?”
Ji-heon couldn't move. A chill ran down his spine.
