Chapter 73
73. There's Something There 2022.01.08.
Yena stared intently at Ji-heon, her eyes filled with determination. Ji-heon was at a loss for words. This sudden crisis caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead. Jeong-o smiled kindly and tilted her head to look at Yena.
“Yena, what does Mommy call Do-bin’s mom?”
“Jin-seo.”
“And what else?”
“Do-bin’s mother.”
“That’s right. That’s it. You can call someone else’s mother ‘mother,’ too. The Go academy teacher calls Mommy ‘mother,’ right?”
The seasoned Jeong-o offered a wise answer. Nevertheless, Yena’s lips still pouted. Guk-soon jumped in at the perfect moment, welcoming Ji-heon.
“Come on in. You must be tired from coming all this way.”
Ji-heon handed the fruit basket and bouquet he was carrying to Guk-soon.
“I brought the fruit because I heard Yena and your mother liked them.”
“You believe that?”
Guk-soon checked the fruits in the basket—apple mangoes, Shine Muscat grapes, Hallabong oranges—and chuckled as she replied.
“She must have told you to buy only the things she likes. Still being so greedy even on a day like today.”
Jeong-o, celebrating a special day, had listed the names of fruits that she usually couldn’t afford to buy casually. Ji-heon had taken it to heart seriously. Ji-heon blinked and looked at Jeong-o. He couldn’t say anything at Jeong-o’s nonchalant expression as she turned her head away, feigning ignorance. It was his fault for not knowing Jeong-o’s preferences. While Ji-heon hesitated, Guk-soon calmly examined his face. The father of her granddaughter Yena… At first, she didn’t realize it at all, but looking closely, he resembled Yena. Especially when he had such a blank expression.
“I was so busy that I ordered rice cakes but didn’t pick them up.”
Guk-soon, who had been quietly observing Ji-heon, said.
“Lee Jung-oh, you’ll have to go get them.”
“Okay. I understand.”
As Jeong-o started walking back towards the entrance, Ji-heon said,
“The rice cakes might be heavy, so if you tell me where it is, I’ll go get them.”
“No, I can’t ask a guest to do that. Our Jeong-o eats well and is strong.”
Jeong-o, who had subtly glanced at her mother for openly revealing that secret, slowly put on her shoes.
“Mom, I want to go too!”
Yena scurried after Jeong-o.
“Just stay here.”
“No, I want to go with you!”
Yena clung to Jeong-o’s arm. Jeong-o looked troubled by her unusually stubborn voice. Guk-soon gestured to the two of them.
“Alright. You two go together quickly.”
Jeong-o looked at Guk-soon and Ji-heon, then took Yena’s hand and left. Now, the only people left in the house were Guk-soon and Ji-heon. Just the two of them.
“Shall we sit over there for a moment?”
Guk-soon said, pointing towards the dining table. Two small tables were joined together in the small living room, and some food was already set out. Instead of the living room table, she led Ji-heon towards the kitchen. Ji-heon, who had been extremely nervous, gave a short “Yes” and followed Guk-soon. As Ji-heon sat across from her, Guk-soon opened the conversation.
“I heard you lost your memory for seven years.”
“Yes. Because I lost my memory, Jeong-o had to go through a lot alone. I have no excuse.”
He was as polite and respectful to Guk-soon as he had been at their first meeting. Nevertheless, the memories of seven years ago resurfaced, and her heart churned. The person who had brought the greatest despair to her beautiful daughter, her smart and kind daughter who had never once caused her trouble. She couldn’t simply say, “It’s okay, it’s all in the past.” But she couldn’t get angry either. After a moment of silence, Guk-soon chuckled and revealed her honest feelings in a weak voice.
“……I went to break a switch, but I couldn’t do it.”
“……”
“Just as my child is precious, so must be someone else’s child. When I thought about that, I just felt sorry for our Director Lee’s life.”
“……”
“You’ve worked hard to come all the way here.”
She decided to accept it. She couldn’t bring herself to say harsh words to someone who seemed so lost and tense. She couldn’t reject the man her daughter had accepted. Losing his memory wasn’t his fault either, so she couldn’t just blame him. Just because his mother had interfered between them, she couldn’t resent him for having such a mother. It wasn’t his fault. There was nothing Guk-soon could do from the start. Because she had a daughter she cherished more than her own life, Guk-soon would always be in a subordinate position when it came to her daughter’s relationships. Thinking that she shouldn’t scold him, Guk-soon looked at Ji-heon and found his tense appearance quite endearing.
“I suppose you’ve heard that I’m a single mother?”
“……Yes.”
“That’s how my child was born. Even though I have nothing to pass on, I shouldn’t pass on something like that, but when my daughter became like that, I felt so sorry for her. Because I’m her mother, it was so hard to watch her struggle… But still, Jeong-o grew up so well.”
Guk-soon boasted about her daughter for the first time in a while. Thinking of her daughter, a smile naturally appeared on her face even in this serious situation.
“When I said I was going to break a switch, Jeong-o said, ‘Are you going to hit someone else’s child?’”
“……”
“If she knows that someone else’s child is as precious as her own, I think she grew up very well even in that difficult environment.”
At Guk-soon’s undisguised smile, Ji-heon quietly raised his head to look at Guk-soon.
“A long time ago, I couldn’t like myself. Me, a single mother. But our Jeong-o resembles me. Unlike me, she’s the most beautiful and lovable person in the world, but she resembles me.”
“……”
“……So I thought I might be able to love myself too.”
The story of a mother, Lee Guk-soon, and a person, Lee Guk-soon. Ji-heon also thought that Guk-soon and Jeong-o looked very alike. Watching the mother speak calmly and composedly, with warmth emanating from her very presence, Ji-heon felt envious of Jeong-o for the first time. At that moment, as Ji-heon’s eyes slowly began to water.
“Don’t hate yourself too much. Don’t blame yourself either. What couldn’t be helped simply couldn’t be helped. Now, just think about the future. Our Yena’s father will also come to love himself more as he sees a child who resembles him. That’s the power of a child who resembles me.”
“……”
“After dinner today, talk to Yena too.”
He finally realized that it was his story, Jeong Ji-heon’s story. And, ‘Our Yena’s father.’ The unfamiliar title made the inside of his throat feel hot. Ji-heon lowered his head to hide his reddened eyes.
“I don’t know if I deserve to receive such words……”
He had come prepared to be severely scolded.
“I don’t know if I deserve to receive such encouragement……”
He felt even more guilty at the unexpected encouragement. His heart ached. He foolishly thought that it would have hurt less if he had been scolded instead.
“Oh, there’s no need to be so touched already. Yena’s father has a long road of hardship ahead of him.”
But our Ms. Lee Guk-soon was not one to adapt to such sentimental atmospheres. As Guk-soon waved her hand and raised her voice, Ji-heon’s tears, which had been about to fall, disappeared completely.
“Our Yena is not easy to deal with. I wonder who she takes after.”
Her voice was especially loud during the ‘who she takes after’ part.
“There are always trials and errors. Even if Yena says too much, just think that she’s like me and love her.”
Guk-soon firmly added advice for Ji-heon’s future. She knew that even if she welcomed him warmly, Ji-heon wouldn’t be walking on a bed of roses. Overcoming this difficulty would be his first step as a father.
* Yena went to the rice cake shop holding her mom’s hand. Her mom’s pace was faster than usual. She hurried as if she were someone who had left something at home, someone who had to return quickly. Well, she did leave something at home. It wasn’t an object, though. Yena was out of breath because her mom kept rushing. In the end, she couldn’t say anything on the way to the rice cake shop. On the way back from picking up the rice cakes, her mom’s pace slowed down. Yena didn’t miss the opportunity and said to Jeong-o.
“Mom, today some lady tried to give me fifty thousand won.”
Jeong-o’s eyes widened.
“Who? Was it that lady who came to the restaurant?”
“No. Just a lady I don’t know.”
“When? Where?”
“On the way to the academy, in the academy elevator.”
“Why? Why would she give you money?”
“The lady’s bracelet got stuck in my hair and messed it up like this. So she was going to give me money because she was sorry.”
“So what did you do?”
“I didn’t take the money. The teacher told the lady it was okay. She said she could just retie my hair.”
“Oh, I see. That’s a relief. Yena, you shouldn’t take money like that in the future. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
Even after answering, a strange discomfort lingered in Yena's heart. Unable to express this feeling, she walked along glumly, gripping Jeong-o's hand even tighter. Soon, Jeong-o arrived in front of their house and sighed, facing the stairs.
“It’s heavy. Why did Mom even make rice cakes…”
“Mom, should I help you carry it?”
“No, you go up first, my princess.”
Jeong-o refused Yena's earnest offer and stroked her hair. But I want to help. Yena became gloomy again. As she trudged up the stairs, she heard a voice from below.
“Hello, Yena’s mother.”
“Oh, Officer Kwon Bae-il, hello. Are you getting off work now?”
“Yes. But that looks heavy. Shall I help you?”
“Ah, no. It’s alright.”
“If you go up alone, it looks like it will take you an hour to climb all the stairs.”
Yena went back down the stairs. Kwon Bae-il and Jeong-o were standing side by side.
“Hello, Mister.”
“Hello. Yena, have you been well?”
Bae-il greeted her and took the luggage Jeong-o was holding.
“No, no, well…”
“I’ll carry it up for you. Bring the cart up.”
While Jeong-o was feeling awkward, Bae-il went up the stairs first. Yena took the lead. Jeong-o hurriedly pulled the cart and followed Bae-il. As expected, with the police officer helping, the time to the fourth floor was short. Bae-il put the box in front of the door and immediately turned around.
“Ah… thank you so much, Officer.”
“You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help. Then, I’ll be going. Bye, Yena.”
“Yes. Goodbye!”
Jeong-o watched Bae-il go down the stairs for a long time before opening the front door.
“Grandma, I’m home!”
Yena greeted cheerfully. In the meantime, the living room table was full of food. Ji-heon was busily following Guk-soon around. He looked like a rookie employee who was wandering around because he had no assigned work and nothing to do, just awkwardly watching. Guk-soon asked Jeong-o.
“Did you carry the rice cakes up the stairs by yourself? You should have called me.”
“No, I met the officer in front and he carried them up for me.”
“Oh, how kind. I should bring him some rice cakes later.”
Officer? Ji-heon was curious about who she was talking about, but he couldn't easily join the conversation between Jeong-o and Guk-soon and just kept looking around. Guk-soon put the last dish on the table and said.
“Let’s sit down quickly. Director Ji-heon, please sit down too.”
It was too much food for four people. Yena was a little upset. What day is it today that there is more food than on my birthday? No one cared about Yena's feelings, and the conversation between Jeong-o and Guk-soon continued.
“Mom, why did you make so much?”
“It’s better than not having enough. Director, you can eat it all, right?”
At Guk-soon's question, Ji-heon answered in a spirited voice.
“Yes, of course.”
Hmph. Let’s see if you can eat it all, Mister. Yena glared at Ji-heon with a sulky look and turned her head. Ji-heon emptied two bowls of rice for the first time in his life. As soon as Ji-heon finished his rice, Guk-soon brought rice cakes and fruit. Ji-heon stubbornly emptied even these. He was constantly nervous inside. He decided to tell Yena everything after the meal. He was nervous, trembling, and even scared because he couldn't predict Yena's reaction. Yena, who didn't know anything, was quietly hiding her sad feelings. She was going to tease him if he couldn't eat it all, but he ate so well that she couldn't tease him. Ji-heon was embarrassed that he had even emptied the dessert plate. She was upset at the sight of Guk-soon being happy about this. I was the only one who was praised for eating well. A little later, Guk-soon quietly called Jeong-o to the end of the kitchen. Yena quietly held her breath and tried to listen to their conversation, but she couldn't hear well. Soon, Jeong-o, who had finished talking with Guk-soon in the kitchen, returned to the living room and spoke to Ji-heon.
“Oppa.”
That was all she said. As if sending a signal. Something's up! A strong wave surged in Yena's heart. Besides, Oppa? Oppa? Not Director, but Oppa? Yena's eyes shook from side to side as she sensed something suspicious. In the meantime, Ji-heon approached Yena. Jeong-o also sat close to her.
“Yena.”
Yena couldn't answer even to the Mister's gentle voice.
“The Mister is actually…”
Thump, thump… What is the Mister going to say? Yena unknowingly swallowed hard. Before she could even hear all the words, her eyes were already filled with tears. Thump, thump, thump, thump…
“Your dad. Yena's dad.”
Thud. It felt like time, her heart, had stopped.
