Chapter 8
- Turns Out My Child's Father Was... 2021.05.26.
Chae Eun-bi is a memory Lee Jung-o can't forget, no matter how hard she tries. Jeong-o and Eun-bi were in the same class in the first year of high school. During the first semester of her first year, Jeong-o was an ordinary student who got along well with all her classmates. Eun-bi was quite popular. She was always surrounded by friends, and there was constant laughter around her. Everything about Eun-bi was always a hot topic. Her clothes, bags, shoes, makeup, and stationery were all luxury brands, and she would occasionally give them as gifts to friends who showed interest. All of Eun-bi's friends had at least one thing that Eun-bi used to own. People whispered that Eun-bi's family was full of lawyers. Moreover, Eun-bi's mother was the president of the parents' association, so teachers often asked Eun-bi about her parents' well-being. She was a shining friend in many ways. But that didn't mean Jeong-o envied Eun-bi. Jeong-o was a student who knew how to be grateful for what she had. Anyway, the two got along smoothly. There were no problems during the first semester of their first year. Or maybe there was something Jeong-o doesn't remember. But that problem didn't threaten her school life. Around the time the midterm exams for the second semester of her first year had just ended, Eun-bi spoke to Jeong-o in a friendly manner.
“Jeong-o, do you want this? I've never used it.”
Eun-bi held out a lip gloss. The brand logo, shaped like two overlapping chevrons, hinted at the price of the lip gloss. It would be more expensive than Jeong-o's shoes and bag combined. She thought about just touching it once, but Jeong-o immediately shook her head.
“No. It's okay.”
“It would be nice to have one.”
“No. I don't wear makeup. Really, it's okay.”
Jeong-o had no idea why Eun-bi was offering such a gift. It was even more burdensome because it was a gift without a reason. Jeong-o repeatedly refused, but Eun-bi offered it one more time.
“You're pretty already, so you'd be even prettier with makeup. And this is a luxury brand.”
“I really don't need it, Eun-bi.”
An empty classroom. Fearing that the quiet voice filling the silence might seem like she was putting on a stern face, Jeong-o carefully conveyed her gratitude.
“Thank you for thinking of me. Sorry.”
Did that polite refusal offend Eun-bi? Eun-bi's lips seemed to twist slightly. After that conversation, Eun-bi never spoke to Jeong-o again. Since then, Jeong-o felt that her classmates' gazes were different than before. Was it subtle bullying? Friends who used to greet her brightly stopped smiling at her, and it became frequent for them to stop talking when Jeong-o passed by. Eun-bi's close friends openly ignored Jeong-o. Jeong-o was alone when she went to get lunch. It wasn't too upsetting to be alone. Lunch and dinner were Jeong-o's favorite times. Because along with delicious food, the person Jeong-o loved most in the world was waiting for her in the cafeteria. Jeong-o's mother, Ms. Lee Guk-soon. Guk-soon started commuting to Jeong-o's school that summer. The company Guk-soon worked for took over the catering for Jeong-o's school. Lunch and dinner must have been the most rewarding times of the day for Guk-soon as well. Jeong-o was a lovely daughter who was proud of her mother working in the cafeteria. Guk-soon tried to pretend she didn't know her daughter, worried that it might harm her, but Jeong-o didn't bother to hide the fact.
“Thank you for the food.”
Mom. Guk-soon's lips curved upward at the word "Mom" she uttered softly after saying thank you for the food. The two were affectionate towards each other. So they couldn't easily become unhappy. Then one day, an incident suddenly broke out. Lunchtime. Just as Jeong-o arrived at the cafeteria, someone's shout echoed. Jeong-o turned her head towards the noisy area. The person shouting was none other than Chae Eun-bi. And the person standing opposite her was Jeong-o's mother, Guk-soon.
“Ma'am, how can you put your hand in the soup bowl? That's unsanitary.”
It seemed Guk-soon had made a mistake while scooping and handing Eun-bi her soup. Guk-soon was flustered and tried to take Eun-bi's soup bowl back.
“I'm sorry, student. I didn't do it on purpose…”
“Ahhh!”
At that moment, Eun-bi threw her tray down even more dramatically and fell to the side. Clang. Crash. Not only was Eun-bi's uniform covered, but the food splattered everywhere as she dropped her tray, making a mess of the serving area.
“What's going on!”
The nutritionist ran over. Eun-bi's friend helped her up and shouted fiercely.
“This woman put her finger in Eun-bi's soup bowl, and when she complained, she pushed her.”
“No, student, that's a misunderstanding.”
“Apologize.”
Guk-soon, feeling wronged, tried to argue, but Eun-bi drowned out Guk-soon's voice. The cafeteria fell silent.
“Adults shouldn't do that. If you're an adult, apologize like one.”
At Eun-bi's polite yet firm demand, Jeong-o clenched her fists and rushed forward. Guk-soon, noticing this, immediately bowed her head.
“I'm sorry.”
And she waved her hand so that no one could see. Don't come this way. It was a signal to Jeong-o. Jeong-o couldn't get any closer to Guk-soon and could only stand there, staring at her mother. Her hand, hanging down, trembled. Eun-bi was also shaking her hands.
“If you apologized, take responsibility.”
With that kind of appearance, with a wounded expression, the cafeteria once again felt a chill at the firm words she uttered.
“How are you going to take responsibility?”
At Eun-bi's questioning, Guk-soon couldn't do anything and lowered her head. Jeong-o wanted to grab her mother's hand and leave the cafeteria right away, but Jeong-o couldn't do anything either. The knuckles of her clenched fist turned white. Due to that incident, Guk-soon was subjected to all sorts of accusations. In addition to the incident with Eun-bi, she was falsely accused of not washing her hands before work, of managing the dishes and cooking utensils unsanitarily, and of other acts of negligence, forcing Guk-soon to quit her job. It was the best choice to prevent the arrow from turning to her daughter. However, even after Guk-soon quit her job, Jeong-o had to fight against various rumors about her mother.
“I heard her mom used to work at our school cafeteria? She deliberately made the side dishes taste bad so the kids would leave a lot, and then she'd pack it all up and take it home. To feed her.”
“What? Is she a cafeteria beggar?”
It wasn't true. Guk-soon had told the nutritionist the secret to her good cooking, and then she took the leftovers home. That was all. The only person who knew all the circumstances was Chae Eun-bi. Jeong-o couldn't stand it anymore and asked Eun-bi.
“Eun-bi, are you spreading strange rumors about me?”
“What are you talking about? Strange rumors?”
“When the audit came to Mom's company, you heard everything the auditors said to Mom.”
“Wh-what did I hear? Why are you blaming me?”
Eun-bi raised her voice, and the children came running.
“Eun-bi, what's wrong? What happened?”
Eun-bi leaned weakly on the shoulder of a friend who had rushed over as if she was about to collapse. Her friend held Eun-bi and glared at Jeong-o. Eun-bi said to Jeong-o in a trembling voice.
“You might want to make it my fault that your mother quit her job, but you shouldn't.”
“Lee Jeong-o. How can the perpetrator do that to the victim?”
The friend who was embracing Eun-bi shouted. Jeong-o couldn't say anything more. It was obvious that she would be even more cornered if she added anything. She closed her eyes tightly and turned around. She just had to grit her teeth and endure it. Because if she collapsed, her mother's heart would be even more deeply wounded. That's how Jeong-o's high school life got a label attached to it. Despite Jeong-o's best efforts, that label followed her for a long time.
\*
“One year in? What have you been doing?”
“……”
“I'm a section chief.”
How should I answer this question? I took a leave of absence from university and had a child. It took a long time to return to school. By the time my classmates had all gotten jobs and been promoted, I was starting my career as a new employee. I had my own reasons, but I didn't want to tell Eun-bi about them.
“Ah. You're a section chief.”
Jeong-o nodded, and Eun-bi's brow furrowed slightly as if she was displeased.
“Yeah. So, use honorifics at work. You know that much, right?”
Jeong-o swallowed a bitter sigh.
“Then, see you later. We'll be seeing each other often.”
Eun-bi didn't bother to wait for Jeong-o's answer and turned around. Eun-bi's steps leaving the pantry seemed lighter than when she came in. Jeong-o lamented her situation.
‘Jeong Ji-heon followed by Chae Eun-bi.’
She met two people from her past in the same company. And they were in positions where they would run into each other often. Ji-heon was the head of the same division, and Eun-bi was in the team right next door. Even if she ran away from one, there was another one, so she was in a dilemma. Is this what they call hell in the name of a company?
‘I need to quit this company soon. I need to change jobs.’
With a face full of worries, she got in her car, returned to her seat, and her cell phone vibrated. It was a text message from the HR department.
- Assistant Manager Lee Jeong-o, please come to the HR department to sign your salary contract.
Even if I quit the company, I should check my salary. I'm curious. The salary information is included in the job change conditions, so I expected the salary, but I was curious if there would be any changes to the contract terms since the company was different. Jeong-o went straight down to the HR department. A male employee greeted Jeong-o in front of the HR department door. He was a man with a kind impression.
“Hello. Assistant Manager Lee Jeong-o. I'm Park Seung-gyu from the HR department.”
“Yes. Hello.”
“I don't know if you've heard, but your salary has changed slightly.”
“Changed?”
Jeong-o raised the corners of her eyes and asked fiercely. It was already unfair that the company she was changing to was different, but if her salary was even cut, she couldn't stay at the company any longer. She couldn't concede even 100,000 won from the existing negotiated amount.
“It's been adjusted upwards. The salary increase for this year has been reflected in the existing contract terms.”
“Ah.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Of course, it’s fine. Can I sign here?”
Jeong-o inwardly cheered after confirming the salary. It was 3 million won higher than the initially negotiated amount. When your pockets are full, your heart also becomes generous.
‘This company, it might be worth working at? The location is also good.’
Jeong-o's heart softened at the 3 million won.
“And please fill out your personal information as well.”
After Jeong-o signed, Seung-gyu handed over another document. It was a personal information form managed by the HR department. The personal information section required recording home address, contact information, alma mater, marital status, etc. Surprisingly, there was no separate section for family relations. It was unexpected.
“But, here……”
“Yes. Is there a problem?”
“Ah, no. It’s nothing.”
Jeong-o hesitated to ask about the missing information and closed her mouth. She didn't particularly want to reveal her family relationships. If Jeong Ji-heon didn't already know about Yena, she wanted to leave it as it was. Maybe he knew but was pretending not to. She thought that the words he was going to say when he called her to his office yesterday might have been such a request. A request not to cause a commotion and to stay quiet. To have a smooth work life, it would be better to stay quiet. Jeong-o filled out the documents without hesitation. She checked 'single' for marital status. She had never been married, so she wasn't hiding anything.
*
The morning passed quickly as she greeted people here and there. As lunchtime approached, Mi-ran urgently called Jeong-o.
“Assistant Manager Lee Jung-o.”
“Yes.”
“Just a moment.”
Mi-ran, who had quietly called Jeong-o, got up from her seat. Then, she put her arm around Jeong-o's shoulder and took her to a more secluded spot. What was she trying to say? Had Jeong Ji-heon told her about my past? Or did she find out that I was a single mother? Or did Chae Eun-bi say something strange about me? Jeong-o had many possibilities in mind and couldn't say anything, only swallowing hard. But.
“Do you happen to like Jajangmyeon?”
Huh?
“Jajangmyeon, I mean. Jajangmyeon.”
It was an unexpected question. Jajangmyeon. A food she had never disliked.
“Yes. I like it.”
“That’s good.”
Mi-ran's expression, which had seemed serious and grave, brightened. Mi-ran showed her phone screen. A map of the neighborhood was displayed on the screen.
“This is a famous Jajangmyeon restaurant. All our team members like this Chinese restaurant, and Assistant Manager Lee will like it too. But if you don't reserve a table by 11:50, you'll have to wait 40 minutes.”
“……”
“Sneak out at 11:40 and reserve a table. A table for five.”
That was Mi-ran's business. The most important thing for an office worker. Securing a lunch spot.
“Originally, I should have asked Song Gi-hun, but the reason I'm asking Assistant Manager Lee is because the owner gives us more service when a new face comes.”
“……”
“Don't tell anyone else. We have to eat it ourselves.”
Somehow, this team seems very lovable! Can I really quit this company? Jeong-o's determination to change jobs momentarily wavered.
“Yes. I understand.”
Jeong-o answered with eyes shining fiercely like a general before a battle.
Ten minutes later. 11:40 AM. Jeong-o quietly got up from her seat for her mission. For some reason, the elevator was stuck on one floor, and Jeong-o anxiously tapped her foot. At that moment, a commotion was heard near the elevator. I shouldn't get caught, so let's hide. Jeong-o, who was serious about her assigned mission, hid next to a large potted plant. A group of young children approached the elevator. They all looked to be Yena's age. Around six or seven years old. And their chaperone and Jeong Ji-heon. Jeong-o's heart, which had been moving only towards the lunch mission, thumped slightly. Come to think of it, she seemed to have seen an announcement that children from a nearby daycare center would be attending a lecture at the company. She didn't expect Ji-heon to be directly involved in such an event. It was unexpected. Ji-heon's eyes, as he looked at the children, seemed quite affectionate.
‘Hey. Jeong Ji-heon. You also have a beautiful daughter.’
It was a moment when she wanted to shout.
“Thank you so much for today. It seems like it was a beneficial time for the children.”
“I was also glad to have you. I hope it was a good experience.”
Ji-heon politely responded to the chaperone's greeting.
“And this.”
The chaperone handed over a gift she was holding. It was a heavy paper bag.
“It's a small token, but we baked cookies. Our children made them all day yesterday. We carefully selected and packaged only the prettiest shapes. We made them with the pastry chef, so they should taste good. Please share them with your staff.”
“Thank you. We will enjoy them.”
“There are also cards written by the children inside.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Ji-heon, who received the gift, bowed again politely. The children and the chaperone got on the arrived elevator and left. Jeong-o, stuck behind the potted plant, waited for Ji-heon to leave first. However, Ji-heon did not leave immediately. Suddenly, Ji-heon approached the trash can and dropped what he had received from the chaperone into the trash can, paper bag and all. Gasp!
“No!”
Jeong-o hurriedly jumped out from behind the potted plant and grabbed Ji-heon's arm. But the large trash can had already swallowed the paper bag. Ji-heon, who had thrown away the gift without a moment's hesitation, also flinched as if he was taken aback. A faint resentment flowed from Jeong-o's lips.
“How could you throw that away.”
The children made it themselves, they made it all day yesterday, they only picked the prettiest shapes, there are cards inside. It's not just for you to eat, but for you to share with your staff. How could you throw it away? Huh? The Jeong Ji-heon of the old days was someone who cherished even a tangerine that Jeong-o had secretly put in his pocket. Or was that also an act? Was that the kind of person you were? The person I once loved, the father of my child. Turns out he was just a flashy piece of junk. She glared at him. She felt like hitting him on the head. But that moment of attack was blocked again. His eyes, which had been shaking as he stared at her, changed sharply. It was also easy for Ji-heon to twist and pull out his hand that she was holding. As his hand slid down, it brushed over Jeong-o's hand as if to cover it. The movement was gentle, not fitting for the sharp confrontation. Like someone trying to share his warm body temperature. By the time she became confused by the warmth, her wrist was already being held by him. Jeong-o was flustered by the large hand that was holding her hand. A choked voice came out.
“What is this……!”
