Chapter 12
- Since When Was He There?
2023.05.12.
Heejin wedged herself between Mal-hee and So-eun to watch TV. Since there was only one chair in the room, So-eun moved to the caregiver's bed and squatted down.
After watching the drama for a while, Heejin muttered.
"Oh my. Now So-eun will become a lawyer's wife."
It was just when the drama was showing the evil deeds of a villainess trying to become a lawyer's wife.
So-eun once again raised only the corners of her lips in a smile.
"I wonder what it feels like to be called 'Madam' for free? I shouldn't make our son a lawyer."
She spoke as if to herself, but Heejin's voice was so loud that Mal-hee and So-eun couldn't help but hear.
"My mom suffered so much to make her son a lawyer, only to do good for others."
"That's the fate of a lawyer's mom, what can you do?"
Mal-hee replied glumly to Heejin's words.
So-eun had hoped that her mother-in-law would at least consider her position, but Mal-hee also affirmed Heejin's opinion, which made So-eun feel hurt.
It's not like I'm marrying him because I want to be called a lawyer's wife.
It's just because I love Tae-joon. I want to become a family, that's why I'm marrying him.
So-eun almost voiced her thoughts, but she swallowed them down.
After watching the drama with interest for a long time, Mal-hee, who had been sitting for too long, grimaced and groaned as she lay down in her bed.
Heejin asked.
"Mom, what's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere?"
"I'm just a little tired."
"It's about time for you to recover, why are you still like this?"
"That's just how it is. I'll get better soon."
"Could it be because So-eun is a bit weak and frail? Is it possible that the donated liver isn't in great condition, so your recovery is delayed?"
Madam Kim Mal-hee sighed and turned her head away with a resigned expression at Heejin's opinion.
Heejin, who had been looking at Mal-hee with worried eyes for a while, turned her head and asked So-eun.
"Everyone else has settled down and recovered by now, why are you still like this? Huh? So-eun."
So-eun felt a chill run down her spine at Heejin's remark. She never expected to hear such words.
Her heart also throbbed. She understood that they were anxious because her recovery was slow, but she felt wronged that she was being resented even after giving a part of her body.
"Oh dear, we can't have surgery again. How upsetting..."
Heejin turned her head again, adjusted Mal-hee's blanket, and sobbed. Of course, she didn't shed any real tears.
So-eun, feeling hurt by both Heejin, who was making absurd suggestions, and Madam Kim Mal-hee, who was silently agreeing, finally opened her mouth.
"Sister, I gave Mother the most precious thing I had. You know that."
It was the first time.
She had never taken credit for it. It was because she believed that they would recognize it even if she didn't take credit.
She didn't want the whole world to know that she was the daughter-in-law who saved her mother-in-law. She just wanted her family to acknowledge it.
That was her only small wish.
To hear that they were upset before hearing a word of thanks.
The people who had thanked her so profusely before the surgery, the people who had called her the lucky charm of the family.
Heejin and Mal-hee's eyes widened as if they were surprised when So-eun spoke with a hardened expression.
The atmosphere in the hospital room turned cold in an instant.
After a moment, Heejin, looking flustered, gave an awkward laugh and stammered.
"...Our So-eun has a temper too. I was just wondering if that could be the reason, so I just said it."
"If you say things like that, Mother might become more anxious. The surgery went well, and she's slowly recovering, so you should be careful with your words."
"Oh, oh, yes... I misspoke. I'm sorry."
It was So-eun's rebellion, who had been silent all along.
Heejin gaped as if she was dumbfounded, unable to close her mouth. Mal-hee also couldn't say much and just glanced around cautiously.
After that, Heejin grumbled as she needlessly tidied up the clean hospital room.
"Oh dear, I can't say anything, I can't say anything."
Heejin's muttering was faintly audible to So-eun, making her feel uncomfortable.
The hospital room in summer was humid. The air conditioner was only turned on to the weakest setting for the patient's health, and the fan was fixed in one direction. Heejin occupied the space in front of the fan, so So-eun fanned herself with a stiff piece of paper, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
It was a time when her body felt languid. Heejin handed So-eun the fruits and vegetables from the refrigerator.
"So-eun, can you wash the apples and cucumbers and peel them? Mother must be hungry."
"Yes."
While So-eun went to the bathroom with the things she had received, Heejin asked Mal-hee.
"Mom, what did you have for lunch? Is the hospital food okay these days?"
"I ate. So-eun made porridge and brought it, so I had that."
"Porridge? Let me see."
When Mal-hee pointed to the porridge container, Heejin picked it up with a nonchalant expression. Heejin's face contorted as she opened the lid and took a spoonful.
"So-eun, did you make this for our mom to eat?"
Heejin stretched her neck and asked So-eun. Her tone was accusatory.
So-eun asked as she came out of the bathroom.
"Does it taste strange?"
"Try it yourself. Can you eat this?"
So-eun felt offended by Heejin's somewhat aggressive tone.
"Mother said it was fine and ate it all. She finished the whole bowl."
"Mom, was this delicious?"
Heejin turned her head and asked Mal-hee. Mal-hee suddenly leaned back on the bed with a weak voice.
"I just eat whatever I'm given."
"Even so, this isn't right."
Heejin sighed roughly at Mal-hee's answer.
"Has So-eun's cooking changed? I heard she was good at cooking, why is it like this?"
"I did exactly as Tae-joon told me to. He sent me the recipe and told me to make it exactly as it was, so I carefully measured everything."
"Still, you should taste it first."
"I did taste it."
"Was it delicious? Was this delicious? To you?"
"......"
"You have to be able to judge whether it's delicious or not. Can't you make that judgment yourself?"
"......"
"Huh? Can't you think for yourself, So-eun?"
So-eun was speechless. As So-eun's large eyes widened, the hospital room door opened and Hee-wook entered.
Hee-wook, who had heard Heejin's voice from outside the hospital room, asked.
"What's wrong? What's going on?"
"Hee-wook."
Heejin sobbed.
"So-eun made porridge for Mom to eat. But it tastes strange, and when I said something about it, she's making me look like a weird person. She's being unnecessarily sensitive today."
No, when did I ever do that?
So-eun was about to retort, but Heejin preempted her.
"You try it. Am I being abnormal?"
Heejin handed the porridge container to Hee-wook, who accepted it. Hee-wook's expression quickly contorted as he tasted the porridge So-eun had made, licking it with the tip of his tongue.
"...Why does it taste like this?"
"See! I told you it was strange!"
Heejin's voice grew triumphantly as Hee-wook joined in.
So-eun, with a hardened expression, said to Hee-wook.
"I followed the recipe Tae-joon sent me exactly."
"Then it shouldn't taste like this? Did you put something in wrong?"
"Then you try making it yourself."
So-eun was speechless as even Hee-wook, who she thought would take her side, sided with Heejin and blamed her. So-eun felt like she couldn't stay in the hospital room any longer and said goodbye to Mal-hee.
"Since Hee-wook is here, I'll be going now, Mother. I'll come again next time."
The moment the hospital room door opened, Heejin's voice, repeating 'Oh my, oh my' as if she was dumbfounded, could be heard.
Her steps, filled with emotion, quickened. It was only when So-eun's feet reached the hospital entrance that Hee-wook's voice was heard.
"So-eun."
Hee-wook, who had belatedly followed her out, grabbed So-eun.
"How can you just leave like that?"
"Then do you want me to stay there?"
So-eun turned around and retorted, revealing her hurt feelings.
"What do you want me to do? Everyone is picking on me for making something the way you told me to. If it tastes so strange, then you make it. Tell Sister to make it. See if it tastes the same, different, better, or worse."
"......"
"I made it with care, using organic ingredients. And Mother ate a whole bowl of porridge for lunch. She said it was fine and ate it."
"How much did you pressure her that she couldn't say anything else and just ate it all?"
"......What?"
So-eun was even more dumbfounded by Hee-wook's sullen reply. Hee-wook immediately tried to smooth things over, realizing that he had spoken harshly.
"Anyway, it's not about the taste. It's a health food. I'll tell them it's a health food."
"......"
"Your sister-in-law came after a long time. She might not know much about Mom's food since it's been a while."
"Tell her that yourself. Don't do this here."
Hee-wook tried to appease her, but So-eun, who was already feeling hurt, became stubborn. Once she started expressing her hurt, she had a lot to say.
"Yes. Your sister-in-law came after a long time. I was the one who visited Mom's hospital room frequently to check on her condition every day since her surgery. I did it even though it was hard. How often did your sister-in-law come to visit after Mom was hospitalized? How much did you take care of Mom?"
"......"
"I was the one who cared about Mom the most, but how could your sister-in-law say those things after coming after so long? How could you do that?"
She was also in need of rest, she needed to be taken care of, but she took care of the more ill Kim Mal-hee. But she had never heard a single word of thanks.
As she turned to leave again, Hee-wook grabbed So-eun's hand.
"So-eun."
"Let go."
"Calm down. I'll talk to them. Let's go inside."
"No. Tell your sister-in-law right now over the phone. Tell her to be respectful to me."
"Haa. Han So-eun. Let's not go too far."
Hee-wook, who had been trying to persuade So-eun, suddenly changed his expression when So-eun made her request.
"Don't you think you're crossing the line too much these days?"
"What?"
"Do you have to be treated like royalty to be satisfied?"
Hee-wook's chilling coldness suppressed the hot air outside the hospital.
So-eun's mind was freezing.
What should I do here?
So-eun shook off Hee-wook's grip and moved her frozen legs.
"I'm leaving."
She forced herself to keep her eyes open, trying not to cry, and walked straight ahead. She didn't hear Hee-wook following her.
No, she heard the sound of footsteps moving away. But So-eun didn't look back.
Her steady steps suddenly stopped. She saw someone across from her, who had been watching them, turn away.
Why is that person there?
So-eun's eyes widened as she recognized Director Kim Tae-joon.
Kim Tae-joon stared sharply at So-eun as if he wasn't embarrassed at all that he had been caught watching them, and then left.
So-eun, feeling embarrassed, touched her forehead.
Since when was he there? How much did he hear?
Kim Tae-joon was already gone, but she felt so ashamed that she wanted to hide somewhere.
Just a few days ago, she had bragged about her boyfriend in front of him. She had acted so happy, saying that her boyfriend treated her well and made her feel loved, but all that pretense had been exposed.
How funny. How ridiculous.
As she walked down the road where no one was stopping her, her steps towards home felt heavy.
