Chapter 2
- Let's Eat
2023.05.02.
4 months ago.
The doctor displayed So-eun and Mal-hee's abdominal CT scans and explained.
"There's no fatty liver, and the size and shape are perfect. Very suitable for the recipient."
Yang Hee-wook and Madam Kim Mal-hee exclaimed simultaneously at the doctor's opinion.
"Thank you. Thank you, doctor."
Mal-hee repeatedly bowed to the doctor as if the surgery was already complete.
"You should thank the donor."
The doctor pointed to So-eun as he replied. Mal-hee immediately turned her head to the side and held So-eun's hand tightly. So-eun also raised the corners of her lips in response to Mal-hee's emotional expression. But she couldn't be as moved as they were.
"Your future daughter-in-law has made a big decision. It's not that this never happens, but it's still not an easy decision. Your mother-in-law is very lucky."
"That's right. Our So-eun is a lucky charm for our family."
Madam Kim Mal-hee seemed to agree as the doctor added. Hee-wook chimed in during the conversation.
"Actually, she's not just a mother-in-law. Since So-eun's parents are not around, my mom has really cherished her like her own daughter."
"Yes. She's as good as my own daughter."
Mal-hee agreed with Hee-wook, shaking So-eun's hand. So-eun's body swayed whenever her hand was shaken.
The doctor, smiling at this beautiful relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, pointed to the CT scan again. A clear line appeared on So-eun's liver in the photo. As she looked at the photo, So-eun's left hand went up to below her right breast. It was just a photo, but the area where she would be operated on already felt throbbing.
"From here to here, we will cut about 50% to 60% through a right hepatectomy. Since the donor's liver weighs about 1kg, about 500g will be removed."
"Isn't it possible to go up to 70%? That's what I know."
Hee-wook asked the question in response to the doctor's words. So-eun's left hand gripped harder at Hee-wook's voice.
"I think up to 65% is possible. Of course, we need the donor's consent."
Hee-wook and Mal-hee's eyes turned to So-eun at the answer, 'the donor's consent.'
So-eun cautiously calculated in her head. 'Liver donors recover quickly,' 'After a few months, you'll wonder if you ever had surgery'...... She gained courage from the information she got through internet searches, but she was still scared.
So-eun asked in a small voice.
"...How many months does it usually take to fully recover after surgery?"
"Liver function usually returns to normal within 1 month."
"When will the liver size return to 100%?"
"Since a new organ is growing, it's difficult to say for sure, but it can be considered almost fully recovered to its pre-surgery size in 3 months."
It was the opinion of a renowned doctor who was among the top five in liver transplant surgery in Korea, so it was trustworthy. While So-eun quietly nodded, Hee-wook continued the questions.
"Then it might be more than 100% instead of 100%. Because you're cutting out the old and creating something fresh and new. Isn't that right, doctor?"
Hee-wook sought the doctor's agreement as if it was a good thing for everyone. He seemed excited by the fact that he had extended his mother's life.
The doctor glanced at So-eun's expression for a moment and reluctantly smiled.
\*
- Are you at work? You said you were coming to the hospital yesterday, why didn't you come?
He asks so quickly.
During work hours. So-eun glanced at Hee-wook's text message and turned her phone over.
Yesterday, So-eun overheard Hee-wook and Mal-hee's conversation outside the hospital room and turned away. She didn't know what expression to face them with.
It was something she had never heard directly. Madam Kim Mal-hee always greeted So-eun with a smiling face and shed tears before the surgery, wondering how a young girl could have such a surgery. Of course, she didn't find fault with So-eun's family or education either. Not to her face.
Still, there was affection that had built up over time. The people she had seen were so kind and good, so she slowly came to terms with her heart.
'Yes. Even in poverty, people criticize the king.'
Am I always the same on the outside and inside? That's not true.
I also laugh insincerely in front of my boss and complain to my brother as if I'm cursing him.
It's my fault for eavesdropping on their conversation.
He's from a prestigious law school, a lawyer at a famous law firm, so how many temptations would there be? How much would people around him talk? How much would they say it's a waste that such a person is dating an engineer who barely graduated from a four-year university?
Even if I try to understand it that way...
"Assistant Manager Han, should I buy you a salad? You like salads, right?"
Park Bobae, a new junior colleague next to her, spoke to her while she was momentarily dazed in thought. Noon had already passed. It was lunchtime from 12 o'clock, but Bobae was considerate of So-eun, who was still struggling to process the morning customers' orders.
She mainly ate salads before the surgery. There were many spicy foods near the company, which were burdensome, so she brought lunch from home.
Madam Kim Mal-hee had also been concerned about So-eun's diet for a long time. She ordered and sent organic vegetables, saying she should eat healthy things, and made side dishes for her to take with her lunch.
Hee-wook was also particularly sensitive about food from the beginning of their relationship. There were many days when she wanted to eat greasy food, when she wanted to drink enough to get drunk. There were no such deviations on dates with Hee-wook.
Come to think of it, even on the day she was looking forward to their exciting first night, he said that.
"I want to cherish your first time. Until we get married."
She was disappointed as much as she had expected, but on the other hand, she felt more loved and cherished, so she was grateful. So-eun also respected the purity that Hee-wook was diligently protecting. Because we're going to get married anyway. Because we love each other.
But it was. It was.
Was even that heart a lie?
Was that the truth of the heart that cared about my food and worried about my health?
Was it to get a healthy liver from me?
Was the reason for delaying the relationship because he was afraid I might get pregnant?
Looking back with a twisted heart, everything was suspicious.
"Assistant Manager?"
Bobae asked again as she stared blankly.
"Ah, sorry. I'd appreciate it if you would."
So-eun smiled awkwardly and handed Bobae the money.
Bobae got up from her seat with an excited expression.
"I'm going to the company cafeteria. They said a new director came to the cafeteria."
Ah... So-eun nodded at Bobae's words.
The new director and head of department, who had quietly taken office at the company without even holding an inauguration ceremony, was already very popular from his first day at work. Because he was so handsome.
If it were normal, So-eun would have been a little curious, but today she didn't feel like anything, so she just smiled quietly.
"They say he's from a royal family, but he eats at the company cafeteria. He even has a down-to-earth charm."
Bobae, excited at the thought of confirming the new director's beauty, tilted her head to the side and asked kindly.
"They say the ricotta cheese salad is delicious, so I'll buy that. Is that okay?"
"Yeah. I like it. Please, Bobae."
She wanted to eat something more greasy and plentiful, but she couldn't make a request that would be bothersome. So-eun was someone who struggled with requests and demands.
The smile she gave while waving her hand disappeared as soon as her colleague left.
She picked up her phone again. She thought that maybe the unread text messages would bother her even more.
So-eun took a deep breath and texted Hee-wook, 'I was a little busy.'
- If you're busy, you should say so. Mom waited a long time.
This time, she got a reply right away.
So-eun was somehow relieved by the quick reply, wondering what she had been anxious about.
Yes. They won't abandon me.
I won't abandon them either.
I can't abandon them. I gave them a part of me.
I've gone too deep. I can't think of another life now.
- I'm sorry. I'll go on the weekend.
So-eun pressed down hard on the one line of reply and sent it.
Soon, two text messages arrived.
Okay. My father and I both have work on the weekend, so can you watch over the hospital room?
Oh, and can you make a few side dishes? It seems like Mom is getting tired of the hospital food. I'll send you the recipe, so please make it exactly like this.
So-eun's expression hardened again at the two consecutive messages. She hesitated whether to send a reply or not, but Team Leader Lim Ji-hyung from the same team called So-eun.
"Assistant Manager Han, aren't you having lunch?"
"I have a little work piled up. What about you, Team Leader?"
"I'm going to go eat now. Assistant Manager Han should eat lunch and then work."
"Bobae said she'd buy me a salad. Enjoy your meal."
Team Leader Lim's expression hardened a little at the mention of replacing her meal with a salad.
"Assistant Manager Han. I know you're good at your job, but the company doesn't. Nothing."
"......"
"Work sparingly. Unconditional devotion is not a virtue."
Team Leader Lim quietly advised So-eun and left.
So-eun felt Team Leader Lim's advice was somehow stinging like a rebuke.
Devotion is not a virtue, devotion is not a virtue...
So-eun mumbled Team Leader Lim's last words to herself and picked up her phone again.
- How about you try making it yourself, oppa? Wouldn't your mother be touched?
As expected, she got a reply right away. This time, it was two messages.
Of course, I've tried it too. But you know. She says everything I make tastes bad. But she eats anything you make deliciously.
If it's hard to make several side dishes, just make one porridge. Let's give Mom the porridge and go out for something delicious in the evening. Our So-eun likes Eel rice bowl from Namsan, right? Let's go eat that. If you have time, let's go for a drive too.
So-eun paused after checking the messages. He was coming on so earnestly, she felt like she couldn't refuse. She had done the great deed of giving away her liver, and it would be a waste if her personality was scratched by failing at the After Service.
So-eun sighed deeply and sent a reply.
Okay.
Thank you, So-eun. You're the only one for me. I love you
She got a reply right away this time too.
She somehow didn't feel happy even after hearing the words 'I love you.'
Knock knock.
While she was staring at the few words Hee-wook sent with a heavy heart, she heard a sound of knocking on her desk right next to her.
Gasp.
So-eun turned her head in surprise and froze, gasping for breath. Because a strange man was putting his face too close.
She hadn't felt anyone approaching because she was texting Hee-wook. She hadn't noticed the man coming right next to her.
She worked as an engineer in a company where most of the employees were men, but she wasn't close to the men. She mainly dealt with customers alone rather than collaborating, so she didn't have time to share personal stories with her colleagues.
To her, the person she was facing was too much of a stimulus.
"Aren't you having lunch?"
"......"
"Assistant Manager Han So-eun."
The man looked down and checked So-eun's name tag and called her name.
So-eun had to tilt her head up a lot because the man was standing so close.
The man was wearing a Suit instead of the company uniform.
Her gaze paused several times in that short moment, passing his broad chest, large shoulders, sharp jawline and nose, the slightly curved ends of his lips upwards, his long eyes and light double eyelids...
He was a pretty person.
He was so pretty that she felt strangely familiar. Like she had met a movie star.
As So-eun looked at him in embarrassment, the head of the HR department, who was standing next to the pretty man, introduced him nonchalantly.
"This is the new Director Kim Tae-joon."
"Ah, ah, ah, yes, yes, yes!"
It was that person. A royal family.
The new director who was said to be in the company cafeteria was here!
So-eun's face turned red and she hurriedly got up from her seat and bowed.
"No need to get up."
Tae-joon muttered quietly, letting out a puff of air between his lips as if So-eun's reaction was funny, and then spoke again.
"I asked if you weren't having lunch."
"Yes, a colleague said she'd buy me a salad."
"Salad?"
"......"
"Can you work after eating that?"
"Ah, well, I mean, I'm... dieting..."
"Where is there any fat to lose."
He muttered again in a voice that could barely be heard. So-eun couldn't hear him well.
It was ambiguous to ask what he had just said, so So-eun stood quietly, hiding her dry lips.
While muttering to herself, 'Please go, go quickly,' and her head was gradually lowering, Tae-joon's feet moved. She thought he was finally leaving.
"Would you like to come with me for a moment, Assistant Manager Han So-eun?"
He called So-eun's name again.
Her reddened face turned pale this time. Her precious liver suddenly felt tired and dizzy, as if it had done all of its work for the day.
She wondered what kind of secret he was going to tell her. What did I do wrong? Was it wrong to take unpaid leave? Was he trying to take my position? She struggled to lift her feet, which had become heavy with all sorts of fearful thoughts, and quietly followed him.
After parting ways with the head of the HR department in the middle, So-eun got on the elevator with Tae-joon. Tae-joon pressed the 7th floor button. It was a place that So-eun, an ordinary employee, had never been to.
As the elevator doors closed, Tae-joon asked.
"How long have you been with the company?"
"This is my fourth year."
"Why did you come to K Group?"
Ah, is this the famous elevator talk? If I don't answer properly, will I get 'You're fired!'?
So-eun rolled her eyes, trying to recall the model answers from the job interview that she had memorized four years ago. But without needing to answer that question, another question followed.
"Where do you live?"
Fortunately, this was a question she could answer right away.
"Gwonseon-dong."
"That's not too far. Is that your family home?"
"No, I'm living alone."
"Alone?"
"Yes."
As the dry questions and answers continued, the elevator doors opened and the two arrived on the 7th floor.
So-eun, whose long legs and stride were different from Tae-joon's, diligently followed behind him with quick steps. Soon, they reached the deepest part, in front of a door that seemed like it would make a dignified sound, and he spoke again.
"Wait here for a moment."
After a while, Tae-joon, who had left So-eun in front of the door and entered the office, came out with a heavy paper bag. So-eun couldn't lift her head and accepted the paper bag that Tae-joon was handing out.
"Eat this."
A name tag that said 'Eel rice bowl' was attached to the heavy box inside the paper bag.
