Chapter 81
81. Was It a Proposal?
2023.07.20.
“Can you do that?”
Seok-hwa asked Tae-joon, unable to hide the wavering in her voice.
Seok-hwa remembered that day 20 years ago as if it were yesterday.
Her nephew’s birthday. That spring day, beautiful to a fault. Her brother and sister-in-law left their beautiful son alone in this world and departed together.
Tae-joon, the child who had steadfastly guarded the funeral, had burst into tears in the car on the way back. Telling them not to let the man who killed his mom and dad get away with it. When his grandfather made excuses like ‘the social standing’ of ‘people with power,’ the child had been indignant, saying he would hate the murderer for the rest of his life.
She thought the child’s resentment would never be erased. So Seok-hwa also felt free to hate them.
But the child who said he would hate them for life had somehow started a different life. While she, who couldn’t say anything back then, was still mired in unspeakable hatred.
“I—I can’t do it, Tae-joon.”
She still wanted to persuade her nephew. That it wasn’t right.
It’s because you’re still young. It’s because you don’t know any better yet. You might be blinded by a fleeting emotion right now, but you’ll realize it after a little more time. We can’t forgive them.
“As time passes, when you recall the years you lost, it will hurt a lot. Maybe even this moment, these feelings, will be filled with resentment.”
“I won’t be like that.”
Tae-joon’s firm answer struck Seok-hwa’s heart like a nail.
How could he guarantee the future? She wanted to argue once more, but the nail in her heart hurt too much to make a sound. Seok-hwa barely managed to shake her head and open her mouth.
“Still, I still can’t forgive them.”
“Han So-eun’s father is dead.”
Tae-joon delivered new information to the stubborn Seok-hwa.
Seok-hwa was surprised and chilled by the news that Han Hong-gyu had died. The investigation into Han So-eun was complete, but they had been unable to find Han Hong-gyu’s whereabouts, yet her nephew had found even Han Hong-gyu.
“He cut ties with Han So-eun for the past 20 years and was living alone in the Philippines. Then he lost his life last April.”
Deliberately bringing up this information meant he was drawing a line. Meaning he couldn’t accept Han So-eun and Han Hong-gyu being lumped together.
“Han So-eun really doesn’t know anything.”
“Still, it’s blood. You can’t erase blood!”
Seok-hwa’s voice rose at Tae-joon’s desperate defense of Han So-eun. Even with his aunt’s reaction, Tae-joon remained unperturbed.
His eyes showed he wouldn’t regret it, even if that pain ended up cutting into his own flesh.
Seok-hwa couldn’t overcome his resolute determination. But she couldn’t offer her blessing either.
“…Even if that person is dead, I can’t forgive him. I can’t do it… I’m sorry.”
She simply promised not to say anything, as her nephew wanted.
“That doesn’t mean I’ll tell anyone. You can trust me on that.”
If that was the way to protect her nephew, she had no choice.
“I just can’t help you.”
“Yes. That’s enough.”
As if Seok-hwa’s half-hearted promise was a key to salvation, Tae-joon let out a quiet sigh of relief with a relieved expression. Seok-hwa’s heart ached at every aspect of her nephew.
“How is she?”
“She’s very kind. And pretty.”
“No. I mean her health.”
Tae-joon, grasping the point of the question, replied.
“She’ll gradually get better.”
The faint smile that spread across her nephew’s face, as if he felt good just thinking about it, was also unfamiliar in another way.
“It’s best not to make too big of a deal out of it. Okay? Always be careful.”
Seok-hwa, who also knew about Yulkyu Law Firm, gave him a warning.
“Yes. Thank you.”
Whether he thought it was just a simple concern, her nephew answered lightly and got up from his seat. Seok-hwa felt disappointed again at his attitude that this was all he needed.
“I’ll be going now.”
“Don’t you want to have dinner together?”
“I have a schedule.”
“……”
“I’ll come again, Aunt.”
His departing figure, bowing politely, was also upright.
The child had become an adult. She couldn’t forcibly change the path of her nephew, whose will was firm.
She could only watch, waiting for it to end someday.
She earnestly prayed that her nephew wouldn’t be in pain at the end, that he wouldn’t have too hard a time.
*
After parting with Seok-hwa, Tae-joon completed his last schedule. After unexpectedly drinking a few glasses of alcohol, Tae-joon, who had called a designated driver, forgot he was going home and ended up in Gwonseon-dong.
It was a foolish thing to do. He couldn’t go up to her house in this state.
Still, since he had come all this way, he thought he should cling to this bleak scenery a little longer before going home, and leaned back in the passenger seat.
He didn’t know how much time had passed. He felt a faint presence outside, and when he raised his upper body, he saw So-eun. It seemed she had come out to throw away the trash.
Like an ardent fan waiting in front of the house for their favorite celebrity to go to and from work, he gained solace from that brief encounter as if it were everything for the day. He thought he could go back now.
In that instant, So-eun approached. It seemed she had recognized Tae-joon’s car. It was a car he often drove to and from work, so she couldn’t not know if she had a good eye.
From outside the car, you couldn’t see inside unless you looked closely. Even more so on a dark night. Tae-joon watched So-eun cautiously approaching, wondering when he should reveal his presence. Han So-eun, our liver transplant recipient, he couldn’t have her liver shrink to the size of Beans again from shock.
As expected. After waiting a little while and opening the door very carefully, So-eun staggered back with a short scream.
“Did I scare you?”
“What brings you here, Director Kim!”
Her reproachful voice was truly sweet.
“I just happened to be nearby.”
“……Did you drink?”
“Yeah.”
“Then you should go home. Why come here?”
“I was drinking nearby, so I came to see your face for a bit.”
“If you came to see my face, you should have contacted me. Were you just waiting for me to throw away the trash?”
Tae-joon wanted to stay like this a little longer, enjoying her nagging. As he took a step closer out of greed, So-eun quickly retreated.
“No! It smells like trash!”
“I’m okay with it.”
“Ugh. Come on up!”
Unusually fierce retorts followed. Tae-joon followed So-eun like a well-behaved child. The rhythm of climbing the stairs, thump-thump-thump, was more cheerful than usual. So-eun, moving quickly while keeping her distance as if worried about the smell of trash, was as cute as a rabbit.
Tae-joon entered the house as So-eun opened the door and stood in the entryway, asking.
“Can I come in?”
“You’re already in, aren’t you?”
So-eun quickly washed her hands, retorting sullenly as if standing in the entryway with shoes on was even more ridiculous. With So-eun’s permission, Tae-joon awkwardly took off his shoes and went inside.
In the meantime, he asked So-eun, who had quickly changed into clean clothes again.
“Now that I’m in, can’t I sleep over?”
“You said you just came to see my face for a bit.”
“So, can’t I?”
He was revealing his greed little by little. If he slowly expanded his territory like this in your space, wouldn’t he be able to put at least his heart inside you?
“Of course you can sleep over… But you don’t have any clothes here, Director Kim. I would have bought some if I knew you’d come this often.”
“I don’t mind sleeping naked.”
“I mind.”
“I’m just kidding. I should go.”
But Tae-joon quickly changed his stance, feeling like he had troubled her too much. So-eun, as if sorry for complaining so far, trailed off, pursing her lips.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
“I know. I just don’t feel well. And it would be embarrassing if I threw up from being drunk, so I’ll go.”
“Oh? Then you should stay here even more. What if you throw up in the car on the way? The designated driver won’t clean up your vomit for you.”
“So, you’re saying I should throw up here?”
“I can’t help it, I guess.”
“The person I want to look good to isn’t the driver, but Han So-eun?”
So-eun smiled softly, about to tease him for why someone who wanted to look good to Han So-eun would come here drunk. Even if he got more drunk here and his nose was crooked, even if he became completely insensible, Kim Tae-joon would probably look the prettiest in her eyes. If he fell apart a little more, he might even look cute.
“Sorry for coming suddenly.”
“No, that’s really not what I meant.”
So-eun cupped and pulled the cheeks of the lovable man, no matter what. He bent his knees in an awkward pose. As So-eun tilted her head and kissed him, his lips parted as if he had been waiting for this moment, along with a heavy sigh. Flower-scented alcohol spread into her mouth. So-eun’s body quickly became languid, as if she had soaked herself in flower liquor.
“You came because you like me, right?”
“Is this like torture on the way to heaven? Do more.”
Tae-joon, captivated by the momentary stimulation, wrapped his arms around So-eun’s waist and pulled her close. So-eun also became happy at his eyes, which had become entranced as if standing in the middle of a flower field.
It was very embarrassing that he had come this night, but if this was a way to confirm his love, she felt like she would be happy even if every day was like today.
“If Director Kim tells me too.”
“……”
“Tell me specifically why you like me, what you like about me.”
Because she liked the me that he loved, So-eun reached out further and became greedy.
“Quickly. Except for being kind, except for things that everyone knows, tell me. Why Han So-eun.”
I want to know more about which parts of me seemed lovable to you, which of my actions were pretty. Ah, I want to be happy thinking, ‘So you like this side of me too.’ And I want to become a better person, just as you like.
So-eun had such a bright and pure heart, but Tae-joon was inwardly repeating, “What should I do?”
What should I do? Which part should I say is pretty?
“Everything is pretty. Even the baby hairs on the back of Han So-eun’s head are pretty. Even her heels are pretty.”
“……You mainly like the back?”
“The front is even prettier. Even her belly button is pretty.”
“Ah. Mainly the private parts.”
Even her face, which was becoming subdued as if it wasn’t the answer she wanted, was lovable.
“Our house is big, right?”
“Haa, it’s big.”
“What’s with the sigh?”
“It’s a bit random that you’re bragging about your house without asking me to do anything.”
“It’s the same thing.”
“Yes. Go ahead.”
Okay, let’s hear it, she grumbled, but she didn’t let go of the arm that was hugging her waist. Tae-joon’s stomach slowly grew hot.
“Our house is so big, but I still only go to certain places. It’s the same with my family home. I lived there until I was sixteen, and even though it was so big that I could wander around all day and never reach the end, there were only certain places I went.”
Tae-joon, recalling the foolish Kim Tae-joon sitting on the foolish bench, smiled quietly.
“From now on, I’ll be all set like that too. It’s Han So-eun.”
Han So-eun is simply the reason. This existence itself.
After pouring out the somewhat heavy confession, borrowing the strength of alcohol, he felt choked up.
How much time would it take for our past to be completely diluted in the present?
Would 10 years be enough? Then would my heart be proven?
10 years. It feels like forever.
But if you keep staying by my side, it will definitely not be a long time. No, I’ll be happy even while being anxious the whole time.
So he wanted to convey even that distant promise.
“Shall we date for just 10 years and then get married?”
I love you. Stay by my side.
