Chapter 30
30. The Wolf's Howl
Misuk spoke irritably.
"I'll give it when I have it. When have I ever had money and not given it to you? You think I want you to starve to death?"
At Misuk's words, Naeun got to the point.
"But really, why did you come? You didn't come all the way here just for the cake, did you? Did you fight with Sis?"
Misuk hesitated before speaking.
"No, well. Not exactly a fight, but Hayoung's got a bad temper. She doesn't even care about her own mom."
"She's always been like that. Self-centered—that's how you raised her, isn't it, Mom?"
At Naeun's words, Misuk shrieked.
"Why's Hayoung's bad temper my fault? Do you see anyone as nasty coming from someone as good-natured as me?"
At those words, Naeun shut her mouth. In the end, Misuk wasn't at ease inside either.
"Have you had dinner?"
She asked politely, but Misuk latched onto it like it was her cue.
"No, I haven't. Let's eat together."
Naeun shook her head and said,
"I have a part-time job at night with Jiho. So I have to go."
"What part-time job? Taking a kid to a part-time job?"
Naeun deliberately sounded more exhausted.
"Watching kids. Feeding them dinner too. What else can I do to make money? Mom, give me some."
At Naeun's complaints, Misuk ignored her and said,
"Aigoo, you'll never escape kids your whole life. How will you ever meet a man and get married like that?"
"Would you marry a single mom with a kid these days?"
"If he likes you enough, maybe!"
As Misuk kept yelling at Naeun in a high tone, Jiho looked at his grandma from the side and said,
"Grandma, don't yell at my mom."
Misuk looked at Jiho in disbelief.
"What?"
"Don't yell at my mom."
As Jiho repeated firmly in his babyish speech, Misuk clicked her tongue.
And she muttered under her breath.
"She doesn't even know who her real mom is."
Hearing that, Naeun flared up.
"What did you just say?"
"What? I didn't say anything."
Naeun yelled at Misuk, who turned away innocently. She really didn't want to hear such words. Did she even have the right to say that to Jiho now? The woman who had talked about sending him to an orphanage.
"What did you say? If you're going to say stuff like that, don't come at all. Why are you so thoughtless?"
Misuk clicked her tongue.
"Fine. I'm always the bad guy, wherever I go."
"What do you mean you can't get along? Fine, go ahead."
"Can't you get along with Hayoung Sis too?"
Then she got into Hayoung's big car that Misuk had dragged out. Looking at the car, Naeun said,
"Mom's driving a nicer car."
"This is Hayoung's."
"Two people living together, one car is enough."
"Yeah, get along well."
Misuk drove off first, as if she had no more to say. Naeun sighed deeply and hugged Jiho tightly.
"Jiho, let's go home too."
She buckled the child into the car seat and drove off, but tears kept welling up. This was her reality. Last night with Kangwoo was just a one-night dream.
Her reality was not Kangwoo, but her stepmother, sister, and Jiho. She wished Misuk and Hayoung would never come looking for her again. If she could just live with Jiho without a care, that would be best. She'd talked about money for so long that Misuk wouldn't come around for a while.
As Naeun got off work a bit late, Minho, who had been waiting only for her and Jiho, came running out to greet them.
"Teacher, you're here?"
Then Lee Yeosa said from the side,
"He won't say a word to me, but as soon as Teacher arrives, he opens up. Anyway, Teacher, I'll head out now. I prepped all the veggies in the fridge and made some soup. The main house simmered beef bone broth today. Added brisket and everything, slow-cooked it so it'll be tasty. Eat it warm."
At Lee Yeosa's words, Naeun smiled brightly and handed her one of the bags she brought.
"Yes. We did kimchi-making at the kindergarten today. Made it mild for the kids, but I think it'd be great on Minho's grandparents' table."
"Oh my. Kimchi made by Minho? Aigoo, I should take it right away. The Chairwoman and Madam will love it."
"Has our Minho already washed up?"
"Yes!"
"Then let's wash Jiho's hands and feet and change his clothes too."
"Yes!"
Now the second round after getting home began. Naeun finished dinner with the kids, did the dishes, and quietly turned on some music. The kids were deep into building blocks. In the living room with soft music playing, Minho and Jiho were stacking blocks.
Exhausted from last night's aftermath, Naeun dozed off leaning on the sofa. Her stamina had really taken a hit. But she was happy too. She'd done it now—realizing how a man and woman become one and make a baby. Her mind was full of Kangwoo.
But she was worried. She could brazenly eat breakfast with him this morning, but after work, she had no confidence to face him. Hoping he'd come home late today, she tended to the kids and was about to read them a book when Kangwoo arrived.
Kangwoo had been in a great mood all day. Even as meetings dragged past quitting time, everyone else was drained and wilted, but Kangwoo was full of energy. He clocked out in nearly the same condition as when he arrived. As soon as Kangwoo entered, the kids welcomed him.
"Uncle's here! Welcome, Uncle."
Jiho greeted him happily, and Minho followed suit.
"Welcome, Uncle."
Still a bit awkward, Minho greeted with Jiho and soon sat side by side in front of Naeun asking for a story. Naeun greeted Kangwoo in a small mutter.
"Welcome, CEO."
She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, unable to meet his gaze.
"Yes."
Kangwoo replied simply and went up to the second floor. His routine upon returning was always to shower and change first. As she was about to read the kids a fairy tale, Kangwoo came back down to the first floor.
"What's up?"
As Naeun asked, Kangwoo sat beside her and said,
"I'll read the book today. Teacher Han, rest a bit."
At his offer, Naeun looked at him with wide surprised eyes, but the kids reacted excitedly right away.
"Huh? Uncle's reading!"
Jiho jumped for joy, and Minho stomped his feet beside him, laughing along. Bolstered by the kids' innocent faces, Kangwoo opened the book confidently.
As Kangwoo began reading in a low focused voice, Jiho soon crossed his arms and tilted his head. He soon interrupted Kangwoo and said,
"Ehh, that's boring if you do it like that."
At Jiho's words, Kangwoo set the book down and looked at the kids with a slightly flustered face.
"What? What's boring?"
As Kangwoo asked, Jiho confidently explained.
-4-
Jiho waved his hands in the air and raised his voice like a real wolf, yelling "Awooo!" Minho followed beside him, shouting "Awooo!" loudly too.
Kangwoo tilted his head and muttered softly.
"No? Wolves don't go 'Awooo'? They go 'Auuu-' like this."
At that moment, Naeun felt her face turn bright red. She recalled explaining to the kids the other day that wolves go "Awooo." As Kangwoo looked at her, Naeun quickly averted her eyes.
The kids started debating wolf sounds facing each other. Jiho tilted his head suspiciously and asked,
"Then when a wolf attacks a person, does it go 'Auuu-' instead of 'Awooo'?"
At Jiho's question, Kangwoo looked at the book awkwardly before finally imitating a wolf howl next to Minho, going "Auuu-." Seeing that, Minho howled seriously too, trying his best to deepen his voice like a wolf.
Kangwoo couldn't hold back his laughter at the sight and covered his face with his hand.
"What's this... why'd it get so complicated?"
Kangwoo sighed and closed the book.
"Why pick such a hard book? Let's read another one."
As Kangwoo rummaged for another book, the kids looked at him with sparkling eyes. They seemed to expect a new story. Then Kangwoo pulled out another book nearby. It was The Little Mermaid. Seeing the cover, Jiho shook his head vigorously.
"I don't like princesses!"
