Ch#53
53. Marry Alone?
Kang-hyeok was floored by Kyung-hye's words.
"That's not it. You're jumping way ahead in your head all by yourself. Right now, I just want Min-ho to recover. Seeing him cry like that when he saw me that day was quite a shock. That's why I didn't want to come to the main residence. But fortunately, there's Teacher Han Na-eun, and we've found a good counselor this time, so I'm hopeful. If you keep pressuring me like this, I might just leave again."
Kyung-hye bristled at Kang-hyeok's words.
"You're going to abandon Min-ho and leave?"
Kang-hyeok stood up from his seat.
"Either way, I won't be staying at the main residence."
"Fine. What can I say? You and Kang-woo both treat me so stingily."
"Mother. I'm sorry."
Kyung-hye set down her utensils and stared at the sudden apology.
"What's this out of the blue?"
"As your eldest son, I've caused you so much worry. The divorce, Min-ho's issues—everything."
Kyung-hye replied with a composed expression.
"Yes. You should be sorry. You have caused me trouble. But life doesn't always go as planned, does it? I didn't expect my son to end up like this, and you didn't expect your son to either. We all live like that."
Kang-hyeok then said.
"Mother has some really peculiar sides."
"Like what?"
"You seem so cold sometimes, but then incredibly fair. I think you lack empathy for others, but at the same time, you see things so accurately."
"That's why I'm such a charming woman."
Kang-hyeok laughed at Kyung-hye's words.
"Yes. You're very charming, Mother."
"So think about marrying Teacher Han Na-eun."
Kang-hyeok replied coldly to Kyung-hye's words.
"Should Mother marry alone? Or something like that."
Kang-hyeok went straight up to the second floor. Left alone, Kyung-hye sighed.
"Teacher, could we meet briefly? Around midway between the main residence and the annex. I don't want to go too close to the annex in case Min-ho sees me."
-No, come to the annex side. Min-ho's busy stacking blocks right now. Even if he sees his dad from the window, it shouldn't be bad. It's just seeing from afar.
Kang-hyeok, relieved by Na-eun's words, picked up the shopping bag beside him and said.
"Yes. Then I'll head to the annex side."
Kang-hyeok walked toward the annex with the prepared gifts. Even without Kyung-hye pushing, he already had a great fondness for Na-eun. Her solid mindset that didn't waver much in any situation and her elegant appearance were exactly his type.
Her small, pale face with delicately placed features, and above all, her sparkling eyes full of vitality were beautiful. Her slender figure made it hard to believe she was a mother. Above all, she inspired a trust he couldn't as Min-ho's teacher.
When Kang-hyeok arrived at the annex, Na-eun came out. She wore a long skirt and a thick padded jacket, looking ready to roll in the snow without a care.
"Hello, Teacher."
Na-eun brightened upon seeing the shopping bag in Kang-hyeok's hand.
"Hello. You've brought a gift for Min-ho. Thank you."
"It makes me feel bad hearing thanks for something that's not even a gift for you, Teacher."
"Then give me one later."
Na-eun took the gift lightly, but Kang-woo, who had just gotten off work, spotted the two and stopped in his tracks. He wasn't pleased. This was the second time running into his brother with Na-eun on his way home.
"Why are you here, hyung?"
"Oh. I brought a Christmas tree gift for Min-ho."
"What is it?"
"It's a secret."
"Come on. What's the secret from me? What, some amazing gift?"
"Still a secret."
Kang-hyeok said that, bowed his head in greeting, and headed back to the main residence. Watching him go, Kang-woo turned to Na-eun with a dissatisfied expression.
"I told you not to meet my brother alone."
"He just came to drop off a gift. Even if you're jealous and hold grudges, this is too much."
Na-eun lifted her chin toward Kang-woo. Suddenly, he kissed her lips with a smacking sound.
"Are you crazy? What if your brother turns around?"
Na-eun protested with wide eyes. Kang-woo looked straight at her and said.
"That's the point. I said I don't like the woman I've claimed looking pretty in my brother's eyes, so why'd you come out looking so pretty?"
Na-eun was speechless. Even looking at her own outfit, nothing about Kang-woo's words made sense.
"I'm pretty? I just threw on a padded jacket after working at home."
"You're pretty in my eyes. That's why I don't like that you might be pretty in my brother's eyes too. He's single right now."
Single! She couldn't fathom how he could think that. Was he seriously worried she'd start something with his brother while dating him?
"Kang-woo, your guard is too high. I'm not that pretty in other people's eyes."
This woman truly doesn't realize how pretty she is.
"Don't you look in the mirror?"
When Kang-woo asked accusingly, Na-eun nodded vigorously. Her ponytail swayed.
"When would I have time for that? Raising two kids."
This woman is too good with words. She always leaves him speechless.
"Give it here. It looks heavy."
The gift box was quite large, even if she could manage. Placing it under the tree, there were now several gifts beneath the Christmas tree. Na-eun looked at them and said.
"I'm so curious what gift the president brought. Seeing three gifts, one must be mine, right?"
"Yes. What do you think it is?"
Na-eun shook her head at Kang-woo's question.
"Good question. No clue. What could fit in something this size?"
Na-eun picked up and set down the gift. Kang-woo said firmly.
"If you're curious, wait and see."
Christmas morning arrived. It had snowed a few days ago, but the wind had blown it all away, leaving only bare, skeletal branches visible outside on Christmas. But it didn't matter. It was Christmas. They'd wrapped string lights around two trees near the house, making the garden sparkle at night.
The kids woke early and rushed to the Christmas tree first thing. In their pajamas, the two looked like fairies straight out of a storybook.
"Christmas presents! Santa must have left them. Let's open them."
Na-eun watched from the side as the kids unpacked their gifts. Ji-ho carefully picked up a gift box first, and Min-ho followed, taking his own.
"Did Santa really give us these?"
Ji-ho asked Na-eun, who nodded with a warm smile.
"Of course. You've both been so good, so Santa brought them."
Ji-ho opened the box with eager anticipation. Inside was the small toy train set he'd wanted so badly. Painted in shimmering red and green with gold lines detailing even the tail, it was exquisite. Ji-ho shouted excitedly.
"Mom! It's a train, a train! The one I wanted before!"
"So pretty."
Min-ho, also full of anticipation, opened his box more cautiously and slowly. Inside was a sparkling rainbow block set and a small bear doll. Min-ho's eyes sparkled as he touched the blocks. The doll felt soft to the touch. Hugging it tightly, Min-ho whispered softly.
"Right?"
Na-eun felt her heart warm watching the kids open their gifts and rejoice. Just then, Kang-woo came down.
"What? You already opened them? I don't have one."
"Uncle, look at this. A train."
Then Min-ho spoke up from the side.
"Uncle. I got blocks and a doll."
"Yeah. Both are awesome. You must've been really good."
Then Ji-ho brought the train over and said.
"You'll assemble it for me, right?"
Na-eun laughed.
"Yeah, let's all do it together. Oh, Min-ho has one more gift?"
Min-ho looked down under the tree.
"It's from Min-ho's dad."
At the word "dad," Min-ho stared blankly before slowly approaching the gift.
"Dad loves Min-ho so much, so he sent a present!"
Min-ho tried to unwrap it slowly, but the large box was tricky, so Na-eun helped. Inside was a mini piano.
"Wow. Bet it makes sounds if you press here?"
Pressing a key on the small mini piano produced a clear note.
"Min-ho, do you like it?"
Min-ho nodded.
"Now we have to play chika-chika."
But Ji-ho said sullenly.
"Mom!"
"What?"
"I want a dad too."
"Huh?"
It was too shocking. She'd known this day would come eventually, but not so suddenly.
