Sponsorship Stigma
Chapter 24
It Suits You
Could he really be that happy?
Yeonjae vividly remembered the radiant smile on her own face the first time she had ever played the piano.
When her mother had reluctantly agreed to the Foundation, was this how she had felt?
Believing that if her daughter could play the piano, she would be happy.
Yes, as long as my daughter is happy, that’s all that matters. Perhaps that was how she had comforted herself.
The smile on Yeonjae’s face as she watched Jiwoo slowly faded.
With Jiwoo and Seoha’s turn concluding, the Kindergarten division concert came to a close.
Jiwoo and Seoha were showered with congratulations from their Kindergarten Teacher and classmates.
Clutching a bouquet of flowers, Jiwoo came running toward Yeonjae.
“Mom! How was it? Did Jiwoo do good?”
Clinging tightly to Yeonjae’s waist, Jiwoo looked up at her with sparkling eyes and asked.
Even after receiving countless compliments, the boy’s eyes were brimming with anticipation, as if the most important hurdle still lay ahead.
Yeonjae stroked Jiwoo’s hair, gently rustling it.
“Yes. My son did so wonderfully. It was the absolute best piano performance I heard today.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You did so, so well.”
Her praise must have tasted sweet as chocolate, because the boy broke into a brilliant smile.
“Since Jiwoo did so well, we should have a delicious dinner when we get home. What do you want to eat?”
“Pizza!”
“Then we definitely have to eat an extra delicious pizza today.”
Jiwoo tightly held onto Yeonjae’s hand.
Watching the busy cleanup in the hall for the upcoming middle school division performance, they returned to the waiting room.
They packed their things, said goodbye to Seoha and Hyekyung, and prepared to head home.
Even while walking out of the waiting room, Jiwoo kept glancing around restlessly, scanning the surroundings.
“Mmm. I saw him earlier…”
“Jiwoo, who are you looking for?”
“Well, that’s…”
Just as Jiwoo was about to answer,
Jiwoo’s eyes went wide as he spotted Jeheon among a group of officials.
“Mister!”
Jiwoo called out to Jeheon cheerfully.
His gaze, which had been engaged in conversation with someone, turned to Jiwoo, and then slowly drifted over to Yeonjae.
The boy tugged on Yeonjae’s hand, trying to pull her along toward Jeheon.
“Jiwoo, go on ahead and have a chat with him.”
Yeonjae let go of the boy’s hand first.
* * *
From the moment the performance ended, Jiwoo’s heart had been pounding fast, as if he were on a roller coaster.
Even when he went out holding Seoha’s hand for the curtain call and bowed to the audience,
his mind was filled with his mother’s face.
What did Mom think of my playing?
I think I did well, but she won’t dislike it, right?
Clutching his thumping heart, Jiwoo looked up and searched for Yeonjae.
He had expected his mother’s smiling face, but when Yeonjae first came into view, she wore a complicated expression.
Did I make a mistake?
No. I didn’t make any mistakes.
Only when Yeonjae, having watched him for a long moment, finally clapped and smiled at him did all the tension in Jiwoo melt away.
If it hadn’t been for Seoha holding his hand, he might have collapsed right there on the spot.
Where the tension vanished, fluttering excitement and joy took its place.
He received congratulations from his Kindergarten Teacher and friends, and he got the ultimate compliment from his mother.
Had there ever been a day as happy as today?
Even looking back over the five years of his life, there hadn’t been.
Heading back to the waiting room with a smile, Jiwoo suddenly thought of that man.
He had clearly seen him sitting there when he looked for his mother earlier.
Now that he had received praise from his mother, he needed praise from him, too.
Because if a cool adult told him he did well, it felt like he was truly acknowledged.
“Mister, how was Jiwoo?”
Running up to Jeheon after finding him, the very first thing Jiwoo asked about was his performance.
A bright sparkle shone in the boy’s eyes as he looked up at Jeheon.
My final hurdle.
If I just get his praise, today’s praise sticker chart will be complete!
Faced with Jiwoo’s almost overwhelming, sparkling gaze, Jeheon let out a soft chuckle as if defeated.
“You did well. If you keep growing like this, you’ll become a magnificent pianist.”
“……”
“Did you look for me just to hear those words?”
“Yes! Your compliment is my last sticker.”
“Is that so? Looks like you got praised by your mom, too.”
Jiwoo nodded vigorously toward Jeheon.
Having achieved his intended goal, another curiosity arose in Jiwoo.
Jiwoo stood on tiptoe and tugged at Jeheon’s sleeve.
Following the boy’s lead, Jeheon bent his knees to match his eye level.
“Mister, have you still not made up with Mom?”
The boy looked back and forth between Yeonjae, who stood at a distance, and Jeheon, before asking quietly.
The corners of Jeheon’s mouth twitched at how he asked as if it were some monumental secret.
“Well. Your mother is quite stubborn.”
“Stubborn?”
“She wouldn’t accept my truce. I thought it would work this time.”
Jeheon replied with a bittersweet expression.
“Then what do we do?”
At that, an abundance of worry washed over Jiwoo’s face.
“Jiwoo wants to play the piano. Mister, can’t you convince my mom?”
“……”
“The only person left who can help is you, mister.”
After performing like this, Jiwoo’s longing for the piano had only grown deeper.
“Your mom said no.”
At the grim news delivered once more, Jiwoo’s spirits were crushed.
His shoulders, which had been puffed up with pride just moments ago, slumped downward.
“Then can I not see you anymore, mister?”
Jeheon had said that if it wasn’t for the Foundation contract, he would have to return to Seoul.
He didn’t know what the Foundation was, but returning to Seoul meant saying goodbye.
“Is it bye-bye forever?”
At Jiwoo’s question asking if they had to part ways, Jeheon quietly stroked the boy’s hair.
“Who knows. I think we might be able to see each other at least one more time.”
And an unreadable smile spread across Jeheon’s lips.
“One more time?”
Jiwoo’s eyes widened round at the thought that this wasn’t the end.
Jeheon’s gaze, which had been fixed on the child, shifted behind him.
“Jiwoo, we should go.”
When he turned around, Yeonjae was standing there, having walked over without him noticing.
* * *
It had already been five minutes since Jiwoo went over to Jeheon.
Thinking the greeting would only take a moment, Yeonjae moved first as it stretched past ten minutes.
Yeonjae took Jiwoo’s hand, signaling it was time to head back.
“Say goodbye to the gentleman. And tell him thank you, too.”
“Okay.”
Led by Yeonjae, Jiwoo turned back to Jeheon and bowed his head politely.
“Thank you. And don’t forget the promise, mister.”
“All right.”
She had told them to exchange farewells, but an odd exchange was passing between them instead.
Yeonjae’s brow furrowed at a conversation she knew nothing about.
She was about to ask what that meant, but stopped herself. She decided it would be easy enough to ask Jiwoo on the way home.
“Goodbye.”
“Get home safely, Jeong Jiwoo.”
Watching the two of them exchange warm goodbyes, Yeonjae felt an ache in her chest for no apparent reason.
Jeheon was someone who would leave Daejeon after today.
Because she realized that this would be the end of Jiwoo’s encounters with his father.
Having frozen for a moment in a swirl of strange emotions, Yeonjae bowed her head toward Jeheon.
“Have a safe trip back to Seoul.”
And with those final words, she moved to turn away.
“It suits you.”
“Excuse me?”
What did?
At the completely unprompted remark, Yeonjae turned back. And before she could even ask,
“It suits you, that dress.”
The flat, even voice settled clearly against her ears.
* * *
Yeonjae set down the boxed pizza and handbag she had been carrying onto the living room table.
While Jiwoo went to the bathroom, Yeonjae stepped into the master bedroom and stopped before the mirror.
Her reflection stared back at her from beyond the glass.
Neatly tied half-up hair.
Her long, straight hair that once reached down to her waist had somehow become short enough to barely graze her collarbones.
A soft layer of pink eyeshadow around her eyes, eyeliner filling her waterlines, and lip gloss.
She had done her makeup for the first time in so long that the figure in the mirror felt unfamiliar.
“It suits you, that dress.”
At the low voice that still seemed to linger around her ears, Yeonjae placed a hand over her heart.
The thumping of her heartbeat transmitted through her palm.
The final words Jeheon had spoken hadn't left her head the entire way home.
“Really… why did he have to say something like that?”
Making me confused.
For a fleeting second, Yeonjae had thought his memories had returned.
Because it was not a single bit different from the words Jeheon used to say back when they were dating.
Yeonjae bit down on her lip.
She felt pathetic for acting like this even while knowing it wasn’t true. At the rushing wave of self-reproach, Yeonjae shook her head vigorously.
It was a finished tie anyway.
She had rejected the Foundation, and Jeheon would head back up to Seoul.
Muttering to herself that this was for the best, Yeonjae took off the one-piece dress without a single regret.
Then, changing into a comfortable indoor dress, she stepped out into the living room.
The living room was empty, as Jiwoo was still in the bathroom.
Yeonjae opened the packaged pizza box. Then she took out two small plates and placed them facing each other on the table.
Just as she finished setting out cups and forks, the bathroom door opened.
“Pizza!”
“Jiwoo, did you wash your hands?”
“Yes. Mom, I’m not that much of a baby!”
“Aw, is that so? Good job.”
You’re still a baby in my eyes, but without adding the words out loud, Yeonjae responded with a smile instead.
Jiwoo sat gently on the chair Yeonjae pulled out for him.
His little feet swung and danced in the air, as if he loved pizza that much.
Jiwoo picked up a slice of pizza and took a bite.
Watching the child munch away, just as Yeonjae also picked up a slice,
“Mom, is Jepkin coming to Korea?”
When Yeonjae looked up, her eyes locked with Jiwoo’s.
The boy’s uniquely brilliant gaze was filled to the brim with curiosity.
