Translator: Nox

Sponsorship Stigma

Chapter 28

Appearing Whenever Needed

The moment he returned from kindergarten, Jiwoo went straight into the bedroom.

Perhaps because he hadn’t managed to make up with Seoha, his shoulders were still slumped and drained of all energy.

Yeonjae opened the refrigerator to prepare dinner and hesitated for a moment.

She considered just taking out whatever side dishes were left, but opened the freezer instead and took out some tonkatsu.

It was handmade by Yeonjae because Jiwoo loved it so much.

Whenever she made it, she would prepare several cutlets to freeze so she could cook one up whenever he craved it.

Yeonjae deliberately left the bedroom door slightly ajar rather than closing it shut.

Surely the little tonkatsu fiend wouldn’t be able to resist this, right?

“Mom, are you making tonkatsu?! Please make two for Jiwoo!”

“Can you really eat two whole cutlets? Mommy’s tonkatsu is king-sized, you know.”

“I’m gonna eat it all! Two pieces!”

Like clockwork, the boy would always catch the scent and wander out whenever she fried tonkatsu.

Jiwoo, always adorably holding up two fingers and begging for two cutlets.

A smile touched Yeonjae’s lips as she remembered how he would cling to her leg and chatter away until dinner was ready.

She only hoped he would quickly return to his usual cheerful self.

Praying that mom’s homemade tonkatsu would lift his spirits, she carefully fried it in the oil.

Before long, the cutlet turned a crisp golden-brown.

Yeonjae took out the well-cooked tonkatsu, sliced it into bite-sized pieces, and plated it.

Over it, she drizzled tonkatsu sauce into neat little shapes of hearts and stars.

She scooped steaming rice into a bowl and set it on the table.

Yet even when all the preparations for dinner were finished, Jiwoo remained quiet.

“He’s not coming out today.”

Yeonjae gazed at the bedroom door, still standing slightly open just as she had left it.

Thinking that Jiwoo must be deeply upset this time, she walked over.

Yeonjae gave a brief knock on the bedroom door and pushed it open.

“Jiwoo, time for dinner.”

“……Mmh.”

The boy’s whiny mumble came in reply.

Hearing the sleepy voice that sounded as if he had drifted off, Yeonjae stepped closer and gently lifted the blanket.

“Did you fall asleep?”

“Yeees.”

“You need to eat dinner. Come out right away, okay?”

Jiwoo nodded, then buried his head back into the pillow.

Watching him do so, Yeonjae stepped back into the living room and sat down at the table.

She glanced at her silent phone, only to realize that time had slipped by once again.

Seeing that the bedroom door still hadn’t opened, she stood up once more.

“Mom made the tonkatsu you love so much. Time to get up, Jiwoo.”

It was just as she was about to wake Jiwoo again.

The phone in her hand began to vibrate and ring.

Yeonjae’s gaze dropped straight down to the phone.

A familiar arrangement of numbers appeared on the screen.

Though it wasn’t saved in her contacts, she knew instantly who it belonged to.

It was Jeheon.

Yeonjae’s finger hovered over the call button in hesitation.

Her dilemma of whether to answer was brief. Pausing where she stood, she finally pressed the button.

“Hello.”

Perhaps out of unconscious tension, Yeonjae’s voice trembled slightly.

After all, there was no reason for him to call at this late hour.

―Come out right now. I’m in front of your house.

At his blunt words, her eyes widened in utter disbelief.

“Right now? Where in front of my house?”

―You really need to ask? Your place.

Yeonjae’s mind went completely blank. She scanned the living room where she stood.

‘My house?’

It was a run-down multi-family house with a tiny living room and a single bedroom.

Tucked away in a secluded alley, it was in a location difficult even to enter, let alone park.

―Want me to read out the address? Daejeon…….

“Wait. I understand. You’re saying you’re in front of my house right now, right?”

―Yeah.

“Jiwoo is here with me right now, so it’s hard for me to come out.”

Yeonjae glanced toward the bedroom and answered in a troubled voice.

―Then should I come in?

A low sigh crumbled softly against her ear.

The background hum from beyond the receiver ceased, as if he had turned off the engine.

Then came the thud of a car door shutting.

Terrified he might actually come inside at any second, Yeonjae spoke in a hurry.

“No. I’ll come out. Just wait a moment.”

The mere thought of Jeheon being inside this house made her dizzy.

Setting aside how out of place he would be, she did not want to let him into the private sanctuary she shared only with Jiwoo.

―Come out quickly.

With those parting words, the call ended.

She stared blankly down at the disconnected phone.

“Mom.”

Yeonjae turned around at the sound of Jiwoo’s voice.

Jiwoo, having just emerged from the bedroom, was rubbing his eyes as he looked at her.

“Was that call… mister?”

The boy’s voice as he asked was slightly excited.

* * *

Slipping on a thin cardigan, Yeonjae stepped out of the house.

Pulling the cardigan tight against the chilly autumn night air, she pushed open another metal gate and walked down the stairs.

Heading down from the third floor, Yeonjae’s steps felt particularly heavy.

Past nine o’clock.

She had never imagined Jeheon would come all the way to her doorstep at this hour of the night.

Perhaps because of the sudden, unannounced encounter, Yeonjae clenched and unclenched her fists in nervous tension.

Finally reaching the ground floor.

Crossing the small yard and pushing open the main gate, an out-of-place car parked against the wall came into view.

A sleek silver luxury coupe that looked entirely incongruous in this dim, shabby alley.

And her eyes landed on the man leaning against the car.

He was dressed casually in a thin knit sweater.

His hair, which was usually styled up to match his suits, was brushed down as well—as though he had stepped out while resting at home.

Recognizing Yeonjae, Jeheon straightened his leaning posture.

Then, he walked toward her.

Closing the distance without hesitation, Jeheon came to a halt just a step away.

A silence settled between them.

As they stood gazing at each other without either easily finding words, it was Yeonjae who broke the quiet first.

“Are you still in Daejeon?”

“As if. I told you, I’m busy.”

Responding nonchalantly, Jeheon pulled something from inside his jacket and held it out to Yeonjae.

“Here. Take it.”

“What is this?”

“Concert tickets. Pass them along to Seoha’s family.”

She hurriedly checked the envelope. Spotting the two tickets, Yeonjae’s eyes grew wide in shock.

“Why this…….”

“It’s not for you. It’s for Seoha, who performed with him.”

Jeheon cut her off preemptively in case she might refuse.

Firmly drawing the line that this was a favor extended independently of her.

Then, as if the tickets truly were his only business, he turned to head straight back to his parked car.

“How did you know Seoha wanted to go?”

Jeheon, who had just opened the driver’s door, turned back around. He met the eyes of Yeonjae, who was standing still.

“Is there anything about Jeong Yeonjae that I don’t know?”

Giving an offhand answer as though finding out that much was no challenge at all, he moved to climb into the car.

‘……When there’s so much you don’t know.’

His memories, and the very existence of Jiwoo.

Unaware of what he truly needed to know, he was strangely attentive in ways like this.

Jiwoo’s despondent mood had weighed on her mind all day.

Desperate to help somehow, she had looked into getting tickets, but obtaining any more was next to impossible.

It had pained her to merely watch on as the child’s distress deepened.

He was a man who appeared, uncanny as a ghost, right when he was needed.

Fiddling with the tickets in her hand, Yeonjae stepped forward.

As she drew near the car, the driver’s window rolled down, revealing Jeheon.

“Do you have something to say?”

The steady gaze looking up at her sent a tickle through Yeonjae’s heart.

Looking down at him, Yeonjae’s lips parted slightly before she spoke.

“……Just that I’m grateful.”

How overjoyed Jiwoo would be once he learned Seoha could come along.

Picturing the boy’s beaming smile, the corners of Yeonjae’s lips slowly curled upward.

“I don’t know how you found out, but…… thanks to you, I think the kids will be thrilled.”

And on that faintly blooming smile, Jeheon’s gaze lingered for a long, quiet moment.