Chapter 69
by GideonDong-yeong closed the office door and shot him a meaningful look.
“What’s so suspicious? Just get out of here.”
Yundo snapped without thinking.
“Why are you getting so mad? What did I even do?”
Dong-yeong blinked, his eyes wounded.
“Are you meeting your sister-in-law?”
Yundo glared at him, and Dong-yeong smirked, his expression saying, Aha!
Since today was the day Hyewan would fulfill her romantic dream of riding a bus with her lover, Yundo changed his clothes before leaving the office. Though it was a casual outfit from the office’s available options, it was a relief to escape the stiff suit.
“Hyewan.”
Hyewan, who had been waiting for him, snapped a photo with her phone.
“This is a violation of my image rights.”
And I’m not feeling this look at all right now.
In response, Hyewan switched the photo to her wallpaper and showed it to him.
“I set it as my wallpaper because you look so cool, so you’d better understand,” Yundo said.
If he says it like that…
“Ko Hyewan. You’re too cute.”
“Do you want to take a picture of me, too?” she asked.
“Sure.”
He couldn’t miss the chance to get a solo shot of Hyewan. As he pulled out his phone, she made a cheek heart. What’s gotten into the chic Ko Hyewan? he wondered, quickly snapping the photo.
“I set it as my wallpaper, too,” she said.
“Let me see. Ah, my face is too big.”
“This is big? Where exactly is it big? You’re clearly lacking in self-objectivity.”
“Delete this one and take it again. A pretty one.”
“No way. I like this one.”
Though Hyewan insisted on retaking the photo, Yundo refused. This was the very first picture they’d taken together since their reunion. He wanted to cherish its significance.
“Let’s go.”
Yundo strode ahead, his steps light and brisk.
“I told you, let’s take it again!”
“Hurry up.”
“You always get your way,” Hyewan grumbled, trailing after him.
They boarded the bus and took a seat together on a double bench.
“It’s been so long since I’ve taken a bus. I think this is my first time in Korea.”
“Bourgeois,” Hyewan teased.
“Guilty as charged.”
They got off at the stop for the bookstore. Hyewan picked out a textbook for her major, then grabbed an essay collection she’d been eyeing. She only bought the one book. Yundo told her to get more, but she refused, saying she could always come back later.
“You’ll come with me then, right?”
“Depends on how you behave.”
“I’ll be good.”
“Hmm, I’ll think about it,” Hyewan replied primly.
With Hyewan discharged from the hospital, Min-suk now commuted to her daughter’s place instead. The new apartment was a luxury officetel, the kind of place that looked expensive at a glance. Hyewan never explained how she’d afforded it, and Min-suk never asked. It was obviously Yundo’s, so why bother asking?
Min-suk had visited the hospital almost every day, but after the discharge, she only came by a couple of times a week.
Hyewan had been in a major car accident and lost her baby in the process. Min-suk desperately wanted to brew her some herbal medicine to help her recover, but Hyewan adamantly refused. Her daughter was all grown up; Min-suk couldn’t force her to take it, which only left her feeling anxious and helpless.
Today, Min-suk again portioned out freshly cooked rice into small containers to freeze, and packed soup and side dishes into single-serving containers. She wanted to make sure Hyewan couldn’t use the excuse that she was too lazy to cook.
Min-suk got out of the taxi near Hyewan’s officetel. If Hyewan wasn’t home, she planned to leave the food with the security desk.
“I told you I’m not eating any more of this! Why did you buy more? You said I only had to finish the last batch!”
Hearing Hyewan’s voice, Min-suk instinctively hid. She didn’t even know why she felt the need to conceal herself.
“Then you should eat properly if you don’t want to take the herbal medicine! Or at least eat some meat! I’m only doing this because you refuse to eat anything!” Yundo exclaimed. “Do you think I want to force you to eat things you hate?”
Yundo let out a long sigh. “I don’t want to be the villain here.”
“Then stop acting like one! I’ve lived perfectly fine without this kind of stuff.”
“You might think so now. But just wait until you’re over thirty. You’ll regret not taking care of yourself, and you’ll feel it in your bones.”
“Are you cursing me?”
“Hyewan. I don’t want to get angry with you. Stop twisting my words and watch your tone.”
“That’s… Fine. I went too far. I apologize.”
Min-suk couldn’t hide her astonishment as she watched the conversation between Hyewan and Yundo. Hyewan was a child who would have a complete meltdown at the mere mention of herbal medicine. Her reactions were so violent that a stranger would have thought she was being forced to drink poison. Min-suk was shocked that Yundo had succeeded in making Hyewan take the medicine—something she had never managed to do—and was even trying to keep her on a regular regimen.
Hyewan’s reaction was equally surprising. She said her piece, yet she couldn’t bring herself to fully rebel against him.
“You think osteoporosis is only a problem for other people? If you keep eating so poorly, you’ll get it even at your age.”
“That’s only for older women.”
“That’s why I made some for your mother and my mother too.”
“Ugh, seriously!”
Hyewan struggled, refusing to eat. If Min-suk had been the one to do this, she would have thrown a fit.
“Just tell your mother you made it yourself when you give it to her.”
“No, if you’re going to be like this, just go kneel before my mom and beg her to forgive you! How many times do I have to tell you that she’s not that harsh of a person?”
“That’s exactly the problem, and I’ve told you how many times. Because she’s not a harsh person, I can’t just beg for her forgiveness. I know that her even tolerating you seeing me is already a huge concession on her part.”
“You’re talking like a textbook again. Take that bag from last time, for example. If you give it to Mom in person for her birthday, her heart will melt a little, then a little more, and eventually, she’ll forgive you!”
Hyewan sighed in frustration.
“What if she thinks you’re just hiding in the shadows and trying to use me to do your filial duties? What if she misunderstands this as some scheme to outmaneuver her?”
“…I hadn’t thought of that. Hyewan, that’s not my intention.”
Hearing Yundo’s shocked reply, Min-suk clicked her tongue. Hyewan was right. You have to show your face to even pretend to lose and start a conversation. How could anyone do anything when he was just floating around like a ghost, never showing himself?
She had known long ago that this was a losing battle. A broken dish couldn’t be mended, but she couldn’t bring herself to shatter it with her own hands. Her parents were destined for such a fate—doomed to lose to their children, forever walking on eggshells around them.
Min-suk watched as Hyewan and Yundo, still bickering, walked into the building hand in hand. After a moment’s hesitation, she followed them inside.
The security guard at the desk saw her and buzzed someone on the intercom before turning to her with a smile. “Oh, you’re here! You can go right up.”
“Thank you. I brought some side dishes for you to have with your meals. It’s not much, but…”
“You really don’t have to keep doing this for us. Thank you so much, though.”
“I was making them anyway, so I just made a little extra. If they aren’t to your taste…”
“Oh, please! This is the best side dish we’ve ever had, ma’am. It tastes just like a home-cooked meal.”
“Yes, please enjoy.”
“Thank you. Go on in.”
The security guard’s greeting followed her into the elevator. If she’s taking such good care of someone else’s child, why am I making my own child’s life so difficult? she wondered.
The elevator stopped on the 30th floor, and the doors slid open to reveal Hyewan.
“Mom.”
“Why are you out here?”
“You got the intercom call that you were coming. Did you bring more side dishes?”
“Yeah. What, you want me to take them back?”
She had never spoken to her daughter like that before, but today her words came out sharp.
“If you tell me to take them back, I’ll take them back.”
“When did I ever say that? Mom, what’s wrong? Just come in.”
“So, where are you hiding Son-in-law Cha?”
“Huh?”
Hyewan asked back, startled. “Mom, how did you know Yundo was here?”
“I saw him downstairs.”
Just then, Yundo peeked through the open door, greeting her with an awkward smile. “Hello, Ma’am.”
Min-suk acknowledged him with a simple nod and walked into the house. Yundo quickly stepped forward to take her bags.
“Mom, you haven’t eaten dinner yet, right? What should we order?”
“Don’t bother. You two, come sit down.”
Hyewan and Yundo exchanged glances. Yundo, in particular, looked completely at ease, as if he were sitting on a bed of nails. It was pitiful to see him fidgeting like a thief who’d just been caught red-handed.
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