Chapter 22

“Wooseok went to the convenience store for a moment. We were going to have dinner together.”

Eunjae quickly explained the situation so Seonjeong could accept it.

“Do you come here often?”

Seonjeong asked, standing like a guest. It could easily be misunderstood. Eunjae didn’t know where to start explaining, so she carefully chose her words. Still, she could sense another emotion in Seonjeong’s eyes.

She wasn’t friendly.

Even if Wooseok teased her for being clueless, Eunjae couldn’t miss this. The way her own parents treated Wooseok was definitely warmer. Seonjeong used to be so kind. She used to greet her with a warm smile. Even though it had been a while, there was only one reason for her coldness now.

“It’s close to the office, so I drop by sometimes.”

Eunjae simply answered and smiled. What else could she do? There was nothing she could change. She knew that Wooseok had grown distant from his parents, and their relationship wasn’t good. She considered it something she couldn’t interfere with.

“I don’t like your behavior.”

Seonjeong didn’t hide her displeasure. What parent would be comfortable with a woman entering her son’s house and using the password freely? Especially if that woman was ‘Shin Eunjae.’

From the Jeju Island business trip onwards, Seonjeong had called her son repeatedly, but he hadn’t answered, only texting that he was busy. She knew he was avoiding her. The more he did, the more Seonjeong’s resentment grew. She had come to make her intentions clear, but hadn’t expected to meet the person herself. Maybe it was for the best.

“I’ll be more careful from now on.”

Eunjae replied with an even brighter expression. She realized she shouldn’t be here. Seonjeong’s body language made it clear.

“Wooseok will be back soon. I have some work left, so I’ll leave first.”

Eunjae acted on instinct. She bowed her head briefly to Seonjeong. Seonjeong didn’t say anything in response. As Eunjae put her shoes back on and walked out, a wave of unfairness surged inside her.

Eunjae bit her lip hard. She felt as if she’d committed some crime. Nothing in life was ever easy, but the hardest thing for her right now was everything about Jung Wooseok. She forced her smile away and slowly left the apartment.

“Where’s Eunjae?”

By the time Wooseok got home, Eunjae was already gone. It had only been a short while. He stopped by the convenience store for beer, snacks, and drinks Eunjae liked. What could have happened in those ten minutes? Seeing his mother at the table, Wooseok knew what had happened without needing an explanation. He walked over to Seonjeong.

“She said she had work and left.”

Seonjeong answered without meeting her son’s eyes.

“Mother.”

Wooseok’s low call finally made their eyes meet, almost like a showdown. After a long moment, Seonjeong asked:

“Are you two dating?”

“Yes. I’ve told you many times that I like her.”

Wooseok, as always, didn’t back down. Seonjeong let out a low sigh.

“I’ve told you so many times—she’s absolutely not allowed!”

She couldn’t hold back and shouted. Her patience had reached its limit.

“Is your opposition really because of Eunjae?”

“…What?”

“I know it’s not.”

“Jung Wooseok.”

“Why do you blame Eunjae for my brother’s death?”

The day had come when these words would finally be said. All the years of pretending not to see the stagnant, rotting grief had left no one in the family intact. They were family in name only, bound by hollow remnants of emotion. Losing his brother had hurt them all. That’s why Wooseok had been lonely and in pain for so long. And the one who comforted him most was Shin Eunjae, his friend and the woman he loved.

“If you want to be precise, I’m the one who killed him.”

Seonjeong was speechless, her lips just moving silently.

“…….”

“I didn’t go to the gym with my brother that day. I went to meet Eunjae instead. So my brother died…”

Smack. With all her strength, Seonjeong slapped Wooseok’s cheek. She stood up, trembling as she looked at her son. How could he speak so carelessly about death and guilt? Even after ten years, she still couldn’t utter such words.

She was just grateful she could pretend not to know and live with her wounds.

She didn’t expect much from Wooseok. She just wanted him to meet someone new, someone who didn’t remind her of that day, a good partner who could live happily for his brother’s sake. Was that too much to ask?

“I… can’t be with anyone but Eunjae.”

“…….”

“You’ve seen it, haven’t you? You see it even now? I’ve kept her in my heart for twenty years… How can I let go? Do you think I haven’t tried everything? I know exactly how you look at Eunjae… I didn’t want her to know. I thought I was being selfish.”

“…….”

“But I still can’t let go. I can’t watch her date someone else, and when she avoids my eyes, my heart falls apart. When she went abroad for three years, I thought I’d die. You know what that feeling is, don’t you? Shouldn’t I live with the woman I love, the one who makes me happy?”

Wooseok poured his heart out, but Seonjeong stood as if refusing to listen. She grabbed her bag and headed for the door, then turned her head toward her son.

“……Fine. You’re right. But if you say you’ll marry her… then for the rest of my life, I’ll look at her with these same eyes. And I’ll say it. That it’s because of you. That you killed all my children.”

“Mother!”

Wooseok shouted, but Seonjeong’s gaze only grew colder.

“Just stay friends, like you are now. I won’t say a word about that. If you don’t want to marry, then don’t. I won’t force you to meet anyone else. But that’s as far as it goes… only that far. Otherwise, I don’t know what I might decide to do.”

Seonjeong snapped, then left.

Wooseok gripped his head and let out a frustrated yell. He pulled himself together and took out his phone. First, he had to see Eunjae. He didn’t know what had happened with Seonjeong, but he couldn’t let her go back with a hurt heart.

He called, but Eunjae didn’t answer. Wooseok hurriedly opened the front door, ready to go find her, and found her standing right outside as if by fate. Stunned, Wooseok stood still while Eunjae held something out to him.

“For you and your mother.”

She handed him two drinks from a café. Wooseok didn’t know what to do with her foolishly kind heart, so he impulsively pulled her into a hug.

“Ah, hey! …What are you doing? Your mother is—”

“She left.”

“What?”

Eunjae, still in his arms, asked again.

“I told you I’d be back soon. Couldn’t you wait?”

Wooseok’s words came out rough, driven by his anxious and desperate feelings.

“I thought you’d have something to talk about with your mother. That’s why I gave you space on purpose.”

“Without eating tteokbokki or chicken?”

“Hey!”

Eunjae, still in his arms, playfully slapped Wooseok’s back. She had canceled the tteokbokki herself and even paid for it. She’d thought about taking it home, but that felt too pitiful. The shop was surprised when she said she’d pay but not take the food, but they quickly thanked her and let it go.

“Come inside first.”

Wooseok released Eunjae and tried to pull her in, but she just stood still. He looked down at her—he could always tell her feelings just by her expression.

“Why?”

“Does your mother… not like me?”

Eunjae asked as simply as she could. She never thought she’d say such a thing, but if not now, then when could she be honest? Once her heart opened up, she realized honesty was best.

“That’s not true. Why would she dislike you?”

Wooseok answered calmly. But Eunjae noticed the hesitation beneath his words—something only she could see. She wished she didn’t know, but between them, ignorance wasn’t possible.

“Okay. I get it. Here, this is for you.”

Eunjae handed him the drink tray.

“What about you?”

“I should go. I already told my sister I’d be home soon. She asked me to pick up some beer on the way.”

Eunjae shrugged, avoiding his gaze. After what Seonjeong said, she didn’t want to go back inside Wooseok’s place. She really just wanted to deliver the drinks and leave. As she pushed Wooseok inside and turned away, he called out gruffly,

“Aren’t you going to hear my answer?”

Eunjae stopped. She knew what answer he meant. 

She turned and smiled faintly.

“Next time. I’ll hear it… next time.”

As she turned again, Wooseok ran up and hugged her from behind. He buried his face in her neck and let out a low, desperate sigh that made Eunjae’s heart ache. She could feel his heartbeat pounding against her back.

“When is next time?”

“…….”

“You really know how to keep someone waiting.”

Eunjae couldn’t help but laugh.

“That much is for sure.”

Wooseok turned her around to face him.

“I liked you… before you liked me.”

His quiet confession made Eunjae’s heart ring even louder.

“Then why did you hold back?”

“If I hadn’t, you would’ve seen what happened last time.”

Eunjae instantly realized what he meant from his eyes. The tension that had gripped her chest now seemed to settle in her lower belly. Feeling embarrassed, she looked away. Wooseok stepped closer and gently lifted her chin.

“I won’t hold back anymore.”

Wooseok’s hand stroked Eunjae’s cheek tenderly, with a hint of mischief. He lowered his head. Surprised, Eunjae tried to step back, but Wooseok’s arm was already wrapped tightly around her waist. Their lower bodies pressed together, and Wooseok’s face was right in front of hers.

“There’s no reason to hold back.”

His deep kiss signaled a beginning that couldn’t be stopped.