Chapter 2 Part 3

From the first night in her new home, Min-joo had only slept fitfully. The spacious room and comfortable bed felt like a bed of thorns to her. Her face clearly showed her exhaustion the next morning. When Gihyun returned early that morning and saw her face, he frowned immediately and vented his frustration, but not at Min-joo directly.

“Just throw it away if there’s too much, but make sure you always have plenty of food prepared. We don’t want to run out.”

Gihyun, having just started his first day of work, gave meticulous instructions to the housekeeper who had prepared breakfast.

“Make sure the rice is perfectly cooked, not mushy. She didn’t seem to like cucumbers much. She doesn’t like tough meat, so make sure to score it and cook it tender.”

Having made Min-joo out to be a person with very picky eating habits, Gihyun added a few more instructions. Min-joo, who was quietly eating, found this ridiculous. She remembered disliking those foods in her early twenties, but she now ate almost everything.

It didn’t seem relevant to pregnancy. She thought about telling him that such instructions were unnecessary, but she held her tongue. Confronting Gihyun directly only made things worse for her.

This time, Gihyun directed his frustration at Min-joo.

“Do you want me to ask them to make the rice again?”

Min-joo couldn’t tell if Gihyun was genuinely concerned or just irritated. Already feeling weak, she wanted to let it go quietly. She was afraid that if she said anything, Gihyun might insist on having s*x in some misguided show of authority.

“I couldn’t sleep well because the bed was different.”

“……”

“I don’t particularly like porridge, but I didn’t think you’d remember.”

“……”

“I used to be picky when I was younger, but now I find everything cooked by someone else delicious.”

She was subtly telling him not to nitpick the menu.

Thankfully, Gihyun didn’t say anything further. As Min-joo took another spoonful of rice, she cautiously glanced at him. The tension from moments before seemed to have dissipated. She considered that a small victory.

For a while, the only sound was that of spoons hitting bowls. Though they sat at the same table, it was as if they were eating separately. It wasn’t until they had almost finished their meal that Gihyun spoke up.

“You’re going to work, right?”

“Yeah.”

“What time?”

“I have to leave early from here. I need to transfer trains.”

“I’ll drive you.”

Gihyun quickly added, “It’s on my way. I have an office nearby.”

It seemed Gihyun had already made up his mind. Min-joo knew that if she insisted on going alone, he’d just get sarcastic. So, she nodded quietly, feeling too drained to argue. Perhaps it was her subdued demeanor that kept Gihyun calm as well.

After breakfast, Gihyun dropped Min-joo off in front of the lunchbox store. As she unfastened her seatbelt, he spoke to her again.

“Meet me on time later. No overtime.”

“…What time?”

“The alley in front of the meat restaurant. If you finish early, call me.”

Min-joo realized only after getting out of the car and watching Gihyun’s car disappear that he meant he’d pick her up after her night shift. She gave up thinking any further and entered the store. Mrs. Yoon, who had arrived early, greeted her first.

“You’re early today, Min-joo. Whose car did you come in?”

“A friend’s. They were heading in the same direction.”

“Wasn’t that the same car from before? Your college friend?”

“Yes, that’s right.”Min-joo quickly put down her bag and took out a small medicine box from it. As she approached the water cooler, Mrs. Yoon continued her nosy inquiry.

“What are you taking as soon as you get here? Medicine?”

“…My stomach isn’t feeling well.”

Min-joo swallowed the first of the twenty-one pills with water.

***

If she had trouble sleeping on the first night, by the next few days, Min-joo found herself passing out from exhaustion. Gihyun had been sleeping in a different room, citing the need for an adjustment period, so they barely saw each other as Min-joo worked day and night. Once the tension eased a bit, her body quickly adapted to the comfortable bed.

“Is he your boyfriend?”

“Huh?”

“You know, the guy who picks you up in the car.”

The male manager asked Min-joo this as she was getting ready to leave the barbecue restaurant, as usual.

Even without the manager asking, the staff had been subtly curious. Tonight, too, the car was shining under the streetlight across the road. The car alone was eye-catching, so Gihyun’s presence was impossible to miss.

“He’s a friend.”

“A friend who gives you rides late at night?”

“It just happened that way. I’ll be heading out now.”

The manager looked skeptical, but Min-joo couldn’t explain the real situation. She gave a quick goodbye and stepped out of the store.

As soon as Min-joo stepped onto the street, the car glided down to meet her. The moment she got in, Gihyun started complaining again.

“When are you going to quit?”

“They said they haven’t found anyone to replace me yet.”

“I can’t stand this anymore.”

“…I’ll take the bus.”

Gihyun silently turned the steering wheel, clearly refusing the suggestion.

For the past week, he had been picking Min-joo up late every night, making people mistake him for her boyfriend. It felt like he would do anything to achieve his goal of getting her pregnant. Physically, it was convenient for Min-joo, but being in the same space with him without much conversation was uncomfortable.

After the same routine and driving the same route, they arrived at the underground parking lot. They were waiting for the elevator as usual.

Standing next to Gihyun, Min-joo heard a whining sound from behind. She turned her head and saw a young woman, presumably a resident of the same building, holding a chubby b*by in her arms.

A b*by, who had been nuzzling its face into its mother’s arms, stared intently at Min-joo. The b*by’s chubby, white arms looked soft and squishy. Min-joo found herself smiling without realizing it. Even after stepping into the elevator, she couldn’t take her eyes off the b*by. As the b*by continued to stare at her, she made funny faces to keep the b*by’s attention, completely forgetting that Gihyun was standing beside her.

The b*by, thoroughly amused by Min-joo’s antics, got off at the 13th floor, and Min-joo’s expression turned serious again.

“You still like babies, I see,” Gihyun commented offhandedly, making Min-joo flinch. Gihyun continued talking as he exited the elevator first.

“Why didn’t you go back to school back then?”

He suddenly brought up the past, causing Min-joo to press her lips tightly together.

“I heard you got expelled for not returning.”

“…Is that important?”

“I’m just asking what you did instead of getting your degree. Were you able to use your major for anything?”

Although it wasn’t entirely wrong, it wasn’t the main reason either. As Min-joo entered the house, she spoke casually, “…My mom was a bit sick.”

She had rephrased it. In truth, it was Min-joo herself who was unwell.

“I needed to be there for her.”

Back then, even looking out the window made her quietly want to jump. Her mother had stayed by her side, protecting her. Min-joo hid her expression by pretending to take off her shoes.

“What was the diagnosis?”

“…Just, a bit of depression.”

“Depression…”

Gihyun murmured softly and didn’t ask any more questions. He quietly headed towards a different bedroom, not the one Min-joo was sleeping in. Min-joo found herself unintentionally watching his retreating figure. It felt as if Gihyun was also hiding his face, but she didn’t give it much thought.

Given the late hour, she quickly prepared for bed. She lay down in the now familiar bed, turned off the light, and tried to fall asleep.

Normally, she would have drifted off, but sleep didn’t come easily. Min-joo lay still, thinking. She recalled the b*by’s chubby cheeks and plump arms she had seen earlier.

It was only after a long time that Min-joo finally managed to fall asleep. She sensed the door opening, surprising her, but she kept her eyes closed.

Something entered the room, and she felt a gaze fix on her. Unless there was an intruder, the only person who could do that in this house was Gihyun. Missing the moment to act, Min-joo continued to feign sleep.

The air moved as Gihyun seemed to shift. Eventually, the bed sank slightly, as if Gihyun had sat at the edge. Even then, there was a long silence.

Just as Min-joo was about to open her eyes a crack, she felt Gihyun’s fingertips brush against hers. Unlike Min-joo, who froze, Gihyun’s fingers lingered, tracing around hers without touching further, then withdrew.

Gihyun let out a long sigh, breathing deeply. Soon, he got up, and the door quietly closed

Min-joo, left alone again, was bewildered.

The cautious warmth, the hesitating touch—it didn’t suit Gihyun at all.

She couldn’t understand what had moved Gihyun.

It seemed she wouldn’t be able to sleep again.

***

Ultimately, Min-joo woke up with a tired face after a restless night. When she came out to the kitchen for breakfast, Gihyun was already seated at the table. His skin appeared rougher than usual, suggesting he hadn’t slept well either.

While the housekeeper was preparing the meal, Gihyun only drank coffee. Min-joo sat down and stared at the side dishes being laid out. Gihyun, scrutinizing Min-joo, suddenly spoke.

“Depression.”

Min-joo flinched at the unexpected word. Gihyun, looking at Min-joo, muttered as if to himself.

“It’s not hereditary, is it?”

She began to understand why Gihyun had been acting strangely. He seemed to be sensitive about depression. A shadow crossed Min-joo’s face.

“…If it’s depression, are you planning to cancel the contract?”

Even to Min-joo, her reaction seemed overly sensitive. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Gihyun didn’t get angry. He merely looked off into the distance, as if recalling something.

“That doesn’t matter.”

“……”

“…I just hope it doesn’t happen to you.”

The strange remark made Minjoo stare at Gihyun again. He averted his gaze, focusing on his coffee.

Why did he mention heredity? Was he worried that depression could be passed down to their child?

How would Gihyun react if he found out she was the one who had experienced depression?

Her chest felt tight, and she worried that her unease would show on her face, so she focused on her meal.

After finishing breakfast, she immediately started preparing to leave. She brushed her teeth and grabbed her bag. When she emerged from her room, Gihyun was watching her.

“Isn’t it your free morning?”

“I’m going to visit my mom. I haven’t been able to go lately.”

“I’ll go with you.”

“It’s within walking distance…”

“Save your energy for more important things and come out slowly.”

Gihyun grabbed his car keys and left ahead of her. Minjoo ended up taking Gihyun’s car for a distance she could have easily walked.

Gihyun dropped Minjoo off right in front of the hospital building and then drove off. As she entered the hospital, she paused and looked back. Gihyun’s car had already left the premises.

Minjoo recalled his touch from the previous night.

Almost touching but not quite.

In the ICU, there was a peculiar smell. Despite the clean and sterile environment, an old scent lingered. Minjoo thought it was the scent of people aging. During the 30 minutes she was allowed to visit, Minjoo gently held her mother’s hand.

“Mom, I’ll come again.”

She smoothed her mother’s hair one last time and left the room. Her steps were heavier as she exited the ward.

Minjoo walked over to a bench on the first floor. Whenever she sat there, Hyekyung would somehow know and show up.

“Cha Minjoo.”

A nurse with a short haircut and a tall, slender frame called Minjoo’s name from a distance. Despite her pale face, a small smile bloomed on Minjoo’s lips. She was grateful for her friend who always found time to visit despite being busy.

As soon as Hyekyung arrived, she sat next to Minjoo and immediately checked her well-being.

“Cha Minjoo, aren’t you working too much? You’ve lost weight.”

“It’s not that. I quit one of my jobs.”

“Good for you. You were sticking with it just for the money, but is it worth exhausting yourself? By the way, I feel like you never finished telling me last time. Where did you move to?”

“…Nearby.”

“Is there even a cheap place around here?”

Minjoo finally found the opportunity to share what she couldn’t over the phone.

“…I borrowed it from Park Gihyun.”

Hyekyung’s reaction was extreme. She even screamed in disbelief.

“What are you talking about? Have you lost your mind? How much?”

“A lot.”

An advance of 100 million won. Another 200 million won after the first intercourse. An additional 300 million won upon pregnancy. And 400 million won more upon giving birth. That was how the contract was laid out. Hyekyung, who had no way of knowing all this, started speaking rapidly.

“I know it’s not a situation to be proud of, but why him of all people? Did you really meet him by chance? If you’re going to borrow money, just ask for it outright. Tell him to pay you back with interest for what you did for him in the past.”

Minjoo remained silent. Hyekyung, trying to calm herself down, fanned her hand furiously.

“This is unbelievable. The guy who was two-timing is now a building owner. What has he been up to? Did he charm his way into some money? Did Kang Yoonjung have that much money? Or did he find another rich backer?”

“…….”

“Why are you getting involved with that guy because of money?” Hyekyung clicked her tongue. Minjoo, who had been quietly listening, carefully started to speak.

“My mom… if her condition improves even a little, I want to move her to a better hospital.”

“That’s a good idea. If you have the money, you should go to a better place.”

Until it was time to return to work, Hyekyung didn’t scold her anymore. She just held Minjoo’s hand tightly. Somehow, that alone was comforting.

After parting ways with Hyekyung, Minjoo slowly walked out of the hospital. As soon as she stepped outside, she squinted at the bright sunlight. She made a shade with her hand and walked towards the hospital’s main entrance.

She walked without looking ahead, so she didn’t notice the car following her.

“This hospital allows quite long visiting hours,” came a voice from beside her. Only then did she realize and turned her head towards the car. The familiar car was driving next to her.

“…I thought you went home.”

“Worried you might run off with the money.”

Gihyun had a knack for speaking in circles. Nevertheless, it seemed he had been waiting all along.

As Minjoo stared at him, loud honking sounds came from behind them. Other drivers were yelling at Gihyun for blocking the road. Feeling rushed, she got into the car. Only then did Gihyun’s car speed up.

“Why are you out so late? I thought the visiting hours were about 30 minutes.”

“…I was meeting Hyekyung.”

“Nam Hyekyung?”

In the past, Gihyun and Hyekyung didn’t get along well. Hyekyung despised Gihyun, and Gihyun only mocked Hyekyung. They wouldn’t have spoken to each other if it weren’t for Minjoo. She tried to be as indirect as possible.

“…Hyekyung was curious about what you’ve been up to.”

“Even Nam Hyekyung is curious about my life, so why aren’t you?”

His words sounded like a complaint. Minjoo wondered if she had misunderstood and looked at Gihyun. He let out a mirthless laugh.

“Weren’t you curious?”

“……”

“Didn’t you ever think, ‘Let’s see if that guy is doing well’?”

There hadn’t been any time for that. Gihyun, seeing that Minjoo was silent, brought up something new.

“I thought you might still be working in that field, so I checked every kindergarten and daycare in the metropolitan area.”

She couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words about searching countless places and just felt more miserable. It seemed like he was questioning why she wasn’t living a completely different life. To avoid answering, she asked back.

“…What have you been up to?”

She didn’t really want to ask, but she did anyway.

“I’ve been running a business.”

“…And Kang Yoon-jung?”

It was an uncomfortable question. Surprisingly, Gihyun responded nonchalantly.

“We broke up.”

While Minjoo’s face clouded, Gihyun spoke easily.

“There was no reason to stay together.”

At that moment, Gihyun’s phone rang, cutting off their conversation. The topic didn’t come up again during the car ride. While they drove, Minjoo delved into old memories.

[“Yoon-jung is pregnant.”]

That had been the reason Gihyun gave when he left Minjoo.

Minjoo thought of the pills she had tucked away in a pouch inside her fabric bag.

She hadn’t taken them on time today.

She decided she would take them as soon as she got to the store.