Chapter 9 Part 3

Ms. Yoon was someone who took a keen interest in gossip. She sometimes shared the latest gossip with Minjoo via messages. Minjoo disregarded these as pointless stories and ignored them.

“If it’s B Tower, it’s nearby. Looks like there’s another guy making an impression every day besides Gihyun.”

“…What are you looking at?”

“Do you want to see it too?”

Ms. Yoon handed over her phone. Minjoo, trying to clear her mind, glanced at the gossip message but soon focused and read it again.

[Received Message]

[Representative A from a cutting-edge technology platform company is reportedly causing chaos at home due to his obsession with a “ten-pro” woman (a term for high-end escort).]

[He supposedly goes to a bar behind B Tower every day.]

[He’s a handsome man, so there are many witnesses.]

[The woman is reportedly suffering from a mental illness while pregnant, yet she continues to work.]

[She was brought to a corporate event and introduced, causing a stir within the C Group.]

[Concerned about the possibility of having another illegitimate child, the C Group chairman invited him to a family event to arrange a marriage with his daughter. However, A caused a scene and publicly insulted the chairman, leading to the chairman collapsing from the shock.]

[Despite A’s business success and being called a “tiger” due to his achievements, even the formidable C Chairman couldn’t handle him.]

Minjoo’s lunchbox shop was located behind B Tower. As she read on with a hint of disbelief, Gihyun suddenly came to mind. The memory of the day he came home drunk, claiming to have attended a family event, flashed across her mind.

If the gossip was true, it seemed that the mentally ill and pregnant woman mentioned in the message referred to Minjoo. The gossip, though just words, stirred up Minjoo’s emotions.

To others, the relationship between Cha Minjoo and Park Gihyun could only be imagined in such a way.

Even if Gihyun’s feelings were a mix of love and obsession.

Feeling mentally exhausted, her body also grew weary. The thought of wanting to quit everything, even life itself, suddenly emerged.

Minjoo’s phone, which she had kept in her pocket, rang. She barely managed to focus and checked it. It was Hye-kyung. With no customers around, Minjoo answered the call without hesitation.

“Yes, Hye-kyung.”

– Cha Minjoo. Come to the hospital quickly.

“What’s going on?”

Hearing the words over the phone, Minjoo’s expression changed instantly. She stood still, clutching the phone. Hye-kyung, unusually agitated, shouted.

– Mother has regained consciousness.

Strength returned to her limp hand.

If there was a miracle, it was this moment.

***

As Minjoo tore off her apron and rushed out of the shop, Gihyun happened to appear. In her urgency, she got into Gihyun’s car and they drove straight to the hospital.

Upon entering the hospital room, Minjoo saw her mother lying in bed. Her mother turned her head and met Minjoo’s gaze. Seeing her mother’s face after such a long time, Minjoo immediately burst into tears.

“…Have you been well?”

Her mother spoke to her daughter with composure, allowing Minjoo to cry while also smiling.

“I’ve been doing well… but you must have had a hard time…”

“…My baby’s face is so thin.”

“Really? Actually, I’m doing very well.”

“Doing well? The house must be quite cold… Do you have the heater on?”

“No, Mom. I’m not living in that house anymore. I’m staying somewhere nearby.”

“…Did you move out? Was it because of the hospital bills?”

“No. But don’t worry, Mom. Someone is preparing meals for me…”

Minjoo paused for a moment. Then she mentioned something her mother would like to hear.

“I’ve started studying again. I’m planning to go back to college.”

“That’s great. My daughter… But do you have the means to do that?”

“…There’s someone helping me.”

Minjoo, who had been generalizing, revealed one more significant fact.

“That person is also going to donate a kidney to you.”

Her mother, who had been listening weakly, widened her eyes. But soon, her eyelids closed again.

“If you’d seen him… you would have greeted him.”

“…Yeah…”

“Why would he help so much? What kind of person is he?”

Minjoo swallowed her tears and admitted something she had been reluctant to.

“He said it’s because he thinks I might love him…”

“……”

“…He said he would do it.”

Understanding, her mother’s eyes blinked instead of nodding. Minjoo changed the subject.

“Get better quickly and go see some nice things. I bought a necklace for you.”

Minjoo spoke eagerly about the future. But her mother simply smiled quietly with wrinkled eyes.

“…How can I accept such an expensive gift? I haven’t done anything for you.”

“What are you saying?”

“I didn’t have money, so I thought I’d give love instead… But even though I’m sick, I couldn’t even give love properly. I can’t just take without giving…”

“No, Mom. You’ve done everything. I’m the one who hasn’t done anything.”

“You don’t need to do anything for me. There’s a saying, ‘parental love.’ It’s not a waste to give to my child.”

“Why are you saying this, Mom…”

“You just need to take good care of your own children. Find a partner, and start a family… Just live well with your family…”

The words, though seemingly insignificant, struck Minjoo deeply. Strangely, they pierced her heart and tore her apart.

“All I need is you, Mom. Once you get the kidney surgery, everything will be fine. You can manage your diabetes well now…”

“I don’t have confidence in living well with someone else’s organ.”

“If you take good care of yourself, that’s enough. If you’re alive… just take good care…”

“All I need is for Minjoo to live well.”

“……”

“Live happily. For a long, long time.”

Minjoo should have been happy that her mother regained consciousness, but her whole body trembled. Why did her mother regain consciousness suddenly?

Could it be that the fading flame has burned its last light? Minjoo spoke with heartfelt sincerity, as if denying the foreboding.

“I have to live happily with you… for a long, long time.”

She deliberately spoke the words out loud. It was a sign of her desperation. Her mother, with a dim smile, reached out her hand to Minjoo. Minjoo cupped her face in her mother’s hand. She couldn’t leave.

Minjoo left the hospital. Gihyun was standing at the main entrance of the hospital, braving the cold wind. As soon as Gihyun saw Minjoo, he quietly asked.

“How is she?”

“…She regained consciousness.”

“That’s a relief.”

It was a brief response. He gestured towards the car. Minjoo stood there, opening her mouth, then closing it again. It seemed she had something to say. As Gihyun stared at her, she finally spoke.

“Can I stay at the hospital for a while?”

“……”

“Mom… She regained consciousness, but I think I need to take care of her.”

“……”

“I could leave it to a caretaker… But I feel like I would regret it for the rest of my life if I did…”

Gihyun didn’t give a positive answer. Minjoo, in a hurry, added.

“I’ll have a baby.”

“……”

“Please just delay it a bit. I’ll do everything you ask. I’ll make an effort and try. You can take all my organs later…”

The more she spoke, the more tears streamed down her face. Her cheeks and chin were soon soaked.

“…Just save my mom.”

The anxiety and desperation made her cling to the one she wanted to avoid the most.

“I won’t deceive you this time, and I’ll quit the lunchbox shop…”

She poured out words haphazardly. Gihyun looked at Minjoo silently, then spoke.

“I’m on my way back from meeting Nam Hye-kyung.”

It was an unexpected answer.

“Regarding the kidney, I heard that Hospital A is more famous. If you’re going to get a transplant, let’s do it there. The tests are meticulous, so it will take some time. What do you think?”

Minjoo recalled that Hye-kyung had mentioned Hospital A. This time, Minjoo couldn’t answer and just looked at Gihyun. Gihyun changed the subject.

“I’ll be at the hospital. I’ll come to see her.”

As soon as Minjoo realized what he meant by “come to see her,” Gihyun added.

“In the meantime, make sure you get nutritional injections. Something like vitamins.”

He carefully took Minjoo’s hand, which was thin and bony.

This time, she couldn’t pull her hand away.

***

Minjoo even quit her job at the lunchbox store. She said she had to leave suddenly due to caregiving duties, but it seemed that Aunt Yoon didn’t fully believe it. Thanks to Gihyun finding a replacement, there was no disruption to the store. After receiving well-wishes for her wedding preparations from Aunt Yoon, Minjoo left the store.

Her mother’s condition improved so rapidly it could be called a miracle. She was soon moved to a general ward. A private room with a professional caregiver was added. Just that alone seemed to lift Minjoo’s lethargy and depression.

While Minjoo was living at the hospital, Gihyun visited every day. He never came empty-handed, and today he brought a fruit basket as large as his torso. Her mother, who had become accustomed to Gihyun, welcomed him warmly.

“Is it okay for a busy person like you to come here?”

“If I’m at the company, it actually makes things more inconvenient. The boss is very picky. How are you feeling today, Mrs.?”

“There’s nothing bad.”

“If anything bad comes up, let me know. I’ll make a complaint.”

Gihyun visited so often and was so attentive that it felt excessive for someone introduced as Minjoo’s friend. Minjoo found Gihyun’s behavior strange and unsettling, but she didn’t speak about her feelings. Her mother enjoyed Gihyun’s visits and the conversation he brought. As long as Gihyun didn’t reveal the true nature of his relationship with Minjoo, it seemed beneficial for her health.

She quietly organized the refrigerator. Gihyun, who had been watching Minjoo from the conversation, proudly said.

“I’m building a house these days.”

“What kind of house?”

“A house where you can rest after your discharge. The place you used to live doesn’t seem suitable for recovery. I’m building it in a place with good air.”

“Why are you…”

“I owe Minjoo a debt from a long time ago.”

“A long time ago? I guess you were a long-time friend of Minjoo’s. She never mentioned it… But did you really have a debt? Minjoo was earning her living on her own… Where did the money come from…”

“The debt from back then has accumulated interest. Enough for Minjoo and her mother to live comfortably for the rest of their lives.”

“You didn’t have to do that…”

“I’m capable of it. Doesn’t it seem that way?”

Gihyun smiled broadly and joked. Only Minjoo, who knew it was no joke, turned her head. Her mother added compliments for Gihyun.

“He’s not only handsome but also capable. How lucky you are, Mrs. He’s a well-raised son…”