Chapter 75

The two women, who had a simple meal of chicken and beer, headed home not too late.

“Get home safely!”

“Take care!”

Haji, watching Sehee wave her hand as she left, took a deep breath.

In the sweltering weather, the humid air filled her lungs deeply.

Honk! The sound of a car horn blared from behind, and when she turned around, she saw a familiar car.

It was the foolish person who came to pick her up despite leaving like that in the morning. A man who was endlessly warm only to her, despite being known as cold to others.

Maybe it was because she had a drink.

Her emotions surged, and tears blurred her vision. Perhaps because she could see the end with him.

Before Seojin could see her like this, Haji quickly wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand.  

He was so vulnerable to her tears. No, he was vulnerable to her in general.

If she cried and said she’d let him go, he really would leave—for her sake.

***

On Saturday morning, Seojin and Haji finished getting ready and got into the elevator.

For a moment, an awkward air flowed, and Haji glanced at Seojin, letting out a small sigh.

“See you later.”

“… Come safely.”

As Haji wished, they decided to go separately to the house where Seonghee was. They spent the day without mentioning the argument from the morning before. Even the previous evening when he came to pick her up.

Ding, when the elevator stopped on the first floor, Haji gave a brief glance and got out first.

“I’m going.”

Watching Haji’s back through the closing doors, Seojin clenched his fist tightly.

“Ha…”

Once the doors were fully closed, a sigh escaped his lips.

It was something that had to happen someday. They couldn’t keep postponing the conversation about their future.

“Maybe it was a bit early.”

Seojin murmured softly as he gripped the steering wheel.

He had waited over twenty years, but maybe Haji hadn’t.

He didn’t mean to cause confusion, but his words slipped out before he could think of the consequences, due to her drawing a line.

“I never thought I’d see her preparing for a breakup.”

Seeing Haji secretly wiping her tears last night, her attempts to keep her distance, all these signs made it clear—she was preparing to break up.

And deep down, he realized that if it were her decision, she was sure he would step away.

“There’s no way.”

There’s no way I’d just let you go.

What Haji didn’t know was that Seojin’s kindness was exclusive to her.

While it was true he cherished her more than his own life, he had no intention of letting her leave his side before he died.

For you and me.

“There is no breakup.”

Seojin’s lips curled into a crooked smile.

***

Haji pressed the doorbell in front of the large door. Beep, the sound of the door unlocking was followed by it opening, creating a gap.

As she passed through the garden towards the entrance, Seonghee came out as usual. Though her expression was different this time.

“Ki Seojin came first. Did you come separately?”

At the whispered question with folded arms, Haji nodded.

“Why?”

“I suggested we come separately in case they find out about our relationship.”

“So that’s why.”

Her expression was no joke.

Seonghee mumbled as if talking to herself while leading Haji inside the house.

“Haji’s here!”

“Haji, you’re here.”

“Come on in.”

At Seonghee’s loud voice, Hyesoo and Seosoo peeked out to greet her. Haji smiled and bowed in response.

She saw Seojin sitting on the sofa, but she deliberately avoided eye contact.

“Since the meal is ready, shall we eat?”

It was the start of a tense meal time.

***

How did I end up sitting here?

At the six-seater dining table, Seosoo sat alone at the end, Hyesoo and Seonghee sat across from Haji and Seojin.

Whenever she came to this house, she always sat next to Seonghee, so she never worried about this, but it was an unexpected variable.

Despite the table being laden with food that seemed like it would break the legs, Haji’s arms couldn’t move widely.

“Haji, don’t you have an appetite?”

At Seosoo’s concerned question, Haji’s head shot up. She felt embarrassed when she realized everyone was looking at her, but she soon smiled.

“No, it’s really delicious. Maybe it’s because it’s been a while? I’m savoring it.”

“Why savor it? I’ll pack some for you to take home.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Seosoo’s kind words eased Haji’s tension. She nodded and took a big spoonful of rice, and just then, a piece of meat was placed on top.

“……”

A moment of silence passed. Haji froze in place.

“Why?”

At that moment, Seojin was the only one acting as usual.

“Weren’t you worried she wasn’t eating?”

“Yes, yes, it’s nice to see you taking care of each other.”

If Seosoo hadn’t broken the awkward atmosphere, she might not have been able to put the rice in her mouth.

After that, fearing Seojin might do the same thing again, Haji stuffed rice into her mouth.

“Seojin, don’t you have someone you’re seeing these days?”

“… Why?”

At Hyesoo’s sudden question, Haji couldn’t swallow the rice in her mouth and lowered her head.

“Recently, people around me have been bragging about their kids getting married and all. I wondered if you weren’t seeing anyone.”

“When did you start caring about that?”

Seojin replied as if it was no big deal, holding his water glass.

“I must be getting old. I want to see grandchildren.”

“Is that so?”

“So, is there?”

Hyesoo, who had been speaking as calmly as Seojin, brought up the main point.

Haji, who guessed what would come next, couldn’t chew the rice in her mouth.

Clink, a water cup was gently placed beside Haji. Remembering the attention she got earlier when Seojin gave her side dishes, it seemed he was being cautious this time.

“Seonghee might have someone.”

“But you’re the firstborn?”

“When did you start caring about that?”

Even in a tone that could be taken as unpleasant, Hyesoo smiled softly and continued eating.

“I’m starting to care now that I’m getting old.”

At the persistence in Hyesoo’s words, Seojin’s brow furrowed as if he sensed something.

Seonghee, who had been watching the battle of wits, had eyes that sparkled. It seemed Haji was the only one feeling frustrated at this moment.

Haji managed to swallow the rice in her mouth with water, realizing her meal might as well be over.

“Why don’t you try meeting someone?”

The inevitable question finally came.

Thud, it felt like her heart dropped to the floor. She had expected it, but hearing it directly brought indescribable emotions.

Haji’s hand under the table trembled slightly.

“Are you talking to me?”

“Who else? I’ve been talking to you this whole time.”

When Seojin asked back incredulously, Hyesoo shrugged as if it was strange.

“Is my smart son losing focus?”

“It’s not that…”

Seojin, about to refute Hyesoo’s words, saw the small, trembling hand.

Damn.

Swallowing a curse inwardly, Seojin decided to wrap up the situation.

“Let’s stop this conversation. I’m not interested.”

“That’s too bad. A lot of single women have been interested in you lately.”

“I’m not interested.”

It seemed his mother had no intention of stopping this conversation.

It was strange. She had never cared about his relationships or marriage before.

The fact that she was dragging out the conversation, knowing his disinterest, was odd.

As Seojin looked at her face, trying to figure out what she was thinking behind her elegant smile, Hyesoo grinned knowingly.

Sensing Seojin’s gaze, Hyesoo gave a sly smile.

“If it’s too uncomfortable to talk here, come to my office on Monday.”

“I really don’t have anything to say about…”

“Shall we keep talking, here?”

It was practically a threat. Almost as if she knew his situation.

“Fine. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“At last, my son will visit my office?”

Hye-su’s chuckling signaled the end of the uncomfortable conversation.

***

The family and Haji moved to the garden and sat around a round wooden table under a tree.

Despite the hot weather, the surrounding trees and flowers created a cool and fragrant scent, lifting the mood. Haji’s suffocating feelings seemed to drift away with the gentle breeze.

While they were chatting over tea, Seosoo handed Seojin a shopping bag.

“This is a gift I prepared.”

“I wasn’t going to give you anything, but I prepared it thinking I’ll receive something on my birthday!”

Following suit, Seonghee quickly handed over a box, and Haji carefully pulled out the gift she had prepared.

“It’s nothing special.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s really nothing special.”

At Seojin’s words, Haji repeated herself, blushing. Seeing this, Seojin’s lips softened.

“I prepared something separately, so come and get it on Monday.”

At Hyesoo’s words, Haji’s shoulders twitched. Simultaneously, Seojin’s eyes sharpened.

The gentle breeze suddenly circled the garden, bringing a fragrant floral scent to their noses.

“The weather is so nice today.”

At Hyesoo’s words, Haji also looked up at the swaying leaves. She agreed. The weather was perfect.

“Oh, by the way, Haji. Take some fruit on your way home. We got fresh fruit, and it reminded me of you.”

“Fruit?”

At the mention of fruit, Haji’s eyes widened momentarily.

“It might be a bit difficult to carry…”

“Why worry? Seojin is here, isn’t he?”

“Huh?”

Hyesoo raised her eyebrows, looking at Seojin.

“You wouldn’t pretend not to know after receiving gifts, are you?”

“I’ll load it in my car.”

Hearing Seojin’s answer, Hyesoo smiled and looked at Haji with a knowing glance.