A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 74

Watching tears well up in Yena’s eyes, Jiheon spoke again.

“Actually, I’m your dad.”

“…….”

“Yena’s dad. Yena’s real dad.”

With each word, his heart clenched painfully.

Yena, it’s Dad.

Dad, Dad.

The words he wanted to say a hundred, a thousand times. And the words he longed to hear.

Words that should have been spoken long ago.

The name that should have been called.

Time seemed to stop; no one moved.

Jeong-o and Guksun also held their breath, watching the scene unfold.

After a moment, tears welled up even more in Yena’s eyes. She strained her face, trying not to let the tears fall. Her entire face turned red.

“……That’s a lie.”

Yena shook her head, as if unable to believe it.

Jeong-o, who had been watching, stepped forward. Approaching Yena, she gently patted her shoulder and spoke softly.

“Yena, it’s true. He’s your real dad. Yena’s real dad.”

“That’s a lie.”

Yena’s voice rose stubbornly.

“Then why did you pretend not to know all this time?”

At Yena’s sharp question, Jeong-o replied.

“Dad couldn’t remember. Just like there are times when our Yena can’t remember things.”

“That’s a lie.”

“…….”

“How can you not remember? I remember my mom, my grandma, and even my grandma’s friends.”

Yena huffed and argued. She couldn’t accept it.

If he was her dad, why hadn’t he shown up even once? Why had he pretended not to know her?

She had sometimes dreamed of her dad.

In her dreams, her dad was in heaven. He said he couldn’t come to Yena because he was in heaven. He promised to visit her in her dreams from time to time, telling her to have fun during the day and meet him at night.

Before she knew it, the dream had convinced seven-year-old Yena’s mind. Yena thought her dad was in heaven. It felt natural.

She couldn’t understand how he could be living well somewhere and not want to see his daughter. She didn’t know the word ‘qualification,’ but she knew about what it meant to deserve something. Such a dad didn’t deserve to be her dad.

“Why are you saying things like that?”

She couldn’t accept the conversation itself.

“Why are you saying things like that!”

*Mom, Grandma, and you, the three of you, the three adults, seem to be trying to trick me. As if you’re making fun of me because I’m a kid.*

*I have a good memory too. I even remember the Go [a strategic board game] games I played with you. You seemed a little annoyed with me back then.*

Yena could even recall the indifferent expression Jiheon had when he first met her.

The child remembered.

She couldn’t express it with the word ‘sadness,’ but she had stored the scenes of that day, in chronological order, deep in her heart.

“Get out!”

Tears that she had been holding back finally fell.

“Get out! Don’t come to our house!”

Waaaaah.

As her sobs burst out, Jeong-o hugged Yena and comforted her.

“Yena. Oh, why are you crying, our Yena.”

As Jeong-o patted her, Yena’s sobs grew louder, as if relying on her embrace.

Jiheon was also startled and froze. When Jiheon didn’t move, Yena shouted at Guksun.

“Grandma, tell him to leave! Waaaaah.”

*How can he be my dad when Yena’s birthday hasn’t even come yet?*

*What kind of dad is that? What kind of dad doesn’t show up until his daughter is almost seven years old?*

“Quickly! Tell him to leave quickly!”

Something had been strange since morning.

No, it had been strange since yesterday. No, since the day you gave me the koala doll.

Your attitude has been strange since the day I met you with Mom.

*I know too. That you didn’t come to see me. That you came to take my mom away.*

But you shouldn’t do that. You’re an adult, and I’m a child. Children need their moms.

My world only has Mom.

I was everything in Mom’s world.

Waaaaah.

Unable to accept the reality that had crashed down on her, her sobs only intensified.

After sending Jiheon away first, Jeong-o comforted Yena. Yena’s crying didn’t stop easily.

Only after sitting her on her lap all day, watching TV together, and reading her several fairy tales did Yena stop crying and lie down to sleep.

Even then, she didn’t mention Jiheon’s name once, so Jeong-o cautiously asked, feeling sorry for her.

“Yena.”

“Huh?”

“Is it okay for Yena not to have a dad?”

Unexpectedly, the answer came quickly.

“Yeah. It’s okay for Yena not to have a dad.”

Perhaps because she had already cried so much, no more tears came out. So Yena was able to convey her clear feelings more clearly than ever.

“I want to live with Mom and Grandma like this. Forever.”

She answered coldly and waited, but Mom didn’t react. Because there was no reaction, she became anxious.

*Did I say something too bad, and Mom started to hate me?*

For some reason, it seemed like Mom’s eyes were shining in the dark room, and she was worried that Mom might be crying.

“Mom, I love you.”

Yena hugged Jeong-o tightly and said.

Mom is my world.

“Mom loves you too.”

Fortunately, Mom’s warm voice came from her arms. Only then could Yena feel relieved.

“Yena loves you more.”

“How much?”

“As much as the whole world. I love you as much as the whole world.”

Yena hugged Jeong-o even tighter and confessed her feelings.

“So don’t leave me, Mom.”

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Youngmi commissioned a paternity test between Jiheon and Yena at the genetics lab. The lab director said he would notify her of the results by phone late tonight, so Youngmi eagerly awaited the call.

For some reason, she felt like the child was Jiheon’s blood.

The pretty child she met in the elevator. The expression in her eyes as she blinked her big eyes and looked at her was etched in her mind and wouldn’t go away.

*If that child is our Jiheon’s child…….*

Then what should I do? What should I say to Jiheon?

She was so worried that her head became complicated.

It was after 9 p.m. when the phone rang. Youngmi answered the phone right away.

“Yes. Director.”

[Madam. The materials you sent have been tested.]

Her heart pounded.

“……What are the results?”

[The genetic types of the two samples do not match at all.]

“Then…… are you saying they’re not related?”

[Yes. There is absolutely no possibility.]

Her legs gave way, and Youngmi collapsed on the spot. Anxiety and nervousness quickly washed away, and at the same time, anger surged.

*So, is my son being played by that foxy girl?*

“Director, please fax me the test results.”

Youngmi requested in a voice trembling with anger.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Jiheon couldn’t leave right away and stayed in front of Jeong-o’s house for a long time.

It was past 9 p.m. when Jeong-o came outside. Jiheon also saw Jeong-o and immediately got out of the car and ran over.

“Is Yena asleep?”

“Yeah.”

Jeong-o sighed as she answered.

Nothing in the world is easy. To think that her daughter would reject her dad so much.

Jiheon realized what Guksun’s request meant. Yena was by no means an easy opponent. He couldn’t complain because he knew that her stubbornness and persistence were his genes.

“It seems like Mother knew. That Yena wouldn’t accept me right away.”

“Hah. I see. No wonder.”

But at that confession, Jeong-o suddenly burst out laughing.

“Then, Oppa [term used to address older brother or male friend], I’m okay too.”

“Okay?”

*Then…… what about me?*

From Jiheon’s perspective, Jeong-o’s opinion was a bolt from the blue.

Jeong-o continued to answer clearly.

“It’s not like I accepted you because I thought you were so great. I only accepted you because I have Yena, and Yena needs a dad, but if Yena is going to act like that, then I have nothing to say.”

She had accepted Jiheon unconditionally because she wanted to give her daughter a dad, but after experiencing her daughter’s tantrum, she thought it would be okay to go a little slower.

She felt sorry for Jiheon because he looked hurt, but still, this person is an adult.

“Let’s understand Yena. She needs time to accept it. Yena and I have been a team for a long time.”

“…….”

“No matter how much of a dad you are, she won’t like it if she feels like she’s being robbed of her partner.”

At Jeong-o’s persuasion, Jiheon quietly nodded.

He felt like he could understand Yena’s feelings. Jiheon also didn’t like the fact that Jeong-o was close to other male colleagues at the company. He knew it was work, and he acknowledged it, but he couldn’t give up his desire for her to be by his side.

Yena takes after her dad and has a strong possessive streak.

It’s not like someone else is doing it, and my daughter likes her mom, so I have to understand.

As he changed his mind, he felt like he was becoming a good person.

Being a parent is a really difficult thing.

Realizing that nothing goes your way, and having patience.

The rookie dad, who was 7 years late, learns about life that way.

Having accepted everything, Jiheon took a step closer to Jeong-o, hugged her gently, and apologized.

“I’m sorry.”

“Huh? About what?”

“Just. About everything.”

After leaving Jeong-o’s house and waiting for her, Jiheon once again reflected on the past. Guksun’s story and Yena’s tears gave him many realizations.

He was full of apologies to Jeong-o, but he had never properly said he was sorry. She really didn’t accept him just because she liked him so much. She must have given up a lot for the sake of the child.

“It’s hard to raise a child alone.”

Jiheon said warmly as he released the hug.

Jeong-o shook her head. It was something she had never even thought about.

“No. I wasn’t alone because I had Mom.”

“Still, it must have been painful and difficult.”

“No. Look at our Yena. How pretty she is. When I see Yena, all my fatigue disappears. So it wasn’t hard at all…….”

Her voice came out calmly, but strangely, really strangely, tears fell without warning. Jeong-o was also flustered and quickly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, saying.

“No, it’s not because I’m sad…….”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I really wasn’t that tired?”

His apology was so appreciated that she wanted to laugh rather than cry, but she was embarrassed by the tears that flowed down without intention. At that moment, she saw thick streams of water falling on the floor with a patter. It was a shower.

Jiheon quickly took off his clothes and covered her head, leading her to his car. She couldn’t understand his actions of leading her into the car further away, with the villa building right in front of her, but Jeong-o staggered and followed him.

Jiheon, who pushed Jeong-o in first and then got into the car late, shook the water from his head and said.

“Go in when the rain stops.”

“…….”

“Ah, your house is here, right.”

He was flustered by the unexpected rain and had just dragged her into the car.

Jeong-o burst out laughing.

*I thought you had some kind of kinky plan.*

Jiheon complained not to laugh, but Jeong-o’s laughter didn’t subside easily. It was a night when the laughter was more refreshing than the sound of rain.

Happiness may begin with small deficiencies.

In a life where we had everything from the beginning, we wouldn’t have known what was grateful, but deficiency tells us that it’s okay not to be perfect.

From the memories of filling those deficiencies with our own strength,

From the memories of trying so hard to be happy in those deficiencies.

We were really happy and made so many unforgettable memories.

So I don’t have any resentment towards you.

Looking back, they were all good memories. We were always happy.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

The next morning, 6:30 a.m.

Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong.

Someone was urgently ringing the doorbell from the morning. Jiheon, who had fallen asleep at dawn thinking about Yena and Jeong-o, barely got up and walked heavily to open the front door.

It was Mrs. Jang Youngmi.

“Mother, this early in the morning…….”

Jiheon sighed resentfully, but Youngmi opened the front door wide and came inside without any sign of apology.

“I came last night too. When did you change the front door password?”

“It’s been a while.”

Jiheon was dissatisfied with Youngmi’s attitude, but he thought he should question her about Jeong-o since his mother had come all the way here.

That phone call 7 years ago that impersonated him. And the past where everything about Lee Jeong-o was erased. He was convinced that his mother was behind all of it.

But before Jiheon could say anything, Youngmi asked first.

“Are you seeing that child, Lee Jeong-o?”

“…….”

“And meeting her daughter too?”

The tablet placed on the table. A picture that clearly looked like a children’s bicycle was displayed largely on the large screen.

Youngmi could sense that Jiheon was trying to give it as a gift to a child named Lee Yena.

“Did Lee Jeong-o tell you that Lee Yena is your daughter?”

“Did you come to confirm that? This early in the morning?”

“Jeong Jiheon!”

It was enough to make a mother’s heart burst.

“I found out. That child is not your daughter.”

My foolish son. My incompetent son.

This poor child who was deceived again after being deceived like that 7 years ago.

“She’s not your biological daughter.”

Tears welled up even as she was furious thinking about her son.

“That girl, Lee Jeong-o, gave birth to a child from who knows where and is trying to scam you!”