A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 153

Eun-yeop opened his eyes in the dead of night.

It took another half-day for his head to stop throbbing and for him to regain his senses. He could move his body, but he didn’t try to.

Forgoing any attempt to talk to someone, he thought about what had happened right before the accident. Eun-yeop’s car, speeding towards Jung Ji-heon, was wrecked by an obstruction that intervened just before impact.

Borrowing an old car and failing to check the airbags was the root cause, and Eun-yeop was also injured in the process.

The person he saw right before the accident was Kwon Bae-il. And in his fading consciousness, he heard Jung Ji-heon shout, ‘Soo-il!’

Jung Ji-heon and Kwon Bae-il had joined forces to drive him to the brink of death.

All his plans must have failed, Jung Ji-heon would be fine, and he didn’t know whether Kwon Bae-il was dead or alive.

Then, who was standing outside?

It must be the police.

Eun-yeop closed his eyes again, trying not to show that he was awake.

He needed to figure out what had happened in the meantime and what his fate would be once he left the hospital.

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

While Guk-soon and Ji-heon were preparing for the party, Jung-oh spent time with Ye-na. Ye-na stared intently at the ultrasound picture taken that day and asked Jung-oh.

‘Is this baby in Mommy’s tummy?’

‘Yes. Ye-na’s sibling is in Mommy’s tummy.’

‘How did it get in there? Did Mommy eat it?’

Jung-oh’s eyes wavered. She had to answer this well.

Clearing her throat, Jung-oh answered carefully.

‘Mommy and Daddy have baby seeds that can make babies, and Daddy gave Mommy a baby seed. So, it met Mommy’s baby seed and is growing the baby inside Mommy’s tummy.’

Even though she had memorized the perfect answer for today, she still felt a bit nervous.

‘Why does it grow in Mommy’s tummy? Daddy is stronger. Can’t it grow in Daddy’s tummy?’

The child’s questions continued. Jung-oh couldn’t help but laugh at Ye-na’s idea.

‘Ye-na, Mommy wishes she could do that too, but…

It doesn’t work that way. Only Mommy’s tummy has a warm and cozy baby house. This is the baby house.’

Jung-oh pointed back to the round baby house in the picture.

Ye-na looked at the picture again intently and asked.

‘Did Ye-na live here too?’

‘Of course. Isn’t it amazing?’

‘Is the baby a girl or a boy?’

‘We don’t know yet. We have to wait a little longer.’

‘I wish it would come out soon.’

‘Why do you want it to come out soon?’

‘So I can give it errands to run.’

Although the reason she wanted her sibling to be born soon was a bit concerning, Jung-oh breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.

Even though she was a mother of a 7-year-old, she was still a novice. She always faced new challenges and broke a sweat every time. She wondered if there was another adventure as difficult and exciting as this. Raising a child was always a nerve-wracking adventure.

While Ye-na was brushing her doll’s hair, Jung-oh got up and went to the kitchen. She wondered if there was anything she could help with, but there was no room for her to intervene between Ms. Lee Guk-soon and Jung Ji-heon’s assistant.

The two of them seemed to have developed a system. Guk-soon seemed proud to have a proper assistant after living with only her daughter, who couldn’t cook, for 30 years.

As Jung-oh sat at the counter and picked at the food, Guk-soon nagged.

‘Eat it later.’

‘It’s for me anyway, what’s wrong with eating it now?’

‘Guests are coming, can’t you wait a bit? You keep picking at it.’

‘What can I do? My stomach feels nauseous when I’m hungry.’

Jung-oh pouted and retorted. Her second pregnancy came with empty-stomach morning sickness. She felt very nauseous when her stomach was empty, and she felt a little better when she ate something. From Guk-soon’s perspective, it was a worrying thing, but in fact, it was a good excuse for Jung-oh.

Jung-oh rolled her eyes and saw the beautifully arranged zucchini pancakes in front of Ji-heon. With red peppers and garland chrysanthemum [a type of edible flower] placed on top of the zucchini, each pancake looked like it had a flower on it.

‘Did you make these, Oppa [term used by a female to address an older brother or male friend]?’

‘Yeah. Pretty, right?’

‘How can someone who makes pancakes so beautifully not be able to draw?’

She wasn’t trying to criticize him, she was just genuinely curious. Ji-heon glared at Jung-oh, and Guk-soon, who heard their conversation, chuckled and asked.

‘Our Jung Seo-bang [term for son-in-law] can’t draw either?’

‘No, Mother. I’m good at it. I guess Jung-oh is jealous because I’m good at everything.’

‘Why are you jealous? How childish.’

Guk-soon took Ji-heon’s side, and Ji-heon stuck out his tongue. Jung-oh snorted and raised her arm carelessly, accidentally hitting the ladle holder with her elbow.

‘Ouch.’

Ji-heon, who had been enjoying teasing Jung-oh until just now, changed his expression and quickly approached Jung-oh.

‘Are you okay?’

Guk-soon smiled slightly at Ji-heon’s suddenly serious gaze. They bickered like siblings, but the way he took care of her showed that they were a loving couple.

‘Just stay still.’

Ji-heon made Jung-oh sit still at the table and returned to the counter. Jung-oh was left unable to even approach the counter.

Soon after, Seung-gyu’s family arrived. Do-bin’s loud voice was the first to be heard.

‘Ye-naaaaa!’

‘Do-binaaaaa!’

Ye-na ran out at the sound of Do-bin calling her. As soon as Ye-na met Do-bin, she shared the good news of the day.

‘I’m getting a sibling! It’s going to be born next year.’

‘Really? My sibling is being born next year too!’

‘Isn’t it amazing?’

‘Yeah! It’s like the siblings made a promise!’

Through the children’s conversation, Jin-seo realized why they had been suddenly invited.

‘So that’s why you called us! Congratulations! Our third child has made a friend so quickly!’

Seung-gyu also congratulated them, echoing Jin-seo’s words.

‘If I had known, I would have bought a gift.’

‘It’s not too late now. Order it online.’

Ji-heon replied to Seung-gyu. Seung-gyu definitely felt that Ji-heon had changed a lot.

Time flies by quickly when you’re with good people.

After Seung-gyu’s family left, Guk-soon put Ye-na to bed and started cleaning up, speaking to Jung-oh as if savoring the afterglow of the evening.

‘I laughed a lot today, thanks to you.’

‘Yeah, Mom. It was fun, right?’

A family party to celebrate the pregnancy with close friends and family. This was also something new that Jung-oh had never experienced before.

After the happy sentiments, Guk-soon’s grumbling continued.

‘I need to say hello to your in-laws, too.’

Jung-oh’s hand, which was organizing the dishes, stopped. What Ji-heon had said during the day bothered her. He had called Jae-gwang, but received a reply that he would call back later.

After finishing the cleanup and saying goodbye to Guk-soon, Jung-oh entered the bedroom and asked Ji-heon.

‘Isn’t it a bit strange?’

‘What is?’

‘Your father, I mean.’

Ji-heon nodded at Jung-oh’s question. His father’s reaction was definitely strange.

Jung-oh cautiously suggested to Ji-heon.

‘Why don’t you ask Secretary Oh?’

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

The next morning, Ji-heon and Jung-oh went straight to the hospital.

They heard unexpected news from Secretary Oh, Jae-gwang’s personal secretary. Young-mi had collapsed and been hospitalized a few days ago. Because there were many incidents inside and outside the group, they couldn’t let anyone know.

Ji-heon showed no particular agitation upon hearing the news. However, Jung-oh, who knew that her husband was not someone who expressed his emotions outwardly, could feel that his breathing had deepened. Jung-oh persuaded Ji-heon to visit the hospital.

The bond of family, even when it is not strong, is too tenacious. The only scissors that can cut the bond are in the heart, and if you sharpen the blade in your heart, your own heart will also be hurt.

That’s why it’s hard to cut the bond.

Jae-gwang watched over Young-mi for a few days before going to work to handle the pending tasks, and a caregiver was by Young-mi’s side. While Ji-heon was talking to the caregiver outside the hospital room, Jung-oh entered the room first. She faced Young-mi alone.

It was fortunate that she had found out and visited her now. Ms. Jang Young-mi, whom she had faced after almost two months, had lost all her vitality. Her emaciated body, barely able to move a finger, was quietly breathing, which was pitiful.

How painful it is that the mind does not age for life, but the body dies. This sorrow cannot be known unless you watch it closely. In Young-mi’s mind now, the days she has lived will be flowing by.

‘Do you still resent me?’

Jung-oh sat on the chair next to Young-mi. Young-mi turned her head and looked at Jung-oh, moving her lips. Her dry lips seemed to be asking for water. Jung-oh raised the electric bed to lift Young-mi’s upper body and moistened her lips.

Young-mi painfully swallowed a sip of water. Jung-oh lowered the electric bed again to make Young-mi lie down comfortably.

The air quickly became dry, and Young-mi, who had been silent for a while, opened her mouth with a voice cracked like a desert.

‘Back then…’

‘……’

‘…I didn’t know you were pregnant.’

‘……’

‘I’m sorry. For making you suffer.’

Jung-oh’s eyes widened at the unexpected apology. She tried to maintain her composure, but her heart fluttered.

It was the words she had been waiting for so long, but her heart collapsed.

She clearly knew that it was a difficult and arduous voice.

But still, it was too much.

She didn’t want to receive an apology from a weakened person. Because the heart that looks at a weak person has no choice but to soften.

She wanted to receive an apology while standing face to face on equal terms. She wanted to receive a sincere apology with a healthy face.

However, she couldn’t help but think of her husband.

The biggest victim of all the incidents was Ji-heon. Even Chae Eun-yeop, Chae Eun-bi, and Ham Dae-geun did not properly apologize to Ji-heon. He received an apology from Kwon Bae-il, but another wound remained for Ji-heon.

Nevertheless, her husband did not show any signs of distress. Even while struggling in nightmares from time to time, he was walking steadfastly towards the future, saying that he just needed to do better in the future.

You have to give the person who apologizes a chance to apologize. Jung-oh had been taught such lessons from Guk-soon.

Even if my heart is not ready, I have to accept the apology for my husband. You never know when this person will be gone.

Jung-oh also opened her parched lips.

At that moment, the half-open door opened wider.

‘Mother.’

Ji-heon approached with a gait as calm as his voice.

Ji-heon soon matched his eye level with Young-mi and sat close to her, saying to Young-mi.

‘I know how difficult it is to apologize. It must be even more difficult for you now that it’s hard to move.’

He must have heard Young-mi’s voice from outside.

‘But I can’t accept such an apology.’

Jung-oh was startled by Ji-heon’s words.

Is this okay?

Hey, Jung Ji-heon, your mother is sick. Is this okay? Won’t you regret it?

Jung-oh looked back and forth between Ji-heon and Young-mi. She could see Young-mi’s eyes trembling. She had a look of being greatly hurt by Ji-heon’s cold refusal.

‘Are you going to liquidate the past with a few words and feel relieved?’

Jung-oh, who was next to him, was rather anxious at Ji-heon’s momentum.

‘Think carefully. Were Jung-oh and I the only ones who suffered because of you?’

Ji-heon’s voice was calm and cold, but there was a slight tremor.

In the meantime, as the quiet resentment continued, Jung-oh’s heart gradually warmed.

Somewhere that didn’t hurt was stinging.

‘Don’t try to feel relieved.’

It sounds like a resentful word, but.

Maybe Young-mi won’t be able to read it.

Clearly in Jung-oh’s eyes, Ji-heon’s sincerity was visible.

‘Overcome it. Get healthy and apologize again. I’ll keep waiting.’

It was also the son’s belief that his mother would not leave so easily.