A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 159

159. Happy Birthday!

Youngmi’s jaw dropped. A hoarse sound escaped her slightly open mouth.

“…How…”

She had never even considered it. Of course, she hadn’t wished for it either.

Youngmi’s face turned red, the flush creeping up her neck, and she gasped for breath.

“…How could such a thing…”

Youngmi knew very well how much a hematopoietic stem cell [blood stem cell] donor suffered. That’s why Youngmi felt endless gratitude and apology to someone she didn’t even know. Even if her son had donated, the apology and gratitude would not have disappeared.

But it wasn’t her son; it was her granddaughter. The person who saved her.

“Why… why did you do it?”

Why did she allow it?

Her heart felt constricted, as if the pain had started again. She resented her illness.

There was no way a seven-year-old child could have easily gone through all the procedures. She would have suffered incomparably more than adults throughout the tests, injections, and blood draws.

“Yena. What is she doing now?”

Youngmi asked, clutching her chest.

Why. Why on earth did she do that? Why didn’t anyone stop her?

“Yena didn’t suffer.”

Jaekwang replied with a relaxed expression, as if to reassure her.

“What do you mean? She didn’t suffer?”

“Your daughter-in-law foresaw the future. She applied for cord blood storage when Yena was born. You received that cord blood donation.”

Youngmi’s mouth remained open throughout Jaekwang’s explanation.

“We have to thank not only Yena but also our daughter-in-law who gave birth to Yena, and your daughter-in-law’s parents who stored Yena’s cord blood.”

Heavy tears of guilt welled up in Youngmi’s constantly wavering eyes.

She had done terrible things to her daughter-in-law. And to her son as well.

It must have been a great wound to her only granddaughter and her mother-in-law.

She only felt sorry for them. She wouldn’t be able to make amends.

A caregiver, who didn’t know the family’s circumstances, praised Youngmi, saying that she had saved her granddaughter even in the midst of her illness, and that her granddaughter would be grateful.

But Youngmi knew that wasn’t the case. If it hadn’t been for her long-standing faults, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. Chae Eun-yeop would not have attacked the hospital room.

From the beginning, it was all caused by her own mistakes. It wasn’t something her granddaughter should be grateful for, but something she should be sorry for.

Should I, who even denied the existence of my granddaughter just a few months ago, receive such a precious gift?

“Actually, Yena might have directly donated if it hadn’t been for the cord blood. Even though everyone was worried, that little girl insisted on donating to you.”

Tears finally streamed down at Jaekwang’s continued words.

Sob. Sob.

It was hard to breathe, as if tears were blocking her breath. Jaekwang stroked Youngmi’s back, as if guessing her feelings, and continued to speak gently.

“Get well soon. You have to get well soon and show them. Your precious granddaughter gave you that precious gift, so you must get healthy.”

Hic.

“You have to say thank you and sorry in person.”

Hic.

“You have to repay them by living a long and healthy life. Right?”

Youngmi couldn’t say a word while Jaekwang was gently comforting her.

She was ashamed of her past, when she didn’t know how to repent even after making mistakes. She was ashamed of her high pride.

Even though she was almost sixty, she didn’t have as much virtue as a child who had just turned six years old.

She was ashamed of her past life.

She was so sorry.

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

At the same time. Two cars departed for a seaside village.

Somewhat interestingly, Dobin left his own family’s car and joined Jihun’s family.

Jihun asked Dobin, who had naturally taken the seat next to Yena, as if it were obvious.

“Dobin, why did you leave your family’s car and come with us?”

“To play with Yena!”

“Not because you wanted to play?”

“That works out too!”

Dobin replied with good humor.

Jihun and Jeongo burst into laughter at Dobin’s cuteness, using the words he had just learned so usefully in the right place.

Jeongo recalled a snippet of a conversation she had with Yena just a few months ago.

“Mom, Dobin is going camping with his mom, dad, and Doyun.”

“Does our Yena want to go camping too?”

“No. I was just saying. Mom is busy.”

“We can go even if I’m busy. Summer is too hot, so let’s go in the fall.”

Yena, who had hidden her true feelings by saying she was just talking, was overjoyed at Jeongo’s positive answer and boasted to Dobin. Looking at her daughter, the memory of her heart aching in one corner had now become the past.

As if letting go of the past, the car drove away from the gray city center towards the gradually enriching colors. Each year’s season felt new. Jeongo smiled softly at the scenery she couldn’t have imagined last fall.

The children’s chatter continued incessantly in the back seat. If Yena had been alone, she would have complained of boredom and fallen asleep as soon as she got in the car, but with the two children together, the chatter continued without a break.

Occasionally, the children raised their voices, which was distracting, but thanks to that, it was a drive without boredom.

The car, which had been running for about three hours, reached a quiet seaside village. Jinseo’s parents were waiting in front of the door to greet them.

“Grandma! Grandpa!”

Dobin got out of the car and ran.

“Oh my! Our prince has arrived!”

The troublemaker of Seoul, the mischievous child, becomes a welcomed prince when he comes here. Dobin hugged his grandfather and laughed.

Seunggyu also got out his luggage and greeted them.

“Mother, Father. How have you been?”

“Yes, yes. It must have been hard coming here?”

Next to him, Jihun also greeted politely.

“Hello. My name is Jeong Jihun.”

“Yes, welcome. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Thank you for inviting me.”

“We’re grateful that you came.”

Jinseo’s mother, who smiled happily at Jihun’s greeting, moved her steps to the side. She saw a familiar face.

The lady who ran a restaurant in the same market when she was running a flower shop in Seoul six years ago. She was the owner of a *Baekban* [Korean set meal] restaurant who quickly became known in the neighborhood for her good cooking skills and virtue.

Jinseo’s mother approached Guksuk and greeted her warmly, holding her hand.

“Madam! It’s so nice to see you like this!”

“I know. Our relationship has reached this point.”

“I was so surprised to hear from our Jinseo. Oh my goodness. We’ve become in-laws like this!”

“Not yet.”

Suddenly, Jihun intervened in the welcome greeting.

Everyone stared at Jihun with wide eyes at the meddling that was like pouring cold water.

Jinseo’s mother was just giving a Korean-style greeting about the relationship.

Just as they call the restaurant lady “Auntie,” and call a friend’s father “Father,” Jinseo’s mother was joking that since Jihun and Jeongo were together, our family, who is Seunggyu’s family, is also related to Jeongo.

Jihun misunderstood and became serious. He misunderstood that they were already trying to match Yena and Dobin.

Everyone blinked at Jihun. A red glow slowly spread across Jihun’s face as he belatedly realized his mistake.

Oh, what should I do?

Sweat formed on Jeongo’s forehead, who was the quickest to notice Jihun’s intention. She wanted to make a rat hole and put Jihun in it. Jeongo quickly took a step forward.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Lee Jeongo. Yena, you have to say hello too.”

“Hello.”

“You’re Yena! Oh my! You’re a princess! Thank you for being friends with our Dobin.”

When she called Yena and made her greet them, people’s attention quickly shifted to Yena. Jeongo secretly sighed in relief. She saw Jihun, whose ears were red, subtly stepping back.

‘Jeong Jihun. You’re going to kick the blanket tonight [Korean expression for regretting something].’

Jeongo found Jihun funny.

Jihun’s family received a warm welcome. After a filling lunch, Jihun and Seunggyu set up camp in the yard. Jihun, who was new to everything, followed Seunggyu’s advice well.

Thanks to that, he was able to set up the tent without much trouble. As soon as the large tent was completed, the children rolled around inside, saying it was good.

Jihun also set up a chair for Jeongo to sit comfortably. Jeongo sat in the chair prepared by Jihun and ate yogurt. Jeongo, who was in her third month of pregnancy, was still slim.

You could only tell that her stomach was a little bulging when she wore tight-fitting clothes. But Jeongo instinctively became careful. She was afraid that if she just ate because of morning sickness on an empty stomach, her weight would increase rapidly, so she ate small amounts often.

Jihun sat next to her and gazed at Jeongo intently. For Jeongo, eating was a time of healing, and for Jihun, watching Jeongo was a time of healing.

A spoonful of yogurt that should have gone into Jeongo’s mouth fell down. Coincidentally, onto Jeongo’s bulging stomach. Watching Jeongo stick out her stomach a little more and wipe the yogurt stain with her fingertips, Jihun burst out laughing without realizing it.

Jeongo’s eyes narrowed at Jihun’s reaction.

“Did you just laugh?”

“No. Because you’re pretty.”

“It looked like you were laughing because it was funny?”

“No, I laughed because you were cute.”

“Anyway, you laughed.”

Jihun’s laughter disappeared at Jeongo’s sharp retort.

“Do you know how sad it is to have a growing belly? If my belly gets any bigger, I won’t be able to cut my toenails the way I want. Will you laugh then too?”

“I can cut your toenails for you.”

“It’s sad that I have to entrust that important thing to you!”

Jinseo was sitting far away, watching Jeongo nagging Jihun, and found it interesting. Seunggyu approached Jinseo’s side.

“Why? What’s wrong?”

“Jihun laughed after seeing yogurt fall on Jeongo’s stomach.”

“Oh my goodness. How could he do that.”

Seunggyu looked at Jihun as if he were a heinous criminal. Jihun felt wronged. He just laughed because his wife was lovely.

This time, Seunggyu urged Jihun.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to apologize?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Jihun had no choice but to apologize to Jeongo.

“Okay. I’ll forgive you just this once.”

Jeongo lowered her eyelids haughtily and replied.

A sigh of relief escaped from Jihun’s lips.

Seunggyu secretly laughed.

Even the great Jeong Jihun can’t do anything to his wife.

This is the first time I’ve seen this side of my friend.

Seunggyu found it so funny and satisfying.

In the afternoon, they took the children to the beach and dug for clams in the mudflat. Dobin, who had experienced mudflat activities several times before, taught Yena how to dig for clams.

“Yena, look at this. There’s a hole in the bottom here. That’s where the clams breathe. Then, if you dig it out with this hoe, a clam will come out.”

“Wow! That’s amazing!”

Dobin was proud that he could show something he was good at. Dobin dug for clams more diligently than ever.

“Oh my! The little boy is digging for clams like a worker!”

An adult who passed by was impressed to see Dobin’s bucket filled with clams. Dobin dug up far more clams than Jihun. Yena is number one in the Baduk [Go] academy, but Dobin is number one in the mudflat.

Those who dug for clams in the mudflat and returned lit a fire in the yard and grilled meat. On the other side, the clams they had caught were cooking. The children opened their mouths the same way as they watched the clams’ mouths open.

The children, who had eaten their fill, stared blankly at the fire crackling and gradually reduced their words. Dobin, who had burned his passion in the mudflat today, fell asleep first. Yena also couldn’t beat her eyelids and fell asleep in Jihun’s arms.

“Now take her inside and lay her down.”

Jeongo said, feeling sorry for Jihun who kept holding the child.

“Okay. I understand.”

Even after saying okay, Jihun didn’t move for a long time. Jihun’s eyes, looking at the sleeping child, were clearly wet.

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

“Dad! Dadddddd!”

Jihun woke up to Yena’s screaming in his ear. But he was still in a daze. Jihun barely opened his eyes and checked the time on his cell phone.

6 a.m. Too early in the morning. No, it was still dawn.

It’s Sunday. Dad is still tired, Yena.

But Yena, not knowing Jihun’s feelings, sat on Jihun’s waist.

Is this the destiny of a father?

Jihun, who had become Yena’s toy, was shaken here and there like a weak branch at Yena’s urging. Still, he couldn’t wake up at once. Yena finally pried open her father’s closed eyes with her pincer hands.

“Haaaaa. Yena…”

“Happy birthday, Dad!”

But he couldn’t complain. The child’s bright voice awakened today.

The feeling of a dewdrop that had grown in volume on a leaf, absorbing the morning sunlight and bursting.

“Yena is the happiest because it’s Dad’s birthday today!”