A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 10

“…Amnesia?”

Miran nodded.

“Yeah. She said he lost his memory of that time, about three years? He had been in the military before that, but he doesn’t even remember that.”

“……”

“Wouldn’t that make his personality more sensitive?”

Jeong-oh first met Ji-heon seven years ago while she was in Australia on a working holiday. Ji-heon had just been discharged from the army, and his hair was sticking up like a chestnut burr [a prickly seed covering].

The chills that ran up her spine echoed in her brain. It felt like she had been hit hard on the head by something heavy.

“The cookie gift is the same. Even if it’s a gift from children, wouldn’t it be difficult to trust food made by someone you don’t know well? From a fearful perspective of what dangers might exist, wouldn’t it be possible to throw it away?”

“……”

“Of course, throwing away the card was too much, though.”

Miran carefully conveyed her opinion because Jeong-oh didn’t say anything.

Jeong-oh was in shock and couldn’t speak.

Her usually flexible brain seemed to have stopped momentarily.

Jeong-oh barely managed to open her mouth again.

“Team Leader, do you happen to know exactly when that was…?”

“Team Leader Seong! I’ve been looking for you. We have a meeting.”

Just as she was about to ask more about the hit-and-run accident, a team member from the next team came to find Miran.

“Oh, that’s right! I did.”

Miran gestured to Jeong-oh as she was pulled away by her team member.

The conversation was interrupted at a crucial moment. Jeong-oh put her hand on her chest and pressed down. Her heart was racing.

If this is true…

‘That person might not remember me?’

The hand that had been on her chest moved up to cover her mouth.

No way.

‘He forgot me? Really?’

Even though she trusted Miran, she couldn’t believe it.

She wanted to talk to Miran more and looked for an opportunity, but it didn’t come again.

Lunchtime ended just like that.

Jeong-oh also had to put aside her heavy thoughts and focus on her afternoon work. Patiently closing off her emotions was one of the things Jeong-oh did best.

The first project at the new company began. It was a planning meeting for a new product from an existing client.

She thought only Production Team 2 would attend the meeting, but when the members of Production Team 2 took their seats, the door opened again. People from Team 1 came into the conference room.

Of course, Chae Eun-bi was among them. Eun-bi, who met Jeong-oh’s eyes, greeted Miran, who was sitting next to Jeong-oh, warmly.

“Team Leader, you look so good in all black today. Chic and sexy.”

“Really? I dressed like this to go eat jajangmyeon [Korean-Chinese noodle dish in black bean sauce].”

“Ah, you went to Hyangmigak. Come to think of it, everyone in Team 2 is wearing black.”

Eun-bi said, scanning the members of Team 2.

*Does she not think I’m part of Team 2?* Jeong-oh grumbled inwardly.

Miran took care of Jeong-oh.

“Everyone knows the new face on our team, right? This is Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-oh, a copywriter.”

Miran introduced Jeong-oh once again to the Account Executive (AE) in charge and the members of Production Team 1, and Eun-bi smiled kindly. As if she was meeting her for the first time today.

“Nice to meet you. I’m a copywriter too.”

“Yes, nice to meet you.”

Jeong-oh played along, as if she didn’t want to reveal that they knew each other.

Soon, the planning team’s AE briefed them on the content received from the client.

“The target is 2030 office workers, and the concept is ‘beer to keep at home and drink alone after work.’ Since it’s an alcoholic beverage advertisement, TV commercials are only possible after 10 PM, and outdoor advertising is also not allowed, so there will be a lot of targeting in other directions. If the idea is good, we plan to actively use it in the product packaging as well. The client is picky and the scale is large, so Production Team 1 is also participating. The goal is to present the drafts by the last week of May.”

Jeong-oh was also satisfied with the appealing proposal. It was her first time doing an alcohol advertisement, so she felt excited.

“First, I would like us to brainstorm. Please feel free to give your opinions.”

Miran opened her mouth first at the AE’s suggestion.

“Since it’s alcohol to drink alone at home, how about a solo-targeted storytelling? Showing the daily life of a solo person looking at happy couples with blurred eyes.”

Jeong-oh, who nodded at Miran’s opinion, scribbled copy ideas in her notebook.

“Then Team 2 would be at an advantage. Since everyone is single.”

In the meantime, the team leader of Team 2 made a joke.

Gi-hoon replied nonchalantly.

“Don’t assume that I’m single.”

“Song Gi-hoon, you had a girlfriend?”

“Not yet, though.”

People burst into laughter. Jeong-oh, who had been a little nervous, was absorbed into the bright atmosphere and laughed along.

Amidst the friendly atmosphere, Gi-hoon turned his head and asked Jeong-oh.

“Deputy Manager, do you have a boyfriend?”

“No, I don’t.”

Was it just her imagination? It seemed like she heard a snicker from around Eun-bi’s seat at Jeong-oh’s answer.

“Oh, Deputy Manager Lee wrote something in her notebook. Can I read it?”

Gi-hoon quickly put his face to the notebook. The conference room became quiet, focusing on Jeong-oh.

“You should look at the snow on a snowy day, why look at him on a snowy day.”

The copy that she scribbled after hearing Miran’s opinion flowed out through Gi-hoon’s low voice.

Laughter and exclamations erupted from here and there.

“Wow. As expected of a copywriter.”

Reserved Deputy Manager Park Young-gwang admired and raised his thumb.

“It’s good as a solo monologue.”

The male team member from the next team clapped lightly.

Among those exclamations, Eun-bi smiled and said to Jeong-oh.

“It’s so heartfelt and realistic. You must have been single for a long time?”

Jeong-oh clenched and unclenched her fist under the table.

*Is she teasing me?*

It’s frustrating. It’s frustrating, but it’s true, so she can’t get angry.

“I guess so.”

Jeong-oh shrugged her shoulders.

“I might not be able to do well. It’s been so long since I was single, it’s such a distant feeling. Deputy Manager Lee, will you write the main copy?”

*I don’t really want to know about your personal affairs.*

Jeong-oh snorted inwardly at Eun-bi’s unnecessary comment. Of course, she showed off a smile for the sake of appearances on the outside.

The AE wrapped up the meeting.

“Let’s keep what you’ve told me now as one idea tip and develop it in various directions. Let’s schedule the next meeting for next Tuesday.”

“Yes. Thank you for your hard work.”

The meeting ended and people got up from their seats.

Eun-bi slowly tidied up her seat and greeted Jeong-oh.

“Deputy Manager Lee, please take care of me.”

“Yes, you too.”

Eun-bi moved her hands slowly as if she was doing it on purpose. A ring sparkled on the ring finger of her left hand.

Miran, who was looking at Eun-bi, smiled kindly and asked.

“When is Manager Chae getting married?”

As if she had been waiting for this question, Eun-bi’s expression brightened even more.

“My mother hopes it will be this year, but as you know, he’s very busy. I don’t know yet.”

Eun-bi said, tucking her hair behind her ear. The ring on her left hand boasted a fancy design.

Jeong-oh had no choice but to listen to the conversation. But she wasn’t very curious. What Jeong-oh was curious about was just Jung Ji-heon’s amnesia.

After the conference room was cleaned up, Miran, who confirmed that Jeong-oh was diligently following her with her eyes, asked.

“Deputy Manager Lee, why? Do you have something to say?”

Only the two of them were left in the conference room. It was a good time.

“About the accident you mentioned earlier, Director Jung.”

“Yeah. Why?”

Miran, rolling her eyes, picked up her cell phone.

“Just a moment.”

Miran accessed the portal site and searched for something for a long time, then showed the phone screen to Jeong-oh.

“This is Director Jung’s article.”

“……”

“His family blocked all the articles. This is the only one left.”

「On November 3rd, around 1 PM, an incident occurred in the parking lot of an officetel [a building with both office and residential units] in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where a man in his 20s living in the officetel was hit by a hit-and-run vehicle. The suspect who caused the accident and fled was caught by the police around 7 PM, and the victim was confirmed to be in critical condition.」

Her hands trembled.

November 3rd, seven years ago.

She remembers that day.

The day she was supposed to meet Jung Ji-heon.

The day he promised to pick her up at three o’clock and never showed up.

The day she tried to call him dozens of times but eventually received a message that his phone was turned off.

“Deputy Manager Lee, what’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“…Yes. I’m okay. …Thank you for letting me know.”

Jeong-oh gave her greetings with difficulty and returned the phone to Miran.

The path to her seat was dizzy, staggering. It was as if the floor and ceiling had been reversed.

In the midst of the chaos, what Deputy Manager Park Seung-gyu had said a few hours ago suddenly came to mind.

“Actually, Director Jung Ji-heon and I have been friends for 16 years. Our wonderful director doesn’t even remember properly, though.”

Clearly, he said that he doesn’t even remember properly.

Was that about amnesia?

She couldn’t stay still. She had to check it herself.

Jeong-oh turned her direction and strode towards Ji-heon’s office. Her steps became faster as if she had gained momentum, and when she reached the front of the office, she was almost running.

“What’s going on?”

When Jeong-oh reached out to the office door, the secretary who was guarding it asked.

“Is the director in his seat?”

“He’s probably in the lounge.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Jeong-oh turned her steps again and ran towards the lounge.

The lounge on the 9th floor is quite spacious. It was a space equipped with tables and chairs that could be used for various purposes, as well as many books, massage chairs, entertainment facilities, and simple refreshments.

Ji-heon, who had just parted ways with a client who had visited the company, turned around at the sound of footsteps that felt somehow irritating.

He swallowed inwardly as he identified the woman who had entered the lounge.

His body became tense.

*It’s Lee Jeong-oh again…*

Ji-heon tried not to show his discomfort and stared blankly.

She was also standing still a few steps away from Ji-heon.

Her chest was prominent, even though her mouth was tightly closed. Her small shoulders heaved each time she inhaled and exhaled.

Ji-heon turned his head back, seeing her looking like someone who had lost something precious. He didn’t even consider that he was the target. He thought she was looking at someone else over his shoulder.

But there was no one behind Ji-heon. No, there was no one in the lounge.

Only himself and Lee Jeong-oh.

Jeong-oh bit her lip, as if tears would burst out before words.

What should she say first?

Even though she had run around looking for him so much, her mind felt hazy when she stood in front of him.

‘You really don’t remember? Really? Nothing?’

Did you really forget me?

Not pretending to forget, but really forgot?

‘Then, you don’t even know that we have a child?’

You don’t even know that you became a father?

Her heart was beating so fast that it ached.

Pressing down on her emotions, she opened her mouth with difficulty.

“…Do you know who I am?”

“I know.”

Ji-heon answered easily.

“Copywriter Lee Jeong-oh, Deputy Manager.”

It was a heavy voice, but a terribly insincere answer.

That coldness shattered her heart, which had been in ruins for a long time.

“…Besides that?”

“Is there anything else I need to know?”

Nothing remained for him.

“Rather than that, I want to talk about what happened this morning.”

For him, the conflict from a few hours ago was more important than the past from a few years ago.

She reached the miserable reality.

*How? How could you forget me?*

Jeong-oh had to cover her chest with her hands again because it felt like her heart was about to burst.

*How could you forget me!*

What kind of person were you to me?

What kind of person was I to you, how could you forget. How!

The man in front of her showed no reaction even after seeing her distorted face.

She wanted to grab him by the collar and question him, and she wanted to punch him in the chest.

However, a man who was endlessly, hopelessly pitiful.

‘…How much did it hurt? How badly were you hurt to lose your memory…’

She wanted to hug the cold man who was looking at her like a stranger, like a foreign substance on the back of his hand, and wail.

How have you been? Huh?

How have you been, having completely forgotten me? You?

I was scared.

It was just you disappearing from my life, but the whole world was dark to me.

It was as if my eyes had been gouged out, and I couldn’t see anything.

I wandered through that darkness and gave birth to a child.

‘Your child was born. Your child that you don’t know…’

That child is now seven years old.

Very pretty, very smart, and mature like you.

The time you missed is still growing.

Our child is growing. So beautifully that it breaks my heart…

Tens of thousands of languages trapped in her heart were about to pour out at once. So Jeong-oh couldn’t say anything and just opened and closed her mouth.

Finally, tears faster than words fell to the floor in a straight line.

Ji-heon’s eyes, which had been maintaining a deadly coldness, wavered.

At that moment.

“Oppa [term for older brother or boyfriend]. You were here?”

A woman’s voice was heard.

It was a voice that Jeong-oh also knew.

“You said you went to see Father and Mother in the morning. They told me to come with you next time.”

It was Chae Eun-bi.

Eun-bi continued to speak as she walked from afar, without even checking if Ji-heon was alone.

It was a lounge, but she didn’t care who else was there besides Ji-heon.

“Even though we’re in the same company, it’s so hard to see your face.”

That affectionate voice felt like it was piercing Jeong-oh’s heart with an awl.

Jeong-oh quickly wiped away her tears.

“…Oppa?”

Eun-bi tilted her head as she approached. Only then did she realize that Ji-heon was not alone and frowned for a moment.

However, she soon straightened her expression and stood side by side with him, putting her hand on Ji-heon’s arm.

“Oppa. Did I not tell you?”

It was as if she was introducing Jeong-oh to Ji-heon, but Jeong-oh knew.

That she was trying to show off Ji-heon to her.

“Deputy Manager Lee Jeong-oh, she’s my friend. A high school classmate.”

After finishing the kind introduction, Eun-bi asked Jeong-oh.

“Jeong-oh, what’s wrong?”

*What’s wrong with my man?*

Eun-bi’s question meant that.

The ring sparkled painfully in the hand holding Ji-heon’s arm tightly.

…My child’s father had a fiancée.