A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 164

164. Another Go Tournament

After the prosecutor sat down, the judge spoke.

“The defense may present its closing argument.”

Eun-yeop’s fleeting expression vanished instantly. As the lawyer rose, Eun-yeop transformed his face again, now wearing an innocent, helpless look. Jeong-o felt another chill as all traces of his true self disappeared.

“The defendant has dedicated his life to upholding the laws of the Republic of Korea, growing up under the tutelage of a Supreme Court Justice father and a law professor mother, making him acutely aware of the law’s gravity. As a lawyer, he has served as a public defender multiple times, standing by the innocent and powerless, representing their interests. This human rights lawyer is now entangled in fabricated incidents, facing absurd accusations.”

Jeong-o turned to look at Eun-bi. Her eyes, hidden behind sunglasses, revealed no emotion.

“As we have repeatedly stated, the defendant has no connection to the Iron King Group, and we cannot understand why Kim Jin-gu’s phone was found in the defendant’s home. He merely met Kwon Bae-il by chance while in a state of emotional distress due to the loss of his father, and exchanged a few harsh words. However, the defendant acknowledges his mistake in uttering such words and will accept the consequences. As for the hit-and-run with Kwon Bae-il, it was simply an unfortunate accident. The defendant was unexpectedly attacked while visiting his friend Jeong Ji-heon. Regarding the intrusion into Jeong Ji-heon’s mother, Jang Young-mi’s, hospital room, we ask that you consider the defendant’s state of emotional instability.”

After the lawyer finished, Chae Eun-yeop stood up.

“There are many things I wish I could undo. Of course, I wish I could go back to when my father was still alive, but even if that’s not possible, I wish I could undo the pain, big or small, that I have caused to others. Since I cannot turn back time, all I can do now is offer my sincere apologies. It was never my intention, but I hope those who have been hurt by me will recover soon. I am truly sorry.”

Jeong-o’s fists clenched tightly, trembling at Eun-yeop’s hypocrisy. Ji-heon firmly grasped Jeong-o’s hand.

‘Ah, I must not get agitated, thinking of our Shim-kungie [term of endearment for their baby].’

Jeong-o calmed herself, thinking of the baby inside her.

With Eun-yeop’s closing argument, the trial concluded. As Jeong-o left the courthouse with Ji-heon, Eun-bi rushed over. Sensing she had something to say to Jeong-o, Ji-heon stepped aside.

Only another pregnant woman like Jeong-o might notice, but Eun-bi was so thin that others wouldn’t realize she was pregnant. Nevertheless, she protectively cradled her belly, as if out of habit.

“We are not helping Oppa [older brother] with his defense.”

Eun-bi, who had put her sunglasses back on after the trial, said to Jeong-o. She seemed worried that Jeong-o might see her as just as shameless as Chae Eun-yeop.

“Mom has decided to live for me now. Oppa is an obstacle in my life… I don’t need an Oppa who hasn’t realized his mistakes.”

Eun-bi’s calm voice suggested she didn’t expect any sympathy from Jeong-o.

“You wouldn’t understand how I feel. You have a good family.”

However, Jeong-o couldn’t help but feel sorry for Eun-bi, whose calm demeanor was tinged with melancholy, and remained silent.

“Anyway, Mom seems to think that Oppa just shouldn’t get the death penalty. I feel similarly.”

“…”

“I probably won’t be here to see Oppa’s sentencing; I’ll be leaving for America. The preparations are already complete. Mom wanted to see Oppa’s face one last time before leaving, so I came.”

“…”

“I’m sorry.”

After a stream of information that Jeong-o didn’t particularly care about, an apology suddenly followed. It was an apology hidden like a code within many words. The tone was flat, but one emotion was clearly visible.

Embarrassment.

“I’ll be going now.”

As if unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, Eun-bi turned away immediately after that dry apology.

After Eun-bi left, Ji-heon returned to Jeong-o’s side. It had all happened so quickly that Jeong-o only snapped out of her daze after taking a few more steps. Jeong-o, who had been staring blankly, slightly raised the corners of her lips.

“Oppa.”

“Yeah.”

“Hearing the words ‘I’m sorry’ is a hundred times better than not hearing them at all.”

“…”

“Somehow, without saying exactly what she was sorry for, just that one word ‘sorry’ makes me feel so relieved.”

Ji-heon sighed softly at Jeong-o’s reaction.

“So, are you satisfied?”

“Yeah. Very.”

Chae Eun-bi, our Jeong-o is such an easygoing person.

You give her such a half-hearted apology, and she accepts it so gracefully.

Ji-heon hoped that Chae Eun-bi would realize, even if it was much later, that she might not have luck with brothers, but she was certainly lucky in other ways.

* * * * * * *

On the same day, Young-mi sat in a café, waiting for Bae-il.

She had heard about Bae-il from Ji-heon. After learning about everything that had happened and how Bae-il was doing now, Young-mi said she would go to see him.

And this morning, she called the phone number Ji-heon had given her, and Bae-il answered. Young-mi told Bae-il that she would be waiting at a café near his house. She couldn’t force him to come, but she said she would wait until the café closed and then leave.

Bae-il arrived to meet Young-mi without being late.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you for the first time.”

Bae-il greeted her somewhat stiffly. It was the best he could do.

He had spent decades resenting someone he had never met. His resentment towards her had even made him hate Ji-heon, who had been his friend.

After his mother passed away, he had spent an unhappy childhood, unable to recall a single happy memory, and he had grown in hatred as he grew taller. He needed someone to hate, so he hated Jang Young-mi and Jeong Ji-heon with all his might.

The reason probably wasn’t just one thing; it was likely the result of many choices, but he blamed only Jeong Ji-heon and Jang Young-mi and hated them to his heart’s content.

He had lived a life like a beginner’s go board [a board game of strategic territory control].

When he was on the defensive, he gave up hope first. Every stone was placed by the will of the player holding the go stones. Every stone played its role and created cause and effect, but he only blamed the opponent who was pushing him.

Even the other stones that had been useful were turned into self-defeating moves, blunders. He didn’t try to revive the board, didn’t even think about looking back.

He realized that only now.

“I’m sorry for coming so late.”

Young-mi said politely.

She apologized sincerely from the bottom of her heart for hurting him, for making things difficult for him, for forgetting about him. Several times.

Bae-il couldn’t say anything. He also had many faults, so he felt awkward receiving the apology.

“Tell me anything you need help with. Whether it’s manpower or money.”

“It’s okay.”

That was all Bae-il said. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything warmer.

“Then, may I leave now?”

Bae-il stood up.

Turning around, he gave a faint smile.

Clearly, Ms. Jang Young-mi had come to apologize at her son’s request. He envied that heart, that love. It was a feeling he would never have. Because he didn’t have a mother like that.

So, Ji-heon, I’m going to be a little mean.

Forgiveness takes time. Anyway, he had received an apology, so now it was time for Bae-il to overcome it on his own.

I hope you understand this time too.

* * * * * * *

The season had come when the leaves that had colored the trees above were now piling up beneath one’s feet.

And it was Chae Eun-yeop’s sentencing date.

For Ji-heon’s family, something more important had come up. Ye-na was going to participate in another go tournament.

This time, both Jeong-o and Ji-heon had planned to go with Ye-na, but the day before the tournament, Jeong-o persuaded Ji-heon. In the end, Ji-heon would attend the sentencing hearing as the family representative.

“Ye-na, I’m sorry Dad can’t go. Right?”

On the way to the tournament venue, Jeong-o spoke as if Ji-heon had an unavoidable reason for not going, even though she had been the one to prevent him from going.

“Yeah.”

“Dad will go too.”

Slightly annoyed, Ji-heon stubbornly insisted, planning to watch the sentencing hearing quickly and then join them.

“Ye-na, tell Dad, ‘I’ll do well at the tournament!'”

“Dad, Ye-na will come in first place! Dad, go to work quickly!”

“I said I’m going too, didn’t I?”

Ji-heon felt a sense of jealousy, as if only Jeong-o and Ye-na were close. After dropping them off at the tournament venue and heading to the courthouse, Ji-heon became impatient even before the sentencing hearing began.

Chae Eun-yeop, that bastard, must have committed so many crimes.

It would be great if it ended in just five minutes, but the lawyers who knew the case all agreed that it would take the judge at least an hour just to read the verdict. If it weren’t for his wife’s orders to experience the scene firsthand and tell her about it, he wouldn’t have wanted to go.

“Ji-heon.”

But unexpectedly, he found a comrade on this lonely road. Bae-il had appeared.

“Bae-il.”

Bae-il, whom he hadn’t seen in a while, looked quite well. He seemed much more at ease, having put down the burden he had been carrying for years.

“Did you come alone?”

“Yeah. Jeong-o went to the go tournament with Ye-na.”

“Ah.”

“I want to see it quickly and go to my daughter too.”

“I’ll watch it for you. You go quickly.”

“No. I have to see the moment Chae Eun-yeop is sentenced with my own eyes.”

Bae-il chuckled at Ji-heon’s rather serious reply. And after hesitating, he revealed what had happened a few days ago.

“I met your mother a while ago.”

“Oh. Really?”

Ji-heon pretended not to have heard anything from Young-mi and replied nonchalantly. Bae-il smiled faintly but didn’t pry, asking if Ji-heon had asked his mother for a favor. Ji-heon was relieved.

Soon, Chae Eun-yeop and the judge entered the courtroom.

“We will now proceed with the sentencing hearing for the defendant, Chae Eun-yeop.”

The judge announced. Ji-heon checked the time.

A lenient punishment won’t do. He needs to receive a proper sentence. But hopefully, it won’t be an hour-long verdict. He hoped the judge would read the verdict quickly and it would be over soon.

* * * * * * *

Once again, the Olympic Handball Gymnasium.

Ye-na, arriving at the familiar place, shrank her shoulders. Since her memories here weren’t very good, Jeong-o hugged Ye-na tightly.

The woman who had lured Ye-na in front of the go academy a long time ago, Pyo Ji-ae, turned out to be an acquaintance of Bae-il.

The woman who had feelings for Bae-il had helped him. Thinking about what happened back then still made her shudder and feel resentful, but Jeong-o’s family had all decided to bury it.

‘I’ve become an icon of forgiveness somehow…’

Jeong-o chuckled to herself, reflecting on the past.

While she was lost in thought, Ye-na said,

“Mom, they’re telling Ye-na to come in now.”

“Okay. Go do well! Mom will be watching here.”

“Okay!”

The child waved her hand cheerfully and left.

The go prodigies of Korea gathered in one place.

This tournament was also a similar tournament format to the previous tournament, and it was conducted by dividing into lower grades and upper grades. Seven-year-old Ye-na was enrolled in the lower grades.

“Student Jeong Ye-na.”

“Yes.”

Ye-na answered the supervisor’s call. The supervisor checked the name on the name tag and Ye-na’s face.

Group B, Jeong Ye-na. Just a few months ago, the name that was so awkward at the go tournament was now a name that was familiar to her ears and eyes. As familiar as the name was, the seat was also comfortable. She jokingly told her dad, but she really thought she could come in first place.

Then someone spoke to her at the next table.

“Did you come to the tournament again?”

Ye-na turned her head at the voice she heard.

It was Hong Su-in’s older brother, Hong Jae-in. Jae-in looked Ye-na up and down and sneered as if she were pathetic.

“Did you come to be humiliated again?”