A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 58

58. Why did you do that?

“Hello!”

Yena greeted him cheerfully, then pointed to Jung-oh behind her and said,

“Mister, this is my mom. My mom is a copywriter.”

Jung-oh still couldn’t approach, frozen with a clear look of surprise.

Ji-heon could understand her reaction, as he had felt the same way.

Ji-heon confessed honestly to Yena.

“I know that too.”

“How do you know?”

“I work at that company too.”

“Oh? Mom! Does the mister work at your company too?”

Yena turned her head and asked Jung-oh.

“Uh…”

Jung-oh barely opened her unmoving lips to answer, finding it hard to say more; words failed her.

“Uncle, what about the presents?”

Soon, Dobin’s question followed, changing the subject.

Ji-heon opened the passenger seat door and took out two boxes, handing them to the children.

“Wow! A koala!”

One side of the box was open, making it easy to see the contents. Dobin, recognizing the koala doll, shouted excitedly.

Jung-oh also recognized the boxes the children were holding.

*Was it the day before yesterday at lunchtime? When there was a traffic accident in front of Flinders Street Station in Melbourne.*

After hearing about the situation from the police who arrived at the scene, Jung-oh, needing to wait for the road to be cleared, stopped by a nearby souvenir shop.

Fortunately, the shop had the kangaroo doll Yena had mentioned. Jung-oh happily picked up the kangaroo doll when Ji-heon walked into the shop.

Jumping to the conclusion that Ji-heon had followed her, Jung-oh quickly ran to the checkout, paid, and left the shop, using the opposite door from where Ji-heon had entered.

She had run away like that, but he had also been trying to buy a gift.

The koala doll next to the kangaroo doll… Recalling the memory, Jung-oh felt inexplicably awkward.

*Anyway, it was fortunate that she hadn’t run into him then. If she had advised him that kangaroos were better for the kids’ gifts, Yena would have received two kangaroo dolls.*

Yena’s mouth was wide open as she tore open the box on the spot and took out the doll, hugging it tightly. The baby koala clinging to its mother’s back looked just like Yena.

“Yena, you should say thank you.”

“Thank you, mister!”

“Thank you, uncle!”

Following Yena, Dobin also greeted loudly.

“Thank you for taking care of my daughter too. …It’s time for the kids to go to their academy now.”

Jung-oh also bowed and mentioned the next schedule, indicating that she was about to leave.

Her nose tingled, and her eyes felt hot, making it impossible to face him any longer. If tears fell, the wall of reason would collapse.

She needed to think, but her mind seemed temporarily paralyzed. In fact, she had achieved her first goal: showing Yena to him. He didn’t know yet that Yena was his daughter, so it was only half achieved.

The scene she had only imagined created a much larger emotional surge than she had expected. Rather than being happy, she felt overwhelmed, and at the same time, her heart ached and felt heavy.

Jung-oh had drawn a line, but Ji-heon’s heart was different from her will.

“Go and come back safely. Let’s talk.”

Jung-oh felt completely trapped, but she couldn’t show conflict in front of the children. Jung-oh didn’t answer Ji-heon and took Yena and Dobin’s hands.

“Let’s go into the academy. Say goodbye to the mister.”

“Goodbye, mister!”

“Goodbye, uncle!”

The children followed Jung-oh’s words, waving their hands as they said goodbye.

Jung-oh took the children and went up to the academy.

“Yena’s mother is here today!”

The head of the Go academy greeted her happily as she opened the door and entered. Jung-oh also greeted him.

“Yes, hello!”

“That’s great. If you have time, would you like to talk for a moment? There’s something I’d like to discuss.”

She had only intended to say hello and leave, but the head of the academy led Jung-oh inside.

*He’ll be waiting outside.*

She was briefly worried about Ji-heon, but her concern for Yena pushed it aside.

What was he going to talk about? Did Yena seem depressed? Did someone tease her for being from a single-parent family?

Jung-oh followed the head of the academy into the office with a nervous heart.

However, the story the head of the academy brought up was on a completely different topic than Jung-oh’s worries.

“Yena’s mother, you know Yena is smart, right?”

“Ah…”

“She’s very smart. She’s the smartest seven-year-old I’ve ever taught. Her ability to analyze numbers is genius-level.”

Jung-oh was very surprised by the head of the academy’s words.

It was amazing. She had never taught her Go [a strategic board game for two players].

Six months ago, she suddenly said she wanted to go to a Go academy, so she sent her. Although she was a very smart child, the rules of Go couldn’t be easy for a seven-year-old. She thought she would get tired of it after a month or two, but already six months had passed.

A little girl who couldn’t even open a water bottle on her own, but her eyes sparkled whenever she held Go stones in her hands.

“If it’s okay with Yena’s mother, I’d like to try teaching her well. There are many Go competitions for gifted children. Yena has a strong competitive spirit, so I think going to competitions would be very stimulating. What do you think, Yena’s mother?”

“Well, I think I should ask Yena first.”

“Actually, I subtly asked Yena about it. Her eyes sparkled when I mentioned the competition. I think Yena wants to meet someone her age to compete with.”

The child was growing up much faster than she thought.

It was amazing that she was making her own way alone.

*Jung Ji-heon, our daughter is gifted.*

Hearing about her daughter made her heart race and feel better than hearing praise for herself.

Jung-oh finished talking with the head of the academy and came outside. Ji-heon was standing right outside the door.

“I was wondering why you weren’t coming out.”

Ji-heon spoke first before she could ask why he was standing there. He seemed to think she was deliberately not coming out of the academy to avoid him.

Before Jung-oh could think of anything else, Ji-heon took her hand.

“Let’s go down.”

His grip was strong, as if he was worried she would pull her hand away. Only when Jung-oh stood next to him and matched his pace did the strength of his grip loosen.

The two sat facing each other on a bench in front of a convenience store. Ji-heon handed Jung-oh a cold drink. Jung-oh’s lips were parched, but she couldn’t bring herself to drink it.

“Aren’t you going to work?”

“I left early.”

“Ah.”

Ji-heon hid a smile at her blank reaction.

*This is a welcome connection for me, but it might be a burden for you.*

*You must have been very surprised. Maybe you even thought I was scary.*

*You’ve been obsessing over me so much, you might suspect that this coincidence is all my scheme.*

*Or maybe you feel pressured from all sides? I chased you at work, and now I’m doing this outside of work too?*

Of course, he wanted to hold her tight so she could never escape him.

He instinctively had that feeling, but he wanted to pressure her without actually doing so.

He only hoped that she wouldn’t run away again, though there was nowhere for her to run now.

Hiding his selfish heart, he made excuses.

“You might not believe me, but I really didn’t know. I only found out when I asked for her phone number to give Yena a gift.”

Not all of it was a lie. His plan definitely included giving Yena a gift.

Ji-heon, who had followed Jung-oh into the souvenir shop in Melbourne the day before yesterday, failed to catch her but ended up buying a gift. He bought the gift on the spur of the moment, but he definitely thought of Yena along with Dobin.

As he spoke, Jung-oh shook her head.

“No, it’s me who…”

“…”

“I didn’t know. Really.”

Jung-oh couldn’t doubt his words either.

If he had known before going on the overseas business trip, he would have brought it up first somehow. Knowing Ji-heon’s assertive nature well, Jung-oh could easily accept it.

If he wasn’t Yena’s biological father, if they had just met at work, it might have been a little scary.

The trembling about that connection remained as aftershocks, continuing to torment her heart, but Jung-oh tried hard to calm down and asked another question.

“Did you used to play Go?”

“I liked it when I was young.”

“I didn’t know that either.”

“You couldn’t have known since I never told you.”

“That’s right. Why didn’t you tell me? You should have.”

It meant she didn’t know even seven years ago. She was only finding out now that he knew how to play Go.

Not knowing her feelings, Ji-heon simply smiled at her grumbling, finding it cute. Behind the smile, a slightly heavy feeling came over him.

*Her world is much bigger than he thought.*

He would never be able to surpass Yena in his life. He had to admit that, but he was anxious about the child’s father.

Lee Jung-oh had said that about her ex-boyfriend: that he was probably doing very well.

Even though there was no contact now, if he had such a beautiful daughter, he felt like the guy could come looking for her at any time.

Then would Lee Jung-oh waver? Because he was the child’s father, after all.

That could never happen.

Could he beat the child’s father?

The desire to ask about the child’s father was stuck in his throat, tormenting him. He barely managed to part his lips when he heard a woman’s voice from the other side.

“Yena’s mom!”

Jung-oh, recognizing Jin-seo, jumped up from her seat. Ji-heon also stood up.

Today’s meeting was a collaboration between Jin-seo, Seung-gyu, and Ji-heon. Ji-heon had asked Seung-gyu to arrange for him to meet Yena and Jung-oh, and Jin-seo had come up with the idea.

Ji-heon’s expression hardened as he faced Jin-seo, worried that Jin-seo would tell her everything about today’s scheme.

But Jin-seo was a quick-witted and understanding woman.

Jin-seo’s stretched lips were meaningful, but she didn’t say anything else.

“I see you here, Ji-heon.”

“Yes, hello. Thanks to you, I delivered the gift well.”

As Ji-heon greeted her, Jin-seo turned to Jung-oh and said,

“Dobin’s dad, Ji-heon, and Jung-oh all work at the same company. The world is full of such connections.”

Jung-oh’s cheeks flushed for no reason at Jin-seo’s voice emphasizing ‘connection.’ Jung-oh conveyed the plan she had been thinking about since morning.

“You must have had a hard time, so if you have time today, would you like to come to my house? I’d like to invite Dobin too. I’m so sorry for all the favors I’ve asked of you so far.”

“Oh, don’t mention it. It’s nothing. It’s not hard at all to look after Yena. Don’t think of it as a favor.”

Jin-seo waved her hand.

“I’d like to go to Yena’s house, but my parents are coming from the countryside today.”

“Ah… you must be busy.”

“I’m not busy. I’m pregnant, so I feel like I want to eat something other than what I make. I’m going to pick up Dobin now; would you like to come with me?”

“Yes, yes. Let’s do that.”

Jung-oh followed Jin-seo.

Ji-heon was left alone again. Fortunately, this time the wait wasn’t long. Soon, Jung-oh and Yena, Jin-seo and Dobin appeared, holding hands.

Jin-seo looked at Ji-heon, who was waiting, and asked cautiously,

“I think I should go first today… Is Ji-heon giving you two a ride?”

“I should.”

Ji-heon’s answer was easy. Jin-seo stretched her lips long and smiled, just like before.

“Yes. Then we’ll go first. Yena’s mother, thank you for taking Dobin today.”

“No, it’s nothing. Be careful going home.”

After Jung-oh’s greeting, Dobin also waved cheerfully.

“Yena, goodbye! See you tomorrow! See you tomorrow again!”

“Yeah. Goodbye!”

On the road where Jin-seo and Dobin left, only Jung-oh, Ji-heon, and Yena remained.

Facing Ji-heon with Yena, Jung-oh became nervous again. The overwhelming emotions seemed to block the passage of thought. She hadn’t been this nervous even when giving a competitive PT [presentation] presentation.

“Director, we’ll just go. It’s within walking distance.”

“I’ll give you a ride. Let’s go together.”

Afraid that Jung-oh would refuse again, Ji-heon took Yena’s hand.

“Yena, let’s go.”

He thought it would be better to move the child. Yena took Ji-heon’s hand and looked up at him, asking,

“Are you the director, mister?”

“Yes.”

“Then are you the director who gave our mom that cookie?”

He had given Jung-oh a cookie once. Ji-heon turned to Jung-oh with a happy heart and spoke to her.

“Yena knows too.”

“Yes. She took a few home.”

But Yena’s business was something else. This time, Yena asked Jung-oh,

“Mom. Then is this the mister who made Mom work overtime?”

“Uh… That’s…”

“Then is this the mister who made Mom work overtime on Yena’s birthday?”

The child was frighteningly sharp.

“Mister, did you make our mom work overtime on May 27th? It was Yena’s birthday then.”

Yena stopped walking and questioned Ji-heon. The child’s bright smile could no longer be seen.

In that moment, Ji-heon’s heart sank.

He had made Jung-oh work overtime the next day, so was that May 28th?

At that time, Jung-oh had said such words.

“Even if you gave me everything you have, Director, I wouldn’t trade it for my everything.”

So that’s it.

Lee Yena. Lee Jung-oh’s everything.

Only then did Ji-heon realize why Jung-oh had said those words.

Yena, who had cleanly withdrawn her affection, raised her chin and asked firmly,

“Mister, why did you do that?”

Ji-heon couldn’t move at all. A chill ran down his spine.