A Child Who Resembles Me [EN]: Chapter 8

8. Turns Out My Child’s Father Is…

For Lee Jung-oh, Chae Eun-bi is an unforgettable memory.

Jung-oh and Eun-bi were in the same class in their first year of high school.

In the first semester, Jung-oh was an ordinary student who got along well with everyone.

Eun-bi was quite popular. She was always surrounded by friends, and laughter never ceased around her.

Everything about Eun-bi was a topic of conversation. The clothes she wore, her bag, shoes, the cosmetics she carried, even her stationery—everything was a luxury brand, and she would occasionally give them as gifts to friends who showed interest.

The friends around Eun-bi each had something that Eun-bi had used.

People often mentioned that Eun-bi’s family was in the legal profession. Moreover, Eun-bi’s mother was the president of the parents’ association, so teachers often asked Eun-bi about her parents’ well-being.

She was a friend who seemed to shine in many ways. However, it wasn’t that Jung-oh envied Eun-bi. Jung-oh was a student who knew how to be grateful for what she had.

In any case, the two got along well. There were no problems during the first semester. Or, perhaps there might have been something Jung-oh didn’t remember. But that problem didn’t threaten her school life.

Around the time the midterms for the second semester had just ended, Eun-bi spoke to Jung-oh in a friendly manner.

“Jung-oh, do you want this? I’ve never used it.”

What Eun-bi held out was lip gloss. The brand logo, shaped like two overlapping brackets, hinted at the high price of the lip gloss. It would have been more expensive than Jung-oh’s shoes and bag combined.

Jung-oh hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should even touch it, but she immediately shook her head.

“No. It’s okay.”

“It would be nice to have one.”

“No. I don’t wear makeup. It’s really okay.”

Jung-oh had no idea why Eun-bi was offering such a gift. It felt even more burdensome because it was a gift without a reason.

Jung-oh repeatedly refused, but Eun-bi offered it once more.

“You’re pretty already, so you’d be even prettier if you wore makeup. And this is a luxury brand.”

“I really don’t need it, Eun-bi.”

A classroom with no one else. Fearing that her quiet voice, filling the silence, might seem like she was putting on airs, Jung-oh carefully conveyed her gratitude.

“Thank you for thinking of me. I’m sorry.”

Did that polite refusal offend Eun-bi? Eun-bi’s lips seemed to twist slightly.

After that conversation, Eun-bi never spoke to Jung-oh again.

Afterward, Jung-oh noticed that her classmates’ gazes were different from before.

Was it subtle bullying? Friends who used to greet her brightly when they met no longer smiled at her, and it became frequent for them to stop talking when Jung-oh passed by. Friends close to Eun-bi openly ignored Jung-oh.

Jung-oh was alone even when going to get lunch. It wasn’t particularly upsetting to be alone.

Lunch and dinner were Jung-oh’s favorite times. In addition to the delicious food, the person Jung-oh loved most in the world was waiting for her in the cafeteria.

Jung-oh’s mother, Ms. Lee Guk-soon.

Guk-soon began working at Jung-oh’s school that summer. The company Guk-soon worked for had taken over the school’s cafeteria.

Lunch and dinner must have been the most rewarding times of the day for Guk-soon as well.

Jung-oh was a lovely daughter who was proud of her mother working in the cafeteria. Guk-soon tried to pretend she didn’t know her daughter, fearing it would cause her harm, but Jung-oh didn’t bother to hide the fact.

“I will enjoy the meal.”

Mom.

Guk-soon’s lips curved upward at the word “Mom” she uttered softly after saying she would enjoy the meal. The two were affectionate toward each other. So, they couldn’t easily become unhappy.

Then one day, an incident suddenly broke out.

Lunchtime. Just as Jung-oh arrived at the cafeteria, someone’s shout echoed.

Jung-oh turned her head toward the noisy area.

The source of the shout was none other than Chae Eun-bi. And the person standing opposite her was Jung-oh’s mother, Guk-soon.

“Auntie, how can you put your hand in the soup bowl? It’s unsanitary.”

It seemed Guk-soon had made a mistake while scooping and handing Eun-bi her soup. Guk-soon was flustered and tried to take Eun-bi’s soup bowl back.

“I’m sorry, student. I didn’t do it on purpose…”

“Ahhh!”

At that moment, Eun-bi threw her tray down dramatically and fell to the side.

Clang.

Crash.

Eun-bi’s uniform, as well as the food, splattered everywhere, making a mess of the serving area.

“What’s going on!”

The nutritionist ran over.

Eun-bi’s friend picked her up and shouted fiercely.

“This auntie put her finger in Eun-bi’s soup bowl, and when she complained, she pushed her.”

“No, student, that’s a misunderstanding.”

“Apologize.”

Guk-soon, feeling wronged, tried to argue, but Eun-bi cut her off.

The cafeteria became silent.

“You shouldn’t do that as an adult. If you’re an adult, apologize like one.”

At Eun-bi’s polite and firm demand, Jung-oh clenched her fists tightly and rushed forward.

Guk-soon, recognizing her, immediately lowered her head.

“I’m sorry.”

And she waved her hand so that no one would see.

*Don’t come this way.*

It was a signal to Jung-oh.

Jung-oh couldn’t get any closer to Guk-soon and could only stand there, staring at her mother.

The hand she lowered trembled.

Eun-bi was also shaking her hands.

“If you apologized, take responsibility.”

With that appearance, the firm words she uttered with a wounded expression sent a chill through the cafeteria once again.

“How are you going to take responsibility?”

At Eun-bi’s questioning, Guk-soon couldn’t do anything and hung her head.

Jung-oh wanted to grab her mother’s hand and leave the cafeteria immediately, but she couldn’t do anything either.

The knuckles of her clenched fist turned white.

Because of that incident, Guk-soon was subjected to all sorts of accusations. In addition to the incident with Eun-bi, she was falsely accused of not washing her hands before work, managing the dishes and cooking utensils unsanitarily, and other accusations of negligence, forcing Guk-soon to quit her job.

It was the best choice to prevent the arrows from turning to her daughter.

However, even after Guk-soon quit her job, Jung-oh had to fight against various rumors about her mother.

“I heard her mom used to work at our school’s cafeteria? She deliberately made the side dishes taste bad so the kids would leave a lot, and then she’d pack it all up and take it home. To feed her.”

“What? Is she a cafeteria beggar?”

It wasn’t true. After Guk-soon told the nutritionist the secrets to her best dishes, she brought home the leftover food. That was all.

The only person who knew all the circumstances was Chae Eun-bi.

Unable to bear it any longer, Jung-oh asked Eun-bi.

“Eun-bi, are you perhaps spreading strange rumors about me?”

“What are you talking about? Strange rumors?”

“When the company did an audit at Mom’s workplace, you heard everything the auditors said to Mom.”

“W-What did I hear? Why are you blaming an innocent person?”

Eun-bi raised her voice, and the children came running.

“Eun-bi, what’s wrong? What’s going on?”

Eun-bi leaned weakly on the shoulder of a friend who had rushed over as if she was about to collapse.

The friend held Eun-bi and glared at Jung-oh.

Eun-bi said to Jung-oh in a trembling voice.

“You might want to make it my fault that your mother quit her job, but you shouldn’t.”

“Lee Jung-oh. How can the perpetrator do that to the victim?”

The friend who embraced Eun-bi shouted.

Jung-oh couldn’t say anything more. It was obvious that adding words would only make things worse.

She closed her eyes tightly and turned away.

She just had to grit her teeth and endure. Because if she collapsed, her mother’s heart would be pierced with an even bigger nail.

That’s how a label was attached to Jung-oh’s high school life. Despite Jung-oh’s best efforts, that label followed her for a long time.

* * * * * * *

“One year of experience? What were you doing all that time?”

“…….”

“I’m a section chief.”

*How should I answer this question?*

*I took a leave of absence from university and had a child. It took a long time to return to school. By the time my classmates had all gotten jobs and been promoted, I was starting my company life as a new employee.*

I had my own reasons, but I didn’t want to tell Eun-bi about them.

“Ah. You’re a section chief.”

Jung-oh nodded, and Eun-bi’s brow furrowed slightly as if she was displeased.

“Yes. So, please use polite language at work. You know that much, right?”

Jung-oh swallowed a bitter sigh.

“Then, see you later. We’ll be seeing each other often.”

Eun-bi didn’t bother to wait for Jung-oh’s answer and turned around. Eun-bi’s steps leaving the pantry seemed lighter than when she came in.

Jung-oh lamented her fate.

*First Jung Ji-heon, and now Chae Eun-bi.*

She met two people from her past in the same company. And they were in a position where they would run into each other often.

Ji-heon was the head of the same division, and Eun-bi was in the team right next door.

It was a dilemma because even if she ran away from one, there was another.

*Is this what they call hell by the name of company?*

*I need to quit this company quickly. I need to change jobs.*

With a face full of worries, she took her car and returned to her seat when her cell phone vibrated. It was a text message from the HR team.

– Ms. Lee Jung-oh, please come to the HR team to sign your salary contract.

*Even if I quit the company, I need to check my salary. I’m curious.*

Salary information was included in the job change conditions, so I was expecting it, but I was curious if there would be any changes to the contract terms since the company was different.

Jung-oh went down to the HR team right away.

A male employee greeted Jung-oh in front of the HR team’s door. He had a kind impression.

“Hello. Ms. Lee Jung-oh. My name is Park Seung-gyu from the HR team.”

“Yes. Hello.”

“You may have heard, but your salary has changed slightly.”

“Changed?”

Jung-oh raised the corners of her eyes and asked fiercely. She was already upset that the company she was transferring to had changed, but if her salary was cut as well, she couldn’t stay at the company any longer. She couldn’t concede even 100,000 won [approximately $75 USD] from the existing negotiated amount.

“It’s been adjusted upward. This year’s salary increase has been reflected in the existing contract terms.”

“Ah.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes. More than okay. Can I sign here?”

Jung-oh checked her salary and cheered inwardly. It had been adjusted upward by 3 million won [approximately $2,250 USD] from the existing negotiated amount.

When your pockets are full, your heart also becomes generous.

*This company, it might be worth working at? The location is also good.*

Jung-oh’s heart softened at 3 million won.

“And please fill out your personal information as well.”

After Jung-oh signed, Seung-gyu handed her another document. It was a personal information document managed by the HR team. The personal information included home address, contact information, school, marital status, etc.

There was no separate section for family relations. It was unexpected.

“But, here…….”

“Yes. Is there any problem?”

“Ah, no.”

Jung-oh hesitated to ask about the missing information and closed her mouth.

She didn’t want to reveal her family relations.

If Jung Ji-heon didn’t know about Yena yet, she wanted to leave it as it was.

Perhaps he knew but was pretending not to know. She thought that the words he was going to say when he called her to his office yesterday might have been such a request. A request not to cause a commotion and stay still.

To have a smooth work life, it would be best to stay quiet. Jung-oh filled out the documents without hesitation.

She checked ‘single’ for marital status. She had never been married, so she wasn’t hiding anything.

* * * * * * *

The morning passed quickly as she greeted people here and there. Around lunchtime, Mi-ran urgently called Jung-oh.

“Ms. Lee Jung-oh.”

“Yes.”

“Just a moment.”

Mi-ran, who had called Jung-oh in a low voice, got up from her seat. Then, she put her arm around Jung-oh’s shoulder and took her to a more secluded place.

*What is she trying to talk about? Did Jung Ji-heon tell her about my past? Or did she find out that I’m a single mother? Or did Chae Eun-bi say something strange about me?*

Jung-oh had many things to think about and couldn’t say anything, only swallowing hard. But.

“Do you perhaps like jajangmyeon [black bean noodles]?”

Huh?

“Jajangmyeon. Jajangmyeon.”

It was an unexpected question.

Jajangmyeon. A food I had never disliked.

“Yes. I like it.”

“That’s good.”

Mi-ran’s expression, which had seemed serious and grave, brightened.

Mi-ran showed her cell phone screen. A map of the neighborhood was displayed on the screen.

“This is a jajangmyeon *mat-jib* [맛집, delicious restaurant] nearby. It’s a Chinese restaurant that all our team members like, and Ms. Lee will like it too. But if you don’t reserve a seat by 11:50, you’ll have to wait 40 minutes.”

“…….”

“Sneak out at 11:40 and reserve a seat. A seat for five people.”

That was Mi-ran’s business.

The most important thing for a worker. Securing a lunch seat.

“Originally, I should have asked Mr. Song Ki-hoon to do it, but the reason I’m asking Ms. Lee is because the owner gives more service when a new face comes.”

“…….”

“Don’t tell anyone else. We have to eat it ourselves.”

*Somehow, this team seems very lovely!*

*Can I really quit this company?*

Jung-oh’s determination to change jobs was momentarily blurred.

“Yes. I understand.”

Jung-oh answered with her eyes shining bravely like a general before a battle.

Ten minutes later. 11:40. Jung-oh quietly got up from her seat for her mission.

For some reason, the elevator was stuck on one floor, and Jung-oh tapped her feet anxiously.

At that time, a commotion was heard near the elevator.

*I have to hide so I don’t get caught.*

Jung-oh, who was serious about her mission, hid behind a large potted plant.

A group of young children approached the elevator. All about Yena’s age. About six or seven years old.

And Ji-heon with the children’s leader.

Jung-oh’s heart, which had only been moving towards the lunch mission, fluttered slightly.

*Come to think of it, I think I saw an announcement that children from a nearby daycare center would be attending a lecture at the company.*

I didn’t expect Ji-heon to be directly involved in this event. It was unexpected.

Ji-heon’s eyes looking at the children also seemed quite affectionate.

*Hey. Mr. Jung Ji-heon. You also have a pretty daughter.*

It was a moment when I wanted to shout.

“Thank you so much for today. It seems like it was a beneficial time for the children as well.”

“I was glad to have you too. I hope it was a good experience.”

Ji-heon responded politely to the leader’s greeting.

“And this.”

The leader held out a gift. It was a heavy paper bag.

“It’s a small token, but we baked cookies. Our children made them all day yesterday. We only picked and chose the prettiest shapes and packaged them. We made them with the patissier [pastry chef], so they’ll taste good too. Please share them with your employees.”

“Thank you. We will enjoy them.”

“There are also cards written by the children inside.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

Ji-heon, who received the gift, greeted them again with courtesy. The children and the leader took the arriving elevator and left.

Jung-oh became stuck behind the potted plant and waited for Ji-heon to leave first.

However, Ji-heon did not leave immediately.

Suddenly, Ji-heon approached the trash can and dropped what he had received from the leader into the trash can, paper bag and all.

Huh!

“No!”

Jung-oh hurriedly jumped out from behind the potted plant and grabbed Ji-heon’s arm.

However, the large trash can had already swallowed the paper bag.

Ji-heon, who had thrown away the gift without a moment’s hesitation, also flinched as if he was embarrassed.

A faint resentment flowed from Jung-oh’s lips.

“How could you throw that away?”

The children made it themselves, they made it all day yesterday, they only picked the prettiest shapes, there are cards inside.

It’s not just for you to eat, but for you to eat with your employees.

How could you throw it away? Huh?

The Jung Ji-heon of the old days was someone who cherished even one tangerine that Jung-oh had secretly put in his pocket.

No, was that also a play?

Were you that kind of person?

The person I once loved, the father of my child.

Turns out he was a man who was only flashy on the outside, like junk.

She glared at him and confronted him. *I want to hit him on the head, but.*

However, that time of attack was blocked again.

The eyes that had been shaking while staring at her changed sharply. It was also easy for Ji-heon to twist and pull out his hand that she was holding.

As his hand slid down, it brushed over Jung-oh’s hand as if to cover it.
The movement was gentle, unlike the sharp confrontation. Like someone trying to share his warm body temperature.

By the time she became confused by that body temperature, her wrist was already being held by him.

Jung-oh was embarrassed by the large hand that was holding her hand.

A choked voice came out.

“What is this……!”