A child who looks like me

A week full of ups and downs had passed, and the weekend had flown by in the blink of an eye. Now, it was Monday.

Today was a special day for Ye-na.

It was the day she was invited to Do-bin’s house. The request Ji-seo made last week had been fulfilled.

Ji-seo had invited Ye-na with a joyful heart, but in truth, Jeong-oh wasn’t entirely at ease. There was a gap between ideals and reality, and he worried that Ye-na might cause trouble and make things uncomfortable for Ji-seo and Do-bin.

Honestly, Jeong-oh had planned to just accept Ji-seo’s kind gesture, but since Ye-na had expressed a strong desire to go to Do-bin’s house, he had no choice but to let his daughter go.

“Do you really want to go to Do-bin’s house?”

“Yes!”

“Why do you want to go?”

“Just because. I’m curious.”

“If you cause any trouble, you’ll have to come back right away, okay?”

“Okay!”

“You’re only playing for today, alright?”

“Okay!”

Ye-na answered cheerfully as always. Even so, Jeong-oh couldn’t shake the feeling of unease.

It would be nice if he could spend the whole day looking after his daughter.

The mandatory overtime at his company felt a bit harsh.

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

Seung-gyu’s life didn’t feel like life at all.

Last Thursday, when he had snapped at his superior and friend Ji-heon, he had honestly been prepared to quit his job.

He had a family—growing children, a wife whose laughter had become less frequent as she took care of them, and a 20-year mortgage looming over him every hour.

Now, another Monday morning arrived, and he had to go to work again. He didn’t want to go, but quitting wasn’t an option.

His wife seemed oddly happy, humming a tune as she fried anchovies.

Trying not to upset her, Seung-gyu gingerly approached and said, “Honey, I love you.”

“Why? Did you run out of allowance again?”

Ji-seo asked gruffly. The wife who smiled so gently at the anchovies was now as cold as ice toward him.

“You always think it’s about the allowance.”

“Stop talking nonsense and get to work. And when the kids arrive, you should go out for a while.”

“When the kids are here, why should I leave? I’m their father.”

“Do-bin’s friend is coming with him. A girl.”

“Ye-na?”

“Yes. When you invite a girl over, dads are supposed to quietly step aside, so they’re not in the way while the kids play.”

“I want to see Ye-na too.”

“Too bad, you can’t.”

“That’s too much! It’s too much!”

Work and home—his life was anything but easy.

He had no one to rely on.

But at least Ji-heon would have a drink with him if he were around, but after what he said…

Seung-gyu turned with slumped shoulders.

But then Ji-seo called him again.

“Honey.”

“Yes?”

“Just come home early.”

A glimmer of life returned to Seung-gyu’s tired eyes.

Ah, Ji-seo, you’re the only one for me, he thought as he prepared to confess his love.

“Come home, clean the air conditioner, and then go out again. We don’t want Ye-na to be too hot.”

Ah, Ji-seo…

When he had complained that it was too hot, she didn’t budge, but now, just because her son’s friend was coming over, she was going to turn on the air conditioning?

It was a frustrating morning.

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

The commute on Monday morning was always a struggle, but once at work, the day passed in a flash.

The Monday magic had worked on Production Team 2.

Team Leader Seong Mi-ran and Deputy Director Park Yeong-gwang left for the editing room, leaving only the junior team members to hold down the fort.

As evening approached, Jeong-oh felt suddenly down.

He was hungry. But out of loyalty, he couldn’t say he would go out alone to eat.

The two graphic designers were busy making final edits on the media advertisement. The client wanted it sent by late tonight, so it was the top priority.

Jeong-oh, trying to be discreet, took a cookie out of his drawer and ate it. It was the cookie Ji-heon had given him last week.

Hmm, it tastes good. Ji-heon almost threw this away…

There was only one cookie, so he savored it slowly, but suddenly, he heard a chuckle from the side.

“Now that I think about it, Assistant Manager, you really eat a lot, but somehow, you don’t gain weight.”

Ki-hoon said.

Jeong-oh felt wronged. When did he eat so much?

Jeong-oh chuckled lightly and played along with Ki-hoon’s comment.

“That’s what they call bad metabolism. But I’ve been trying to manage it these days. After having a child…”

Jeong-oh almost revealed a secret without thinking but quickly sealed his lips.

Ki-hoon, turning his head, asked, “What?”

“Ki-hoon, are you busy? If you don’t have time for dinner, I can bring you a sandwich.”

“Oh, that sounds great. Thanks.”

Jeong-oh smoothly recovered the situation, and Ki-hoon, being naive, didn’t notice anything unusual.

Finally, he would be able to eat! Jeong-oh, feeling a sense of triumph, also asked Eun-joo.

“What about you, Assistant Manager Ko? What would you like to eat?”

“I have plans. I’m meeting a friend after finishing work in two hours.”

“Then I’ll just grab something light for myself.”

With a happy heart, Jeong-oh got up from his seat.

‘I’ll call Do-bin’s house on the way back,’ he thought.

He was curious if Ye-na had arrived safely at Do-bin’s house, if she was having fun, and if everything was okay.

As he walked lightly toward the elevator, a man suddenly appeared, taking away his bright smile.

“…Hello, Director.”

Jeong-oh realized that the reason he was feeling so good today was that he hadn’t run into Ji-heon yet.

It felt like a dark cloud suddenly arrived on this fresh evening.

Ji-heon was leaving the office early while the staff were stuck with overtime.

Well, at least it was better than sitting there while others worked overtime.

At Jeong-oh’s greeting, Ji-heon only nodded and entered the elevator that had just arrived.

An elevator ride with just the two of them.

“Are you not getting on?”

Ji-heon asked as he held the elevator door open, looking at Jeong-oh, who hesitated.

Jeong-oh wanted to refuse fiercely, but couldn’t bring himself to do it.

He let out a bitter sigh and stepped into the elevator.

Once the doors closed, it felt suffocating. He silently prayed.

Please, someone, get on. Please, someone, get on.

And then, miraculously, the doors opened on the eighth floor.

Jeong-oh’s face lit up as he saw the person outside.

It was Ji-heon’s 16-year-old friend, Deputy Director Park Seung-gyu!

If he overheard their conversation, he might be able to get some information about Ji-heon. It was a great opportunity.

However, for some reason, Seung-gyu hesitated before getting on the elevator.

“Deputy Director Park! Get on! Get on!”

But Seung-gyu only gave a faint greeting with a dark expression.

“I’ll take the next one. You go ahead.”

What was this? Was there a rift between them?

Could two grown men, at 33 years old, be fighting?

Seven years ago, Jeong-oh couldn’t have imagined it, but somehow, now, it seemed plausible with the current Ji-heon…

It was still surprising, though.

“Did you two have a fight?”

Unable to hold back his curiosity, Jeong-oh blurted out.

“How did that happen? With someone like him, who seems like an angel.”

Having become a little bolder since learning about Ji-heon’s past seven years ago, Jeong-oh was now able to speak more freely.

Despite Jeong-oh’s bold question, Ji-heon only scowled, not answering.

So they did fight.

I need Deputy Director Park Seung-gyu, though.

“I don’t think Deputy Director Park would have done anything wrong…” Jeong-oh ventured.

Ji-heon shot him a glare.

It’s because of you.

Ji-heon couldn’t bring himself to speak the truth about the words he’d said in anger over her matter.

Jeong-oh, sensing Ji-heon’s discomfort, stopped pushing further.

“It was an overstep on my part. I guess I’m just like my father, always worrying too much. I’m sorry.”

“Is that what daughters are like?”

“What?”

“Is it that daughters are so fond of their fathers?”

Jeong-oh spoke awkwardly, but to his surprise, Ji-heon understood it so perfectly.

It seemed Jeong-oh’s little play would continue a bit longer.

“…That’s right.”

“…”

“Daughters are like that. They are very fond of their fathers.”

Ji-heon quietly nodded.

Jeong-oh couldn’t tell whether he was imagining the close bond between a father and daughter, or if he was thinking about his emotional struggles with Seung-gyu.

Jeong-oh, carefully but boldly, threw in another opinion.

“By the way, why don’t you try making up? Deputy Director Park really cares about you.”

Ji-heon looked up at her, staring intently.

Deputy Director Park was someone Jeong-oh needed as well, so she hoped Ji-heon would patch things up with his friend.

“Maybe you should visit him directly and try to have a conversation. Don’t you think so? He’s a precious friend, after all.”

But it was sincere advice.

It was like speaking to his past self.

If I had been more persistent and hadn’t given up seven years ago, if I had trusted you more instead of being disappointed, would things be different now?

“You can’t just cut a ribbon you care about with scissors just because the knot is tied.”

If that had happened, wouldn’t we be living a different today?

“Maybe we should slowly untangle it, little by little?”

Jeong-oh’s chest ached as he conveyed his thoughts.

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

After feeding the children dinner and doing the dishes, Jin-seo couldn’t hide her contentment. Her cheekbones rose with a smile.

Ye-na was so pretty and capable, and with Ye-na around, her son ate well and listened carefully.

She wished Ye-na would come every day.

“Look, the jelly sparkles, just like your eyes.”

After they finished eating, she handed her son a pack of jelly, and he was trying to woo his girlfriend like this.

Where did he learn such expressions? She was so proud of him.

I used to be like that too.

“But why hasn’t this guy come to clean the air conditioner yet?”

Even amidst that thought, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated with her husband, gripping the dish in her hand tighter.

Just as she finished the dishes, the doorbell rang.

“Who could it be? No one was supposed to come…”

Jin-seo looked at the video phone screen and was startled.

There, standing outside the door, was her husband’s much older boss, his high school and college classmate, and his military junior—Ji-heon.

“My goodness, what’s this? What do I do?”

Jin-seo stomped her feet in a panic before opening the door.

“Oh my, Ji-heon, hello!”

She had once been told to call him by his name casually, but since he was her husband’s much older boss, she couldn’t help but act respectfully both in body and mind.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

“It really has. Ho ho ho, it’s been so long. Please come in.”

“Thank you. I’ll come in now.”

Ji-heon entered and handed a large basket he had been holding to Jin-seo.

“I bought some fruit.”

“Oh my, ho ho ho… you really didn’t have to. Thank you. I’ll enjoy it. …But what brings you here?”

“I came to meet Seung-gyu. Is he home? He left work early.”

Jin-seo had told her husband to stay out since Ye-na was coming over, so it seemed her husband was sulking.

“He hasn’t come yet. He should be nearby. I’ll give him a call.”

“Thank you.”

“Please come on in.”

Ji-heon hesitated for a moment but then entered the house.

Do-yoon waddled over, and Do-bin came out of his room to intervene.

“Mom, who’s here?”

“Do-bin, say hello. It’s your dad’s friend, Uncle Ji-heon. You know him, right?”

“Hello.”

“Right, hello.”

Ji-heon accepted Do-bin’s greeting and looked over his shoulder, noticing that Seung-gyu had two children, not just one, as he had thought. There was a boy and a girl, so three in total.

As Ji-heon wondered about this, Do-bin spoke up first.

“I also have a friend here.”

“Do-bin, when you say that, you should say ‘I have a friend here,’” Jin-seo gently corrected.

“I have a friend here.”

Jin-seo added her own explanation.

“His friend came over.”

“Oh, a girlfriend?”

“Did Do-bin’s dad mention it?”

“Yes, he mentioned it once.”

Had he said that his son was head over heels for her? Or that he fell in love at first sight?

Thinking about it now, the conflict with Seung-gyu started with that conversation.

Was Seung-gyu’s expression really so wrong? It was just that Jin-seo had gotten defensive and ended up saying things she shouldn’t have.

The little girl looked up at him with wide, round eyes.

The child, though just a quick glance, was exceptionally cute and pretty.

Ji-heon found himself staring at her a little longer.

The little girl, standing a few steps away, seemed to poke at his eyes, making Ji-heon squint and blink rapidly.

He continued to watch the small girl, who, after staring at him, shrank back, turning her head stiffly.

Feeling like he had caused the child to become scared, Ji-heon quietly stepped back.

Still, he couldn’t take his eyes off her face.

Her white, delicate face reminded him of someone.

‘All children are beautiful.’

He knew that, but still, his eyes stung a little.