Ch69 - Back to You (2)
In Ji-heon’s car.
When Ji-heon asked how they had ended up breaking up, Jung-oh told him everything that had happened on November 2, seven years ago, and the situation she had faced immediately after the hit-and-run accident the next day.
She even shared what “Ji-heon” had said to her when he contacted her fifteen days after the accident.
Jung-oh was anxious that he might not believe her, but it turned out to be unfounded. Ji-heon quickly understood her situation and harbored the same doubts. It was something that could be inferred.
“I never made that call. It must have been something arranged by my mother. It felt like she was hiding something.”
“…”
“Maybe she hired someone, or manipulated something.”
Carefully nodding, Jung-oh added her opinion.
“Come to think of it, it seems like your mother doesn’t know about Ye-na. If she did, she would have prevented me from joining Max Planning. Or maybe she would have stopped you.”
The use of the term “oppa” came out naturally. Even in this serious situation, Ji-heon found himself distracted by it. The casualness of her speech felt both strange and endearing.
So this is what we were like.
Wanting to hug him and kiss him made her pause a few times before responding.
“Yeah, that makes sense.”
“Maybe after that phone call, she thought she had completely cut ties with me.”
Ji-heon nodded in agreement.
Jung-oh felt a little regret. If she had known that they would communicate so well, she would have shared everything much earlier.
But the fact that he had figured it out on his own was meaningful. Jung-oh decided that it was all for the best.
Without any time to indulge in sentimentality, Jung-oh pushed ahead with the conversation.
Ji-heon was a man in need of an orientation. She needed to quickly update him on everything that had happened so he could handle the situation effectively.
Jung-oh diligently moved on to the next topic.
“And there’s someone you need to be careful of.”
Seeing Jung-oh’s serious expression, Ji-heon immediately focused.
“Actually, I was going to meet with a lawyer. I was worried that if I told you the truth, I might lose Ye-na.”
“Seriously, Lee Jung-oh, you’re so thorough…”
“That kind of anxiety is completely understandable. Given what I’ve been through, how could I be at ease?”
Ji-heon sighed and scolded her, which made Jung-oh sulk a little.
Her reaction was indeed justified. Ji-heon could understand her a hundred or a thousand times. But understanding and feeling hurt were separate issues.
Jung-oh continued speaking.
“But then, when I went to the law firm for a consultation, I met with Lawyer Chae Eun-yeop.”
“Chae Eun-yeop, as in your oppa Chae Eun-bi?”
“Yeah. That guy approached me under false pretenses to set a trap.”
“…”
“It seemed like Eun-yeop knew that Ye-na is your child.”
Jung-oh recounted how she had found the law firm and the conversations she had had in that office.
Ji-heon, with his brow furrowed deeply, leaned back against the seat, looking confused.
“Eun-yeop is my friend. That’s how I knew Eun-bi too.”
“…”
“Of course, I don’t trust him completely. It’s shocking that he would do something like that.”
With his mother and friend involved, Jung-oh was worried that the facts she was revealing might shake his foundation. But it was a truth that needed to be addressed.
After a moment, he seemed to gather his thoughts and nodded.
“Thank you for telling me.”
“There’s more.”
“More?”
Ji-heon’s voice rose. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hear it or that he was sulking about wanting to say something else. It was more that he felt pity for her, who had had to carry secrets alone all this time.
Jung-oh continued flatly.
“About two months ago, Ye-na almost got kidnapped in front of her academy.”
Ji-heon’s eyes widened. At the same time, Jung-oh noticed his fists clenching tightly, and she felt a surge of emotion as she recalled that moment.
She shared everything that had happened that day with Ji-heon and showed him the CCTV footage she had received from the police. After revealing the note that had been in Ye-na’s bag, she felt a bit relieved and considerably more secure.
Now she had an ally who would fight alongside her. Her nose tingled.
“This is why I couldn’t tell you earlier. I was worried you might try to intimidate me by revealing Ye-na’s existence beforehand.”
Ji-heon, looking somewhat hurt, clenched his jaw and gazed at her with teary eyes. While he looked quite cute, Jung-oh felt a bit exasperated.
“Think about my past! How could I trust you completely? Plus, Ji-heon, you were pretty rude back then!”
At her plea, Ji-heon hung his head and sighed.
She thought he was reflecting, but his response at the end of that sigh was:
“Let’s get married first.”
That was so typical of Ji-heon.
Joy, sorrow, relief, disappointment, anticipation, and regret—many emotions and thoughts surged like waves, washing away and being replaced with new feelings in this overwhelming night. The end result felt so clean and pleasant.
Jung-oh laughed, but Ji-heon didn’t smile.
“I’m not joking.”
“Take your time.”
“What do you mean? We have to do it right away.”
“Ye-na is the most important.”
“…”
“Becoming a family comes after Ye-na accepts it. Got it?”
Seeing the blank look on his face as if he had realized something significant, Jung-oh couldn’t help but smile again.
Ji-heon.
When you become a parent, the center of your life shifts. That’s something I can’t help.
Just like how the earth rotates, how the seasons change, how light refracts underwater. Just like how the wind blows from the sea to the land during the day, and from the land to the sea at night. Life changes so naturally.
The child gradually becomes the owner of my life. But I’ve come to think that it’s okay. I’ll keep growing stronger to protect my child.
Now that you know about the child, you’ll understand my feelings too.
“If Ye-na accepts you, then you can prepare at that time.”
With his eyes still moist, Ji-heon nodded sadly but sweetly.
“I want to figure out what Lawyer Eun-yeop knows and how much. I also want to know who the woman was that tried to kidnap our Ye-na.”
“I’ll look into it.”
“Just act as usual so you won’t be suspected. I’ll think about how we should proceed.”
Jung-oh meticulously organized the plan. Although her heart was warm, she knew she needed to keep her wits about her at such times.
“I’ll talk to my mom tomorrow evening. Today is a bit much. It’s late too.”
“…”
“And I had a tough day with my mom today.”
In truth, she wanted to share everything about Eun-bi visiting her mother’s restaurant, but she held back. She felt that he would be confused enough as it was.
“Okay. Get inside quickly.”
“Could you let go of my hand?”
Jung-oh playfully requested. While telling him to hurry inside as if everything was settled, he was still holding her hand tightly. It was so tight that her fingertips tingled.
So cold.
Ji-heon inwardly grumbled and slowly released her hand. He didn’t have any memories of their relationship from seven years ago, but he could guess a few things.
He must have regretted every time he broke up with her. So it probably took him quite a while to let go of her hand.
Let’s promise not to break up again.
He couldn’t bring himself to say it for fear that tears would show again, so he let Jung-oh go. She waved as she got out of the car. Ji-heon looked at her and smiled.
“Oppa.”
Just before she opened the villa’s entrance door, Jung-oh called out to him.
“Now, don’t forget me.”
Her warm plea, carried by the summer night air, brushed against his heart. Ji-heon immediately rushed over and hugged her.
Jung-oh, enveloped in his broad arms, stretched out her own arms to embrace him.
Memories may fade, but one hot feeling remained. The heart that called out Jung-oh still beat warmly for the same person.
Let’s promise not to break up again.
......
It felt like too much had happened for her to even sleep that night.
Joeng woke up to the clattering sounds in the kitchen after only a few hours of sleep. Getting up, she went straight into the kitchen.
“Oh, you’re up already? You could’ve slept in a bit longer.”
Seeing Joeng approaching, her mother, Guksun, spoke.
“Didn’t you work overtime again last night? You came home pretty late.”
Joeng could sense the sadness in her mother’s voice, as she had stayed in her room, quietly wiping away tears, unable to come out when she heard her daughter return home.
“I didn’t work overtime, just met up with someone.”
“You’re diligent, as usual.”
The smell of doenjang stew quickly filled the kitchen as Guksun stirred the pot. For seven years, Joeng had shared these quiet mornings with her mother. Seven years of consistency — how could she ever fully express her gratitude for her mother, who held down this place so steadfastly?
“Mom.”
Joeng went behind her mother and hugged her gently.
“Mom, how about we hang out together today?”
“Don’t you have work?”
“I’ll take the day off.”
“It hasn’t been that long since you last took a day off. Keep this up, and they’ll fire you.”
“Even if they do, you’ll still feed me, right?”
“How could I possibly feed you, with you eating like an elephant?”
“Geez, an elephant?”
“No, you’re right, not an elephant. With all the meat you eat, it’s even worse.”
Her mother’s voice held no trace of sadness. She was always a strong woman, careful not to show any weakness in front of her daughter. Joeng felt like the luckiest person in the world to be born the daughter of Lee Guksun.
“Let’s be happy. And stay healthy.”
“What, are you planning to quit your job and become a singer?”
“Oh, come on, you’re killing the mood, Mom.”
“When would I have time for mood? I barely have time to set the table.”
At her mother’s cynical response, Joeng sighed and released her hug. The nonchalant attitude of her mother tugged at Joeng’s heart and yet, at the same time, gave her strength.
Fueled by a hearty breakfast, Joeng and Yena began their journey to start the day.
“See you later, Grandma!” Yena chirped.
“Mom, we’re heading out now. We’ll see you tonight,” Joeng added cheerfully.
Guksun waved to the adorable pair.
“Take care, and my little one, watch out for cars.”
“Okay!”
Joeng held Yena’s hand as they descended the stairs. Since the preschool bus didn’t come down to their neighborhood, she took Yena to the main road every morning before heading to work herself.
“We’re early today,” Joeng commented, glancing at her phone to check the time as they stepped out of the building.
“Mom, look over there,” Yena said, pointing ahead.
Joeng looked up to see Jiheon approaching them.
He greeted Yena first, while Joeng, still surprised, skipped a greeting and asked him directly, “Did you sleep okay?”
“Thanks to you.”
Was that a yes or a no?
Joeng frowned, puzzled by his ambiguous answer, but Jiheon simply watched Yena quietly for a moment.
There was no way he had slept. After arriving home late at night, he’d tossed and turned, then finally got up early to wait again outside Joeng’s building. His feelings were racing — excitement, pain, a mix of longing and gratitude.
He struggled to remember the events from seven years ago, but there was nothing else. Instead, he found himself recalling the recent days, the day he had seen Joeng again for the first time, and the first time he had met Yena. So many regrets crowded in.
He wanted to hug Yena right now.
Without knowing Jiheon’s inner turmoil, Yena asked him bluntly, “Why are you here, Mister?”
“I came to see you, Yena.”
“…”
“I’m going to come every day from now on.”
Although she’d asked with a pout, her lips turned up slightly, showing she didn’t mind his answer. But she still kept her air of feigned indifference as she replied.
“Well, I still can’t play with you. I have to go to preschool.”
“I see. Then let’s play together on a day you don’t have preschool.”
Jiheon extended his hand instead of hugging her. This time, without hesitation, Yena took his hand. The small, tender grip of her fingers sent a tingly warmth up to his chest. His eyes grew misty for a moment.
Joeng, our child is truly beautiful.
The memories he thought were lost began to resurface.
…Back then, I was on my way to propose. Just thinking about the baby made me feel something I’d never felt before, like my heart was tingling with a whole new set of emotions.
“Ah….”
He let out a soft sigh, careful that neither Joeng nor Yena would hear.
I will walk with you, little one.
I will take you out to step on freshly fallen snow.
I will show you the stars as they rise.
I will teach you how to ride a bicycle.
Hold your hand.
Protect you.
Look into your eyes and tell you I love you.