Mother-in-Law and Daughter-in-Law (1)
Yujin hugs me so tightly I can barely breathe. An embrace is never just physical contact. For the two people holding each other, it creates an emotional sense of security and bonding, the feeling that the other person is supporting them completely. Everyone yearns, deep in their hearts, for that beautiful kind of hug—the one that happens when the desire to want someone and to be wanted in return perfectly intersect.
But the message her arms are sending me feels different.
“You’re mine now. You understand that, right…?”
She grabs my hand and presses it against the small of her back.
“And I’m yours, too. I’ll give you everything I possibly can.”
Our breaths mingle, hers and mine.
“So don’t think about anything else.”
The ice ball in the whiskey glass Father holds clinks and rolls against the crystal.
“Ahaha! Looks like Yujin and Jihyun have made up again? You two are glued together at the hands and won’t let go~”
Her hand stays fused to mine, following me everywhere. Sweat slicks our palms, but the grip is so fierce, not even a sliver of air can slip between our fingers. There’s no chance of them coming apart.
“It’s lovely to see. In love, fights are inevitable, and the most important thing is having the ability to reconcile quickly!”
Father smiles brightly as he knocks back the whiskey. I meet his eyes.
“Hmm, are you still tired? You don’t look very well~”
I wonder what thoughts are running through Father’s head as he watches me. I can’t help remembering the words Mother had spat out, drenched in madness and excitement.
“When I look at our Jihyun, it reminds me of my younger days, you know? Yujin, Dad fought with Mom plenty of times back then too~”
“We’re nothing like you two. That kind of thing doesn’t happen, so stop saying useless nonsense.”
Yujin fidgets with our clasped hands, unconsciously expressing her discomfort at Father’s story. She clearly hates being compared to Mother.
“Why are you getting so angry? Anyway, Jihyun! Don’t worry too much and just live well~ At my age, I can more or less picture how someone’s future will unfold just by looking at their face.”
Father drains the rest of his whiskey and sets the empty glass on the table with a clack.
“Whew! That really hits the spot. Anyway, I have a strong feeling I’ll be seeing a lot of your face from now on, Jihyun. Don’t cause any accidents and treat her right. Please take good care of our precious daughter.”
Father extends his elegant, wrinkled hand. I think I understand the real meaning behind those words.
“Oh dear, this hand isn’t going to be freed by Yujin anytime soon. The other one, then!”
A warning about my future. A signal not to die. I shake his hand, silently conveying that I understand the message.
“Please continue to look after me, Jihyun.”
“…Yes. Please take care of me as well.”
The door opens. Servants enter. The click of heels echoes.
Mother walks slowly into the room to join the family gathering.
“Ah, honey! Look at these two. They’re holding hands so tightly they won’t let go.”
At Father’s excited chatter, Mother glances at our intertwined fingers.
“Just like when we were young. Don’t you think?”
“Well… I suppose.”
When Mother answers curtly, Father looks a little embarrassed. He leans forward and whispers to us.
“Your mother seems to be in a bad mood today. Both of you, read the room and act accordingly.”
“If you’re going to say it loud enough for everyone to hear, why bother leaning in?”
“Huh? Honey, you heard that?”
Father scratches the back of his head and pouts. Yujin simply stares at him like he’s an idiot.
Then a smartphone suddenly rings. The strong vibration and loud ringtone jolt me. I quickly pull the phone from my pocket and check the screen.
“Who is it?” Father asks.
“It’s his mother,” Yujin says, tilting her head to see the screen.
“Oh, then you should answer,” Mother urges.
I don’t want to highlight my mother’s presence here.
“I’ll step out and take it.”
I try to stand, but Yujin refuses to release my hand.
“Why? Just take it here.”
“It’s rude to answer a call in front of the elders—”
“It’s fine with us.”
“Exactly~ We’re basically family now, so there’s no need to be formal.”
…I slowly sit back down. The phone has already vibrated several times, yet it keeps ringing stubbornly.
I press the answer button, connecting my mother’s voice to my phone.
“M-Mom…”
“What the hell, where are you? What are you doing wandering around out there?”
Her voice is so loud and sharp it hurts my ear even through the speaker. I pull the phone slightly away, but her words still come through clearly. I try to figure out how to handle an obviously furious mother.
“Sounds like the mother-in-law is quite upset.”
“Of course she is. Someone keeps dragging her precious son around and won’t let him go.”
Yujin’s grip on my hand tightens.
“Stay out of our relationship. I won’t tolerate it.”
“Who are you with right now? And anyway, what kind of son disappears for days without showing his face? How are you even eating or changing clothes?”
“Ah… well, you see…”
Yujin leans in and whispers in my ear.
“Tell her we’ll visit tomorrow. We’ll apologize to her and tell her we’re dating.”
I really don’t want Yujin to meet my mother. When I hesitate, she presses me again.
“What are you doing?”
“Hello? What are you doing? Are you even listening?”
Father and Mother watch us with open interest.
“…I’ll explain everything tomorrow morning. Just let me stay one more night. Okay?”
“Sigh… fine. Do whatever you want. You’re becoming exactly like your father. I’m hanging up.”
The call ends with a click.
“Wow, that’s a big problem. Yujin, you’re already starting off on the wrong foot with your mother-in-law. Maintaining a good relationship with the in-laws won’t be easy, huh…”
Yujin flinches at Father’s words.
“I-Is it that bad?”
“Of course it is! Look at me and Jihyun. This is what a healthy relationship looks like.”
Father takes control of the conversation. I catch what he’s trying to create for me.
“A successful marriage is built on trust and love, which allows you to maintain a good relationship… That’s the key!”
Father speaks to Yujin in a serious, advisory tone. Mother silently sips her whiskey without a word.
We need Mother to speak. Mother… Both Father’s and my gazes lock onto her. Under our desperate urging, she reluctantly sets down her glass and offers a single line.
“Well, Yujin has never been good at that sort of thing, so Jihyun will have to be understanding. All she’s ever done is take and destroy.”
…A perfect provocation.
Bang!
Yujin slams the table and shoots to her feet. The force knocks over everything on the surface. Father’s whiskey spills across the table and pours onto the floor.
“Hey, my whis—”
“Fuck…! All you do is spout shit that pisses me off.”
Her fist is level with my eyes, trembling violently with rage and humiliation.
“Do you think I’m the same as you? Like what you did to Dad?”
My eyes meet Father’s.
“Ah… haha, Jihyun. You don’t need to pay attention to this.”
Mother fires back.
“Of course we’re different. You’re even worse trash than I am, Yujin.”
The provocation seems too strong. I try to intervene at the right moment, but Father subtly raises a finger, signaling me to stay quiet. Trusting that signal, I keep silent and watch.
“Why? Are you going to stick a knife in your in-law’s throat too? That would be easier, wouldn’t it? We’ll get to see our son-in-law drooling like a lunatic soon enough.”
…Yes. She’s provoking her for my sake…
“Aigoo, honey! Our Yujin can do better than that~ Yujin, calm down first. No matter what, how can you speak to your mother that way?”
Father rushes over, places a hand on Yujin’s shoulder, and gently guides her back into her seat. Even after she sits, her fist keeps shaking. I place my hand over it.
Time to end this.
“Yujin, it’s okay. I’m sure you’ll get along well with my mom. I’d really like it if you two could become close.”
If they’re going to meet anyway, I need to turn my mother into someone Yujin can’t live without. I won’t waste the opportunity Father created for me. I gently stroke her trembling fist.
“Yujin… I believe in you. And I love you.”
The strength slowly drains from her clenched hand.
“Starting tomorrow, let’s gradually earn points with Mom together. A good mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship is essential for a happy love. If it’s you, I know you can do it.”
I slip my fingers between her now-relaxed ones and hold her hand tightly.
“Other people might not understand, but my mom… she’s really suffered a lot in life. I can’t live without her. And every time she drinks, she sobs about how she always wanted to have a daughter who looked like her.”
“Aigoo, how sad. Having a daughter does make the house feel warmer.”
“I’m not so sure about that.”
“So, Yujin, if you could act as the daughter for my mom that I couldn’t be, I’d be grateful.”
“…All right…!”
Yujin places her other hand on top of mine.
“I’ll do well. If it’s what you want, I’ll do anything…!”
She grips my hand with both of hers.
“Let’s go to bed quickly. Tomorrow’s going to be busy.”