Greetings
"Mother—no. Hyesun."
"……Ah……."
"Huh?"
The moment I called Hyunji's mother by her name, Lee Hyesun flushed scarlet and looked from me to Hyunji and back again, while Hyunji only tilted her head, baffled. I enjoyed the look on her face and waited. Across from us, Hyesun seemed to catch on; she quietly gathered her handbag and rose.
"……Mom?"
"……My girl. Mom has something to apologize for, too."
She had been whispering to Hyunji. Now she came slowly past the bed and sat down at my side. When I eased my hand over the one still clutching her bag, Hyunji's eyes went perfectly round. Her lips parted, but all she could do was stare at the two of us in a daze.
"That's how it happened."
"……Th-that's how it happened."
Hyesun echoed me and dropped her gaze, as if ashamed, yet she quietly closed her fingers over mine where they rested on the back of her hand. That hand was drenched in sweat. So much for how composed she'd been. The thought that she was cute crossed my mind, but I didn't take my eyes off Hyunji.
"But you come first. If you don't want this……."
Hyunji's voice burst out and cut me off. Both hands clamped over her mouth, disbelief written all over her face—I met those eyes and gave a small nod.
"Really?!"
"……Yeah. Are you upset?"
"Not at all. Mom! This is wonderful……. So wonderful……."
Beaming, Hyunji reached for her, and Hyesun offered her left hand in return—but in that instant Hyunji's face crumpled, and tears spilled again like little silver beads. For a second I feared she'd been hurt and rushed to go on, but the sob that followed told me that wasn't it.
"……Mom, I'm so glad……. Because of me……. Because of me you couldn't even meet a man……."
"What do you mean, because of you? Do you know how happy I was, raising my girl?"
"Sniff…… Mom……."
"……Yes. Sniff."
"You overcame it……?"
"……Because I wanted to. If it was Shinwoo, I thought…… I might be able to lean on him……."
"I'm so glad. So glad……. If it's our Oppa, Mom, he'll make you happy. He really will……."
"Is this all right? Mom's being so childish……."
"No. This is a thousand times—ten thousand times—better than meeting some strange man like that one……."
Then Hyunji turned her tear-filled eyes on me. The smile she wore was softer and happier than any I'd seen from her, and she whispered.
"Oppa……. Thank you so much……. Every time, all I ever do is take gifts from you……. How am I ever supposed to repay a debt like this……?"
"Are you really all right? If you're hurt, even a little."
She shook her head, and tears scattered across the blanket.
"Not at all. Thank you……. From the moment I met you, there hasn't been a single moment I wasn't grateful, and now even our mom……."
"……I told you I was fine."
On top of Hyunji's endless thanks, tears had gathered in Hyesun's eyes as she smiled gently at me. Quite apart from the tickle their gazes stirred in my chest, the situation itself was unbearably awkward, and when I couldn't find a word, I let my eyes rest on the two women's hands softly holding mine. For a little while none of us spoke, and yet it felt as if we were saying a great deal—some quiet understanding passing between us.
"……So have you already slept together?"
"No. Not yet."
"When on earth did you even talk? Oppa, you barely had any time. You were so busy."
At that, Hyesun and I both looked toward the wall of the hospital room and swallowed. I couldn't bring myself to say it. Admitting we'd been cuddling right up until the accident felt too crude, and I worried it would make Hyunji feel wretched. Even so, afraid Hyesun might blame herself, I tightened my grip on her hand. Watching us, the strength slowly drained from Hyunji's eyes until they narrowed, and she whispered.
"……Don't tell me. Today?"
"……Y-yeah……."
"While I was performing. The two of you were doing that?"
"Well……."
"That's too much. I prepared so hard. I gritted my teeth and practiced because you said you'd come watch."
"I'm sorry……."
"I'm so relieved……."
At my apology I slowly looked back at Hyunji. She was smiling, wiping her tears, her whole face full of warmth.
"You're saying none of this would have happened if it weren't for my performance, right?"
"……That's true. Because she came, we were able to talk about you, and seeing her speak so honestly about the past…… I got a little drunk on it myself."
At the word drunk, Hyesun swallowed, looked at me, then lowered her eyes and quietly took my hand.
"……Th-then it's all thanks to our girl. All of it."
"But tomorrow's no good."
Hyunji folded her arms and glared, and Hyesun laughed awkwardly, fidgeting with my fingers.
"I have a date with Oppa. Mom, you know. You know how long I've been waiting."
"Ah, is…… that so?"
The instant I sensed Hyesun about to pretend she already knew, I squeezed her hand a little harder in warning. She glanced at me, then turned a soft smile on Hyunji and gave a small nod.
"Of course. You should go on your date. Still, shouldn't you stay in the hospital today? Just in case—you'll want to be examined over the weekend……."
"The doctor said I was fine, so I should be fine. More importantly, I have to go on a date with Oppa. That's what matters……."
"Hyunji. I'm more worried about your body. Let's watch one more day. Even just until tomorrow morning. Being discharged tomorrow is fine, isn't it?"
"……Okay……."
She nodded at once, disappointment plain on her face, and at that Hyesun stared at her in thorough sulk before letting out a sigh.
"They say there's no point in raising a daughter. And she listens to Shinwoo the moment he speaks?"
"Of course. I'm Oppa's now……."
"……Haa."
"Oh, and you think being Mom puts you in any better a spot? Oh—wait. Doesn't that mean I know more about what he's like in bed?"
"……You little—."
"Ow."
Hyesun gave the back of Hyunji's hand a playful pinch, and Hyunji burst into a bright, innocent laugh. Hyesun began to smile as well, soft around the eyes, and I sat without a word, taking in this absurd scene and the warmth of both women's hands—until a knock came at the door.
Knock, knock.
"It's me. I've brought her."
The moment Han Gyeo-wool's voice sounded, Hyesun's expression hardened. Wondering what was going on, I looked at her, and she glanced between me and Hyunji before murmuring.
"Both of you, stay as you are. Come in."
"Yes……."
"All right."
Hyunji looked at Hyesun and sent her a briefly worried glance, but I still didn't know what this was, so I nodded. The hospital-room door opened, and it wasn't only Han Gyeo-wool who came through.
"……Hello."
Hwang Jiyoung stood with both hands gathered in front of her, unable even to lift her head. Neat blouse, neat slacks, she bowed to us from the doorway. A greeting. I could tell at once that something about this was off.
"Is that how far away you were taught to offer a greeting?"
"Ah—no, ma'am."
She answered in a rush and hurried toward us. At the click of heels I looked down, and the outfit was familiar. Those were Han Gyeo-wool's shoes.
"……Hello. I'm Hwang Jiyoung……."
"J-Jiyoung?"
"Greet her, all of you. This is Jiyoung. From now on, she will be my daughter."
"……What?"
For a moment I couldn't make sense of the words Hyesun had delivered in that flat, indifferent voice, and I had nothing to say. Hyunji seemed to be in the same state.
"She said she wanted to pay for her own wrong. So I decided to adopt her."
"……How does that follow?"
"Ah. Don't tell me……."
I couldn't find the logic in it and asked again, but Hyunji covered her mouth and began looking from Hyesun to Hwang Jiyoung and back. So there was another story I didn't know. Stay quiet.
"Yes. Director Hwang—I already knew, but she really stayed filthy right to the end. Does it bother you if I speak ill of her?"
"……No……."
"And your surname? Are you going to stay a Hwang?"
"……May I choose……?"
Hyesun let out a short laugh at that, folded her arms, crossed her legs, and went on. Watching Jiyoung drop her gaze again in a hurry, I could see plainly how afraid of her she was.
"Of course. You're an adult, aren't you? You ought to be able to judge whether you can make a decision or not."
"……I'd like to think about it a little more……. Hwang still feels comfortable……."
"That's the part you're ashamed of?"
"Pardon?"
"You're a grown woman, and you can't even talk back to a single word from your mother. That doesn't embarrass you?"
"……I'm sorry……."
"And is apologizing to me where you ought to start?"
"Ah……."
At that, Hwang Jiyoung slowly raised her head, and her face was a wreck. The makeup had been wiped clean, leaving skin white as snow, but she was deathly pale, and fear, guilt, and despair had emptied her expression of every trace of the glamour she'd once worn. It hurt to look at her.
"……I'm sorry. To Hyunji, who suffered because of my mistake…… and to Mr. Shinwoo…… and to Madam Lee Hyesun, I offer my deepest apologies……."
"J-Jiyoung……."
As Jiyoung's body began to sink, Hyunji called her name in alarm, but I had no intention of stopping her. What mattered most to me just then was Hyunji's heart, and while I was at it, I needed Hyesun to let her anger out. Rage that never breaks the surface can leave a knot behind. Not that Hyesun struck me as the sort to swallow it.
"……I'm sorry. I was in the wrong……."
"Jiyoung, get up……."
Jiyoung went to her knees and set her forehead quietly against the hospital-room floor, and Hyunji choked up, trying to stop her. But I watched, and so did Hyesun, and so did Han Gyeo-wool. At last Hyunji sniffled, nodded, and spoke.
"That's enough, so get up……. All right? I'm okay……."
"……I'm sorry. The pregnancy…… I really didn't know……. I'm so sorry……. I was wrong……."
"I know. I didn't know either. So get up. I want to see your face. Okay?"
At the softness of it—Hyunji whispering, wiping her tears as she spoke—I smiled before I knew I was doing it. Really. How could anyone be this kind, this gentle. I knew it hadn't been Jiyoung's fault alone, and this much was enough for me to see that she truly was sorry and truly wanted to apologize.
"Let's leave it there. An apology like this, I can tell it's sincere. Don't you think?"
"……Yes. Get up."
"……Yes……."
Hyesun nodded at my words and murmured, and only then did Hwang Jiyoung slowly rise, her face soaked with tears. That was enough, I decided. I had no intention of keeping any more ill will toward her. The miscarriage had already happened, and in truth, all it would take was holding Hyunji again.
"Do I need to tell you what you'll be doing from now on?"
"……No. From now on, I'll look after Hyunji unni properly……."
"Eh—unni?"
"……Because Hyunji unni's birthday is a month before mine……."
"Have you lost your mind? Unni?! Anyone can see you look like the older one—what am I supposed to do if you call me unni?"
"……What am I supposed to do about you being born first……."
"I don't want to! You've lost it. I don't want to be the older one in front of Oppa."
"Th-then what should I call you……?"
"Call me Hyunji, the way you always have. What else would you call me!"
The two of them squabbling was cute enough, but I couldn't make sense of the conversation at all. The adoption, either. I'd heard of adults being adopted, so I knew that much. What I couldn't understand was why taking the blame for the accident meant being adopted.