Epilogue 9
Translator: RaidenTL
Epilogue 9
Her belly grew larger by the day. It was a boy. Yeon-ju took a leave of absence from the university, and as news of her pregnancy spread, congratulations poured in from everyone they knew.
The more realistic and detailed the dreams became, the more desperately Eun-seong clung to them. The stories she had shared with him seemed to weave themselves into his sleep, transforming the painful moments when he hadn't been by her side into something he could finally experience, if only in a dream.
They took maternity photos and picked out baby clothes together. They redecorated the bedroom, completing their preparations to welcome the child. Yet, the sweeter and cozier their life was in his dreams, the emptier Eun-seong’s heart felt in reality. The sensation of caressing Yeon-ju’s heavily pregnant belly felt so incredibly real that he flinched, his hand clenching reflexively.
Suddenly, Eun-seong’s eyes snapped open. Like any other dream, the vivid scenes dissolved into nothing. Having fallen asleep leaning against the table, he sat up and immediately looked down at his hand.
Unwilling to let even the lingering sensation on his palm slip away, he squeezed his eyes shut and immersed himself in the fading warmth. He had never touched a pregnant woman’s belly in his life; it was a sensation conjured purely by his imagination, yet it had felt incredibly warm and soft.
“…I shouldn’t have woken up.”
A wave of regret washed over him, prompting the quiet murmur. If only I could have seen Han-byeol come into the world and watched him grow… how wonderful would that have been?
Letting out a long sigh, Eun-seong turned his gaze to the rolling waves of the sea. Shrouded in darkness, the boundary between sky and ocean was blurred, but the vast, unobstructed blackness brought a sense of peace to his cluttered mind.
He stared quietly, exhaling slowly, before burying his face in his hands. A moment later, his shoulders began to tremble.
A fragment of the dream flashed before his eyes: the image of her, with her round, swollen belly, walking toward him.
Now that he was back in reality, the memory was so poignant it made his chest ache. With her youthful, college-student face, wearing a pretty lace-trimmed maternity dress, she had smiled so brightly at him. She had been desperately wishing for the seasons to fly by so she could finally meet their baby.
He had been drunk on the joy of their reunion, on the relief of finally building a complete family. But looking back at the version of her he had never seen made his heart swell to the point of bursting. The ten years of her life he could never witness, no matter how much he wished for it, became a deeper, sharper ache with each passing day, wrapping Eun-seong in a profound sorrow.
With a long, heavy sigh, he pulled his hands from his face. Letting the tears track down his cheeks, he turned his gaze back to the distant sea.
He had always made it a rule never to dwell on the past, but lately, he was failing miserably. The versions of her and Han-byeol left behind in those lost years constantly weighed on his mind. Even in moments of profound happiness, a sudden, sharp pang of grief would catch him off guard.
After staring blankly at the endless expanse of black waves for a while longer, Eun-seong finally stood up. He checked his laptop one last time to ensure his email had sent properly, then closed the lid and stepped inside from the terrace.
It was five in the morning. Passing through the silent living room, he quietly opened the bedroom door. Softening his footsteps, he approached the bed and slid under the covers beside her.
He gazed softly at Yeon-ju, who was sleeping peacefully, hugging a pillow. He had seen her face more than his own lately, yet a wave of tender affection washed over him, as if he were seeing her after a long separation.
Not wanting to disturb her, he simply watched her breathe. He raised a hand to brush a stray lock of hair from her face but quietly lowered it again. Lying in the same bed with the woman who was now his wife filled him with joy, yet a sudden sadness crept in at how late this moment had come. He felt incredibly proud of her yet deeply sorry; he found her wondrous yet felt foolish himself. Pride and regret, joy and sorrow—a tangled knot of emotions tightened in his chest.
Perhaps it was the dream, or perhaps it was how the early morning hours always made emotions run wild. Whatever the reason, looking at his sleeping wife made his heart swell so intensely that he had to bite his lip to keep the tears from spilling over.
Yeon-ju shifted, and her arm draped lazily over his chest. Stirring at the contact, she half-opened her eyes. Seeing Eun-seong, she mumbled sleepily.
“When did you get in? You weren’t here before…”
Eun-seong pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her.
“Just now.”
“What were you doing? What time is it?”
“Sending an email to Director Kim. It’s still early. Go back to sleep, Yeon-ju.”
“Okay… You should sleep too, honey… You must be tired…”
Heavy with sleep, her words trailed off. Nestled against his chest, her breathing soon evened out into a soft, rhythmic hum as she drifted back to sleep.
Eun-seong held her tightly, as if she were a precious treasure he had fought tooth and nail to claim. Her peaceful breathing seemed to wash away the noise of the world, making all its ugliness and impurity recede into the background.
“Yeon-ju.”
Only her soft breathing answered him.
“I’ll do better.”
“…”
“I… I’ll do so much better.”
Eun-seong tightened his embrace, holding her as close as he possibly could.
This woman, to whom he owed an immeasurable debt. This woman, who was far too good for him. The one who had silently walked her own path, completely unfazed by the world’s prejudices and vulgar jeers.
I will love you with my entire life. Endlessly. This is the only conclusion.
* * *
By the end of their trip to Hawaii, the three of them had finally started to feel like a family. At first, it was undeniable that they were a mismatched trio held together by sheer willpower. For instance, when Han-byeol called out, “Dad!” Eun-seong wouldn’t realize he was the one being addressed. Yeon-ju would habitually set the table with only two bowls—one for herself and one for their son.
Yet, no one rushed. No one grew impatient. They didn’t try to force the pieces together, choosing instead to let time do its work. As the days slipped by, they naturally grew into a family, complete with occasional bickering and subtle power struggles.
Eun-seong and Yeon-ju clashed over their vastly different lifestyles and habits. Yet, even in the heat of an argument, they would suddenly find themselves chuckling. There was never a clear winner or loser. They simply hoped that the habits and rules the other had lived by for so long would one day become their own.
Leaving Hawaii behind, their next destination was Sydney, Australia, where Eun-seong’s parents lived.
Even before they landed, Yeon-ju was a bundle of nerves. There was no telling how many times she had bolted to the airplane restroom during the flight.
Once they finally arrived and were heading to baggage claim, Han-byeol looked up at his mother, whose face was a frozen, rigid mask.
“Mom, why are you so mad?”
“Huh? Me? I’m not mad at all.”
“Your face looks really scary. Like you’re super angry.”
“Really? No, I’m fine.”
Yeon-ju forced her face to relax, but within seconds, her expression stiffened right back up.
This time, Eun-seong nudged her arm.
“Relax. It’s not like my parents are going to eat you.”
“My stomach is churning. I feel like I’m going to throw up. I’m losing my mind.”
“I told you, it’ll be fine.”
His words were of no help. Yeon-ju swallowed hard, repeatedly gulping down dry saliva as she followed Eun-seong like a hollow shell.
She was terrified of what they would think of a daughter-in-law and a ten-year-old grandson suddenly appearing out of the blue. No matter how many times Eun-seong assured her it was fine, she couldn’t stop worrying. Her mind was a breeding ground for worst-case scenarios.
Just before they reached the arrivals gate, Yeon-ju knelt in front of Han-byeol. When she stopped abruptly, Han-byeol stopped too, and Eun-seong, who was wheeling the luggage, paused. Yeon-ju fussed over the boy’s clothes, smoothing out wrinkles and reciting the warnings she had already repeated a thousand times on the plane.
“Han-byeol, you must not be rude to your grandparents. Okay? You remember what Mom said, right?”
“Mom, you’re saying that again.”
“Let me look at you. Why is your hair so messy? We need to comb it. You can’t treat them like your grandma back home. Absolutely not. Got it?”
“I got it! I said I got it!”
Despite Han-byeol’s confident reply, Yeon-ju kept fussing, unable to shake her anxiety. We should have visited them before going to Hawaii. Han-byeol’s deeply tanned skin made him look like a little country bumpkin, which only added to her worries. Just yesterday, she’d thought he was the most handsome boy in the world.
Ugh. I don’t want to go out there.
“Mom, let’s go! Come on, let’s go out, hurry!”
Save… me…
Oblivious to her inner turmoil, Han-byeol tugged at her arm, forcing Yeon-ju to stand. Looking at her face, which had grown visibly paler over the last few hours, Eun-seong couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Why are you laughing? I’m dying of anxiety here.”
“I was just thinking that even the great Go Yeon-ju, who fears nothing in this world, has a weakness after all.”
“It’s because my sins are as massive as a mountain. Are you happy now?”
As Yeon-ju sighed, her shoulders slumping, Eun-seong reached out and took her hand. His parents were already waiting just outside the arrivals gate.
“Once you meet my parents, you won’t have time to be nervous,” he said, as if just remembering something. “In that sense, it’s probably a good thing you’re getting all your worrying out of the way now.”
“Why? What do you mean? Is there a lot of work waiting for me? Do they make pan-fried delicacies and seasoned vegetables here, too? Should I have brought an apron from Korea?”
“No, not that. Anyway, you’ll see when you meet them. Just keep your wits about you and follow me.”
“Ah, why… What is it? Tell me! You’re making me even more terrified…”
As Yeon-ju whined on the verge of tears, Eun-seong burst into hearty laughter. Finally, they stepped out into the arrivals hall. Eun-seong scanned the crowd and spotted his parents instantly.
“Ah, seriously. They’re unbelievable.”
Following his gaze, Yeon-ju turned her head—and froze dead in her tracks.
“Whoa…”
An involuntary gasp escaped Han-byeol’s lips. Eun-seong squeezed his eyes shut and opened them again, as if trying to block out a sight he wished he hadn’t seen, while Yeon-ju’s jaw slowly dropped.
Holding a massive sign plastered with photos of Yeon-ju and Han-byeol, Eun-seong’s mother was doing a joyful shoulder dance. She was grooving enthusiastically to non-existent music, radiating an overwhelming energy that was also the source of a booming voice.
“Dad, is that photo really me?”
“Yeah. Pretty sure that’s you.”
“Then… is the grandma dancing with my face on her sign my grandma?”
“I wish I could say no, but yes.”
“Whoa…” Han-byeol gasped again, staring at the dancing woman who was now waving frantically for them to come over.
As if hypnotized, Yeon-ju and Han-byeol followed Eun-seong forward. Unable to wait, Eun-seong’s mother began marching toward them to close the distance.
“Oh my god! Oh my god! Welcome! Hurry, hurry, come here! Oh my goodness! Heavens!”
“Whoa…”
Startled by her high-pitched, booming voice, Han-byeol gasped yet again. Having grown up with his maternal grandmother, who spoke slowly and punctuated her sentences with gentle sighs, this was a massive culture shock.
“Oh my goodness! Han-byeol! Han-byeol! Oh, my sweet baby! Hello! Hello! Oh my, look at you, you’re so handsome! You look absolutely dashing!”
Squatting down to meet Han-byeol’s eyes, Eun-seong’s mother, Mrs. Park Mun-yeong, unleashed an explosive welcome. She was a woman of uncontrollable, boundless energy.
“Oh my god! My daughter-in-law! Yeon-ju! You’re Yeon-ju! Oh my goodness! I’m so thrilled! I’m just so thrilled!”
Left to bear the brunt of the embarrassment, Eun-seong groaned and looked away.
A couple of steps behind her, his father, Professor Im Su-cheol, was waving his own sign with a slightly shyer rhythm. Though overshadowed by his overly energetic wife, he, too, possessed a formidable amount of excitement.
“Alright, alright! Let’s go! Let’s head straight to our house! Let’s go right now! Welcome! Welcome, my darlings!”
“Mom, keep it down. Please, just a little.”
“I can’t help it! I’m too excited! Don’t stop me! I’m just so happy! Let’s go! Han-byeol, Yeon-ju! Let’s go home! Hurry!”
Yeon-ju and Han-byeol could only blink in stunned silence, their mouths still hanging open.
In an instant, all of Yeon-ju’s anxiety was blasted straight to Andromeda.