Chapter 57
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 57
Mrs. Na nodded with satisfaction, the bitter warmth of her ginger tea spreading through her chest as she took a sip. Dr. Ju settled Yam on his lap and began to examine the small dog.
“Yam’s symptoms have improved a lot. I don’t think there’s much to prescribe today.”
“Is that so? I thought the little one was scratching less, so I wondered if I should just leave her be, but I brought her just in case. What a relief.”
“Han-byeol must be busy these days, isn’t he? Between school and filming, he must have his hands full.”
Mrs. Na nodded, taking another sip of her tea.
“I’m so worried because he barely eats, saying he needs to look good on camera. He’s just skin and bones. He needs to eat well.”
“Really? During a growth spurt, children need balanced meals to grow tall and develop strong bones. I’ll be sure to tell him that the next time I see him.”
“Oh, if an educated doctor like you tells him, our Han-byeol will surely listen.”
Dr. Ju smiled warmly at the older woman, who worried about her grandson day and night. Since there wasn’t much of an examination to perform, he simply stroked Yam while observing Mrs. Na’s face.
A bright smile never left her face.
“Elder, you seem to be in high spirits today. Did something good happen?”
“Oh, me? No, well…”
Mrs. Na let out a hearty chuckle, and Dr. Ju found himself laughing along without knowing why. Her laughter was just that contagious.
“Actually, I came to the clinic first because I’m planning to take Han-byeol down to Pyeongtaek later today.”
“Ah, I see. You’re going somewhere with Han-byeol.”
“Yes, yes. To tell you the truth, my daughter went on a trip today.”
“Pardon?”
A trip? Dr. Ju’s eyes filled with curiosity. He recalled the sight of Yeon-ju’s back as she hurried down the alley just a few moments ago.
Thrilled that her daughter was finally taking a trip, Mrs. Na’s eyes crinkled into warm crescents.
“She said she was going to see the autumn foliage. She even packed some tuna gimbap. Now I’ve really seen everything.”
“Ah…”
“Ever since she had Han-byeol, her life has been nothing but home, work, home, work. It broke my heart to watch her, even if I never said it out loud. But now, whatever got into her, she’s off to see the autumn leaves! How could I not be thrilled?”
“Ah… Yes, indeed. I’d be thrilled too, Elder.”
Though she hadn’t shown it in front of her daughter, Mrs. Na was genuinely elated for the first time in a long while. Whenever she saw that young, beautiful girl cooped up at home, exhausted from raising a child all on her own, her heart had bled with sorrow.
“I know she did it all to raise her own child, but she’s my child, too. How could my heart not ache? Flowers only bloom for a season, and there’s a time for everything. It tore me apart to see someone so young spend her best years just raising a kid, never getting to enjoy the nice things in life like everyone else.”
“Yes, Elder. I understand.”
Dr. Ju nodded sympathetically as Mrs. Na poured out her heart. Her gaze then drifted to a travel photo displayed in his office—a picture he had taken in Switzerland years ago.
If only my daughter could have made memories in a beautiful place like that.
“But now that she’s suddenly going on a trip, I feel like dancing for joy. If I had my way, I’d tell her to wander for two weeks—no, a whole month—before coming home, but I know that’s just wishful thinking.”
Seeing her eyes well up with tears, Dr. Ju pulled out some tissues and handed them to her. Dabbing at her eyes, Mrs. Na offered an embarrassed smile.
“Oh dear, how embarrassing. Why am I crying and complaining to you, Doctor? Goodness me.”
“Not at all. It’s perfectly fine. Holding things in isn’t good for you.”
“I suppose I let my guard down because you’re a doctor. A clinic really is a clinic, after all.”
Watching Mrs. Na crack a joke even while wiping away her tears, Dr. Ju’s expression softened into a warm smile.
“Please feel free to drop by whenever you like. You can come alone, without Yam. Just come have some tea and share your stories with me.”
“Thank you so much for saying that. Well, since Yam is doing fine, I’ll head out now. Thanks for the tea. Next time, I’ll have to bring you a few rolls of gimbap.”
Dr. Ju opened a drawer with an expectant look. He pulled out a pet registration form, placed it in front of Mrs. Na, and asked her to fill it out while she was there.
“Our clinic makes custom walking collars. Oh, it’s a complimentary service. Free of charge.”
“Oh, if it’s free, I’ll gladly take one.”
“You just need to fill out the highlighted sections on the form, Elder.”
Following his instructions, Mrs. Na began to write. Name. Date of birth. Address. Phone number.
As she scribbled away, Dr. Ju waited, then looked down at the paper and burst into laughter. Confused, Mrs. Na looked up.
“Elder, you’re supposed to write Yam’s information here, not yours.”
“Ah, silly me.”
Having assumed the form required the owner’s details, Mrs. Na had actually been writing down Han-byeol’s information. She crossed it out with her pen and began writing Yam’s details instead. Dr. Ju closed and opened his eyes as his vision momentarily blurred.
To tell you the truth, my daughter went on a trip today.
A trip.
She said she was going to see the autumn foliage. She even packed some tuna gimbap.
I hope you enjoyed the tuna gimbap, Im Eun-seong.
Now he finally understood why Yeon-ju had been hurrying down the alley with such light steps. Her heart must have been fluttering at the thought of traveling with him, making her stride brisker and more buoyant than usual.
While he deeply understood her mother’s joy, a bitter pang of jealousy left him feeling somber. Letting out a soft sigh, Dr. Ju quickly masked his expression and looked down at the paper Mrs. Na handed back to him.
“Is that all?”
“Yes. It takes about ten days to make, so you can come pick it up after that.”
“Oh, my. I’ll have to spread the word to all the neighbors. Thank you so much.”
Dr. Ju smiled as he looked at the paper, where Han-byeol’s name and date of birth had been crossed out with thick pen strokes. He was about to slip it into the drawer without a second thought, but he paused and pulled it back out.
He stared intently at the crossed-out date of birth, counting the years on his fingers. Then, Dr. Ju looked up.
“Elder… isn’t Han-byeol nine years old?”
“Huh? Oh, something happened when he was little, so he started elementary school a year late.”
“Ah…”
He hurriedly searched Im Eun-seong’s name on his computer. Comparing Han-byeol’s date of birth with the year and month of Eun-seong’s first award, Dr. Ju let out a quiet gasp, his brow furrowing deeply.
“The poor thing got into a car accident, so he started school a year late, but we just call him nine to keep things simple. Does it really matter? If you’re in the second grade, you’re nine. Back in my day, things like that happened all the time.”
“Ah… Yes… I see…”
The year Eun-seong made his dazzling debut, Han-byeol was conceived.
“Well, I’ll be off now, Doctor. Don’t bother seeing me out.”
“Ah, yes, Elder. Have a safe trip home.”
And on the day he won his first Best Actor Award, she had been pregnant.
* * *
They traveled so far south they might as well have reached the edge of the earth, finally arriving in Namhae. After driving along a deserted country road for some time, Eun-seong parked the car.
He got out of the driver’s seat, and Yeon-ju followed. She stared at the solitary house, surprised to find a building in a place like this, and turned to look at him.
“Where are we?”
“A place I visit whenever I want to rest. It’s too far to come often, though.”
“Ah.”
He had once mentioned that even looking at hotels in crowded city centers made him feel suffocated. Whenever he needed a break, he preferred to get as far away from the city as possible, seeking out a space where he could be completely alone.
He had added that true rest could only be found in the freedom and liberation of isolation, so he had no other choice.
“Let’s go inside.”
“Okay.”
After taking their luggage out of the trunk, Eun-seong unlocked the front door. Stepping inside, Yeon-ju’s eyes were immediately drawn to the modern interior, which looked like something straight out of a luxury home design magazine.
The loft-style interior featured high ceilings that gave the space a wonderful sense of openness. He had remotely turned on the heating before their arrival, so the house felt warm and lived-in rather than empty, with signs of meticulous upkeep evident in every corner.
“Wow…”
As the automatic blinds drew back, her jaw dropped at the view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. A mountain ablaze with brilliant shades of yellow and red unfolded right before her eyes, making it instantly clear why he had suggested going to see the autumn foliage.
It had been a long time since a visual spectacle had given her goosebumps. The sheer majesty of the autumn mountain felt so close she could almost reach out and touch it. Overwhelmed, Yeon-ju stood transfixed, her mouth slightly agape.
No matter where she looked, it felt like a gift from the heavens. Was this what autumn truly was? Her heart began to swell at the vivid, striking beauty of the season at its peak.
“I’m so glad I came.”
The words slipped out as if she were under a spell. Eun-seong, who was unpacking their things, glanced over at her. Standing perfectly still, completely absorbed in the scenery, her silhouette was a picture in itself. Blending seamlessly with the vibrant colors of the mountain, she looked like a masterpiece he wanted to capture on canvas and admire forever.
Click.
Yeon-ju turned at the sound of the camera shutter. She didn’t seem to mind, simply shifting her posture as she asked, “So, is this your villa?”
“It’s not really grand enough to be called that, but yes.”
Just how many houses does this man own? As Yeon-ju gave him a questioning look, Eun-seong added, “It’s what I earned from living like a nomad for over a decade. The fair reward that was left after I paid every single cent of my taxes.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“Your eyes did. They said, ‘Must be nice to make easy money, buying buildings and houses left and right.’”
Startled, Yeon-ju raised her eyebrows. Her thoughts hadn’t been quite that cynical, but it was true she had been thinking how nice it must be to have so much money.
“What are you thinking about?” Eun-seong asked while putting away the refrigerated food.
Yeon-ju turned her gaze back to the window and spoke softly. “Just… how beautiful this place is. I was thinking about how amazing it is that a place like this even exists.”
If I told you that Yangpyeong, where I went with you, was the last trip I ever took without my child… what kind of face would you make?
“We can come back again next time,” he replied casually, unaware of her thoughts.
Next time. Next time. Yeon-ju chewed on his words for a long moment before lowering her head with a faint smile. That trivial promise, that casual suggestion, weighed on her chest like an assignment she could never complete.
As if reading her mind, Eun-seong approached. Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her waist and looked out into the distance, gazing at the same autumn landscape she had been admiring.
But unlike Yeon-ju, who felt the breathtaking scenery was right before her eyes, his gaze seemed fixed on something far away, tinged with a faint haze.
“Yeon-ju.”
Hearing her name without the surname felt unfamiliar. Yeon-ju slowly blinked her heavy eyelids.
“I’m happy.”
How could something feel so distant? His voice, echoing in her ear, felt like a dream.
A lump of sorrow rose in her throat at his fleeting words. Though the warmth of his chest against her back felt real, her empty gaze filled her with a sudden dread, as if she might wake up from this dream at any moment.
Eun-seong gently turned her around to face him.
Yeon-ju looked up. His pupils, black as lacquer, shone with an intense light—they were a masterpiece of depth. Anyone would long to be reflected in those eyes. I wish I could fill those pitch-black eyes. I wish I were the only one who existed in them.
Eun-seong pulled her into his arms, holding her as if embracing something he had desperately yearned for. His quiet breaths mingled with hers, and the steady beat of his heart echoed in her ear.
“You didn’t wear perfume today.”
“I’m just being considerate of someone’s preferences.”
In the yard, yellow cosmos swayed gently, while on the distant mountains, the autumn foliage blazed like fire against the piercing blue sky.
Yeon-ju slowly closed her eyes. It felt cautious, even precarious, but could she say it? Would it be alright to say it?
At this moment, I am happy too.