＜Episode 57＞ Si-eun’s house 2
“How did you and Si-eun get to know each other?”
While we were sitting on a chair in the hospital room and chatting, my mother asked:
I thought I’d already explained the self-inflicted struggles leading up to becoming a lover. Apparently, he just reported that he was dating me. Other than that, for example, did you hide the story of working as a housekeeper at my house?
Si-eun opened her mouth, avoiding both me and her mother.
“I was embarrassed to tell you, so I kept it hidden.”
“Oh, boy. What do you have to be ashamed of? By the way, Si-eun’s father and I were the motives for joining the company. We met right after entering the company and got married in 6 months. Then, six months later, Si-eun was born.”
“… … You’re pretty fast.”
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Mother smiled brightly.“Thanks to the power of love.”
It’s not the power of love, it’s a speed violation… … .
Si-eun, who was born with the overflowing love of her parents, now has a very red face. Is it shameful to tell you the reason we started dating, or is it shameful about the story of our own birth?
Si-eun, who had been quietly spending time in that state, took a deep breath as if there was nothing she could do about it.
“okay. I will tell you.”
I think I finally have the courage to tell you.
“It’s true. I live in his house.”
“Oh my gosh.”
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My mother covered her mouth and pretended to be surprised. I was worried that I might get hit in the face right away. Somehow, the reaction is cooler than I expected.“What if?”
“Well, actually, he has a lot of money. But life is a mess. Then I wrote that I was looking for a housekeeper… … .”
Si-eun continued to explain the gibberish. My mother was listening to the story with a smile on her face.
“This is how we ended up living together.”
After the long explanation, Si-eun caught her breath.
“Since living together like that, did you come to love each other because you got along with each other?”
“no.”
He denies it with a firm tone, not wanting to be misunderstood. Well, before we actually started dating, we never had a physical relationship. … … I’ve had it lifted.
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Mother nodded her head.“Anyway, that’s fine.”
Again, it was an absurd reaction.
In response to the unexpected reaction, my mouth moved freely.
“… … Are you okay?”
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Mother tilted her head.“what?”
“no. He hadn’t said much since he heard that his daughter was living with a man.”
After hesitating, the mother said, “What is it? Was that what you said?” and smiled.
“it’s okay. No, should I rather say it’s a good thing?”
“Um, is it any better?”
“okay. Our Si-eun is a child who is prone to loneliness. I’m so glad because it seems like there will be less people living with me.”
“What kind of loneliness do I get, Mom?”
Si-eun frowned and confronted her mother.
but well Even when we weren’t very close, he came to the room with snacks. How else can I explain it other than feeling lonely?
“Right. I think it’s kind of like that.”
“You keep quiet.”
Saying that, Si-eun looked at me. I was just trying to help out with a single word, but I was hit with an arrow of criticism. I’ll be still.
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Mother looked at us like this and said with a benevolent smile.“Fufufu. Now, no matter what the other person does, they look pretty and cool, don’t they? That’s a good time.”
“Well.”
is it.
I don’t know if I look cool in Si-eun’s eyes. At least in my eyes, Si-eun looks pretty. Well, even before we became lovers, I was pretty. Is it just because Si-eun has a great look?
“Then when love continues, there will be ups and downs, big and small. There will be times when we will argue with each other. Sad things will happen.”
“is that so?”
When asked, the mother answered quietly.
“okay. It’s unavoidable. It’s like a natural chemical reaction that happens when people come together. What matters is how you get through it.”
“Chemical reaction… … .”
It was like he didn’t know. Seeing me in trouble, my mother nodded her head.
“Don’t worry. You will find out when the time comes.”
When the time comes,
In the distant future, I imagine Si-eun and I fighting. Si-eun was screaming out loud, and I saw the sight of me shrugging my shoulders and sighing in front of him.
Victory is so clear. Just looking at it, it’s not like I’m always losing.
“I wish that time never came.”
When I joked about it, my mother said, huh-hu-hu-huh, and laughed.
Then Si-eun cautiously spoke out.
“I’ll go to the bathroom for a while.”
“Oh, yes.”
When I answered, Si-eun lowered her voice.
“You, don’t say anything strange to your mother.”
“A strange word? What are you talking about?”
“You think about it.”
Leaving these words behind, he often walked out of the hospital room.
you know how to think I decided not to think about it because I thought I wouldn’t know.
The only people left in the hospital room were me and my girlfriend’s mother.
It was fine when we were together with Si-eun. It’s kind of awkward for me to stay like this.
Of course, Si-eun’s mother was one of the easiest to talk to. For someone I’ve met for the first time, there’s quite a difference in age, but how long has it been since I’ve spoken so fluently? It’s probably because she resembles Si-eun and feels close.
“Lee Hwi-min, did you say?”
As I was immersed in such thoughts, my mother parted her lips.
“Ah yes. you’re right.”
When I answered with a nervous tone, my mother spoke softly.
“My Si-eun, please take good care of me.”
Best wishes, la.
As I was contemplating whether to give an answer to a meaningful word, my mother looked at me quietly.
“Actually, Si-eun hates me when I say things like this. Because my body isn’t strong. This way… … I’m saying this because Si-eun might leave her alone.”
Unlike when Si-eun was there, her eyes were full of concern. He also looks a bit tired.
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Maybe he just showed a playful side in front of Si-eun? No parent wants to cause their daughter to worry. You must have been working hard not to get sick.It was the same last time, when something big happened not long after my mother said she looked fine. He must have always pretended to be okay in front of Si-eun.
“You will be all right.”
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My mother gave me a small smile at my words.“Our Si-eun is just in love with it. It’s really nice, it’s nice.”
“Is that so?”
“okay. It really reminds me of Si-eun’s father.”
“Ah, ah ha ha.”
When I was embarrassed and touched the nape of my neck, my mother closed her eyes and said.
“But unless a miracle happens, won’t Si-eun be left behind?”
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My mother was smiling like a smirk.Looking at that face, it was difficult to bring out any words of comfort or hope.
The world doesn’t always have good things happening. Si-eun won’t tell you the details, so I don’t know, but it’s like she said she went through a crisis. It is undoubtedly a difficult situation.
How painful will Si-eun be when that time comes?
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My father passed away, and I lost my mother as well. When you finally have no family left to support you. What should Si-eun depend on to live?With this in mind, my mother must have said, ‘Please take good care of me’.
“You don’t have to worry. I will protect you.”
At my words, my mother opened her eyes and looked at me.
Continue talking without averting your eyes.
“Because I’m not that great. There may be no ability to prevent Si-eun from having any trouble at all… … .”
while giving strength to the neck.
“When I am sad, I will always be by your side. I will value you more than myself, and I will protect you from being alone.”
“okay. That’s cool.”
Soon, the mother added a word.
“Still, that’s it. We shouldn’t value our Si-eun more than you.”
“yes?”
“It means that we shouldn’t value our Si-eun more than you.”
What did you mean? I waited quietly for the explanation, and my mother spoke in a serious voice.
“If you live with that mindset, there will come a moment when you will sacrifice yourself for Si-eun… … . Then you might end up leaving Si-eun alone. So, if you really value Si-eun, you should cherish yourself that much.”
“ah… … .”
It looked like he had been hit in the head with a hammer.
I was talking about things like cherishing my mouth as long as I was alive. In the end, I didn’t even think about Si-eun’s heart to be left alone.
On the other hand, my mother must have thought of ‘Si-eun after she disappeared’ thousands of times. I feel like I’ve made unreasonable ambitions.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Oh my gosh. How could it be the same as my husband when he was serious?”
“Yes?”
I said it with a hard heart, but before I knew it, my mother covered her mouth and was smiling. Seeing the hazy eyes flying out of nowhere, on the contrary, I wondered if the serious look up until now was a joke.
It’s not that he’s not, but he’s turned into a very playful face now.
“Still, you have to say that to yourself.”
“… … I’ll see the timing and do it.”
“What do you have in stock? As a boyfriend.”
Then the mother sighed deeply.
“Still, listening to you puts my mind at ease.”
Then he smiled and said,
“My Si-eun, I couldn’t even grieve for losing my father. When I’m busy with work, Si-eun eats alone in that small house, studies, and works hard all the time. Thank you so much for growing up without being crooked like this… … .”
uhm.
“… … Shouldn’t I say that to myself?”
When I asked for a joke, my mother stabbed me in the side.
“I do it. Every time, Si-eun said, ‘It’s okay, Mom. Thanks to you, I am able to cook well and study well.’
“I can imagine.”
It seems that Si-eun does not want to worry about her mother.
Indeed, they were a mother and daughter who looked alike, not only on the outside, but also on the inside.
Afterwards, Si-eun, mother, and me, who came back from the bathroom, continued to talk.
The atmosphere that had been serious before was quickly gone. In a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere, they continued chatting meaningless.
The set meeting time is until evening. After 6 o’clock when the hospital food was served, it seemed that he could not be in the hospital room.
“I will come again tomorrow.”
Si-eun said to her mother with a slightly gloomy face.
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Mother smiled afterward.“okay. Have a ‘good night’ together.”
Good night. It was a bit of an odd nuance. Well, you didn’t say specifically what kind of good night it was… … . I want to believe that I skipped it.
He bowed his head and answered.
“yes. Let’s spend some time alone together, and I’ll see you again tomorrow.”
“What a private time.”
Si-eun patted my arm in embarrassment. I said nice things, but the reaction wasn’t very good.
“Then why don’t we spend time together?”
Si-eun stopped at my question.
“… … Well, I will send it.”
“Look.”
“Noisy.”
What meaningless conversation is this?
Looking at us like this, Mother just covered her mouth and smiled again and again.
I bowed my head once more to say hello to such a mother and came out of the hospital room.