My wife had started heaping my rice bowl full at some point.
“That’s a lot of rice…”
“Amazing. Mother-in-law, the rice has an incredible sheen today too. How does it have such a sticky texture without adding glutinous rice? Do I get this shine even when I wash the rice?”
“Really… Wait, what did you just say?”
“…Nothing.”
I didn’t want to ask for less rice. While that sparrow-like guy wolfed down four bowls, I could barely finish one.
And even that was too much? It wouldn’t be respectful to the person who prepared the food.
If nothing else, Chairman Shin’s principle was to never leave his wife’s food uneaten.
“Those noodles are a work of art. I’ve never seen braised chicken noodles with such a beautiful sheen.”
“Right. It’s delicious, Mom.”
“Is it?”
Her cooking was always good, but lately it seemed like the Kitchen God had blessed her, making it especially delicious. It wasn’t just my imagination that today’s braised chicken tasted particularly good.
“Hmm, hmm. This… tastes excellent.”
“R-Really?”
What is this, their 30th year of honeymoon? Gong Pyeonghwa wore a happy smile, but inside he was rotting with frustration.
Even though I stole your son, father-in-law is enjoying his 30-year honeymoon while we’ve become like Gyeonu and Jiknyeo without even a magpie bridge?
Although it was his own karma, loneliness was still loneliness.
It had been five days since his forced separation from his deer-like husband and squirrel-like daughter. It was about time for withdrawal symptoms to kick in.
“Thank you for the meal.”
“Thank you for the meal! Another absolutely perfect dinner today! I’ll do the dishes later! Noeul, come with me!”
Today, I’m definitely going to see my husband’s face. Without fail.
***
To Pyeonghwa
* * *
Could you let me know where you were waiting yesterday? I’m at the company from 8:30 to 17:00. I’ll check my email as often as possible during that time.
Also, are you eating well at our house? I don’t think they’d pressure you about food, but since they don’t like snacking, I’m worried you might be struggling.
Just in case, I previously…
***
“Did something happen this afternoon?”
“What do you mean?”
“That guy was trying to say something.”
“Seobangie?”
Even that term of address was displeasing.
“N-Nothing happened.”
She looked like someone who definitely had something happen.
“…What is it?”
“…No, it’s nothing really…”
What is it? Why are you like that? As he kept pressing, her lips finally parted as if about to tell the truth.
“Actually, today, with Seobangie…”
There are two ways to anger someone. The first is to stop in the middle of saying something…
“Mother-in-law! Are you there?! Where’s Saebyeok’s school uniform?! I can’t find it!”
“Hm? It’s not in Saebyeok’s room? I’ll help you find what you’re looking for and be right back.”
…like that.
That, that ill-mannered Gong bloodline! Taking someone else’s wife as he pleases? And what? School uniform? Why would he want my son’s school uniform? A grown man wanting a school uniform! Isn’t he just a complete pervert?
Just as Chairman Shin’s opinion of Gong Pyeonghwa hit rock bottom, the most dislikable Gong Pyeonghwa peeked his head in.
“Father-in-law. I have something for you.”
No amount of money could raise his opinion at this point.
“I took this when I went to the bookstore with mother-in-law today. If I had a phone, I could have taken pictures of mother-in-law too, but as you know, I don’t have a phone. Hehe.”
He handed over a thin photograph.
“Next time, let’s take one with you too, father-in-law. Because photos are all that remain.”
The photo consisted of four frames, each showing his wife’s face.
His wife looking puzzled as she gazed sideways, unaware she was being photographed; his wife wearing a headband that you’d typically use at an amusement park, unable to lift her head; his wife trying to remove the headband; and finally, his wife smiling with a reddened face.
It was… quite precious.
“I used to take tons of pictures with Saebyeok.”
Maybe he’s not such a bad kid after all? Among the Gong bloodline, he’s certainly the most handsome. Looking at him now, he seemed to resemble his wife more than that Gong guy.
“This is a secret from mother-in-law.”
Gong Pyeonghwa winked and shot a love bullet too. It would have been normal for Chairman Shin’s face to contort, but there was no change in his expression.
As expected of a romantic, he seemed blinded by his current love rather than his enemy’s son.
After firing off one more cheesy heart gesture, Gong Pyeonghwa hugged the one-size-too-large school uniform his mother-in-law had found.
“Our Saebyeok wore this? Aang! It’s so tiny! Cute!”
By Gong Pyeonghwa’s standards, it was harder to find something not cute. His mother-in-law, now accustomed to her unusual son-in-law’s standards, just smiled.
“Was it in Saebyeok’s room? Why couldn’t I find it?”
“Oh, it wasn’t in the closet, but in the attic. I keep things there that might be nice to look at someday.”
“Waang. Then can I look around the attic?”
***
To Pyeonghwa
* * *
Just in case, I previously hid some gold bars in case our family went bankrupt or a war broke out. After all, nothing’s as stable as gold in a crisis. It should be in my emergency bag, but I’m not sure where they’ve put it.
Mom wouldn’t throw away my things, so it must be somewhere in the house. Sell it and buy whatever you want to eat without holding back. Got it?
I’m sure you’re doing well, but I still worry. Iseul and I are doing fine, so don’t worry too much.
Love you. Sleep well.
***
“Noeul.”
“Yes?”
“Am I Ondal the Fool?”
Gong Pyeonghwa asked with a serious face.
“My brother is smart though?”
“No, not your brother, I’m talking about your new brother, me. Your brother must be Princess Pyeonggang…”
The complete unexpectedness and preparedness with no context really moved Gong Pyeonghwa.
“Haah… This is why I’m head over heels.”
“…? Where are you going?”
“You really don’t use the internet, do you?”
The siblings are alike, so alike. If only that orangutan Gong Sarang was half as much like Noeul…
“Ah, I’m tired. Brother-in-law is going to sleep. Poor Noeul, not being able to see your boyfriend for a while.”
“It’s okay, we’ll video call.”
“…”
Is that so? Brother-in-law is planning to meet by climbing through empty air since there’s no magpie bridge.
***
After dinner, Saebyeok went for a walk with his in-laws and then lay in bed with Iseul.
“Tomorrow’s the weekend, so let’s spend all day with Dad.”
When he poked Iseul’s cheeks, she giggled and grabbed his finger.
It was true that she was growing day by day; her grip was stronger than yesterday.
“Iseul, do you miss Pyeonghwa Daddy?”
“Appa! Appa! Appa!”
“Oh no. Dad’s sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“Appa! Appa! Appa! Daddy!”
Excited by the mention of Pyeonghwa Daddy, Iseul crawled quickly across the bed. Worried that she might have a seizure at that unprecedented speed, Saebyeok jumped up and held her.
“Appua!”
Iseul kept reaching toward the window.
“Iseul, do you want to look outside?”
The night air is still a bit chilly… But thinking it would be better than her crying at this hour, Saebyeok opened the window briefly.
And at that moment, he nearly fell backward.
“Saebyeok!”
“Appu!”
“Iseul! Daddy’s here!”
I’m really shocked. I’m really shocked. I’m so shocked I’m repeating myself. I’m saying it twice. Saebyeok was so surprised he couldn’t even make a sound, but he was extremely shocked.
“H-How did you climb up here? It’s the third floor!”
“Don’t underestimate a husband’s core muscles… is what I want to say, but honestly, I’m a bit scared now too. How much do I weigh? Do you think this branch can hold me?”
You… the last time you weighed yourself was 102kg. I think I just heard a cracking sound.
“Take this first.”
Gong Pyeonghwa handed something the size of his palm through the open window.
“A phone? Where did you get it?”
“I sold the gold and bought it. It’s a burner phone, and they refused to give me a charger. Such bastards… Anyway, it’s a burner so you won’t get caught. Use it carefully. Talk through email during the day, and after dinner…”
“I got it, now get down. It looks dangerous.”
Looking at the precarious branch, Saebyeok felt his heart tighten. Gong Pyeonghwa was reluctant but climbed down the tree to plan for the future.
Still, today he was able to deliver the phone because Saebyeok was awake. He saw his face and delivered a means of contact.
With a pounding heart, Gong Pyeonghwa called Saebyeok.
-Hello?
“Ah… Just a moment. Let me feel this.”
How much had he suffered wanting to hear that “hello”? It felt like all his fatigue and loneliness were being washed away.
Gong Pyeonghwa looked up wistfully at his room window with the last leaf view.
In that room, my Saebyeok, my husband, my spouse…
Why can’t I reach you when I can see you? He felt like tears would stream down, but he held them back and turned around.
“I’m heading back to the in-laws’ now, but let’s keep talking on the phone. I’ve missed your voice so much.”
-Sure, sure.
“I really thought I was dying from missing you. I came yesterday too, but you were sleeping soundly.”
-…Sorry…
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
