I was asking about the mother-in-law’s condition when she grabbed my arm and stammered.
“Do you… think… you can… properly… raise… the child…?”
“……”
I was dumbfounded. Even in this situation, the mother-in-law seemed determined to say what she had to say. I couldn’t hide my annoyed expression.
“You… you, right now my words…!”
“Yes yes, let’s talk about that again later. That’s not what’s important right now, okay?”
“……”
I cut off the mother-in-law’s raised voice and put on the one shoe that had fallen not far away. Then the mother-in-law blushed and quietly nodded.
*
Half a day passed in complete chaos.
The mother-in-law was immediately taken to the hospital, and police and firefighters arrived late to clean up the accident scene. Fortunately, the mother-in-law wasn’t seriously injured, but they said she needed to rest, so she would be hospitalized in a private hospital room for a day or two.
I gave a simple explanation of the accident to the police and received a brief examination at the hospital with Hyeol. A reporter-like person came to the hospital in the middle, but the in-laws’ security guards stopped them, so no major commotion occurred. I later heard that the cow farm owner would only pay a fine for poor fence management.
And it was none other than the young master who handled all of this.
“I’m really sorry, I should have stayed with you instead of going back right away…”
The young master, who had safely completed the mother-in-law’s hospitalization procedures, blamed himself and his eyes reddened.
“If it weren’t for brother-in-law, something terrible could have happened. Thank you…”
Feeling the sincerity in his words, I patted the young master’s shoulder to comfort him.
“Still, it’s fortunate that nothing serious happened. Mother must have been very surprised, please take good care of her.”
At my words, the young master nodded, then suddenly grabbed my hand.
“If it’s okay, would you like to see her before you go?”
“…Pardon?”
Visit the mother-in-law before leaving… The young master seemed to say it with good intentions, but I didn’t want to create a situation where we’d get red-faced meeting each other. Right now, everyone taking rest was more of a priority.
Especially, I was worried about Hyeol, who must have been shocked by the sudden situation.
“Ah… I think I should go home early because of Hyeol.”
Hyeol, who had been by my side since the accident, was making a cutting motion with his hand blade at his uncle’s wrist that was holding my hand. It seemed like he was saying he’d cut off his wrist if he didn’t let go.
“Then, I’ll give you a ride.”
The young master, who finally let go of my hand, said with a kind smile.
I was troubled. I was grateful for the help, but because of today’s events, I thought I should keep my distance from this family’s people.
“No, it’s really fine…”
I was trying to politely decline when it happened.
“…!”
A shadow fell over the young master’s shoulder, and Baek Woojin suddenly appeared out of nowhere. He approached the young master’s side so naturally that anyone would think they were together. The young master also seemed surprised, flinching and stepping aside.
“You were having a conversation.”
Baek Woojin still had an indifferent face despite startling people.
“How did you get here…”
When I jumped up from my seat in surprise, Baek Woojin cast his gaze toward Hyeol.
“Hyeol contacted me.”
“Hyeol did…?”
That was unexpected. Still, Baek Woojin was better than his uncle?
Despite my puzzled gaze, Hyeol pretended not to know and fiddled with his kids’ phone.
“Ah, so you’re brother-in-law’s ‘friend’.”
That’s when the young master interjected between us with a bright smile. Somehow it seemed like there was emphasis on ‘friend’, but maybe it was just my imagination…
“Nice to meet you for the first time. I’m Gwak Jin, who lived in the same house as brother-in-law for 7 years.”
“I’m Baek Woojin, currently living in the same house.”
When the young master extended his hand with an unnecessary comment, Baek Woojin also shook hands and made an equally unnecessary remark.
“Aha. But you know that 7 years is quite a long time, right?”
“I think the present is more important than past time.”
“But that present could be temporary.”
“It could also extend far into the future.”
Um, excuse me…? I have no idea what you two are talking about…
“Haah…”
That’s when Hyeol, who had been watching the two like me, let out a deep sigh.
“I need to grow up quickly and learn to drive…”
Hyeol, that would take at least 14 more years…
“Let’s leave those gnats alone and get in the car first, quickly.”
“Gnats…”
Hyeol urged me to leave the two behind and go.
“Hyeol, wait. Woojin-ssi, we’re now…”
“How did you two come to know each other? I’m sure you didn’t know each other just a week ago?”
Just as I was about to tell Baek Woojin let’s go now, the young master looked somewhat angry and questioned Baek Woojin accusingly. I was embarrassed by his very rude behavior, but Baek Woojin’s face remained expressionless as if he wasn’t affected at all.
“Do you want to know that?”
“Yes, I think I should know as family?”
At the young master’s retort, Baek Woojin approached me and covered Hyeol’s ears with his hands.
“I met Chae Seungyeon-ssi on a bridge before. It seemed like he was having a hard time, probably because of your family. He had no one to ask for help, and considering his pitiful circumstances, I told him to stay at our house.”
Oh my, to say all of that…
I was taken aback by Baek Woojin’s unexpectedly honest answer. Fortunately, Hyeol seemed not to have heard, trying hard to remove Baek Woojin’s hands covering his ears with a wide-eyed face.
“Such…”
The young master seemed shocked by Baek Woojin’s explanation. He looked at me with a clearly flustered expression.
“I didn’t know such things had happened…”
“Ah… no, well… thanks to Woojin-ssi, it wasn’t dangerous…”
I didn’t know what to say. Chae Seungyeon’s choice wasn’t originally my intention, but if the story had flowed according to the original…
I just felt sorry. Seeing people who might have been deeply hurt by Chae Seungyeon’s death.
“I seem to have been misunderstanding a lot…”
Looking embarrassed, the young master blushed slightly and muttered, then Baek Woojin finally removed his hands from Hyeol’s ears.
“What is it? What were you talking about?”
When Hyeol pulled at my clothes and asked, I smiled bitterly and shook my head.
“I was very rude just now. I’m really sorry.”
Where did his hostile attitude go? The young master politely apologized to Baek Woojin with a gentle demeanor. Hyeol seemed shocked by this, opening his eyes wide and looking back and forth between the young master and Baek Woojin.
“It’s not anything else, actually I was worried about brother-in-law… He’s been having such a hard time. I watched that for 7 years from beside him…”
The young master sent me an apologetic look. I knew that gaze was directed at Chae Seungyeon before the possession, not me, but somehow that look made my heart ache.
“Baek Woojin-ssi seems to be the most trustworthy person among brother-in-law’s acquaintances. And unlike our hyung, you seem to be a cool-headed person… Ah, this is a compliment, don’t misunderstand.”
The young master playfully tapped his shoulder with his fist, but Baek Woojin just maintained an indifferent expression.
“Then I’ll be going now. Seungyeon hyung.”
“Ah…”
The form of address changed from brother-in-law again as the young master smiled brightly at me. Hyeol grumbled something and tried to grab him, but I stopped him.
“I’ll contact you again.”
Saying that, the young master leisurely walked toward the inside of the hospital.
“…Let’s go.”
Baek Woojin, who had been watching where the young master disappeared for a moment, finally started walking. The three of us had no words until we left the hospital and walked to the parked car.
Click.
That’s when Baek Woojin checked on Hyeol who had gotten in the car first, then spoke to me.
“I heard about the accident.”
“From Hyeol?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
