episode_0155

Damn it.

Taking my eyes off the phone for a moment, no matter how many times I reconsidered, the conclusion remained the same.

I’m screwed.

4:11 AM – [Message deleted.]

In a situation far beyond my expectations, I panicked and ended up deleting the message without explanation.

If only I hadn’t deleted it, I could have at least tried to explain… But due to the worst judgment made in confusion, I crossed a river I couldn’t turn back from.

…No, even if I had done something differently, wouldn’t the result have been similar?

Thinking about it, the message about being pregnant was sent late at night, and the fact that my mom saw it was already a disaster.

Beep! Beep!

The phone buzzing like crazy in the untimely dawn.

Checking the caller without a word, I began to contemplate how to salvage this desperate situation.

However.

“…Damn it.”

No matter how much I racked my brain, instead of coming up with a good excuse, only foul language came out of my mouth.

Why is my usually sharp mind so useless today?

I wanted to ignore the call and continue pondering, but I had a feeling that if I waited any longer, things would really go south.

Taking a deep breath to compose myself, I cautiously pressed the answer button with my hand.

“H-hello…?”

[Sigh…]

The desolate sigh that came through the phone was enough to make my heart sink, but I forced myself to raise my spirits and speak.

“You, you’re still up at this late hour? W-what’s the reason for calling…”

“…I just saw something suspicious, so I called. Seems like there’s a lot to talk about, right?”

“T-that’s…”

Perhaps because it was the dead of night and everyone was asleep, the voice coming through the speaker was unexpectedly gentle.

Well, my carefully laid plan had already gone to the dogs, so why bother pretending otherwise?

It was bound to come out sooner rather than later.

Feeling relieved, I told my mom that I would visit with Jaehyuk this weekend to explain everything.

“I-I’ll come to see you this weekend. I’ll explain everything then.”

“…Alright, make sure to inform your father too, okay? If he finds out on the day… who knows what might happen.”

“I-I’m sorry, Mom.”

“Do you have any shame? Well, let’s meet this weekend.”

“Okay…”

Click.

The call abruptly ended with a somewhat dejected tone.

Despite the brief conversation, I was so tense that my legs gave out, and I slumped onto a nearby bench.

“Are you okay? What happened to make you like this?”

Jaehyuk, looking worried, sat down next to me, and I began to explain the situation that had just occurred.

“…Man, I really messed up big time. A fireworks display in the middle of the night.”

“Jeez, don’t be so loud, and stop laughing.”

“Sorry… but try to understand. It’s kind of funny from an outsider’s perspective.”

“It’s not funny at all from my perspective. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?”

Honestly, sarcasm is an art form at this level.

I was debating how to break the news about the pregnancy, writing and deleting messages repeatedly.

And then, by a mistake, it was sent, and my mom, who happened to be awake at this hour, checked it in just 1 or 2 seconds…

Isn’t this just too much? It’s like getting struck by lightning seven times while walking down the street.

“Ugh…!”

Frustration and irritation made tears well up in my eyes.

No, even if I had sent something, it should have been something appropriate and okay!

“Are you free this weekend?” or “I have something to tell you, are you available this weekend?”

“Shit.”

“Oh, what’s the point if the baby in your belly hears it.”

“…It’s okay. They say it’s not good for the mother who’s going to give birth to get angry.”

Is that so, baby?

‘Yes.’

See, even the baby agrees.

Anyway.

After spitting out curses to cool off a bit, I checked the time and realized that the deadline was approaching.

I pushed my worries aside for a moment and started walking back to my studio apartment.

…Well, even if things go wrong, will I just have to listen to nagging?

Both my paternal and maternal grandparents are polite people, they wouldn’t resort to violence, would they?

Maybe I’m just worrying too much?

Amidst the confusion, I felt guilty for making you feel like a strange person.

Rumble rumble rumble rumble –

“Jiwoo? You go inside first. Toodler, you stay here for a bit. I have something important to discuss.”

When we visited Jiwoo’s parents’ house with Jaehyuk on the weekend, I was able to cleanly erase such thoughts upon seeing her father grinding red peppers.

Uh… I was thinking wrong for a long time.

Will we be able to return home alive today?

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

—–

[Today’s Three-Line Fortune – Great Misfortune]

Since bad things can happen at any time, I recommend being cautious every step of the way.

But don’t worry too much.

Crisis is an opportunity, and the outcome can change depending on how you act.

.

.

.

“Um, shit… No, I mean, this is bad.”

“Huh? Why? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. By the way, how much longer until we reach your house?”

“Just a little further! About… 20 minutes?”

After the end of the Chuseok golden holiday, just three days later, came the sweet holiday again like honey.

I wanted to be happy today, after spending yesterday and the day before arguing with annoying guests, but…

“…Will I be able to return home alive?”

Following today’s fortune as we headed to Jiwoo’s house, it seemed like we were in big trouble.

Not a minor misfortune, not just misfortune, but great misfortune… How bad is the upcoming event going to be?

I tried other methods like horoscope fortunes, tarot fortunes, but they all gave similar results, which was strangely unsettling.

Not wanting to believe in this incredible coincidence, I deleted all the fortune-telling apps I had downloaded to shake off the looming anxiety.

“How come nothing good shows up in just one place…”

Seeing only messages like [You’re screwed today lol], how could I feel good?

Unable to overcome the gloom, I let out a deep sigh, and Jiwoo comforted me with her arm around mine.

“Are you really worried?”

“…I want to say no, but I can’t deny it.”

“It’ll be okay. You know, both of them are polite people. But if you’re in danger… I’ll definitely protect you.”

“Thanks for the words, but please don’t. It’s not just about my pride… What will the two of them think if they see the father of the baby hiding behind a pregnant woman?”

“That’s true. Hmm… Is there any way I can help…”

As we continued the conversation, how long had passed?

When an unfamiliar rough sound faintly reached us, Jiwoo pointed with her remaining arm to somewhere.

“Do you see that red roof over there? The house with the lights on on the second floor.”

“I can’t see it well… Oh, I found it. Is that your house?”

“응! 분쇄기 소리 들리는 거 보니까, 아버지가 뭘 빻고 계시나 봐. 그런데 이상하다? 저번 주에 갔을 땐 딱히 부족한 게 안 보였는데? 아, 다른 집에서 부탁한 건가?”

“귀농하셨다고 듣긴 했는데, 저런 것까지 하셔?”

“응, 직접 하는 게 재밌다고 하시던데?”

Grind, grind, grind –

As the sound of the grinder grew louder with each step closer, the sense of fear rooted deep in the heart swelled even more.

As the old ancestors used to say, even if caught by a tiger, one could survive if they kept their wits about them.

…Why does it seem so difficult to survive in a place that will be the future in-laws’ home, even when keeping one’s wits about them?

“Sigh…”

Feeling a chilling shiver of unknown origin, I found myself standing in front of Jiwoo’s house without realizing it.

Taking a deep breath to steady my heart, I followed Jiwoo inside, where I saw her father putting peppers into the grinder.

Grind, grind, grind –

“…”

“…”

In that brief exchange of glances, I could read a lot from her father’s eyes.

Among the complex emotions, the one that stood out the most was undoubtedly intense anger.

I expected him to be resentful, but… facing it in reality felt quite bitter.

It was so intimidating that it was hard to open my mouth, but I couldn’t just ignore him without a greeting.

After forcing down a gulp of saliva, I put on a forced smile and greeted her father.

“Long time no see, sir. How have you been?”

“…You’ve grown a lot since I last saw you. I’ve been doing alright. These past few days have been a bit tough, though.”

“Haha, I see. Oh, right. I brought a gift for you, sir. Here…”

“Enough, Jiwoo. You go inside first. And you, stay here for a moment. I have something important to discuss with you.”

Was it because of the heavy and stern atmosphere?

Without a word, my reliable companion went inside the house first, following her father’s instructions.

…Liar.

Promising to protect me on the way here, and now this.

Grind, grind, grind –

As Jiwoo disappeared, what remained in the vast yard were two men and the sound of the grinder.

In the heavy silence, I pondered what to say for a while.

Soon, as the machine noise that sent shivers down my spine ceased, her father’s tightly shut mouth slowly opened.