episode_0113
by fnovelpia*Ding dong~*
After a long time, she stopped folding laundry at the sound of the doorbell and went to the front door.
There probably wouldn’t be anyone coming…
“Who is it?”
Checking outside with the camera, she saw a woman standing there, so she put the chain on the door.
During a brief silence, the woman in front of the door didn’t say anything.
In case someone was hiding out of view of the camera, she cautiously opened the door.
“Who…”
“…Ha.”
The woman in front of me let out a sigh.
The memories I held onto were starting to crumble.
This woman.
The mysterious woman, I know her.
I have to know. I know very well.
Majong. The majong I’ve been calling has come.
I didn’t want to think about it. I didn’t want to think about it.
There was no naturalness like the smell of oil wafting from the kitchen, just the thick smell of tar that permeated my bones, flowing through the thick front door gap.
“Who are you…?”
I pretended not to know.
This majong can’t recognize me.
I’m not Jie Woo right now; I’m Jie Hye.
The majong scanning me with an annoying look must be just a showdown between women.
“…Hmph.”
Did that majong just say ‘hmph’ to me?
Thinking she could win against me without even taking care of herself.
If there’s one thing that can identify this majong as a woman, it’s her chest and the slightly disheveled long blonde hair.
Of course, I won the chest.
No need to mention the face.
Her figure? After meticulously preparing like a model, giving birth, she still has a slim figure.
So, this majong has absolutely no chance against me.
As I had these thoughts, my pounding heart was calming down.
Just a while ago, an earthquake seemed to happen inside me, shaking all the furniture, and the kitchen utensils were scattered around, so I wasn’t completely calm.
My trembling hands had just slightly subsided, and my body was still shaking.
“So, who are you?”
She came looking for trouble, and if she meets my brother, she’ll regret it, but she probably planned to apologize profusely.
“I haven’t heard anything from ‘my husband,’ but…”
Blurring her words, she glanced at the majong.
The majong grimaced uncomfortably at the word ‘husband.’
As expected, it was obvious.
Visible bruises were scattered around, unable to be hidden.
Although she covered up with long sleeves and pants, the bruises on her face couldn’t be concealed even with makeup.
It seems like she’s been through a lot, but judging by her attitude, she still hasn’t pulled herself together.
She still hadn’t even said her name, wrinkling her face like a crumpled paper in front of someone she just met, so who would like this majong?
“Ah… Could you be an ex-girlfriend?”
So, I decided to attack.
Give back what I received.
“What… What did you say?”
My prediction was spot on.
Seizing the opportunity of her unexpected embarrassment, I unleashed it properly.
“I heard there was someone like that for my brother, but I never thought it would be someone like you. Coming shamelessly to find the person who left. Is that it?”
“Hey. Open the door. Don’t open the door!!”
“If you touch the door even with one finger from now on, I will call the police. Keep knocking on the door. I’ll even charge you with property damage.”
As the majong continued to bang on the door, she got even more annoyed at my semi-threatening remarks, shouting loudly.
“Aaah!!!”
The protagonist kept the front door closed until the loud screams, sounding like they could eat a friend, subsided.
“Open up! Open!”
“Ugh…”
“Mom… I’m scared…”
Whether the high-pitched sounds of the thick front door being lifted reached Ji-eun or not, she covered her ears with her hands and called her brother on the phone.
Even if she called the police, it seemed like it would only get louder.
It would be better to definitively end the relationship.
[What?]
“…Sorry, but can you come over with half a day off?”
But in the end, her brother had to come.
He couldn’t think of any way to help; he might even be a hindrance.
[Got it. I’ll be there right away.]
Her brother immediately hung up.
“Should we stay in the room?”
Ignoring the banging sounds, they entered the bedroom.
Feeling sorry for Ji-eun, he covered her ears and tucked her in with a warm blanket.
These kinds of things… shouldn’t happen.
*
“Sigh.”
Su-han, who rushed over upon receiving the call, sighed as he saw a woman in front of his house.
Lee Young-mi.
A dead end for Ji-hye.
And a woman like an indelible scar to Su-han.
“Why are you here.”
“Oh…!”
Feigned joy.
Su-han blocked Young-mi’s approach with a relieved expression.
“I must have resolved it back then.”
“Between us… really?”
“Between us? Ha….”
Su-han almost cursed out of disbelief.
Determined to be a great husband, an ideal father, Kim Su-han restrained himself even more than usual and became a daughter-loving fool in front of Ji-eun, a foolish husband.
“Let’s start over. I’ll do better this time.”
Young-mi, who still believed Su-han would be a pushover, was already blinded.
She still smiled insincerely, still saw Kim Su-han as a pushover.
Lee Young-mi, who left in search of the romance of a bad man, was ‘still’ foolish.
“Get lost.”
“…Huh?”
Now they finally faced each other.
Young-mi was still blinded by the belief that nothing would change, while Su-han avoided looking at the reality he didn’t want to face.
“Get lost. Are you deaf?”
It was somewhat natural for Young-mi to seek out Su-han.
Among the men she had met so far, he was wealthy, not to mention kind and gentle.
Although she might now be disgusted by the bad man, regret is what happens after an event occurs.
“Oh… Su-han.”
“Don’t call my name. It’s better to leave quietly before calling the police. And never come back. Ever.”
In a cutting tone that pierced like thorns, Young-mi’s once foolish head was now spinning.
“Sigh.”
Su-han, who finally spat out the words he had been holding back, felt relieved as his heart thumped heavily.
Su-han, who had never felt so breathless even during exercise, unconsciously removed his hand from the wall he had been leaning on and slowly moved forward.
“All the things between us were the worst.”
With his tension released, Su-han threw those words at the completely exhausted woman, staring into empty space, and went straight into the house.
Though marks and rough skin briefly showed, Su-han paid them no mind.
“…”
Quietly passing through the kitchen and living room, Su-han went straight into the bedroom.
Just as she knew that there hadn’t been anything good between them, Ji-hye was worried and even thought she might have been hurt.
“Sigh.”
Whether it was an unconscious act of protection or seeing herself hugging her daughter tightly while sleeping, it seemed funny, but Su-han was reassured first.
The pounding heart, as if it might be heard by others, calmed down like a quiet lake.
Lying next to Ji-hye, I held her hand.
“Mmm….”
It was peaceful.
Far away, the blue grass and pristine lake unfolded along the grass, sunlight streaming through the trees tinged with lush green.
The phytoncide-scented diffuser was refreshing, as if it could dispel any illness.
“Ah….”
I drifted off to sleep.
Embracing Ji-hye, I soon wore a comfortable expression.
…
“…Huh?”
The room was silent.
Back when I was still eating school meals, waking up in the morning felt oddly fresh, shedding the usual fatigue and making mornings enjoyable for the first time.
Though, it was actually running late.
“…Huh?”
Glancing back, I saw my brother sleeping.
The warmth that comforted me wasn’t from the blanket but from my brother.
“Hmm…?”
“Did you sleep well?”
Startled by the reassuring touch, I relaxed again.
“I’ve sorted it out.”
I had intended to ask first, but my brother seemed to sense my thoughts and took the lead.
“Yeah… thanks.”
“It feels like it’s been years since I cursed. Good dads don’t curse.”
My brother groaned, resting his face against my back.
He didn’t even tell Ji-eun, voluntarily confessing. It was just another one of his unnecessarily kind gestures.
That’s why it’s good.
“You’re still a good dad. To Ji-eun, to me.”
His candid words softened the groans slightly.
Turning around to look at my brother, Ji-eun struggled not to fall from my arms, and I, too, didn’t let go of her.
“Well done. If it were me, I’d probably have a slap or two left.”
I didn’t hear the details.
I only heard the conclusion that it was resolved, whatever the issue was.
“Is that so…”
“Yeah. I really dislike that person.”
He didn’t call him a horse in front of my brother, so he referred to him as a person.
Though I wonder if he truly is one.
“…Probably not a person.”
Muttering to himself, it seemed my brother was right.
Instead of feeling flustered, I burst into laughter.
“Do you think the same way, brother?”
“Yeah.”
We may understand each other well, but we’ve been through a lot of ups and downs.
“Well… it’s a relief anyway. Thanks to you, brother.”
“I live every day feeling relieved. Ji-eun worries a little less, I can focus on work, all thanks to our wife.”
My brother kissed my cheek deeply, patting my head.
“Hehe.”
Married people always say not to get married.
I even thought it was just a polite remark.
How could I ever get tired of such a brother?
He’s irreplaceable and beloved to me.
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