Husband Role - Episode 12

The building towering between the U-shaped alleys was her maternal uncle’s house. Eun-seol sighed softly as she looked at the approaching stone house.

 

Then, she saw someone with their arms crossed, pacing back and forth in front of the garage.

 

Eun-seol squinted as if she had poor eyesight and identified the figure.

 

“Eun-seol!”

 

So-hee, who had discovered Eun-seol at the same time, ran over. She quickly linked arms with Eun-seol and asked,

 

“Why are you so late?”

 

Eun-seol hesitated at the unexpected friendliness. Then, So-hee quietly gave her a look. Eun-seol tried to interpret So-hee’s gesture.

 

“Jung-hyuk is here waiting.”

 

So-hee said with a smile. Eun-seol smiled self-deprecatingly to herself.

 

The teacher came. That’s why. Her aunt was out in the alley.

 

In case Eun-seol went into the garage. And in case she suddenly came up from the basement to the first floor.

 

“I see.”

 

Eun-seol replied and carefully shook off So-hee’s arm. As if not caring about that, So-hee grabbed Eun-seol’s shoulders again.

 

The two walked side by side up the sloping alley towards the main gate. Their backs looked quite friendly.

 

“Eun-seol is here!”

 

So-hee said brightly, pushing open the gate.

 

Just then, Jung-hyuk was opening the familiar front door and coming out. It was an unfamiliar sight. Jung-hyuk began to walk down the granite steps, one by one, from a position half a floor higher.

 

It was strange.

 

So-hee’s artificial voice faded away, and only the sound of Jung-hyuk’s shoes seemed to ring loudly. Even though that couldn’t be.

 

Eun-seol stared blankly at him. Time flowed slowly, as if trapped in water.

 

A moment later, Jung-hyuk, who had come all the way, examined Eun-seol’s face with sharp eyes. At the same time, his scent, carried on the soft spring breeze, enveloped her in an instant.

 

“Nothing happened?”

 

The low-pitched resonance caused a small wave in Eun-seol’s heart.

 

“Ah…”

 

He lowered his eyes to face Eun-seol, who was much smaller than him.

 

Beneath thick, dense eyelashes, obsidian-like eyes sparkled with delicate light. It resembled a quiet madness, making it look a little eerie.

 

When there was no answer from Eun-seol, So-hee, who had become anxious, pressed down on Eun-seol’s shoulder and spoke in a ventriloquial voice.

 

“Eun-seol, you have to answer?”

 

“Ah… I…”

 

Eun-seol unknowingly adjusted her collar and nodded. She was wearing a thin turtleneck, but it felt as if the scars of last night would be revealed.

 

At that moment, Jung-hyuk’s large hand brushed Eun-seol’s lips.

 

“It’s almost healed.”

 

“Yes!”

 

“It won’t scar.”

 

Eun-seol, whose neck flushed instantly, nodded her head like a heavy weight.

 

Under his thorough gaze, her solar plexus tightened. His sticky gaze did not let go easily, and because of that, Eun-seol’s heart felt like it would explode.

 

“What could have happened?”

 

So-hee answered instead, creasing her eyes. Judging by her slightly trembling voice, she seemed very embarrassed.

 

“Could you give us some space?”

 

Jung-hyuk asked in a heavy voice. It was more of an order than a request.

 

So-hee said, “Oh my, look at me,” and patted Eun-seol’s shoulder once more.

 

“I’m going to make braised spicy monkfish for dinner. You like it. Talk and come in slowly. Okay?”

 

It wasn’t that she disliked braised spicy monkfish, but she didn’t particularly like it either. Especially Aunt Ma’s braised spicy monkfish was too spicy, and she couldn’t eat it because she was repulsed by the crown daisy leaves that were added in abundance.

 

“Yes.”

 

When Eun-seol answered dryly, So-hee smiled like a mask again and stepped back.

 

The front door closed, and Eun-seol looked up at Jung-hyuk with a brighter face.

 

“Did you come to see me?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

At his immediate answer, Eun-seol chuckled.

 

“Your phone.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“We were supposed to contact each other.”

 

“Did you perhaps wait?”

 

At Eun-seol’s question, Jung-hyuk frowned. Eun-seol, who was startled, whispered timidly, “Never mind. ”

 

“I waited.”

 

He said in a heavy voice.

 

“But there was no contact. And you didn’t answer the phone.”

 

“Ah, then perhaps were you worried?”

 

Now the sound of her heartbeat was engulfing Eun-seol’s ears. What if it was just wishful thinking? That would be so embarrassing, she worried, but she wanted to confirm it. So, she squeezed out the courage she didn’t have and asked.

 

Then Jung-hyuk clicked his tongue and opened his mouth.

 

“Of course.”

 

At that, Eun-seol’s face flushed.

 

After a moment of silence,

 

“Next time, I won’t make you wait.”

 

Eun-seol said. Her voice trembled without permission.

 

“You better not.”

 

Jung-hyuk handed her phone at the same time as he answered. Eun-seol’s eyes widened.

 

How does the teacher have my phone? Then how much does he know?

 

“…Thank you.”

 

In case she said something careless, Eun-seol barely managed to say hello and picked up her phone.

 

But the phone was unmoving on his hand. A tug-of-war situation was unfolding over one device.

 

Embarrassed, Eun-seol put a little more force into pulling the phone towards her. But it was no use.

 

Eun-seol carefully raised her eyes and looked at Jung-hyuk. Jung-hyuk maintained a stiff expression.

 

It was when she pursed her lips with a troubled expression.

 

“Touching you is the same as touching me.”

 

Jung-hyuk’s face, speaking in a low voice, was like a deep, cold river. She couldn’t see through him at all. Even if she couldn’t see, there was nothing to be afraid of.

 

If he was a river-like man, Eun-seol was willing to throw herself into it.

 

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

 

Eun-seol also answered seriously.

 

Only then did Jung-hyuk let go of his hand. Eun-seol quickly took her phone and smiled at Jung-hyuk.

 

 

Exactly a week later. The families met at a Korean restaurant renovated from a traditional Korean house. The two grandfathers sat facing each other, and the meal proceeded.

 

Because they had been visiting each other often, it wasn’t particularly awkward or grand.

 

Amidst the soft gayageum music, discussions about dowry, bride price, and the wedding hall continued.

 

Most of it was suggested by So-hee and listened to by Kyung-ha.

 

“But we don’t want that much.”

 

Kyung-ha, who had been listening quietly, carefully revealed her thoughts.

 

“That’s not right.”

 

But So-hee said firmly. How could she be careless when sending off a niece like a daughter? She added that she would be ashamed to do so.

 

“I can feel how much you cherish Eun-seol.”

 

Kyung-ha said with a gentle smile.

 

“I didn’t give birth to her, but she’s like Min-seo to me.”

 

So-hee replied with a smile.

 

It was all ordered by Dae-hyuk. Now that the situation had turned around, he told her to proceed with Eun-seol’s marriage as smoothly as possible.

 

And anyway, all the expenses going to Eun-seol were being paid by a fund from the asset management company that Bong-cheol had invested in.

 

Once that task was completed, the competent Attorney Kim would give Dae-hyuk wings on his shoulders with the honorary chairman’s letter of recommendation.

 

If he was nominated for the next director position that he had been promised, the position would be as good as his.

 

Unless Dae-hyuk committed an illegal act and was referred to the authorities, there would be no reason for the board of directors or the committee to reconsider him.

 

Not only that.

 

If he married Min-seo into the K Pharmaceutical family, Dae-hyuk’s power would become even more formidable.

 

So, sending Eun-seol to the Hocheon family instead of Min-seo was actually a profitable deal for him.

 

As a result, it was like holding rice cakes in both hands.

 

“I will also cherish your precious niece.”

 

Kyung-ha said reverently and warmly.

 

“Our Eun-seol is so blessed. Oh, I’m getting tears for no reason…”

 

At that, Kyung-ha quickly handed over a handkerchief, and So-hee used it to wipe away her tears.

 

Dae-hyuk also patted So-hee’s shoulder from the side, saying, “Oh, you,” and the couple exchanged smiles as if they were sad but also moved to be sending off their beloved niece.

 

Next to them sat Min-seo, who had been forcibly dragged out. She even had to give Eun-seol the clothes she cherished for the engagement ceremony.

 

There was coercion from Dae-hyuk in the process. Because of that, Min-seo was in a state of being so poisoned that she would explode at once if pricked with a needle.

 

Eun-seol was busy taking care of Bong-cheol. She put Bong-cheol’s favorite food on his plate, wiped the sauce from his mouth, and offered him water from time to time, trying to make the engagement ceremony uneventful.

 

“Daughter, Dad, toilet. Toilet!”

 

At the sudden loud noise, Eun-seol quickly supported Bong-cheol.

 

“Min-seo.”

 

Dae-hyuk called Min-seo in a stern voice. He was telling Min-seo to help.

 

At that, Min-seo put down her chopsticks loudly.

 

So-hee, who was startled, looked around and said in a small voice.

 

“Father, mistakes Eun-seol for his aunt. Eun-seol will have to do it.”

 

Cold sweat ran down So-hee’s spine.

 

“I’ll do it, as Aunt said.”

 

Eun-seol, who had been quiet all along, spoke for the first time.

 

She couldn’t possibly entrust it to Min-seo, who had never helped Bong-cheol even once.

 

Il-sung looked at the backs of the two as they left with sad eyes. Gwang-min and Kyung-ha were the same.

 

“Eun-seol is such a filial granddaughter.”

 

Kyung-ha said in a light tone of admiration.

 

“Father also had a special affection for Eun-seol. You know that Eun-seol used to be under Father, right?”

 

So-hee naturally continued the conversation. Meanwhile, Jung-hyuk quietly moved his chopsticks. A yukjeon (pan-fried battered beef) was placed on Eun-seol’s plate. Next to it were deodeok (mountain herb) skewers and braised abalone.

 

It was all moved by Jung-hyuk. What kind of meal was this at an engagement ceremony, but it was because he hadn’t seen Eun-seol put a spoonful of rice in her mouth while she was busy taking care of Bong-cheol.

 

Kyung-ha smiled at Jung-hyuk’s actions.

 

The engagement ceremony seemed more harmonious than ever.

 

But there was also someone who couldn’t smile. It was Min-seo. Her fist under the table was trembling.