Husband Role - Episode 13

Bong-cheol returned to the room a little late, holding a Melona ice cream bar.

 

Eun-seol supported Bong-cheol, who was eating the ice cream like a child, letting it drip everywhere.

 

A hint of disgust flashed in Min-seo’s eyes as she watched Bong-cheol.

 

“Careful, careful,” Eun-seol cautioned, and Bong-cheol nodded endlessly. After he sat down, Eun-seol diligently wiped his chin with a wet wipe.

 

“Is it good, Dad?”

 

“Want some?”

 

“I’m okay.”

 

“Eat—! It’s good! Try it! Try it!”

 

Bong-cheol stubbornly insisted, so Eun-seol reluctantly took a bite.

 

“Yeah, it’s good,” Eun-seol said with a smile.

 

“You have a strong stomach,” Min-seo muttered quietly. Just then, Bong-cheol looked at Min-seo. Then, he leaned close to Eun-seol’s ear and asked in a loud voice,

 

“Who is that old hag? Why is she here?”

 

“Not an old hag, she’s my friend.”

 

“Tsk, tsk. Ji-young, you had eyes like a dog.”

 

“…Huh?” Eun-seol stared at Bong-cheol with a troubled expression.

 

“Can’t you tell just by looking? That old hag has a terrible face.”

 

“Ah. Grandpa, no, Dad. Just a moment.”

 

“People live according to their face, you know? Stay away from her if you can. She’s a harmful old hag.”

 

The family exchanged awkward smiles at Bong-cheol’s words.

 

“Father, please stop,” Dae-hyuk said in a low voice.

 

Then, Bong-cheol linked arms with Eun-seol and asked again loudly,

 

“And who is this toad-like creature?”

 

“Ah, that’s my friend’s dad.”

 

Bong-cheol wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something rotten.

 

“Like father, like daughter, I see. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

 

At that moment, Min-seo jumped up from her seat. And bowed politely.

 

“I’m sorry, but I don’t feel well, so I think I should go first.”

 

“Mok Min-seo. Sit down,” Dae-hyuk ordered in a stern voice.

 

“No, it’s okay, Professor Mok. Min-seo’s condition is more important. Jung-hyuk. Instead of that, why don’t you take Min-seo home?”

 

Kyung-ha said. Jung-hyuk rose from his seat without a word. And looked at Eun-seol, opening his mouth.

 

“Eat something.”

 

“Ah… yes.”

 

And Jung-hyuk left the room with Min-seo.

 

‘That rude bastard.’ Dae-hyuk cursed inwardly, watching Jung-hyuk leave without even saying goodbye.

 

Eun-seol stared at the closed door with a strangely sad feeling.

 

 

Min-seo sat in the back seat of the sedan. Jung-hyuk bent his large back and looked towards the driver’s seat.

 

“Driver Kim. Please take good care of Min-seo.”

 

Driver Kim, who was waiting in the driver’s seat, nodded.

 

This car belonged to Il-sung, and the driver was from Jung-hyuk ‘s family.

 

At that, Min-seo frowned. It was because the situation was not what she had expected. Min-seo quickly grabbed Jung-hyuk ‘s sleeve.

 

“Alone… you’re telling me to go alone?”

 

So she asked. Jung-hyuk ‘s gaze shifted from the jacket he was holding back to Min-seo.

 

“Are you feeling that bad?”

 

“Yes! I think I have a really bad stomachache. I don’t think resting will help.”

 

“I’ll call Professor Mok.”

 

Min-seo shook her head at Jung-hyuk ‘s words.

 

“No. It’s an important occasion.”

 

“Hmm,” Jung-hyuk pondered briefly, then gently released Min-seo’s hand, which was holding his jacket, and straightened his upper body.

 

And took out his cell phone from his inside jacket pocket. After a while, he opened his mouth.

 

“Thank you for your hard work. I’m calling because a child of a medical staff member at our hospital has fallen ill. Ah, I don’t think it’s an emergency situation, but…”

 

Surprised, Min-seo jumped out of the back seat.

 

“Where are you calling right now, Doctor?!”

 

“Excuse me for a moment,” Jung-hyuk covered the phone’s speaker with one hand and asked, “Why?”

 

“No! Are you going to call an ambulance or something? Why don’t you just take me?”

 

Min-seo said in a suppressed voice.

 

“Me?”

 

He frowned slowly, as if it was something he hadn’t even considered. And opened his mouth again.

 

“It’s my engagement, where am I going?”

 

“Ah…”

 

Seeing Min-seo’s face flush with embarrassment,

 

“You look fine,” Jung-hyuk said stiffly.

 

“Go carefully.”

 

Then he pointed to the back seat with his eyes. It was a signal for Min-seo to get back in. His eyes were hurrying her away as if she were a bothersome object.

 

Min-seo sighed with annoyance and got into the car. And slammed the car door shut.

 

“Driver, please leave quickly,” Min-seo instructed in an indignant voice.

 

“Yes. But first, I need the destination address.”

 

While the driver was stalling, Jung-hyuk turned away first. Min-seo’s eyes welled up with tears as she confirmed his back as he left without waiting even for that short moment.

 

A deep sense of defeat enveloped her. What was so good about that heartless man? What was so good about him anyway!

 

“…Sniff.”

 

But Jung-hyuk was still special to Min-seo.

 

She had only looked at him since the old days when her memories were faint. It was a feeling she had held for too long. She had dreamed for a long time, waited for a long time. As the years piled up, her expectations for a rosy future grew steadily.

 

Was it because her heart had come too far?

 

She couldn’t give up.

 

Especially if the opponent was Lee Eun-seol.

 

She wanted to stop this marriage with all her might.

 

 

Before she knew it, time flowed like water. Saturday in June. The sky, cleared of fine dust, was unusually clear.

 

It was as if even the weather was blessing Eun-seol and Jung-hyuk ‘s marriage.

 

Eun-seol, who was sitting in the bride’s waiting room, already felt exhausted.

 

She had greeted many guests, listened to words of blessing, and taken pictures. Among them were guests she didn’t know.

 

Maintaining a consistent expression and tone, as if acting in a play, was quite draining.

 

“Suddenly getting married.”

 

The person who came to the bride’s waiting room a little late was Su-jin.

 

She approached Eun-seol, supporting her swollen belly.

 

“…Sister—!”

 

Eun-seol didn’t fake a smile for the first time. She only looked at Su-jin with teary eyes, her eyebrows furrowed in a worried expression.

 

“I heard you came while I went for a checkup. I was so surprised to receive the wedding invitation from Tae-hoon. I almost gave birth on the spot.”

 

Su-jin scolded, pushing her straight hair back from her forehead.

 

“Where’s Brother-in-law?”

 

“Parking. He’ll be up soon.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“But when did you two start dating? Maybe a shotgun wedding?”

 

Eun-seol shook her head at Su-jin’s guess. Then Su-jin tilted her head. She wasn’t pregnant, so why were they rushing the wedding so much?

 

“It’s hard to explain.”

 

To talk about the arranged marriage, Eun-seol would have to reveal her own miserable life in detail.

 

If the opportunity ever arose, she felt like she could confide in Su-jin at least. But not now.

 

“You little devil.”

 

Eun-seol smiled apologetically at Su-jin’s words.

 

“I thought you were old enough to know what you were doing, but love at your age is… well, it’s all uncertain.”

 

Su-jin said with concern. Seeing her serious for once, Eun-seol raised the corners of her lips.

 

“Don’t worry, it’s not a rash decision.”

 

“Well, yeah. If it doesn’t work out, you can always break free.”

 

Su-jin replied cynically again.

 

“Sister, you shouldn’t say things like that in the bride’s waiting room…”

 

Eun-seol playfully retorted. Then Su-jin retorted bluntly, asking what was wrong with it.

 

A little later, the photographer, who had briefly left, came in and captured the two of them.

 

A natural smile spread across Eun-seol’s face. The same was true for Su-jin.

 

“Tae-hoon’s calling. He must be lost. He’s a bit of a klutz.”

 

Su-jin said, struggling to get up from her seat.

 

“You should go quickly.”

 

“Eun-seol.”

 

Eun-seol replied, “Yes, Sister.”

 

Su-jin recalled the impression of Eun-seol’s side of the wedding hosts she had seen coming up just now.

 

Her uncle, who laughed heartily but somehow looked greedy, and her aunt, who was beautiful but had a sharp impression.

 

“If you have any difficulties, talk to your sister.”

 

Eun-seol gave a faint smile instead of answering.

 

When was it? The second time she ran away from home, she hesitated to contact Su-jin. But she didn’t.

 

At the time, Su-jin was in the early stages of pregnancy. Her uterus was weak and unstable, and Eun-seol, knowing this, couldn’t bring herself to ask for help. More than anything, she was afraid. Afraid of causing worry, inconvenience, or disappointment.

 

“Huh?”

 

Su-jin urged her to answer one more time.

 

“Yes, Sister. Thank you.”

 

“I made you do something to be thankful for, so you’re welcome.”

 

At that moment, Su-jin’s cell phone, which had briefly stopped ringing, started ringing again.

 

She turned around, saying she was really leaving.

 

At the same time, the heavy door opened. It was Min-seo. Min-seo was entering the bride’s waiting room with a bright smile.

 

Su-jin left the waiting room, and Min-seo approached Eun-seol.

 

Then, Min-seo turned her head sharply and said to the photographer.

 

“We have something important to discuss, so could you please leave us alone for a moment?”

 

The photographer left awkwardly at the polite but sharp voice. The door closed and a moment of silence fell.

 

Min-seo scanned Eun-seol with cold eyes.

 

She had managed to create a low bun hairstyle with her short hair, and the A-line wedding dress suited Eun-seol’s skin, which was as white as white rice cake, very well.

 

“Pretty, aren’t you?”

 

Min-seo said, raising the corners of her lips.

 

“Anyone would think you’re the bride.”

 

Eun-seol didn’t back down either. Min-seo was wearing a white dress with a square neckline. It was plain, but the design accentuated her flowing lines even more. The crystal necklace she matched as a point was so flashy that it immediately stole the show.

 

“Jealous?”

 

Eun-seol laughed softly at Min-seo’s question.

 

“What’s there to be jealous of? I’m the main character today.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

It was then. After glancing at the waiting room door, Min-seo took out scissors from her handbag.

 

Eun-seol’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“You—!”

 

“I told you clearly.”

 

Min-seo grabbed the hem of Eun-seol’s dress and began to wield the scissors without hesitation.

 

Eun-seol’s face turned blue with the sound of snipping.

 

“I’m going to ruin everything.”