Husband Role - Episode 2

“Teacher!”

 

Jung-hyuk’s weary gaze turned to Eun-seol.

 

“I may not have experience, but,”

 

Eun-seol patted her chest and continued,

 

“In marital relations… I’ll do my best, too!”

 

All eyes were instantly on her. But Eun-seol wasn’t embarrassed. Right now, she was only focused on holding onto Jung-hyuk by any means necessary. She was desperate, truly desperate.

 

After a moment of silence, Jung-hyuk moved his large frame and approached Eun-seol. Bending down to close the gap in their height, he pointed at Eun-seol’s face with his index finger and said,

 

“Go home.”

 

The words sounded like he was telling her to come to her senses, and Eun-seol was dumbfounded.

 

 

After leaving the teaching profession, Yoon Jung-hyuk completed his MBA. He then joined SD Heavy Industries and was assigned as a resident in a parts joint venture established in Saudi Arabia.

 

Later, he successfully expanded into the Middle Eastern market, and his transfer to Ulsan, the heart of SD Heavy Industries, was decided.

 

The broad framework of his work was similar to his previous role, but the detailed nature was completely different. Jung-hyuk spent an entire week grasping the new tasks.

 

Friday arrived.

 

Jung-hyuk, on his way back to his family home in Seoul, stopped abruptly at the sound of two voices coming from in front of the detached house.

 

Jung-hyuk’s main residence consisted of two buildings: the main house where his family lived, and the detached house that Jung-hyuk used alone.

 

“So, why at this late hour?”

 

Seol-gi asked sharply.

 

“Can’t I come to my future husband’s house?”

 

Min-seo retorted with composure.

 

“Did you make an appointment with Oppa?”

 

Min-seo was silent at Seol-gi’s question. Then Seol-gi scoffed.

 

“See? You came running, all impatient by yourself.”

 

“And what about you, Seol-gi? Did you get permission?”

 

“For what?”

 

“What’s in that bag? Isn’t that beer? Are high schoolers allowed to drink?”

 

“What’s it to you, Unnie?”

 

Watching the rebellious Seol-gi, Min-seo smiled mockingly.

 

“That’s why your grades are like that. I heard from Jun-seo. He said you’re a complete idiot.”

 

Jun-seo was Min-seo’s younger brother and attended the same school as Seol-gi.

 

“Ha, this Unnie is really getting on my nerves.”

 

Seol-gi threw the plastic bag hanging from her wrist onto the ground and took a step toward Min-seo.

 

“Are you going to hit me?”

 

Min-seo chuckled and replied.

 

“Stop it.”

 

Jung-hyuk bent his large frame, picked up the black bag that Seol-gi had thrown away, and approached the two women.

 

Seol-gi quickly took a spot next to Jung-hyuk, while a flustered Min-seo’s face stiffened.

 

As if he didn’t see Min-seo, Jung-hyuk tilted his head and looked down at Seol-gi.

 

Seol-gi’s eyes, looking up at Jung-hyuk, were overly bright and sparkling. It was an attempt to get through this situation with charm.

 

“No alcohol,”

 

Jung-hyuk said in a stern but gentle tone. Eventually, Seol-gi, having been told off, pouted. Jung-hyuk took off his jacket and draped it over Seol-gi.

 

“It’s still cold at night.”

 

“It’s okay. It’s just around the corner,”

 

Seol-gi replied, trying to return the jacket, but he firmly closed the lapels and said in a low voice,

 

“You’ll catch a cold.”

 

Then he instructed her to return to the main house.

 

Seol-gi glared at Min-seo and made a dissatisfied expression. Jung-hyuk urged her repeatedly, and she reluctantly retreated.

 

“You’re here.”

 

Min-seo greeted Jung-hyuk with an anxious face. All that came back was a chilly silence. Although they weren’t blood-related siblings, he cherished Seol-gi more than anyone else.

 

Unable to bear the silence, Min-seo parted her lips, “Um… it’s chilly, so… can’t we go inside first? I have something to talk about.”

 

“Talk here.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I don’t like people coming in.”

 

He refused firmly. That made Min-seo’s heart ache.

 

“…”

 

“Quickly.”

 

Jung-hyuk tapped his wristwatch twice, urging her.

 

“Honestly…”

 

His cold attitude pushed Min-seo’s back.

 

“I’m upset. I thought you would contact me, if not right away, after you returned.”

 

A question crossed Jung-hyuk’s face.

 

“…Because we’re getting married.”

 

Min-seo added as if making an excuse.

 

“If that’s the reason, it’s a matter for the adults to handle. That’s what arranged marriages are.”

 

Min-seo was embarrassed by Jung-hyuk’s dry voice.

 

“You said you’re cold. Go quickly.”

 

And as he passed Min-seo,

 

“I like you a lot, Teacher.”

 

Min-seo said in a voice filled with resentment. He turned to look at Min-seo with a faintly frowning face.

 

“Actually, from a long time ago… I’ve loved you. So, I’ve been waiting all along. Only for the day you returned, Teacher.”

 

“…Love?”

 

He asked back with a serious expression.

 

“I wanted to tell you that this marriage… isn’t just an arranged marriage to me.”

 

“…”

 

“I’m talking to you now, putting aside all my pride. Because I’m afraid you’ll run away again.”

 

“…”

 

“Teacher, what do you think of me as a woman? Am I not good enough?”

 

“I haven’t really thought about it.”

 

Min-seo bit her lip at his heartless reply.

 

“…Then please think about it from now on. Seriously.”

 

Min-seo even begged with tears in her eyes, but Jung-hyuk only sighed wearily.

 

 

The next evening. At his grandfather’s call, Jung-hyuk went up to his study.

 

Il-sung was playing Go alone. Looking at the dense black and white stones, Jung-hyuk pointed to one spot. “Here,” he said, and Il-sung picked up a black stone, saying, “Ah.”

 

“Min-seo came by, I hear.”

 

Il-sung asked, still keeping his eyes on the Go board.

 

“For a moment.”

 

Jung-hyuk answered stiffly and sat across from him.

 

“Yes. The talk went well, then.”

 

“There was nothing special to discuss.”

 

“Why not?”

 

Displeased with his grandson’s indifferent reply, Il-sung pushed the Go board aside and said,

 

“Now you have to, get married.”

 

“Yes.”

 

As always, Jung-hyuk’s answer was an obedient response. As expected of him, he had never disobeyed his conservative grandfather.

 

“There’s no time, Jung-hyuk. This time, I want to keep the promise I made with Director Mok. Please, let this grandfather be able to do that.”

 

Yoon Il-sung was the founder of the Cheonho Foundation and the former president of Hocheon University. The current media called his family an educational foundation chaebol.

 

Yoon Il-sung’s first achievement was the establishment of ‘Hocheon Academy,’ named after his pen name.

 

Next, he established a total of seven schools, including Hocheon High School, Hocheon Girls’ High School, Hocheon University, Hocheon Arts University, and Hocheon Health University.

 

Not stopping there, he set out to acquire hospitals.

 

He was a man with a desire to improve the lagging education level and medical services in his country.

 

Around that time, his relationship with Eun-seol’s maternal grandfather, Bong-cheol, began.

 

Bong-cheol was the second partner of Hocheon Hospital.

 

Bong-cheol, who was a so-called “dragon rising from the ditch,” had his life changed by meeting Il-sung.

 

Over the years, the two shared a bond that was no less than brothers.

 

And in 1988, Il-sung suddenly suffered from deteriorating health and needed a liver transplant. The donor who readily gave his liver at that time was also Bong-cheol.

 

‘Our family rose thanks to President Yoon. I’m just happy to be a match for the transplant.’

 

With that, Bong-cheol smiled brightly. Il-sung said he would repay him with anything. He had gained a life. It was a favor that could not be repaid with trivial things.

 

‘Next time… let’s form a bond as in-laws. Then we’ll truly become family.’

 

‘Alright. Let’s definitely do that.’

 

Bong-cheol and Il-sung made a firm promise. But they had not been able to fulfill it yet.

 

Mok Ji-young, Bong-cheol’s precious daughter, fell in love with a poor college student and died while giving birth to Eun-seol.

 

And that promise remained valid, with only time cruelly passing.

 

Currently, Bong-cheol was suffering from severe dementia. Perhaps he had already forgotten such an old promise.

 

But Il-sung wanted to keep the promise no matter what.

 

“I know why you’re hesitating, Jung-hyuk. Min-seo is still young, and she was once your student, so you must feel uncomfortable.”

 

“…”

 

“But what’s so important about those things? Our Yoon family knows gratitude and understands duty. I hope you don’t make this grandfather a shameless person.”

 

“I understand what you mean.”

 

“I told you once before,”

 

Il-sung continued, recalling the past.

 

“If you do that, there will be a generous reward for you as well.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I will definitely give you strength so that no one dares to ignore you.”

 

There was a lot of talk among the collateral family members about Jung-hyuk’s birth.

 

Knowing that, Jung-hyuk had lived his life constantly proving his existence. He closed his eyes and ears to contempt and strived to become a person who met his strict grandfather’s standards. It was a terribly lonely and arduous journey.

 

In that way, he had become fixed as a rigid adult, beyond being upright, and was living a machine-like life. A machine has no emotions and only performs its assigned tasks.

 

“You mean, as long as I get married somehow, that’s all that matters?”

 

Jung-hyuk asked to confirm. Il-sung tilted his head with a puzzled expression and then answered that it was.

 

“Yes. I will talk to my mother again.”

 

Il-sung smiled in relief at Jung-hyuk’s answer.

 

 

The house had been like walking on thin ice since yesterday. It was because Min-seo had been throwing a severe tantrum. No one knew the reason. Everyone was just busy being on edge, watching her every move.

 

Seeing it like this, living in a semi-basement wasn’t so bad. The more you stood out, the more likely you were to get caught in the crossfire.

 

Eun-seol lay still, staring at the ceiling. Jung-hyuk’s stern face was superimposed on the ceiling where one fluorescent light was out.

 

From now on…

 

“What should I do…”

 

Just then, her phone vibrated loudly. Perhaps because it was too quiet, the vibration felt like thunder. Eun-seol quickly raised her upper body and snatched up her phone.

 

Her eyes widened as she checked the caller.

 

“…Teacher?”

 

Eun-seol swiped the green phone button with her index finger.