Perfect Possession - Episode 16

“Tae-yul, shall we go see the trees with Daddy? Let’s also see where to hang Tae-yul’s swing. Whee-swing.”

Seo-yeon mimed swinging. Tae-yul, who they thought would only blink and stare, immediately nodded, surprising them both. Hiding their surprise, the three strolled through the garden.

Jaehoon, who had never held a child before, seemed anxious, his shoulders tense enough for Seo-yeon to feel. Walking a step behind, she closed the gap and matched his pace.

“Should we put him down?”

Jaehoon looked at Seo-yeon without a word, his eyes questioning if it was okay.

“It’s grass, so it’s okay if he falls a little.”

“If he cries?”

“I… I kind of want him to cry. He’s too… he’s always okay.”

Seo-yeon spoke brightly, trying to shake off her trembling voice, and looked at Tae-yul.

“Tae-yul, do you want to get down and walk? It’s soft and fluffy here on the grass.”

She jumped in place as she spoke. Seo-yeon was telling Tae-yul with her whole body where these gestures came from, she didn’t even realize what she was doing.

Seo-yeon was unfamiliar to Jaehoon’s eyes. She was always elegant and composed. But when they were alone, she would turn sensual, arousing him with seductive eyes.

The difference was so attractive that Jaehoon had secretly enjoyed her sexy days and nights. Nowhere in his memory was there an image of Seo-yeon like this.

Making fists and jumping in place, or mimicking swinging and saying “Whee-swing,” felt so awkward.

But strangely, that image pierced his heart and made it burn. It was closer to a protective instinct than desire.

Jaehoon snapped out of it when Seo-yeon grabbed his arm and shook it, looking at her.

“Did you see?”

Wondering what she saw, his gaze naturally turned to Tae-yul. Tae-yul, who had been motionless in his arms, tapped Jaehoon’s arm. Then, the bottom he was supporting with his arm wiggled.

Jaehoon, surprised, shifted his gaze to Seo-yeon.

“He wants to get down.”

Having met him less than two hours ago, Seo-yeon was reading Tae-yul’s mind.

‘Is this motherhood?’

It was something his own mother, Mi-ryung, didn’t have, so Jaehoon found the sight unfamiliar but also fascinating. He carefully placed Tae-yul on the grass.

“Daddy will follow right beside you.”

As Tae-yul stood blankly, looking around, Sung-joon carefully approached.

“Hyung, this.”

Only then did the two realize that Jae-moon and Sung-joon had arrived. Jaehoon looked at the sneakers Sung-joon held out.

Come to think of it, Tae-yul was wearing light fabric slippers. He realized that he had picked up the child and come out without even checking his shoes.

“Thank you. I’ll put them on for him.”

As Seo-yeon took the sneakers, Jaehoon reached out his hand.

“Let me try.”

She gave a gentle smile and handed the sneakers to Jaehoon. She could see how hard he was trying to approach Tae-yul.

Seo-yeon’s heart welled up as she watched Jaehoon kneeling to put shoes on her son.

Seo-yeon still couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a sinner who had failed to protect her child. She had resolved not to beg if Jaehoon asked her to leave.

But holding Tae-yul in her arms, she wanted to stay by his side at any cost until her son opened his mouth. Even if Jaehoon said no, she would beg and plead.

Jaehoon knelt and looked at Tae-yul. His dark eyes trembled slightly. He seemed to be standing there blankly, but in reality, he was thinking hard with his little head about where he was and whether he could really run.

Jaehoon nodded to reassure him and showed him the sneakers.

“Shall we change shoes? Tae-yul can run as he pleases.”

As if he understood Jaehoon’s words, Tae-yul looked down at his feet. Seo-yeon held her breath and watched Tae-yul. After staring at his feet, Tae-yul leaned on Jaehoon’s shoulder and lifted one foot.

Startled, Jaehoon quickly took off his slipper. Seeing his doll-like feet, so small, made his heart ache. He composed himself and put on the sneakers.

His movements were awkward, and he worried that Tae-yul might be uncomfortable. Fortunately, the laces were easy to tighten, so putting them on wasn’t difficult.

As Jaehoon stood up, Tae-yul looked around again. Then he started to walk slowly. Seo-yeon and Jaehoon, who had no idea how a child Tae-yul’s age should act, simply followed behind their son.

“Usually, they run without looking back, but he’s very cautious.”

Jae-moon, who was coming from behind, lowered his voice as he spoke.

“Is he cautious? Or is he being careful?”

Jaehoon asked, his eyes fixed on Tae-yul.

“We’ll have to watch him more to know, but it could be both. Even if he has a very cautious personality, it would be hard to suppress the instinct to run in such an open space.”

“He’ll get better, right?”

“He’ll get better. Tae-yul will.”

Seo-yeon looked at Jaehoon without waiting for Jae-moon’s answer.

“He’s your son. He’ll definitely get better. Look. He’s walking faster.”

Seo-yeon said in an excited voice as Tae-yul, who had been walking carefully step by step, picked up speed. She grabbed Jaehoon’s arm.

It was almost an instinctive action, but it came to him with a different meaning. Jaehoon lightly grasped the hand on his arm. A surprised gaze returned, but he pretended not to notice.

Seo-yeon, who was watching Tae-yul walk quickly, looked up at Jaehoon without realizing it when he took her hand.

“Focus on Tae-yul.”

“A good relationship between Mom and Dad will also greatly help reassure Tae-yul.”

Jae-moon said with a smile. He soon became a doctor again, sharply observing Tae-yul’s actions.

“I believe you when you say Tae-yul will get better.”

Seo-yeon’s heart fluttered at Jaehoon’s words. It was like seeing him again before they broke up. Jaehoon was ruthless to others, but he was always gentle with her. Seo-yeon swallowed her tears and said,

“I want to hear his voice.”

“You’ll hear it soon.”

Seo-yeon let out a small scream and followed her son as Tae-yul started running and finally fell. Tae-yul fell forward as if collapsing with unfamiliar steps.

“Tae-yul…”

Surprised, Seo-yeon called out to Tae-yul and then stopped. Jaehoon, who was running quickly towards Tae-yul, also stopped.

Even though he had fallen with a considerable thud, Tae-yul got up and ran to the big tree.

Seo-yeon felt as if a sharp, worn-out stone was digging into her heart. An ordinary child would have burst into tears from the moment they fell.

Watching Tae-yul get up, she felt heartbroken at the thought that there had been no adult to run and hug him when he fell.

As Seo-yeon clutched the front of her blouse, Jaehoon’s face also hardened with pain. He felt the same emotions that Seo-yeon felt.

She wanted to say something, but her mouth wouldn’t open. Instead, she smiled as if this was nothing.

Jaehoon watched Seo-yeon compose herself and smile. As she ran towards Tae-yul, he ran after her.

“Tae-yul, are you okay after falling? Can Mommy take a look?”

Tae-yul nodded. His long eyelashes were wet, and it seemed tears had come out without him knowing. Seo-yeon swallowed her tears with all her might and rolled up the child’s pants.

Fortunately, the soft grass had prevented any injuries, but his skin was red. She couldn’t even touch it and said, blowing on it,

“Hoo, hoo- are you okay? Does it hurt?”

“Is he hurt? Jae-moon.”

Worried about his red knees, Jaehoon turned to Jae-moon and said.

“He might have a slight bruise, but he’s okay. No need to apply medicine. Tae-yul is brave. Uncle is completely smitten.”

Jae-moon laughed loudly and gave a thumbs up. Tae-yul, who didn’t dislike it, rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand and patted the big tree.

Seo-yeon knew what Tae-yul wanted to say without even thinking about it. Only then did she smile brightly and gently hug Tae-yul.

“Shall we make a swing here?”

Tae-yul, who had been quietly hugging her, leaned his face on Seo-yeon’s shoulder. The weight pressing on her shoulder gradually eased the pain in her heart. The weight of her child’s head pushed out the jagged stones that had filled her chest.

“Mommy likes that our Tae-yul is so brave, but  it’s okay to cry out loud if it hurts.”

Everyone there teared up at Seo-yeon’s trembling voice. Just then, Mrs. Kim, who had come out to announce that lunch was ready, turned around and wiped away her tears.

Jae-moon, recognizing her, spoke on behalf of Mrs. Kim.

“It looks like lunch is ready.”

“Let’s go in. Tae-yul must be hungry too.”

Jaehoon lightly wrapped his arm around Seo-yeon’s back as she held Tae-yul. Tae-yul lifted his face and stared at Jaehoon.

Whether it was because he was called Daddy and he thought that’s what it was, or whether he really thought he was his dad, Jaehoon still couldn’t tell anything from Tae-yul’s eyes, unlike Seo-yeon.

“We’re going to eat. Mom and Dad, together with Tae-yul.”

Even if he didn’t know, Jaehoon just spoke. Tae-yul, who had been staring silently, blinked at the word ‘eat’. He must have been hungry.

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