Perfect Possession - Episode 73

 

Seo-yeon held up a white shirt to Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, are you going to wear this?”

 

“Wha?”

 

“Tae-yul liked it because it’s the same clothes as Daddy’s.”

 

Tae-yul, who kept trying to touch his hair, as if the neatly combed hairstyle was awkward, tilted his head, looking at the adorable dress shirt.

 

“Daddy’s?”

 

“No, Tae-yul’s. We’re meeting Grandma and Grandpa today, remember? Or, do you not like it? Should we just wear the clothes Tae-yul likes?”

 

Frankly, Seo-yeon didn’t want Tae-yul to wear a suit. Even if it wasn’t for a long time, they would be staying for a few hours, and she thought Tae-yul would be uncomfortable.

 

She was worried about whether Tae-yul, who still wore diapers, could endure wearing clothes he didn’t usually wear for several hours. If he got annoyed or whined because he was uncomfortable, Mi-ryung wouldn’t like it.

 

Still, she didn’t understand herself for making Tae-yul wear a dress shirt to the main house. It just felt like she had to. Hadn’t she bought new clothes to wear today as well?

 

“Is this the power of the Do-young family?”

 

Seo-yeon muttered bitterly and then changed her voice brightly to ask Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, should we wear something else?”

 

“Daddy? Tae-yul’s?”

 

“It’s the same clothes as Daddy’s, but this one is Tae-yul’s.”

 

“Like.”

 

Tae-yul smiled brightly and then pulled at the clothes he was wearing, trying to take them off. Seo-yeon unbuttoned the front and took off his clothes without messing up his hair, then put on the shirt.

 

Seeing Tae-yul, who wasn’t even two years old yet, wearing a dress shirt was so cute that the apologetic feeling from before disappeared.

 

“You’re so cute that you have to wear it, our Tae-yul.”

 

“Are you still not ready?”

 

Jaehoon, who was wearing a dark gray suit, stopped as he came inside. He immediately took out his phone and took a picture.

 

Seo-yeon turned to him and covered the front with her hand.

 

“Don’t take pictures. He hasn’t put on his pants yet.”

 

“Even with just the shirt on, he has a completely different aura. This guy is going to be quite the looker.”

 

“Like you?”

 

“Why did you suddenly jump from Tae-yul to me?”

 

Jaehoon smiled and approached them.

 

“Daddy’s? Tae-yul’s.”

 

Tae-yul pointed to the shirt Jaehoon was wearing and then showed his own, saying.

 

“Is our son dressing like Daddy today?”

 

“Look at this. Isn’t it so cute?”

 

Seo-yeon showed the bow tie and held it up to Tae-yul’s neck.

 

“It’s cute, but I think Tae-yul will hate it.”

 

Jaehoon said worriedly.

 

“Really? Tae-yul, should we give this to the dog?”

 

“No. Tae-yul’s.”

 

Tae-yul shook his head and stretched his neck as if asking to put on the tie.

 

“This guy is already interested in fashion.”

 

“Did you just realize that? Our Tae-yul is so cool, right?”

 

Seo-yeon was excited and, while Tae-yul was squatting and stretching while humming, barely managed to put on the suit.

 

She left the fully prepared Tae-yul to Jaehoon and changed her clothes as well. She usually wore pants or dresses that were easy to take care of Tae-yul in, but today she wore a simple white two-piece suit.

 

She wore a straight skirt that covered below the knees, a jacket, and accented it with a belt. Her hair was neatly tied back. She wore pearl earrings that weren’t too flashy and didn’t wear a necklace.

 

On Seo-yeon’s hand was the wedding ring she hadn’t taken off once since getting married. Thinking that was enough, she turned to the two men who were staring at her.

 

“Mommy?”

 

Seo-yeon, who was wearing light makeup and clothes she didn’t usually wear, looked pretty even to his eyes, and he asked with curious eyes.

 

“It looks the same as usual to me, but your expressions are so real. Do I look that different?”

 

“No, well… I’ve seen more beautiful sides of you, so it doesn’t matter to me, but is it different for our son. But Seo-yeon, to be honest, I feel an unapproachable beauty. Like a goddess.”

 

“Is that so? Well, that’s not bad.”

 

Seo-yeon gave an attractive smile and approached the two men. Tae-yul, who was staring at Seo-yeon, hesitated and reached out his hand, gently touching his mother’s face.

 

“Mommy, pweety.”

 

“Oh my.”

 

Seo-yeon looked at Jaehoon with shining eyes.

 

“He definitely said pretty, right?”

 

“That’s what I heard too.”

 

“Mommy, pweety.”

 

Tae-yul let out a satisfied breath and hugged Jaehoon.

 

“He seems to be learning to speak faster since we started listening to audiobooks.”

 

“I knew there was a reason for listening to them like that.”

 

Jaehoon was also satisfied with the audiobooks.

 

“Thank you, Tae-yul. Our son is also very handsome.”

 

Seo-yeon stroked Tae-yul’s cheek and said.

 

“More than me?”

 

“Never mind.”

 

Seo-yeon said sharply and glared lovingly at Jaehoon, who was frowning.

 

“Let’s go quickly. I don’t want to be late.”

 

“Are you feeling a little better?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Only then did Seo-yeon realize that Jaehoon had been watching her mood all along.

 

“I’m fine. What reason do I have to feel bad when I have you and Tae-yul? Let’s do well today and go to Jeju Island for dinner as promised. Let’s do nothing but lie down and laze around all weekend.”

 

“Just thinking about it is an unfamiliar scene but I’m secretly excited.”

 

Jaehoon smiled at Seo-yeon. The three of them were planning to have dinner at the main house and then spend the weekend in Jeju Island.

 

Jaehoon, who had been incredibly busy, had a little more free time, and he said he wanted to play with Tae-yul all weekend without anyone bothering them.

 

So, when Seo-yeon said, “If we stay in Seoul, you’re basically on standby,” he said, “Then let’s go to Jeju Island,” and it was decided in a hurry.

 

Was that why? Seo-yeon’s steps to the main house were a little lighter. Her anxious heart, which had been there until this morning, melted away like snow, and she headed to the main house with a comfortable heart.

 

*♦*

 

Even as she entered the house, Mi-ryung didn’t look at Seo-yeon. She only gave Jaehoon a brief glance and immediately looked at Tae-yul.

 

Seo-yeon didn’t know if Tae-yul remembered Mi-ryung, who had helped him open his mouth. But seeing him holding onto Jaehoon’s leg tightly with a frightened face, it seemed like he didn’t completely forget.

 

However, Seo-yeon didn’t want Tae-yul to just stay scared and not greet her. She knelt down in front of Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, that’s Grandma. You have to say ‘Hello.'”

 

Tae-yul only moved his eyes to glance at Mi-ryung once and then hugged Seo-yeon’s neck tightly. She reassured Tae-yul and gently stroked his back.

 

“It’s okay, Tae-yul.”

 

After staying still for a moment, Tae-yul let go of Seo-yeon’s neck and looked up at Mi-ryung. Then he quickly bent down, stood up, and nodded his head.

 

“The Chairman went golfing. I guess it’s still hard for him to see your face.”

 

Mi-ryung said to Jaehoon only after receiving Tae-yul’s greeting.

 

“I got the text. He said he’ll see us next time.”

 

Mi-ryung stared at Tae-yul again before going inside and headed to the living room with the three of them.

 

Seo-yeon looked at the living room, where Mi-ryung’s taste was evident, and became nervous in a different way. Luxurious sculptures and artworks decorated the living room.

 

Tae-yul was curious as anyone, even if he didn’t touch or run around. Seo-yeon couldn’t take her eyes off Tae-yul, worried that he might touch something and break it. Mi-ryung noticed this and said a word.

 

“Just leave him alone. He won’t break anything by touching it.”

 

“Still, it’s better to be careful.”

 

As feared, Tae-yul, who was fascinated by Yoon Yoon-hee’s sculpture ‘Small Horse and Boy’, was staring at it without blinking.

 

“If Tae-yul wants to see it, you can go look at it.”

 

Jaehoon said kindly and took Tae-yul to the sculpture.

 

“Tae-yul?”

 

Tae-yul pointed to the little boy riding on a horse the size of his bust and asked.

 

“This friend is… well, is he? He looks like Tae-yul.”

 

Jaehoon smiled at the cute-cheeked boy and stroked Tae-yul’s head.

 

“Wha? Woof-woof…?”

 

This time, Tae-yul pointed to the horse with his hand and asked.

 

“It’s not a woof-woof, it’s a horse. Tae-yul hasn’t seen a horse yet, right? Daddy will take you to Gimpo next time.”

 

In Gimpo, there was a farm where Jaehoon’s horse was. He hadn’t been able to go often these days because he was busy, but he used to go and ride horses three or four times a month.

 

“A horse is still a bit much.”

 

Seo-yeon had been there too. She had gone to bring Jaehoon urgent documents to deliver on the weekend, and in fact, that was the day their relationship began to change.

 

That night, Seo-yeon didn’t go home. Later, she found out that the documents weren’t that urgent. The memory of that day made her quickly straighten her posture. Thinking about her first night with Jaehoon in front of Mi-ryung made her face burn.

 

“He could ride a pony.”

 

Mi-ryung said calmly and turned her gaze to Seo-yeon.

 

“He speaks quite well.”

 

“Yes. He remembers what he hears well. When we listen to audiobooks, he often says the words that come out of them, which is amazing.”

 

“I was busy and didn’t know much about Jaehoon when he was young, but every time I saw him, I was often surprised by how much his speech had improved.”

 

“Let’s eat.”

 

Jaehoon, uncomfortable with Mi-ryung talking about his childhood, said sharply.

 

“Are you in a hurry?”

 

“I’m planning to go to Jeju Island in the afternoon. We’ll be there for the weekend.”

 

“You need to rest too. Let’s go to the dining room.”

 

Mi-ryung went to the dining room with the three of them without saying anything else. A high chair was also prepared at the table. Seo-yeon was about to sit Tae-yul in the chair but quietly stepped aside.

 

Seeing Mi-ryung step closer and stand next to Tae-yul, she knew that she wanted to sit him in the chair.

 

When Seo-yeon stepped back, Mi-ryung paused, then picked up Tae-yul, sat him in the chair, and adjusted his posture. Tae-yul stared at Mi-ryung with bright eyes without saying a word, staying still as she did as she pleased.

 

“Are you comfortable? Should I sit you again?”

 

Mi-ryung asked Tae-yul. It was impossible to know if Tae-yul understood what she meant. But he didn’t seem to dislike it, as he raised the corners of his mouth and smiled brightly, then said loudly.

 

“Num-num, yummy?”

 

A look of embarrassment flashed across Mi-ryung’s face, then she said quietly.

 

“Yes, we’re going to eat.”

 

She touched Tae-yul’s head and turned to the two of them.

 

“Sit down.”

 

“Please sit first, Mother.”

 

Mi-ryung returned to her seat and sat down. Jaehoon made a place for Seo-yeon next to Tae-yul and waited for her to sit down before sitting down himself.