Perfect Possession - Episode 80

“I’m not feeling too great. Let’s go inside.”

 

Jae-moon smiled briefly and reached out to stroke Tae-yul’s head, who was wearing a mask.

 

“Smart Tae-yul. Did you wear a mask because you wanted to see Dad?”

 

“Doggy mark.”

 

“Oh, you’re right.”

 

“Daddy.”

 

Tae-yul raised his arms and waved them as Jaehoon approached.

 

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

 

“I’m wearing a mask. And I’ve had all my vaccinations. I’m fine.”

 

“Then I guess I can hug you.”

 

Jaehoon picked up Tae-yul and smiled broadly.

 

“Daddy, did a bad sick bug come?”

 

“It came for a little bit, but Daddy defeated it all.”

 

“Really? Daddy is the best.”

 

He felt bad because the mask covered Tae-yul’s entire face except for his eyes. But he felt like he couldn’t forgive himself if he gave Tae-yul a cold. Reluctantly, Jaehoon quickly put Tae-yul down.

 

 

Jaehoon had a higher fever than expected, so he received an IV drip immediately after the examination. Tae-yul burst into tears when the IV needle went in, and they had to leave the room. Seo-yeon barely managed to soothe Tae-yul, entrusted him to Mrs. Kim, and went to see Jaehoon.

 

“It seems like it came with overwork. You’ve been pushing yourself lately.”

 

Jae-moon reassured Seo-yeon that Jaehoon would be fine after getting an IV and taking a nap. But seeing Jaehoon leaning against the headboard of the bed and smiling made her heart ache.

 

“I guess I can’t ask him to cut back on work, can I?”

 

Seo-yeon knew better than anyone that he was a perfectionist when it came to work, and she sighed.

 

“You could have left this business trip to Head of Department Han or Director Cha.”

 

“The owner is coming from their side, so I can’t not go.”

 

“Your eyes were bloodshot when you left that day, and it made me feel uneasy.”

 

Jaehoon brushed Seo-yeon’s hair behind her ear and smiled.

 

“Didn’t you hear Jae-moon? He said I’ll get better after a nap. More importantly, has Tae-yul stopped crying?”

 

“Don’t even mention it. He cried so sadly, asking why you were getting a shot when the bad germs went home. He’s making lemon tea for you with Mrs. Kim now. You have to drink it, even if you don’t like it.”

 

“I guess I only have a son.”

 

“What about me? Don’t you worry about me?”

 

Jaehoon looked at Seo-yeon with feverish eyes. Watching her beautiful eyes become clear, he stroked her face.

 

“I do. But I don’t mind it when you worry about me.”

 

“This guy.”

 

Seo-yeon glared at him playfully, but her nose tingled. Anyone can catch a cold while living. But seeing Jaehoon, who always seemed like he would give her the world and seemed so steadfast, getting an IV was so unfamiliar.

 

“Get some sleep.”

 

“Tae-yul is making lemon tea, right? I have to drink that before I sleep.”

 

“Then I’ll go downstairs for a bit. He must be groaning a lot.”

 

Jaehoon and Seo-yeon burst into laughter at the thought of Tae-yul making ‘groaning’ sounds at everything. Seo-yeon gently kissed Jaehoon’s forehead and left the room.

 

“It’s just simple overwork and a cold. Don’t worry too much.”

 

Jae-moon, who was outside the door, said again as if trying to reassure Seo-yeon, who looked worried.

 

“I know, but I can’t help but feel upset.”

 

“Did you think Jaehoon would never get sick in his life?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“That guy used to get sick all the time when he was studying abroad. The problem is that he doesn’t show it. But he’s also naturally healthy, so he recovers quickly. So, don’t worry.”

 

Jae-moon said as if it was nothing.

 

“Well, I have to stay until the IV is done, so shall we go get some of the lemon tea that our Tae-yul made?”

 

“I don’t know if there will be enough for the doctor.”

 

Seo-yeon smiled brightly and went downstairs to the kitchen. As expected, as soon as she opened the door, she heard groaning sounds.

 

“Ugh, ugh. Like this, like this.”

 

Tae-yul was mixing the lemon juice that Mrs. Kim had squeezed into the water. He was even wearing an apron and sitting down, spinning a long wooden spoon around and around. He seemed to be trying to be careful, but it seemed like more was splashing onto the apron and the floor. Every time the lemon water splashed, the ‘groaning’ sound got louder.

 

Seo-yeon tried to hide her laughter and approached Tae-yul.

 

“Wow, you’ve already made this much?”

 

“Mommy, you have to do it like this. Can you do it?”

 

“I don’t think Mommy can.”

 

Tae-yul, who had a proud expression on his face at Seo-yeon’s words, stirred excitedly, making ‘groaning’ sounds. It seemed like Mrs. Kim had already made the lemon tea to send up to Jaehoon separately. But Seo-yeon was planning to take the lemon tea that Tae-yul was struggling to make.

 

“Mrs. Kim, can I have some honey?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Mrs. Kim, who had read Seo-yeon’s mind, smiled and handed her the honey. Because it was in a small tube, Tae-yul could easily add the honey.

 

“Tae-yul, you have to squeeze it little by little.”

 

“I can do it.”

 

Tae-yul said confidently and squeezed the tube with strength in his little fingers. But no matter how careful he was, the honey only came out in small drops. Still, it was better than it coming out all at once, so Seo-yeon waited. After squeezing the honey like that several times, Tae-yul looked at Seo-yeon with eyes that seemed to say, ‘Is it enough now?’

 

“Just a little more.”

 

It would be too sour, so it would be good to eat it a little sweeter.

 

“A little more? Okay, I got it.”

 

Tae-yul wiped his fingers on his pants as if his fingers were tired, and then squeezed the honey again.

 

“Careful, careful.”

 

Seo-yeon felt proud of Tae-yul, who was trying so hard, so she let him be even if he spilled the honey. She hated dirty things, but maybe because he was focused on squeezing the honey or because he was thinking of his dad, he didn’t care at all.

 

“All done. Now let’s stir it well and take it to him.”

 

“Tae-yul will stir it.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Tae-yul stirred it well, spinning the wooden spoon around and around.

 

“Ugh. Ah, it’s a little hard.”

 

Tae-yul handed the finished bowl to Seo-yeon. Of course, he thought that his job was done here. Seo-yeon poured Tae-yul’s hard-made lemon tea into a crystal cup.

 

“Tae-yul, Tae-yul will give it to Daddy.”

 

Tae-yul said, reaching out his hand towards the tray.

 

“This is dangerous. Mommy will carry it.”

 

“No. Tae-yul will do it.”

 

Tae-yul suddenly threw a tantrum like never before and ran to grab Mrs. Kim’s hand.

 

“Give me Tae-yul’s cup.”

 

“Master’s cup?”

 

“Quickly.”

 

Tae-yul pointed to the drawer where he kept his things and asked her to open it. When Mrs. Kim opened the door, he quickly grabbed his straw cup and ran to Seo-yeon and handed it to her.

 

“Give it to me in the straw cup. So, Tae-yul can take it.”

 

Seo-yeon blankly imagined Jaehoon drinking lemon tea from the straw cup. She wanted to see it and didn’t want to see it at the same time. The problem was that he would never drink the lemon tea if it came in a straw cup. Seo-yeon suppressed her laughter and decided to appease Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, straw cups are for babies. Daddy is an adult, so I think he’d like to drink it from this cup.”

 

“No, straw cups aren’t yucky.”

 

Tae-yul widened his eyes and pretended to wipe his mouth. He meant that he wouldn’t spill it if he drank it from a straw cup, but his true intention was that it was easy for him to carry. Seo-yeon smiled and thought, ‘Well, I’ll have to leave the rest to Jaehoon.’

 

She poured the lemon tea into Tae-yul’s straw cup with a dog print. Only now did he seem relieved, and he took a deep breath, grabbed both handles, and ran out, thud, thud, thud.

 

“Tae-yul, you have to walk.”

 

He seemed to be in such a hurry that he didn’t hear Seo-yeon’s words. As he was running to the bedroom, Hyun-shik spotted Tae-yul running and reached out to grab him, but he shouted loudly.

 

“No! Daddy is hurt. He has to eat lemon tea.”

 

“Lemon tea?”

 

Hyun-shik, muttering Tae-yul’s words, stepped aside and missed Tae-yul running past. Seo-yeon, who was chasing after Tae-yul, told Hyun-shik, “It’s lemon tea. The one in the straw cup,” and chased after him again.

 

“Flying squirrel and Mommy squirrel…”

 

Ridiculous and absurd words flowed from his mouth.

 

Seo-yeon wasn’t really worried. She knew that he would never climb the stairs alone. As expected, when he came to the stairs, Tae-yul just stomped his feet and looked back at Seo-yeon.

 

“Mommy, Mommy.”

 

“Why are you so fast? Mommy can’t keep up.”

 

“Hurry, hurry.”

 

“Okay, okay. Seriously, you’re just like your dad when it comes to being impatient.”

 

Seo-yeon smiled gently and hugged Tae-yul. Even while climbing the stairs, he wiggled his feet as if he was climbing the stairs himself. She burst out laughing.

 

“I can’t stop you. Okay, we’re here.”

 

“Daddy told me to give it to him quickly.”

 

“Did he?”

 

Tae-yul arrived in front of the door in one breath and tried to knock. But he was holding the straw cup in his hand, so he tried to hold it with one hand, but it was too heavy, so he suddenly said loudly.

 

“Knock, knock, knock!”

 

Seo-yeon stopped walking and clutched her stomach. Jae-moon, who was in the second-floor living room, came out wondering what was going on and burst out laughing.

 

“Ah, our Tae-yul is really not of this world’s cuteness.”