Perfect Possession - Episode 81

“Do you understand now, Teacher?”

 

Seo-yeon said, passing Jae-moon, and quickly opened the door.

 

Jaehoon, who was leaning against the head of the bed waiting for Seo-yeon, was bewildered by the booming voice. Then, realizing that it was a vocalized knock, he burst into laughter despite his throbbing head. As a result, he didn’t notice Tae-yul entering with a straw cup in his hand.

 

“Wait, was that just a knock?”

 

“Yes. He can’t move his hands, so he knocks with his voice.”

 

Seo-yeon said, pulling up the mask that had slipped below her nose, wondering how loud the knock had been.

 

“Daddy, Tanyul made it. Lemon tea.”

 

“Lemon… tea?”

 

“It’s lemon tea.”

 

Jaehoon chuckled and nodded at Seo-yeon’s explanation.

 

“Ah, so that’s why Tae-yul smells so refreshingly lemony.”

 

“He stirred it diligently, splashing it all over himself.”

 

Jaehoon looked at his wonderful son with loving eyes. Then, noticing the straw cup in Tae-yul’s hand, he asked with an indifferent face.

 

“Wouldn’t it be too sour for Tae-yul to drink? But what about mine?”

 

Seo-yeon shrugged, looking at Jaehoon, who still didn’t grasp the situation.

 

“I’m sorry. I tried, but it didn’t work out well. You’ll just have to drink it.”

 

“Daddy, hurry, slurp, slurp.”

 

Tae-yul held out the straw cup with expectant eyes. Jaehoon was stunned by Tae-yul’s “slurp, slurp” and quickly shook his head, looking at Seo-yeon.

 

She shook her head with an apologetic expression. But she was holding her phone in her hand. She felt like she would regret it for the rest of her life if she didn’t capture this moment.

 

“Absolutely not.”

 

Jaehoon said firmly and turned his gaze to Tae-yul.

 

“Tae-yul, that’s a baby cup.”

 

“No yucky. Daddy hurt, so drink.”

 

Jaehoon couldn’t ignore Tae-yul’s sparkling eyes and expectant gaze, so he barely moved his immobile arm and accepted the straw cup. At that moment, the door slid open, and Jae-moon and Hyun-shik poked their heads in.

 

“Why didn’t you guys leave?”

 

“I’m your doctor, so I have to remove the IV needle. And I have to monitor your fever.”

 

Jae-moon replied with a face that asked why he was even asking. Jaehoon’s gaze turned to Hyun-shik, who said briefly, “I didn’t hear you tell me to leave.”

 

“Daddy, hurry and drink.”

 

Tae-yul was getting impatient, on the verge of tears. At this point, even the mighty Jaehoon had to put down his charisma and drink from the straw cup.

 

“Are you all really not going to leave?”

 

“Just drink it. Think of it as creating a good memory.”

 

Seo-yeon urged Jaehoon.

 

Unable to resist any longer, Jaehoon gave up and picked up the straw cup.

 

“Daddy, slurp, slurp, slowly drink.”

 

“Ah… but I will never hold it with both hands.”

 

Jaehoon sighed deeply and looked at the three of them alternately. But Tae-yul scolded him loudly, waving his hands.

 

“No way. You have to hold it with both hands. Mommy said so.”

 

Jaehoon looked at Seo-yeon, who avoided his gaze, and put the straw to his lips. Then, he grabbed the cup with both hands at the last moment and quickly drank the lemon tea. Seo-yeon couldn’t capture it with her phone because he put the cup down in the blink of an eye.

 

“What was that? You can’t drink it that fast.”

 

“That’s right. Tae-yul told you to drink it slowly.”

 

Following Seo-yeon and Jae-moon’s grumbling, Jaehoon frowned at Hyun-shik’s voice, whispering softly.

 

“I filmed it.”

 

“Aren’t you all going to leave? Let me sleep. Tae-yul, Daddy is really thankful.”

 

Jaehoon quickly said a word to each of them and gave Tae-yul a brief smile. Unfazed by his father’s embarrassed expression, Tae-yul said happily.

 

“Daddy, yummy? Tanyul make more. Hurry sleep.”

 

Jaehoon stroked Tae-yul’s hair. Seo-yeon kissed Jaehoon’s forehead and whispered softly.

 

“Don’t worry. You look great no matter what you do. Get some sleep.”

 

As the two left the room, Jaehoon heard laughter erupting from outside the door. He rested his head on the pillow and closed his eyes. Before he knew it, a smile spread across his face at the laughter coming from outside, and he began to chuckle. Before that laughter could fade, Jaehoon fell asleep.

 

 

Seo-yeon turned around with a smile at the hand that gently wrapped around her waist.

 

“When did you get here?”

 

After putting Tae-yul to sleep and taking a shower, Seo-yeon went to the living room and looked out the window. The moon was so beautiful in the sky as the unusually clear day came to an end. The dark night created a barrier on the glass window, reflecting her face like a mirror. Naturally, Jaehoon’s approach was also visible in Seo-yeon’s eyes.

 

“What are you looking at so intently?”

 

“The moon. Isn’t it beautiful?”

 

“I was so busy thinking about Tae-yul’s birthday cake on the way here that I didn’t notice.”

 

“Why? Is it a burden?”

 

Seo-yeon turned to Jaehoon and hugged his waist.

 

“Well… honestly, a billion-dollar project feels easier.”

 

“What we’re about to do is incomparable to a billion-dollar project. Hurry up and shower and get ready. The chefs have all left. It’s just us.”

 

Jaehoon quietly laughed, looking into her slightly excited brown eyes. It was Tae-yul’s second birthday since they met him. Jaehoon wanted to celebrate Tae-yul’s first birthday after finding him in a grand way, but Seo-yeon didn’t want that. Only Mrs. Kim and Butler Park celebrated Tae-yul’s birthday with them.

 

At that time, Jaehoon didn’t know why Seo-yeon was celebrating Tae-yul’s birthday so simply. He thought that she would want to celebrate her recovered son’s birthday in a grand way more than anyone else.

 

But only this year did Jaehoon understand Seo-yeon’s heart. It was because of his parents. A year had passed since they left for their Swiss villa, saying they would stay there for a while. Mi-ryung occasionally called to ask about Tae-yul, but Chairman Han took no action.

 

Jaehoon knew that Seo-yeon couldn’t easily forgive them. He felt the same way. But the fact that they were Tae-yul’s only grandparents and family remained unchanged. Seo-yeon wanted to celebrate her son’s birthday only with family until they sincerely accepted Tae-yul.

 

“I really respect your thoughts. How wonderful would it be to have a birthday cake made by Mom and Dad themselves? But honestly, I’m not confident.”

 

“Just do as I tell you. Don’t worry. I’m a beginner too, but I’m confident.”

 

“A beginner? You didn’t say that.”

 

Jaehoon narrowed his eyes and looked at Seo-yeon, his face becoming more worried.

 

“Oh, don’t worry. These days, cake-making kits are so well-made that we just have to follow the instructions.”

 

“Really? Like assembling something?”

 

It was a silly question, but Seo-yeon nodded seriously because Jaehoon was so worried.

 

The two continued their conversation as they left the living room.

 

“They have animal cakes these days. Do you think Tae-yul would like something like that?”

 

“Do you think Tae-yul would cut a doggy cake?”

 

“Hmm… no. I think he’d want to sleep with it. Absolutely not.”

 

“Right? We should just make a normal one.”

 

“What if we made a cake out of black bean noodles?”

 

“Why are you asking? He’d throw a fit and demand to eat it all.”

 

Seo-yeon watched Jaehoon go to wash up and went down to the kitchen. She checked the ingredients she had already prepared, her face filled with anticipation.

 

She thought that her inability to forgive Jaehoon’s parents and Tae-yul’s inability to meet his grandparents were separate issues. She wanted to give Tae-yul every opportunity. Having a birthday party with his grandparents’ blessings was one of them. For that, Seo-yeon could postpone her emotions.

 

Seo-yeon felt sorry for Tae-yul because that opportunity hadn’t come yet, so she wanted to make a special cake to celebrate Tae-yul’s birthday. She thought it would be nice to include this one line under the birthday photos taken that day.

 

[On his third birthday, a birthday cake made by Mommy and Daddy]

 

“It’s okay. There’s another birthday next year. I’ll invite a lot of people to celebrate with you then, son.”

 

“Are you muttering to yourself again? What’s this?”

 

Jaehoon rolled up his sleeves and came inside, surprised by the ingredients spread out on the counter.

 

“I can understand all kinds of fruit, but this black stuff… is that chocolate? Didn’t you even decide what to make?”

 

“Ah… I’ve been thinking about it for days, but I just can’t decide what kind of cake to make. Should I make a fruit cake or a chocolate cake? Can you decide for me?”

 

“What do I know? I don’t even remember ever eating chocolate.”

 

“No way. Not even when you were a kid?”

 

Seo-yeon sighed again at Jaehoon’s firm gaze.

 

“Come to think of it, I don’t think Tae-yul has ever eaten chocolate either.” Then why are you even worrying?”

 

“When I searched online, chocolate was high on the list of birthday cakes for kids. And I’m a beginner.”

 

Seo-yeon sighed again at her foolish thoughts. Jaehoon smiled and put his arm around Seo-yeon’s shoulders.

 

“Let’s make a fruit cake.”

 

She smiled brightly and nodded vigorously.