61. Between Bad Karma and Fate, Destiny

As soon as Ji-soo heard In-hee’s voice outside the door, she hastily shoved the article she had been holding into her notebook. Unbeknownst to her, a stray piece of paper fluttered to the floor.

In-hee entered with some fruit and tea, handing her phone over to Ji-soo.

“Someone’s upset that you didn’t answer their call. Poor me getting blamed.”

Ji-soo awkwardly took the phone from In-hee, who was teasing her.

“It’s me,” Ji-soo said into the phone.

“So, what time are you arriving here?”

The voice on the other end, suppressing anger, remained as calm as ever. As Ji-soo held the phone in silence, In-hee offered her the most beautiful piece of fruit with a fork.

“Or should I send a car for you?”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll take the last train. I need to eat this fruit though, so I’ll hang up now.”

“Why…?”

Ji-soo paused at Tae-ha’s short reply, her ears burning.

Her mind drifted back to the past—her pitiful mother, the warm-hearted In-hee, and the man she loved, Tae-ha.

Between bad karma and fate, our destiny stood firm.

“What?”

“Why do you sound like you’re thinking about something else? Your voice...”

Before Ji-soo could respond, In-hee pushed another piece of fruit towards her. She bit into the crescent-shaped peach, its fragrant aroma filling her mouth and calming her unsettled stomach.

“It’s nothing, really. I’m just busy. I’ll hang up now.”

After ending the call, Ji-soo handed the phone back to In-hee.

“Is Tae-ha urging you to hurry?”

“Yes.”

Watching Ji-soo enjoy the peaches, In-hee gathered more of them onto a plate for her.

She wanted to say something but couldn’t find the right words. She felt the need to apologize for events that occurred even before she was born, but she wasn’t sure how In-hee would react. It was an old event, faded like an ancient newspaper, and she hesitated to bring it up again.

“Who did he take after to be so fiery? I guess I’m impatient too. Chairman Cha is the same way.”

“Isn’t it lonely staying here by yourself?”

“At first, it was lonely coming from a bustling house to such a quiet place. But now, I’ve adapted and it’s perfect. No annoying people or unnecessary gossip.”

The lingering sweetness in her mouth kept drawing her hand back to the fork. Though she wanted to listen attentively to In-hee, her instincts pushed her toward the simple joy of eating.

“You look beautiful when you eat well. Earlier, I was worried because it seemed like you weren’t eating properly. You get tense and can’t eat, right?”

Without realizing it, Ji-soo smiled faintly as she touched her cheek.

“No, I ate really well, thank you. Lately, my digestion’s been off, and I’ve been feeling a bit sick. But today’s the most I’ve eaten all week.”

To prove her point, Ji-soo popped a large slice of peach into her mouth.

“Oh dear, why aren’t you feeling well? I have some strong digestive medicine if you’d like.”

“Yes, thank you.”

In-hee picked up the album and notebook Ji-soo had been looking at and returned them to the drawer. She noticed the newspaper clippings sticking out and the fallen article on the floor. Picking them up, she tucked them back into the notebook.

“Did you see this?”

“Yes. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snoop. I thought it was a photo album and opened it without thinking…”

“No, it’s fine. I brought it out for you to see.”

Ji-soo swallowed the peach in her mouth.

“Don’t feel bad. It’s all in the past, ancient history. Like an old drama I watched while angry and crying. Time has that kind of power. That’s why they say time heals all wounds.”

“Are you really okay now? Back then, you must have gone through so much…”

In-hee sighed deeply, pulling a small wooden box from the drawer and approaching Ji-soo. Placing the box containing digestive medicine on the table, she smiled brightly.

“Even now, at nearly seventy, I don’t feel completely clean, as if nothing happened. But it’s all in the past. What can we do? Life seems to have its own paths for each of us, with reasons behind every situation.”

Ji-soo wanted to hold In-hee’s frail, delicate hand but settled for gently putting down her fork. The next words cut through her heart like a knife, jolting her back to attention.

“Yoo Ae-ran. A name I still can’t forget. But she must have had her own story. The worst part was Cha Gun-wook, who fell for the clumsy temptation of a naive young actress hoping for success.”

“Madam…”

Ji-soo gripped the teacup tightly to steady herself.

“There were rumors back then, but when I heard she was pregnant before me, I went to confront her…”

Clatter, crash.

Ji-soo dropped the teacup but quickly grabbed a tissue to clean up. Fortunately, not much tea spilled.

“Look at me. Why am I telling you these stories? They’re all from the past. Let’s forget about it.”

Though In-hee tried to drop the subject, Ji-soo felt compelled to hear the rest. Denying the truth wouldn’t make it disappear.

The image of Ae-ran and Tae-ha chatting happily at the restaurant flashed painfully through Ji-soo’s mind.

“Was that pregnancy… Was it real?”

“Pregnancy? Ha! It was a fake rumor spread by those jealous of her. They even leaked the story to the press. When Yoo Ae-ran saw me, she immediately apologized.”

Ae-ran had truly been remorseful. Knowing Cha Gun-wook was married, she admitted she briefly lost her mind in pursuit of success but promised never to see him again, bowing deeply in apology.

Ironically, In-hee had gone there ready to scold her, only to feel awkward instead. Ae-ran had been different from the other women Gun-wook dated, though she couldn’t escape criticism as his mistress and sponsor.

Not long after the incident, Ji-soo read that Ae-ran had retired, gotten married, and had a child.

“Enough of these gloomy stories. Tell me about you. Didn’t you and Tae-ha go to college together? What was he like back then? Was he as cold and prickly as he is now?”

In-hee, who hadn’t spent much time with adult Tae-ha, listened intently to Ji-soo’s stories. Though she knew little herself, she tried to paint a diverse picture of the Tae-ha from ten years ago.

“Wow, that’s harsh. He told you to buzz off when you confessed? Even though he’s my son, he deserves to be scolded.”

Ji-soo chuckled bitterly at the memory of being rejected right after confessing.

“Maybe you misheard? Or maybe Tae-ha mistook you for someone else?”

Like In-hee, Ji-soo had also denied the reality of the situation for a while.

“He looked straight into my eyes when he said it.”

“Hmm. Maybe you should torment Tae-ha a little more.”

Ji-soo laughed along with In-hee. How much easier life would have been if she had moved on from Tae-ha after that rejection. She wouldn’t be dwelling on the past or harboring resentment toward her mother and herself. Regardless of perspective, the fact remained that the incident tore Tae-ha’s family apart.

“Madam, I should get going.”

“Already? Getting older, the thing I hate most isn’t wrinkles or losing energy—it’s how fast time seems to fly.”

Turning to face In-hee, who was about to follow her out, Ji-soo gave a bright smile.

“I still have time. I’ll take the bus from the main road. Don’t bother coming out.”

“Really? Then I won’t.”

In-hee replied with a thoughtful expression.

“Take care, Madam.”

With a slight bow, Ji-soo opened the door. Just as she stepped out, In-hee’s voice reached her from behind.

“Next time we meet, I hope you’ll call me something closer than ‘Madam.’”

As Ji-soo walked away from In-hee’s space, she hoped with all her heart that there would indeed be a next time.

At the bus stop in front of the church, a black car pulled up and stopped in front of Ji-soo, who had been staring at her feet. She looked up to see Tae-ha stepping out of the driver’s seat and opening the car door for her.

How does he always seem so natural and unaffected? He barged effortlessly into her shaky world, manipulating time and space to create comfort and warmth before wrapping her in it.

As she sat silently, staring blankly, Tae-ha approached swiftly. With his large hands, he caressed her forehead and cheeks as he always did. His touch was still warm and gentle, bringing tears to her eyes.

“You have a fever. Did you take any medicine?”

“Do you think I don’t take pills because you refuse to? Is that why you’re always trying to make me take them?”

Despite her grumbling, Tae-ha smiled brightly. The fresh scent of soap clung to him as if he’d rushed out after washing up.

“There’s something better than pills. If you allow it, I’ll give it to you right here.”

“Aren’t you still being punished?”

“I already forgave you.”

Tae-ha raised his hands casually and laughed. Then, with his free hand, he cupped Ji-soo’s chin.

“I can’t let you go, Han Ji-soo. And no matter what, neither will you.”

“You’re so sure. Makes me want to prove you wrong.”

“Go ahead. Show me your best rebuttal.”

As Ji-soo shot him a sharp glance, Tae-ha slowly lowered his head. His fingers traced her heated lips before claiming them in a deep kiss.

What is bad karma, and does fate exist? If so, are we destined? Ji-soo’s mouth burned with simplicity, while her mind churned with complexity.

Even the cool autumn breeze couldn’t cool the heat between the two as they remained entwined.