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Kang-joon approached the startled Mija and bowed respectfully, greeting her.
“My apologies for the late introduction, Grandmother. My name is Seo Kang-joon. Sehee and I...”
“Kang-joon, I’ll tell her the rest.”
Sehee gently cut off Kang-joon, took Mija’s hand, and led her into the inner room. After a moment of silence, Sehee slowly began to speak.
“Grandmother, I’m going to marry Kang-joon.”
“Are you telling Grandma you’re getting married? With that tall young man outside?”
Not knowing the full circumstances yet, a joyful smile spread across Mija’s face. As if it didn’t matter at all why or how Kang-joon had found them. But Sehee couldn’t bring herself to smile back at Mija. Instead, she quietly, and firmly, held Mija’s wrinkled hand. With an earnest wish that her unspoken sincerity would be conveyed through their clasped hands.
“There’s more Grandmother needs to know. Kang-joon was my aunt’s son-in-law.”
As expected, Mija looked as if she didn’t immediately understand.
“Grandmother, you know, don’t you? That I stood in for Taeryeong unnie at her wedding. Taeryeong unnie’s husband is Kang-joon.”
Only then did Mija seem to understand, her eyes wavering, and she stammered,
“But... but why do you want to marry Younghee’s son-in-law?”
“Because Kang-joon and I love each other. Taeryeong unnie also has someone she loves now and left for overseas after her divorce.”
“...”
“It was me who had the wedding with Kang-joon and lived as his wife. Kang-joon’s parents also approved our marriage, and I came down today to get your permission, Grandmother.”
“No, Sehee! What are you doing, treating Younghee like that too? How can I face Younghee?”
She had wished so earnestly, but her sincerity didn’t seem to have been conveyed. Her hands, neatly placed on her lap, clenched.
“It’s Grandmother and Mom who were wrong about Aunt, not me. So why should I take responsibility for their mistakes? I didn’t do anything wrong, so why should I...”
...take responsibility? Sehee, unable to continue, bit her lip tightly. She knew. That her words and actions now would pierce Mija like a painful nail. Yet she couldn’t stop. Because she, too, wanted to be happy now. As a mother of a child, as a woman of a man. With reddened eyes, Sehee looked at Mija and asked,
“Grandmother, you said it countless times, ‘Younghee is a poor child.’ ‘She must be going through so much.’ Then what about me, Grandmother?”
Am I not pitiful? Am I not struggling? Do I have to be unhappy for life? These were the words she had wanted to ask Mija countless times but had always swallowed back down her throat.
“You said Aunt was my blood relative, my family, right? But if she’s my blood relative and family, she shouldn’t have done that to me. So why am I the only one who has to treat Aunt as family?”
Hearing her granddaughter’s heartbreaking inner feelings for the first time in her life, Mija began to sob uncontrollably.
“Sehee, Grandma was wrong. It’s all Grandma’s fault, so...”
“No. Now, neither Grandmother nor Mom matters. This evil fate ends only when one of us, Aunt or I, crumbles.”
Abandoned by her mother for her younger sister, almost losing her husband to her younger sister. It was Sehee who endured the resentment towards her mother and the hatred towards her younger sister. Simply because she was born as her grandmother’s granddaughter, her mother’s daughter.
“I gave Aunt one last chance. But Aunt threw that chance away and bought men to try and hurt me.”
“Y-Younghee really did that?”
At Mija’s disbelieving expression, Sehee said coldly,
“She probably would rather die than see me marry Kang-joon. I won’t put up with it anymore. I’ve done enough and endured enough.”
For Pré, Sehee was becoming cruel and tough. Even if it meant threatening and using her father, imprisoning her aunt in a mental hospital, and hurting her grandmother’s heart. Could there be anything more extreme?
“The richest and busiest man in Korea came down to this rural village to become a beloved grandson-in-law to you, Grandmother. Just for me. If not for a man like him, who should I marry?”
Despite her calm tone, she was screaming internally. Do you think I didn’t hold on? Do you think I liked it from the beginning? I clawed at my own chest until it bled, stubbornly endured, and refused. But this man wouldn’t give up on me, so how could I hold on? He wants to love me, who is so lacking and imperfect, how can I refuse?
“Are you still more for Aunt than me, Grandmother? More for your daughter than your granddaughter? It’s not, is it?”
Tears streamed down from under Mija’s tightly closed, wrinkled eyelids. Looking at those tears, Sehee continued with fervent longing,
“If you truly love me, if you want me to live a normal and happy life even now, please approve this marriage.”
Sehee took Mija’s silently weeping hand and placed it on her belly.
“Even for your great-grandchild in my belly.”
Mija’s tears stopped. Her eyes, hidden beneath wrinkled eyelids, turned towards Sehee’s belly.
________________________________________
The late dinner for the four of them began. Under Manho’s skilled hands, thick slices of pork belly sizzled on the griddle, making crackling sounds as they cooked. When well-cooked meat was placed on the plate, most of it ended up in Kang-joon’s stomach. Sehee and Mija both made sure Kang-joon got meat, so he couldn’t help but eat. As Sehee was about to fold her ssam (wrap) with just rice and ssamjang, Kang-joon placed a piece of pork belly on it and said,
“They said it’s important to get enough protein when the fetus is small for its gestational age.”
But Sehee carefully removed the pork belly with her chopsticks.
“I usually like grilled pork belly, but I don’t feel like it today.”
“Is it because of morning sickness?”
When Kang-joon asked worriedly, Sehee smiled brightly.
“My morning sickness subsided yesterday. Yesterday, when I had dinner with your family, I ate two bowls of rice with galbijjim (braised short ribs). It doesn’t seem like morning sickness, but I think I’m a bit picky about food. Or perhaps, sensitive to greasy food?”
“But the galbijjim was fine?”
When Kang-joon asked with a serious expression, Sehee looked stern.
“Don’t even think about bringing galbijjim every day.”
“I can’t do that?”
Oh my god, he really must have been thinking that. Finally, Sehee let out a small laugh and said,
“No matter how delicious it is, you get tired of eating it every day, you know?”
“Then twice a week. How about that?”
“Good.”
This time, Sehee answered with a serious expression, and Kang-joon smiled in satisfaction. Then, feeling a sharp gaze, Kang-joon turned his head and met Mija’s eyes. As if she hadn’t been staring intently just a moment ago, she quickly turned her head away as if nothing had happened. Mija, who was already a woman of few words, had completely shut her mouth after coming out of the room and wouldn’t even look at him. Yet, Kang-joon felt no resentment. Her eyes and mouth were closed, but Mija’s hands were as busy as Sehee’s, looking after her grandson-in-law. And Manho had discreetly hinted to him:
‘Our sister only grills meat for precious guests. I’ve only grilled it for others, never been treated to it myself! It seems you’ve definitely earned some points.’
Joo Sehee had received marriage permission, and Kang-joon had earned points. Being a beloved grandson-in-law was something that would build up gradually with affection through regular visits. When the meal ended, Sehee’s phone rang. After Sehee went into the room to take the call, Kang-joon approached Mija.
“Grandmother.”
Mija flinched at Kang-joon’s call but didn’t turn around.
“I will cherish and love Sehee more than my own life forever. So you don’t have to worry about your granddaughter anymore.”
“...”
“I’m busy with work, so I can’t come down often. But I will definitely come down once every two months to help Grandmother with work like today and have dinner.”
“...”
“I’m declaring now that I will keep coming down until Grandmother shows me affection as her grandson-in-law. Because Sehee will only be happy if Grandmother truly accepts me.”
Only then did Mija, hesitantly turning towards Kang-joon, cautiously open her mouth.
“Our Sehee has a rather unique personality. Meaning, she’s not ordinary. Can you still handle her for life?”
“She’s stubborn, frustratingly cautious, and tries to do everything herself. Joo Sehee is indeed quite disobedient.”
“W-what?”
Mija’s lips twitched at the subtle insult. But without flustering, Kang-joon calmly continued.
“I already love even that aspect of Sehee’s personality. And I, too, have a personality that’s not to be taken lightly.”
“...”
“That’s why Joo Sehee and I are a match made in heaven. So, Grandmother.”
Kang-joon took another step closer to Mija, who blinked in surprise at the phrase “match made in heaven.” He leaned down, met her eyes gently, and continued softly,
“Now, please acknowledge it and accept me as your grandson-in-law.”
It was Kang-joon’s unique way of speaking that even Mija could never refuse. It was like a command, a request, a threat, and a plea all at once.
“Oh, don’t put your face so close! My heart feels like it’s going to burst!”
“You haven’t answered yet.”
The moment Kang-joon was about to lean in further, Mija, startled, shrieked.
“Are you completely oblivious? If I accepted you, I wouldn’t have kicked you out and given you meat, would I?!”
Only then did Kang-joon straighten his back and reply,
“I thought so, which is why I ate a lot of meat. Thank you, Grandmother.”
As Kang-joon replied with a faint smile, Mija spun around as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have. Muttering to herself, Why is that man’s smile so radiant?
________________________________________
Unable to resist Mija’s urging, the two departed for Seoul late in the evening. Sehee, her gaze fixed outside the car window, mumbled,
“Grandmother must have been very upset, right? Her only granddaughter only said harsh things when talking about getting married. That’s why she probably chased us out to Seoul tonight.”
With his hands on the steering wheel, Kang-joon glanced at Sehee. Seeing her crestfallen profile, it seemed Sehee was even more upset than Mija.
“Grandmother needs time too. Still, she wanted to send her granddaughter off with a meal, that’s why she told us to leave after dinner.”
“...What kind of time?”
“Even though Sehee said harsh things, she didn’t say anything untrue. She probably didn’t know how to face her granddaughter because she felt sorry. She’s someone who’s very bad at expressing emotions, similar to someone else.”
It was a quiet conversation, but because the rural village was so silent, their conversation could be heard clearly from beyond the door. Listening, Kang-joon also felt pity and sorrow for Sehee, who must have suffered alone. And how much more so for Mija? Gently holding Sehee’s unanswered hand, Kang-joon calmly continued.
“Give Grandmother time. She’ll welcome you with a smile next time we come down. If you’re really worried, come down with me again next month.”
“Come down again?”
“I promised to come down once every two months.”
At that, Sehee looked at Kang-joon with wide eyes.
“When did you make that promise?”
“When you were on the phone, Sehee.”
Sehee, who had been looking at him as if he were impossible, finally let out a small sigh.
“I’ve become a granddaughter worse than her grandson-in-law. I guess I really am a wicked villain.”
“What of it? I find that Joo Sehee charming.”
“Was I not charming when I wasn’t a villain?”
“You were charming even before that.”
“...What’s that?”
To Sehee, who chuckled weakly, Kang-joon also smiled and said,
“What do you mean? It just means I love everything Joo Sehee does.”
“You must be completely smitten with me, aren’t you?”
“I’ll be smitten for life, so don’t worry, and live doing everything you want. I’ll take care of all the messes.”
“What would I have been like if I hadn’t met you, Kang-joon? I can’t imagine.”
Just then, the light turned red, and the car stopped. Kang-joon quickly leaned over and kissed Sehee’s cheek instead of answering. Me too, Joo Sehee. I can’t imagine life without you now.
“Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we arrive.”
Only then did Sehee close her eyes with a faint smile and asked, as if mumbling,
“I have to go to the hospital tomorrow afternoon. You know, right?”
“How could I not know?”
“Do you hope for a son, Kang-joon, or a daughter?”
“A son.”
“...Why?”
“Because one woman who makes my heart black with worry is enough: Joo Sehee.”
“What about me?”
Kang-joon laughed aloud, finding Sehee adorable as she snapped back a little defiantly. Soon after, the car was enveloped in quiet silence. Kang-joon, driving while listening to Sehee’s soft breathing, felt his phone ring. Checking the caller ID, Kang-joon briefly pulled over to the shoulder and answered the call.
“Speak.”
Just in case, he had put someone on Alicia, who had gone to Germany. He intended to watch her until she truly came out of her shell and stood on her own two feet. That way, his Joo Sehee wouldn’t have to be upset anymore. Though he didn’t like her, she was still his brother’s woman and, in the end, had sided with Joo Sehee. But when he heard that Alicia, who had gone to the rural village, had met an Asian man there, Kang-joon asked sharply,
“What are the identifying features of that Asian man?”
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