To that extent, it was fully possible without heavy worries like the families might turn against each other. But… Seongjo, who had been lost in thought, soon slowly opened his mouth again.
“But how does it look to others? Does Oh Seyeong’s side seem to know?”
That question was, of course, asking how much Oh Seyeong and her family knew about Yeongbeom. Just how much did they know about Yeongbeom and Seongjo’s past relationship?
“I think… they still don’t know. If they did, they wouldn’t have sent their precious daughter to someone with such a scandal. No matter how strong Oh Seyeong-ssi’s own will is… even if they heard the story, I think they’re probably just treating it as one of many strange rumors.”
Seongjo nodded after hearing Kyeonghun’s analytical answer. Seongjo had been thinking the same thing. If that was the case, there would be other methods without necessarily planting someone on Yeongbeom’s side.
“Then let’s plant someone on that side?”
“Ah, what… you mean on Oh Seyeong-ssi’s side?”
“Yeah, mixing them in among the bodyguards? That side seems like it would work.”
This time Kyeonghun seemed to agree as well. Seeing his expression, Seongjo picked up another paper airplane from the desk. Then he crumpled it up in his hand.
“Then let’s do that. Release them on Oh Seyeong’s side… and report everything that seems important.”
* * *
Yeongbeom, who had come and gone without any warning, left traces like a storm had swept through, but for all that, it was quiet. Kyeonghun, having received Seongjo’s instructions, planted someone on Oh Seyeong’s side and didn’t neglect to carefully observe Yeongbeom’s movements either. However, it seemed Yeongbeom wasn’t doing anything noticeable. He just seemed busy with wedding preparations……
Perhaps those words he’d thrown out at that time were merely impulsive talk. Maybe getting married smoothly was the most important thing, so he had no time to turn his attention to other matters. Though he couldn’t completely relax and forget about it, since he’d already entrusted the work to Kyeonghun, it seemed he could catch his breath.
The unexpected phone call happened in exactly that kind of situation.
– ……Hello?
Seongjo received the call at 9:30 PM. It was an ambiguous time. The voice on the other end of the phone was tired and extremely cautious.
From her tired-sounding voice, Seongjo guessed that she had just finished work and was on her way home. The reason for her caution was probably because she felt sorry for calling Seongjo in the first place.
It seemed he needed to answer carefully. Seongjo answered neither too lightly nor too heavily.
“Yes, hello.”
He suddenly recalled that he still hadn’t reached a conclusion about what to call her, even from their last contact. That’s why he couldn’t continue speaking further. She spoke in a cautious voice.
– I’m sorry, at this hour…….
Though it was close to nighttime, it wasn’t late enough to be called rude to make a phone call. So it probably wasn’t simply an apology about the time.
What was their last contact like? Had she used informal speech or formal speech? He was sure he’d told her then that it was fine to speak comfortably, but it seemed it was still difficult for her to speak casually.
“Not at all. What is it?”
He couldn’t call her ‘mother.’ She was Yeongbeom’s mother, but… right now Seongjo had no relationship with Yeongbeom whatsoever. She was also Yeongeun’s mother, but unless Seongjo was Yeongeun’s teacher, which he wasn’t either.
To his answer that omitted any form of address, she spoke with difficulty.
– Um…….
“Please speak comfortably.”
– ……Yeongeun’s school said they’re having an observation class soon.
After letting out those words, she hesitated again. But just hearing that much, he could roughly guess the situation.
– But I absolutely can’t make time on weekdays…….
It was a voice with very little strength. It was something Seongjo already knew. Because Yeongbeom, who had disappeared without a word, had also cut off all financial help, her mother had to increase her work hours. That was also why Yeongeun had contacted Seongjo, who was neither her mother nor her older brother, last time.
– I know this request is really shameless, but Yeongeun really, um…….
She hesitated for a moment, unable to continue. Seongjo could easily guess that she, like himself, was hesitating because she didn’t know what form of address to use.
– Um, it seems like she wants Seongjo-ssi to come.
So ‘Seongjo-ssi’ it is in the end. If he had met her while dating Yeongbeom, what form of address would he have chosen? Though there was absolutely no reason to make such a supposition now, he suddenly had that thought.
There were many more words trailing after that.
– Of course, if the timing is difficult, it’s okay to refuse. I’m so sorry for even asking… I’ll explain it well to Yeongeun…….
“I haven’t even refused yet, so why are you saying that?”
Seongjo retorted with a light laugh. She was silent for a moment.
– ……Um, Seongjo-ssi…… I know you’re a busy person.
“I’m free enough that making time isn’t difficult.”
He had no intention of refusing. There was no reason to refuse and only many reasons to accept.
Since receiving help at that time, Yeongeun seemed to genuinely trust and follow Seongjo. Not just being grateful and trusting, but really acting like she was following an uncle she was especially fond of. She would occasionally leave greetings for Seongjo, and talked about Seongjo to her mother often enough.
In Seongjo’s eyes, such a Yeongeun was both adorable and pitiful, a child he wanted to look after one more time for no particular reason. Because he was an only child, he didn’t have siblings who married first, so he hadn’t known—but would this be what it felt like if he had a real niece?
‘It’s fortunate she doesn’t really resemble her older brother.’
If she had, it would have been more awkward than now, so it was fortunate for their relationship.
Of course, there was another reason besides that.
If it was Yeongeun’s school, in other words, it was Yujeong’s school. Yujeong wasn’t Yeongeun’s homeroom teacher, but he did come in to teach Yeongeun’s class. If he attended as a guardian, he might be able to see him teaching. That kind of experience was extremely valuable because it couldn’t be bought with money.
‘I really hope he comes in to teach that day……’
Since he couldn’t blatantly check Yeongeun’s class schedule, he only thought such things to himself.
– Are you really going to go……?
To the voice still full of hesitation, Seongjo answered cheerfully once more.
“Of course, don’t worry about Yeongeun…… When is the date?”
Something like a small breath could be heard from the phone. The faint breathing that continued without an answer was puzzling for a moment, but as the sound gradually grew louder, it became clear. That she was crying right now.
‘……Really.’
It was a bitter feeling. Seongjo just stood there holding the phone at a distance, unable to hang up or open his mouth.
Their relationship was bound to be awkward.
It had been that way from the start. She was the mother of a male boyfriend he couldn’t legally marry… and it was a situation where he even knew that boyfriend had complicated family circumstances.
Even Yeongbeom, who had faintly connected them, had disappeared without a trace.
“……Didn’t I tell you before that you can contact me comfortably if you need help?”
– I’ve already received enough…….
Already received enough. Because he’d predicted the words that would follow, it became even more uncomfortable. Seongjo cleared his throat softly and interrupted her words.
“That friend… is there still no contact from Yeongbeom?”
It was an awkward form of address if there ever was one. Thinking about what to call him in front of the mother of an ex-boyfriend he’d broken up with terribly was an unprecedentedly difficult problem. She answered in a very weak voice, ‘……No.’
– Probably in the future too…….
Probably there won’t be any contact in the future either. It seemed that’s what she thought.
Seongjo let out a small sigh. If only he had gone to visit his mother instead of coming to find Seongjo at his house, it would have been better for everyone. Knowing full well that his mother and younger sister lived in the same apartment, didn’t he have any desire to even show his face?
