Thinking of Choi Kang-woo, Han Na-Eun hid her true thoughts as she spoke.
“He’s very imposing. I think he looks a bit scary.”
Hye-seon interpreted Han Na-Eun’s words in her own way.
—Is he that ugly? How ugly can he be if it’s to the point of being scary?
At those words, the thought that he was actually handsome didn’t make it to her lips.
“Anyway, I don’t run into him that often. The house is very big.”
Hye-seon asked, intrigued.
—How many pyeong is it?
“I’m not really sure. Either way, it seems several times larger than the house we used to live in.”
—Hey, then that’s great. Han Jiho likes it too, right?
“Yeah, he likes it a lot.”
—It’s a good opportunity if you’re saying it’s not even uncomfortable. If you say you’re living separately in The Annex, it’s basically your own house anyway.
Agreeing with Hye-seon’s words, Han Na-Eun said.
“Still, I don’t think I’ll be able to invite you or anything. Since it is someone else’s house, after all…”
—What’s with the “invite or anything”? Surely I can at least go visit once, right? How can a person live without even calling a friend over? It’s not a prison.
“Is that so?”
Listening to Hye-seon, it did seem that way. Hye-seon complained that it had been a long time since they met.
—You said you were too busy to meet when I said I’d treat you last time, too. Let’s have a drink at your place. After we put the kids to sleep.
“Sounds good.”
* * *
Beep, beep, beep, beep!
After the password was entered incorrectly repeatedly, the front door lock shut down entirely. As she tried to press the buttons again, the door swung open from the inside.
“Seriously, who the hell are you?”
As a middle-aged woman with a sharp voice opened the door, Park Misuk frowned.
“And just who are you supposed to be?”
“Who am I? I’m the one living here. Why do you keep pressing the password for someone else’s house? What kind of person are you?”
“Wait, that can’t be. My daughter lived here.”
“What?”
“My daughter definitely lived here.”
“I don’t know or care if your daughter lived here or not, but this is my house now. Don’t you ever press this password again. Before I call the police.”
As the woman tried to close the door, Park Misuk held it and said.
“When did you move in?”
“A week ago.”
“She moved out without even telling me. Oh, then the security deposit! There should be a security deposit here.”
“What are you talking about?”
At Park Misuk’s muttering, the woman slammed the door shut.
“Goodness. I’m speechless.”
Park Misuk called Han Na-Eun immediately, but Han Na-Eun did not pick up. Park Misuk stomped back home, but instead of going inside, she paced around nearby. Park Misuk was currently at an 80-pyeong villa. The two had been living there for two years since Han Na-Young received it as a gift from the man she was dating. After receiving the villa as a gift, Han Na-Young had told Park Misuk that she would become independent.
[Mom, you live here and take care of Minho and Han Na-Eun. I’m going to be independent.]
[What are you talking about? You’re going to go live in that nice villa all by yourself? I’m going to go live there too. Me, too.]
The two of them, finding it bothersome and annoying to live with Han Jiho, had moved into this 80-pyeong villa, leaving only Han Na-Eun and Han Jiho behind. Before entering the house, Park Misuk called Han Na-Young.
“Can I come in?”
—Yeah.
“Did that person leave?”
—Yeah. Wow, Mom.
It was a move conditioned on Park Misuk clearing out when Han Na-Young’s boyfriend came over. When Park Misuk went inside, Han Na-Young was grooming her nails.
“It’s not easy applying nail strengthener yourself. I don’t have time to go to a nail salon.”
At those words, Park Misuk brightened.
“Why don’t you have time? Did you get a broadcast booking?”
“Yeah. I got one.”
Watching Han Na-Young speak boastfully, Park Misuk chattered happily.
“It’s been a while, dear. When was the last time you were booked for a broadcast? And oh, by the way. Han Na-Eun moved out. Without even telling us.”
Han Na-Young’s eyes widened.
“Moved out? With what money?”
“That’s what I’m saying—where did she get the money to move? She must have moved using that security deposit, right?”
“Mom. How much could that security deposit possibly be?”
Han Na-Young seemed to have no interest in the fact that Han Na-Eun moved out with Han Jiho and just kept fussing over her nails, so Park Misuk asked, watching her.
“Still, she should have told us she was moving. And aren’t you curious about Han Jiho?”
“Mom. Didn’t I tell you not to talk about Han Jiho in front of me? You said so too. You told me to just think of him as Han Na-Eun’s son. I’ve forgotten all about giving birth to a baby. Look at my figure. Does this look like the body of someone who’s given birth?”
Her stomach was flat, and no one could ever guess she had been pregnant.
“Mom, let’s not talk about this either. I’m just going to think that since I gave birth and gave him to Han Na-Eun, he’s Han Na-Eun’s. That’s why I find even seeing Han Na-Eun exhausting.”
“That’s true.”
Watching Park Misuk speak as if she felt guilty about something, Han Na-Young frowned and asked.
“Why? Do you have business with Han Na-Eun, Mom?”
“I asked her to send me 400,000 won, but she won’t.”
“What? Mom. I gave you living expenses last time, and you’re already short 400,000 won?”
Park Misuk sighed at Han Na-Young’s words.
“Ah, things just turned out that way. Hey, shouldn’t you be the one giving me more living expenses? Walking around wearing luxury brands from head to toe.”
Han Na-Young was covered in luxury brands from her clothes to her shoes and bags. She always insisted that a celebrity had to be at least this presentable. She didn’t want to feel inferior when she went anywhere.
“Mom. Do you think I bought all these luxury goods with my own money? That person bought them all as gifts for me.”
Then Park Misuk toyed with the bag next to her and said.
“Hey, let’s sell one or two. My credit card is maxed out this time.”
“Mom!”
The sound of the mother and daughter, who looked so much alike, bickering over money echoed through the luxurious villa.
* * *
Looking at the missed call record from Park Misuk at the kindergarten, Han Na-Eun sighed. If she told Park Misuk she had moved, it was obvious she would demand to know where. And if she saw where she was staying now, she would naturally cause trouble. Han Na-Eun wondered how she could keep Park Misuk from coming to the house while also preventing her from interfering with her.
Then, a good idea occurred to Han Na-Eun, and she sent a text to Park Misuk.
Mom. I ended up moving to an even smaller house. I’d like it if you could lend me some money. Since Han Jiho was sick and we went to the hospital, living expenses are way too tight. The house I moved to this time has an even smaller deposit and more expensive monthly rent. Mom, please send me 3 million won.
As soon as she sent the text, the “read” icon appeared, but there was no reply afterward. Probably, she wouldn’t get a call for a while. Whenever the topic of money came up, Park Misuk would go silent, terrified of losing even a little bit of her own money. It was the same with her sister Han Na-Young, who didn’t send a single cent for child support and acted like she knew nothing.
“That’s right, Han Jiho. You are my son. You were my son from the very beginning.”
The moments that couldn’t be forgotten—from the days of being a newborn when she fed him milk, burped him, held him, and watched him smile back at her, to the moment he started talking and called her “Mom.” All those things flashed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.
* * *
Ever since Choi Kyung-Hye came to the kindergarten and met Han Na-Eun, the Director treated Han Na-Eun very warmly.
“Teacher Han. I asked to have a meal together, but it seems you’re always busy.”
“Yes. As it turns out, I’ve been doing some work even after getting off work.”
“Oh, is that so? Still, let’s have a meal together. It would be good if the Chairman could join us for the meal as well.”
“The Chairman?”
“I told you before. I said to contact us anytime. What if we arranged a seat for the three of us? There’s also something I need to ask the Chairman.”
At the Director’s words, Han Na-Eun shook her head.
“I don’t really want to see the Chairman separately.”
“Oh, don’t be like that…”
“If an opportunity arises later.”
Knowing that dragging it out would only make things exhausting for no reason, Han Na-Eun placated the Director to a certain extent.
* * *
Late at night, after all the children had gone home, Han Na-Eun was cutting colored paper. Tomorrow was the day the children would make round rings out of colored paper. She had to organize and cut the paper in advance. Han Jiho was playing on one side.
Even after moving, Minho was picked up by a nanny, and Han Jiho returned home late with Han Na-Eun. That was because Han Na-Eun had said it would be best to be as inconspicuous as possible even at the kindergarten.
If the Director found out that Han Na-Eun lived at Minho’s house, it was obvious there would be an uproar. She would insist on setting up a meeting no matter what.
“Mom, are you done?”
Perhaps bored of playing alone, Han Jiho asked.
“Why? Do you want to go home early today, Han Jiho?”
“No.”
But the child somehow looked listless. Han Na-Eun finished organizing the colored paper and checked Han Jiho’s forehead.
“I think you have a fever…”
When she checked his temperature, it was close to 38 degrees. Debating whether to give him fever reducers or go to the hospital, she immediately piggybacked Han Jiho.
“Han Jiho. Let’s go to the hospital with Mom.”
“I don’t want to. I don’t want to go to the hospital.”
“But I think we have to. Otherwise, you’ll get sicker.”
Han Na-Eun caught a taxi and headed straight to the hospital.