I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega - Episode 172
I Possessed a Terminally Ill Omega – Episode 172
A strange light flickered in Seo Dong-hu’s bloodshot eyes. Min Seon-woong put down his half-empty glass on the table with a thud. He slightly furrowed his brow.
“Hmm. This alcohol is quite strong too. It’s like what Seung-jae hyung drinks, but you’re not deliberately copying him, are you?”
Seo Dong-hu glared fiercely. In Min Seon-woong’s words, the term “Seung-jae hyung” grated on his ears maddeningly.
“How did you know that I-Kyung’s baby is a boy?”
Seo Dong-hu had a fiery temper and easily got excited over small things, but his head wasn’t just for decoration. At least he wasn’t gullible enough to believe the words of someone he met for the first time today.
“Where else would I have heard such a thing? No one here even bothers with me.”
The area around them was extremely noisy. Voices exchanging drinks and joking around could be heard from all directions. In between, Seo Dong-hu asked:
“Did you hear it from Director Han?”
“……”
Min Seon-woong neither denied nor confirmed. He just picked up the glass he had clinked earlier and brought it in front of Seo Dong-hu. The full glass of alcohol sloshed.
Seo Dong-hu picked up the glass in front of him and drank it in one gulp.
***
It was late at night. Seo I-Kyung tossed and turned in bed. Today, Jin Seon-yoo had stayed in the studio painting for longer than usual.
— At this rate, it shouldn’t take until the full two weeks.
Jin Seon-yoo’s expression as he said this wasn’t entirely bright.
— Should I paint a bit more slowly? Ah, I mean I’ll paint more carefully.
Jin Seon-yoo quickly corrected his words while wiping paint off his brush.
He clearly seemed to be pondering whether it would be better to complete the painting quickly or to slow down more. Nevertheless, he was trying to finish within the promised time frame.
Afterwards, the two had dinner together. Having kept Jin Seon-yoo in the studio for so long, Seo I-Kyung didn’t feel right sending him back just like that. Rather, his feelings of guilt only grew.
So when Jin Seon-yoo saw the soup Seo I-Kyung was eating, he offered to taste it too.
Min Ra-hyun, watching Jin Seon-yoo’s behavior, made a displeased expression. Regardless, Seo I-Kyung felt the dinner was enjoyable for once. However, now that Jin Seon-yoo had left and he was lying alone in the second-floor bedroom, Seo I-Kyung couldn’t fall asleep.
Click, Seo I-Kyung left the bedroom. Still in his pajamas, he got on the elevator. Soon he came out onto the first floor and walked through the quiet living room.
His feet, in round-toed slippers, were constantly moving towards one place.
Seo I-Kyung approached the canvas in the studio. The canvas that had been completely empty was now being filled with a beautiful winter mountain landscape.
The snow-covered winter mountain was lofty. Sharp like a honed blade, cold to the point of emanating chill, it looked impossible to climb or possess.
In the darkness, Jin Seon-yoo’s clear voice rang in Seo I-Kyung’s sunken ears:
— Ki-jun says he’s buying lunch tomorrow. Do you want to come too?
— I can’t eat even if I go anyway. Go on your date.
— It’s not like that. Remember when I gave you a Christmas gift? He says it’s to return the favor for that.
Jin Seon-yoo added with a smile:
— By the way, when you give this painting as a gift, what are you supposed to receive in return?
— After giving this painting…
— Yes.
Seo I-Kyung turned away from the canvas. He felt he could understand a little why “Seo I-Kyung” had made such an extreme choice here that night.
What would it feel like to put cold metal that makes you shrink just by looking at it against your own head? And what would he do if it were him? He had thought about such things before.
All along, what Seo I-Kyung wanted was one thing:
— I’m going to say I want to leave here.
***
Myeongjun Financial Group, CEO’s office.
From early morning, Han Yechan’s laughter resounded heartily throughout the office. He drummed the armrest and gestured towards Chief Secretary Kang.
“Call Seung-jae and tell him to clear his lunch schedule.”
Chief Secretary Kang, standing behind, picked up the receiver and pressed a button. He exchanged a few words with Secretary Park and then pulled the receiver away slightly to speak to Han Yechan.
“He says he already has an appointment. He said he would agree to another day.”
Han Yechan’s laughter subsided and he muttered as if displeased:
“What other day, by then he’ll say he can’t again. Tell him no excuses, I must see his face today no matter what.”
Chief Secretary Kang put the receiver to his ear and relayed Han Yechan’s words exactly. Then he gently placed the finished call receiver back in its place.
“Is it that good?”
Min Chae-ho, who had been just listening until then, asked. He had the same conversation over the phone the day before. And today he came with a gift to see Han Yechan in person. To congratulate him as well.
And as if he never got tired of it, Han Yechan repeated the same words he had said over the phone the day before.
“Of course it’s good. I thought with that child’s nature he would refuse even having a child. To think he would give me a grandchild like this.”
Han Yechan’s laughter grew louder with emotion. Watching him, Min Chae-ho also laughed along. However, not long after, Chief Secretary Kang whispered in Han Yechan’s ear. With his mouth covered, Min Chae-ho couldn’t hear.
“Oh my, has it become that time already? Why don’t you go now too. You must be busy with company work. You shouldn’t be away from your seat for so long.”
As Min Chae-ho was about to open his mouth, Han Yechan skillfully cut him off.
“I congratulate you in advance on your son’s marriage. I don’t think I’ll be able to attend due to much work, but I’ve told Secretary Kang to send a very large flower wreath. Don’t forget and make sure to send it.”
“Yes, CEO.”
Chief Secretary Kang bowed his head and then escorted Min Chae-ho out the door. And the door closed. Chief Secretary Kang approached Han Yechan’s side. A gift box was placed on the table with the teacup. Without even thinking of looking inside, Han Yechan waved his hand.
“Get rid of it.”
There was no need to exert effort to check the gift. It would surely be worthless anyway. Chief Secretary Kang picked up the carefully wrapped box. Han Yechan picked up the teacup in front of him and took a sip.
“Send the flower wreath under your name. And from now on, don’t let Chae-ho into my room either. Yesterday I carelessly made phone calls to just anyone in my excitement.”
Han Yechan kept moistening his dry throat. Chief Secretary Kang filled the teacup and said:
“You must be very happy.”
As Saeum Global Trading Company, where Min Chae-ho was, began to struggle with financial difficulties, Han Yechan had been keeping his distance. Yet he contacted even him, so it seemed that way. Han Yechan raised his head. Then he acted as if confiding a secret to Chief Secretary Kang.
“You know too, but Seung-jae resembles my younger days too much.”
Han Yechan struck the armrest repeatedly.
“Bold, and like me, he has guts and no fear. And now to think that blood will continue to my grandchild…”
***
“Has he gone senile?”
Han Seung-jae closed the approval documents and handed them to Secretary Park. Receiving them with both hands, Secretary Park replied:
“I think it would be good for you to attend today. Haven’t you refused lunch invitations several times already?”
“Since when did we ever eat meals face to face?”
Saying this, Han Seung-jae moved his hand. He seemed to know why his father was so eager to see him.
Undoubtedly, as soon as he heard that the child in Seo I-Kyung’s belly was a boy, he must have contacted him. He looked at his wristwatch to check the time.
And after some time had passed, Secretary Park approached.
“You need to leave now.”
Finally, Han Seung-jae stood up. Secretary Park brought and held out his coat. Han Seung-jae put his long arms through the sleeves and left the director’s office.
The place they arrived at after moving by sedan was a traditional Korean restaurant. As Han Seung-jae entered, an employee led him to a pre-booked inner room. Shoes left outside the inner room caught his eye.
The employee opened the door and murmured:
“This way. CEO Han hasn’t arrived yet.”
As the door opened, a man sitting inside hurriedly stood up. He was Seo I-Kyung’s attending physician.
“Oh, you’ve arrived, Director Han.”
Han Seung-jae entered. Secretary Park received his coat and stepped back. Han Seung-jae sat down and spoke:
“I didn’t know there would be a guest who arrived first. I’m not the type to be late for appointments.”
“Ah, I was called here by CEO Han.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes.”
The attending physician, who had been nodding his head emphatically, turned his gaze towards the door. As the door opened with the sound of someone approaching and an employee entered carrying teacups, the physician’s eyes shook uneasily. Secretary Park took them as if in his stead.
“I’ll do it. Please bring the meal when CEO Han arrives.”
At Secretary Park’s words, the employee answered that he would do so and left through the door. Secretary Park picked up the teapot and filled two teacups.
“Sit down.”
At Han Seung-jae’s words, the physician slowly bent his knees as if hesitating whether to sit or not. Having unexpectedly encountered Han Seung-jae first, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. His eyes kept turning anxiously towards the entrance.
Han Seung-jae spoke with an expressionless, indifferent gaze:
“How much did you receive from my father?”