If You Want Me - Episode 76
<Episode 76>
It wasn’t a lie, but Seo-won still felt uncomfortable treating Do-gyeom like trash, perhaps because he still had feelings for him. So instead of agreeing, Seo-won naturally continued what he was saying before.
“Ah, anyway… seeing how the young master seemed to find the pregnancy uncomfortable, I thought he would tell me to abort the child. That’s why I felt I had to run away.”
“Seo-won-ah. I told you if something like this happens, we should go abroad together. It’s still okay.”
“Yes, I know. But I realized you’re not supposed to take a plane or boat for a long time in early pregnancy. And confession was my choice, but if I went back that day, I thought mom would think she encouraged it…”
While it couldn’t be said there was no encouragement as she gave him hope, confessing in that situation was Seo-won’s choice. It wasn’t something to blame anyone for.
However, Seo-won felt if he went home and saw his mom that day, he might blame her for no reason, or conversely, she might think this tragedy happened because of him. So it became even more impossible to return home.
Seo-won swallowed his saliva as his throat was dry and continued.
“After going down to Busan, I went to a small island. An elderly woman whose name I don’t know took me in there.”
“An island? Staying with a stranger in such a place. It’s too dangerous.”
“I know it’s dangerous, but I couldn’t think that way then. Fortunately, I met a good grandmother who gave me a place to stay and took good care of my meals. There was nothing at all for you to worry about.”
“Hmm… You don’t look like you had a hard time…”
Ji-hee had been making a face full of distrust, but looking at Seo-won’s face again, she slowly nodded her head.
When he briefly stayed in Seoul last time, he was losing weight due to heartache and severe morning sickness. But after going to the island, he took medicine for morning sickness and the grandmother prepared meals so well that he gained some weight. It seemed his mother finally noticed it now.
Seo-won, who slightly lifted the corners of his lips to ease her concern, belatedly opened his mouth.
“Then, the young master came to the island to find me last night.”
As he spoke of the day before, the memories of that day naturally came to mind.
The gloomy sky, the traces of hardship on Do-gyeom’s face, his own figure who had no choice but to painfully reject his confession, and Do-gyeom’s figure soaked in the rain as he returned. Although he was glad to see him after a long time, it wasn’t a good sight.
As Seo-won’s expression became a little gloomy recalling that day, Ji-hee asked with a suspicious look.
“I did ask the young master to find you… Don’t tell me he came and told you to abort the child?”
“No! He didn’t say that. But… When I rejected him before, he suddenly confessed that he had liked me for a long time. That he just didn’t know until now…”
“Huh? Mom said that. That the young master just doesn’t know.”
Ji-hee reacted as if it was good that their hearts were connected, but Seo-won shook his head.
“How can I believe that? It’s obvious it’s because of the one-sided imprint.”
“…”
As Seo-won showed a cold reaction, Ji-hee flinched and pressed her lips tightly together. She seemed to have something to say but was refraining from speaking.
Seo-won waited for a moment, wondering what she was trying to say, and let out a small sigh.
“The fortunate thing is that he doesn’t seem to intend to make me abort the child. He said he would never touch the child and told me to come back to Seoul.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
“We went to the obstetrics and gynecology together today, and he was extremely happy to see Tteokbokki’s ultrasound photo. He’s someone who didn’t like children, so it might be because of the one-sided imprint.”
“Hmm… That’s strange. You said he was reluctant when you first told him about the pregnancy?”
Ji-hee tilted her head and asked after hearing Seo-won’s words. It was a question about why Do-gyeom suddenly changed his attitude like that.
Seo-won also found it a little strange. If it was simply because of the one-sided imprint, shouldn’t he have welcomed it when he confessed? He was also puzzled by the attitude that was quite different from then.
“I don’t know… As the imprint pain intensifies, his desire for me would have grown, and that’s why he came to welcome the child too?”
That was the most plausible reason he could think of now. If he welcomes Tteokbokki for this reason, would he stop welcoming Tteokbokki if the imprint pain subsides as they see each other often?
The thought of facing Do-gyeom showing a cold reaction to Tteokbokki made him feel bitter, even though he had signed the contract, so he couldn’t touch the child.
It was much better to be able to face him confidently and stay with his parents rather than running away from Do-gyeom and staying on an isolated island. However, there was still a sad feeling left in a corner of his heart.
He clearly thought it would be fine as long as he gave birth to and raised the child well, but why did he keep feeling this way? Was it because he gave him hope? The lingering attachment was still eating away at his heart.
As Seo-won dropped his shoulders weakly, Ji-hee, who had been listening quietly, summarized as if she understood the situation he was in.
“I understand the situation now. But never disappear again without a word. Mom was really worried. You know?”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Did they say anything special at the obstetrics and gynecology you went to today?”
“No. They said the baby is healthy.”
“That’s a relief. You must be tired from going back and forth today. Go in and rest a bit.”
Ji-hee patted Seo-won’s shoulder and got up from the sofa. She seemed to have a lot to say, not having seen her son for nearly a month, but she seemed to be refraining from speaking more, knowing how much her son had been through.
Seo-won nodded his head with a weak smile. There was plenty of time in the future, so they could talk anytime. Thinking that there would be no need to run away again, he felt a little relieved.
* * *
He remembered taking a shower, eating lunch in pajamas, and lying on the bed.
He must have fallen asleep like fainting because when he woke up, his mother told him to eat dinner. He wondered if he could eat again after eating lunch and going straight to sleep, but he ate as if there was a beggar in his stomach. It was a repetition of eating and sleeping, perhaps because the morning sickness medicine was effective.
After eating his fill and sitting at the end of the bed reading a book, a short vibration rang from the cell phone he had thrown on the mattress. Closing the book and checking, there was a message from Do-gyeom.
[19:12 Seo Do-gyeom Young Master] Are you home?
…Come to think of it, he had asked to make sure to answer when they parted.
Checking the time, it was past seven in the evening. It wasn’t too late to contact each other, but judging from the way he spoke and his attitude, it seemed he would call as soon as work was over. It vaguely occurred to him that the meeting might have just ended now.
Seo-won had only been Do-gyeom’s partner and done occasional translation work from college until now. So he didn’t know well how heavy his position was or how hard his work was. But thinking that he had been working busily from then until now, he felt a little sorry for him.
Seo-won stared at the screen for a moment and replied to him.
[19:14 Yoon Seo-won] Yes. I’m resting.
[19:14 Seo Do-gyeom Young Master] Can I come see you?
The reply came almost immediately as if only a few seconds had passed since he sent the reply.
Could it be that he was staring at his cell phone? For a moment, he thought it might be possible, but recalling his usual appearance, it was unimaginable. Rather than waiting for his reply, he might have been looking at his cell phone because he had other things to do.
By the way, he’s asking if he can come see him? While he would be happy to see him, didn’t they keep being together from yesterday to this afternoon? Moreover, his mother was at home. It was burdensome to keep showing up in front of his mother, not just once or twice.
[19:16 Yoon Seo-won] No… We just saw each other earlier. And mom is home.
[19:16 Yoon Seo-won] Do you have something to say by any chance?
[19:17 Seo Do-gyeom Young Master] It’s not like that. I just miss you.
“…”
I just miss you…
I thought he had something to say to me, but he says he misses me even though we haven’t seen each other for that short time.
Even though I know he yearns for me and likes me because of the one-sided imprint, my heart fluttered severely as if it was something a person who likes me would say. My heart was pounding as if it would jump out of my mouth.
[19:18 Seo Do-gyeom Young Master] Then can I call you?
“…Call?”
Seo-won muttered in a small voice.
Perhaps because he refused once, saying not to come, refusing again felt heartless. Moreover, in the past, he would have called as if it was natural, but asking for permission first by text was also different… It seemed he was being mindful of me because I rejected him that much.
I know the reason why he’s doing this, but he would think my actions come sincerely from my heart… Worried that my actions would hurt him, Seo-won sent a reply after much deliberation.
[19:25 Yoon Seo-won] Go ahead.
What is this, my hands are sweating as if I’m doing something significant while replying.
Press, press. As soon as he sent the reply with force on his fingers, the cell phone rang as if it had been waiting.
The caller was Do-gyeom.