Chapter 156. I Want To End This Relationship (5)

Translator: Lili

“I… I’m sorry, but I don’t want to say anything right now.”

Minkyung, still bowed, saw Seonae’s stained skirt and the loafers she hurriedly slipped on, their heels crushed.

“Don’t wake Lee-Seob. I’ll call the doctor.”

Seonae said, stopping as she opened the door.

“Tell him to sleep in bed if he’s sick…”

She cut herself off, finding the words she was saying ridiculous, and smiled bitterly.

Seonae then carefully closed the front door. She didn’t wish to wake Lee-Seob.

After she left, Minkyung stood alone in the middle of the hallway. Soon, the sensor light went out. In the dim darkness, she stood straight as if punished, staring at her shadowed reflection in the long mirror on the wall. Her feet, only in thin stockings, grew cold.

Minkyung slowly walked inside and took out her phone from the bag on the dining chair. Her body trembled so much that her feet felt numb, and her hands gripping the phone had no sensation. She found Seonae’s number and pressed the call button. On the third ring, Seonae answered.

“Ma’am.”

—… Speak.

“I’ll come to you and explain. When can I visit?”

After a brief silence, Seonae spoke.

— I’m still in the parking lot.

“I’ll come down now.”

Minkyung hung up and checked her reflection in the mirror. She unlocked the clasp and removed the necklace, buttoning her blouse up to her neck.

When she reached the designated parking area, Seonae had already stepped out of the car. There was no driver in sight. Seonae sat in the driver’s seat, while Minkyung sat in the passenger seat. Breaking the awkward silence, Seonae spoke first.

“I drove here. I needed to calm down before driving back.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ll hear those words from my son, so don’t say them.”

Her voice was much calmer.

“What is your relationship with him?”

Not knowing how to answer, Minkyung only looked at her hands on her lap.

“Are you seriously dating him?”

“No, Ma’am.”

“Yes, I thought so. The work must have been too hard, that’s why he leaned on you. Senior Manager Kang, or should I say deputy director, you’ve been promoted officially, right?”

Seonae asked, looking directly at Minkyung. It wasn’t a look of contempt, but it wasn’t soft either.

“Yes.”

“I see, Deputy Director Kang. I understand. It’s possible. A sense of camaraderie. Working together all day in the office, he must have felt comfortable and grateful. You took care of all the annoying tasks, looked after him.”

Seonae repeatedly confirmed to console herself.

‘You are nothing to my son. It has to be that way.’

“Isn’t that right?”

Minkyung turned her head slightly towards Seonae. Lee-Seob’s mother forced a smile with trembling facial muscles.

“Am I too old-fashioned? Thinking that such emotions must exist might be outdated now?”

Seonae’s eyes were unstable, fixated on Minkyung’s lips. Minkyung answered calmly,

“I don’t know, but it’s surely not more than what you mentioned.”

“I see. How about you, Deputy Director Kang? How do you feel?”

Minkyung answered bluntly,

“I feel the same. I don’t have unrealistic dreams.”

Seonae let out a sigh of relief, slumped her shoulders, and spoke in a much softer tone.

“Then I have a favor to ask.”

“Yes.”

“I’ll tell Lee-Seob at an appropriate time. So let’s pretend we never met today.”

Seonae met Minkyung’s eyes.

“Can you do that?”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

“Thank you. You should go now. Oh, and call the doctor yourself.”

“I understand.”

Seonae nodded, wearing an unnatural smile.

The sound of the car door closing echoed in her head. Minkyung bowed once more to Seonae sitting in the driver’s seat from outside the car.

‘Thank goodness I can control myself with the power of habit. Let’s just keep doing this. Move like a habit.’

Minkyung turned and started walking. Emotionless, dull, indifferent as usual Kang Minkyung would. But soon, she limped and stopped. Like someone whose body had been hollowed out or caved in by a sudden accident, she lost her balance and limped. Her ankles felt as heavy as if they were tied with lead weights, and she constantly felt a draft blowing through her shattered body. She feared she might wobble like an inflatable tube man.

‘I need to walk, I need to walk straight.’

She put all her strength into each step like a child learning to walk.