Chapter 172. I Can’t Let Her Go (9)

Weekly Chapter 3/3

Night had fallen. Moving quietly, Lee-Seob went to see Seonae. She had already heard that he had canceled the marriage meeting and had hesitated several times about calling him.

“Am I interrupting your reading?”

“No.”

Seonae, standing by the door, gestured for him to come inside.

She lowered the volume of the classical music and carefully placed a bookmark in her book before setting it aside. Lee-Seob sat across from her at the tea table, watching as Seonae removed her small reading glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose.

“How is Soojin? And the baby?”

“They’re both doing well. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a newborn. He’s so tiny, it’s fascinating. I spent the whole day watching Jihoon and lost track of time.”

Lee-Seob nodded, wearing a faint smile. He was forcing himself to smile, but his face was a mess—swollen and exhausted. Pretending not to notice, Seonae spoke.

“Come visit on the weekend. You won’t believe how adorable his babbling is.”

“Mom.”

“Hmm?”

“Why don’t you ask me about today’s meeting…”

“I already know. You didn’t go through with it, did you? Did everything at work go well?”

“There was no work.”

Seonae met her son’s eyes, and her heart sank. If he had used work as an excuse, she could have brushed it off like so many times before. But he wasn’t making excuses. He had made up his mind.

“I… I can’t get married. I tried. I went to the hotel, cleared my mind, emptied my heart. I kept telling myself I could do this, that it wouldn’t be so bad. But…”

Lee-Seob shook his head as he looked at Seonae,

“Mom, I don’t think I can live like that.”

Seonae steadied her trembling heart and asked,

“Lee-Seob… is it because of someone else?”

She already knew the answer. Looking into her son’s deeply troubled eyes, Seonae clenched her skirt beneath the table.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. There was someone I liked, but we broke up before I could even bring it up. She told me it was only because she was my first, that once I met someone new, it wouldn’t matter anymore. And I thought… maybe she was right. Maybe I would get over it in time. But…”

Lee-Seob lifted a hand to press against his reddening eyes.

“I can’t. I just can’t.”

“That’s not true, Lee-Seob. If you meet other people—”

“It’s been 34 years. I fell for someone for the first time in 34 years. At first, I thought I was just shaken, that it was a misunderstanding, that it would pass… but it didn’t. Mom, even if I live another 34 years, I don’t think it will ever change.”

Seonae opened her mouth, then closed it again, letting out a quiet sigh.

“If I let more time slip by, I know I’ll regret it forever. No… I don’t think I’ll be able to live properly. So I’ll go after her.”

“It’s Kang Minkyung, right?”

Without hesitation, Lee-Seob nodded.

“Yes, I’m going to find her. I don’t know if I can convince her, but if she takes me back, please accept her, too. That’s what I came to ask.”

Seonae’s lips parted slightly.

“You knew I ran into her at your apartment, didn’t you?”

“No. I went to the apartment today and saw the shirt. When I saw the exchange receipt date, I just guessed it might be possible.”

“You’re right. I went in, thinking you wouldn’t be home at that time, and I saw you two together. I spoke with Kang Minkyung in the parking lot for a moment. I told her I would handle things and not to say anything to you.”

“I see.”

Seonae looked at her son, her expression weary.

“Do you resent me?”

“A little.”

After saying that, Lee-Seob shook his head,

“But it’s my fault. I should have told you earlier, and I should have given her more certainty. Instead, I just used her—inside and out. To her, I’m a complete bastard.”

“That’s not true. You don’t have to say it like that.”

“No, it is true. She wasn’t someone who should have been my errand boy, bending over backward for me, burning herself out at work. After Dad was pushed out of the company, after Joon-Seob took control, after all the executives who had sided with dad were ousted one by one… In that kind of company, when I had already checked out mentally, she held onto me and worked day and night to make sure I succeeded, to secure my position.”