OMS 113

Park Dong-sik barely managed to raise his heavy body. Unable to freely change positions while sleeping, every muscle ached and his joints were sore everywhere. As he groaned and tried to get out of bed, he heard a familiar voice faintly.

Sure enough, Madam Song was at the house. What brings her here so early? When he caught Kim Yoon-ah’s eye nearby, she made a strange expression and tried to signal something, but he couldn’t grasp her meaning.

“You’re here, Mother?”

“Why are you still sleeping at this hour? Come sit here.”

After sitting across from her, Madam Song handed him a piece of paper. Looking at it, there was Korean writing with Chinese characters alongside. What’s this? Looking at it, they were clearly names. Suddenly, an ominous feeling crept up his back. He now understood why Kim Yoon-ah had acted that way earlier.

“I heard they’re boys. I got these names from a monk at a renowned temple. What do you think?”

Park Dong-sik frowned while holding the piece of paper.

“Why do they all end in…’bong’?”

“It’s a generational character. The monk said twins, especially, should share a character for good fortune.”

Won-bong, Hyun-bong, Seok-bong? This is driving me crazy. Park Dong-sik put down the paper and looked at Madam Song incredulously. Was this how Jun-han felt when I suggested naming the kids Arong and Darong?

“Mother, you gave your sons normal names, why are you trying to give my sons names like these?”

“The monk said these were good names. What can I do?”

“Are you sure it was a real monk? Did you visit some strange spiritual advisor again? Give me their contact info. I’ll call them myself.”

“Are you really going to be like this? Your mother-in-law is trying to give your children good names, and you dare talk back with such fierce eyes?”

Park Dong-sik complained indignantly.

“When did I look at you fiercely? This is really too much. Yoon-ah, you saw too, right? Tell her. How is it? Who names a kid Seok-bong these days? Isn’t that like that person from the old days? The one whose mother cut rice cakes?”

Caught off guard, Kim Yoon-ah made a troubled face. Her eyes seemed to say ‘Please don’t ask me.’ Park Dong-sik emphatically declared, his neck veins bulging, that these names were absolutely unacceptable.

Just then, Madam Song’s driver entered carrying something. It was a golden wrapping cloth, and as soon as he set it on the table, Madam Song touched her forehead and waved her hand.

“Driver Choi, that’s enough. Take it back. I must be crazy. I shouldn’t have come. Here I went to the temple at dawn, made offerings, got names from the monk, and even brought gold nuggets, but oh well.”

Madam Song stood up abruptly, and Park Dong-sik quickly grabbed her wrist and pleaded.

“Wait! What did you just say?”

“What? About going to the temple? Do you know how much trouble I went through to visit that temple? The stairs were endless. More stairs kept appearing, no matter how much we climbed; it was maddening. I was bedridden with body aches for two days after forcing myself to go for my grandchildren’s sake. And you think the names I got are old-fashioned? Out of date?”

“No, not that, what you said after. What did you say you brought…”

Park Dong-sik’s gaze naturally turned to Mrs. Song’s driver. He casually reached out and snatched the golden wrapping cloth, making Madam Song scowl fiercely.

“Why are you taking that?”

Park Dong-sik quickly moved aside and unwrapped the cloth. Finding a box inside, he opened the lid and his jaw dropped. Kim Yoon-ah had the same reaction. Inside were two golden rabbits, each larger than an adult’s fist.

“This…this is…!”

Park Dong-sik marveled while holding up the gold. He’d thought they might be hollow, but his wrist buckled under their weight. Finding them too heavy to keep holding, he set them down and looked at Madam Song, who wore a genuinely hurt expression.

“When Jun-han was born, my mother-in-law gave me gold, two buildings, and land in Yangpyeong for my hard work. So I wanted to give you the same, even though you’re not pretty. But you—”

Park Dong-sik grabbed Madam Song’s hands and made an earnest expression.

“Mother! Seok-bong is fine with me! It gives off a feeling that the child will be smart and write well, don’t you think? What do you think, Manager Kim?”

Though Kim Yoon-ah signaled with her eyes that this wasn’t right, Park Dong-sik silently pressured her to agree. Reluctantly, she nodded. “Y-Yes, I think it’s fine too.”

Madam Song narrowed her eyes, and Park Dong-sik went further to flatter her. We can always quietly change the names later through legal channels. Smiling brightly and saying he’d follow her wishes in everything, Madam Song pulled her hand away, clicked her tongue, and got up to her feet.

“You’re such a materialist. Changed your attitude completely when gold and buildings were mentioned. Tsk, how annoying.”

Park Dong-sik made her sit back down and massaged her shoulders while sweet-talking her.

“Why hasn’t Yoon-ah offered you tea? What would you like to drink, Mother? Should I make it myself? I’ll peel fruit for you too. The apple mangoes are delicious.”

As he smiled artificially with upturned lips, Madam Song rolled her eyes and said, “Never mind.” Kim Yoon-ah quickly went to prepare tea, and meanwhile, Park Dong-sik smoothly changed the subject.

“Mother, remember what the fortune-teller said before? About how accumulating good deeds would help the children prosper?”

“That’s why I even helped you escape.”

“While that’s good too, have you thought about making donations?”

“You’re not suggesting I donate to you, are you?”

“Come on, what are you saying? I have Jun-han. Honestly, he has more money than you do, so why would I need donations from you?”

“Then you shouldn’t accept the gold and buildings either. No, weren’t you planning to leave after having the babies? Why do you keep talking like you’ll live with our Jun-han forever? It’s scary.”

As expected, the contract is still valid.

Park Dong-sik smiled bitterly and nodded.

“I understand. Let’s talk about that later, and discuss donations today.”

“I don’t want to hear it. Where are you trying to sell medicine? There are plenty of other places I can donate to, so don’t bring this up again.”

“I understand. But there’s this pastor I really respect as a person. His daughter is wonderful too. They take care of homeless children there, so I thought maybe you’d like to donate, Mother. Then our twins would be blessed by a monk, a pastor, and a fair, wouldn’t that set them up for life?”

“You really talk like a con artist…”

“I’m good at it, right? So, please donate with good intentions. This is all for your grandchildren—”

Madam Song sharply pulled her hand away and stood up.

“That’s enough. Just take care of yourself. Your only job is to safely deliver my grandchildren to me. Understand?”

Park Dong-sik deliberately didn’t answer, and Madam Song gathered her handbag and stood up. He thought she would scold him for not answering or keeping his promise, but she turned and shot back with unexpected words, “At least send me some church brochures. I should know what I’m donating to.”

As expected of Mother! When he quickly tried to grab her hand, Madam Song recoiled and left. Kim Yoon-ha, who had been cutting fruit in the kitchen, hurriedly came to bow goodbye, and Park Dong-sik insisted on seeing Madam Song off at the front gate.

He kept smiling and waving enthusiastically until her car disappeared from view.

“Well? Do you think she was pleased?”

Kim Yoon-ah worried beside him, “Y-You can stop smiling now! Your cheeks are trembling!”

Whew, that was tough. Park Dong-sik rubbed his cheeks vigorously. Then returning home and looking at the gold, this time he couldn’t help but smile. My goodness. How many ounces is this? He tried to hold it, but put it back down because it was too heavy. Kim Yoon-ah showed no interest in the gold but looked genuinely troubled by the names Madam Song had chosen.

“You’re not really going to use these names, right? The kids at school will tease them…”

“I’ll discuss it with Kim Jun-han. You don’t think she’d keep on insisting if her son objects, do you? Oh, by the way, does your father’s church have any promotional brochures?”

“Promotional brochures?”

Kim Yoon-ah, who had been puzzled, suddenly jumped in surprise.

“Was the church you mentioned earlier my father’s church?”

“Yeah, why? Is that not okay?”

“He won’t like it. I gave them money, but they returned it and even gave me spending money instead. They farm too, so they don’t need much for food ingredients, and the two of them can manage just fine for now.”

“Still, get me the brochures just in case. Okay?”

After earnestly requesting this from Kim Yoon-ah, he stood up but felt a dull pain in his stomach. What’s wrong? Maybe he got too excited. He waited a moment since he occasionally got cramps, but the pain got worse.

When he grimaced with an “Ah,” Kim Yoon-ah followed him with a worried expression.

“What’s wrong…?”

“My stomach…hurts a bit…”

“Really badly? Should we go to the hospital right away?”

Park Dong-sik smiled, shook his head, and headed to the refrigerator.

“No, it’s not that bad. This happens sometimes. If I eat what our Whitey and Blackey like, I’ll feel better soon. How about some apple mangoes for our bunnies~ Do you like apple mangoes~ Yes yes, Mama! Give us apple mangoes~!”

Park Dong-sik, who had been walking while humming, stopped in his tracks. He felt something gush out, and warm liquid ran down his legs. Remembering when he bled during early pregnancy, his spine tingled with fear as he looked down.

His pants were getting wet, but it definitely wasn’t blood. As soon as he realized it was amniotic fluid, Kim Yoon-ah, who had followed him, screamed in surprise.

“Hee-soo!”

Park Dong-sik collapsed right there, feeling his stomach twist in pain. Breaking out in a cold sweat and unable to even scream, Kim Yoon-haa urgently called for the security guard and made a phone call somewhere. Meanwhile, he clutched his stomach and repeatedly breathed in and out. His anxiety made his heart race wildly even through the pain.

Why did my water break already…

It’s too early for them to come out…Not yet…