OMS 77
by Cherry“They’re so cute! Look at those lovely little hands!”
A few hours after Kim Tae-han left, Kim Yoon-ah came by and got excited about the photos and videos as if they were her own children.
“Did you get what I asked for?”
“Oh, right.”
Kim Yoon-ah took out a paper bag from her purse. Inside was a large bottle of pheromone neutralizer. Park Dong-sik sprayed it thoroughly all over his body. As he generously sprayed it on the sofa and in the air, Kim Yoon-ah’s face gradually hardened as she watched without saying a word.
“Mr. Lee Hee-soo… Don’t tell me you’ve been with someone else already…?”
Park Dong-sik sat back down on the sofa.
“No, it’s because Kim Tae-han was here.”
Kim Yoon-ah sighed in relief while touching her chest.
“Want to hear something surprising?”
“What is it?”
“Kim Tae-han is the babies’ father.”
“Are you sure…?”
“Yes. Almost certain.”
“…”
“So I was thinking, should I live with Kim Tae-han? He’s good-looking, wealthy, good in bed, and although he’s a bit crazy, his feelings for me seem genuine.”
After hesitating for a moment, Kim Yoon-ah shared her thoughts.
“Well… I think he’s better than CEO Kim Jun-han.”
“That’s surprising? You were supporting Kim Jun-han before.”
“After seeing him come to the villa with a gun, my support completely vanished… He’s scarier than a ghost…”
Park Dong-sik understood her feelings as she showed her goosebumps and mentioned still waking up with night terrors in the middle of the night. Then Kim Yoon-ah expressed another concern.
“If you get together with Kim Tae-han, living in Korea will be difficult. There will be public attention, and as the children grow up and encounter media coverage, they might get hurt.”
Park Dong-sik nodded his head. Even now, there were various rumors circulating about Kim Jun-han and Lee Hee-soo’s divorce, including stories about Lee Hee-soo’s infidelity. Although Daesan Group’s threat of legal action against false rumors had quieted things down somewhat, people would surely gossip again someday.
Or should I just blame everything on Madam Song and leave on my own?
Park Dong-sik sighed deeply while lying on the table, staring blankly at the pheromone neutralizer in front of him. As the time to give birth approached, practical problems began to come to the surface one by one. Then his gaze fell on the calendar. While scanning the dates, Park Dong-sik muttered to himself.
“What’s today’s date…?”
Kim Yoon-ah, who was peeling fruit from the refrigerator with a knife, asked, “What?” Park Dong-sik reached for the desk calendar. Looking at the date, he realized it was Park Dong-sik’s birthday. He wasn’t sure if he was actually born on this day, but that was what was officially registered.
His only childhood birthday memories were of group celebrations at the orphanage for all the children born that month. Even those were just for taking photos to send to donors. He had always shared cakes with others, never having his own cake even once. To die after living such a life, what an unfortunate fate you had.
“About Park Dong-sik…You don’t know the columbarium address, right?”
Park Dong-sik nodded his head.
“Should I look it up?”
“No, it’s fine…”
Park Dong-sik bit his lower lip firmly. Going there wouldn’t solve anything. It would just make him feel unsettled. As he got up and was eating some fruit, there was a sound at the entrance. Looking back, it seemed like Madam Song had dropped by without notice.
Park Dong-sik smiled brightly while waving, and Kim Yoon-ah quickly got up to her feet.
“Mother, you’re here! It’s so nice to see you after so long.”
“Tsk, how rude, sitting when an elder arrives.”
“It’s because my body is heavy. Please understand.”
“Are you showing off because you’re pregnant?”
“But how did you know to come here?”
“That’s what I wanted to ask. You were so confident you’d never be found, but you couldn’t even last half a year before getting caught. What did I tell you? I said you should have gone abroad.”
“It wouldn’t have helped even if I went abroad. Do you know how persistent your sons’ obsession is?”
That included Chairman Kim. Park Dong-sik had heard from Kim Tae-han that Chairman Kim had been looking for Lee Hee-soo and that was how Kim Tae-han found out. That old man really didn’t know how to give up. He kept quiet, knowing that telling the truth would only make Madam Song dislike him more.
Kim Yoon-ah offered Madam Song, who had taken a seat, a nicely peeled piece of fruit on a fork.
“Please have some, madam.”
There was still sympathy for Madam Song in her eyes. Pretending not to notice, Park Dong-sik took out a notebook and opened it in front of Madam Song. He even played the video, and Madam Song’s cold face bloomed like a flower.
“My goodness. They look exactly like their father!”
Park Dong-sik’s eyes sparkled at those words.
“Can you tell?”
“Of course, he’s my son after all.”
“Which one? Kim Jun-han? Or Kim Tae-han?”
“…”
After a moment of confusion, Madam Song put on a prim expression.
“What does it matter? As long as they’re definitely my grandchildren, that’s what counts. Weren’t you planning to hand over the babies and leave anyway?”
“Well…yes.”
“Don’t get any other ideas. Don’t think about seducing my sons to come back.”
“How many times do I have to say it? I didn’t seduce them, how could I stop them when they’re the ones going crazy over me?”
“Watch your language while pregnant.”
“Stop that and look more carefully. Can’t you really tell who they look like?”
A walnut-sized wrinkle appeared on Madam Song’s chin. Seeing her tilt her head in confusion, it seemed she couldn’t tell either. Well, how could anyone tell anything from unclear ultrasound images showing only the backs of their heads?
Giving up, Park Dong-sik put away the notebook and turned off the screen while Madam Song looked on with disappointment in her eyes. Park Dong-sik installed an app on her phone so she could watch the videos anytime and taught her how to use it. He expected her to refuse, but surprisingly, despite struggling, she tried hard to learn, which made him feel strange.
***
Near the end of lunch hour, Kim Tae-han stopped by the company cafeteria. It was nearly empty, but he spotted Kim Jun-han and his secretary eating in a corner. Kim Tae-han went over and put his tray on their table.
“Do you really have to eat here with that face? You’ll make the employees sick.”
When Kim Jun-han looked up, there was a bandage near his eyebrow. There were rumors circulating in the company about Kim Jun-han’s injuries.
“Given your temperament, taking two beatings without retaliating must mean you have feelings for him?”
“Go eat somewhere else. You’re ruining my appetite.”
“Why bother when all the employees already know? Nothing wrong with brothers showing that they get along.”
Kim Tae-han smiled and looked around. Employees who had been glancing their way quickly turned their heads. Rumors of bad blood between the brothers had already spread throughout the company. These rumors started when word got out that Kim Tae-han was the reason for Kim Jun-han’s divorce. Though the source was unknown, it was quite disturbing content.
The secretary who had been listening got up with his tray.
“I’ll excuse myself first.”
Once they were alone, Kim Tae-han provoked while holding his spoon.
“I went to see Lee Hee-soo this morning. The guards let me in quite easily?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“We did it.”
Kim Tae-han made a suggestive hand gesture.
“Intensely.”
Kim Jun-han put down his spoon and picked up his water glass. His eyes were cold as he looked at Kim Tae-han while drinking.
Kim Tae-han had thought it through. If Kim Jun-han had brought Lee Hee-soo from the villa and they had normal sex last night, he would have made sure no one could approach.
“I wondered why you let me go to Lee Hee-soo.”
“Oh, so you do think sometimes. I’m surprised.”
“Five months ago, you said there were no problems between you and Lee Hee-soo, but that wasn’t true. There were clearly issues between you two. That’s why you suddenly decided on the surgery. I thought about what it could be, and concluded you’re not the biological father. How’s my deduction?”
Kim Jun-han smiled condescendingly at Kim Tae-han.
“So what?”
“Don’t act so calm. You’re burning up inside.”
Kim Jun-han stood up with his tray and looked down coldly at Kim Tae-han.
“You want Lee Hee-soo?”
“Yes.”
“Take him.”
Kim Tae-han’s lips curled up.
“Really?”
“But only the child. Not Lee Hee-soo.”
With that, he turned around, disposed of his tray, and left with his waiting secretary. Left alone, Kim Tae-han smiled leisurely. Though Kim Jun-han pretended to be fine, he must have been hurting quite badly inside. Having never had anything taken from him since birth would make it worse.
If Lee Hee-soo became completely mine, it wouldn’t end with just pain. Will you be okay, brother?
Just imagining it made him feel thrilled and elated.
***
A black car stopped halfway through the memorial park. Kim Jun-han, who had been looking outside, grabbed the bright bouquet from the passenger seat and got out. After gesturing toward his secretary not to follow, he slowly walked forward across the green grass.
Stopping in front of a grave, he took out a cigarette and lit it. After standing there for a while with the cigarette, he placed the bouquet on top of the gravestone. Under the name Park Dong-sik, the birth date pointed exactly to today.
“Happy birthday.”
Even after finishing his cigarette, he couldn’t easily leave.
[“Don’t act so calm. You’re burning up inside.”]
Kim Tae-han’s voice echoed in his ears. The sun set and darkness fell. Unable to decide whether to go home or visit Lee Hee-soo, he let time pass until finally, after finishing his last cigarette, he was able to turn away.
“Fuck. I should have just shot him.”