Deal Breaker - Chapter 120
After ordering dinner and eating, Kanghyeon’s parents went home, and only the three of them were left. Deciding to unpack tomorrow in the spirit of being human, Hyeji first enjoyed a comfortable shower in her own home, then came out with a towel wrapped around her head and sat down on the living room sofa.
She turned on the next episode of the drama they used to watch together every night before the honeymoon, then paused it as soon as the intro ended. Instead of the TV, she watched the baby cam screen on the tablet.
Since he succeeded in putting her to sleep, he’ll come out soon.
There was no sound of a lullaby or voices. Kanghyeon was sitting beside the crib, just gazing at Saebyeok, who was already asleep. With his back to the camera, only his broad back was visible, but even without seeing his face, she could picture his expression clearly.
It’s amazing how much he loves the baby.
You shouldn’t decide whether you like or dislike something before experiencing it. It was something Hyeji needed to engrave on her heart too. Even marriage, which she had been so unenthusiastic about, turned out not to be so bad once she actually did it.
Well, it’s probably because it’s with that man.
Hyeji stood up and headed to the kitchen. As she tore open a bag of popcorn and poured it into a bowl, Kanghyeon came in without a sound.
“I guess I should stop reading Saebyeok-ie’s thoughts now.”
Seeing him say that with a grin like he was crazy with happiness, it was obvious he was scheming to hear the word Papa more often.
“You’re right. If you react before she expresses herself, she won’t at all.”
That was why Saebyeok didn’t say Papa, and Hyeji didn’t show her love outwardly. It was all Kanghyeon’s fault for encouraging bad habits.
“Beer?”
“Yeah.”
Each of them took two cans of beer and the bowl of popcorn, returned to the living room, and sat side by side on the sofa.
Tsssh.
The sound of opening the cans was especially refreshing. They clinked the cans and brought them to their lips. It was the beer they drank every day after putting the baby to bed, but maybe because it had been half a month, it tasted especially sweet tonight.
The man who, like a set routine, should have asked how her day was the moment he took a sip and then grabbed the remote to start the drama was strangely just staring intently at Hyeji today. Keeping her head resting on his shoulder, Hyeji tilted only her eyes up toward him and asked.
“What is it?”
“You’ve changed.”
“How?”
“You used to sit over there by yourself, hugging your knees.”
“Ah.”
That damn habit.
Then Kanghyeon would move closer and wrap an arm around her shoulders. Today, Hyeji had been the one to sit close first and lean on him, yet she hadn’t even noticed.
“That dating bucket list works pretty well.”
“Wow, so does that mean I’ve escaped being forever single now?”
“Well done, Noh Hyeji. Congratulations on escaping singlehood after 27 years.”
Clink. Kanghyeon playfully tapped his can against hers. Rolling her eyes, Hyeji took another sip of beer and leaned back on his shoulder again, and Kanghyeon pressed the button on the remote.
– Take this money and break up with my son.
– Oh my, I guess your son is only worth 100 million won. Did you just pick him up somewhere?
As the explosive situation escalated in the crazy makjang drama, where it was impossible to tell which of the two fierce women would throw water first, Hyeji found herself oddly just staring at the glass window behind the TV.
Beyond the window, the Han River spread out brilliantly, dyed in rainbow lights from the bridge. There was a time when she used to start and end her days watching the Han River view from home.
But today, Hyeji’s gaze did not go to the river. She just kept looking at the cozy image of Kanghyeon and herself reflected in the dark glass.
Like the moment she had watched the warm backs of the elderly couple sitting side by side on the pier beneath the Alps, marking the end of their day.
Now, the only wish of the once greedy Noh Hyeji was this.
That even when we become a grandma and grandpa, we’ll start and end every day together.
Filling in the lacking 5.48 percent of our compatibility, which boasts 94.52 percent, together with effort.
