Special Side Story 5
The pavilion (nujeong), built high to admire the scenery, was a space specially crafted with care so that esteemed guests would not grow bored while waiting.
Passing through this pavilion and its inner and outer walls led to where the family lived.
In other words, this pavilion was the dividing line—whether one belonged to the Jungshimwon family or not.
“Ah, Father… What do you mean by that…?”
“Exactly as I said.”
Kwon Soon-yeol’s eyes glinted sharply.
“Decide whether you will leave Jungshimwon and live as someone with no connection to Hwanhee Group—or stay inside these walls.”
Naturally, there was only one answer.
To remain within Jungshimwon.
Yet Han Yu-ae couldn’t bring herself to speak.
Just the thought of enduring, struggling through a life where she couldn’t even die here again made her throat clamp shut.
No… For Si-heon’s sake…
As if reading her thoughts, Kwon Soon-yeol spoke.
“Si-heon agreed as well.”
In an instant, Han Yu-ae’s heart plummeted.
“Agreed… to what…?”
“He agreed to you and Hee-sung leaving Jungshimwon to live outside.”
Han Yu-ae’s pupils shook violently.
Her son had already known what choice she would make.
“B-but… I c-can’t leave Si-heon behind…!”
Her body trembled faintly. Kwon Hee-sung wrapped an arm around his wife’s shoulders.
“Si-heon said something.”
Kwon Soon-yeol’s gaze, fixed on his daughter-in-law’s bloodless face—as if she might collapse any moment—was unmistakably satisfied.
“I will stand at the pinnacle of Hwanhee.”
“……”
“So, clear away anything that gets in the way.”
“I have no lingering attachments—to anything.”
“Cut it all off, cleanly.”
Suddenly, Han Yu-ae remembered the sorrowful dream she’d had in the hospital room.
“Forget about me, Mother. Live your life as Han Yu-ae—the woman who studied English literature.”
“Don’t die, Mother.”
Ah—
Only then did Han Yu-ae realize.
That was no dream.
It was her son’s first—and last—true words to her.
“If you leave Jungshimwon, live as you wish. That’s the only thing I ask of you.”
“Si-heon… my son…”
Han Yu-ae wept helplessly in Kwon Hee-sung’s arms.
“You didn’t abandon Si-heon. My eldest grandson abandoned you.”
“Huuu…”
“From today onward, don’t attempt any contact with Si-heon. Don’t ruin the one thing you can still do for him.”
Having finished speaking, Kwon Soon-yeol rose from his seat.
“Even if I summon you one day—never answer. Prove your resolve. Never set foot in this world again. Live as a complete stranger.”
Han Yu-ae couldn’t respond, collapsing forward as she sobbed.
“I’m sorry, Si-heon… I’m sorry… I was too weak, I couldn’t stay by your side…”
Kwon Hee-sung gritted his teeth, holding his trembling wife.
He couldn’t possibly be at peace.
But if they lingered here any longer, she would shatter completely.
In the end, he chose his wife—and so, the two left Jungshimwon.
Leaving Si-heon behind. Alone.
***
“…And after running away like that, now you dare to act like parents. How laughable.”
Han Yu-ae’s voice, having finished her long story, sank low and cracked.
“That’s why this moment right now, being with you both, feels like a miracle to us.”
Han Yu-ae clutched Ga-eun’s hands tightly with both of hers.
“Thank you, Ga-eun. Please stay by our Si-heon’s side from now on too. You’re the only one who can make Si-heon smile, the only one who can let him show his emotions honestly.”
Tears welled up in Ga-eun’s eyes as she nodded.
“I will. Don’t worry, Mother.”
Just then, the door opened.
“Mommy!”
“Mommy!”
Se-ryun and Se-ori, wrapped in long towels over their swimsuits, came running toward Ga-eun in a flurry of tiny steps.
Ga-eun stretched out her arms and gathered the children into a tight embrace.
“Se-ryun, Se-ori. Were you having fun?”
“Yes! We went swimming with Grandpa!”
“Se-ori too!”
Mwah, mwah. Ga-eun kissed the tops of their heads before hugging them again.
Han Yu-ae, along with Kwon Hee-sung and Si-heon, who had followed the children inside, smiled at the sight.
“Father.”
“Ga-eun’s here. Was the trip alright?”
At the affectionate question from her father-in-law standing beside Si-heon, Ga-eun felt tears threatening to rise for some reason.
“Mom.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you happy right now?”
At Se-ryun’s words, Han Yu-ae bent down to meet her grandson’s gaze.
“What do you mean, Se-ryun?”
“Mommy said sometimes when she’s too happy, she cries.”
Hearing that, Han Yu-ae’s eyes also grew moist with tears.
“Yes, that’s right. When you’re too happy and joyful, sometimes tears come instead of laughter. Our Ga-eun is truly wise, isn’t she?”
“Yeah! Se-ori takes after Mommy too! Se-ori wise too!”
Se-ori’s excited shout sent laughter rippling through the room.
Ga-eun laughed through her tears.
Si-heon stepped closer to his wife, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and gently brushing away the moisture at the corners of her eyes.
“Si-heon.”
“Hmm?” He met her gaze immediately.
“Should we stay the night today?”
At Ga-eun’s words, the children cheered, “Yay!” and began darting around the living room in excitement.
Han Yu-ae and Kwon Hee-sung couldn’t bring themselves to express their joy as openly as the children—they simply waited, breath held, for Si-heon’s answer.
“You don’t have to if you’re not comfortable.”
Though Kwon Hee-sung spoke the words, everyone present knew he didn’t mean them.
“Didn’t you say it’s a husband’s duty to grant his wife’s wishes?”
Si-heon’s reply was casual, almost offhand.
“I don’t intend to be a husband who neglects his duties.”
Kwon Hee-sung snorted at that, and Han Yu-ae bit back tears, her smile radiant.
“Then I’ll prepare the guest room. Se-ryun and Se-ori insisted on arranging their own things, so no one’s touched their space yet. I’ll put these roses there too.”
“Let me help, Mother.”
“No, Ga-eun. Just stay here and relax. That’s all I need.”
Han Yu-ae cradled the bouquet against her chest.
“Is there anything you’d like to eat?”
Ever since reuniting with Si-heon, Han Yu-ae and Kwon Hee-sung had taken up cooking.
They’d wanted to make meals for their grandchildren with their own hands.
“Anything. Just name it, and I’ll make it happen.”
Si-heon, who had been quietly studying his mother’s averted gaze, finally spoke.
“Sandwiches.”
“…Huh?”
“Ga-eun likes them. So do the kids.”
And so do I.
The unspoken addition hung in the air. Han Yu-ae’s composure shattered—she buried her face in the bouquet, tears spilling freely.
“Back then, I thought it was just a sad dream—but it wasn’t a dream at all. It was the first time Si-heon had ever bared his hidden heart to me.”
The memory surged up, and Han Yu-ae couldn’t stop her tears.
The children, who had been darting around the room, scurried over to their grandmother.
“Grandma, why are you crying?”
“Gwanma, too happy?”
At Se-ryun and Se-ori’s questions, Han Yu-ae laughed through her tears.
“Yes, Grandma’s just… too happy. So happy that—”
“Crying is good! Mommy said Tetris flies away when you cry!”
“Not Tetris—stress. Tetris is that game you played with Oppa last week.”
“Ah! Gwandpa! Se-ori wanna play game! Play chesso! Play chesso!”
“Chesso? You mean chess.”
Ignoring her brother’s correction, Se-ori stretched her short arms toward her grandfather. Kwon Hee-sung chuckled and scooped her up with one arm, while the other settled on his wife’s shoulder.
“Se-ori, how about we make sandwiches today instead of chess?”
“Make! Se-ori loves sandweech!”
“Se-ori, you should speak formally to Grandpa.”
“Why? Gwandpa says he likes Se-ori’s no-rules talk!”
“It’s not ‘no-rules’—it’s informal speech, and you can’t just—sigh…”
Se-ryun exhaled in defeat. Ga-eun, still dabbing her eyes, and Si-heon, who’d been wiping hers, both smiled at the scene.
“Alright, shall we go make sandwiches?”
With Se-ori in her grandfather’s arms and Se-ryun clutching Han Yu-ae’s hand, the group headed to the dining room.
Ga-eun, watching them, leaned her head against Si-heon’s chest. Warmth enveloped her.
“Si-heon.”
“Hmm.”
“Thank you.”
For enduring it all. For coming to my side.
“You can lean on me too, you know. Don’t try to carry everything alone.”
Si-heon pulled her closer.
“You promised too, Ga-eun. That we’d face everything together.”
His low voice rumbled above her. She nodded, arms tightening around his waist.
“Yes. Always.”
No matter how much time passes, we’ll still be guarding each other’s side.
Si-heon bent down, capturing her lips in a kiss—
Just as the children’s voices rang out from the dining room:
“Mommy! Daddy!”
The couple broke apart, sharing a smile. Their hands intertwined, fingers lacing gently
< The End >
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