Chapter 62
But the way you greeted me was so formal that I felt like we had become distant. So distant it hurt.
Exactly. The distance wasn't just physical. Tae-yeon had decided to cut out her heart and stop loving Choi Hyun-seo. She wouldn't feel this pain anymore. If she raised Yun-woo as his mother and lived her own life, maybe she would meet a real man someday.
Is that so? I've always been like this from the start.
No way.
Hyun-seo pressed his lips together tightly and stared at Tae-yeon. Those cheeks again. That face from the confession. The eyes. The voice. Every detail was burned into his memory. It had always been like this?
I really am like this.
That's not true. At least when you confessed your love, it was different. Come to think of it, that was when you quit your job. You left home for the last time, right, Vice President?
Deputy President. It's called the pot calling the kettle black. I liked you a little in the middle, but I came back to the start. Deputy President, you were just a superior I met for business.
Too decisive and too smart. He wanted to say one more thing, but he couldn't.
Mom. Dad.
Yun-woo ran over to Tae-yeon with both arms open. Tae-yeon called her son's name right away and smiled sweetly and brightly like cotton candy. Watching his mother hug the child and kiss his cheeks, Hyun-seo smiled softly too.
Even if it was only this much, even if this was the only family he could have, it was enough.
***
Except that they didn't live in the same house and didn't have sex together, nothing else had changed. Tae-yeon reported every day about Yun-woo over the phone or email.
Sometimes she wondered if this was how it was really supposed to be. But at least they still felt real. Sincerity, pain, love.
She told herself that even not thinking of or triggering those words was progress.
Was this better? Without any regrets?
Min I-joo, I'll buy Yun-woo's favorite gift and come by today. Tell me what he likes.
Even the way he called her was still "Min I-joo." The same gentle voice that used to call her from the bed. Hearing that title made the wound she had buried deep rise to the surface, and her nose started to tingle.
Yes. Understood. Deputy President.
I got promoted. We were the same rank as I-joo.
Tae-yeon blinked at the casual words. Just like those old days when he teased her as the desk-parked vice president. The days when she had come out of that desk.
I don't have a title anymore. You don't have to call me I-joo.
We can't do that. Since you're Yun-woo's mother, you should at least be an I-joo.
Yes.
There was no other answer. But during the call with Hyun-seo, a completely unknown number started ringing.
I'll send you the details about what Yun-woo needs by text. There's a call coming in.
Then hang up.
Hyun-seo ended the call. Tae-yeon immediately pressed the call button again.
Hello?
A bit lispy, but steady. Tae-yeon answered carefully.
Yes, hello?
Are you the guardian, Min Kyung-ja? This is the hospital.
The moment her mother's name came out, Tae-yeon felt as if cold water had been poured over her heart. A call from the hospital was never good news.
The hospital?
She tried to stay calm, but her hand trembled first. Her tongue, panicking, spilled words on its own.
Why? Is our mom sick?
The conversation that followed was the worst thing Tae-yeon could have imagined. After hanging up, she hurriedly put on her coat. Icheon-daek looked startled.
Why, young madam?
Auntie, can you take care of Yun-woo for a bit? I think I'll be late. My mom... my real mom is very uncomfortable.
Oh dear. Don't worry about Yun-woo, young madam. Please go quickly. But shouldn't you call Deputy President too?
I'll go check first. I... I'll go check...
Tears flowed without her noticing. She found her shoes and put them on. The whole way to the hospital her heart raced as if it was going to burst. The blood that should have been cold from fear was even colder. Throughout the drive she kept thinking.
When was the last time I took Mom to the hospital?
She always said Mom was fine. When she wanted to take her to the hospital once, Mom said her body was getting better and better. It didn't look that way to Tae-yeon, but she believed her. But then she collapsed! What did this all mean?
***
The emergency room doctor gave a professional explanation.
You should ask the attending physician. We did emergency care. Looking at the records, the doctor here said multiple times that she refused the transplant. The last time we mentioned kidney transplant was eight months ago.
What?
Tae-yeon shook her head in horror. The resident-like doctor didn't seem bothered and just read from the chart.
She's too far gone now. It would be difficult to perform the kidney transplant.
It was like a thunderclap. Tae-yeon dialed Hyun-seo's number with shaking hands. He was the only one who came to mind.
Hello?
Hearing her voice shaking, Hyun-seo felt something bad had happened. There was no other way a calm Min I-joo could sound like this just a moment ago.
Hello? What's wrong?
Um...
Before he could finish, tears poured down like a waterfall. The only people who could help were Cha-hee and her brother Nae-ul, but they couldn't. They couldn't speed up the transplant or influence the surgery.
In the end he had no choice but to call Hyun-seo. After leaving home to keep distance, it seemed he had clung to him even more, but he had no other thoughts.
Hyun-seo hung up and came to Tae-yeon right away. He already had a full report before he arrived. Kyung-ja's condition had worsened more than expected. There was no method other than a kidney transplant, and finding a donor right now was impossible.
The only hope was if Tae-yeon's kidney matched perfectly, they could consider it.
Hyun-seo let out a long sigh and closed his eyes. Thinking of crying Tae-yeon made him frantic and unable to bear it.
Kim, drive faster.
Yes, Deputy President.
The car switched lanes and started driving faster. He wished all the painful things in life passed by as quickly as these cars.
***
He had said he'd come quickly, but how much had she cried to make her face like this? Her swollen eyes brought back the time she had been put on ice packs. Back then she hid everything with laughter, but right now it didn't seem possible.
It'll be okay. I said I'll look into it. We'll find a suitable kidney quickly and do the transplant.
It was a calm promise, but Tae-yeon's reaction was hopeless.
It's impossible.
It's not completely impossible. The probability is low, but...
Tae-yeon grabbed Hyun-seo's arm. He held her trembling hand tightly. With his big hand holding hers, the shaking eased a little.
The regret that she hadn't known her mom's health was this bad squeezed her heart until she couldn't breathe.
Tae-yeon looked at her mom's attending doctor and cried.
You didn't even contact me! I'm her guardian!
I told you several times. Your mother said she would come together next time. And we discussed it and decided.
No. There's no record of that.
Hyun-seo placed his hand on her shoulder beside the sobbing Tae-yeon. Just one hand on her shoulder, yet it gave her strength. He asked the doctor,
What should we do in this situation?
Only a kidney transplant.
I know that. Please make the patient as comfortable as possible right now. Do the transplant as fast as possible.
The doctor looked confused. If he had known the next successor of Miwoo Group was the son-in-law, he would have paid more attention.
But she didn't even register for the kidney transplant, and it's impossible right now.
Doctor, I'm her daughter. I can do it! I'll get the tests done immediately and have the surgery today or tomorrow!
The desperate voice brought Hyun-seo back to a similar situation.
Mom, hyung is sick. Hyung, take me to the hospital. I won't play with hyung anymore. I won't stop hyung from going to America. Mom, I'll do anything. I have to go to the hospital.