PTC Chapter 14. A Blessing

Soonja spoke cautiously.

 “There won’t be a wedding ceremony… but since we need to register it legally, you two should go to the district office and file the marriage registration. Then you can come and live here.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Junghee, looking at Da-in, was still caught in the past. If she’d known Da-in was pregnant, she wouldn’t have said those things. They were a family that valued descendants, if only Da-in had told her beforehand….

But it was all in the past. She didn’t know how much she’d tormented herself with guilt afterward. She couldn’t even tell Seojun when he’d declared he’d join the army after they broke up.

She’d worked so hard to separate them, but even so, Seojun hadn’t been able to forget Da-in and had brought her back for even a 100-day marriage. She couldn’t understand Seojun proposing such a marriage or Da-in accepting it.

Junghee’s face was as white as a sheet.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Seojun asked, looking at Junghee and Soonja. Soonja nodded silently.

“What else is there to say?”

When Junghee spoke, Seojun stood up and said, “Then we’re done here. I’ll take her upstairs and show her my room.”

“Alright.”

Seojun stood and gestured for Da-in to get up. Da-in bowed and followed Seojun to the second floor. There was a large living room on the second floor as well, and the room facing the stairs was Seojun’s.

“That room is Seowoo’s. You’ve met Seowoo once, right?”

Ten years ago, he introduced Seowoo as his younger sister. Da-in remembered briefly greeting the girl in a school uniform with pigtails when she visited Seojun near his house.

The spacious room contained a bed, a side table, a floor lamp, and a small nightstand; it was very simple. The adjoining dressing room was also plain and unadorned. There were no decorations, only essential furniture. It was simple, just like Seojun’s taste.

“We’ll be staying here together from now on. When you move in, you can change the furniture and bedding to your liking.”

“Okay.”

“Don’t worry too much about what Grandma or Mom says.”

“They haven’t said anything.”

“Is this the first time you’ve met my mom?”

“Yes.”

A pang of guilt shot through her chest, but Da-in answered simply. But something felt strange. Da-in looked up. Seojun’s gaze, looking down at her, was sharp. Had he noticed something in that short moment?

“Why do you ask?”

“Because it doesn’t seem like my mom has ever been this quiet. I thought she’d ask you a lot of questions when I brought you here.”

Da-in didn’t say anything. Seojun found that a little unsettling. As the silence stretched, Da-in smoothly changed the subject.

“I don’t have much luggage. Since I’ve decided to think of this as a job, I’ll only bring the essentials. I’ll be leaving in 100 days anyway.”

“Do as you please. When do you start at the design team?”

“Next Monday.”

“Good. I kept my promise, so start work, and let’s register our marriage.”

Da-in nodded.

 Knock, knock. 

A knock came, and when she opened the door, Junghee was standing there.

“I brought some fruit. Eat while you talk.”

“Thank you.”

As Da-in took the tray, Seojun said, “Why did you bring this yourself, Mom?”

“Just… because you brought her here.”

“Do you have something to say?”

“No, I don’t.”

It was even stranger that she said she had nothing to say when she clearly did. 

Junghee gave Seojun a disapproving look and left.

With the fruit Seojun had brought in front of her, Da-in said, “I’ll be labeled a parachute¹ employee at the company.”

“No, you won’t. The design team was just about to hire a new designer for a new brand launch. An experienced employee. So I put you in. You won’t be called a parachute employee.”

“That’s a relief.”

“I don’t do things sloppily. I also looked into your brother, Park Soohyuk. The company said it was a sudden disappearance. I’m looking into it because there might be something fishy. It’s a bit dangerous over there.”

Da-in’s face immediately became worried.

“I wonder what happened? He’s alive, right?”

“I think so. He’ll be fine.”

He spoke reassuringly and let out a small sigh.

Park Da-in, why was her burden so heavy? It must have been hard enough raising her niece with her mother, but now her brother was missing too. Seojun felt sorry for Da-in’s situation and wanted to do something for her, even if it was just as her 100-day husband.

While they were talking, the door suddenly opened.

“Brother!”

It was Seowoo. Da-in recognized her face; it was the same as when she saw her as a child. Makeup made her look more sophisticated and mature, but Da-in could recognize her immediately. Da-in stood up and greeted her.

“Hello. I’m Park Da-in.”

Seowoo paused for a moment, then her eyes widened.

“Haven’t we met before? A long time ago.”

Seowoo also recognized Da-in right away.

“Yes, I have. Thank you for remembering me.”

Seowoo frowned at Da-in’s words.

“So you’re the one my brother’s doing this scapegoat marriage with? Isn’t this too cruel?” 

Did she really have to call it a scapegoat marriage? Seojun stood up beside them.

“Hey, even if you have to say something, why ‘scapegoat marriage’?”

“Isn’t it true? Were you offended, Sis?” 

Da-in accepted it calmly. If she thought of this as a job, it wasn’t something she couldn’t handle.

“No. You’re right. But it’s not pleasant to hear, so I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t say that next time. By the way, you’ve grown up much prettier than you were as a child.”

Seowoo nodded and smiled at Da-in’s words.

“I’m the same.”

“You’ve become more stylish and pretty.”

“Thank you. But I really didn’t know it would be you, Sis. It’s so cruel to use your first love like this. Brother is really the worst.”

Seojun frowned at Seowoo’s words.

“Hey. Get out if you’re done.”

“Then I’ll see you often from now on. See you later, Sis.”

Seowoo bowed and left. A scapegoat marriage, using his first love like this…. The facts were sharp. As Da-in sat quietly, Seojun put a slice of melon in his mouth and said,

“Seowoo remembered you after seeing you only once.”

“I remember her too. She was cute and pretty then, and she’s still pretty now.”

“Seowoo is the only person you’ve seen in our family, right?”

“Yes.”

As Da-in answered, the flustered face of Junghee flashed through her mind.

“Take me home. I’m tired.”

She hadn’t been there long, but seeing Junghee’s face had definitely drained her energy.

“Let’s stay a bit longer. Weren’t you curious about my room?”

“I’m not curious. And I’ll be here all the time anyway.”

At her blunt words, Seojun gave a hollow laugh.

“Alright, alright. I’ll take you home. But couldn’t you have at least pretended you were curious?”

“What difference does it make if I say that? Nothing changes. We’re in a 100-day contract marriage, and we’re strangers to each other publicly. You said 8 PM to 8 AM. It’s not even that time now.”

“Okay, okay. Let’s go. I’ve never won an argument with you. How could I possibly win an argument with Park Da-in?”

***

It was quite late. After taking Da-in home, Seojun had a meeting to finish up some work he’d been looking at at the company, which made him even later.

When he arrived home after the meeting, Junghee was waiting for him.

“Seojun.”

“You’re still awake? It’s late.”

Junghee hesitated and asked,

“Were you with her all this time?”

“No. I took her home and had a meeting.”

“I see. But Seojun, does it have to be her?”

There was a sense of unease in her words. Seojun left no room for doubt.

“What do you mean? We promised from the beginning. You wouldn’t say anything about who I brought.”

“Yes, that’s true, but….”

It was true, but of all people, it had to be Park Da-in. The mistakes she had made in the past, her weaknesses… it felt unbearable, like they were surfacing and being revealed.

“You said you knew her from before.”

“Yes. What’s wrong with that?”

“Are you sure it’s okay? You knew her in the past.”

“I’ll handle it. Whatever our relationship was in the past, we’ve agreed to this 100-day marriage now.”

“Is it because of money?”

Seojun furrowed his brow at Junghee’s sudden question.

“Mom. Were you trying to bring that 21-year-old Grandma found without paying her?”

“That’s not it, but….”

“Then why are you asking that? As if there’s something wrong with Park Da-in specifically.”

“No, that’s not what I meant.”

“If we’ve already decided on a 100-day marriage, just accept it. No matter who it is. I won’t do it with anyone but Park Da-in.”

She couldn’t express her opposition any further. Junghee nodded and turned around, but Soonja stepped forward and said,

“Didn’t I tell you that young lady is a blessing?” 

She was talking to Junghee. A blessing. Park Da-in is a blessing!