NOVEL NEXT Chapter 138: You will always have me
At Yoon Miran's house, Kim Taeho prepares the meal for the kids while they change. Ha-Neul is excited by the idea of Little Hae coming to her family as sister-in-law. Jae Hyun doesn't understand much, but he also wants to be with Little Hae. The siblings have set their hearts on Little Hae. He wonders why both of them like Little Hae so much.
Yoon Miran is at the court, dealing with a new murder case. Her clients are never clean people. As always, she loves the challenge of fooling the law and saving the guilty ones. Some things haven't changed about her. He likes her the way she is, but he hopes that she would come out of the shock. Would she ever accept him?
"Father, when can I marry Little Hae?" Jae Hyun stands up on the chair and asks. He is a little shorter than Ha-Neul. His eyes are just like his father's, but he has inherited his mother's features most.
"Hmm." Kim Taeho feeds his son. "If you have parents' approval, you can marry her at 18. Otherwise, you have to wait until you are 20."
Jae Hyun looks at his father seriously. "Father, when will I turn 18?"
"How are you sure that your mother and I would approve of your marriage?" Kim Taeho chuckles. He wonders how Yoon Miran will react this. She doesn't show much expression. He was surprised that she would accept Kyuri as her friend. But seeing how she treats Kyuri, he is less surprised. He can't say that they are exactly friends. He's curious though What made Miran suddenly accept Kwon Kyuri in her silent space?
Even the children like her and Little Hae.
They have a strong dislike for Jung Kwang-soo and his sons. There's mutual enmity between Jung Kwang-soo's two sons and his children. They end up ripping each other's hair out each time they meet. But the second child won't stop following Ha-Neul.
Ha-Neul really treats Little Hae differently. Is it because Little Hae is cute? Her smile can easily melt anyone's frosty heart except for Miran. She's barely affected by anyone. There's something about that child.
"Then, when will I turn 20?"
Kim Taeho smiles at his son. "Do you like her that much?"
Jae Hyun nods. "Yes, Father."
Kim Taeho cleans his son's mouth. "She is going to be a pretty one. So, you should work hard and excel in all the fields of life. Don't be a picky eater. Grow up strong and smart. You should never hurt her in any way. You must always treat her kindly."
Ha-Neul, who has been thinking hard, suddenly has an idea. "Father, my friend had a sleepover at her best friend's home. Can we also go to Little Hae's home?"
"You are not allowed to go to other people's place," Kim Taeho reminds her.
"Can she come here and stay?" Ha-Neul won't give up.
"Father, please." Jae Hyun climbs on the table and looks at Kim Taeho with watery eyes.
Miran might not like it. "Climb off the table first."
Jae Hyun obliges and goes back to his chair.
"You see her every day at school." He narrows his eyes on his children. "Must you two also see her at home?"
They nod their little heads.
Kim Taeho: "I don't think that her parents will agree."
Ha-Neul: "We will convince them."
Kim Taeho: "Your mother won't agree either."
Ha-Neul shuts her mouth.
Jae Hyun: "I will cry."
Kim Taeho: "That does not work on your mother, young man."
Ha-Neul: "I will cry too."
Kim Taeho: "...Give it a try."
Miran returns from the court and finds her two children sitting on the chair inside her office. The strange man is not seen anywhere around. She finds it odd.
'My dear, they want something from you.'
She takes a seat and waits for one of them to speak up.
"Mother, how was your day?" Ha-Neul grins at Miran. "I missed you a lot."
Miran quietly stares back. Ha-Neul looks down. Jae Hyun is already hiding behind his sister. The silence is scaring the small ones.
'You have never been good with children.'
'I don't know what to say to them.'
'Dear, call them to you first.'
"Come here." Miran's voice is low. The kids are usually closer to Kim Taeho. When it comes to their mother, there's always a silent gap between them. Unlike adults, they are unable to understand or breakthrough this silence.
Ha-Neul bravely walks toward her mother with Jae Hyun right behind her. She stops near the table. Her mother's icy face is scary.
"Come closer."
They hesitantly get closer to her, as if going toward a fearsome stranger instead of their own mother.
'Ha-Neul, my day was good. How was your day?'
Miran lets out a sigh. "Ha-Neul, my day was good. How was your day?"
"It was good." Ha-Neul tries to smile. Miran's gaze is severe. Jae Hyun peeks at his mother. He can't take this pressure and starts weeping with his mouth closed. His mother hates noises.
'Take him in your arms and pat him.'
Miran follows Yi Hwan's instructions and takes him in her arms. When they were small, it was easy to be with them. Jae Hyun stiffens when she pats his back like a robot. Ha-Neul gulps down.
Both children are thinking, 'Where is Father?'
Kim Taeho opens the door to the office, carrying a cup of coffee in his hand. He sees the awkward silence in the office. Jae Hyun bursts into crying after seeing his father. Ha-Neul's lips are trembling. Miran has a blank expression.
He puts the coffee cup in front of Miran and takes Jae Hyun in his arms. He pats him soothingly. He holds Ha-Neul's hand and goes out of the office.
She leans back in her hair. Jae Hyun's crying hurts her brain. She sips the coffee quietly, pondering about everything.
'You will always have me.'
She nods. She will always have Kwak In-Sik by her side.