Chapter 57. No, I’m Not Going

“What the hell, Cha Haejin.”

Hayeong sprang to her feet and glared at Cha Haejin with fierce eyes.

Cha Haejin was a well-known thug in the neighborhood.

In elementary school, he bullied the girls in his class and was reported. In middle school, he was caught smoking and drinking and was disciplined. In high school, he fell in with a bad crowd, beat up a friend, stole money, and got suspended.

In short, Cha Haejin had walked the elite delinquent path.

On the day Haejin graduated high school, Hayeong acted like she was witnessing a miracle while looking at his diploma.

She had thought he’d definitely be expelled.

Though he graduated, his grades were terrible, so college was out of the question. But he didn’t get a proper job either.

Cha Haejin hung out at a small gambling den in a neighboring town, keeping company with thugs.

Even Boksoon, who had once worried and scolded him, eventually gave up on trying to reform her grandson.

Then two years ago, Cha Haejin stole the money Boksoon had quietly saved and ran away from home.

It was six months’ worth of living expenses.

Furious, Boksoon declared she was cutting ties and lived as if he no longer existed.

“Do you know where you are—! Urgh—”

Boksoon started yelling but clutched her chest mid-sentence.

Alarmed, Hayeong supported her and gently rubbed her back.

“Grandma, don’t get worked up.”

Even if the illness progressed slowly and she seemed fine, stress was off-limits.

According to the doctor, because of her age, the illness could suddenly worsen at any time.

As Hayeong calmed Boksoon, she stepped in front of Haejin.

“Get out.”

“What? Why should I leave my own house?”

“This isn’t your house anymore, so get out.”

When Hayeong spoke sharply, Haejin snorted and poked her forehead with his finger.

“Isn’t this place not yours either? So why do you care?”

“Grandma cut ties with you the day you stole money and left. You’re not family anymore.”

“Ah, fuck. Tch.”

Haejin spat on the floor and walked toward Boksoon.

Trying to stop her thug brother, Hayeong grabbed his arm, but he forcefully pushed her away.

Standing before Boksoon, Haejin grinned slyly and sneered.

“Grandma, come on. Blood ties don’t just disappear. I’ll always be your grandson, even if you won’t welcome me. You can’t kick me out, right?”

“Why? You here for more money?”

“Not much, just a bit?”

Now that they were finally talking, Haejin smiled sweetly.

But his expression was disgustingly fake, and Boksoon’s wrinkles deepened.

“There’s no money for you. Get the hell out now!”

Boksoon’s roar rang through the house.

“Haahk—”

But it seemed even that had taken its toll—Boksoon collapsed to the floor, clutching her chest again.

“Oh dear, time really spares no one. What, did you catch something?”

While Haejin stood there smirking, Hayeong ran over and helped Boksoon up.

“Please, just get out of our lives already!”

Hayeong screamed.

But Haejin didn’t flinch and turned to Boksoon again.

“She doesn’t look good. Did you at least get life insurance for her?”

Smack—!

Hayeong slapped Haejin hard across the face at his cruel words.

“You crazy bastard—”

“If you hit me again, I’ll report you. To the police.”

When Hayeong raised her phone, threatening to call the police, Haejin’s gaze turned ice cold.

“Oh, so you think I’m just going to let you—”

He forcibly grabbed Hayeong’s phone and smashed it to the floor.

Bang!

The phone flew across the room.

“You psycho—!”

Just as Hayeong cursed at him—

Smack!

Haejin slapped her across the face.

“Is that how you talk to your brother?”

“Don’t you dare hit Hayeong!”

Hayeong’s ragged breath, Haejin’s curses, and Boksoon’s pleading all tangled in the air—

Knock knock—

“Mother, my mom made kimchi pancakes and told me to bring some over. Can I come in?”

Chulsoo’s voice rang out from beyond the door.

Hayeong, trembling and clutching her bruised cheek, screamed toward the door.

“Uncle, help me!”

A crash of shattering glass followed her scream.

Bang—

“Haejin, you bastard!”

Chulsoo burst in and spotted Haejin, storming into the house.

“Get out of this house, now!”

“Come on, Uncle. Even you—”

One glance at Hayeong’s swollen cheek, and Chulsoo grabbed Haejin’s arm and dragged him out.

“A man who raises his hand against his sister—he’s no nephew of mine!”

At that time, Taeseong lay in bed, staring blankly at the faint checkered pattern of the ceiling wallpaper.

His mom was like an outlaw—she left on her own terms and came back the same way.

He didn’t resent her anymore.

But still, she had always brought chaos to his life.

And now this sudden suggestion of studying abroad?

“What the hell am I supposed to do—”

Taeseong raised his arm to cover his eyes.

With the light blocked out, tangled thoughts crept up from the corners of his mind.

Studying abroad?

He already said no. That was that.

And yet… there was a faint lingering regret.

Being alone allowed his true feelings—ones he had ignored—to slowly seep through.

He’d never seriously considered going abroad for film.

But honestly, really honestly…

It was a good opportunity.

His mom, and even Antony, were seasoned in the American film industry.

Studying abroad would offer him experience no amount of money could buy.

But now that he’d just realized his feelings…

He couldn’t leave Hayeong behind.

That was the real reason he had refused so firmly.

“…Should I ask her to come with me?”

He muttered to himself, then shook his head.

Hayeong had her own dreams.

He couldn’t make such a selfish request.

“Yeah. No more thinking.”

Dreams could be chased anywhere. But Cha Hayeong was only here.

Resolving his thoughts, Taeseong lowered his arm and moved his lips.

“Ha… I want to hear Cha Hayeong’s voice…”

Muttering, he shot up from bed and grabbed his phone.

Opening the chat window with her, Taeseong frowned.

Sorry. Something urgent came up. I’ll call you once it’s settled.

“…Why hasn’t she replied?”

Not even a simple “okay.”

He glared at the message, then slowly relaxed his expression.

With Hayeong, pride didn’t matter.

“Well, I can just call her again. What’s the big deal?”

He was about to call but checked the time and lowered the phone.

Maybe it was too late. She might be asleep.

He’d decided not to study abroad.

His mom situation was mostly handled.

Things were settling down now.

It was time to contact Hayeong again.

“…I should introduce her to my mom too. Tell her we’re married…”

Just thinking about hearing Hayeong’s voice made him look forward to tomorrow.

The next morning.

Taeseong ruffled his messy hair and rolled out of bed.

Then he remembered he hadn’t called Hayeong last night, and his drowsy eyes suddenly snapped open.

He quickly grabbed his phone and called her.

[The number you have dialed is powered off….]

Her phone was off.

“Did she forget to charge it?”

Setting the phone down, he stepped out of his room.

But from downstairs—normally peaceful—came raised voices.

Not just yelling—full-on fighting.

He rushed down quickly.

When he arrived at the source, Chairman Joo and Choi Myeongeun had already lost all semblance of control.

“How could you do this?”

“You have no right to say that!”

“I do! I’m still Taeseong’s biological mother!”

Hearing that the fight was because of him made Taeseong wince.

“What are you doing?”

His low voice made both Chairman Joo and Choi Myeongeun turn to him.

At the same time, he glared at Gijoon, who stood behind Chairman Joo.

His fierce energy made Gijoon instinctively defend himself.

“I-I just came to play a morning game of Go with the Chairman—”

As if to prove he hadn’t meant to witness this trainwreck.

“Just go, hyung. You’ve seen enough.”

“…Alright.”

Surprisingly calm, Taeseong handled the situation. Gijoon bowed and left.

Once gone, Choi Myeongeun stumbled toward Taeseong and grabbed his shoulders.

“Taeseong, did you really… get married?”

“Yes.”

His simple answer made her shoot another sharp look at Chairman Joo.

“How could you marry him off at nineteen? And not even tell me?!”

“A mother who truly cared wouldn’t have left him in the first place.”

“That’s different! What you did was play dollhouse with Taeseong’s life!”

“No matter what I do, you have no right to interfere. You’re his mother—but you’re not his guardian!”

The tension in the room tightened like a pulled string.

Taeseong closed his eyes tightly.

He hated this chaos.

It was already done.

Sure, the marriage wasn’t his choice at first, but now he liked Hayeong.

So there was no issue.

He just…

Wanted to bring Hayeong to this house and move on.

He just wanted to go back to their silly, teasing daily life.

Opening his eyes and taking a light breath, he spoke calmly to Choi Myeongeun.

“Mom, Hayeong’s a good person.”

“Taeseong, don’t tell me… you’re not going abroad because of her? Just for one girl…?”

Choi Myeongeun looked at him desperately, hoping he would say no.

But Taeseong answered clearly, cleanly.

“Yes. I can’t leave her.”

“……”

“No, I’m not going.”