A child who looks like me

Seven years ago. Jihun’s birthday.

It was the first birthday since they started dating.

Jeong-o had invited Jihun to her house. When Jihun arrived in front of her house, Jeong-o ran out to greet him.

“Let’s go up quickly.”

At Jeong-o’s urging, Jihun felt a flutter in his heart. Expecting something on his birthday was a feeling he had only harbored as a child, but it felt as if he had suddenly returned to those younger days. Of course, he couldn’t be entirely childlike; he was a healthy, grown man.

As he watched his girlfriend’s lively steps up the stairs, he felt a bit guilty about his own dark heart.

Finally, Jeong-o opened the front door and offered her congratulations.

“Ta-da! Happy birthday, Oppa!”

Inside the doorway was a small dining table set for a meal. The table was filled with dishes. The food looked delicious just by looking at it.

Jihun’s eyes widened in surprise. Although he had cooked for Jeong-o many times, he had never actually eaten her cooking. Jeong-o, who always joked that her mother wouldn’t let her cook because she caused trouble in the kitchen, couldn’t have suddenly become a culinary genius overnight.

“Did you make this?”

“Mom sent it.”

“Even the seaweed soup?”

“If you eat the seaweed soup I made, you might want to return your birthday.”

“Did you tell her it’s my birthday?”

“No. Mom will make whatever I say I want.”

“……So, your mom thought everything was for you?”

“Whatever you leave behind, I’ll eat it.”

Jeong-o answered innocently. Jihun felt dizzy. Here he was, receiving a meal lovingly prepared by his girlfriend’s mother, whom he had never met.

“If you eat well, Mom will be happy too.”

“But you said you didn’t tell her I would eat it.”

“Mom says she’ll be happy if I’m happy. If you eat well, I’ll feel good, so Mom will be happy too.”

Along with his embarrassment for not having met her mother, a feeling of envy began to blossom. Between Jeong-o and her mother, there was a deep love that Jihun could not hope to rival. Jeong-o always had the face of a daughter who was fully loved.

“Did your mom and dad congratulate you a lot?”

How did Jeong-o know he was thinking about his family atmosphere? She asked about her parents. Jihun couldn’t share the loving stories that Jeong-o had. His family didn’t have that kind of tenderness.

“My mom called this morning. She congratulated me on my birthday.”

Jeong-o nodded at Jihun’s monotonous reply. There were no more questions. It seemed that Jeong-o was gradually realizing that Jihun was hesitant to talk about his family.

“Oppa, hurry up and eat. I plated it nicely. It’s on our best dishes.”

Jihun couldn’t help but smile at his cute girlfriend’s proud demeanor. The food was genuinely delicious.

In particular, the seaweed soup was the best he had ever tasted. It felt like the taste was filled with love directed toward her daughter, who was far away. Jihun felt truly grateful to Jeong-o’s mother, whom he had never met.

As they finished the abundant lunch, Jeong-o pulled something out from under the bed, beaming.

“And, Oppa, I prepared a gift too.”

There was another gift.

“Ta-da!”

Jeong-o held out a box. Jihun opened it with a pounding heart. As soon as he saw inside, he burst out laughing.

Two books. A gift that was so quintessentially Jeong-o.

“I couldn’t afford anything nice, so I’ll buy you something else next week when I get my part-time job salary. But this is a special book. It’s my favorite.”

“So you’re giving me something you’ve read?”

“No, I bought it new.”

“You should give me something you’ve read. This is just a replica of your favorite book.”

“No, I like the font that’s printed in there.”

Jihun playfully made a pouty face, teasing Jeong-o. Her expression fell, and she slumped her shoulders, getting up from her seat.

“Alright. I’ll exchange it.”

“No, it’s fine.”

“Why?”

“You wrote something here.”

On the first page of the book was Jeong-o’s handwriting. Jihun found himself more touched by the few lines she had written than by the book itself.

“Thank you. You don’t have to buy me anything else.”

A smile of satisfaction returned to Jeong-o’s face, which had almost turned to a frown for a moment. Her expression was so lovable that Jihun’s hand instinctively moved. His large hand, which cradled her cheek, gently tickled her chin, and Jeong-o’s eyes widened with tension.

“……Huh? Why?”

“A reward for the gift.”

“…….”

“Since you gave me your favorite, I have to reciprocate.”

“No, Jeong Jihun. Why are you being so forward?”

Jeong-o’s light reproach was quickly buried by Jihun’s lips.

In broad daylight. As if he had intentionally received a gift just to return the favor.

For Jihun, birthdays were a perfect day to openly reveal one’s feelings. Since he had a girlfriend, he found himself feeling that way anywhere and anytime, just by having her beside him.

But no matter how much he desired it, he wouldn’t do anything if she didn’t want it.

“But Jeong-o.”

Jihun, pulling his heated lips away for a moment, wriggled his hand that had gone inside his t-shirt and called out to Jeong-o.

“Did you buy new underwear?”

“……How do you know that?”

“I can tell just by touching it.”

At Jihun’s reply, Jeong-o’s exposed skin turned completely flushed. Jihun quickly noticed that change.

“Thank you.”

“What are you thanking me for?”

Jeong-o’s flustered voice was once again swallowed by Jihun. Her short breaths intertwined with his, creating an intimate moment.

It was the happiest birthday for Jihun.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

At 4 a.m., Jihun woke up.

His mother was still deep in sleep, so Jihun quietly left the hospital room.

The world was still dark. But Jihun’s mind felt clear and refreshing, as if an old fog had lifted. His heart raced, making it impossible for him to grab the steering wheel right away.

Jihun took some time to calm himself down before driving. He was headed to Jaegwang and Yeongmi’s house, his family home.

The caretaker was surprised by his sudden visit. Jihun moved carefully, trying not to wake the others in the house.

He found himself in a storage room where he kept his old belongings. He remembered rummaging through this place seven years ago looking for an old cellphone. At that time, he had mindlessly passed by two books.

“I found it.”

Finding the books he had passed by was not difficult. With an excited heart, Jihun opened the cover.

“Oppa, happy birthday!

I wish I could give you stars and the moon, but I’m sorry it’s only these two books.

Instead, you might find stars and the moon inside the books.

When I earn a lot of money later, I’ll buy you more books.

Happy, happy birthday!”

Jihun’s eyes filled with tears as he read Jeong-o’s simple handwriting.

Lee Jeong-o had kept her promise to earn a lot of money and buy more books.

So incredibly lovable.

Fearing that the process of him recalling memories might be painful, she didn’t say anything at all. While she continually dropped hints, she never brought up their past on purpose. She didn’t want to provoke him.

His memories didn’t return with a flash or a sudden burst. It didn’t arrive unexpectedly one day.

It was thanks to Jeong-o’s patience, who firmly believed that his memories would return someday and watched over him with the same love as seven years ago. Because of the emotional stability she continuously gifted him, and the comfort she provided.

.*. *. *. *. *. *.

Early dawn.

Jihun returned home and cautiously opened the sliding door. The moment he took off his shoes and stepped inside, the sensor lights turned on. He heard footsteps approaching.

Jeong-o ran out.

“Were you awake?”

“No, I fell asleep in the living room.”

Jeong-o replied nonchalantly. She had been waiting for Jihun on the living room sofa, unable to rest comfortably in bed, and had dozed off. Jihun felt a bit upset. He had called the night before to say he would be late.

“I told you I’d be late.”

“I slept well. It’s fine. But why were you late? Did something happen?”

Jeong-o lightly brushed off Jihun’s rebuke and quickly asked.

“Did you talk to your mom?”

What had happened? Had the conflict eased? Why was he late? Since Jihun hadn’t brought up his mother, Jeong-o was worrying unnecessarily.

Seeing the innocent look in Jeong-o’s eyes, Jihun felt a wave of guilt.

He tilted his shoulders and pulled Jeong-o into a tight embrace. His emotions surged, and his breath grew hot.

His head and heart, now filled with memories from seven years ago, hesitated on what words to say first.

Just like Jeong-o seven years ago, who had burst into tears upon hearing Korean in a land filled with English, he felt tears threatening to spill.

He cautiously shared the news she was curious about.

“Mom said she was sorry.”

“And you accepted it?”

“Yeah.”

“Good job. Good job.”

“I was the one who ended up apologizing first.”

“That’s a good thing.”

Trying to hide the tremor in his voice, Jihun shared the story, and Jeong-o felt proud and happy as if it were her own accomplishment.

“I’m glad. Really glad. You must be tired. Get some more rest.”

“Okay. Let’s sleep together.”

Jihun thought he should let Jeong-o sleep first and went to the bathroom.

As Jeong-o gazed at Jihun’s retreating figure, she picked up the coat he had left behind. But for some reason, the pockets felt bulging. Tilting her head in curiosity, she reached into one of the pockets.

“Hmm? What’s this?”

Inside the pocket was a tangerine. There was also a tangerine in the other pocket.

Nostalgia washed over Jeong-o, and she couldn’t help but smile.

Seven years ago, she used to secretly slip chocolates or candies into Jihun’s coat pockets. On the last day they met, she had put a tangerine in there.

‘Could he be starting to remember? Or is this just a coincidence?’

Jihun had recalled some memories from November 2 and 3, seven years ago, through hypnosis therapy. However, he hadn’t remembered that she had put tangerines in his pockets. Jeong-o felt no regret. Just the fact that he remembered that much made her feel proud and fulfilled.

She didn’t have big desires. It would be nice if his memories returned, but even if they didn’t come back completely, she wouldn’t mind.

‘Ah, but it’s still exciting. For some reason, I’m excited.’

Yet, despite her firm resolve, her heart raced at the discovery of the tangerines in his pocket. Jeong-o shook her head.

In the midst of that, she noticed an envelope where his coat had been placed. It was a thick envelope. From its thickness and the creases, she could guess that there must be a book inside. Jeong-o picked up the envelope, peeked inside, and then set it back down.

‘Huh?’

But a moment later, she picked up the envelope again.

She caught a glimpse of the cover of a book she recognized from within the envelope.

Could it be?

Her heart raced like the heartbeat of the little heart monitor she had heard at the hospital. She reached inside the envelope to check the book.

It was Thornton Wilder’s Our Town. And…

It was the very book she had given Jihun on his birthday seven years ago.

Jeong-o flipped through the pages with trembling fingertips. The writing she had penned on the first page was still there.

Ah.

Tears welled up at the sight of her beloved handwriting.

Had his mother given it to him? Or had he found it himself?

At that moment, she heard a voice from behind.

“The reason I didn’t let you drink was that you were beautiful.”

The movements of her fingers tracing the letters on the first page halted. Jihun had returned and wrapped his arms around Jeong-o’s shoulders from behind. She could feel his warm breath on her neck. Her face flushed as well.

“Because you were beautiful, I was worried someone would steal you when I wasn’t around, and when I was around, I might act impulsively.”

Jeong-o slowly turned her body to face Jihun.

She couldn’t hide the tremble in her voice. Tears brimmed in her eyes.

“……Have you remembered?”

Instead of answering, he stretched his lips into a broad smile.

“Yay!”

Forgot that it was still early morning, Jeong-o shouted and threw her arms around Jihun’s neck.