The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 39

CHAPTER 39

Go-yeo was driven to Cheongpyeong by Ga-eul. She rested for a few days, receiving care from her aunt at home as if recuperating. When the scandal broke and Kang Seung-hoo remained silent at his agency, Wushin’s side released an article claiming it was baseless. Sang-moon seemed to have decided, pressing forward with strong legal action.

Even at noon when the sun was overhead, the clouds blocked the sunlight. Is it going to snow? The road along the Namhan River was pleasant to drive on. She caught a glimpse of Ga-eul. Today, he seemed unusually cheerful. He smiled inadvertently.

Cheongpyeong was a secluded arboretum with an unassuming name. It was a privately managed small arboretum. A stream passed in front of a small lawn, surrounded by various kinds of flowers and trees. Go-yeo picked up a bouquet of preserved flowers, camellias, and anemones from a flower shop upon arriving at the arboretum.

In winter, only deciduous trees and evergreens were lush. Passing a group of camellias preparing to bloom, she arrived at a spot below the lawn where the stream was visible.

She saw a solitary tree on a small bridge across the stream. The tree, surrounded by stones, looked lonely. Normally, it was a sunny spot, but today, perhaps due to the cloudy weather, the spindly branches looked cold.

Go-yeo approached and knelt. She wiped the name on the granite marker.

Eun Ji-ho.

Before placing the bouquet down, she deeply breathed in its fragrance. It smelled like her mother. She smiled faintly and placed the bouquet down. Since the owner of this place had loved flowers in life, Go-yeo brought a bouquet, hoping to brighten the desolate winter.

Her mother was beneath this magnolia tree, a tree Eun Ji-ho had particularly loved.

Though she couldn’t explain why now, there had been several Jmagnolia trees in the garden of their previous house. Her mother enjoyed being in the garden during spring when it bloomed, basking in the warm sun.

“Mom, I’m here. It’s been a while.”

Despite coming with resolve, she found herself speechless. She chuckled awkwardly, circling the tree. She saw Ga-eul looking at the camellias before crossing the stream.

“… I’m doing better than I expected. I’m trying to eat well, sleep well, and live well now. I’m sorry for worrying you all this time.”

Go-yeo crossed her arms against the cold weather.

“You’re not too cold there alone, are you?”

She brushed off a dry branch.

“I’ll get along well with Dad and Mom. Don’t be too jealous. You understand, right? Oh, did you see Mom? That person over there, Yoon Ga-eul, goes around with me. He’s nice, helping out whenever it gets tough.”

And then, she quietly looked at the tree again.

“Just……. in case you wonder who he is.”

By the time her body had chilled completely, she turned away from the tree.

As it was winter, looking at the yellowing grass and neatly trimmed lawn, she approached Ga-eul.

Even for a small arboretum, it seemed to require several people for maintenance. Go-yeo assumed that someone nearby would likely be a worker, although as she got closer, the person didn’t appear entirely normal or composed. 

She initially wondered if it was someone from the neighborhood, but then decided to pass by, thinking they might not just let anyone in. However, the elderly woman suddenly approached and grabbed Go-yeo’s arm with unexpected strength.

“You! Who do you think you are coming here? Disgusting girl!”

“What?”

Go-yeo furrowed her brow, trying to free her arm from her grip with some force. Was she suffering from dementia? The strangely unfocused eyes and incomprehensible words led her to think so.

“You’re just like Amy! You’re all the same, vile women.”

Then she suddenly shook off her hand and wiped her clothes as if they were dirty. At that moment, Ga-eul came running and stood between Go-yeo and the elderly woman.

“What’s going on?”

At Ga-eul’s question, Go-yeo shook her head. Just then, a woman in work clothes rushed over and intervened, firmly holding the elderly woman’s arm and bowing repeatedly.

“Oh my! I told you to stay still. Where are you going!”

“I ran into this wench today. My luck couldn’t get any worse.”

Go-yeo let out a bitter laugh. Even if the person wasn’t entirely sound of mind, hearing the word “wench” on their first meeting didn’t put her in a good mood.

Before Go-yeo could speak, Ga-eul stepped in.

“You seem to be mistaken.”

Go-yeo was surprised by Ga-eul’s firm tone. The woman firmly held onto the elderly woman’s arm, bowed, and apologized continuously. It seemed like this wasn’t the first or second time such an incident had occurred.

“I’m really sorry. I apologize. She has dementia and her mind goes back and forth like this. She’s my mother-in-law, and she keeps coming out like this causing trouble.”

“What are you talking about? I have a perfectly sound mind. I even remember things from the old days clearly.”

The woman looked at the elderly lady and finally faced Go-yeo properly.

“Oh my, look at me. I heard the young lady come to the entrance. I must have forgotten in the meantime. Hello. I’m one of the caretakers here at the arboretum. It’s my first time greeting you like this. Originally, only my husband used to work here, but then my mother-in-law ended up like this, and we all live here now.”

Go-yeo nodded. 

“Ah, I see.”

“Although the chairman allowed it, I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Please don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll leave now. Have a good day. Don’t worry about the trees; we’re taking good care of them. New flowers will bloom all over when spring comes.”

Go-yeo nodded vaguely and asked.

“Can I go to the annex now?”

“Yes, of course. We always keep it clean. Please go ahead.”

Go-yeo turned away with a light smile. The woman led the elderly woman away, speaking to her in a whisper that was loud enough to be heard.

“Eun Ji-ho’s mother was a whore. Imagine Eun Ji-ho being a whore too.”

Go-yeo turned around abruptly. The stern-faced caretaker covered the elderly woman’s mouth and looked at Go-yeo.

More surprising than the name Eun Ji-ho coming from the elderly woman’s lips was the bewildered expression on the startled woman’s face. It would have been enough to treat her like a crazy old woman, but she was overly surprised. A bitter smile escaped her.

‘Is that possible, ma’am?’

Watching the startled woman scurry away, she headed towards a side path leading to the detached house. The dirt path was neatly arranged to make it easier to climb, but it was still difficult to ascend in her shoes.

‘Complaining after habitually putting on shoes…’

Was irritation caused solely by this?

‘Maybe she mistook me for my mother… Having never heard of a grandmother like her, could my innocent mother have done such a thing?’

As Go-yeo’s thoughts wandered, Ga-eul took her hand firmly as her body wobbled slightly.

The small, white single-room annex had a living room and one bedroom. She had often visited here when her mother was alive. Her mother used to sit by the large window sill and gaze down below for a long time. That spot was now visible with a cluster of camellia flowers and a stream, and a new magnolia tree that hadn’t been there before.

Go-yeo also sat at that window sill. The afternoon before the sunrise was dark. She continued to ponder over the words she had heard earlier. But what was funny was that rather than believing that the words she heard might not be true, she felt more comfortable believing that they were true.

If Yun Seung-ok hated her as if she were insane because of that fact, it would be refreshing.

‘Having a plausible reason rather than baseless hatred makes me feel less miserable. Oh, how did it come to this? Really…’

Go-yeo wondered whether she should ask Sang-moon about this and whether he would give her a precise answer.

Was it because of her mother’s past that her grandmother opposed her father’s marriage? Then her uncle must know about this too. What relationship did her uncle have with her mother?

Lost in thought, she forgot that Ga-eul was beside her. Ga-eul was sitting quietly by the fireplace on one side of the living room. A fire was just starting to flicker. Closing the fireplace door to prevent smoke, Ga-eul looked slightly excited, like a child playing with fire. Then, noticing Go-yeo, he looked surprised.

“Oh… I didn’t know you were watching.”

His embarrassed look was cute. Go-yeo smiled silently, watching him.

“Rest here. I’ll go to the caretaker’s office for a moment.”

“Huh? If you need anything, I can go instead.”

“No, it’s okay.”

Go-yeo spoke firmly to Ga-eul as if she had made a decision, then left the annex. As she headed towards the caretaker’s office, she wondered if this was the right thing to do, but she felt she needed to know beforehand. Even if she were to ask her father, she needed to have some understanding first.

Near the entrance to the arboretum was a two-story building serving as the caretaker’s office and residence. Upon entering through the slightly ajar door on the first floor, she saw only a man sitting there, looking somewhat disheveled.

“Oh dear, miss. Do you need something? You could call ahead.” 

The man with a stubbly beard said casually, nodding in greeting and shifting uncomfortably.

“Where did the woman and grandmother I just met go?” 

“Ah, I heard you saw my wife and mother. I apologize again for what my mother did wrong.” 

“No, that’s not why I’m here.”

Go-yeo hesitated for a moment. This man must know as well. Then she thought about who would be easier to talk to. She made a quick judgment.

“I have something to discuss briefly. Do you have a moment?”

The arboretum director, Moo-chang, looked puzzled.