The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 72

CHAPTER 72

Go-yeo and Ji-yeon chose baby items together. Of course, it was mostly Ji-yeon choosing while Go-yeo watched from the side. With the baby’s gender known and the preparations for the new shop almost complete, they had some free time and decided to go shopping.

Go-yeo looked at Ji-yeon’s belly. It was hard to tell she was pregnant at all. Her belly hadn’t shown, and there was no difference in her appearance. But the look in Ji-yeon’s eyes, as she chose the items, had a different glow from the happiness one might see when shopping. Go-yeo found herself smiling as she watched Ji-yeon.

“It’s so small, isn’t it?” 

“Yeah.”

“It’s unbelievable that such a small thing will grow up like an older brother who takes care of us. It’s beyond words.”

Go-yeo thought it was fortunate that she could fully congratulate Ji-yeon on her happiness. There were still remnants of emotions that hadn’t completely disappeared, not sinking into unnecessary sadness. Now it was healed completely, like a scar fading away, leaving no trace of the wound behind.

‘I wonder if one day I’ll be like her?’

Go-yeo lifted her head, feeling refreshed. No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t imagine herself happily smiling with a child. Perhaps it could never happen in her lifetime. Even though having Ga-eul with her was so delightful, she considered it a different problem.

No matter how happy she was with him, she didn’t imagine anything beyond it. The title of “mother” felt very heavy and difficult for her immature self. Even though she was naive, she could judge herself as objectively as her ego allowed.

Instead, Go-yeo decided to spoil her niece materially. Despite Ji-yeon’s objections that it wasn’t necessary right now, she chose a stroller and a car seat. And they also chose the essential items recommended by the staff. After a few attempts to dissuade her, Ji-yeon also chose with Go-yeo, saying that she had money too. In the end, it was a satisfying shopping trip for both of them.

Go-yeo and Ji-yeon originally came to the department store to see the new high-end brand designs together. As they entered the C brand section, a shopper approached and guided them to where the new clothes, bags, and shoes for the season were displayed.

“The embroidery patterns this season are pretty.” 

Ji-yeon commented as she got up to look at the clothes, while Go-yeo sat down, briefly glancing at the bags and shoes before sipping her coffee.

As Ji-yeon tried on clothes, Go-yeo got up and wandered around the store. This season at C, the concept was fancy floral patterns. Looking at the men’s sneakers adorned with flowers on the heels, she planned to suggest to Ji-yeon to make sneakers for the next season at their new boutique.

Turning her head at the approach of someone nearby, Go-yeo met a fleeting gaze and, wide-eyed, assumed a casual demeanor, pretending to be interested in something else. It was Anna who grabbed Go-yeo as she passed.

“Excuse me.” 

Go-yeo looked down at the girl as if asking what was wrong.

“I have something to talk to you about. Could you spare some time?”

Go-yeo smirked at the audacious reply. 

“Are we acquaintances who meet and have conversations now?”

Anna’s expression noticeably stiffened at the blatant response. Go-yeo could have treated the young girl maturely for quite some time, but she didn’t feel the necessity and responded as she felt.

If it weren’t for Yoon Ga-eul, she might not have been noticed at all. Anna looked at Go-yeo with eyes that could see through people. Go-yeo sensed that too, and facing it was unpleasant as expected.

Even though she had dealt with Jo Yoon-young, who liked Moon Ji-hyuk, her gaze was not purely filled with the emotions of innocent affection like this girl’s. Hence, it was easier to deal with her. However, that didn’t mean this girl was pure. She knew that it meant the purity of those emotions was high, not that the girl was just innocent and good.

“You seem to be a talented person. Wouldn’t conversations about Yoon Ga-eul be a common ground for us?”

“I have things to do now, so it might be difficult.”

“I’ll wait.”

Though she understood the meaning of refusal, the stubbornness to say what she wanted to say to the end was impressive. But she didn’t have a sadistic streak strong enough to want to suppress it nicely. She called Jin-young to send Anna to the VVIP lounge.

Returning to Ji-yeon, she was wearing a dress and looking at herself in the mirror.

“Where did you go?”

“I was looking at sneakers in the store.”

“How about this?”

“It’s fine.”

The black Jacquard dress that fit her body line suited Ji-yeon well. She wouldn’t be able to wear it soon when her belly showed. Knowing Ji-yeon’s desire for clothes, Go-yeo didn’t mention it needlessly.

Go-yeo told the shopper to pick up the men’s sneakers and clothes she saw in the store. Ji-yeon laughed lightly beside her after hearing it all. Though she didn’t know what they were, if it was a present for a man, it had to be Yoon Ga-eul.

“But we’re not particularly anything.”

Go-yeo admitted readily.

“Who says you are? That’s right.”

Ji-yeon was surprised and laughed loudly without manners. When Go-yeo furrowed her brows, Ji-yeon responded as if humming that she expected that. She then expressed her suspicion since the incident when she suddenly brought macarons. She listened silently to Ji-yeon’s excited praise of Yoon Ga-eul. She smirked, thinking that Ga-eul was receiving quite a lot of compliments from Ji-yeon.

“Moreover, that guy won’t be troublesome with women’s issues.”

“That’s not for sure.”

Go-yeo replied, thinking of Anna waiting.

“Yeah. I’m going to see such a person later. Someone who likes Yoon Ga-eul has something to tell me.”

Surprised, Ji-yeon asked what that meant, calming her down and roughly explaining the situation. There seemed to be a neighborhood sister who had liked Yoon Ga-eul for quite some time, and they even attended the same school. Moreover, Yoon Ga-eul seemed completely oblivious to that fact.

“Gosh, it feels like I’m caught up in kids’ love games.”

“Yeah. That girl made the situation a bit awkward. Should I go with you?”

Go-yeo chuckled at Ji-yeon’s sparkling eyes. She knew Ji-yeon wanted to go purely for her amusement.

“But you seem quite uncomfortable. Isn’t it just because she’s annoying? Are you serious about Yoon Ga-eul?”

“In situations like this, anyone would feel uncomfortable.”

Ji-yeon grinned at Go-yeo’s usual response.

‘As far as I know Go-yeo, it doesn’t seem like it.’

Throughout their journey to the lounge, Go-yeo had to deter Ji-yeon, who wanted to go with her.

* * *

It was a coincidence that Anna ran into Go-yeo at the department store. She had stopped by the luxury section she was interested in and encountered a woman looking at men’s sneakers. When she thought about who that woman might give them to, sparks flew in her eyes. So she asked for some time to convey what she wanted to say.

As Anna waited for an hour in the VVIP lounge, she thought that the woman had deliberately brought her here to make her uncomfortable. Although it was classy with classical music playing softly, it was excessively quiet. The only people in the space were motionless, except for the servers who silently served drinks. They approached with water when it ran out, and before finishing coffee, they suggested a new drink.

As someone who didn’t know there was such a space in the department store, Anna felt perplexed. If it was a deliberate choice to kill the vibe, it was a very wise choice. Knowing that people were waiting, she thought it was a matter of conscience to hurry, but apparently, the woman didn’t have any. After filling the hour to the brim, the automatic door finally opened, and the woman entered.

She walked with a straight posture and without haste, exuding grace. Anna felt like she was encountering a completely different human nature from her own once again. Crossing her legs and sitting down, her lowered gaze seemed not deliberate but natural.

When she quietly sat down opposite, the server approached. Even when asked for iced water, the server promptly complied. Even the fingertips holding the water glass seemed well-groomed. It struck Anna again that this woman was truly from a wealthy family.

‘Then it’s a meeting of the rich.’

Watching the series of events, Anna couldn’t understand why this woman needed to meet Yoon Ga-eul because she seemed to lack something. 

She had to suppress her discomfort of why she had to face this girl while sipping cold water that felt like a headache. Fortunately, she could do it naturally without showing it on her face. Finally, after much consideration, she placed her phone on the table.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me for now.”

Go-yeo nodded briefly at her meaningless greeting.

“So, what’s the point?”

Her voice sounded somewhat dry and indifferent. Whatever this girl had to say, it was sure to be unproductive.