The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 90

CHAPTER 90

The next day, they toured around Saint-Tropez. Go-yeo took care of Ro-woon, giving Ji-yeon and Hae-joon some time for their date. She sat quietly on the beach, watching Ro-woon play in the sand. Ro-woon seemed to find playing with the sand quite enjoyable and was engrossed in it for quite a while.

“Auntie.”

“Yes?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Hungry?”

Despite Ji-yeon’s assurance that Ro-woon wouldn’t be hungry for a while after just having eaten, Ro-woon insisted on being hungry. Go-yeo took Ro-woon’s hand and looked for something to eat together.

They settled in an Italian restaurant with a large outdoor terrace. Fortunately, there was a children’s meal set available. The regional food was generally quite salty, so Go-yeo also placed an extra order to have the seasoning reduced.

Go-yeo contacted Ji-yeon in advance to check if Ro-woon had any food allergies.

“Ro-woon, are you hot?”

She wiped the sweat from Ro-woon’s forehead with a handkerchief and looked around. The terrace offered a good view of the square, making it a great spot for people-watching. Being a popular tourist destination, there were often Asians around.

Go-yeo drank coffee and helped Ro-woon with eating. Seeing Ro-woon enthusiastically eating the round, fried rice balls called arancini made Go-yeo smile. Children had a way of bringing smiles with small things.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t take her eyes off Ro-woon, finding him adorable. Go-yeo watched the rainbow formed by the fountain spray in the center of the square. When she pointed it out to Ro-woon, he found it fascinating and laughed while stamping his feet. Go-yeo tidied up around Ro-woon’s mouth and looked over the dessert menu.

Familiar Korean voices were heard from the table behind them. A group of same-sex friends seemed to be traveling together, discussing their menu choices at length.

“Hey, they say this is delicious here.”

“Yeah, let’s order that too.”

“Look at the menu, what are you looking at?”

“Hey, that guy is handsome.”

“Where? Where?”

“Over there by the fountain.”

Go-yeo smiled slightly at the familiar scenario and asked Ro-woon if he wanted ice cream.

“Yes!”

Judging by Ro-woon’s response, it seemed like a silly question. She hadn’t considered that there were hardly any children who would refuse ice cream.

When Go-yeo casually turned her head towards the fountain, she saw a man walking away with his back turned. He was dressed comfortably, like a traveler.

“…….”

She didn’t take her eyes off his back until he disappeared from view. Then, she turned back and nonchalantly sipped her coffee.

Ro-woon, having eaten ice cream, fell asleep from the fatigue of playing excitedly since the morning. Although holding him felt a bit awkward, she adjusted her arms and waist to make him comfortable. She fanned him with his hat, watching his long eyelashes that dangled down.

Thinking that if the being that was once in her belly had been born, it would be much bigger than Ro-woon, she had idle thoughts. Seeing Ro-woon made her want to have a child, but the thought of becoming a mother still burdened her. It was probably the familiar back that triggered all these thoughts.

Go-yeo couldn’t help but recognize that overly familiar back. When she was in fashion school, she measured and recorded his body with a tape measure to make a shirt. His broad shoulders and slender waist made for a well-proportioned torso, which wasn’t common.

Even though he had come all the way here, he had just left, proving that he was still in the process of breaking up with her. Considering his personality, it was a significant development.

‘How foolish.’

* * *

While Hae-joon took care of Ro-woon’s bedtime, Go-yeo went out to the terrace with Ji-yeon and drank wine. Though it was only four days, she learned that parenting was no ordinary task. Even just looking after the child for short periods required a lot of attention. She admired Ji-yeon and Hae-joon for it.

When they clinked their glasses, a clear sound rang out. Ji-yeon, seemingly in a good mood, hummed a tune while sipping her red wine. Go-yeo glanced at her, then listened to the distant sound of a ship’s horn while gazing at the calm and peaceful night sea. She liked this moment as well. The breeze carrying the scent of the sea felt good as it rhythmically moved her feet resting on the ottoman.

“You know we got into Mirae Department Store, right? They liked the response at the main store and want to open in other branches too. What do you think?”

Go-yeo brushed her hair back and replied nonchalantly.

“Your opinion matters. I only hear news from here. You know the details better.”

“Hey! It’s not like you didn’t understand me. Are you changing the subject now? Are you saying you should come to work?”

Ji-yeon chided Go-yeo playfully.

“I guess so…….”

Ji-yeon knew that Go-yeo’s lukewarm reaction meant she was considering it but didn’t want to go. Ji-yeon had to nag her again like on the first day.

“You’ll do fine wherever you are. But what about the Chairman and Madam? They’re getting older and lonelier.”

Go-yeo thought about Sang-moon and Yeong-ran, who were gradually aging every time she saw them. Even though they had a daughter, they worried about her being in a foreign country and subtly expressed their desire for her to return home.

Initially, she thought of returning once she had completely forgotten about that person. Although the definition of complete wasn’t literal, she waited until the memories of Yoon Ga-eul became less frequent. Even though it was a completely different sea, she waited until she could look at it without reminiscing about the sea she had seen with him.

Seeing Go-yeo’s lack of response, Ji-yeon sighed softly and gulped down the remaining wine in her glass. She didn’t want to say this, but she needed Go-yeo. She faced a significant decision in the business and also had a selfish desire not to waste this time.

“Is it because of Yoon Ga-eul? Do you know how old he is now? He’s twenty-six. A man at twenty-six is in his prime.”

Go-yeo chuckled at Ji-yeon’s words.

‘You said you liked it when he was younger. Now you’re saying something different.’

“And I happened to see him by chance, and he seemed to be doing well. Even if he struggled because of his first love, he’s living well now, laughing with the woman next to him…….”

Ji-yeon hadn’t planned to say this much, so she clammed up, feeling awkward. She watched Go-yeo, who still had an indifferent expression, drinking her wine.

‘He is doing well.’

Go-yeo thought about Ji-yeon’s words. It was a relief to hear he was doing well. The messiness only applied to Han Go-yeo. She had subconsciously assumed that Yoon Ga-eul might not have forgotten her. She believed that he wouldn’t change easily and held on to the thought of not losing him.

Though she had imagined Yoon Ga-eul with someone else, she hadn’t been able to picture it clearly, so she just assumed he was alone, like herself.

‘A fatal error…….’

The fragrant wine felt bland. Go-yeo thought she should stop drinking.

Regardless of whether he was dating someone or not, whether he had forgotten her or not, it wasn’t important. As concluded that day, they each had their paths, and it was just a matter of not crossing them again. As Ga-eul’s mother had said, he would meet someone suitable for him, not Han Go-yeo.

Even before such a clear conclusion, she sighed.

Even at the airport, Ji-yeon didn’t stop nagging. Though Hae-joon hinted at her to stop, Ji-yeon seemed like a runaway train, determined to get a positive answer.

Ro-woon, hearing the same things, also asked Go-yeo.

“Auntie, will I see you in Seoul?”

“Will you miss Auntie?”

“Yes. Very much.”

“Okay, Auntie will come to see you.”

When Ro-woon smiled at Go-yeo’s answer, Ji-yeon’s eyes sparkled.

“Don’t make a promise you can’t keep. Return quickly before Ro-woon forgets your face! Got it?”

Go-yeo laughed helplessly and surrendered.

“How many times do I have to say it? Okay. I got it.”

“Alright. I’ll go back to Korea first and prepare for the handover.”

Ji-yeon hugged Go-yeo lightly. Go-yeo wondered if this is what it would feel like to have a real sister. The sense of closeness and genuine concern felt different from her parents and wasn’t unpleasant.

On the way back to the mansion with Jin-young, Go-yeo looked out the window. Perhaps due to the indoctrination, the turquoise sea, which she always saw, felt a bit tiresome.

“Jin-young, let’s return to Korea too.”

“Yes, let’s return.”

Without hesitation, Jin-young’s cheerful response made Go-yeo smile. Go-yeo and Jin-young wrapped up their month-long stay in Saint-Tropez and returned to Korea.