Married For Now

Chapter 298: CONFLICTED FEELINGS

"I ALREADY set the meeting time and place for tomorrow."

Cho Euntak just nodded.

He already knew that since Baek Jeho was sitting next to him when he set up a meeting with Kwon Chaewon.

They wanted to get this done and over with, after all.

"Have you told Mother-in-law yet?"

"No, not yet," Baek Jeho answered while shaking his head. "Aside from you, I only told Heedo Hyung about this."

"Heedo Hyung-nim?"

"I was with him when I got the text message," Baek Jeho explained. "I didn’t know what to do, so I asked Heedo Hyung for advice. Should I not have told him?"

"No, you did well," Cho Euntak said. "If you didn’t ask for Heedo Hyung-nim’s advice, you would have probably met up with Kwon Chaewon-ssi behind my back."

Baek Jeho looked dumbfounded, as if he were caught red-handed.

"I know you that well, Baek Jeho," Cho Euntak said, sighing. "You treat me like a fragile glass most of the time. I’m sure you wanted to check if the child was really yours or not before telling me about the problem— all because you thought you were protecting me. But that’s stupid. Doing things behind my back would only make me think that you were guilty about something. Even if you think you’re doing it for me, you can’t blame me for thinking the worst. That’s how you start losing my trust."

Baek Jeho suddenly went pale. "I’m sorry, Euntak-ah. Yes, I admit— that was exactly what I wanted to do initially. But, as you said, I thought it would hurt you less if you found out about it once I’ve settled things already. I know I sound like a jerk when I say this, but I have a feeling that the child isn’t mine. That’s why I wanted to have the paternity test before telling you anything."

"Then I’m glad you listened to Heedo Hyung-nim," Cho Euntak said, sighing. "I wouldn’t have cared about your reasoning had I felt betrayed by your actions. So, the next time something like this happens again, remember Heedo Hyung-nim’s advice and tell me immediately. Two heads are better than one. And we promised we’d figure out life together, didn’t we?"

"Together," Baek Jeho repeated as if he were in a trance, and then he nodded firmly. "You’re right, Euntak-ah. We should always navigate life together. I’m sorry for being short-sighted."

Cho Euntak sighed again.

I can’t believe that Heedo Hyung-nim, someone who only cares about Sohee Hyung and their kids, actually saved my relationship with Baek Jeho.

You really live long enough to witness such things, huh?

"Don’t tell Mother-in-law yet," Cho Euntak said. "Let’s tell her after you have your paternity test."

Baek Jeho nodded. "I’ll listen well to you, Euntak-ah."

***

CHO EUNTAK was nervous.

Today was the day that he and Baek Jeho would meet up with Kwon Chaewon and Baek Jeho’s alleged child.

Baek Jeho booked a private room in a famous Korean restaurant for their lunch meeting.

Cho Euntak made sure that the restaurant served food that children would like, such as fried chicken and pork cutlet.

I’m not trying to act like a stepdad or something— I’m just being a decent adult.

"They’re running late," Baek Jeho said impatiently while checking the time on his watch. "Kwon Chaewon isn’t replying to my messages either."

It was true.

It’s been over thirty minutes already since the agreed meeting time.

Cho Euntak was about to tell Baek Jeho to call Kwon Chaewon, but he got distracted when they heard a knock on the door.

"That must be them," Baek Jeho said. "Come in."

The door opened carefully.

A female staff member entered with a child— a little girl, probably around 8 or 9 years old— and explained the situation.

"Mr. Baek, Mr. Cho, a guest who introduced herself as Kwon Chaewon-ssi, asked me to escort this child here," the staff explained politely. "Miss Kwon said that the child is... yours."

Oh.

The little girl looked back and forth between Cho Euntak and Baek Jeho before settling her eyes on Baek Jeho. And then she bowed politely. "My name is Kwon Miho," she introduced herself properly. "It’s nice to meet you, Appa."

***

CHO EUNTAK observed the little girl named Kwon Miho while the child was happily eating the pork cutlet that they ordered for her.

Of course, he and Baek Jeho couldn’t even touch their own meals.

The child doesn’t look like Jeho...

But Cho Euntak couldn’t be sure.

Maybe I’m just projecting because I don’t want the child to be Jeho’s daughter.

"Kwon Miho, how old are you?"

Cho Euntak wanted to scold Baek Jeho and tell him not to disturb the child, who was eating well.

But he missed the chance when the little girl spoke.

"I’m nine years old, Appa."

Ah.

If Baek Jeho and Kwon Chaewon dated when they were 17 and broke up when they were 18 (without knowing that Kwon Chaewon was pregnant), then Kwon Chaewon probably gave birth to Kwon Minho at nineteen years old.

Since Baek Jeho was twenty-eight years old now, then the child’s age matched the timeline when Baek Jeho and Kwon Chaewon were still together.

So, the possibility that Baek Jeho was the child’s father had increased.

"Why do you keep calling me ’appa?’" Baek Jeho asked the child, frowning. "I’m still a stranger to you, so don’t get comfortable with me..."

Kwon Miho blinked, then she grabbed her backpack and rummaged through it.

After a moment, the child pulled out a picture and showed it to them.

It was a picture of Baek Jeho and Kwon Chaewon hugging each other.

Cho Euntak could understand why Kwon Miho immediately recognized Baek Jeho, despite owning an old photo.

Jeho barely aged— he’s still as handsome and youthful as he was in high school.

Of course, Baek Jeho had mature physically.

But his face is almost the same.

"Eomma said this is my appa," Kwon Miho said while looking at Baek Jeho. "You are my appa."

Aigoo.

"Let’s revisit this later," Baek Jeho said awkwardly. "Finish your meal first."

Kwon Miho nodded politely before picking up her chopsticks again. "Yes, Appa."

Haaah.

Cho Euntak and Baek Jeho sighed at the same time.

This is getting more and more complicated...

***

"I’VE ALREADY asked someone to look for Kwon Chaewon. Seeing how she blocked me after leaving the child here, it seems like she has no intention of meeting us."

Haaah.

Basically, Kwon Chaewon had abandoned her child and dumped the responsibility to Baek Jeho as if saying, ’I’m already done raising our child, so it’s your turn now.’

Cho Euntak glanced at the car.

Kwon Miho was sitting in the backseat while eating a cream puff.

That child eats well.

It wasn’t like they could leave Kwon Miho in the restaurant, so they had no choice but to bring her home for now.

They asked the child earlier if she knew where her mother lived.

But the only response that they got was...

"Eomma and I rode a plane. We live on an island before coming here."

So, Kwon Miho didn’t live in Seoul.

"Let’s go home first," Cho Euntak said. "The child must be tired."

***

CHO EUNTAK watched as Baek Jeho carried Kwon Miho in the house.

The child fell asleep on the car earlier, so Baek Jeho had no choice but to carry her in his arms.

To be honest, he didn’t like the view.

And it was killing him inside.

Cho Euntak had no problem whenever Baek Jeho played with their friends’ children.

But seeing his boyfriend with the child that could possibly be his broke his heart.

He knew that he was being narrow-minded, but he couldn’t help it.

After all, Cho Euntak was hit by a painful realization.

I find it hard to accept Kwon Miho because she’s a reminder of what I can’t give Baek Jeho, even though we decided early on that we’ll stay child-free.

That was probably why he felt hurt and bitter.

"Euntak-ah, are you crying?"

Huh?

When Cho Euntak lifted his head, he saw Baek Jeho looking at him with wide eyes.

Only then did he realize that, yes, he was crying.

Big, fat tears rolled down his cheeks quietly.

Why the heck am I suddenly crying?

Baek Jeho, clearly in a panic, gently put down the sleeping Kwon Miho on the sofa before rushing towards him. "What’s wrong, Euntak-ah?" he asked worriedly, gently touching Cho Euntak’s shoulders, checking on him from head to toe. "Are you hurt?"

"I can’t do this, Jeho-ya."

"Huh?"

"I’m sorry, but I can’t stand seeing you with the child who could possibly be yours," Cho Euntak said between sobs. "I’ll go back to my parents’ house in the meantime, Jeho-ya."

His parents were out of the country for their wedding anniversary.

At least, he could have their house to himself.

I want to be alone, anyway.

"Don’t leave our house, Euntak-ah— I’ll leave with Kwon Miho."

Baek Jeho’s face and voice both showed devastation.

It seemed like Baek Jeho was devastated by the fact that he had hurt Cho Euntak again.

Of course, Cho Euntak felt guilty.

He knew that even if Kwon Miho turned out to be Baek Jeho’s daughter, Baek Jeho would remain innocent.

The child was conceived before they got together, so his boyfriend didn’t cheat on him.

Even though he knew that, he still found it hard to accept the situation.

I didn’t know that I was a bad person until now.

"Where do you plan on staying?" Cho Euntak asked. To be honest, he didn’t hate the idea of Baek Jeho and Kwon Miho leaving the house. He thought it was better off that way. At least, in the meantime, until he calmed down. "Can you even take care of a child on your own?"

"No, that’s why I’m going to ask for help," Baek Jeho said, smiling sadly. "I’m thinking of staying with Eomma in the meantime."

***

"TAKE THE paternity test as soon as the child wakes up, Baek Jeho."

Baek Jeho flinched when his mother called him by his full name.

Well, he couldn’t blame his mother for being in a bad mood.

He packed his stuff and went to his mother’s house with Kwon Miho.

It seemed like the child was really tired from the continuous travel, so she fell asleep again after his mother brought her to the guest room.

And, now, Baek Jeho was having a serious conversation with his mother in the living room.

Well, it was more like he was being scolded thoroughly.

"Can’t we do it tomorrow?" Baek Jeho asked worriedly. "The child looks tired..."

"Are you already attached to the child?"

"Of course not, Eomma. I’m just being a decent adult."

His mother sighed while shaking his head. "I know it was my son-in-law who wanted the two of you to live separately in the meantime. And that’s completely understandable. But did you really let Euntak be alone when he’s hurting? You know that his parents are overseas at the moment, right? Knowing my son-in-law, he wouldn’t call his parents because he knew that his parents would drop everything to be by his side."

"I know, Eomma. That’s why I called Sohee Hyung and Sera Noona," Baek Jeho said, sighing. "Only the two of them can comfort Euntak right now."

***

CHO EUNTAK thought he wanted to be alone.

But when Park Sohee and Hong Sera showed up at his doorstep, he realized that he needed someone to stay with him while he was nursing a broken heart.

His favorite hyung and noona were the right people for that job.

He was grateful that Baek Jeho called Park Sohee and Hong Sera for him.

So, now, Cho Euntak could cry his heart out.

The touching part?

Park Sohee and Hong Sera also got emotional while consoling him.

We truly are the Crybaby Trio.

"I know it’s not Jeho’s fault, and I also know that the child is innocent," Cho Euntak said between sobs. "But I can’t accept it. I do like kids. But the thought of accepting Jeho’s child with another person makes me awful. I didn’t know I was selfish until this happened to me." He used the tissue that Hong Sera handed to him to dry his tears. But it was no use since his tears wouldn’t stop falling. "Sohee Hyung, Sera Noona, I’m sorry. You didn’t raise me a bad person, but I still turned out this way..."

"No, not being able to accept your partner’s child with another person doesn’t make you a bad person, Euntak-ah," Hong Sera said while wiping Cho Euntak’s tears. "Your feelings are valid."

"Euntak-ah, let’s wait for the paternity test’s result first," Park Sohee said calmly, now that he had calmed down. "But, in case the child turns out to be Jeho’s, how are you going to handle it?"

And that was a question that Cho Euntak didn’t know how to answer.

Can I continue being in a relationship with Jeho if I can’t accept his child?

***

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