Chapter 4: The Past That Haunts
The next few days felt like a quiet lull in the storm that had clouded Ki-Joo's mood. His interactions with Jo Yi-Su had grown more natural, but there was still a barrier between them—an invisible wall built by his past. She could feel it, even when he was at his most relaxed. The secrets he carried weighed heavily on him, and Jo Yi-Su was certain that there was more to Ki-Joo's cold exterior than he was willing to share.
It was one afternoon, as the sun peeked through the clouds, that Jo Yi-Su learned something that would forever change her understanding of Ki-Joo and his complicated relationship with his mother.
She had just finished a small project in her apartment when she noticed Ki-Joo's mom, Su-Mi, standing by the mailbox, looking over some papers. The elegant woman always seemed to carry an air of authority, with her well-kept appearance and poised demeanor, but Jo Yi-Su had a feeling there was much more to Su-Mi than met the eye.
As Jo Yi-Su approached her, she offered a warm smile. "Hi, Mrs. Im. Everything okay?"
Su-Mi looked up, her expression softening at the sight of Jo Yi-Su. "Ah, Yi-Su. Just organizing some work," she said, a faint smile gracing her we're trying to keep things afloat. It's a lot of presure
Jo Yi-Su nodded sympathetically. "I understand. I've seen how hard you work, Mrs. Im."
Su-Mi's smile faltered slightly. "It's not just the work," she said quietly, glancing over her shoulder, as though making sure Ki-Joo wasn't nearby. "It's... the weight of expectations. From my husband, from society, from my son."
Jo Yi-Su was curious but didn't want to overstep. Still, there was something in Su-Mi's voice that hinted at old wounds. "It must be hard," she said gently.
For a long moment, Su-Mi didn't respond. Then, finally, she spoke in a hushed tone, her voice thick with emotion. "Ki-Joo's father... left us when he was just ten."
Jo Yi-Su blinked, taken aback. "What? Why?"
Su-Mi sighed, her eyes clouded with a deep sorrow. "His father and I had... different ideas about what our family should be. He wanted power, control, influence. He wanted to climb higher in the world of business, no matter the cost. But I... I wanted something different. I wanted to raise my son with love, with warmth. We fought a lot."
Jo Yi-Su could hear the bitterness in Su-Mi's words, the way her memories clung to her like a heavy shadow. "So, he just left?"
Su-Mi nodded, her lips pressed together in a thin line. "One day, after another argument, he just... walked away. Left us without a word, without even a proper goodbye. He was a coward."
Jo Yi-Su felt a wave of sympathy for the woman standing before her, but at the same time, her mind raced with questions about Ki-Joo. *How did this affect him? What kind of relationship did he have with his father?*
"Ki-Joo must have been devastated," Jo Yi-Su said softly.
Su-Mi's face tightened, her eyes darkening. "You don't know the half of it," she murmured. "Ki-Joo took it hardest of all. He blamed me for what happened, even though I never wanted him to leave. He became distant, cold, and withdrawn. It's like he built a wall around himself to protect his heart from being hurt again. And I... I let him."
Jo Yi-Su's heart ached as she realized the depth of the pain Ki-Joo had endured. He had been just a child, only ten years old, when his world was torn apart by his father's abandonment. And his mother—though she had clearly done her best—had been caught up in her own battles.
"It must have been so hard for both of you," Jo Yi-Su said quietly, her voice filled with empathy.
Su-Mi sighed again, rubbing her temples. "It's hard still. Ki-Joo and I... we never truly healed. He's never really forgiven me for not being able to stop his father from leaving. And I've spent all these years trying to make up for it. But no matter how much I do, it never seems to be enough. I've tried everything to make him happy, to keep him close, but he's always so... distant."
Jo Yi-Su wanted to say something to comfort her, but words felt inadequate. How could she explain the complexity of family relationships, especially when the wounds ran so deep?
"I don't know if I'll ever truly get through to him," Su-Mi continued, her voice tinged with regret. "I've pushed him so much, tried to control his life and his future, but it's all I know. I wanted him to have a good life, to take over the business, to be successful. I thought that was what would make him happy. But I never realized... I never realized how much he wanted to be seen for who he really was."
Jo Yi-Su stood there, listening to the woman who had spent so many years pushing her son toward an ideal, all while trying to fill the void left by her husband's abandonment. She could see now why Ki-Joo had such a complicated relationship with his mother—and why he had such difficulty opening up to anyone, especially someone like her.
"I think Ki-Joo just needs to know that he can have both—his dreams, and the love he deserves," Jo Yi-Su said softly.
Su-Mi glanced at her, surprise flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean?"
Jo Yi-Su hesitated, unsure if she was overstepping her boundaries, but she couldn't hold back. "I don't think he wants to be the heir to the business if it means sacrificing his happiness. But I also don't think he wants to disappoint you. It's like he's trapped between two worlds—one where he has to be perfect, and one where he can just be himself."
Su-Mi looked at Jo Yi-Su, her gaze softening. "You understand him more than I thought," she said quietly.
Jo Yi-Su smiled gently, feeling a sense of understanding bloom between them. "I just want him to be happy, Mrs. Im. And I think that happiness comes from being true to who he is, not who anyone expects him to be."
Su-Mi looked at Jo Yi-Su, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, for the first time, a small but genuine smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe you're right," she whispered. "Maybe I've been too focused on what I think is best for him, instead of letting him decide for himself."
---
That evening, Jo Yi-Su reflected on everything she had learned. Ki-Joo's father's abandonment had shaped him into the man he was today—guarded, distant, and unwilling to open up to anyone. His mother's constant pressure and control had only added to the burden he carried. But Jo Yi-Su now realized that what Ki-Joo needed most wasn't just her affection, but the freedom to live on his own terms.
As she looked across to his apartment, she wondered how she could help him. How could she be the one to break through the walls he had built around his heart? She had a feeling that the journey wouldn't be easy, but she was willing to try. For him.