Doberman

Chapter 10

 

“Shall we go?”

 

The man’s long finger fumbled with the necklace’s string, and as he rose, he lightly pulled it like a leash. With just a little force, Sarin stood up, and as when they first entered, he draped his arms around his shoulder.

 

The perfectly fitting clothes, tailored to her body, felt uncomfortable. Her stomach churned, and everything seemed upside down.

 

“Ugh… Ugh….”

 

Sarin bent over, still clutching her waist. She didn’t know her bent waist would straighten out until the gastric juice came out. He gently stroked her back with his large hands.

 

“Well, I knew my hands would come in handy.”

 

He’d seen her bare-handedly hold up a lamppost in subzero weather like an idiot. Since then, Owen has thought it would be amusing if he could pick it up. He swept Sarin’s hair back from her face and stared into her eyes, which were bloodshot from the physiological effects of vomiting.

 

Seeing the teary strands clinging to those eyes, something stirred between his legs.

 

“Don’t cry. We haven’t done anything yet; why cry?”

 

Her tears were just a result of increased pressure from vomiting. He caught Sarin’s wrist as she tried to wipe her eyes with her gloved hand. The gaze of Owen looking down at her while holding her hand was oppressive.

 

“My stomach doesn’t feel good.”

 

“Looks like my dogs pushed you too hard today.”

 

She couldn’t endure the stifling atmosphere, akin to a needle poking her, and vomited. The look on his face said he wouldn’t accept any other excuses.

 

Sarin thought of the three dogs. She ran as if she was going to vomit, but she didn’t vomit like this. But as she gulped down the excuse Owen had given her, she accepted his words.

 

As soon as she got back to the hotel and entered her room, Sarin’s pounding heart calmed down. She lifted her hand and clutched the cell phone in her pocket. It was a good thing Owen hadn’t come in with her, saying he had to take care of something.

 

After losing her phone at the airport, Sarin struggled to make a call to Korea using a public phone. Now, even using a public phone has become awkward.

 

She wondered if Owen would see all her cell phone activity, but she hoped that he wasn’t such a leisurely person to bother checking it.

 

Sarin took her phone out of her pocket and dialed a familiar number.

 

– Hello?

 

“It’s me, Sarin.”

 

It had been a long time since she’d spoken Korean.

 

– Oh, God, why are you calling me now? How long has the child been waiting?

 

“I’m sorry, how’s Hayan?”

 

— She’s just fallen asleep. We’ve been out of touch. Sarin, you’re not the type to do that….

 

Mrs. Hong’s voice trails off. She knew what she was worrying about. The fear that Sarin might abandon the child and never return from overseas was evident, and as she sensed such concerns, Sarin bit her lip.

 

“That’s not going to happen. You know I live for Hayan.”

 

– I know, I know, I’ve watched you for years. Still, people have different thoughts when things get tough. Honestly, Sarin, she’s not even your biological child.

 

“When I return to Korea, I’m gonna make her legally mine.”

 

– So when are you coming? Huh?

 

“It might take longer than I thought.”

 

– Come on. Do I not look anxious?

 

She had lived with Mrs. Hong in the same neighborhood ever since she was a child. She had no choice but to leave Hayan with Mrs. Hong, who felt sorry for them. She withdrew all her money, even the deposit for their house, booked a flight, and entrusted the child to Mrs. Hong.

 

Sarin’s gaze lingered on the door that seemed to open at any moment. Her voice dropped to a whisper as she moved away from it.

 

“I… I met the child’s father.”

 

– You met him? So? Is the child’s father going to give you money?

 

She couldn’t bring herself to express her anxious thoughts about whether she could leave from here even if he gave her money. Having uttered the words “child’s father,” her heart pounded like crazy.

 

“He seems like he will.”

 

– Oh, that’s why you couldn’t contact me until now? I understand, you should be able to pay off the hospital bill soon. I’m dying to know. I can tell you’re in a bind.

 

“Just a little… please wait a little longer. Is Hayan okay? Is she not in too much pain?”

 

– The doctor says the same thing every time. This time there was some kind of test. They say another one needs to be taken next week. Was it an MRI….

 

The pale and small face of the child flashed before her eyes. As something warm was about to rise inside her throat, Sarin exhaled a heavy breath.

 

– If Hayan’s father is well-off, wouldn’t it be better to entrust Hayan to him? No matter what we do about the hospital bills, there’s still a lot of debt.

 

The debts left by her mother, who passed away after a long illness, were still pressing down on Sarin. She had barely been able to pay it off with Irin, but she had died in a car accident a few months ago after returning to Korea.

 

The person responsible for the accident was a minor, so Sarin couldn’t even get proper compensation. To receive it properly, she would have to file a lawsuit, but she felt uncertain if there would be an end to it.

 

“I’ll take care of Hayan.”

 

The man that Irin, her sister, loved.

 

The owner of Eden City. Sarin had read about him in her diary, and the moment she saw him, she understood why Irin had come to Korea, hiding Hayan’s existence.

 

– Aunt?

 

A familiar voice was heard from a distance. Sarin firmly held back the urge to burst into tears again.

 

– Hayan, it’s your aunt, who you’ve been waiting for so long. Come and talk to her quickly.

 

It was at times like this that she was grateful to Mrs. Hong. When Hayan got up, the conversation between the adults faded into the background. Even though she couldn’t give her much money, she felt grateful for her for taking care of Hayan whenever she had time.

 

– Auntie, why are you calling only now?

 

“Hayan just fell asleep. Did you wake up to answer Auntie’s call?”

 

– Yeah. I take after my mom; I’m a light sleeper.

 

Where did she learn such words?

 

Irin’s story came out of Hayan’s mouth without any hesitation. The child spoke of her mother’s story with such clarity, but Sarin hadn’t yet fully absorbed it.

 

“I see.”

 

– What about Dad? Did you find him, Auntie?

 

Although she wished she did not hear it, the child with sharp ears surely woke up upon hearing the word “father,” so a bitter smile crossed Sarin’s face.

 

– Is Dad coming to see Hayan?

 

After her mom died, the child cried, refusing to receive treatment. Sarin was moved by the crying child, who, even in the past, didn’t demand his dad while his mom was alive. She never lied to the child who lost her mother about the absence of her father.

 

…The child is very sick.

 

If she said even his dad was gone, the child might really be broken.

 

Her sister also didn’t lie about her father after Hayan got sick at a young age. She had promised her that they would go to see him when she was older. She hadn’t said anything about him to herself.

 

– Auntie.

 

When Sarin didn’t answer, Hayan urged her once more. Her lips didn’t move. It was always like this when she lied to the child. And the perceptive child knew her so well; that’s why he urged her like this.

 

– Dad doesn’t want to see Hayan.

 

“No, it’s not like that.”

 

– Hayan wants to see Dad.

 

Owen’s face flashed into her mind. She recognized him at once—the man from her sister’s diary.

 

When his cynical face overlapped with Hayan’s innocent face, she had to admit the fact that he was the child’s father.

 

She had come this far because she couldn’t bear to lose the child. If he were such a wealthy man, he might even be willing to pay child support. In a corner of her heart, she knew the loneliness the child, who became her only blood relative, would feel, so she wanted to find her father.

 

But she wasn’t sure how the man would react when he learned of the child’s existence. She couldn’t risk anything that could threaten the child. Even if the child desperately wanted a father, the judgment that Owen might harm the child echoed the warnings in her head.

 

She instinctively knew that she shouldn’t tell him about Hayan.

 

So, after hesitating for a long time in front of the hotel, ready to give up and go back, she eventually met him.

 

– Uaaaaaah… Auntie….

 

Eventually, the child began to cry, unable to wait for Sarin’s answer. She had no energy left to comfort the child. Sitting on the floor, staring at the door that might suddenly open, Sarin leaned back under the bed.

 

“Auntie will be right there soon. Don’t cry, Hayan. If you cry there, Auntie won’t be able to comfort you. Didn’t you make a promise in return for Auntie coming here? Tell me. What did you promise to Auntie?”

 

Soundless tears moistened Sarin’s cheeks.

 

– Huuueeeeep…. I won’t cry… I won’t cryyyyy….

 

“Our brave Hayan, can you give back the phone to Mrs. Hong”

 

Right next to her, Mrs. Hong took the phone again, soothing the child.

 

– She’s still trying to stop crying like a ghost. Quite admirable.

 

“I think it will take a little longer than expected. I’ll go back and definitely… repay you, so…”

 

– Yeah, yeah. Her dad must be a wreck when he finds out he’s got a kid. I’m sure you have a million other things to worry about, but at least call me once a day like this.

 

“Yes. And ma’am, if you ever get a call from out of the country or a stranger asks about me, please tell them you don’t know me.”

 

– Did something happen there?

 

“No, just. I’m sure nothing will happen, but just in case.”

 

– Well, I don’t know any foreign languages. If anyone asks, I’ll say I don’t know.

 

“Yes, please. I appreciate it.”

 

– Take care of yourself. Make sure to eat there.

 

It ended with her worrying about Sarin in another country. Since childhood, Sarin and Irin have run to that house whenever they were beaten by their stepfather.

 

“Sure.”

 

Only after answering could she finally end the call.