Page 79 of Perfect Happiness
“You did a good job looking after Jiyoo,” Yuna said.
Jane took a silent breath.Yuna’s tone was the kind someone might use to tell a housemaid to go home.Jane couldn’t let this bother her.She knew that Yuna would use her reaction against her:Why are you so sensitive?I was just trying to thank you.
Jane erected a wall made of mirrors inside her mind so that she could deflect whatever Yuna said.
“Did Joon-young agree to changing Jiyoo’s last name?”
Yuna answered this question with one of her own.
“What, you think you’re her mom now just because you looked after her for a few days?”
Jane did Yuna one better.
“Does Jinu Kim know?”
Yuna didn’t react to this.She just blinked twice in silence.Jane decided to push Yuna a bit further.
“I heard he graduated from the same school as you.Were you two close?”
“How do you know Jinu Kim?”
This meant she knew him.Jane nodded.
“I met him by chance while doing research for an article I’m writing.He said he’s a friend of your husband, and of yours.”
“What’s your point?”
Jane was convinced now.“K,” the friend Min-young was talking about, had to be Jinu Kim.Jane had done research and found that there were two biology teachers at Cheongyeon High School.Coincidentally they were both males and both about the same age as Eun-ho.The reason she picked Jinu Kim, and not the other man, was because of his last name.There was a higher probability that someone nicknamed “K” would have the last name Kim and not Park.
“No point.I just thought I’d mention it.”
Jane decided this was her time to retreat.She couldn’t make Yuna feel like she was on to her.At least, not yet.
“Should I tell Mom?That she can relax and stay until New Year’s because you’ve taken Jiyoo back?”
“Do whatever you want.”
Jane turned her head and examined the inside of Yuna’s car.Jiyoo was sticking her head out through the space between the two front seats.As soon as Jane and her made eye contact, she withdrew in shock.Jane looked back at Yuna.
“Can I at least say goodbye to Jiyoo?”Jane asked.“I did look after her for the last ten days, you know.”
“Like I said, do whatever you want.”
Jane walked past Yuna toward Jiyoo.She opened the back door and stuck her head in as she pulled out her business card from her bag.
“Auntie,” Jiyoo called out in quiet voice.
Jane suppressed the urge to hug Jiyoo.She didn’t want to make things harder for Jiyoo than they needed to be.She knew it would make Yuna jealous and start interrogating Jiyoo about her loyalty:Since when were you so close to your Aunt?
“Bye, Jiyoo.”
After this, Jane withdrew her body from the car.Not surprisingly, Yuna was staring blatantly in her direction.Taking the full brunt of Yuna’s gaze, Jane returned to her previous spot.Afraid Yuna might feel left out, Jane gave her a farewell, too.
“Let’s not cross paths again if we can help it.”
Yuna squinted her eyes at Jane.Her lips moved slightly as though she were about to say something.Jane ignored this and started walking.When she arrived at the elevators, she glanced back to find Yuna opening the driver’s side door.
Just like the nanny had said, the house looked like a debt-collector had come through.But as Jane expected, it was way worse than that.Old sneakers, summer sandals, slippers—all Jiyoo’s shoes were scattered across the floor.Her room was also a mess.The closet and drawers had been turned inside out and stripped of all Jiyoo’s winter apparel: coats, padded jackets, sweaters, scarves, hats, gloves, earmuffs.On the bed were all the other articles of clothing that Yuna decided not to take.
