The Odd Doctor Out | A Drama | S. 5

797 🩺 And Stay Out!

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Sincerely,
Eve ♡

~~~

Hongjoong was standing—hiding—in the corner kitchen indulging—albeit guiltily—in the splurged craving of Yeosang's ice cream, when the knock came at the door. As far as he knew, Wooyoung and San were either talking quietly in their room, or passed out asleep, Yeosang was busy dealing with the untied ends of whatever the hell it was he was doing with Jongho, and Seonghwa was mid-shower.

Sighing, he licked his spoon clean and put the lid on Yeosang's ice cream, putting it back in the freezer on his way past it to the door.

When he answered it, swinging it open, he was surprised to see his mother-in-law standing there, alone.

'Eomoni,' he breathed, holding the door further open. 'I didn't know you were coming. I would have cooked something for lunch had I.'

Like I should have anyway, instead of risking my life to binge eat Yeosang's ice cream.

'I was just on my way past and thought I would stop in,' she replied, though the easy topic of conversation didn't sound quite so easy the way she said it.

He felt the loom of shadow back already, being scrutinised in her eyes. 'Please, come in,' he said alas, forcing a smile onto his face. 'Would you like tea? Coffee?'

'Neither, thank you,' she said, glancing around. 'Is Seonghwa home?'

He tried not to be dissuaded by her brisk decline. 'He's just washing up to go to work this afternoon—should I go get him?' Offering in case something had happened that required urgent conveyance.

She however, shook her head. 'That is quite alright.'

When she didn't add anything, he closed his eyes, wondering what the hell she wanted, if she wasn't even going to make any attempt at associating with him. She was always so much blander when it was just the both of them—he wished she would behave the same way in front of Seonghwa, so he wouldn't look like such an unempathetic asshole when he said that she didn't like him.

Opening his eyes, he plastered that smile back onto his face. 'Shall I get Nabi?' he asked, even though he really didn't want to. She was fast asleep in her crib in their room, and waking her meant having a very unhappy baby on his hands the rest of the day while Seonghwa was at the hospital.

He noted the way she glanced around, as though looking for Naeun or her washing basket, and a moment later, she asked, 'is she sleeping?'

He nodded. 'She had a busy morning with her uncles,' he replied, this time, his smile genuine. 'I have videos, if you'd like to see them.'

Her lips turned up slightly in a smile that seemed less empty. 'Perhaps later when my husband is with me. He'd love to see them too.'

His heart warmed. Mr. Park was such a wonderful grandfather. He so very clearly loved Nabi, and at the very least, he didn't seem to have a problem with him.