Chick 307
by Cristae307
So there really was an unavoidable reason.
Chloe’s fridge contained a single carton of milk, twenty cans of beer, and all manner of frozen foods.
One couldn’t keep feeding a child nothing but bland frozen pasta and pizza forever.
That was all there was to it.
“What a lovely young family. Here, try this one. Kids really love it!”
At the sample table, a middle-aged woman offered them freshly grilled sausage slices.
On Ijo accepted one and held it out for Gru to try.
“Does our little one like it?”
“It’s yummy!”
On Ijo glanced at Chloe and gave a playful smile.
“The kid loves it, honey. Should we buy some more?”
“Who are you calling honey?”
Chloe shoved the cart roughly ahead.
As On Ijo followed with a rueful smile, the sample lady cocked her head in thought.
“I swear I’ve seen you somewhere before, sir…”
A brief silence fell.
Gru rolled her big eyes, casting a wary glance.
On Ijo and Chloe looked terribly awkward, uneasy about the attention.
No wonder—they’d be in trouble if anyone recognized On Ijo in so crowded a place.
“Oh, come to think of it, aren’t you that fellow who’s always on the news?”
“Pardon? Who do you mean…?”
“You know, the hero! That On Ijo fellow.”
On Ijo put on an embarrassed smile as he tossed the empty sausage cup into the trash.
Gru looked meekly at On Ijo, watching for his reaction.
She seemed to brace herself for a commotion.
If it were On Joorim, he would have coldly said no. How different siblings can be.
In the end, Gru suddenly grabbed On Ijo’s hand.
“Daddy! I want to try that one too!”
“…!”
On Ijo’s eyes widened at Gru’s actions.
Gru shot Chloe a pleading look, desperate for help.
“…Haa.”
Watching from a distance, Chloe pressed her hand to her forehead, looking as if her head might split.
‘Unnie, hurry!’
Gru trembled at the mouth, sending out pitiful, urgent looks.
Chloe bit down on her lips, then finally stomped back and linked her arm with On Ijo’s.
“You’re mistaken. This isn’t On Ijo. Let’s go, honey.”
On Ijo stifled a sudden laugh with his fist.
“Yes, dear!”
He hunched his larger frame to cling to Chloe’s arm as she dragged him away.
The sample lady tutted and muttered to herself.
“Guess not. As if a hero would be some lovesick fool of a husband like that…”
Pfft. This time, it was Chloe who burst out laughing.
“A lovesick fool. Hah—!”
As Chloe wiped her eyes, repeating the words with laughter, On Ijo flushed red and ran a hand over his face.
“Could you please stop laughing?”
“Ahahahaha!”
In spite of his pleading, Chloe only laughed harder.
Gru quietly watched Chloe laugh aloud for the first time, and On Ijo, who couldn’t take his eyes off her.
With their groceries bought, they set off to shop for clothes for Gru.
No matter where they went, they must have looked just like a family.
“Oh, what a pretty child—she’s the spitting image of both parents!”
Gru rolled her eyes.
Even when people mistook Gru for their own, On Ijo and Chloe didn’t correct them.
Maybe it was just to avoid having On Ijo recognized, but…
Even so, warmth spread through them, the kind that made you smile and left your chest tingling.
Both cheeks flushed pink.
It felt embarrassing to think this way on her own, and yet…
It really felt like she’d gone grocery shopping with Mom and Dad, leaving her fingers tingling.
Her affection grew, her tree inside expanding—her leaves rustling with excitement.
To Gru, it sounded like the love of parents embracing their child.
‘If I can just bring these two together, I’ll unlock the title.’
It wasn’t out of any other motive. Honestly, it was really just to unlock the title. It wasn’t because she liked this family feeling—really!
Even as Gru told herself that, her eyes sparkled as she watched On Ijo and Chloe.
Just a little longer. Let this moment last just a bit more.
On Ijo gently laid the sleeping Gru in her room.
“She hasn’t even had dinner; is it okay to let her sleep so early?”
Chloe, busy stocking what they’d bought into the fridge, turned to look.
On Ijo was just closing Gru’s bedroom door behind him.
“If she wakes up later, I’ll give her something to eat.”
“All right.”
On Ijo picked up a yogurt from the island table and sat across from Chloe.
“Will you tell me now? What’s going on?”
As she closed the fridge, Chloe gazed directly at him.
He had expected this. It was exactly why he’d texted instead, not wanting to face her about it.
“My text said it all.”
“You said you weren’t planning on anything serious? Is that really it?”
Well, it hadn’t exactly been heartfelt.
“Yes.”
Chloe answered shamelessly.
On Ijo toyed with the yogurt, his eyes flitting up and down.
After a moment, he let out a small, quiet question.
“Was that night really so bad? I just… it was my first time, I didn’t know what to do.”
“…?”
“If you give me another chance, I’ll do better.”
“……”
On Ijo looked up at Chloe, as if urging her for an answer to her disbelief.
“Unbelievable.”
Biting back a curse, Chloe leaned against the fridge.
This cunning fox! How could he keep playing the cute act?
‘…How am I supposed to shake off this fox?’
To deal with a fox who wouldn’t take a hint, Chloe deliberately chose harsh words.
“Love? Romance? Those things just don’t suit me. That’s all.”
“Then—”
“It means I never had feelings for you from the start.”
That seemed to hit home.
At the words “never had feelings,” On Ijo’s face went cold as stone.
“So let’s end this here.”
“……”
At some point, Gru had woken and quietly cracked her door, listening as she peered at On Ijo and Chloe.
“So let’s end this here.”
Chloe’s icy words made Gru’s heart plummet.
On Ijo opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it, running a hand through his hair as he turned away.
But Chloe seemed unbothered, washing her hands as if none of it affected her.
“……”
Gru pressed her lips tightly shut. Her eyes trembled fiercely.
‘Why is Unnie being so cold to Uncle?’
Would Uncle stop coming to see Chloe now?
They seemed so good together.
She wished they wouldn’t break up this way.
Gru remembered Chloe’s face, all in pieces after she’d spoken coldly to On Ijo.
Was she making that same face right now?
For a moment the house was wrapped in tense silence.
Bang, bang, bang!
Suddenly, a violent pounding on the door made everyone turn toward the entrance.
The bell rang over and over, someone kicking fiercely at the door between rings.
“Who could that possibly be…?”
Chloe’s frown deepened as she reached to open the door, only for On Ijo to raise a hand to stop her.
“I’ll answer it.”
Click.
As the door swung open and they saw who stood outside, both On Ijo and Chloe fell silent, gaping.
The man before them drew a deep breath in, then exhaled.
“Joorim, what are you…?”
“So, you’re here. The woman.”
His voice was chillingly cold.
Gru shrank at the sound.
Standing in the doorway was a young Joorim, early twenties at most.
Was this Dad from the “wee-woo-wee-woo” days?!
Overcome with excitement, Gru started forward, then stopped herself.
‘He’s still Dad, but…’
Her shoulders sagged.
He wasn’t the Dad she’d known.
But Joorim gazed at Gru, pausing mid-step, eyes unreadable.
“Joorim. However you found out, let’s talk outside.”
“No. We’ll talk in a bit.”
Ignoring On Ijo’s restraint, Joorim strode boldly inside and opened the bedroom door.
Gru, who’d been peeking out with her face half-hidden, looked up at Joorim and hunched her shoulders.
“Ha… I’ve been searching everywhere.”
With a deep sigh, he wrapped his arms tightly around Gru’s small body.
She could feel the relief radiating from him.