his hand. Where’s your wife? Why isn’t she using it here? Why is there so much money upstairs?
She was silent for a long time before
speaking: Mom, I’m not married
It feels like my world has stopped
. What are you saying?
I never had a wife
Every word
feels like a punch. Twelve years ago I lied to you.
He
nodded: The money I send each year doesn’t come from my husband. It cost me a lot.
How do you make so much money?
He smiled bitterly
in exchange for time and a part of my life
She went to school slowly. Twelve years ago, because of poverty, my accident, and debts, she went to Korea to work as an interpreter and was personally involved with a rich man named Kang Jun. Honestly, sometimes I had to be the perfect woman for him.
I’m not his wife, but I’m not a simple person either. I need to smile when I need to, and be quiet when I need to.
I feel like
my heart is being squeezed. Do you know how much it hurts?
He
nodded, I know. But if I didn’t go, where will we get the money for your treatment? How will we pay off the debt? I have no other choice.
I cried
, but not like this.
He continued. This house was bought for him. The money above is money he hasn’t used yet. Every year he sends 8 million pesos; he saves the rest for when he retires. But he did have a contract. If he leaves early, he’ll have to return all the money, more than 90 million pesos. There are two years left on the contract.
I was depressed. My son isn’t alive; he’s locked in a no-lock agreement but can’t escape.
Suddenly, the phone rang. María Luisa looked at the screen, her face changed. He
answered:
Yes, I’m coming. As soon as the call ended, he
looked at me. Mom, I have to go. I don’t have a specific deadline.
I saw her getting dressed, fixing her hair, being the perfect woman everyone else
wants. Do you have to be like that all the time?
He nodded
almost
I went to the kitchen and quickly prepared broth and rice
. Eat first.
He sat down, picked up his spoon, and looked at the soup, his eyes red. He ate in silence, each sip like a memory from the past. I sat across from him, close but seemingly distant.
After dinner, she
got up, Mom, I was leaving
When he disappeared, I noticed a small key on the table. I have a limit. I went upstairs, entered the money room, and found a small cabinet against the wall. The key is correct. When I opened it, it was a thick folder.
Signed in the name of Maria Luisa. Fourteen years old. No strict conditions are allowed for departure, all money must be returned if violated, the image must be maintained, outside relations are prohibited, and the other party has the right to act if reputation is damaged.
I leaned against the wall, struggling to breathe. For twelve years, my son lived in an iron cage but couldn’t get out.
When Maria Luisa returned, there was a tall man in a suit in the living room. He looked at me coldly
. “Who are you?”
I am Maria Luisa’s mother
He
nodded, I know. I’ll take care of your son’s contract.
He was depressed. His name is Kang Jun.
When Maria Luisa arrived, her expression changed. She stood between us as if she were protecting me. The wind was strong. The man mentioned the contract before leaving, and before he finally left he said, ”
Two more years.”
That night we slept together. My
weak question: Aren’t you tired of this life?
“I’m tired, Mom. But I don’t want to remind you of yourself.”
I took
