章 7: Complex Romantic Relationships

Sitting in front of the large window of his sumptuous apartment, that offered Yuanwei an unobstructed view of the city, he reflected on that crazy day. Previously, his life had always been peaceful, like a sleeping sea, with no obstacles challenging his will. However, since he had met Pingguo, that tranquility had drifted away as he spent more time with her. "Nothing ever seemed to go smoothly with Pingguo Oya; everything always seemed to go haywire.

That night, he couldn't find sleep because he kept wondering if she had made it home safely with the child. The night could be merciless, especially for a woman alone with an infant. Yuanwei couldn't decide whether to call her or not. She must be angry after he had cowardly abandoned her.

Meanwhile, Pingguo was calmly barbecuing in the middle of her living room, while Taiyang lay on a pile of cushions. He was very small, so all he could do was lie down, sleep, or simply gaze into space and laugh. The young woman created maximum comfort for him. Pingguo had already taken several photos of him from different angles, and he looked beautiful from every angle.

"His parents must be really beautiful," she thought as she looked at the photos.

Suddenly, a call appeared on her screen. Obviously, Yuanwei had decided to call, and just as he was about to decline, Pingguo answered the call.

"Hello," the young woman began.

"Um... Hello."

He fell silent, seeming to literally lack words.

"Sir, are you okay?"

"Uh... Yes. And you, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm barbecuing. I couldn't stop at a restaurant, so I ordered here. Cool, huh? You can do everything on the internet now. And I even ordered clothes for Taiyang online, delivery was free."

"Yes, that's good."

Pingguo spoke to him normally, as if she had forgotten their tumultuous separation earlier. But the more natural she was, the more, unconsciously, she made Yuanwei uncomfortable.

"So... Did you want something specific?"

"I just wanted to check if you got home safely with the baby. I'm reassured. Is he not crying?"

"No, Taiyang is as calm as a summer cloud. Isn't that right, talking to the baby, isn't it?"

Yuanwei was truly surprised to feel them so close despite only knowing each other for a few hours. Pingguo was absorbed in the adorable face of the baby.

"Um... um, don't stay up too late, don't stare at him all night like a crazy person. Eat well, and be sure to properly extinguish the barbecue fire when you're done, okay?"

Pingguo was pleasantly surprised by Yuanwei Hua's calm tone. For once, she felt like they were having a normal conversation. She felt as human as him, not like a clumsy employee. She laughed and shared her good impression.

"Yuanwei Hua, this is the first time you've talked to me so calmly. It's the first time we've talked like two people. I feel like I'm going back to the university days. In fact, when you act like this, you remind me of the you from university, the one who was kind and helpful to his friends."

"..."

"You see, when I tell you that Taiyang is an angel. He's starting to have an effect on you, maybe he'll make us good friends again. By the way, added the young woman joyfully, I must tell you how grateful I am to you. Thank you for coming when I called, for accompanying me to the police station, and for staying until the end."

Yuanwei held his breath. He couldn't imagine this scenario, being friends with Pingguo Oya was impossible. His heart reminded him every time he tried to be somewhat cordial with her that they were not meant to coexist harmoniously.

"Don't talk nonsense," he finally replied, "and go to sleep."

"Um! Goodnight, sir!"

It had been an eternity since Pingguo had addressed him so gently. To the point that her words gave him a slight shiver. A conversation without yelling or malice, and moreover, the young woman had thanked him without sarcasm.

"Yes, goodnight."

Then he hung up immediately. He took a deep breath; that moment had been more unsettling than he could have imagined. It wasn't the first time he had talked to Pingguo on the phone, yet something had changed tonight, but Yuanwei didn't know what. Perhaps it was their first call on a personal subject. "The young man slumped into his bed, and when he closed his eyes, Pingguo's voice wishing him goodnight came back to him every time. He quickly sat up, trying to avoid this foolish thought.

"What's come over me? I'm going crazy. That idiot... she's driving me insane."

Yuanwei decided to follow his usual routine when he got home to chase away his thoughts. But nothing worked, even talking to Sojin that night, Pingguo's voice continued to resonate in his head. Back at home, Yuanwei Hua tried to find a semblance of normalcy by engaging in a conversation with his fiancée, Sojin. As they talked, Sojin eventually announced with enthusiasm that she was planning to return soon. "I managed to get an early leave, my love. We'll finally be able to spend more time together," she said with a radiant smile. However, instead of feeling joy, Yuanwei felt a heaviness in his heart. The news of her return stirred conflicting emotions in him, blending the happiness of reuniting with his fiancée with the confusion caused by recent events with Pingguo. He found himself torn between two worlds that seemed unwilling to coexist harmoniously. So much so that the idea ended up helping him fall asleep.

Pingguo, on the other hand, had much more trouble finding sleep. She couldn't fall asleep without taking her medication, a habit from her adolescence. The young woman couldn't take them either for Taiyang's sake because these benzodiazepines had very strong effects to allow her to sleep through the night. But she had to be available if the little one needed changing or feeding. So, forced by her insomnia, she stayed awake all night and watched over the baby. She took the opportunity to ask herself about the future and also about Taiyang's origins, who his parents were, and if they were searching for him.

"Who are Taiyang's parents? Why did they abandon or lose him?"

"Who was this person who deposited Taiyang? Have there been signs of neglect or abuse in his past?"

"And then, how can I keep you now?", asked the young woman. "Maybe there are social assistance programs or services I can access?"

In her apartment, the young woman had invested in two things: first the sanitary facilities, then on her furniture. The little one had the freedom to turn as he pleased; there was enough space for at least four people on this bed. The other rooms of the loft were separated from her bedroom by curtains, but this little nest was enough for the young woman. And Taiyang seemed to be comfortable; he slept peacefully.

"02:45"

There was a knock on Pingguo's door; she was sitting in front of her television. When she heard the knock, all her joy disappeared. She didn't want to hear from him today, not tonight. When her mother often talked to her about her future, she would say to Pingguo, 'you know, little girls marry their father.' At the time, Pingguo was too young to understand that phrase, but since Yeongwon had imposed himself in her life, she had understood the meaning of that saying.

Kim Yeongwon was a public figure loved on social media, just like by Sarah. Except when he came knocking at her door after his debauchery evenings throughout the city. In those moments, even seeing him repulsed her, and if his fans knew him like that, they would do the same. In fact, he was just like her father. Throughout her childhood, Sarah always felt that her father only took care of her to be well seen by everyone. He always did everything to be seen as a god by others. The handsome, rich, good, and smiling man who at night beat his wife and locked his daughter in the trunk of his car.

That time has never left Pingguo, and since then, she hasn't stopped having nightmares, which eventually made her an insomniac. And her encounter with this model hadn't helped at all; on the contrary, Kim Yeongwon had even worsened things. He spent his time telling her that he didn't love her, that he hated her, and that he saw others as soon as the opportunity arose. Yet he kept coming back to her, without remorse.

That night, he was coming back after four months. Pingguo didn't know what to do; she didn't want to open, but Yeongwon was knocking loudly, he was going to end up alerting the neighbors or waking up the sleeping baby nearby. The young woman finally decided to go and open, but she took precautions. She took her baseball bat with her, which she always hid under her sofa within reach. Slowly, she walked towards the door.

"Yes, who is it?"

"Stop it, you know very well who it is, open."

"What do you want?"

"Jagiya, stop it, open."

Pingguo hesitated; on the other side of the door, his voice was usual. At first, she doubted, but she ended up opening the door ajar.

"What do you want?"

"To see you," he said with a smile, "is that enough of an answer?"

He seemed relatively lucid; his eyes seemed clear. Pingguo inspected him from head to toe; he was wearing a midnight blue suit. Yeongwon might be in his good days, but you never knew what to expect from him. The young woman remained on her guard; she opened the door and invited him in. The young man, blond, tall, entered the room. The loft hadn't changed much, yet he had ordered modifications. He wanted to make a remark to the landlady, but he stopped when he saw the bat in Pingguo's hand.

"Oh, really? Do I scare you that much now?"

Pingguo hid the bat behind her foot, casual.

"There are burglaries in the neighborhood, nothing to do with you."

"Hm..."

He nodded, but deep down, Yeongwon didn't believe a word. After all these times, she must already be wary and even scared. He headed to the kitchen, making himself at home, and came back with two cups of tea. Yeongwon then invited his partner to sit; Sarah had become nervous. She sat down, wary.