Page 121 of Perfect Happiness

“Eun-ho, don’t keep Jiyoo waiting.”

At this, Stepfather reluctantly left the kitchen.

“Make sure you’re back before dark!”

Jiyoo went to the shed and changed into her boots.She hesitated for a moment before handing Stepfather the pair of men’s boots.After receiving them from her, he stared down at them for a while.He looked upset.Jiyoo thought it best if she didn’t mention they had belonged to Father.

The sky was becoming prematurely dark as black clouds were blocking out the sun.The usual sound of loon calls and birds rustling in the reeds was absent.The only thing they could hear was icy wind whipping through the wetlands.

“Follow behind me.”

Jiyoo stepped onto the path.It looked like the wetlands had received much more snow than the cabin had.Falling snowflakes obscured Jiyoo’s vision, making it hard to see the path.The heavy snow had also flattened all the reeds, removing the landmarks on which Jiyoo relied.

“I thought you said this was a marsh,” Stepfather said as he looked at their surroundings.“All I see is snow.”He seemed nervous.

“There are lots of reeds.But it’s snowing.So, you can’t see them.”

Jiyoo used the difference in ground elevation to make out the path.She couldn’t walk fast because of the thick snow, but at least the ground wasn’t slippery.Every step filled the air with the sound of crunching snow.

“You must come here often.I can’t see anything,” Stepfather said.

Jiyoo decided to use an answer that she used before: “That’s because this is Mother’s home.”

“Just because this is your mother’s cabin doesn’t automatically mean you can find your way like this so easily.You must have walked this path dozens of times before.Jiyoo, did you come here last time?”

Jiyoo knew immediately what Stepfather meant when he saidlast time.It was the same question he asked her this morning.Jiyoo couldn’t answer this.

“I know you were here with your father.”

Jiyoo stopped walking.Despite the cold wind, Jiyoo’s face was burning.This happened every time she had to lie.Stepfather had known the answer when he asked her the same question this morning.But then why had he asked it?And why hadn’t he scolded her for lying to him?Stepfather stopped walking, too, and looked down at Jiyoo.

“I’m not mad at you.I’m not trying to get you in trouble.”

“I—”

“It’s not your fault.I blame the person who made you lie.”

Jiyoo instinctively came to Mother’s defense.

“No.Mother didn’t tell me to lie.It’s just that I—”

Jiyoo stopped mid-sentence.She had the feeling she had just made a mistake.She made eye contact with Stepfather and shook her head.The look on his face confused her.All at once, he looked like he was mad, like he pitied her, and like he had something to say.

“I guess I’m putting you in a difficult position.”He pursed his lips.“Let’s just keep this between the two of us and never talk about it again.How about that?”

Jiyoo didn’t answer.She was both anxious and suspicious.All she had said was that Mother hadn’t told her to lie.Was that enough for him to know what he wanted?And how did Stepfather know that Jiyoo had been here with her father?And why did he keep asking the same question?Jiyoo studied Stepfather’s face, but nothing was written on it.

“Shall we?”

Stepfather started walking again, but this time he was a bit distant from Jiyoo, with one foot on the path and the other on the snow-covered reeds.The silence continued for a while.Jiyoo started talking when she thought of something to say:

“You shouldn’t step on the reeds.If you get stuck in the mud, you won’t be able to pull your foot out.”

Stepfather laughed once.“Don’t worry.The ground is frozen solid.”

“But still.You should let me go first.Just follow me.”

Jiyoo felt at ease once she couldn’t see Stepfather’s face anymore.As the burning sensation on her cheeks subsided, she was finally able to concentrate on her walking again.The farther they walked, the harder it was to see the footpath.Just when Jiyoo thought they should have arrived at the Half Moon Marsh, she was met with an unfamiliar sight.Only when she discovered the feeding rock, which jutted out of the snow, was she convinced of their location.