SELA - 9

Sa-hee collapsed onto the floor, her body still trembling faintly. She had momentarily forgotten that returning to two years ago also meant facing her brother Cheol-woo’s debts—a problem that had always haunted her.

Cheol-woo was notorious for gambling and womanizing, constantly racking up debts and being chased by loan sharks. Each time, Sa-hee ended up cleaning up his messes. When she married Ji-hyuk, he had paid off most of Cheol-woo’s overwhelming debt, leaving only what Cheol-woo could manage on his own. Other complicated issues were resolved through Ji-hyuk’s intervention as well. Seeing his wife suffer, Ji-hyuk stepped in without hesitation.

But now, it was two years prior. Ji-hyuk and Sa-hee weren’t connected yet, and Cheol-woo was buried under an insurmountable mountain of debt once more.

Would contacting Cheol-woo even be possible? That itself was uncertain. Sa-hee furrowed her brow against a growing headache. A solution didn’t come easily.

---

“Ji-hyuk… Ji-hyuk… No… No!”

Gasping, Sa-hee jolted awake, drenched in cold sweat.

The clock read just past 3 a.m., cloaked in deep darkness.

Her heart pounded wildly as she sat up, pushing aside the damp blanket. The nightmare lingered vividly in her mind, a cruel echo of the chaotic day she’d endured.

In the dream, Sa-hee stood at Ji-hyuk’s funeral. Sitting in the mourner’s seat, she stared blankly at his photo, feeling her soul shatter into pieces. Soon, tears streamed down her face like an endless spring, suffocating her with grief.

As dizziness overtook her, the scene shifted abruptly. She found herself in pajamas inside an emergency room. Suddenly, alarms blared, and medical staff surrounded Ji-hyuk’s bed, performing CPR.

Then came the reality she remembered all too well—the flat green line on the monitor, her being dragged out, and Ji-hyuk’s pale, lifeless face fading further away…

After drinking water in the kitchen, Sa-hee stood staring at the empty glass for a long while. The lingering weight of the nightmare refused to lift.

Yes, Ji-hyuk had died once before—on her birthday, in a car accident.

If only she hadn’t gone out late at night to buy a cake, if only she hadn’t taken that road, perhaps the accident wouldn’t have happened. In a way, she bore some responsibility for it.

Meeting Ji-hyuk again felt miraculous, but she couldn’t forget the risks. If their paths intertwined again, history might repeat itself.

She couldn’t bear to see him endangered or lose him a second time.

Placing the glass in the sink, Sa-hee returned to bed. But sleep eluded her until dawn broke, casting a faint light over the room.

---

Returning to two years ago meant adapting to this timeline’s patterns—it was inevitable.

Dragging her weary body out of bed, Sa-hee reported to work after more than a year away. Though her desk felt unfamiliar at first, she quickly regained her rhythm.

As she powered on her monitor and organized schedules using her tablet and handwritten notes, Ji-hyuk arrived.

“Good morning, Director.”

Pausing her tasks, Sa-hee stood and greeted him professionally. To anyone watching, she was the epitome of competence and preparedness as a secretary. But…

---

Memories of the nightmare surfaced, stirring unwarranted guilt. Seeing him again filled her with joy and gratitude, yet doubt crept in. Did she have the right to stay close to him? Was she even worthy?

Her mood plummeted into despair.

“You’re attending a breakfast meeting with the chairman tomorrow.”

“A breakfast meeting?”

“Yes. The chairman emphasized your attendance is mandatory this time. I’ll arrange for Song, the chauffeur, to pick you up.”

Looking up from the schedule sheet, Sa-hee noticed Ji-hyuk’s lack of reaction. He sat leaning back in his chair, chin resting on his hand, gazing at her thoughtfully.

“Secretary Yoon will handle it.”

“Me?”

“Yes, Secretary Yoon. Wake me up. You know I’m staying at the main house, so come there.”

“I understand.”

“Understand?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Flustered, Sa-hee made a note: “Main House, Pickup.” Satisfied with her response, Ji-hyuk nodded and flipped through his documents.

“You may leave.”

Bowing slightly, Sa-hee turned and exited the office. Only then did the tension ease. Handling tasks from two years ago felt surreal, especially given last night’s dream and recent memories with Ji-hyuk.

Still, why assign her such a task? Perhaps he trusted her efficiency as his secretary.

---

It was another restless night. After tossing and turning, Sa-hee rose early to prepare.

Arriving at Ji-hyuk’s estate via taxi, she spotted Song, the chauffeur, already waiting.

“Chauffeur Song!”

“Secretary Yoon. You’re early.”

“And you’re earlier than me.”

Song chuckled at her joke. His youthful face showed signs of fatigue.

“What time did you arrive? You didn’t need to come so early.”

“There was a racing event yesterday in the countryside. I headed straight here after finishing late last night.”

“You must be exhausted. Didn’t get much sleep?”

“No choice.”

Song scratched the back of his neck, stifling a yawn behind his hand. His tired demeanor tugged at Sa-hee’s heartstrings.

Song Jin-ha, just twenty-five years old, was once a promising race car driver. After a serious accident, he chose a quieter path, eventually becoming Ji-hyuk’s chauffeur. Though not his original career plan, he found satisfaction in the role. Ji-hyuk respected boundaries, never interfering beyond driving duties, and provided generous compensation.

Their connection ran deeper; Ji-hyuk had sponsored Jin-ha during his racing days and offered employment after learning about the accident. Grateful, Jin-ha accepted, marking the beginning of their renewed bond.

“I’ll head inside first. Rest in the car if you can.”

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

Smiling briefly, Sa-hee rang the doorbell after bidding farewell.

Soon, the gate opened, and she took the shortcut to the dining room as instructed. Ascending stone steps, she saw bright lights ahead.

“Welcome, Secretary Yoon.”

“Good morning, Madam.”

Unexpectedly, Young-shin greeted her. Surprised but composed, Sa-hee smiled warmly.

“Have a seat. There’s time for tea today, isn’t there?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Great. Bring us two cups of tea, please.”

Before long, aromatic herbal tea, warm bread, and cookies were served.

“Help yourself.”

“Thank you.”

For a moment, only the gentle clinking of teacups filled the air.

“I’ll get straight to the point.”

“Yes?”

“I have something to say to you, Secretary Yoon.”

“Go ahead.”

Young-shin slid a white envelope toward Sa-hee. Confused, Sa-hee glanced between the envelope and Young-shin.

“What is this…”

“It’s nothing special. Just some department store gift cards and pocket money. A token of appreciation for how well you assist Ji-hyuk. No strings attached.”

“If that’s the case, I appreciate it, but I’m simply doing my job.”

Politely declining, Sa-hee left the envelope untouched. Clearing her throat, Young-shin added with a warm smile:

“Secretary Yoon, I need your help.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s about Ji-hyuk. I can’t let him stay single forever. My goal is to pair him with a good woman by the end of this year—at the latest, next year.”

“…”

“You spend a lot of time with Ji-hyuk and likely know him well, don’t you?”

Sa-hee didn’t deny it.

“Share information about him with me. Let me know his schedule—where he goes, who he meets.”

In short, she wanted updates on every move Ji-hyuk made.

“And one more thing. I’ve picked out a few young ladies. Help them along, won’t you? It’s simple. Just answer their questions as you would mine. Easy, right?”