Embedded Files
Psst! We're moving!
Yewon looked at Seung-hyun with startled eyes.
“Why are you here...?”
“It’s my bedroom. Why is it strange for me to be here?”
“Ah...”
Her confused reaction prompted Seung-hyun to ask again.
“I asked if you’re okay.”
Seung-hyun’s question made Yewon nod slightly.
“I’m fine. I just had a nightmare.”
“Haa.”
Thinking there was no need to explain further, she tried to leave it at that, but Seung-hyun let out a short sigh.
“If you weren’t feeling well, you should’ve contacted me. Does enduring it make it better? If you’re sick, you should get treatment or take medicine, right?”
Whether it was her mood or not, his voice carried a hint of irritation.
Only then did Yewon notice the IV needle stuck in the back of her hand.
‘The doctor must have visited the house.’
“When did you come?”
Yewon asked cautiously.
“About three hours ago.”
“What about dinner?”
“Is my dinner the issue now?”
It would’ve been nice if he’d said it a little more gently.
She knew Seung-hyun didn’t mean any harm, but given her current discomfort, she felt a pang of sadness.
Instead of answering, Yewon simply smiled.
“Since when have you been feeling unwell?”
“I think it was the dinner that upset my stomach.”
She didn’t particularly like samgyetang, but she forced herself to eat it out of respect for Mrs. Choi’s efforts, and it seemed to be the cause of her distress.
“You were groaning alone when I got home. You scared me.”
She thought taking some digestive medicine and resting would settle her stomach, but it seemed worse than expected.
She vaguely remembered tossing and turning, but she hadn’t realized she’d lost consciousness and alarmed him.
Her recent lack of proper sleep probably worsened things.
“I’m sorry.”
“Enduring pain is foolish. Next time, contact Dr. Kim or me immediately. Got it?”
“Okay.”
After hearing Yewon’s reply, Seung-hyun glanced at the IV drip.
“Finish it and get up.”
“I will.”
A heavy silence settled between them.
Seung-hyun looked at her as if he wanted to say something, then stood up.
“You were tossing and turning earlier. It might be good to rest more.”
“Thank you for taking care of me.”
Seung-hyun gave a slight nod and left the room.
Click.
Hearing the door shut, Yewon finally exhaled.
It wasn’t that she disliked being with Seung-hyun, but at that moment, she wanted to be alone.
But before that thought could fully form, Seung-hyun re-entered the room.
“Why? Is something wrong?”
Yewon asked, but without much explanation, Seung-hyun sat back down where he had been earlier.
“Here.”
He handed her something.
When Yewon extended her palm, Seung-hyun placed a sweet piece of chocolate on it.
“Why is this...?”
“They say sweets help when you’re low on energy.”
“Ah, I see.”
“...When I was young, I used to get sick often. Whenever that happened, my late mother… she’d give me chocolate. As a child, I thought getting sick was great because I’d get chocolate.”
As Seung-hyun spoke with a faint smile, recalling memories, Yewon felt her heart ache.
“You had a cute side too, huh?”
“There were plenty of cute moments. Anyway, make sure to eat it. I’ll step aside so you can rest.”
With those words, Seung-hyun turned his back to her.
She didn’t know where she found the courage, but Yewon reached out and grabbed his hand.
Her body ached, but why was her heart trembling so much?
“Why...”
Seung-hyun turned around with an unreadable expression.
Her heart pounded as if it would leap out of her throat.
For a moment, she hesitated to let go, but she didn’t want to miss this rare moment when his defenses seemed slightly lowered.
For some inexplicable confidence, she felt like he wouldn’t reject her if she acted a little spoiled.
“Don’t go.”
“What?”
Seung-hyun raised an eyebrow and stared directly at Yewon.
“I don’t want to be alone... because I’m sick.”
“...”
“Stay with me.”
This was the first time she had ever said such a thing, and her heart raced wildly.
Yewon braced herself, preparing for the possibility of rejection.
The brief moment waiting for his response felt unbearably long.
Finally, Seung-hyun’s lips moved.
“Alright.”
He intertwined his fingers with hers and sat back down.
Startled by the sudden intimacy, Yewon’s eyes widened.
Outside of sex, holding hands in such a private setting was a first, and it left her flustered.
“Close your eyes.”
“Huh?”
“You need to sleep more to recover.”
“Ah, right. Okay.”
Having already asked him to stay by her side, Yewon didn’t want him to notice how her heart was racing uncontrollably.
She quickly squeezed her eyes shut, but doing so made the sensation of their intertwined hands even more vivid.
All her focus zeroed in on that single point of contact.
It felt as if her heart had relocated to her palm, fluttering wildly where their hands touched.
This was entirely self-inflicted suffering.
“By the way, Yewon-ah.”
“…Yes?”
Yewon opened her eyes slightly.
As always, she preferred it when Seung-hyun called her by her name instead of using the formal “you.”
“We’re not strangers anymore, right? Not like before.”
“…?”
“When we suddenly hold hands like this, especially in a bedroom… it naturally leads to thoughts about what comes next.”
“Ah…!”
Before he could elaborate further, Yewon understood exactly what he meant.
Realizing she might have overstepped, she tried to pull her hand away, but the more she resisted, the tighter Seung-hyun held on.
His gaze grew hotter.
“Don’t make me think dirty thoughts while you’re lying here sick. I’m still a man, you know.”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“I’m only human.”
Seung-hyun pulled her hand toward his body, placing it directly over his arousal.
Yewon could feel the unmistakable evidence of his desire.
“Don’t torture me like this.”
Under his deepening gaze, Yewon swallowed hard.
________________________________________
Seung-hyun quietly observed Yewon’s face as she slept, her breathing steady and rhythmic.
Their hands were still clasped together.
‘Looks like she isn’t having nightmares this time.’
Her brow, which had been furrowed earlier, now appeared relaxed.
He gently pressed his hand against her forehead—her fever had subsided, and her temperature felt normal.
Holding his breath, Seung-hyun carefully extracted his hand from hers and left the bedroom, heading for the kitchen.
Pouring himself a glass of cold water, he took a sip and stood there, lost in thought about what had just transpired.
‘Why did I do that?’
He pressed his palm firmly against his chest, feeling the lingering tension.
When he’d returned home and entered the bedroom earlier…
The sight of Yewon curled up tightly, groaning in discomfort—it had shaken him.
─’Kim Yewon.’
In his panic, he’d shaken her gently, but she only curled herself tighter.
Her forehead was burning hot.
Seung-hyun immediately contacted the family doctor.
Fearing something worse might happen, he soaked a dry towel in cold water and placed it on her forehead.
But she kept pushing it away.
─’What did Mother used to do?’
He recalled how his mother had cared for him when he was sick.
Following her example, he laid Yewon flat and unbuttoned the top three buttons of her pajamas.
His mother had often wiped down his neck and chest with a damp towel to cool him off.
Seung-hyun mimicked her actions, starting at Yewon’s neck and slowly moving downward.
His hand paused near her collarbone.
Seeing her exposed skin in such a vulnerable state sent a jolt through him.
A wave of guilt immediately followed, prompting him to button her pajamas back up.
He felt disgusted with himself, as though he’d crossed a line.
“Damn it.”
Muttering a curse under his breath, Seung-hyun chugged the rest of the cold water without pause.
After finishing the glass, he wiped his lips with the back of his hand.
Only then did the lewd thoughts swirling in his mind begin to dissipate.
Standing by the window for a moment, Seung-hyun decided against returning to the bedroom. He feared lying beside her might lead to inappropriate thoughts again.
Watching her suffer made him feel guilty for even entertaining such ideas.
Fleeing to his study, Seung-hyun sat down and powered on his laptop.
He brought up a webpage.
<Lee Choong-Hyun Art Exhibition>
It was the ticket reservation site for an exhibition by Lee Choong-Hyun, an artist Yewon admired.
Back in college, he’d overheard her mention this artist while talking to a friend.
He’d forgotten all about it until today, when he spotted the artist’s name on a banner while driving.
“She’d probably be thrilled if I invited her to go together.”
But his hand hesitated over the reservation button.
It should’ve been simple—just tell her the truth: “I remembered you liked this artist, so I thought we could go together.”
Yet, for some reason, his thoughts spiraled endlessly.
‘This is maddening.’
Seung-hyun pulled his hand away from the mouse and moistened his parched lips with saliva.
Especially when he had found Yewon lying in bed drenched in cold sweat earlier—it had shocked him to the point where his heart felt like it was being squeezed dry.
That’s why… he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her when she held his hand and asked him to stay by her side.
What was this surging emotion, like waves crashing against the shore?
Why did his body react so strongly only around her?
He wanted to understand.
Though he pretended to remain calm while watching over her, one persistent feeling kept surfacing.
Interest, affection—or perhaps even… love.
‘There’s no way that could be true…’
Seung-hyun listed off these uncomfortable words under his breath and forced a bitter smile.
“Hah.”
Such emotions tended to grow stronger the more you dwelled on them, so cutting them off early was the right move.
“What exhibition?”
He didn’t want things to get any more complicated.
Thud.
With that, Seung-hyun closed his laptop.
________________________________________
A Particularly Sunny Saturday Morning
Yewon woke up alone in the bedroom once again.
“I thought for sure I’d see him today…”
She muttered to herself as she stared at the empty space beside her.
Last night, Seung-hyun had been unusually tender toward her—likely because she was sick—but she was grateful nonetheless.
Especially during the dream where she had bitterly asked her biological father why he had abandoned her here, all alone.
─’Are you okay?’
When Seung-hyun suddenly appeared in her dream… he had felt like her savior.
If Seung-hyun hadn’t proposed their contract marriage, Yewon would still be living day by day, running from misfortune.
Though Jong-hee had tormented her, she realized now how much comfort she had unknowingly drawn from Seung-hyun’s warmth.
Perhaps that’s why she had started to think about having a child with him and truly becoming a family.
“I’ve been falling for Mr. Seung-hyun without even realizing it.”
Yewon chuckled softly as she belatedly acknowledged her own feelings.
Even if it was unrequited love, she realized it had been what kept her going, what had allowed her to endure.
‘Come to think of it, I owe Seung-hyun so much.’
Hadn’t he been the one who encouraged her to start painting again?
Feeling that at the very least, she should express her gratitude, Yewon picked up her phone.
Opening the chat window with Seung-hyun, she hesitated. She had never conveyed such feelings before, so it wasn’t easy.
“Hmm…”
After repeatedly typing and deleting, Yewon finally entered some text into the message box.
[Thank you.]
Deciding there was no better phrase to capture her gratitude, she pressed send.
“Phew.”
It was just three simple words, but her heart was racing wildly.
Her pulse thudded so hard it felt like she had confessed her love instead of just thanking him.
“I’m hopeless.”
Climbing out of bed, Yewon tidied up the bedding.
Her body felt much better, and though their physical connection hadn’t changed, she sensed they had grown slightly closer emotionally—and that made her happy.
________________________________________
Saturday Morning at Work
Despite it being Saturday, Seung-hyun was busy in his office catching up on work. He had wasted too much time during the week lost in thought, leaving a backlog of tasks.
As he meticulously reviewed documents, his phone vibrated on the desk.
Without looking up, he reached for it, assuming it was work-related. But when he glanced at the screen, he was surprised.
[Thank you.]
It was a message from Yewon.
Neither of them was used to initiating such heartfelt exchanges, so this was unexpected.
Presumably, she was expressing gratitude for taking care of her last night.
‘It’s nothing special.’
That’s what he thought, but he couldn’t deny the small lift in his mood.
─’Everyone thinks women want luxury bags or flashy rings, but what they really crave is a warm word of kindness.’
Hyun-jin’s words echoed in his mind—the ones she had emphasized when handing him baby shoes.
She had urged him not to regret neglecting such gestures later, yet here he was forgetting again.
Though Hyun-jin had been talking about romantic relationships, this principle applied universally to human connections.
Even if he couldn’t bring himself to book tickets to Yewon’s favorite artist’s exhibition, he could at least offer basic words of kindness.
“I wonder if she’s feeling better now.”
When he checked before leaving for work, her fever hadn’t returned, and she had been sleeping peacefully.
Though it felt silly to ask something he already knew, Seung-hyun placed his fingers on the phone screen.
[Better?]
Before he could finish typing, the office door swung open without a knock.
Looking up, he saw Jong-hee walking in.
A deep crease formed between Seung-hyun’s brows.
“What brings you here?”
His icy tone filled the room.
Jong-hee approached the sofa, sitting down without any change in expression, and narrowed her eyes at him.
“You’re asking why I came into my son’s office uninvited? Because you keep avoiding my calls, and it hurt my feelings!”
Jong-hee raised her voice sharply.
The fact that she, who had been cautious and timid just days ago, now strutted in so brazenly suggested she knew something.
‘Surely it’s not about Yewon…’
Could it be that after running into Mijin at the gynecologist’s office, they had met separately?
Jong-hee had no way of knowing whether Seung-hyun was aware of her intentions, so she decided to remain silent for now.
“There’s a reason I’ve been avoiding you.”
“Have you changed this much after getting married? Even in front of the family, you’re always on Yewon’s side—what does that make me?”
“You could interpret it as me really liking Yewon. But to pity you for simply taking care of my wife… well, that seems odd to me.”
Each word he spoke with deliberate clarity caused Jong-hee’s jaw to tighten.
Seung-hyun’s unwavering stance would surely boil her blood.
“Seung-hyun, why did you hide from the family that Yewon was raised by someone else?”
As expected, Jong-hee brought up the topic he had anticipated.
Seung-hyun couldn’t help but feel sorry for Jong-hee, who had fallen right into Mijin’s trap.
“That doesn’t necessarily make someone a parent, even if they’re related by blood or raised her.”
“What did you say?”
“If they were truly family, they’d celebrate my happiness with me.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Someone who pretends to bless me upfront but schemes behind my back—do you think that person is really family?”
Jong-hee froze like a statue.
That was exactly what Seung-hyun intended.
He hoped she would feel even a flicker of guilt.
“That’s the kind of person he was.”
“…What?”
“The uncle who raised Yewon—he was that kind of person.”
Even then, Jong-hee’s expression didn’t soften.
After all, she could easily interpret his words as being directed at herself.
“Don’t touch Yewon.”
Seung-hyun took a few steps closer to the sofa where Jong-hee sat.
“If you pull another stunt like last time and bother Yewon again, I won’t hesitate to become the worst son you’ve ever had.”
“You dare…!”
“I’ve made myself clear. If you plan to torment Yewon again, consider this the end of our relationship. You won’t see me anymore.”
Now that he had even more justification to protect Yewon, Seung-hyun couldn’t afford to stay passive like before.
Interest, affection, or love?
He still wasn’t sure about those feelings, but one thing was certain: Yewon was his.
Once was enough when it came to losing someone who belonged to him.
________________________________________
No Reply Came
Yewon stared glumly at her silent phone, cradling her warm cup of tea with both hands and pouting slightly.
“It would’ve been nice if he replied…”
The thought that they had grown a little closer emotionally seemed to be just her wishful thinking.
He knew how to send messages—so why hadn’t he responded?
Yewon sulked, flipping her phone over so she wouldn’t have to look at the screen.
“I wanted to go to the exhibition together today…”
Maybe she should have brought it up earlier.
If he hadn’t read the message, she wouldn’t have felt this disappointed.
But knowing he had read it and still didn’t reply made her feel worse.
She couldn’t bring herself to ask him out of the blue if he wanted to go to the exhibition today…
‘Besides, he’s probably busy. Asking him last minute isn’t ideal.’
Still, the disappointment lingered stubbornly.
Glancing at the clock, she realized she needed to get ready before it got too late.
She had bought two tickets, but it seemed she’d have to visit the exhibition alone today.
________________________________________
Thud.
Yewon stepped out of the taxi and walked down Insadong Street.
In the past, she used to visit Insadong occasionally to check out private art exhibitions or sip coffee at traditional Korean cafes.
After quitting painting, however, her visits to Insadong had stopped altogether.
‘It feels good to be back.’
Insadong remained unchanged, evoking nostalgia as if time had stood still.
Yet, the more she walked, the more a single thought consumed her mind.
‘It would’ve been so nice to come here with Seung-hyun.’
Lately, Samcheong-dong had become a popular date spot, beautifully curated for couples.
Of course, Seung-hyun was always busy, and even if he weren’t, he wasn’t the type to enjoy such places.
Still, Yewon resolved to visit Insadong more often and explore Samcheong-dong on her own.
As she walked further, a two-story gallery tucked away in an alley caught her eye.
A large banner hung outside, bearing the name she recognized.
She had found the right place.
Her heart fluttered at the sight of the artist’s name.
Visiting this exhibition so soon after deciding to return to painting felt like a good omen.
Perhaps she’d find inspiration here to create something wonderful herself.
Though her hands were still stiff from disuse, she hoped she’d regain her skills soon.
“Welcome.”
“Hello.”
Yewon greeted the staff at the entrance, handed over her ticket, and stepped inside the gallery.
The paintings lining the walls were bright and cheerful, lifting her spirits instantly.
Vivid colors caught her eye, filling her with the warmth of an early spring day.
‘This is amazing.’
Though she had tried to suppress it, her passion for art remained alive and well.
Lost in thought, she slowly moved from one painting to the next when a familiar voice called out.
“Miss Yewon?”
“Hmm?”
Turning her head, she saw Min-ho, the owner of the dessert shop.
They exchanged surprised looks before bursting into laughter.
“What brings you here?”
“To see the paintings. Do you like artist Lee Choong-Hyun too?”
“Yes.”
Yewon nodded, and Min-ho let out a small exclamation.
“Wow, seriously? Somehow, you give off the vibe of an art student. Do you paint too?”
“Not as a major—just as a hobby. I’m trying to start again now, though I’ve still got a long way to go.”
“Wow, I have absolutely no talent for painting—I just like looking at it. Yewon, suddenly you seem so cool!”
Min-ho clapped his hands together in admiration.
Meeting her at the bookstore had seemed plausible since it was close to the café, but running into her at an art gallery felt unexpected.
He had thought their shared preference for cake flavors was the extent of their similarities, but it turned out their taste in art aligned too.
Yewon looked at Min-ho with a sense of wonder.
And yet…
‘If only Seung-hyun and I could connect like this…’
Once again, her thoughts drifted back to him.
“Yewon, want to look around the exhibition together? Or would you rather go separately if it’s uncomfortable?”
“Let’s look together. It’s fine.”
Yewon and Min-ho walked side by side, exploring the exhibition together.
They exchanged opinions occasionally, making the visit surprisingly satisfying.
After some time…
“Yewon, have you had dinner yet?”
When they reached the exit of the exhibition, Min-ho asked.
After a brief moment of hesitation, Yewon decided she wanted to spend a little more time with someone who shared her interests—it was such a rare treat.
She realized she had been cooped up at home for far too long.
“No, not yet. If you’re okay with it, would you like to grab something to eat together?”
To her own surprise, Yewon had initiated the question effortlessly—a task that always felt so difficult when it came to Seung-hyun.
“What do you like to eat? I was actually going to suggest it myself.”
“Well, I like most things except chicken dishes.”
“You don’t like chicken? Not even fried chicken?”
“I don’t hate it, but I don’t actively seek it out.”
Min-ho furrowed his brow, shaking his head in disbelief.
“There’s nothing better than beer and fried chicken for stress relief! This is unheard of. Yewon, you suddenly seem so… lacking in humanity.”
“Does not liking chicken mean I lack humanity? You’re really funny, Min-ho.”
Yewon laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
“It’s Min-ho.”
“Huh?”
“My name isn’t ‘Boss’—it’s ‘Seo Min-ho.’ Since you’re not an employee at my dessert shop, it feels weird to keep calling me that. Plus, I’ve been addressing you by your first name, so it feels awkward.”
“Oh, you’re right.”
Though it felt strange to call him by his first name all of a sudden, she couldn’t argue since he had expressed discomfort with the formal title.
“How about some tteokbokki for dinner?”
“Wow! I love tteokbokki!”
It had been ages since she last indulged in the dish, and the thought brought back fond memories.
Yewon blushed slightly, realizing she might have sounded overly enthusiastic.
“If we walk a bit further toward Samcheong-dong, there’s a tteokbokki place that also sells perilla leaf tempura. Shall we go there?”
“Yes, sounds good.”
The two walked side by side, chatting comfortably.
This was her first time visiting Samcheong-dong, and while she wished she could explore it with Seung-hyun, she knew it wasn’t his kind of place.
Seung-hyun preferred upscale restaurants or wine bars over lively, bustling eateries.
“Min-ho, I was going to pay, but why did you insist?”
“You’ve been buying so many cakes from our shop—I wanted to return the favor somehow.”
“Still…”
“You said you’re not moving anytime soon, so come visit often, alright?”
“That’s a given.”
To her surprise, the dinner turned out to be far more enjoyable than she had anticipated.
As they continued their conversation about the exhibition, time flew by unnoticed.
When was the last time she had engaged in such lively conversation with someone?
By the end, she even felt a pang of regret that it was over. Her cheeks hurt from smiling and talking so much.
“Which way is your house? If it’s on the way, I’ll drop you off.”
But knowing it wasn’t necessary, Yewon waved her hands dismissively.
“I’ll take a taxi—it’s fine, really.”
“Still, it’s getting late. And since you’re married, exchanging numbers might be awkward. At least let me drop you off nearby so I can worry less.”
“Ah…”
Yewon hesitated, brushing her neck nervously.
“Just so you know, I have a girlfriend.”
“What? Oh, I didn’t misunderstand anything like that.”
Startled by the unexpected turn in the conversation, Yewon’s eyes widened.
“I just met someone with similar tastes and got a bit excited. Honestly, I’m a little sad this evening has to end. It’s rare for me to meet someone who appreciates Lee Choong-Hyun’s work as much as I do.”
“In that case… shall I drop you off along the way?”
Feeling similarly, Yewon eventually agreed to get into his car.
Learning that he had a girlfriend made her feel somewhat relieved.
Throughout the evening, there had been moments when she wondered if his lingering glances meant he was interested in her—but it seemed she had misinterpreted them.
‘Thank goodness.’
She felt a little embarrassed for overthinking things on her own when there was clearly no reason to.
________________________________________
A Glimpse of Longing
The moment Min-ho spotted Yewon gazing intently at the artwork at Lee Choong-Hyun’s exhibition, he felt as if time had frozen.
He had reluctantly given up on pursuing her because she was married, but discovering how perfectly their tastes aligned made his heart ache.
‘Why did she have to get married already?’
Every time he saw Yewon, a deep sense of regret washed over him.
Min-ho had never believed in love at first sight—until he met her.
Each time she walked into his shop, he felt as though he owned the entire world, filled with joy and happiness.
Even knowing she could never be his, he couldn’t help but feel that way.
“Um… you can drop me off over there.”
“Alright, I understand.”
Yewon pointed to the bus stop near her house.
She wanted him to safely drop her off at her doorstep, but that was her selfish desire. She didn’t want Seung-hyun to misunderstand and cause unnecessary conflict between them.
Min-ho’s car came to a smooth stop in front of the bus stop.
“I had so much fun today, Min-ho.”
“Me too.”
After Min-ho lied about having a girlfriend, Yewon seemed visibly more relaxed. Worried that his lingering glances might have betrayed his feelings, he had fabricated the lie to keep things under control.
Thankfully, she seemed comfortable afterward, which put him at ease.
“I’ll come by your shop soon to buy some cake.”
“Did you enjoy the cake you took home last time?”
“Yes, my husband liked it.”
He hadn’t expected such an answer…
Min-ho felt a pang of heartache but couldn’t say anything. If he let his emotions show even slightly, he might lose the chance to see Yewon ever again.
‘At least I can see her from afar.’
This was as close as he could get.
“Next time, bring your husband along to the café.”
“Sure, I will. Thank you for dropping me off. Take care.”
“You too, head inside safely.”
Yewon gave a slight bow before stepping out of the car.
Without looking back even once, she walked straight ahead.
Why did it feel so disappointing?
“Damn fool.”
After stepping out of the car, Min-ho’s gaze lingered on Yewon for a long while.
The joy he felt earlier now turned into a bitter ache in his chest.
________________________________________
“Is Mr. Seung-hyun here?”
“Yes.”
Yewon emerged from the bathroom, drying the moisture from her hair.
He had arrived not long ago—had she been just a little late, their paths would have crossed.
‘Thank goodness.’
Though she hadn’t done anything wrong, she didn’t want Seung-hyun to see her with another man.
Today, it had been hard to refuse Min-ho’s offer for a ride, but she resolved not to repeat such situations in the future.
“How are you feeling?”
“As you can see, I’m fine. Thank you for taking care of me yesterday.”
Though she had already thanked him via text, she thought saying it in person carried more weight.
“No matter how fine you say you are, stay home and rest today. Where did you go?”
“I went to an exhibition. A favorite artist of mine opened a solo show.”
“Oh.”
The conversation ended abruptly, leaving Yewon hesitant. She tried again.
“If you’re free next weekend, would you like to visit the exhibition together?”
“You’ve already been there.”
Seung-hyun frowned slightly, tilting his head.
“It’s someone I really admire—I’d visit multiple times if I could. The exhibition inspires me…”
“For now, I don’t have time. It’s better if you go alone.”
Without waiting for her response, Seung-hyun turned away.
The way he cut her off clearly showed how busy he really was.
She considered insisting, but something held her back.
It was yet another moment when she had to accept defeat.
Just yesterday, he had been so kind, and today he acted completely different.
Like the ebb and flow of tides, Seung-hyun remained an elusive mirage she couldn’t grasp.
“Mr. Seung-hyun… tonight, can we…?”
Perhaps it was sheer stubbornness.
In her restless state, Yewon impulsively blurted out the words, craving some form of closeness.
“What?”
Seung-hyun narrowed his eyes, staring at her.
“I want to.”
Taking a bold step forward, Yewon rose on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly on the lips.
Meeting his gaze, she said, “Hold me.”
Though she hadn’t touched a drop of alcohol, she felt intoxicated.
Still receiving no response, she added, “I want this.”
“…”
Where her lips had touched, his skin burned as though scorched by candle wax.
One more step closer, and he could pull her into his arms and do whatever he desired.
Standing at that distance, she taunted him without realizing it.
Seung-hyun couldn’t comprehend why Yewon was acting this way, especially after spending time with another man earlier.
“Sorry.”
His curt rejection made Yewon’s expression falter instantly. She even pulled back her hand, startled.
“I’m tired today. I didn’t sleep well because I was looking after you.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He hoped his plausible lie would make her feel guilty.
But deep down, he hated himself for resorting to such tactics.
Just one question—”Who was the man who dropped you off?”—would have sufficed.
“Go ahead and rest first. You must be tired.”
“What about you?”
“As you can see, I still have work to finish.”
When Seung-hyun showed her the documents in his hand, Yewon forced an awkward smile.
Being rejected left her feeling embarrassed, perhaps even humiliated.
“Well then, I’ll head in first.”
Without waiting for her reply, Seung-hyun turned away immediately.
There was no remaining work to do—truthfully, he also wanted to release the pent-up frustration that had built up throughout the day.
But moments ago, seeing Yewon step out of a familiar-looking car stirred unpleasant emotions within him.
Especially the sight of the man gazing longingly at her retreating figure fueled his anger.
‘What a grand display of love.’
The memory of that scene ignited a surge of emotions—anger, jealousy, or perhaps something else.
Seung-hyun chewed on his lip, exhaling sharply.
“Damn.”
He bit down hard on his molars, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
He wanted to rid himself of these irrational feelings, but they only sank deeper, like a heavy anchor dragging him down.
How foolish it was to succumb to such petty jealousy.
Nothing was going according to plan—it was truly a bizarre day.
________________________________________
“Fuck.”
Dong-joon slammed his cards onto the table and reached for a cigarette and lighter.
Tap tap.
After lighting the cigarette, he took a drag and exhaled slowly.
“Phew.”
With furrowed brows, he muttered bitterly under his breath.
“Where did all that money go?”
A few days ago, a woman claiming to represent Donghwa Group visited him, asking about Yewon.
After giving vague answers, she handed over a large sum of cash as thanks.
It was an astonishing amount.
He had planned to invest it all in card games to multiply his winnings.
But shockingly, within just a few days, every penny was gone.
It was as if the money had never existed in the first place.
“If only I hadn’t spent that last bit…”
Dong-joon still regretted it deeply.
‘If I’d had just five million won more, I wouldn’t have lost everything.’
He needed money.
In the past, Yewon would always send him funds whenever he played pitiful. But now that lifeline was severed, and he missed it more than ever.
‘It was quite convenient while it lasted.’
He had tread carefully, fearing she might report him to the chairman of a major corporation.
But judging by the Donghwa Group representative’s interest in Yewon, it seemed she wasn’t exactly welcomed there either.
Of course, that was to be expected.
‘Giving me this money was probably their way of begging me to confront her.’
With a sly smile, Dong-joon rummaged through his pocket, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper.
On it was written Yewon’s current address.
________________________________________
Seung-hyun didn’t return to the bedroom all night.
It wasn’t that she had waited for him intentionally.
Her illness had kept her lying down all day, making it hard to fall asleep at night.
“Maybe I said something unnecessary.”
Though her clumsy advance had failed, she didn’t think it was entirely wrong.
Yet tonight, the lonely bedroom felt especially miserable.
As usual, Seung-hyun left the house at 5 a.m.
Only after confirming his car had departed did Yewon finally leave the bedroom.
Each step she took was heavy with worry.
On top of everything, sleep eluded her tonight.
“Hmm.”
Standing in the middle of the living room, Yewon pondered what to do early in the morning.
Before meeting Seung-hyun after returning from the exhibition yesterday, she had so many ideas she wanted to paint.
But consumed by thoughts of him all night, her inspiration had dried up.
Still, holding a pencil might help clear her mind. With a warm cup of tea, Yewon headed to the second-floor studio.
“Sigh.”
Sitting in her chair, staring at the vast, blank canvas, it eerily resembled Seung-hyun’s back.
She wanted both her art and Seung-hyun by her side, but nothing went as planned.
Bringing the teacup to her lips, Yewon took a careful sip.
Holding a pencil in her hand, she took a deep breath and drew a smooth line across the canvas.
“Ah, my shoulder hurts.”
After sitting motionless for hours, focusing intently on her work, Yewon massaged her sore shoulder.
It had been too long since she last held a pencil.
What used to be effortless now caused strain.
By now, a rough sketch of a man’s back had appeared on the canvas.
The moment she sat down, the image of Seung-hyun’s back had come to mind, and she began drawing it instinctively.
She had considered painting his face to give it to him as a gift but lacked the confidence, settling instead for this compromise.
Surprisingly, it turned out better than expected, easing her worries.
After stretching her shoulders, wrists, and arms, she prepared to resume work.
Riiing , her phone vibrated.
“Ah.”
Another unknown number.
Though her gut feeling warned her, if it were Dong-joon, he wouldn’t stop calling until she answered.
Changing her number seemed like the best option soon.
Biting her lip, Yewon pressed the call button and brought the phone to her ear.
“…”
• Yewon, it’s me.
Silence greeted her until Dong-joon finally spoke.
As expected, it was him.
His voice alone sent her carefully managed emotions spiraling downward again.
“Why are you calling me again? I clearly said I’d report you to the police…”
• I’m outside your house. Come out so we can talk.
“What…?”
Yewon felt as though she’d been struck hard at the back of her head.
How had Dong-joon discovered her address?
• Your address is…
Dong-joon recited her address flawlessly, followed by a low, sinister chuckle that grated on her nerves.
• Is this correct? If you don’t want me to meet your husband, come out quickly. Or, since I’m already here, I might as well take a look inside.
There was no escape.
Unable to predict Seung-hyun’s return, Yewon knew she had to act fast.
Her throat dried up at the thought of the unwelcome guest.
“There’s a café you’ll see if you head toward the main road. Wait there. I’ll be out soon.”
• Always such a pain. Fine, I’ll wait.
Dong-joon hung up without another word.
She had hoped never to see him again…
But fate had twisted things once more.
Yewon hurried out of the house.
Google Sites
Report abuse