WWBU - 62

Hyun-soo cried without even knowing why she was crying. Was it out of guilt over her mother’s past feelings toward Guk? Or was it the injustice of having to carry a wound that would never heal, no matter how much time passed? No, perhaps it wasn’t either of those things. Maybe it was just plain sympathy.

“Alright. Let’s do it. Let’s get married.”

Guk whispered the words and reached up to wipe away Hyun-soo’s tears. She nodded, biting her trembling lips as she struggled to swallow back her sobs, which escaped in soft hiccups.

There was no sweet kiss to confirm their love, no comforting embrace. After gently wiping her tears and stroking her cheek a few times, Guk simply left the room with a brief word. As his shadow disappeared from the wall, the small room suddenly felt emptier than before.

By now, Hyun-soo’s eyes were swollen. Dragging her feet, she collapsed onto the bed. The expensive mattress cradled her body, but for some reason, her mood remained heavy.

Marriage. Marriage? And with Yoon Guk, no less. Not to mention, she had been the one to propose.

The image of Guk looking at her through tightly shut eyes lingered in her mind. Thoughts of him wouldn’t stop swirling around.

Ping. Ping.

In the middle of her chaotic thoughts, her phone rang. Hyun-soo fumbled through her pockets and pulled out her phone. On the screen was an unfamiliar number instead of a saved contact.

“Who could this be?”

She double-checked the number, but it was completely unfamiliar. It seemed like a wrong number. Silencing the call, she placed the phone on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. As the room fell silent, thoughts of Guk flooded back like waves.

Ping. Ping. Ping-ping.

But the ringing started again, cutting off any chance for deeper reflection. It was already close to midnight—such a late hour for a call. Who could it be?

The call persisted longer than she expected, even redialing after being disconnected. At this point, there were only two possibilities: either the caller had severely mistaken the number, or they genuinely needed to speak with Hyun-soo.

Either way, answering the call was the only way to resolve it. If it was the former, she’d clarify the mistake; if it was the latter, she’d hear them out.

Though something about it felt unsettling, Hyun-soo pressed the call button.

“Hello?”

-...

“Hello? Can you speak?”

-Hyun-soo.

Just one word.

-Kim Hyun-soo.

That single syllable nearly made her bite her tongue.

Tears welled up uncontrollably, and her throat tightened. Trembling, she gripped the phone with both hands.

“Dad?”

Even after ten years, it was a voice she could never forget.

-Are you doing well?

When Hyun-soo couldn’t form a coherent response, her father continued on the other end.

“Uh, how… what happened…”

-I missed you.

“What do you mean, Dad? What happened?”

After a long sigh, her father, Hyun-sung, finally spoke.

-I didn’t want to burden you kids. I’m sorry.

Hyun-soo’s words caught in her throat. Did he abandon his children, still in high school, just because he didn’t want to burden them? Was that really the best choice? Her thoughts boiled with anger, but she swallowed them down, thinking it wasn’t the right time.

“Are you sick? Are you okay?”

-Well, I’m not young anymore. But nothing’s broken, so don’t worry.

Hyun-soo sat up and pressed her warm forehead with her palm. A sudden headache washed over her. Amidst the chaos, she felt a strange sense of relief, though it made her feel shallow.

“Did you contact Eun-seo? She’s probably waiting for you just as much as I am.”

-Of course, I contacted her first. She cried a lot.

The phrase “of course, I contacted her first” stung. Even after ten years, some things hadn’t changed—not just his voice, but also his priorities.

“Where have you been staying?”

-I’ve been relying on a friend’s house.

“Where is that?”

-No need for you to know. I’ll come to where you are. Just send me your address.

“Add... ress?”

-I heard from Eun-seo that you’re living with some rich family, taking care of their student.

She almost let out a bitter laugh. But it wasn’t entirely inaccurate. After all, she was living in this grand mansion, and Han was technically a college student.

However, there was one thing Eun-seo hadn’t mentioned to Hyun-sung: that she was living in Yoon Guk’s house. Instinctively realizing she shouldn’t reveal this fact, Hyun-soo quickly made up an excuse.

“The lady of the house is very picky and difficult to deal with.”

-So?

“I’m saying I can’t receive visitors here. Let’s meet somewhere else. I’ll choose the place. When are you free?”

For a moment, there was silence on the other end. Then came a faint cough, suggesting her father wasn’t pleased.

What if he hangs up? After ten years, will I leave without seeing him again forever? Unconsciously, Hyun-soo began biting her nails, anxiety creeping in.

-I’m busy tomorrow. How about the day after?

“Yes, that works. I’ll text you the location to this number.”

Finally hearing his response, Hyun-soo sighed in relief. She had been worried he might cut ties again after testing the waters.

-Let’s meet then.

“Yes. Please, please make sure to come.”

-Okay. I’ll keep my promise. Goodnight.

“Yes.”

The call ended. There was no lingering regret or reluctance. It had been ten years, after all—or maybe it was precisely because it had been ten years. Was it because it felt so unfamiliar? Either way, her heart clenched at the mere sound of her father’s voice.

How had Eun-seo felt? Hyun-soo shook off the thought before it spiraled into comparisons. Such thoughts always left wounds without offering any real help.

Falling flat on her back, Hyun-soo couldn’t shake the surreal feeling of the call. To confirm it was real, she checked her phone’s call history. The record was there—it hadn’t been a dream.

Her heart raced. Hyun-soo tried to calm herself by rubbing her chest. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what this subtle emotion was, but she decided to view it positively.

Where would be a good meeting spot? Rolling over onto her stomach, Hyun-soo turned on her phone and began searching for places. Her eyes darted across the screen as her fingers scrolled through suggestions.

That night, Hyun-soo stayed awake until dawn.

Despite spending the entire night searching for a place, it all became pointless when Hyun-sung sent a text the next day. In it was a single line: “Come here,” followed by the name of a café. A quick search revealed it was near Eun-seo’s studio. She sighed. She understood why the meeting place had been chosen.

Café Valerie .

Arriving earlier than the agreed time, Hyun-soo’s gaze wandered outside the window—to the pedestrians hurrying along the street. Everyone seemed to walk briskly under the shade of the lush roadside trees.

There were still 15 minutes until 3 p.m., the agreed time. After checking her phone, Hyun-soo picked up the glass sitting idly on the table. Watching the hot outdoors made her thirsty, so she gulped down the drink.

Halfway through her iced tea, only the ice cubes of varying shapes and sizes remained in the glass. Shaking off the cold moisture from her hand, Hyun-soo exhaled softly. Strangely, she felt tense. Why was she so stiff when this wasn’t even a blind date?

Pushing her hair behind her ear, Hyun-soo pulled out a pen from her bag. Grabbing a tissue, she began doodling aimlessly. Killing time and easing her nerves—both were transparent attempts at distraction.

By the time she had accumulated a pile of crumpled tissues, Hyun-soo stopped.

“…”

She noticed the tips of shoes standing in front of her, visible beneath the glass table.

“Kim Hyun-soo, you came early.”

Before Hyun-soo could even look up, someone plopped down across from her. It was none other than Eun-seo.

“Dad, sit down.”

“Yes, let’s sit.”

Hearing her father’s voice in person, not just over the phone, made it impossible for Hyun-soo to stay calm. Slowly lifting her head, she met the faces of the people sitting across from her.

“…Dad.”

“It’s been a while, Hyun-soo.”

As if predicting her reaction, Hyun-soo burst into tears the moment she saw her father’s face. Without missing a beat, Hyun-sung handed her a tissue.

“You always overreact.”

Eun-seo sighed, gathering her hair and tossing it behind her back. “It’s been a long time. Plus, Hyun-soo is our youngest.”

She spoke as if dismissing it as mere childishness. But it wasn’t just that.

Would any child remain calm upon meeting parents who had vanished without a trace? Could anyone hold back tears? Ask anyone on the street, and they’d give the same answer: No. Hyun-soo was no different. Tears were her answer—a mixture of joy, longing, and the bitterness born of too much love.

While Hyun-soo composed herself, the two ordered drinks. Not long after, the vibrating pager buzzed. Checking her phone, Eun-seo tossed the pager toward Hyun-soo, who had just wiped her tears.

“What?”

“What do you mean, ‘what’? Your order’s ready. Go get it.”