WWBU - Extra 1

The sun was already setting. Even then, Hyun-soo sat blankly in the parked car.

[Go in now]

Hyun-soo, who had sent a text reply to the continuous messages, dropped her limp hand. Her face, leaning against the seat, was reflected in the rearview mirror. It was a truly exhausted face.

“......I should go in. I have to.”

The murmured words echoed in her ears. It was a voice that sounded like a lie even to herself, completely lacking any will. But what could she do? She couldn’t keep avoiding it.

Hyun-soo, who had rubbed her face dry, finally got out of the car. The air, which had quickly turned cool after the sun went down, clung to her neck and face. The black mourning skirt fluttered in the blowing wind.

“Hey! Where have you been now?”

It was a piercingly sharp tone. Hyun-soo, who had been walking unsteadily as if floating on water, had no choice but to lift her gaze. A small woman appeared and stood before her. She didn’t remember her face properly, but she had said she was a distant relative of Hyun-soo.

“I just went to clear my head for a bit.”

“You have it easy. Your parents died, and you don’t care at all, do you?”

Her throat tightened at the unreasonable, accusatory tone. She didn’t want to say anything.

“Is your husband the only one who needs to stand in the chief mourner’s place?”

“It’s not like that...”

“Behave yourself, properly. Don’t forget that many eyes are watching you.”

The woman’s glaring eyes were full of emotion. It was a burning ‘disgust’ that couldn’t be ignored.

Hyun-soo was sick of the gazes people had been giving her all her life, which hadn’t changed. When would she be able to shake off the label of ‘the girl who devoured her own mother’?

“People say you mature when you die, but you should mature a bit, you.”

Tsk, the woman clicked her tongue and deliberately bumped Hyun-soo’s shoulder as she went on her way. The innocent Hyun-soo was inadvertently pushed and staggered.

After briefly looking back at the woman’s retreating figure, Hyun-soo started walking again. As it was a large funeral hall, there were many mourners coming and going, and she could quickly blend into the crowd.

How much time had passed then?

Rrrrr. Rrrrrr......

Just as Hyun-soo was almost reaching the elevator, her phone suddenly rang. Thinking it was probably another relative urging her on, Hyun-soo paused when she saw the name on the screen. The caller was none other than her older sister, Kim Hyun-seo.

“Hello.”

-It’s damn hard to get a hold of you.

“Where are you?”

-Where else, shit. The funeral hall.

The funeral hall? She hadn’t been able to contact her since yesterday, so she hadn’t even told her about their father’s death. But now she was here.

Hyun-soo looked around as if her sister was nearby.

-That bastard Yoon Guk sent people to bring me here? It’s so damn annoying, that psycho.

Hyun-soo, who had been about to ask what was going on, closed her mouth. She didn’t need a detailed explanation to know what the situation was.

“So, you’re saying I shouldn’t have contacted you, Sister?”

-What are you saying? Who said that? Our dad died, of course you should have contacted me, you idiot.

Exactly. Was it normal for her sister to be complaining in such an obvious situation where she had to be contacted? The desire to say that rose to Hyun-soo’s throat. But she swallowed it down, knowing that if she said it, there would be a fight, regardless of their father’s funeral.

-Whatever. Where are you?

“Why?”

-I’m on the first floor, come down. The opposite side of the lounge.

Hyun-soo took a deep breath and bit her lip. Honestly, she had no desire to meet Hyun-seo separately.

“Just come up. I left my spot empty for too long, I need to go back.”

-Hey.

“Yoon Guk is still greeting the mourners alone. It’s our turn now.”

Hyun-soo heard a laugh from the other end of the line. It was a laugh that sounded annoyed to anyone who heard it.

-You’re still the same, huh.

“......”

-Don’t act like you’re the only one who’s thoughtful, you bitch. Come here nicely before I come up and drag you down. I have something to say.

“I’m not...”

Click, the phone hung up before she could finish her sentence.

“......Crazy.”

This time, a curse word escaped Hyun-soo’s lips. What on earth did Kim Hyun-seo believe in to act so arbitrarily? Hyun-soo couldn’t understand her at all. But what was even more incomprehensible was...

[I’ll be up in 5 minutes, please hold on a bit more]

It was herself who always ended up being dragged around by Hyun-seo.

In the end, Hyun-soo texted Guk and turned around in front of the arrived elevator.

“Exactly where is it?”

Hyun-soo, who had called back, asked for the meeting place again. Her back, as she headed towards her destination while listening to the other person’s voice, looked particularly exhausted.

“Did you get plastic surgery?”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

Three years had passed since she returned to Seoul for her son Wan’s surgery. They had seen each other once in the first year after her return and had been distant since then, so it had been almost three years since their last meeting. But the first thing she said after all these years was this.

“No, it’s just that your face looks so much better. I thought you might have gotten some work done.”

Hyun-seo, who had taken a deep drag from her cigarette, laughed. Hyun-soo, who had been quietly watching her face, let out a long breath.

“You haven’t changed, Sister.”

“Is there a barb in your words?”

It was a secluded spot on the opposite side of the first-floor lounge of the building. The two of them stood facing each other at the end of the hallway, with the door open. Suddenly, it started raining outside. The sound of rain and the scent of wet earth mixed and came in through the open door.

“What do you want to say?”

Hyun-soo, not wanting to waste any more time, spoke first. Hyun-seo, exhaling smoke from her lips, stared intently at her.

“Your husband, Yoon Guk. He still seems head over heels for you.”

Then she said something else completely out of the blue. Hyun-soo, who had been wondering if she would bring up their deceased father or the funeral, laughed in disbelief.

“Why are you grinning?”

“What’s your point? Go on. I’m listening.”

“I’ll tell you, so don’t nag, you little brat.”

Hyun-seo threw her cigarette butt into a puddle of rainwater and turned around. Her face, still beautiful but somewhat rough, looked a little unfamiliar.

“Talk to Yoon Guk nicely and tell him to help me out.”

“What?”

“With my skills and looks, do I have to be stuck in a neighborhood art academy making peanuts?”

“If that’s your job, then of course.”

“What the hell are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

Hyun-seo, instantly agitated, leaned in close to Hyun-soo, her face inches away. Yet, Hyun-soo remained silent, her expression unchanged.

“How much is my career worth that I have to live like this?”

“......”

“Stop the small talk and tell Yoon Guk to get me another job. No, forget it, there’s that joint project with Kyungil Company this time, right? Get me in there.”

“......”

“Why aren’t you answering? Did you understand or not?”

“Why should I do that? If you want a favor, ask him yourself.”

“You crazy bitch. That bastard won’t even talk to me directly. He always contacts me through other people, what am I supposed to say? Are you making fun of me right now?”

She could understand her sister’s feelings and situation. Hyun-soo, not asking any further questions, turned around to leave. She felt there was no need to listen anymore. But Hyun-seo wasn’t one to just let her go like that.

Thwack, Hyun-seo grabbed Hyun-soo’s arm hard and glared at her.

“Where do you think you’re going! Answer me!”

“I thought again...”

“What?”

Hyun-soo, who had turned back, sighed visibly.

“Since you said you had something to say, I thought it would be about Dad. I don’t know, but you were his favorite, weren’t you?”

“So what if I was?”

“I came thinking you might be in shock from Dad’s passing... but that wasn’t it either. I feel like I just wasted my time.”

Hyun-seo frowned at Hyun-soo’s calm words. The series of actions of taking out another cigarette and putting it in her mouth was quick and efficient.

“What about you then?”

Hyun-seo, who had quickly lit her cigarette, took a drag and retorted.

“What about you? Are you so damn sad because your parents died? No, your face doesn’t look like anything’s wrong either?”

“Think whatever you want.”

“It’s the truth, so you have nothing to say, right? Stop the bullshit and tell that prickly bastard about me...”

It was when she was listening to the ridiculous nonsense. Suddenly, a familiar presence was felt beside her. Turning around, her son Wan was walking towards her. It seemed the aunt who had been taking care of Wan during the funeral had brought him.

“Wan-ah. How did you get here? Did you come because you missed Mommy?”

Hyun-soo smiled faintly, bent down, and greeted Wan. The approaching child also smiled and hugged Hyun-soo. Hyun-seo snorted as if she was dumbfounded at the sight of the two of them.

“You should be playing with your aunt.”

“Mommy.”

“Yeah?”

Wan, who had pulled away from Hyun-soo, looked up at Hyun-seo. He seemed curious about the stranger he was seeing for the first time.

Suddenly, Hyun-soo made a sound of realization and then closed her mouth. She could simply introduce her as his aunt, but for some reason, the words wouldn’t come out. She hoped the two of them wouldn’t get involved with each other if possible.

But whether he understood her feelings or not, the bright Wan didn’t seem to intend to suppress his curiosity. The child, who had let go of Hyun-soo, tugged at Hyun-seo’s clothes.

“What? Go away.”

Hyun-seo, startled by the sudden contact, pushed the child away coldly. Her frowning face was a mixture of awkwardness and annoyance.

Pushed away, Wan looked up at Hyun-seo blankly, confused. Then, his expression twisted as if he was about to cry.

“Hey. Don’t whine and go to your dad.”

Whether he did or not, Hyun-seo still looked down at Wan with the same expression, as if facing something she detested. At her cold behavior, Hyun-soo glared at her.

“Don’t.”

“What?”

“I said don’t touch him.”

Hyun-soo, who had straightened up, approached Hyun-seo. The two women’s gazes clashed intensely.

“Ah, I see. He’s the precious grandson of a big conglomerate, so you can’t even touch him carelessly, is that it?”

“Don’t be sarcastic.”

“You’re so great, you bitch. Wow, you’re such an important person!”

Hyun-seo immediately laughed and looked down at Wan, saying this. The dumbfounded Hyun-soo rubbed her dry face. In the meantime, the frightened Wan burst into tears.

“Ugh, so noisy.”

Hyun-soo quickly picked up Wan and soothed him. Wan wrapped his arms around Hyun-soo’s neck and hugged her tightly.

“Put out your cigarette.”

“What did you say?”

“I said put out your cigarette.”

“What?”

“There’s a child here. Get rid of it.”