56. Can you call me Joo Se-hee?

Kang-joon slowly approached, as if seeking permission for a kiss. Tae-ryeong could have easily avoided him, but she deliberately didn’t. His black eyes, looking deep into hers, were like the only light illuminating a vast ocean. Her chest was full, suffused with that light, making it impossible to avert her gaze or move. As she slowly closed her trembling eyelids, the light vanished. Instead, warm lips softly met hers. Countless lights blurred past her closed eyelids. Even Tae-ryeong’s faint, intermittent breaths were deeply drawn in. As the kiss deepened, her body, held captive in his firm embrace, felt like it was melting. It was just a kiss, and his hands were chastely caressing only her small face. Had he said she was good at it? That she held his heart in her hands, lifting it up and bringing it down. But he was good at it too. Melting her heart and stirring her emotions at will. She felt she would miss him terribly after she left and might never forget him for the rest of her life—Seo Kang-joon.

A sense of regret washed over her as their lips softly parted. Caught in a languid yet surreal sensation, Tae-ryeong kept her eyes closed and offered her face.

“Hmph.”

Kang-joon blew a warm breath over her trembling eyelids. It felt like a signal to open her eyes, so Tae-ryeong slowly did. His dark eyes, now radiating warmth, gazed at her playfully.

“We should watch the movie.”

His slow voice was full of laughter. She felt a little dumbfounded and bewildered. If he was going to do that, he shouldn’t have kissed her in the first place.

“I thought you might blame me later for not being able to properly watch the movie.”

Tae-ryeong’s blurry eyes sharpened, and her gaze turned a little sharp. Only then, realizing something was off, Kang-joon subtly asked her opinion again.

“If you’re disappointed, should we do more?”

“What kind of man asks that?” And what kind of woman would say yes? So, Tae-ryeong said nothing and moved out of his embrace. She felt a little wronged and embarrassed that her true feelings had been exposed. That she had told him not to, but then gotten drawn in and clung to him like she was possessed. That she had glared at him resentfully for stopping. Tae-ryeong sat upright, looking straight ahead, when a large hand reached out. He slyly wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her back into his embrace. She tried to push him away with her small hands, telling him not to, but it was no use. When she glared at him, Kang-joon smiled subtly with his eyes, the corners of his lips turning up.

“I won’t do anything, just watch the movie while nestled in my arms.”

“It’s uncomfortable to watch it while being held.”

“I’m hurt that you’re treating me like an object.”

When Tae-ryeong looked at him, as if asking what he meant, Kang-joon said, “When you sleep, you cling to me so persistently, but now you push me away because you don’t need me.”

He looked genuinely hurt, and in the end, Tae-ryeong laughed. And so, Tae-ryeong began watching the movie, nestled in Kang-joon’s arms. And for the first time, Kang-joon broke his promise. He had said he wouldn’t do anything, but affectionate gestures continued throughout the movie. Light kisses on her cheek and head, whispers in her ear, holding and fiddling with her hand. Sometimes, when his hand crossed the line too much, he even got a smack on the back of his hand. As the movie reached its climax, his hand, which hadn’t been still for a moment, became gentle. And over the voices of the movie’s protagonists that resonated in their eardrums, a quiet breathing could be heard. Just in case, she gently lifted her head and saw Kang-joon sleeping peacefully.

“If you were going to be this tired, why did you ask to see the movie?”

Tae-ryeong’s gaze, as she whispered to herself and looked at her husband, was infinitely gentle.

“You could have just ignored what I said without thinking.”

She had casually seen a movie advertisement and unconsciously mumbled that she was curious about the ending. The story was similar to her own situation. After that, Tae-ryeong had completely forgotten about it. But she hadn’t known that Kang-joon would remember and care about it. For every little thing she did, he was paying attention with all his senses, as if desperate to do good for her. As Tae-ryeong burrowed into his embrace again, Kang-joon held her tightly, even in his sleep. Feeling the intense heartbeat of the man she loved, Tae-ryeong focused on the movie until it ended.

________________________________________

In the car on the way home, Kang-joon spoke to Tae-ryeong, who was silently staring out the window.

“You’re not mad that I fell asleep, are you?”

Only then did Tae-ryeong look at Kang-joon with a calm gaze.

“Do I look mad?”

“You’ve been quiet.”

“Oh, I was just thinking about the movie.”

Then Kang-joon asked, as if curious, “What was it about?”

“It’s a melodrama, a messy movie. It’s a good thing you fell asleep, Kang-joon. It’s the kind of story men would hate.”

“Tell me anyway, let me hear it.”

“If you’re curious, you can watch the movie later, Kang-joon.”

“Unless you say you want to watch it again with me, there’s no way I’d ever watch it alone.”

Tae-ryeong knew that too. From Seoul to Busan to Jeju. Sometimes Korea, sometimes Indonesia, sometimes Germany. Seo Kang-joon was a man who used his time meticulously, down to the minute. Such a busy man, even if he had ten bodies, was now blinded by love. He was centering his precious time around his wife. “Such a man, you truly wouldn’t watch this movie if it weren’t for me.”

“There were identical twin sisters abandoned in an orphanage. They looked alike but had very different personalities. The quiet younger sister was supposed to be adopted by a wealthy family, but the clever older sister cut in line. The remaining younger sister was later taken by her mother, who regretted abandoning her child and came back to the orphanage.”

Tae-ryeong continued her explanation with a calm expression and a flat, businesslike voice, as if giving a general review of the movie. Afterward, the younger sister and her mother lived in extreme poverty. The twin sister adopted by the wealthy family grew up to be a cultured lady, fell in love with the eldest son of a mid-sized company, and became known as a madam.

“The twin sister had several abortions and found it difficult to get pregnant. Her husband was the eldest son, and she was anxious that she would lose everything if she couldn’t have a child. So, she persuaded her husband and came up with an absurd plan. She thought of her impoverished twin sister.”

Tae-ryeong paused for a moment and stared at her husband, who was driving, as if asking, “Shall I continue?”

“Interesting, keep going.”

“The younger sister couldn’t refuse her older sister’s words. She was terribly poor, and her mother was suffering from a chronic illness, so she desperately needed money.”

Despite her calm expression, Tae-ryeong felt bitter inside. “What was that money worth that they could do such dirty things so casually?”

“As always in movies, there’s a twist. The younger sister fell in love at first sight with a kind and handsome chaebol man who suddenly appeared in the countryside. Even though the man knew she was his wife’s sister, he also gave her his heart.”

“Neither of them has a conscience.”

Kang-joon said calmly.

“When the younger sister, who at least felt some guilt, said she couldn’t do it, the man enticed her. With common lines like ‘I love you,’ and ‘You’re the only one.’ As if love puts food on the table.”

Tae-ryeong thought that she wasn’t feeling particularly bad or depressed right now. That’s why she could speak so calmly with such a peaceful expression.

“The twin sister, who found out about their relationship, involved the family elders and turned everything upside down. Even though she was the one who suggested it first, when her husband changed his mind, she used that as a weakness to make a big fuss and took a good sum from her husband’s family. The next part is even more messed up, want to guess?”

“Did both twin sisters get pregnant at the same time?”

“The older sister got pregnant first, and the younger sister later. Of course, the older sister told her younger sister to get rid of the baby. Saying she wouldn’t give her a single penny if she didn’t.”

Only then did Kang-joon subtly frown and mutter, “That’s really messed up.”

“Under her older sister’s threats and harassment, the younger sister secretly ran away. She found a private facility that helped single mothers and went there. But the younger sister died giving birth, and the surviving baby was left as a burden to her poor maternal grandmother. The twin sister gave birth to a daughter and managed to live with her pathetic husband.”

“…”

“I don’t like the ending; it’s too ambiguous. I don’t even know who the villain is.”

Just then, the car stopped at a red light.

“Who do you think the villain is?”

At his low voice, Tae-ryeong slowly turned her head. Kang-joon was staring at her with eyes devoid of humor. Without avoiding his gaze, Tae-ryeong answered calmly, “Everyone. Because everyone is dirty and impure.”

The older sister who, far from helping her struggling younger sister, tried to use her as a surrogate. The naive younger sister who loved her brother-in-law and even had his child, no matter that it was for money. The irresponsible man who couldn’t find his center between the two women. Just then, Kang-joon gently leaned his upper body towards her. His warm hand softly caressed her pale cheek as he whispered, “Tell me. Then, what was the ending my wife wanted?”

The ending I wanted. She had never once thought about it until now, but the answer came easily.

“…A sad ending where everyone dies.”

If that had happened, the dirty and impure child wouldn’t have been born either.

________________________________________

________________________________________

Tae-ryeong must have been tired, as she had fallen asleep. When the car stopped at a red light, Kang-joon took off his jacket and covered his wife with it. Then, he suddenly remembered what his wife’s secretary had said.

“The CEO is a bit sensitive. No matter how tired she is, I’ve never seen her asleep.”

His wife, who insisted on sleeping only at home, had comfortably fallen asleep in his car. Kang-joon found that strangely pleasing. It was as if she trusted and relied on him. However, his wife’s earlier behavior complicated Kang-joon’s thoughts. The way she had dryly recounted the movie’s plot. Yet, Kang-joon could clearly feel the emotions flickering within his wife: anger, sadness, resentment, and finally, numbness. It was one of the magics that the emotion of love had cast upon Kang-joon. To look at the woman he loved not with his eyes but with his heart, and to feel her not with his sight but with his senses. His wife was overly empathizing with the movie. Why on earth? He thought he was coping well, but now he was unbearably curious. What was she enduring with this small, fragile body, what secrets was she holding, what was she thinking?

As they arrived at the parking lot, his wife’s long, heavy eyelashes fluttered. Under her half-lifted thin eyelids, her soft eyes, which drove Kang-joon crazy, were revealed.

“Kang-joon, you drive so smoothly that I must have dozed off.”

She mumbled an excuse, seemingly embarrassed to have fallen asleep, and her gentle smile was lovely. Resisting the urge to crush her in an embrace, Kang-joon went into the house with Tae-ryeong. But before going upstairs to the second floor, Tae-ryeong suddenly approached him. She came very close and looked up at him as if wishing for something, and Kang-joon naturally lowered his face. But Tae-ryeong’s small hand covered his lips. He thought she wanted a kiss, but no.

“You said you’d restrain yourself from now on.”

“I never said I’d restrain myself at home.”

Tae-ryeong chuckled softly and told Kang-joon with sparkling eyes, “I have a request.”

“…”

“From now on, when we’re alone, will you call me Joo Se-hee?”

It was his wife’s real name, the one he had wanted to call so badly. But why wasn’t he happy? The word “request” also bothered him. Why was she requesting that? What on earth was she thinking? At Kang-joon’s silence, Tae-ryeong spoke softly once more.

“I’d like it if you called me by my name.”

“…”

“It sounded really good.”

Only when Kang-joon reluctantly nodded did Tae-ryeong smile widely.

“Thank you, Kang-joon.”

After Tae-ryeong went upstairs, Kang-joon sat on the sofa, deep in thought. Something was strange, very strange. His wife’s subtle changes, her sudden request, that word “thank you,” her wide smile. It was as if they were pointing to something invisible. It was the name his wife had sweetly whispered in his ear, yet which Kang-joon had refused to utter. But suddenly, why now?

“…Joo Se-hee.”

The name, slowly rolled on his tongue, was sweet and lovely. He slowly closed his eyes and systematically recalled his wife’s changes in his mind. To find the secret hidden within. Saying “I love you,” being honest with her emotions. Saying everything he did was good, laughing, embracing him. Now, even allowing him to call her by her name. Acting generously, as if she were about to say a final goodbye. His rapidly working brain suddenly stopped at one point.

“Haa.”

A bitter sigh escaped his lips, sweeping deep into his lungs. His sharp instincts whispered. “My wife is wearing the clothes of the fairy Joo Se-hee and is about to fly away from me.” Kang-joon called the private investigator who had been looking into Alicia.

“Model Kim Jin-woo, the popular celebrity these days. Dig into the people around him and find a name.”

Joo Se-hee and Kim Jin-woo. They were definitely acquainted, and from a very long time ago.

“Yes, sir.”

Kang-joon’s gaze turned towards the second floor. Of course, it might be a needless worry. But he had to prepare.

“…Joo Se-hee.”

“So that when you finally try to leave me and fly away, I can snatch you back into my arms.”