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“Haejoo...”
He had found Haejoo. Dojun comforted himself, knowing that she was safe. Haejoo reached his chest. Still not enough, Dojun wrapped his arms around her, embracing her. Her small frame writhed in his arms. Soon, tears of sorrow soaked his shirt.
“Why did you bear it all alone until now?”
Who could have known that the situation would turn out like this in just one day? He had blamed himself, wondering if the things he did, supposedly for Haejoo, might turn out to be a blade returning to strike him. But nothing was over yet. For Dojun, this was just the beginning. As the light in the hallway dimmed, he entered the room.
“Dojun, I missed you.”
“You shouldn’t have endured it alone. From now on, never... never do that again.”
Just this morning, Haejoo had believed Dojun had deceived her. But he hadn’t deceived her. Perhaps it was fate’s prank, but he had simply learned about their marriage status a little earlier. Now it was time to reveal the untold story.
“I know it’s chaotic, but listen carefully to what I’m about to say.”
Dojun confessed the anxiety and worry he felt after learning that Haejoo was staying in the accommodation provided by Jinhan. He wasn’t sure if Haejoo, still psychologically unstable, could handle the fact of her marriage, which she didn’t even know about, while becoming an actress. Furthermore, after Gyeong-ae and Yura disappeared, leaving debts everywhere, creditors, including Song Youngsook, were desperate to find Haejoo. Then, through an illegal errand service, they found out that Dojun was married to Haejoo and confronted him without hesitation.
‘Dojun, are you living with Haejoo? Where is Haejoo now?’
That day was the first time Haejoo was to make her public appearance as an actress after filming a movie. Dojun earnestly pleaded with Song Youngsook, who was about to rush after her. He asked her to wait just a little longer.
‘I can’t just wait indefinitely. One year, precisely. Resolve it within that time.’
As the one year Song Youngsook had set was nearing its end, Dojun, through an absurd method, revealed the truth to Haejoo. If not for that, the two of them wouldn’t have met like this. Haejoo, who had listened to Dojun’s story until the end, quickly welled up with tears. Her head, heavy with the unexpected circumstances, drooped downwards.
“I suspected you, Dojun.”
“It’s okay. Of course, you would.”
He was still embracing Haejoo. Only then did he lower his head and press his lips to her cold ear.
“What do I do now? I’m scared.”
In a corner of Haejoo’s heart, after leaving home, was a dream she hadn’t yet fulfilled: becoming an actress. As a child, Haejoo played the lead role in a play at a big kindergarten event. Though she was hesitant due to her introverted nature, Haejoo became a completely different person when she stepped onto the stage. Her father wanted to nurture his daughter’s talent. But one dawn, before an audition, her father suddenly passed away. Just as she was about to give up everything, she met Jinhan and was able to fulfill her dream of becoming an an actress. Haejoo, who had been struggling to hide, feared nothing. Until the fact of her marriage to Dojun became known, that is.
The marriage, which she thought was a shackles from the past, ironically made Haejoo confront the past she hadn’t been able to resolve. She opened her heart to Dojun, but the outcome flowed in an unexpected direction.
“You can start all over again.”
The despair that she could never be an actress again tormented Haejoo. As if mocking her, Dojun remained firm. He pressed his lips to Haejoo’s wet cheek. Slowly, he moved to gently rub her swollen lips.
“I’m in so much pain. I want to give up everything.”
Haejoo’s hands clenched as she muttered about giving up. Her small, trembling shoulders hunched more than in the dead of winter.
“From now on, I’ll do everything. So you just breathe.”
“---!”
“Let’s live, Haejoo.”
Haejoo’s breath mingled with Dojun’s. It was a moment of utter profoundness, as if they were submerged underwater.
“...I’m pregnant.”
“I know.”
“How did you know?”
Haejoo lifted her head and looked up at Dojun. A gentle light settled in his eyes as he looked down at her.
“I met Hyunseong before I came here.”
“Ah, Hyunseong.”
Haejoo, feeling sorry for Hyunseong, bumped her head against Dojun’s chest. She had been distraught when Jinhan’s resentment was added to her already chaotic state, losing her composure. She simply couldn’t endure it and ran away.
“Haejoo, thank you for waiting for me.”
He captured Haejoo’s lips. Moist breaths intertwined, and their lips intertwined deeply. Dojun, feeling as if the current situation was a dream, gently caressed Haejoo. He was happy that such a small and delicate woman was carrying their child.
“I’ll go down and get your bag for a moment.”
“Don’t go!”
“I’ll be right back.”
“No. I don’t want you to. Don’t go.”
Haejoo, like a child, hugged Dojun from behind as he tried to leave the room. Her arms couldn’t fully encircle his large frame, so she squeezed his waist tightly.
“I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“Who said I’d leave you alone? That will never happen again.”
Dojun kissed her round forehead and stroked her cheek. Only then did Haejoo step back.
“I’ll go to the parking lot, so call Hyunseong first.”
“Come back quickly.”
Dojun handed her his phone and left the room. At the sound of the door closing, Haejoo plopped down on the bed. Her legs instantly gave out. She wondered if this was what it felt like to be alive after dying in a fiery pit. Haejoo turned on Dojun’s phone and dialed Hyunseong’s number. As she smoothed her hair and waited, an urgent voice came from the other end.
“Yes, CEO!”
“Hyunseong, it’s me.”
“Noona? Is it really Haejoo Noona?”
“Yes.”
“Ah... you have no idea how worried I was.”
“I’m sorry for disappearing suddenly. I just couldn’t bear it.”
“I know. Director acting like that scared me too.”
Haejoo could clearly imagine the chaotic situation at the company. Whatever happened, she might have to take responsibility when she returned.
“Are you feeling a bit better, Noona?”
“Not really. It’s hard to even stand properly.”
“If anything feels off, go to the hospital. Understood?”
“I will. ...Hey, Hyunseong.”
“Yes.”
“Is Director very angry?”
“He was surprised, but just leave him be. And public opinion has softened a bit.”
“How?”
“You wouldn’t know, Noona. CEO Park Dojun released a full statement he wrote himself.”
One day felt like a year. What was even more surprising was that that day wasn’t over yet. The clock hands were past 9 PM. Haejoo and Dojun were battered and bruised from blocking Choi Inho’s false articles.
“I’ll make up an excuse for Director, so take care of yourself.”
“I will. Where am I, you ask?”
“You don’t have to tell me. Just stay with him somewhere no one knows.”
“Thank you, Hyunseong.”
After talking to Hyunseong, her heart felt much lighter. Since the topic came up, she went online and looked for the articles. The internet was still pure chaos. Haejoo scrolled past the heartbreaking articles and comments and clicked on Dojun’s handwritten statement.
“Oh my god...”
The meticulously written words, one by one, showed his sincerity. Even though it filled five pages, it was unwavering, reflecting his true character. The statement began with the story of President Park and the deceased Jun.
[My father operated a small financial business in the old neighborhood with a traditional market. Although the interest rates were at a secondary financial institution level, people called him a loan shark.]
It couldn’t have been easy for Dojun to reveal his own shortcomings. Yet, he willingly disclosed them for Haejoo.
[He usually communicated with the small-scale shop owners, but Haejoo’s mother abruptly borrowed a large sum of money from my father.]
President Park was almost too humble to be called a loan shark. As for staff, he only had an employee who answered the phone in the office. Most people borrowed small amounts, but Gyeong-ae wanted a huge sum. He gave it to her, knowing he might not get it back. The reason was his eldest son, Jun. Around that time, as Jun’s illness worsened, President Park first heard Haejoo’s story.
‘Father, we have to save that child. Otherwise, she might die.’
‘How can I save someone else’s child?’
‘That child is so helpless right now. She can’t do anything on her own.’
‘Huh, this kid, really!’
‘It’s my last wish before I die.’
‘What can I do for you?’
The method Jun thought of was to marry Haejoo. He used the excuse of not wanting to become a bachelor ghost before he died. President Park was so frustrated he felt like he would go crazy. He wondered what kind of family would marry their healthy daughter to a dying son-in-law. Just in case, he subtly hinted that he wanted to arrange a spirit wedding after Jun’s death. He doubted it, but Gyeong-ae was swayed by the idea and actually came to him. She asked him to forgive her debt in exchange for marrying Haejoo and Jun. When President Park refused, Gyeong-ae pestered him day after day, then unilaterally sent Haejoo to him. President Park said he couldn’t understand what sin this beautiful child had committed to receive such treatment from her own mother.
Furthermore, Dojun became a mad dog, beating up all the young men in the neighborhood. He only found out the reason much later and burst out laughing.
‘No wonder they were twins, they both liked the same girl.’
Jun had asked Dojun, who was in the military, to take care of Haejoo. Dojun seemed to be distancing himself from Haejoo, so before he closed his eyes, Jun wrote him a letter. Dojun also explained why he had waited for Haejoo all that time.
[Haejoo left home that day with 50 million won she received through my father. Before leaving the neighborhood, she left a letter in my father’s office, which I still keep.]
“Letter?”
Haejoo racked her brain for memories from three years ago. As Dojun said, she had gone to President Park’s office late at night and left a letter. Dojun knew about it.
[The letter stated that Haejoo would return in three years and would definitely repay the kindness. It seemed Haejoo had set three years as the time she would need to stand on her own.]
He wanted to give Haejoo time. It was a path she chose herself, having been suppressed and unprotected since childhood. Dojun also needed time for his own leap forward, so he waited.
[Haejoo said she received kindness, but I don’t think of it as kindness. Even now, giving everything to Haejoo is not a waste to me.]
It was just like Park Dojun. Before she even finished reading the entire statement, Haejoo had to swallow her tears many times.
[I married Haejoo through unconventional means. Nevertheless, I cannot deny that I, too, am an infinitely lacking man in front of a woman like Haejoo.]
She had met Dojun in the office right before it was demolished. At the time, Haejoo had no memory of him. He was tall, and his voice resonated even when he spoke softly. Dojun was a man with a subtle madness always lingering in his deep-set eyes. This man lowered himself, saying he was lacking. All for Haejoo.
[Direct all your criticism to me. But Haejoo should not be criticized. Haejoo is a victim of severe abuse and a beautiful person who deserves to be loved.]
Thus, the statement ended. The comments were varied. Some still mocked, while others envied Haejoo, who was loved by Dojun.
‘The important thing is Lee Haejoo’s heart.’
‘Is it true that CEO Park Dojun has a one-sided crush on Lee Haejoo?’
‘If this is also a show, it would be a real shock.’
Today’s events were even covered on the evening news. In particular, it extensively covered Choi Inho’s kidnapping of President Park and his illegal stalking of Haejoo. Suspicion and criticism still ran rampant. Once she recovered, it would be Haejoo’s turn to stand before the public.
“Movie production halted?”
While skimming through the flood of articles, news emerged that Director Kwak’s movie, currently filming in Jeju Island, had halted production. She immediately clicked the article and began reading the worrying content.
“Filming halted due to citizens and reporters flocking to the Jeju Island filming site to see actress Lee Haejoo...”
There was still a lot of filming left for other actors on the Jeju Island location. It would be a huge problem if the movie production was delayed due to Haejoo.
“What do I do?”
Her mood sank. Just as Haejoo was struggling with her upset stomach, Dojun came up.
“I’m late because I had to avoid the crowd.”
“Dojun, they said the movie production has been halted.”
“I told them to halt it.”
“---!”
“Production costs aren’t the issue. The actors must be tired, so it’s a good chance for them to rest.”
Even though he said that, it wasn’t an easy decision. Since they were all successful actors, if filming was delayed, their other schedules would also be pushed back. Haejoo didn’t know where to begin to resolve the situation.
“Because of me, other people are going to suffer losses.”
“It won’t take long. I won’t let it.”
________________________________________
With Dojun by her side, her anxiety lessened. Haejoo nodded and put down his phone.
“I saw the statement you posted, Dojun.”
“Did you?”
“The one who first wanted the marriage registration was...”
“Yes. My brother wanted to protect you and begged my father.”
“When did you hear that?”
“I didn’t hear it.”
“Then how?”
Dojun wouldn’t have lied. He had only recently realized that Jun had liked Haejoo.
“While looking for the letter you left, I accidentally saw a notebook my father had written in.”
“A notebook?”
“He started writing a diary every day after he was diagnosed with dementia.”
“---!”
“It seemed he wrote everything down because he feared he would forget the episodes related to you.”
“What can I do to thank him?”
“I didn’t know about it either, so I felt many things towards my father.”
Just then, Haejoo’s phone, which Dojun had brought, rang from her bag. The name on the screen was Jinhan. He had already called more than ten times. She had to answer Jinhan’s call, but the burden choked her. Dojun saw Haejoo’s expression crumple in an instant and snatched the phone.
“Don’t answer.”
“I should at least tell him I’m alright...”
Haejoo was clearly in a contractual relationship with the agency. She had an obligation to handle it diligently, making it difficult to simply avoid. He offered the phone to Haejoo, expressing his reluctance with his entire body. Just as Haejoo’s hand was about to touch the phone, Dojun, having changed his mind, grabbed it again.
“I’ll answer it.”
He decided to confront Jinhan head-on.
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