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Hae-seungwon in Jangchung-dong, built like a palace, had several separate buildings apart from the main building where Chairman Ryu Jung-hwan, who founded the Haeshin Group, resided.
Around Chairman Ryu Jung-hwan’s main building, there was a separate building where his eldest son Ryu Seong-woong and daughter-in-law Seo Jung-joo lived. Behind that, there were three more buildings, one for his eldest grandson Tae-jun and his wife, and another for Tae-han. The separate building where the youngest son Tae-jo stayed was only used for a short time when he came to Korea and was empty for most of the time.
Hae-seungwon had a walkway surrounded by densely planted pine trees. A secluded path connected each building to the main one. The paths all led to the garden of the main building. A shallow, crescent-shaped pond in the middle of the garden was as stylish as a traditional East Asian painting.
It was the pride of Hae-seungwon and the Chairman’s joy. Along the path leading there, lush greenery surrounded the crescent-shaped pond, which held the early morning sunlight. The fresh summer air wrapped around Tae-han’s body. He quietly walked into the main building.
“Grandfather, it’s Tae-han.”
“Come in.”
When he opened the door, his mother, Seo Jung-joo, was already there. On a Saturday morning when he was there to greet his grandfather, Tae-han knelt down next to Seo Jung-joo, who had her hair neatly tied up and her clothes immaculate.
Ryu Jung-hwan, with an eight-panel folding screen adorned with animals and objects behind him, turned his gaze to the reliable Tae-han, who was sitting next to Seo Jung-joo.
“Did you have a good trip to Taiwan?”
“Yes, fortunately, the atmosphere was more favorable than we expected, so we can expect a positive response.”
“I know you’ll do well without me saying it. Are you not tired?”
“I’m fine.”
“Good then.”
Matters related to the company were already reported meticulously every morning by Director Min, who stood beside him like a screen.
Normally, he would have asked and re-asked about one topic in his usual manner, which enjoyed hearing things from multiple people, but his face was full of trust as he looked at Tae-han. This was because he knew Tae-han’s character, which was stronger than anyone else in terms of duty and responsibility.
The Chairman glanced at Seo Jung-joo, who was sitting carefully next to Tae-han.
“Director Seo, did you tell Tae-han?”
“Not yet, Father-in-law.”
“Go on, tell him. I’m curious.”
As Ryu Jung-hwan took a sip of his tea and began, Seo Jung-joo wore a proper smile.
“I thought it would be better for you to tell him yourself.”
“It’s already been two years since Tae-jun got married, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, Father-in-law.”
“Now we need to marry off the second one.”
“Yes.”
At the simple reply, Tae-han’s eyebrows twitched.
The rumors that had been spreading early on had even reached Tae-han’s ears, so he had a rough idea of what to expect from the Chairman’s call, but he didn’t know that today would be the day. At Ryu Jung-hwan’s signal, Director Min, who was standing like a shadow, took out some documents. Soon, the prepared documents were neatly spread out in front of Tae-han.
“Take a look. These are your marriage prospects.”
Not just one, but four. Tae-han’s face subtly hardened at the files containing their resumes and photos. He didn’t expect that the process of choosing an engagement partner would be so easily prepared.
“These are decent young men who I think would be a good match for you. Take a close look.”
The procedure was similar to when they were preparing for Tae-jun, the eldest of the three brothers, to get married. However, the method was a little different. For Tae-jun, the family he was to marry into had been decided from the start, and it was a case that was pushed through with the conviction that they had to be tied to that family.
Tae-jun went through with the marriage without any trouble, as if it were his destiny. He thought that was the eldest son’s duty, and he watched Tae-jun, who lived and loved the partner his parents had chosen for him.
However, unlike Tae-han, who had followed the precedent set by his parents’ generation and had an easy marriage process, Tae-han had no deep thoughts about marriage yet. He knew that he would eventually get married and start a family, and he had an idea that this was how the process would go, but for now, he was not inclined to do it.
Tae-han lifted his head.
“Why. Are you not interested?”
“Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m actually seeing someone.”
“Who is it?”
“Joo Hyung-gook, the CEO’s eldest daughter, Joo Seo-eun.”
Tae-han’s calm confession was met with a surprising round of attention. Tae-han met Ryu Jung-hwan’s deep eyes with a gaze that was full of purpose.
“Hyung-gook’s daughter?”
“Yes.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am.”
The Chairman, who had been staring at the firm Tae-han, narrowed his eyes. As if asking what was going on, he stared at Seo Jung-joo, then shifted his gaze to Director Min. But even with the exchange of looks, no one knew what Tae-han had just said for the first time today. Tae-han stared back at the sharp gazes with an unyielding posture.
“Bring her over. Let me see her face first.”
“Father-in-law.”
“Why. Tae-jun met his wife just three times before getting married. It’s not just any family, if her father is Hyung-gook, she must have been raised well. Bring her.”
Mentioning Tae-jun and his wife, who had met once at the engagement party, once at the meeting between the families, and once at the wedding, and were now in their second year of marriage, the Chairman dismissed the documents as if there was nothing more to be said.
Seo Jung-joo, who had been listening quietly to her father-in-law’s decision, smiled awkwardly. These were the candidates she had chosen after much deliberation, as she had the biggest influence in deciding on family matters, from marriages to major events. She had agonized over finding a good match for Tae-han, just as she had for Tae-jun, but the situation had taken an unexpected turn.
“If you give me a little time, I’ll introduce her soon.”
In the tense atmosphere, only Tae-han’s polite voice was clear.
________________________________________
When the door closed, Seo Jung-joo, who had remained standing politely, turned her head. When their eyes met, Tae-han only smiled softly without a word.
The two of them walked out of the main building, passing through the quiet hallway. Soon, the garden of Hae-seungwon unfolded before them. The chirping of crickets was exceptionally clear in the afternoon. Seo Jung-joo gave a second look at Tae-han, who was quietly walking by her side like a shadow.
“Joo Hyung-gook’s daughter?”
At Seo Jung-joo’s gentle question, Tae-han briefly thought of Seo-eun. He had approached her with confidence from the beginning, but Seo-eun still seemed to need a little more time.
“Yes. Joo Seo-eun.”
At his unhesitating confession, as if he had been preparing for it for a long time, Seo Jung-joo raised her eyebrows gently. She was the one who had taught him that he should never miss an opportunity, but she was surprised to see her son showing curiosity without any certainty or anything. Seo Jung-joo stared at Tae-han.
At the same time, she recalled Joo Hyung-gook’s family, whom she had met at the founding anniversary party. The upright Joo Hyung-gook and his elegant wife, who took care of him perfectly. She also remembered the face of the second daughter, who was not flashy but was stylishly dressed. Her looks, which were a mix of Joo Hyung-gook and his wife, had left a pretty yet strong impression.
“I think I heard she’s a musician.”
“That’s the second daughter.”
Seo Jung-joo felt a strange feeling as she looked at Tae-han, who only said what was necessary without adding unnecessary words. Tae-han was not one to act on things he wasn’t certain about. That’s why even she, who had prepared enough to be convinced, was careful about bringing up the marriage proposal.
Among her three sons, Tae-han was the most affectionate but also the one with the clearest convictions. She knew he wouldn’t refuse a meeting that was created out of consideration for the person who recommended it, but she also knew he would never move forward if he didn’t agree with it.
In a way, Tae-han was the most difficult to control. The eldest, Tae-jun, naturally took on the duty of carrying out the family’s decisions. The second, Tae-han, would appease them to an appropriate extent without being rude, but he wouldn’t back down from his stubbornness. The youngest, Tae-jo, was out of the question.
She had given birth to three sons from the same womb, but their personalities, eating habits, and preferences were all so different that she had to treat them all differently. Nevertheless, if there was one son among the three who understood Seo Jung-joo’s heart the most, it was Tae-han.
“From the way you’re talking, it seems like a done deal for you.”
“Yes.”
“You’re serious.”
Tae-han nodded.
“You said it yourself, Mother. When you first saw Father, you thought you had to marry him. I’m the same. The moment I first saw her, I thought I had to marry this woman.”
Even though it was a politically arranged relationship, she knew from the moment she first saw him. That’s why they met. Tae-han’s face was the same as hers was on that day, more than 30 years ago.
“I thought you had no interest in women. It’s unexpected. I didn’t think you’d tell the Chairman directly.”
“I know that marriage is an important matter for both the family and for me. It’s a lifelong commitment. If possible, I want to make a choice I won’t regret, Mother.”
The emotion that made the bottom of his heart ache whenever he saw Seo-eun was unbearable. It started with that, and now it was a desire to share every moment of Seo-eun’s life.
His resolve was unwavering. Even as he recalled that fleeting moment, all the blood vessels in his body seemed to expand. Seo-eun was the only woman in his life who had made him realize that he was alive.
“So, should I arrange a meeting?”
“No, thank you.”
“Why? If I contact Mr. Joo, things will be easier.”
“No. Until I ask you, please just keep it in your heart.”
“Okay. I’ll look into it slowly.”
Tae-han politely accepted Seo Jung-joo’s kind offer.
If Seo Jung-joo, who had the trust of Hae-seungwon’s owner, Ryu Jung-hwan, were to get involved, things would be much easier. But he hadn’t decided to get married right away, so it would be a burden for both families if the adults were to get involved. And most importantly, he didn’t want to burden Seo-eun with a meeting that was not her own choice but was based on duty.
Since the Chairman had given his word, it wouldn’t take too long anyway. Before that, he needed to get Seo-eun’s permission.
It was important to take some time to get to know each other slowly, but what was more important was for Seo-eun to have the same intention as Tae-han to want to be together in the future.
The worries could come after that.
If the marriage talks were to begin in earnest, it would surely become a burden for Seo-eun in some way. So, he thought it wasn’t too late to get some help and move forward when Seo-eun’s heart was ready and she was sure about him.
“I know that Joo Hyung-gook is a good person. That’s why the Chairman didn’t say anything. You also learned from working under him, so you know too.”
“Yes.”
Joo Hyung-gook was a man with a generous and upright character. That’s why he was one of Ryu Jung-hwan’s most cherished associates among the company presidents. Seo Jung-joo’s eyes softened as she acknowledged that fact. It was her trust in her son that he would never do anything foolish. She was a woman who was quite strict with others, but she was the matriarch of Hae-seungwon who couldn’t help but be soft on her family.
“I haven’t seen that look on your face in a long time.”
Her gaze, which was carefully examining her son’s face, softened. Tae-han gave a subtle smile and lowered his gaze to Seo Jung-joo as they walked together in the garden.
“It’s the look on your face when you’ve made a big decision.”
Two years ago, after Tae-jun took charge of electronics in a strategic marriage like a merger and acquisition with the eldest daughter of the Taeseong Group, Tae-han was put into the strategic business division after a major reorganization of the duty-free and overseas business divisions of HS International.
With the motto of being a comprehensive lifestyle and culture company, HS International established HSCD, a joint venture, with the Haeshin Group as its parent company. His steps after being put into the strategic business division with the reorganization were bold. This was the look on his face when he boldly cleaned up the unprofitable businesses that everyone was cautious about and quickly pushed ahead to gain a foothold.
“I won’t let it drag on for too long.”
If, at the end of this path, nothing was left, he would follow the family’s wishes without complaint. But he had a good feeling that it wouldn’t go wrong.
“I know. You were always a good son who never caused any worries.”
“Me?”
“Of course. You always were. Think about Tae-jo. With that stubbornness, that personality. Does he listen to anyone? Compared to him, you were always a gentleman.”
Tae-han smiled slightly. Compared to someone like that rascal, anyone would look good.
“Sometimes I even thought that. As you know, I also had an arranged marriage with your father, and so did your brother.”
“Yes.”
“I thought that was a matter of course, but seeing Tae-jun makes me think a lot.”
Their marriage was a union of families, but there was no love between them. Since they were part of this family, discord was not an option. Nevertheless, Tae-jun’s couple was a relationship that never lit a fire. It was impossible for love to blossom in a relationship that had skipped the dating phase.
The fact that they hadn’t had a child even after two years of marriage, and that there was no affection between them, was something that was visible to a third party. So she thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give Tae-han a chance to choose for once.
“Well, still, I’m too ambitious to give up the position of the second daughter-in-law.”
Seo Jung-joo tilted her head up and met Tae-han’s eyes, who was standing steadfastly by her side.
“But I think I’ll give you one chance. Because I trust your judgment.”
Her strict expression softened for the first time in a long time.
“Thank you, Mother.”
“This doesn’t mean that I will follow your wishes entirely. You know that, right?”
“Yes, of course.”
They both knew these things. She knew that Seo Jung-joo already had a marriage partner in mind for her second son, and that her ambition would not subside. But she was grateful that she was willing to give them some time. Because he knew that this was the best consideration she could give.
“Go and rest. You must be tired from your business trip, and I’ve held you up for too long this morning.”
“Yes, have a good day, Mother.”
With a gentle farewell, Seo Jung-joo, who was now at ease, patted Tae-han’s shoulder and turned around.
Tae-han, who was quietly looking at the lush Hae-seungwon in the cool breeze, soon took a step onto the divided path.
________________________________________
To be with someone meant to share everything.
To share the same time meant to share that time and create memories, and to share the same space meant to share the things that happened within it.
When the things they shared piled up and her daily life was no longer hers alone, the preciousness of the person next to her became essential.
The moment she realized she had forgotten about his preciousness was always a surprise.
When they arrived at the Yuksongi workshop in Paju, excited as if they were going on a picnic, Tae-han’s lips curled into a smile as he followed Seo-eun, who was walking briskly through the lush green garden.
As they opened the cafe door and entered, a woman in her forties, wearing a green apron over a white shirt like a uniform, ran out with a welcoming expression from among the staff.
“Girl, why have you been gone for so long? I missed you so much.”
She hugged Seo-eun, who was smiling more brightly than usual, and chattered about how she had been, how she was doing, and how she had become even prettier. Then she noticed Tae-han, who stood in the cafe like a tall tree, and stared at him.
“Welcome, you must be Ryu Tae-han? Seo-eun told me a lot about you. This is the first time I’m seeing you. I’m Yuk-songi.”
“I’ve also heard a lot about you.”
Tae-han bowed respectfully to the woman, who was Seo-eun’s senior in life and had taught her how to get out of the shadows, and had given her a pot of yellow hyacinths to make her want to live.
“Please make yourselves comfortable.”
Yuk-songi said generously, looking at Seo-eun, saying that while they were here, their worries would be forgotten.
“Seo-eun, the pink heal-all is in bloom. Do you want to see it?”
“Where is it?”
Yuk-songi smiled, gesturing with her chin towards the blue door at the end of the cafe.
“Go on.”
Her steps were excited. It was as if she was walking through a secret garden. After passing through the blue door, going through a greenhouse that spread out like a forest, and leaving the terrace that led outside, she found a flower garden that Yuk-songi had carefully tended to.
The process of sowing the seeds when it was time to harvest the variety, waiting for them to grow, and finally waiting for the moment they would bloom. The flowers that had bloomed after a long wait swayed in front of her eyes.
Seo-eun’s steps quickened as she walked through the flowerbeds of various colors.
“Wow, it’s really beautiful.”
On a small sign in front of the pink heal-all patch, which bloomed in the shape of lips, the name of the flower and its meaning were written in handwriting.
Pink heal-all, memory.
“This is a medicinal plant. The unique thing is that its petals are shaped like lips. The petals are such a pretty pink, so its name is pink heal-all. Doesn’t the name sound really sweet?”
In front of the flowers that bloomed in a whorl at the tip of the stem, Seo-eun spoke with an excited, lilting voice. Did she know that her cheeks were flushed with excitement among the flowers of blooming pink leaves? Her face, which was more sweet than the flowers themselves, chattering excitedly, was beautiful.
Tae-han quietly listened to Seo-eun’s voice, which was like the wind, as he gazed at her, who was as excited as a child, and then laughed when he saw her engrossed face.
Among the tall, evergreen trees, her chattering voice continued. She wanted to tell him one more thing, calling one flower by a name and another one by a season, using pretty words to describe them beautifully. Then, in front of a plant that had just poked its head out of the soil, she smiled softly.
“It’s the breeding season.”
“Breeding season?”
“July and August are good for breeding.”
“Ah.”
At her words, Tae-han just smiled quietly. Then, Seo-eun frowned. It was because Tae-han’s eyes had twinkled at the word “breeding.”
“You know so much, Joo Seo-eun.”
Tae-han followed Seo-eun, who was walking around like a child, and as he moved like a shadow among the tall plants, he thought about the future.
“I hope you don’t start with a light heart.”
“Because if a person fails at the end, they fall apart.”
Remembering the warning that Ji Seung-won had impertinently thrown at him, he decided to take responsibility for Seo-eun’s life one night as he was contemplating what would make her fail at the very end.
If anything were to change from his ambition, it would be the matter of them sharing the life she had endured alone.
He decided to love.
He decided that there would be no not-loving.
Only thirty nights. While Seo-eun was leaving things to the natural flow of time for thirty sunrises and sunsets, Tae-han’s heart grew even firmer.
There was only one thing he thought about during the late hours of the night as he worked hard just to have one relaxing day on the weekend.
The thought of making Joo Seo-eun his wife. Instead of the regret he felt every time he left her house to go back to his own, he wanted Seo-eun to be there when he returned. As he squeezed into her daily life, messing up a part of her day, like the large bed he had filled up a small room with out of his greed, his heart became more and more desperate.
He wished that the hot commotion behind the closed door, which only the two of them knew about, would no longer flow meaninglessly.
His hand quietly approached and slid between Seo-eun’s fingers. The moment their firm knuckles intertwined, Seo-eun, in the midst of her excitement, became aware of Tae-han’s presence beside her. He had no hesitation in making his presence known and ingrained.
He dug in, dug in, and dug in.
He smiled as his firm fingers fit into Seo-eun’s slender ones as if that was where they belonged.
“Do you like it that much?”
At his voice, which was like the wind, Seo-eun squeezed her hand and pressed her lips on the back of Tae-han’s hand as he walked. It was an impulsive action, but it was instead of saying thank you. Tae-han, who had glanced down, stopped walking, pushed back the raffia hat that was covering her head, and returned the kiss on her forehead.
“I like it too.”
If you like it.
His gentle gaze, like a shadow, fell upon Seo-eun, who was sparkling like sunshine. Seo-eun looked at Tae-han for a moment, then stood on her tiptoes and pecked his lips with her own.
This was because she knew better than anyone that he was going through a lot, cramming and grinding his time to make time for her. When she asked if he had so much work, he would say that he did, but he wouldn’t even sigh. She wondered how difficult a life filled with patience and responsibility must be, and she thought that it wouldn’t be bad to spend a life with a person like this. As these thoughts grew deeper, Tae-han’s lips parted hers and dug in without warning.
Softly and richly, Tae-han’s scent, like the wind, came down and mixed with Seo-eun’s floral scent as if to overwhelm it.
I can’t stand it. I can’t bear it. So...
His hot lips tickled her. His sweet breath came in softly, wetting her mouth and reaching deep into her lungs. As their hot breaths scattered between their locked lips, Seo-eun barely managed to let out a gasp that had reached her throat, and she gently pushed his chest away.
“Someone might see us.”
“Let them.”
His large body, which had stepped away, closed the distance again and stuck to her. He didn’t care as he wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her for a long time. In the gentle breeze, pushing and pulling, the hot kisses were a secret known only to the shyly swaying flowers.
It was love.
On the way back, they went into a restaurant that caught Seo-eun’s eye to fill their stomachs. Then, they happened to see a movie teaser on a billboard, and after she said, ‘I heard that movie is good,’ they went straight into a movie theater and watched a movie.
“Today, let’s do whatever you want to do, Seo-eun.”
As she put her body back inside the front door, she remembered what he had said when they first left.
“You should go now. You have to go to work tomorrow, Tae-han.”
As he always did, he would follow her to the door, saying that he would just make sure she got in safely. Then, he would say it was cruel to send him away without even a cup of tea. After she went to make tea, he would change his mind and say he didn’t need the tea, and she would just laugh as she always did.
Then, as she felt his warm embrace from behind and his complex kisses that pressed his lips into her neck, Seo-eun smiled happily.
“You came here to do this, didn’t you?”
“You know the answer, why ask?”
Whenever it was time to go home, Tae-han would become slow, unwilling to part, and would always find an opportunity to dig in.
Behind the closed door, with their chuckling laughter, they were happy just the two of them. Even as their bodies were breaking down into each other, their hearts were like diamonds that would never be broken.
________________________________________
It would have been good to close their eyes together at the end of a long day and finish it off. The happy moment was shattered by a phone call in the early hours of the morning.
• Unnie? Are you sleeping? Something terrible happened. Dad was just taken to the emergency room.
Around 2 a.m., I was in a daze after a phone call from Hae-in. Seo-eun’s face was a mess of tears as she ran into the emergency room. Inside the hospital ward, which was running 24 hours a day, Seo-eun’s mother, Hee-sook, who had been toying with her rosary by Joo Hyung-gook’s bed, got up when she saw Seo-eun, who had arrived with tears in her eyes.
“What happened to Dad? Is he not doing well? What happened?”
“No, he just suddenly said his chest hurt while he was sleeping...”
Hee-sook, who was explaining the situation, forgot what she was saying when she saw Tae-han, who had followed Seo-eun into the room. Her look, which seemed to be asking why he was here at this hour, became even more confused when she saw him naturally holding Seo-eun’s hand as if they were one.
“Why are you two...”
It seemed that Hee-sook and Hyung-gook were the ones who needed an explanation rather than the ones giving it. Hee-sook’s blank stare and Hyung-gook’s sharp gaze fell on the two people’s tightly held hands.
Hee-sook, who had an expression of pure shock, carefully looked at Tae-han, who must have been with Seo-eun all this time because he was sad to part ways with her after spending the weekend together. The daughter, who belatedly realized that she had entered the room holding hands with Tae-han, tried to let go, but the second son of the Haeshin Group held her hand even tighter.
“Did you come together?”
Seo-eun bit her lip at the confused look in her mother’s eyes. It was the first time Tae-han was greeting Hyung-gook in this kind of state, as he usually saw Tae-han in his neat suit.
“Executive Director Ryu, I didn’t know you were seeing Seo-eun...”
“I apologize for not telling you sooner, Mr. Joo.”
Tae-han, who bowed his head to greet him, was nothing but sincere. The regret he must have felt for holding someone else’s precious child for so long was hidden by his strong sense of responsibility.
“Have a seat, please sit down.”
Hee-sook, unable to hide her shock, left to get some drinks, and the space unexpectedly became cold. Hyung-gook, whose basic test results had come back normal and only needed to be monitored, kept staring at Tae-han with a look of displeasure.
An awkward silence filled the air between the three of them. What should I say in a situation like this? What should I say our relationship is? Should I confess that I’m dating the person my father has always wanted me to date, that he is someone I love so much? My mind was in a mess, and that was when Tae-han spoke.
“I know this isn’t the right time to say this, but I would like to ask for your permission to date Seo-eun with the intention of marriage.”
“...”
“Tae-han?”
“What did you say?”
Hee-sook, who had hurried back with a can of soda in her hand, had her eyes wide open.
Marriage? Seo-eun also stared at Tae-han blankly.
“I am sorry for greeting you in this way. But I am serious about her.”
“As far as I know, Executive Director Ryu, I heard you were preparing for a marriage.”
After the low confession, Hyung-gook stared at Tae-han with a displeased expression.
An arranged marriage, what on earth is that?
Seo-eun’s confused gaze turned to Tae-han.
“You, come talk to me for a moment.”
Hyung-gook, looking for an explanation, dismissed everyone except Tae-han.
________________________________________
The mother and daughter sat side by side in the hospital hallway, blinking and looking at each other without a word for a while. Then, Hee-sook carefully opened her mouth, watching Seo-eun’s reaction.
“Your father mentioned it, you know. He said it looks like Director Ryu Tae-han is getting married soon. He said the family is quietly preparing for a wedding and that your father must have heard about it confidentially. He said they’ve even gotten rings, and the other side is going to set a date soon. Didn’t you know?”
Seo-eun’s mind went blank. That can’t be right. She shook her head, her unfocused eyes staring into space, and answered,
“No, that’s not right. Mom must have heard wrong.”
“I hope so.”
Hee-sook held Seo-eun’s hand and patted it. Her sincere wish that her daughter wouldn’t get hurt anymore covered the back of Seo-eun’s hand.
Don’t worry.
I’ll take care of it.
With a forced smile, she managed to reassure Hee-sook and left the hospital, but she couldn’t go far. Her agitated heart was on the verge of tearing her apart.
He’s getting married? He’s gotten rings? They’re doing it confidentially? Then what about me?
She waited blankly for Tae-han to come out, standing on the path where ambulances came and went. Her feet tapped the ground as if nothing was wrong, but her heart was throbbing. Her father knew, so his marriage was definitely a fact, and she couldn’t bear the curiosity of what the two of them were talking about inside.
I don’t want to be disappointed.
I don’t want to get hurt.
While she was scratching the back of her hand that Hee-sook had gently stroked, various thoughts floated through her mind.
Tomorrow morning, we should make delicious toast together. In the evening, I should close the shop early and go buy a birthday present for him, whose birthday is coming up soon. When he comes home from work, I should make him a wonderful home-cooked meal to fill his stomach. She had been excited about deciding on a menu after much deliberation and going grocery shopping, but all that time seemed useless now.
I’ll introduce him to Yuk-songi, and it wouldn’t be bad to keep meeting like this. This is how scary it is to become attached to someone. But what can you do, you’re in love. She had made up her mind to love him even more, but all that time had been in vain.
Just then, footsteps approached Seo-eun. The familiar sneakers were Tae-han’s. Seo-eun lifted her head. Tae-han, who had come out of the hospital room without a word, stared at Seo-eun.
With the silent gaze that met hers, Seo-eun’s eyes shook violently. Unlike when they came to the hospital together, something felt as if a bomb had been dropped on Seo-eun’s heart as she left the hospital alone.
She didn’t want to cause a scene in the hospital, and that short moment of leaving the hallway felt like an eternity.
With a complicated look on her face, Seo-eun looked up at Tae-han, then suddenly turned and started walking. Her aimless steps were hurried. As she picked up speed like someone running away, Tae-han, who had been calling her from behind, took big strides and blocked her path.
“Slow down.”
The face that had been crying with worry for her father on the way there was now covered with an even greater confusion on the way back. Tae-han’s eyes were still the same as when he had first entered, and he stared at Seo-eun.
His quiet gaze, which was as kind as usual, and his calm and gentle look, tore her heart apart.
He’s going to say it’s not true.
He has to say something.
In the suffocating silence, Seo-eun’s lips trembled. Her heart was pounding as if it would burst. She was shaking, but she couldn’t figure out where the shaking was coming from. Betrayal and disappointment coalesced, and she barely managed to stand in front of him with anger.
“Tae-han.”
“Yes.”
“Are you getting married?”
Her resentful gaze, still soft and gentle, turned to Tae-han without a hint of wavering.
“Yes.”
She had expected him to say no or be flustered. At the very least, a reaction like that. But Tae-han confessed it too calmly, too quietly.
A hollow laugh escaped from Seo-eun’s lips. She was instantly overcome with a sense of loss. How can he not even apologize? Seo-eun’s breathing became ragged.
“I see.”
Instead of asking for another reason, Seo-eun pressed her lips together and turned her back on Tae-han.
“Is that it?”
“What else do you want?”
What more should I do here? She had been worried about these things. That’s why she had said to only meet for a month, and today, that month was over, and this was the end she was hearing. She thought she would have a happy last birthday in her twenties, but all that excitement from the past few days felt ridiculous.
The moment when Hee-sook’s worries, which had held her hand for a fleeting moment, and her family’s concerns, and the worries she had written and erased multiple times, all came true like a lie. Her lips, which were trying hard not to tremble, shook slightly.
“Let’s stop seeing each other now.”
Seo-eun said clearly, looking at Tae-han, who was still standing quietly in his place.
“We should. We only agreed to meet for a month anyway, and I’m not so desperate that I’ll throw a fit about a promise made by the family. So, you go your way.”
Tae-han didn’t ask why or how she knew. He just stood there, as he always did, listening to what Seo-eun had to say and how far she would go.
For some reason, his calm reaction made her feel more pathetic, so Seo-eun bit her lip and turned her back.
“What do you think, Seo-eun? Weren’t you in love with me?”
Just as she took a step, Tae-han’s words caught her ankle again. Seo-eun spoke quickly, as if talking about something that was already over.
“I did like you. And it was really fun. It doesn’t mean anything now, but... Today was so happy, no. I’ve been happy all these days that I think I was mistaken.”
“Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say you love me.”
Love. I love you. I do.
“I like you, Joo Seo-eun.”
He was the man who always said that to her.
I like you too.
No, I love you.
It was amazing that she could have such feelings in just a month. It was so new and miraculous that she loved him so passionately. But what was the point of that now? She bit her lips hard, not wanting to show that her heart was broken.
“So, I’ve been thinking carefully. What’s the safest way to go.”
“You’re taking a long time to get to the point.”
“Just listen.”
Tae-han approached Seo-eun, who was standing still. He forced her head up to meet his eyes and pierced her with his gaze.
Something sharp, something even harder, tore through her eyes, which were shaking in confusion, and pierced her heart.
Don’t tear me up. Don’t shake me. If you touch me one more time, tears will burst out.
“If you don’t help me, it’ll all be for nothing in the end.”
“Are you asking me to have an affair?”
She couldn’t hold it in and spat out the words nervously, her voice trembling with anger. At the same time, Tae-han let out a ridiculous laugh, as if he had been punched.
“You’re impatient, Joo Seo-eun.”
The moment he habitually rubbed her wrinkled brow with his thumb, Seo-eun swatted his hand away.
“I’m done. I don’t want to.”
“You won’t even hear what it is before you say no.”
“I didn’t agree to date you to be treated like this. Even though we’ve only been together for a short time, just a month. I was sincere while I was with you. Otherwise, why would I be crazy enough to let you into my house every day?”
A sincerity that was now close to resentment poured out from within her. The emotions that she couldn’t stop even if she wanted to, which had been wandering in her body all day, now burst out like a machine gun.
“Say more.”
“What more is there to say? Are you playing with me right now? I’m not going to see you anymore, Ryu Tae-han. Get lost.”
Seo-eun’s eyes, which were emotionally fuming, turned red.
“Did you like me that much?”
“Get lost.”
Even as her eyelids were getting hot and wet, he just smiled with a slight tilt of his lips. At his reaction, Seo-eun became a crumpled piece of paper. I must have been so easy for him to laugh at. He must have thought I was a pushover. She hated him so much. She bit her lips so hard that they bled, and with all her might, she tried to scratch him, but he slowly took something out of his pants pocket.
In his hand was a small red ring box. When he opened the lid, a brilliant-cut diamond was set on a spiral ring, and in the middle, a 3-carat teardrop-shaped diamond with six smaller diamonds next to it, reminiscent of a crown, was revealed. The brilliantly shining diamond was blinding even in the dark.
As she stared blankly at the ring like an idiot, he held out the ring and confessed,
“I never thought I’d give it to you like this.”
“...”
“I planned to give it to you at midnight on your birthday.”
He had tried to be patient and wait until Seo-eun’s birthday, which was just two days away. He wanted to congratulate her on her last twenties after midnight and tell her he wanted to be with her from her new thirties and beyond.
But Hyung-gook’s bombshell had ruined all his plans.
“I’m not saying it’s not too early, but this is the best I can do.”
Her eyes, which were looking at Tae-han’s disappointed smile, shook violently.
“Joo Seo-eun, with your fiery personality, there’s no one else I want to spend my future with.”
“...”
“Let’s get married. I want to grow old with you.”
Her mind was swept away again. As she stared at Tae-han with a dumbfounded expression, wondering what was happening, he put the ring on her left fourth finger, as if to put an end to their noisy argument.
“It fits well. It was a lot of trouble to get this. It took longer to make than I expected.”
Then what about the marriage that the family is preparing for and the date that’s going to be set soon? Looking at the ring that was shining on her finger, Seo-eun slowly blinked. The blur of light that had fogged her vision scattered.
“But I clearly heard... that you were preparing for a marriage...”
“That’s right. I’m going to marry you.”
Seo-eun, her eyes still full of confusion, stared blankly at Tae-han.
“The family told me to bring you over a long time ago, but the ring wasn’t ready yet.”
He smiled, bent down, and met Seo-eun’s eyes.
“Did you think I was going to marry another woman?”
Seo-eun bit her lips. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment from the recent situation where she had gotten angry without knowing anything.
“Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“How much did you imagine?”
“I don’t know. Why are you curious?”
“I just wanted you to know how my heart burns every time I see you with another man.”
At his teasing voice, Seo-eun’s lips began to tremble. Soon, a tear welled up in her eyes and fell down her cheek.
“I was so worried for nothing.”
“My family wants to meet you.”
Tae-han held Seo-eun’s face with both hands and said as he wiped away her tears with his thumb.
“What is this? Who makes someone cry like this?”
“Why? You’re just being cute.”
Tae-han, as if he couldn’t bear it anymore, leaned down and hugged the crying Seo-eun, whispering,
“There’s no reason to wait any longer. Live with me. I’ll take good care of you.”
“Sniff.”
She was pulled into his gentle embrace. Her cheek touched his warm chest. She dabbed a tear on his broad chest, which seemed to be able to hold anything, and let out a sigh of relief.
“I’ll never make you cry for the rest of your life.”
He promised, patting Seo-eun, who was hugging his large body.
I will dedicate my entire life to you, Joo Seo-eun.
The woman he had thought he wanted to hold at first sight was now finally whole in his arms. He had never felt this way before, and she was the woman he was curious about because he had the impulse to hold her for the first time. That curiosity grew into interest, and that interest became love, and now, it was like this.
“Did you... finish talking with my father?”
“Of course.”
Tae-han nodded, stroking the sniffling Seo-eun’s hair.
“What’s going on?”
“Yes, it’s true that I’m preparing for a marriage.”
Seeing Hyung-gook’s eyes, which had been as hard as a rock, tremble for a moment, Tae-han continued without hesitation.
“I also told Hae-seungwon. That I’m dating Seo-eun, and that she’s the first person I’ve ever thought I would like to marry. The Chairman said to arrange a meeting soon. The reason why things are being handled discreetly is because I haven’t gotten Seo-eun’s permission yet. If you can wait a little longer, I’ll officially introduce her again. After all, it’s a useless matter if Seo-eun doesn’t agree to it, isn’t it?”
The confession, which sounded like a neat report, was sincere.
“What will you do if Seo-eun refuses?”
“Have you ever seen me cling to a lost cause?”
He was firm and promised Hyung-gook, who was calculating the possibility of a “what if” scenario and a plan B, and finally received his permission.
So there was nothing more to hesitate about.
Tae-han gently pressed his lips against Seo-eun’s forehead, which had a red nose, and whispered,
“Joo Seo-eun, you’ve been reeled in by me.”
________________________________________
Seo-eun swallowed hard as she faced Seung-won, who had come to her, saying he had a serious confession to make with the table between them.
If it’s a real love confession, how should I reject him? The time she spent with Seung-won, who was looking so anxious, was after the surprisingly chaotic proposal.
His face was full of worry as he entered the shop, finished a cup of iced coffee, and was still silent. Seung-won’s unusual hesitation made Seo-eun break the silence.
“What’s wrong?”
Seung-won let out a quiet sigh, then pressed his chest with his hand to shake off the tension.
“I’ve been meaning to tell you for a long time. I just didn’t know how you’d react.”
“Wait a minute.”
For some reason, she had a premonition that a bomb was about to go off, so Seo-eun cut him off.
“We’re good friends, aren’t we?”
Seung-won’s eyes, which were sighing deeply, shook.
No way.
It can’t be that.
As she was watching Seung-won, who couldn’t even meet her eyes, Seung-won, who had been biting his lips and agonizing in pain, finally opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry. I’m getting married.”
“What?”
Seo-eun’s eyes widened.
“To whom? Are you seeing someone?”
Seung-won, as if he had gotten over the most difficult hurdle, now nodded with a look of relief.
“Yeah. There was someone.”
“Since when?”
“For a year. And we’re having a baby.”
“Hey, Ji Seung-won!”
As Seo-eun’s eyes widened and her voice rose, Seung-won scratched his neck and looked at Seo-eun.
“How could you have been seeing someone for a year and not tell me?”
“I was worried you’d be upset.”
For some reason, when she had called Seung-won’s sister, Ha-yeon, to thank her for making her lemon syrup despite being so busy, Ha-yeon’s flustered reaction, saying she had no idea what she was talking about, was suspicious. The memory of her being confused about what she had been eating all this time flashed through her mind.
“Joo-young and Jin-han both know.”
“What? Why am I the only one who doesn’t know?”
Why did only the three of them know? She was secretly a little hurt that she was the last to know about Seung-won’s situation, and her eyes sagged without her even realizing it.
“We were waiting for the moment when you would be truly happy.”
Because we want to be happy together. We’ve always been that way, haven’t we? Everyone, without exception, was happy, wasn’t it? So, the three of them, who had found their own paths, had quietly waited for the moment when Seo-eun, the last one, would find happiness.
“But still.”
“You know how much Joo-young kept telling me to keep an eye on you when she was getting married?”
“Hey, you guys... what do you think of me...?”
“That’s how much we worry about you.”
She had known for a long time that they were friends who understood each other the best, but she still felt strange at her friend’s quiet confession. Is my nose starting to tingle? It was a day when she missed Joo-young even more, who had entered her fifth week of pregnancy and said she was suffering from severe morning sickness. Seo-eun bit her lips to suppress her surging emotions.
“I haven’t done anything for you guys. I’ve only caused you worries my whole life.”
“Hey, Joo Seo-eun. The reason we’re still so close is because of you.”
Even though it was hard for all four of them to get together, Seo-eun was the glue that brought everyone together and made them care for one another. So, Seo-eun was moved by Seung-won’s sincere gaze, who was thanking her for maintaining their friendship all this time. The gaze that would often tell her to grow up, to grow bigger, to grow up, Joo Seo-eun, was full of affection.
“Are you doing well with that person?”
“Yeah.”
As soon as she asked about Tae-han, a smile appeared on Seo-eun’s lips. He was the person who made her smile just by thinking about him. She was relieved that Seo-eun had finally found true love. At that moment, Seung-won noticed the brilliant diamond ring on Seo-eun’s left fourth finger as she stroked her face. Seung-won’s mouth fell open.
“What’s that ring? Don’t tell me you’re pregnant too?”
“I am not! What’s inside your head, anyway? You beast!”
“Hey, to be honest, isn’t he more of a beast than me?”
“He is not!”
“He is! His body is like a wild beast...”
Seung-won, who had been gauging Tae-han’s size in the air and responding, let out a chuckle. As if infected by his laugh, they looked at each other and giggled. Then, Seo-eun quietly told him about the proposal, which had been nothing short of a commotion.
“I was a little rude back then. I knew he was a good person, but I wanted to make sure if he was sincere with you or not.”
“You know that’s why you two ended up together, right?”
“I was going to cut it off if he was just trying to mess around with you.”
Seo-eun quirked her lips and smiled at Seung-won, who was shrugging his shoulders as if it was his duty.
He’s not someone you can cut off with scissors.
“He’s a good person.”
“I know.”
“The best person I’ve ever met.”
He was the kindest man who loved, cherished, cared for, and hugged Seo-eun.
“You look happy, Seo-eun. Now we have a duty to live well.”
“Yeah. Let’s be happy together.”
If that was their duty, she would gladly accept it.
Seung-won, who was now seeing the shade on Seo-eun disappear, smiled brightly, showing his teeth.
________________________________________
The department store was quiet. After she parted with Seung-won, Seo-eun led Tae-han by the hand, wandering around the fifth floor full of baby product stores, and meticulously looked at various items, thinking.
Seo-eun’s hands and face, which were holding and then putting down a pair of baby shoes, were so serious that Tae-han couldn’t bring himself to ask what she had talked about with Seung-won. Tae-han, who was nervously watching Seo-eun’s reaction, suddenly had a small, white baby shoe pushed in front of his eyes.
“How about this?”
There were other things he wanted to hear, but her innocent face, which was asking instead of telling him what he wanted, left Tae-han confused. When she said she was going to meet Ji Seung-won, his heart was racing, wondering what kind of confession he was going to make. He couldn’t understand why she had come straight to the department store to pick out baby products after that. A lot of thoughts ran through his mind in that short moment as he watched Seo-eun diligently looking through baby items.
Is it possible?
Could it be?
His heart thumped harder the more he thought about it. Tae-han quietly stared at Seo-eun’s flat stomach.
“Seo-eun.”
“Yes, Tae-han.”
“How have you been feeling lately?”
“I’m fine.”
Seo-eun flipped over the baby shoes one by one and smiled.
“Perhaps your body temperature is higher than usual, or you’re tired?”
“I do feel a little drowsy.”
Come to think of it, last night after they had sex, she had suddenly wanted to eat strawberries.
Could it be?
Tae-han’s heart thumped hard.
“Should we get this ready?”
He held Seo-eun’s hand, who was holding the baby shoes, with a slightly flushed face.
“Huh?”
“How many do you need?”
He seemed ready to buy out the entire store, or even the entire floor, with his enthusiasm, his eyes sparkling.
“What are you thinking right now?”
“You’re not pregnant, are you?”
Seo-eun, who had been so focused on what kind of first shoes to choose for a baby that she hadn’t noticed, now realized that Tae-han was mistaken. Looking at his excited face, she thought that this man was really wearing a blindfold.
“I suddenly have two nieces and nephews now. Seung-won is getting married. In Jeju. It seems he met a woman who runs a restaurant there and dated her for a year. That’s why he was going to Jeju so often.”
Next to Seo-eun, who was mumbling as if she was still dumbfounded, Tae-han sighed deeply and put down the shoes like a loser.
“I thought so.”
He thought he would feel relieved, but his handsome face was filled with disappointment instead.
“Why? Why the long face?”
“I thought I was going to be a father.”
Tae-han, unable to hide his disappointment, gave Seo-eun a meaningful look.
“I was excited for a moment.”
“You said you only needed me.”
“I’ve become greedy.”
He put his arm around Seo-eun’s small shoulder, pulled her close, and whispered,
“I didn’t think I would be like this either.”
It was a good change. To have a feeling, that fell like a star, between two people who met by chance, blossom and grow into a flower, and then bear fruit and live by accepting that change.
“Tae-han, when you get married in the future, how many children do you want to have?”
He paused for a moment to think, and then his face immediately went into an overload, on the verge of shutting down. He didn’t answer, but his neck was turning red, so it seemed like he was imagining a very deep and intense future.
“At least three, would that be too much?”
“Three?”
“Then two.”
Seo-eun hit his chest and turned her back, looking at Tae-han, who was quickly changing his words.
“I’ll try my best.”
He approached Seo-eun, who was a step ahead, and whispered to her secretly.
“Starting today.”
At the whisper that no one else could hear, Seo-eun frowned. Tae-han, as if to soothe that wrinkle, gently massaged it and grabbed Seo-eun’s hand with a calm expression.
“This won’t work. Let’s just start now.”
Let a flower bloom in my heart.
I’ll bear fruit in your embrace, the kindest embrace in the world.
His hurried steps, cutting through the crowd, quickened. Their eyes, which were holding hands and looking at each other as if they were running away from someone, were full of laughter.
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