DD Ch 17
by mimiYeonghwadang was bustling from early morning.
Today at lunchtime, CEO Jung Taeon would have a blind date at the Yeonghwadang annex. The counterpart was Han Jisoo, the youngest daughter of the eldest son of the Hanseong Group, and they had heard countless times to serve her with utmost care.
Sahee was assigned to clean the annex with Uncle Bang. While Cheoljun was usually the one encouraging Sahee not to cower in front of Chae Hyunji’s family, he looked shocked when Sahee appeared.
As they walked towards the annex, alone together, he asked in astonishment:
“Why did you come?”
“Aunt called saying they were short-handed.”
“Short-handed? That’s just the usual excuse! You could’ve just said you were busy with work!”
“Why bother?”
Sahee looked at Cheoljun with an expression that said he was making a fuss. Even as he opened the door to the annex, Cheoljun looked at Sahee with concern. Sahee, limping over the threshold, said bluntly:
“It’s over.”
“Huh?”
“Yesterday. It’s over.”
“Really?”
“I told you it wasn’t serious.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Just for a while?”
“Yeah.”
“Like a casual fling?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
“Jung CEO? Seriously?”
Sahee glared at Cheoljun for a moment, and then Cheoljun let out a chuckle. He seemed somewhat relieved by the news that it was over.
If it were Madam Chun, she wouldn’t believe it, having seen CEO Jung Taeon looking after Sahee, but Cheoljun, not knowing the specifics, found it plausible to be relieved.
“Our Sahee is really amazing. My heart was pounding like crazy, you know?”
“What. Let’s just get ready. We’re busy.”
“Unya Unya.”
“……What was that?”
“It’s a trend with my girlfriend these days. Unya Unya.”
Sahee’s face scrunched up in an instant. She genuinely seemed relieved. Cheoljun exaggeratedly pouted his lips, babbling in a cute way.
“Isn’t it cute?”
“Not at all.”
“Unya Unya.”
“Oh…”
When Sahee showed true disgust, Cheoljun burst into laughter, throwing his head back. Sahee shook her head but eventually broke into a small smile.
As they entered further, she looked out through the large windows of the annex building. She easily imagined the two people who would soon be sitting across from each other. For a moment, the cherry tree still shedding its petals looked cruel.
It would be nice if there was a downpour, but spring was as clear as if painted. It was a perfect day for something to begin.
* * *
By the time they finished cleaning the annex, it was almost 11 o’clock.
Sahee checked the time on her phone and stretched her stiff back. Coincidentally, Cheoljun also seemed to have finished tending the yard, waving at her from the other side of the window.
Time to go back.
Sahee walked out of the annex at a slow pace. Due to not sleeping well, fatigue layered on her shoulders. She wanted to go back and rest.
“Uncle.”
“Uh, go on.”
“What about you?”
“I have to check your cleaning before I go, kid.”
Cheoljun approached briskly, looking down at her with the scrutiny of a strict inspector. Even when Sahee glared at him, he just puffed out his chest, snorting, “What are you going to do about it?”
The door opened at that moment. As the noise flooded in, both Sahee and Cheoljun turned their heads simultaneously. Min Yeojin entered the annex with Madam Chun beside her. Sahee flinched, exchanging a glance with Madam Chun.
“Ah, Madam!”
“Cheoljun, and Sahee is here too?”
“……Hello.”
“I haven’t interrupted, have I? I came to see how the preparations for the annex are going.”
“No interruption at all. We’re almost done.”
Cheoljun smiled affably and quickly ran over to Min Yeojin’s side. Sahee had no choice but to step back and watch the scene unfold.
“Hmm, looks good.”
“Did you go to the kitchen as well?”
“Yeah, I checked that too. Over there, right?”
Min Yeojin looked at the window connected to where the blind date would take place today. It was the same window Sahee had checked earlier.
“Yes. The cherry blossoms haven’t all fallen yet, so it’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“Indeed. Cheoljun must have worked hard.”
“Would you like to see inside? I’ll show you around.”
“Would you?”
“Please come this way.”
“Thank you.”
The three of them were walking side by side. Sahee stepped back cautiously. She lowered her head to avoid Min Yeojin’s notice, waiting for her to pass by.
“Ah.”
“……”
At that moment, Min Yeojin stopped. Slowly turning to look at Sahee, Sahee felt a chill in her heart.
“Sahee.”
“……Yes, Madam.”
“I actually had something to tell you, and here we meet. That’s fortunate.”
“You had something to say to Sahee?”
Madam Chun asked, surprised, looking at Min Yeojin. Min Yeojin, without even looking back at Madam Chun, kept her gaze fixed on Sahee and responded with a nod.
“Is Sahee busy today?”
“Huh? Why…”
“I’d like Sahee to serve at today’s meal.”
“……”
“No. I specifically want Sahee to serve.”
Min Yeojin looked at Sahee and smiled gently.
“Sahee? We’ve known each other for a long time, so it’s fine for us, but Sahee’s leg…”
“Her leg? Who cares about that these days? Madam Chun, Sahee might feel offended.”
“……It’s an important occasion, I’m worried she might make a mistake.”
“I’ve seen Sahee work well, why?”
“……”
“Is there any reason she can’t?”
Min Yeojin looked at Madam Chun with wide eyes. It was a petty threat, but for Min Yeojin, it wasn’t the time to discuss such things.
The news her secretary had delivered from Seoul three days ago.
Her son, who was seen going into a hotel room with a woman, holding her hand, not even trying to hide the limping woman, as if he wanted everyone to know. It made Min Yeojin burst out laughing in disbelief.
In his room, the condoms were gone, leaving only cute fairy tale books. The name on the cover scratched at her nerves.
Yeon Sahee.
This girl’s name.
How long had this been going on? Not knowing made her insides boil even as she faced Sahee. She was surprised at herself for still being able to smile so generously.
“……No. There isn’t. I’ll go in and serve.”
The question was directed at Madam Chun, but the answer came from Sahee.
Min Yeojin shifted her cold, piercing gaze to Sahee.
She had an impassive face. That was a relief. If Sahee had shaken her head pathetically, saying she couldn’t do it, Min Yeojin would have grabbed her by the collar.
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s no big deal.”
“Thank you. I was worried about holding up a busy person. But suddenly, I thought it would be nice if Sahee served. Sahee is so pretty, after all.”
Right?
Min Yeojin looked at Madam Chun and Cheoljun in turn, as if seeking agreement. Even though it was an obvious excuse, both of them smiled, showing their teeth, and nodded vigorously.
Having established her dominance, Min Yeojin finally smiled sweetly.
“Cheoljun, you were going to guide us?”
“Ah! Yes! This way, Madam.”
Cheoljun hurried to open the door of the annex building. Madam Chun followed behind them, looking at Sahee with anxious eyes.
Sahee shook her head to reassure her. After a faint smile, the door closed.
It was going to be a tiring day. But it might help in sorting out her feelings. With a silent exchange of looks, she could bring it to an end.
Limping as she moved, Sahee lowered her gaze. A sharp pain clenched one side of her heart.
* * *
Thud, thud.
Taeon, seated, tapped his phone screen. Did you sleep well? How are you feeling? There had been no reply to the messages he’d sent early in the morning.
She said she was tired, maybe she’s still not up.
Taeon was about to call Sahee but then decided against it. Her lifestyle was always so unpredictable. He knew it was unreasonable to expect consistency from an artist.
However, an unquenchable thirst awakened his desire.
If it weren’t for the fact that she hated having their relationship exposed to others, he would have already scooped her up and put her to bed. If she didn’t have a job, he would have given her a place and let her live on his lap, imagining slipping his hand under her skirt or embracing her sleeping body, which made his lower back ache momentarily.
That was when Secretary Kim came in. He hastily opened the door. Taeon put down his phone and looked up.
“CEO.”
His face was quite flustered. As he approached with brisk steps, his expression grew more pronounced. He looked too pale to just be announcing lunch time.
“What’s the matter?”
“They say Hanseong is coming down today.”
Taeon’s eyes, now cold, turned towards Secretary Kim.
“Speak clearly.”
“……Madam forgot to inform us that the blind date is today.”
“Ah, forgot.”
A chuckle escaped from Taeon.
“……Miss Han Jisoo’s side has arrived and they’re asking for you to be ready and come out.”
“Is this how she gets revenge?”
Taeon clicked his tongue softly and shook his head. It was such a childish revenge that it seemed his mother was indeed bothered.
“Understood. Let’s have lunch and then go.”
“Yes, I’ll prepare.”
Taeon stood up from his seat. As he was about to leave, he thought of the woman who wasn’t responding to his contact.
Yeon Sahee, who still hadn’t replied.
Yeon Sahee, who often helped out in the kitchen when she was bored, probably hadn’t been informed about today’s blind date.
Picking up the phone he had tossed aside, Taeon immediately called Sahee. It didn’t last long. After one ring, the announcement came:
─ The customer you are trying to call is not available. Please try again later…
Either she rejected the call or blocked him.
Taeon’s lips twisted, his eyes hardening. He couldn’t help but laugh when he remembered how Sahee had visibly avoided him last night.
She had feigned embarrassment over the broken bed to gloss over it.
She had accepted his card unusually obediently, with no intention of ever using it, just wanting to send him away quickly.
“CEO?”
Secretary Kim looked at Taeon with worried eyes.
* * *
“CEO!”
Despite Secretary Kim’s call, Taeon didn’t stop walking. He strode out of the annex, heading in the opposite direction of where the blind date would take place.
Yeon Sahee’s nest, which he could now find with his eyes closed due to how often he’d visited.
The most secluded spot in Yeonghwadang.
Her space, worn and neglected, always welcomed him with its solitude. Taeon entered the small annex without hesitation and opened the door to Sahee’s room.
Far from being asleep, there was no warmth in her room at all. The only trace left was her pajamas draped over the chair like a shell.
Taeon let out a cold chuckle and turned around.
Outside, Secretary Kim was holding his phone close to his ear, looking up at Taeon with anxious eyes. Taeon beckoned to Secretary Kim while putting on his shoes. Secretary Kim approached, bowing and nodding to whoever was on the other end of the line.
“Ah, yes. Madam. There’s an urgent call from the head office, and the CEO is currently on the phone. We’ll escort him to the annex shortly. Yes, understood. I’ll hang up now.”
Taeon snatched the suit jacket Secretary Kim was holding.
“Is it Mother?”
“Yes. They say Miss Han Jisoo has arrived. Shall I escort you?”
“No. Stay here, Secretary Kim, and contact me when Yeon Sahee returns.”
“Yes?”
“The annex?”
“……Yes.”
“Understood.”
Taeon left the small annex with wide strides.
By the time he left the annex, the man’s back, which had been like a fierce beast, had somehow calmed down.
* * *
Jung Taeon appeared at the blind date venue 20 minutes after his date had already taken her seat.
Min Yeojin’s secretary peeked into the makeshift kitchen and gestured towards Sahee. Sahee, who had been standing by waiting after serving tea, stood up. Both Madam Chun and Uncle Bang followed her with their eyes.
With other helpers around, they couldn’t speak up, but in truth, standing there and being glared at was preferable to responding to every comment.
Sahee ignored the sharp stares and gripped the handle of the cart. The newly warmed dishes were neatly stacked on the cart by her aunt.
“I just go out in the order they’re placed on each floor, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. But Sahee, will you be okay?”
“What can I do if I’m told to do it?”
“Madam really. She knows your leg isn’t good, why make you serve? Rich people are always a bit off in some way. Should I go instead?”
“No. It’s my job, there’s no need.”
“True. But be careful.”
Her aunt grumbled as she placed the last dish on the cart.
Tension had stiffened Sahee’s waist. Jealousy surged over what she had thought was resignation, making waves without regard for its place.
“Just set them out to match the table setting and come back.”
“Understood.”
“Cheoljun, take Sahee’s cart to the front for her.”
“Ah! Yes!”
Cheoljun, who had been watching Sahee with concern, quickly ran over. He grabbed the cart handle from Sahee and left the kitchen.
Sahee limped after him. The sound of the wheels rolling over the marble floor was unusually loud.
Not far away, Min Yeojin stood. She smiled warmly at Sahee approaching the entrance.
“Cheoljun, here.”
“Uncle, give me the cart.”
“Huh? Oh…”
Cheoljun handed the cart back to Sahee. Sahee gripped the handle tightly, as if to support her weight. Min Yeojin gently patted Sahee’s tense shoulder, urging her to relax.
“Please.”
“……Yes.”
“Go in.”
Her breathing was rough for a moment.
Sahee gave a short bow to Min Yeojin before turning around. Cheoljun knocked on the door for her, and a clear, bright female voice from inside said, “Come in!”
The woman who might marry him.
Sahee pushed the cart towards the door Cheoljun had opened. She took heavy steps, leaning her weight on the cart.
“Excuse me.”
Sahee bowed politely and looked up. Her gaze met CEO Jung Taeon watching her. Sahee looked at him as if waking from a long dream.
He was there, and she was here; everything was finally in its place. The man on the steep hill was now clearly visible.
What CEO Jung Taeon was thinking was unknown. But to him, she must have looked the same from the first day they met until now.
The woman living in the old, shabby annex. The servant who shared one night with him.
Even if she kissed him or embraced him, she didn’t become someone else. Thinking about this made her feel incredibly small in her current position.
In the end, it was Sahee who looked away first. Avoiding his gaze, she pushed the cart forward with force. With each step closer, the fresh scent of fruit filled her lungs.
It was the same scent she’d smelled when serving tea to the woman waiting for CEO Jung Taeon. After serving the tea and returning to the kitchen, Sahee smelled the food in her hair and felt self-loathing. At that moment, she understood why Min Yeojin had pushed her here.
To see clearly with her own eyes. To realize the cliff she must climb. Even in the same room, their positions were so different. To not delude herself.
“I’ll serve the meal.”
Sahee bowed respectfully, eyes lowered.
“Thank you. The tea was good too.”
“Yes.”
Han Jisoo smiled warmly at Sahee. Sahee felt petty and absurd for not being able to smile back.
Sahee tried to calm herself as she took dishes out of the cart and placed them on the table one by one. She felt Taeon watching her but did not turn around.
Slowly, she placed the last dish on the table. She had done what she had to do.
For the woman who played a supporting role in the relationship that was about to begin, the only task left was to leave with the empty, tea-stained cups. Sahee reached out to take the lightened teacups.
“Have a nice time.”
That’s when it happened.
“Here.”
“……”
“Fill the water too.”
Taeon called out to Sahee, who was about to leave. He gestured at Han Jisoo’s water glass while looking at Sahee. For a moment, Sahee couldn’t hide her wavering gaze as she looked at Taeon.
He looked at her as if asking if there was a problem.
There was no time to deal with the rising humiliation. No such time was given. Before she could even say “Yes,” Han Jisoo’s shy voice erased Sahee as if she were not there.
“I tried not to show it, but I guess I did end up showing that I was nervous. My mom told me not to do anything embarrassing in front of you.”
“Is that so?”
Taeon’s gaze left Sahee.
“Yes. But what can I do if I’m nervous?”
Sahee, following his gaze, looked at Han Jisoo and then bowed. Even as she ignored the voice complaining like a child, her heart felt battered.
While bending down to get the water jug from the bottom shelf of the cart, she remembered bowing under Min Yeojin’s feet.
“You must not be used to such situations.”
“No. I’ve done blind dates before. I’m just nervous because it’s with you.”
Sahee quietly filled Han Jisoo’s water glass. It was soon brimming with clear water.
“Didn’t you hear? My mom told your mom, and I was so upset about it. Why did she say that?”
“What?”
“That you were my first love.”
“Ah.”
“Of course, that’s not all, so don’t feel too pressured. I’ve had three loves before.”
At this cute remark, Taeon let out a light chuckle.
It was at that moment that Sahee’s gaze turned back unintentionally. It was just a short laugh, but seeing him genuinely laugh with another woman felt like something inside her was shattering.
Jung Taeon and Yeon Sahee weren’t anything significant. What he did for her, he could naturally do for someone else. Perhaps this was even closer to his true self, yet she wavered.
Though she thought it was over, maybe there was still some arrogance in her heart believing it wasn’t.
Maybe by blocking his number, by pretending to be calm, she had thought of the man who was sometimes unreasonably kind on certain nights. Did she believe she could hurt him too? How far had she assumed her feelings were just desire?
That was a great delusion.
Before she could feel even more wretched, Sahee quickly averted her gaze.
“Oh, is it wrong to say something like this at a blind date? Of course, I’m not seriously talking about it. Just, you know, a brief dating thing.”
“No. Be comfortable. It’s nice that you’re honest.”
Han Jisoo smiled bashfully, relieved.
Sahee gave a short bow, ensuring not to interrupt their conversation further, and turned with the cart. But she found herself dragging her foot out of habit, and without time to correct it, she felt miserable.
Even if she didn’t limp, it wouldn’t change the positions of Yeon Sahee and Han Jisoo. Whether she limped or dragged her foot, it was this way every time she wanted to hide.
The sound of the cart and her limping steps intermingled in an urgent, off-beat rhythm. All she wanted was to exit from the conversation behind her.
After setting down the cart, Sahee quietly opened the door. As if waiting, she met Min Yeojin’s eyes through the crack.
If she had come to check Sahee’s despairing face, it might have been the right moment. Min Yeojin smiled at Sahee’s stiff expression.
Click.
As the door closed, the sound of their conversation faded. At the same time, Cheoljun approached. He tried to take the cart from Sahee but noticed her trembling hand on the handle and looked at her, momentarily confused.
“Sahee, thank you. You worked hard.”
“It’s nothing.”
“I kept a busy person too long. You can go now.”
“……Yes. Then I’ll head back.”
Sahee placed the cart near the entrance and bowed deeply. Min Yeojin finally smiled with satisfaction, her voice sounding lighter as if a burden had been lifted.
“It’ll take some time for our kids to finish their meal and talk. I should have some tea as well.”
“Oh, oh, would you like that? I’ll serve you.”
“Yes, that would be nice. Today, Cheoljun, would you keep me company?”
“Of course. Madam, please come this way.”
Min Yeojin walked past Sahee with light steps. Sahee, standing still, took a step forward, steadying her trembling breath.
As she left the annex, she couldn’t even remember what delusions she had entertained before. From the moment she lay in the same bed with Jung Taeon CEO, she should have prepared herself to be forever distant from him. Getting close to him was a declaration of never seeing him again.
It didn’t matter if the man didn’t agree. Even if he could shamelessly see Sahee again, she was no longer that person. She no longer wanted to see Jung Taeon CEO, even if only for brief moments serving him.
This must have been what Min Yeojin wanted. At least, not going against Min Yeojin’s wishes any further was a relief. Sahee hid her trembling breath with one deep exhale.
He might see her retreating figure through the window. At least until she left the annex, she couldn’t fall apart.
* * *
“Actually, I was worried.”
Click, as the door closed, Han Jisoo slumped her shoulders. Taeon, looking at the blind date setup Sahee had prepared, raised his gaze.
“What about?”
Han Jisoo’s wavering eyes calmed as Taeon gave a slight smile.
“Jiyoon oppa. My cousin who went to the same university as you, right? He was strongly against me going on a blind date with you. He said you’re not the kind of man who would give me the married life I want.”
“Ah, Han Jiyoon.”
“Yes. He said that every time you date, you act all domineering. He asked if I could handle that. Seriously.”
Han Jisoo pouted in annoyance.
For a while, she thought of her cousin, Han Jiyoon, whom she met at a family gathering. He had vehemently opposed the idea of Jisoo and Taeon’s blind date, trying to convince their family it was absurd.
When asked why he dated only older women during college, he replied that it was because they didn’t bother him. Even that was more like one-sided domination rather than the women’s experience or consideration, as he would cut them off immediately if they didn’t comply.
Han Jiyoon then spat out in opposition, saying that if Jisoo was serious, Taeon was not the man she could handle.
During the 20 minutes of waiting, she thought, ‘Maybe he’s right,’ but… in the end, hadn’t he smiled at her? His consistently indifferent eyes felt rude, but since he was that kind of man, it was understandable.
“But it seems like he scared me too much.”
Han Jisoo soon smiled brightly, looking relieved.
Domination, huh.
Hearing those words, Taeon drew a line with his lips at the same time as Jisoo. Yeon Sahee was visible through the window. The woman walking away with her back straight didn’t look back once.
He had blocked her, signaling the end, yet her eyes, which had wavered at just a short laugh, came to mind, causing a cold, wry smile to escape.
This must be Min Yeojin’s doing.
He had openly taken Sahee around Seoul, so hoping Min Yeojin wouldn’t know was too optimistic. Perhaps she knew and had warned him in advance.
In the end, it was as if he had brought her here, making it all pointless. Hadn’t he long since stopped finding pleasure in poking and prodding for attention?
The mischievous thought of placing her in front of this wall from beginning to end ultimately knelt before Yeon Sahee, who drifted like an uninvited guest in this space.
“This place, Yeonghwadang, is really beautiful.”
Meanwhile, Han Jisoo, following Taeon’s gaze, looked at the cherry blossoms outside the window.
“I was scared when I heard it was a shaman’s house, but the road to get here was lined with cherry blossoms. It was the most beautiful cherry blossom I’ve ever seen. It felt like walking on a flower path with petals fluttering around.”
“The chairman put a lot of effort into it.”
“I’ve heard that story. I don’t understand everything, but I get it.”
Han Jisoo laughed as if the connection between Jeongmun Group and Yeonghwadang didn’t matter. Taeon, tilting his head slightly, smiled and gestured towards the meal.
“It’s going to get cold. Let’s eat first.”
“Great. I was hungry anyway, everything looks delicious.”
Han Jisoo’s eyes sparkled towards Taeon as if she meant it.
There was no way the people working at Yeonghwadang possessed the same skill or sense as the head chef at the hotels Jisoo was used to, so this was flattery. However, at least for him, it wasn’t entirely untrue.
Taeon scanned the neatly arranged dishes on the table and picked up his chopsticks. He savored the food as if chewing on Yeon Sahee’s resignation that had been placed on the table.
Ironically, it was quite tasty. It was as good as the pale fingertips of Yeon Sahee when she placed the last dish.
* * *
Leaning against the wall surrounding the annex, Sahee slid down.
Checking around to see if anyone might be watching, she found the surroundings quiet. Only the clear sky and the sound of leaves rustling in the wind were vivid.
This scene, with her sitting alone, would be the backdrop for the two main actors of today’s blind date at Yeonghwadang. The thought of the woman’s cheerful voice, chattering over the silence of pouring water, made her let out a wry chuckle.
“I should go.”
Sahee pressed her palms to her reddened eyes. Using the wall for support, she stood up.
She wanted to return to her room. She wanted to hide where no one could see her face, trembling with misery.
If she had such deep feelings, she would have been crying in her room, yet she had boasted to Cheoljun that she was fine, and now those words stabbed back at her.
However, even that plan was thwarted by Secretary Kim, who was waiting in front of the annex.
“Ah! You’re back!”
Why on earth was he here? Sahee, who had just entered the space with relief, frowned and sighed deeply. Feeling her obvious discomfort, Secretary Kim seemed to shrink back.
“Why are you here?”
Even if she knew whose orders it was, Sahee asked. Secretary Kim, aware of the situation, looked troubled.
“The CEO waited for you and then left. He told me to inform him when you returned…”
“I’ve already seen him.”
“Huh?”
“I was coming back from the annex.”
She had seen him at the annex. At Sahee’s words, Secretary Kim finally understood the situation and slightly opened his mouth.
At that moment, remembering the items she had packed into a small shopping bag that morning was a relief. Perhaps she should thank him for sparing her the pain of looking for him.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Huh? Oh, okay.”
Sahee passed him and stepped onto the threshold. Sitting down to take off her sneakers, she found the door slightly ajar.
“……”
Had he waited? Had he casually opened this door? Even so, he only waited about 20 minutes at the annex. Whatever he might have come to say, that was the extent of his feelings.
A wry, hollow laugh escaped her. Sahee opened the door without hesitation and went in. She picked up the small shopping bag she had prepared that morning.
The watch, the card, and the anklet. Items that felt unbearably heavy to her were inside.
She looked at the shopping bag placed on the corner of the desk for a long time, but to CEO Jung Taeon, these items were nothing more than something to be casually handed over. Just like these objects, her name was probably just another woman’s to him.
Sahee left the room. Secretary Kim, who was sending a message on his phone, looked up quickly at the sound. He hurriedly approached Sahee, who was putting on her sneakers.
“Where are you going?”
No, she was returning. Returning to where Yeon Sahee was supposed to be.
Without answering, Sahee stood up and held out the shopping bag to Secretary Kim.
“Give this to him.”
“Huh?”
When she thrust the bag towards him with an urging look, he reluctantly took it. After briefly checking the contents, he looked at her with a troubled expression.
“Now, please leave.”
“……”
“Whatever you report to the CEO, I find it uncomfortable having you stand here in my private space.”
When Sahee looked at him, Secretary Kim slowly moved away. He looked back once but eventually turned and left the annex entirely.
Sahee stood there, watching him for a long time.
Looking at the back of his secretary instead of the man himself, it felt pathetic to face the end. Even the breeze seemed to cut through her heart as it passed.
The moment she turned around, tears cut through her cheeks. Even though she wiped them hard with the back of her hand, the tears flowed faster.
In the end, she had to rush back to her room. Only after closing and locking the door did the narrow sense of relief that she was alone seep in. It was the only chance she had to be sad.
Even through the blurred vision from her tears, seeing the empty wall made her laugh. The gaze that had poured down from the man who once filled this small room had finally broken her knees.
“Ugh…”
She shouldn’t have been so proud. She should have just acted like an easy woman. She should have laughed like it didn’t matter. After all, her feelings were worth nothing.
With her head buried in her knees, she continued with useless regrets.
The scent of fruit from the woman she saw at the annex seemed to linger at the tip of her nose, making her stomach churn. She felt like vomiting, her chest ached, and a wretched sob escaped as she scratched at her throat.
“Ugh.”
The face of the woman who turned back when Sahee brought in the tea was radiant. “Thank you,” she said with eyes that closed in a smile without any shadow, making Sahee feel humiliated just by looking at her.
The fact that there was a woman in the world who could wait for him without any hesitation was profoundly depressing.
“Fill the water, please.” The gap between him and her implied in those words made her roll in reality.
She had only seen him in a dream; that was an illusion, not a meeting. Realizing this, her ankles ached. The worries she had always harbored came back, and she couldn’t stop the tears from welling up.
Sahee hugged her knees. Burying her head there, she cried silently. The sunlight, which had passed noon, crumbled over her head. Even that was too much of a tragic love for an unnamed supporting character.
* * *
About an hour for the meal. Then another couple of hours for the scheduled meeting. While he was in the meeting, Han Jisoo, who supposedly had a good time with his mother, sat opposite him for another three or four hours of meaningless conversation.
By the time all this was over, evening was tilting in the sky. While Han Jisoo went to say goodbye to his mother, Taeon checked the time on his phone when he received the message from Secretary Kim saying Yeon Sahee had returned.
[She’s back.] 1:27 PM.
If she had gone straight back to the annex after serving, that would be about the right time. Thinking of the clock he saw behind Han Jisoo, who was chattering about what was delicious, Taeon slowly stretched his neck.
“Taeon.”
At that moment, his mother’s clear voice echoed through the annex yard. Looking up, he saw his mother, with a bright smile, standing beside Han Jisoo. They were putting on shoes, supporting each other like a loving mother and daughter, creating a warm atmosphere.
“When are you going back to America?”
“In three days. I’ll miss it, really.”
“I know. Tell your Oppa to visit. It would be nice to show him around the campus too.”
“He’s busy, isn’t he?”
“I wouldn’t push a busy man onto our beautiful Jisoo.”
Min Yeojin playfully patted Han Jisoo’s butt. Han Jisoo responded with a shy smile.
She said she didn’t need to see her again, yet here she was, treating her like a daughter-in-law. It was hard to suppress the wry smile that hung on his lips, knowing Min Yeojin was doing this on purpose.
“Son, go see Jisoo off.”
Min Yeojin positioned Han Jisoo next to Taeon with a sweet smile.
“I’ll call when I get there, ma’am.”
“Yes, do that. Jisoo, take care. You worked hard coming all the way here today. Thank you.”
“No, it was nice to have a change of pace after so long. And to see you too.”
Min Yeojin hugged Han Jisoo with joy, patting her back lovingly until they parted. It was almost like no one knew who had the blind date here. She was so genuinely sincere that even her true intentions were unreadable.
“Let’s go.”
Taeon, watching with indifferent eyes, said shortly.
“Yes, I’ll be going.”
“Take care!”
She was overly enthusiastic even as they left the annex. Taeon, pretending to be annoyed, gave a short laugh and nodded towards Han Jisoo. As they stepped outside, the attendants waiting for Jisoo bowed to him.
“Oppa, today was fun.”