IWYFB Chapter 3

Though Jiwoo and Taemu’s father had once competed fiercely for the top ranks in school, their paths had diverged, one to a provincial national university on a scholarship, the other to study abroad in America. In time, the bond between them had faded.

 

Jiwoo’s father often reminisced about that time, sighing over his lost friendship, and vowed that no matter what, he would send his daughter to a university in Seoul.

 

“Do you enjoy it?”

 

“What?”

 

“Studying.”

 

Jiwoo let out a small huff through her nose.

 

“Who actually enjoys studying? You just do it because you have to.”

 

Taemu chuckled in response, mirroring her breathy sigh.

 

“One of my father’s friends owns a publishing company. He sends us boxes of textbooks and reference materials now and then. We even have full book sets stacked up. If you need any, you can come by and take some.”

 

Jiwoo knew exactly who he meant.

 

That man occasionally visited their home during the holidays when he came back to town. A publisher, yet he had never once gifted her a book.

 

The thought left a bitter taste, though it didn’t stop her ears from perking up. She loved books, after all.

 

As a child, she had often visited Taemu’s house with her father, trailing after Taemu, four years her senior. He had seemed mildly annoyed but had never pushed her away.

 

Sometimes, without a word, he would pluck a book from his shelf and quietly place it before her.

 

“Then… can I come by this weekend?”

 

She wasn’t even sure if he had meant the offer seriously, but she hurried to ask, just in case.

 

“I’ll be home all Saturday afternoon.”

 

Before she knew it, they had arrived in front of her school. The ride had felt far too short.

 

“Thank you for the ride. Goodbye, sir.”

 

Jiwoo politely bid farewell to Taemu’s father before opening the car door.

 

But just before stepping out, she turned back, offering Taemu a shy smile.

 

He averted his gaze but gave a small nod, staring straight ahead.

 

Jiwoo stepped out, shutting the door behind her. She took a step back, and the car pulled away.

 

She remained standing until the vehicle disappeared from view, then let out the breath she had been holding.

 

She had been careful to breathe in shallow bursts, afraid that her own nervous breaths might echo too loudly in the enclosed space.

 

Sitting so close to Taemu had made her heart tremble almost unbearably.

 

Their school uniforms were ordinary, the kind worn by countless students in Haiju Town.

 

But on him, it seemed almost aristocratic, like something out of a film.

 

Just recalling his face from up close sent her heart racing.

 

His smooth forehead, his strikingly defined features, his dark eyes glimmering with an intensity that could unnerve anyone who met his gaze.

 

Though their exchanges felt stiff and awkward, the mere sight of him made her heart flutter as if she were walking on clouds.

 

She thought of his invitation, Saturday.

 

Jiwoo grinned to herself.

 

Perhaps the dream she had of him last night wasn’t meaningless after all. Maybe it had been a sign of good fortune.

 

She hardly needed to check her horoscope today.

 

She had been saved from tardiness, might soon get her hands on new books, and, most importantly, she would see Taemu again on Saturday.

 

Buoyed by excitement, Jiwoo dashed toward the school gates, her mind still full of him.

 

Even well into the morning lessons, Jiwoo felt as if she were dreaming.

 

Just like in last night’s dream, Taemu had reached out his hand. And just like then, she had taken it without hesitation.

 

Riding with him to school had felt surreal, as if she were still asleep.

 

She found herself grinning absentmindedly from time to time.

 

 

 

“Hey! Did you eat something weird this morning?”

 

Junseok, the boy seated beside her, shot her a sidelong glance, as though she had lost a screw.

 

Jiwoo scowled at him.

 

“Mind your own business.”

 

At her frosty tone, Junseok turned away, only to smirk mischievously a moment later.

 

“Hey, Kang Jiwoo! Keep glaring like that, and your eyes might get stuck that way.”

 

She didn’t even bother responding.

 

On a normal day, she would have yanked his hair or knocked his bag to the floor just to annoy him. But today, Junseok’s teasing barely registered.

 

Let him make faces all he wanted, she was too preoccupied with Saturday.

 

What should she wear? How should she style her hair? The mere thought sent waves of anticipation through her.

 

 

 

🌹

 

 

 

On this Saturday, the sky poured down with rain, quite contrary to Jiwoo’s eager heart that had fluttered since the early morning.

 

Normally, on weekends, she would indulge in the luxury of a late sleep, but today, her eyes opened early, much to her surprise.

 

The rain, unexpected and ill-timed during the busy farming season, threw all of her plans into disarray.

 

Yet, even her mother’s grumbling about the situation, despite no prior weather forecast, sounded oddly pleasant this morning.

 

As Jiwoo emerged from her room, her mother gazed at her, puzzled.

 

“Goodness, I see your face first thing in the morning. What’s going on? Waking up so early today?”

 

Her father, though clumsy with words, gazed at her with an expression that seemed to drip with affection.

 

A little while later, her father, soon to be promoted to village chief, stamped his attendance at the office, despite it being the weekend.

 

This left her mother alone to take care of the farm, managing both the fields and the harvest.

 

Finding help in such a busy season was no simple task, but her mother had somehow managed to find someone capable and reliable.

 

As Jiwoo washed up early in the morning, her mother exchanged a silent look with her father, a glance that seemed to carry unspoken understanding.

 

“Jiwoo! Where are you off to?”

 

After drying her hair and applying lotion, Jiwoo hesitated, unsure of what to say, before finally realizing her parents’ eyes were fixed on her.

 

“I’m just going to visit a friend.”

 

“Which friend?”

 

But in truth, there was no friend in the village her mother didn’t know.

 

If she simply said she was going to Tae-mu’s house, it would suffice. Yet, for some reason, the words didn’t come easily.

 

“I’m still figuring it out.”

 

“On a day like this, just bring them home. It’s raining, and I’ll just make something nice for you. It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

 

If her mother were home on a day like this, Jiwoo would typically leap for joy and skip about.

 

But today, for reasons she couldn’t quite place, Jiwoo frowned.

 

“No, it’s fine. You’re tired too; just rest today.”

 

Her words, mature beyond her years, caused her mother to glance at her father in silent inquiry.

 

“Well then, should I drop you off on my way? It’s raining, and your clothes and shoes will get soaked quickly.”

 

Jiwoo, feeling increasingly irritated by her parents’ unusual concern, pouted her lips in a quiet display of displeasure.

 

Her father, quick to sense the tension, cleared his throat softly to ease the situation.

 

“Come to think of it, the timing doesn’t quite work out. I should get ready and leave first.”

 

With his words, Jiwoo felt a sense of relief wash over her.

 

She turned to the mirror, smoothing her hair with a thoughtful expression.

 

 

 

🌹

 

 

 

As the car moved down the road, Tae-mu happened upon Jiwoo by chance and gave her a ride, dropping her off in front of the school before speeding away.

 

Through the side mirror, he watched Jiwoo standing there until she was out of sight, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips, an expression that seemed to hold something he couldn’t quite place.

 

The driver, Young-sik, cast a brief glance at him through the rearview mirror.

 

Having worked as Tae-mu’s chauffeur since his childhood, Young-sik had taken on the additional role of a bodyguard, looking after him with quiet loyalty.

 

Since Tae-mu began attending the local elementary school in town, up until he entered high school, Young-sik had been in charge of his school runs, ensuring his safety every step of the way.

 

Tae-mu’s father, who had inherited the family business, continued to live in the ancestral home even after marriage.

 

However, Tae-mu’s mother, the younger madam of the household, had persistently expressed her desire to move to Seoul, citing educational concerns since Tae-mu’s birth.

 

But the family’s business was firmly rooted in their current location, making the move impossible.

 

Furthermore, Tae-mu’s grandfather, who was staunchly protective of the family’s lineage, vehemently opposed sending Tae-mu away to study elsewhere, so the move was never permitted.

 

In the end, Tae-mu’s mother had to settle for sending him to a local elementary school rather than one in the city.

 

Since he was very young, Tae-mu had always been a solitary figure within the household, his cold demeanor and reticent nature making him a difficult person to approach.

 

Yet today, after giving Jiwoo a ride, something was different.

 

He found himself asking her questions with an unusual curiosity, as though something had shifted within him.

 

Though Tae-mu’s father and Jiwoo’s family were old friends, their visits had become less frequent as his family’s business grew and became busier.

 

Still, despite the increasing demands on his time, Tae-mu’s father had always made an effort to check in on Jiwoo’s family.

 

Every year, Tae-mu’s family received only the finest produce from Jiwoo’s family farm, and Tae-mu’s father would occasionally send gifts to Jiwoo’s household in return.

 

Having grown up witnessing his father’s attention and care toward Jiwoo’s family, Tae-mu couldn’t help but wonder if, in his own way, he had shown the same kindness to Jiwoo over the years.