MJ | Chapter 7

People often imagine meeting an ex. Some might greet them warmly, others might regret seeing how well they’ve turned out, and some might secretly rejoice if their ex’s new partner isn’t as good.

“It’s been a while…”

In a very brief moment, Jungin felt a mix of emotions. He forced a smile, but the response was cold.

“Who are you?”

His eyes, tone, expression—none of it seemed like the Kim Hajun he knew. The unexpected answer left Jungin visibly flustered. It was embarrassing, but he had to check on Mina first, so he turned around.

Mina’s cheek was red, and her big eyes were teary.

“Oppa…”

Her trembling voice made him angry and his heart ache. After ensuring she was okay, he finally felt relieved. Words he couldn’t say piled up inside. Who told you to do something so dangerous for money? What if something had happened? Mina pointed to Kim Hajun, who stood behind Jungin.

“He helped me.”

Jungin couldn’t turn around. It felt like a spike was piercing the back of his head. Just then, Dooyoung, who had gone to get help, returned and was shocked by the scene.

“CEO, are you okay? Did you kill him?”

The motel staff who followed called someone on the phone. Meanwhile, Hajun turned and left. Dooyoung followed. Hajun walked briskly, looking like someone filled with anger.

“CEO, are you just leaving?”

He didn’t answer, clearly displeased. As Dooyoung explained the situation to the motel staff and handed over a business card, he followed Hajun outside and got into his car. But Hajun, having started the engine, didn’t move, staring ahead.

His jaw was tense, and veins bulged on his hands gripping the steering wheel. When Dooyoung called him again, he suddenly cursed and started the car.

As they reached the main road, Dooyoung screamed.

“CEO!”

The car, which should have turned right, turned left, driving against traffic. An oncoming car honked loudly and swerved. Hajun quickly braked, and the car stopped diagonally on the centerline.

Panting, Dooyoung clutched his chest and looked at Hajun. What’s going on? He wore an expression of utter confusion. He’d known him for nearly a decade but had never seen this face.

“CEO…?”

Cars stopped, and some drivers rolled down their windows to curse. Despite the chaos, he didn’t even think of turning the car around.

***

Thud, thud, Mina looked up at the ceiling. The noise had been going on for an hour. Her cheek was still red in the mirror. Bastard. She cursed, frowning. The man had introduced himself on social media as an indie film director. He said he needed uniforms for a shoot, so she thought he was legit.

Turns out he had multiple similar offenses. Even at the police station, he was so shameless that she almost hit him with a chair. Not that she was blameless. Upset by her foolishness, she sat sulking for a while before getting off the bed.

Opening the door, she saw the kitchen. The pressure cooker rattled, filling the house with the smell of rice. Ryu Jungin, who had gone grocery shopping, hadn’t returned yet.

Jungin’s house was sparse. The only visible furniture was a single bed, a fridge, and a table. It was cold, so the drying rack was inside, and all the clothes were black. Ink often stained them at work, but wearing such dull colors all the time made her pity her only brother. As she looked around, the front door opened, and Ryu Jungin came in with bags of groceries.

He placed them on the table, and Mina immediately rummaged through them. Expecting a lot, she found strawberries and snacks she liked. There was also a pharmacy bag. Opening it, Mina felt a lump in her throat. It was the calming pills Grandma often took.

“Why’d you buy this? Who got scared?”

Jungin opened the round lid and handed Mina a calming pill, along with water. Eat. His tone was curt, but his sincerity touched her, making her emotional. As she drank the water, her eyes burned and her throat tightened.

Jungin silently turned on the stove and heated a frying pan. Mina chewed the calming pill and swallowed her tears. The more she thought about it, the more pathetic she felt. She could have been in serious trouble. If Jungin hadn’t shown up. If that man hadn’t been there…

“Oppa, was that someone you knew at the motel?”

Jungin didn’t answer. Though he took off his glasses, it was definitely Kim Hajun. His cold gaze lingered. Who are you? He looked at his reflection in the kitchen window. Had he changed so much that he couldn’t be recognized? Or did he just not want to acknowledge him? The latter seemed more likely. It left a bitter taste. Perhaps it was inevitable.

Lost in thought, the eggs in the frying pan cooked nicely. He flipped them carefully, making sure the yolks didn’t break, and placed them on a plate in front of Mina. He took out the side dishes Mom had made, put them in bowls, and served instant soup, completing a decent meal.

There was only one set of spoons and chopsticks at home, so he gave them to Mina and used disposable chopsticks himself. Mina pouted at the sight of the utensils.

“Is this all the cutlery you have?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend to bring home?”

“Shut up. Just eat.”

As Mina ate a few spoonfuls, her mood sank at the sight of Mom’s side dishes.

“Don’t tell Mom.”

She’d be devastated, and if she found out her daughter had caused such trouble, she might really collapse. As Mina ate, she felt sad looking at the chipped table. She couldn’t even ask where all the money went. She knew most of it went to the orphanage.

“Wait. Once I sign with an agency, I’ll pay off all your debt, oppa.”

Jungin nodded absentmindedly at Mina’s ambitious gaze. Since last year, Mina had suddenly wanted to become an actress and recently mentioned attending an acting school.

If she was serious, he could bring her to Seoul and enroll her. But the problem was Mina’s dreams changed every three months. So he figured this would pass too.

As Mina ate, she choked and asked for water. Jungin fetched it and noticed her old phone. Kids her age would usually pester their parents for the latest phone, but she used an outdated model.

Like Jungin, Mina never begged for things. From birth, she learned to share with others and not to be greedy. So she easily gave up and let go. She considered it sour grapes and didn’t even think of tasting it.

[Who are you?]

Suddenly, the face from earlier flashed in his mind.

Who are you? That’s harsh.

Then he remembered what he’d done, and his throat tightened.

Thinking about it, he deserved to hear that.

***

Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Hajun repeated the words in the mirror. What was my expression? Did I frown? He vividly remembered Ryu Jungin’s surprised face. Childishly, he tried to recall any misery from that face.

Feeling conflicted, Hajun filled a glass with ice and poured whiskey. Drinking half without pause, his throat and chest burned. Ha, no matter how he thought about it, his reaction was stupid. Who are you? The scene replayed endlessly in his mind since returning home.

Why didn’t I react coolly? Like a sulky kid, I asked who he was. Damn, embarrassing. Memories from over a decade ago flooded his mind as if they happened yesterday. He finished the remaining drink and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Turning on cold water, he stood under it, trying to clear his head. Through the water, Ryu Jungin’s face appeared. He hadn’t changed at all. That made him angrier. He hoped he’d regret it forever, but seeing his face, he seemed to be doing well.

Damn, feeling unjust, he bit his lip.

The cold water made his teeth chatter, bringing him back to his senses. He put on a robe and lay on the sofa. Closing his eyes, memories from over ten years ago crept in, cluttering his mind.

He tossed and turned, changing positions. Curled up, the phone rang. Ignoring it, it kept ringing. Reluctantly, he got up and checked the caller. It was his mother, Joo Hyeryeon.

He hid his frustration and answered casually.

“Hi, Mom.”

[Hajun, where are you?]

Her voice sounded like she was being chased.

“Why?”

[Leave the country immediately. I’ve told Grandma everything. Just go, quickly.]

Suddenly calling to leave the country?

“Is Dad under investigation?”

She insisted he leave without asking questions, entrusting work to Dooyoung for now. It sounded more like an escape than a trip. Usually calm, her fast speech was unlike her.

[You can’t stay here. It’s dangerous.]

“What’s going on? I need to know to understand.”

[Your dad wants you to get married!]

Hajun lay back down, phone to his ear. Chairman Kim had been urging him to marry for ages. He thought marriage might make him a better person. Since last year, he’d even brought potential matches, pushing him to go on dates.

Hajun laughed, responding lightly.

“Great. I’ll just get divorced after doing what he wants.”

[I’m not joking. You know your grandfather left a will, right?]

Suddenly, what will? Indifferent, Hajun recalled something and sat up like a spring. Joo Hyeryeon’s voice, almost tearful, came through.

[Your dad’s going crazy looking for that family!]