F11
by KANChanseong expressed his doubts.
“The memorial service?”
“As you said, it’s the 20th anniversary.”
“But you said you would be out of the country.”
“I moved up my trip. I’ll leave next week.”
Chanseong’s eyes squinted as he nodded.
“That’s good. It’s good for the company’s image. There have been some rumors going around. This should quiet them down.”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you.”
Woohyeok got to his feet and Chanseong followed suit.
“Let’s have dinner while you’re here. It’s been a while since you came to the office. This area has changed a lot.”
“I have a prior engagement.”
“A prior engagement? With whom?”
Woohyeok stopped on his way to the door. He turned slightly, a smile playing on his lips.
“I’ve been seeing someone.”
“Seeing someone?”
Woohyeok walked out, leaving Chanseong standing there. Chanseong slowly sat back down on the sofa. After a while, Secretary Kwak came in. She closed the door behind her and stood in front of him.
“Anything new?”
“No. She said he didn’t have any special plans today.”
“She seems to be settling in. But tell her to stay on her toes. He said he’s going abroad next week, so have someone follow him.”
“Didn’t he say he was leaving around the time of the memorial service?”
Chanseong leaned back on the sofa and rubbed his forehead.
“He said he’d be there. I don’t know what he’s up to, but tell her to look into it. And tell her not to just hang around aimlessly.”
“I’ll let her know.”
Secretary Kwak left and Chanseong leaned back on the sofa and sighed.
“Why are you acting so strange all of a sudden, Woohyeok?”
Chanseong’s eyes, fixed on the ceiling, slowly closed.
***
At the vibration of her phone, Soobin, curled up in bed, groaned and lifted her eyelids.
-Have you heard from Jeong Woohyeok?
The abrupt question deepened the furrow in her brow.
“No. I haven’t. I would have told you if I had. He doesn’t even have my number, so there’s no reason for him to contact me.”
-Report immediately if anything happens.
Soobin tossed her phone on the nightstand and crawled back under the covers.
A moment later, she threw off the covers and sat up, then opened her bedroom door and walked into the living room. The house was empty and quiet.
She had been cooped up for three days, waiting anxiously for instructions, her nerves frayed. She had been told not to act without orders, but that only applied to her interactions with Woohyeok.
She decided to get some fresh air. After quickly getting ready, she stepped outside, a smile touching her lips as she inhaled the fresh air.
“Where are you going?”
“……!”
Soobin spun around at the sound of the voice behind her. Her eyes widened as she saw Woohyeok leaning against a sleek sports car.
“W-Woohyeok-ssi?”
Woohyeok pushed himself off the car and walked towards her. Soobin stood frozen, her eyes glued to his approaching figure.
“I asked where you were going.”
“J-just for a walk… How long have you been there?”
“Get in.”
“What?”
Woohyeok opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in.
She didn’t have time to think or hesitate. He had come all the way to her house. If she hesitated now, she didn’t know how his attitude would change so she got into the car.
As the car drove off, Soobin fastened the seatbelt and looked at Woohyeok, then spoke carefully.
“Where are we going?”
“Are you claustrophobic?”
“What?”
“Or acrophobic?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Do you?”
His calm tone felt like an order.
“No.”
Soobin watched Woohyeok drive for a while, lips pressed together, and felt her stomach churn.
She was supposed to report back if anything happened, but she wasn’t in a position to do so. A mixture of anxiety and frustration made her temples throb.
“You could at least tell me where we’re going.”
“Have you ever been to Singapore?”
“Singapore?”
A feeling of unease washed over Soobin. She pressed her forehead to the window, trying to read the road signs. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar word and she turned to Woohyeok.
“Are we going to Incheon Airport?”
“If you’re not claustrophobic or acrophobic, I assume you’re okay with flying.”
“That’s not the point. I don’t have a passport.”
“We can get you one there.”
“Get one there? I only have my cell phone. Are you seriously saying we’re going to Singapore?”
Woohyeok finally looked at her, his eyes scanning her face for a moment.
“We can buy whatever you need when we get there. It’s not a country where you’ll be inconvenienced even if you arrive empty-handed.”
“But you can’t just take me there without telling me.”
“I told you. I’d satisfy your curiosity with things you never expected.”
The fact that he meant it made the situation even more frightening.
He was a man who did what he wanted. He didn’t care about other people’s opinions. He only cared about his own desires.
He was the man who had pushed her to the brink of exhaustion in the pool. Then he had crumpled her like a piece of paper under his body.
Jeong Woohyeok was a man who effortlessly crossed every line she drew. She couldn’t even begin to imagine what he might do next, and a feeling of dread washed over her.
“Why Singapore?”
“It was the only flight with two seats available. I like to take the last seat.”
“That’s your reason? What will we do there?”
“Do you have anything you want to do?”
“I’m too stunned to even think about what I want to do.”
“Then think about it on the way. It’s a small country. You’ll find something.”
Soobin’s mind, suddenly filled with thoughts of Singapore, a country she had never given much thought to before, was struggling to keep up.
They arrived at the airport, and Woohyeok reached out his hand to Soobin, who was still sitting in the car, staring at him. She took his hand and got out of the car, following him as he efficiently arranged for a temporary passport and tickets. The next thing she knew, she was sitting in business class.
I have to contact her.
She had completely forgotten to contact Secretary Kwak.
The seat belt sign was on and the plane was about to take off. It was too late.
Soobin, who had missed her chance, felt herself slipping further into the situation. She clung to the only thing in her hand, her cell phone, as if it were a lifeline.
Woohyeok, who was watching her from the seat next to her, leaned back and closed his eyes.
With all eyes on him, it would be easier to investigate ‘Yoo Soobin’ back in Korea.
But the price he had to pay was high.
Woohyeok clenched his molars tightly against the shaking seat. He could feel the heat rising along his spine from his fear of flying. His palms, drenched in sweat, clenched into a tight fist.
***
“I’m in Singapore.”
-Where?
“Singapore.”
For the first time, Secretary Kwak’s usually cold voice was tinged with surprise.
Soobin had assumed she would know, since she was always watching them, but she obviously hadn’t known about their trip.
-Where are you staying?
“I don’t know. You know he’s not the type to share his plans.”
-Contact me when you get to the hotel. I’ll find out the rest.
Soobin hung up and walked out of the bathroom, hurrying to catch up with Woohyeok. She could feel his eyes on her, but he didn’t say anything and she followed him out of the airport in silence.
The humid air made her cheeks flush and she followed the waiting driver to the car.
“So where are we going now?”
“Have you thought about it?”
“What?”
“What you want to do in Singapore.”
Soobin met Woohyeok’s stoic gaze. A flicker of doubt crossed her brow, causing her usually straight eyebrows to arch.
“Do you really have no plans? Are we just going to do whatever I want?”
“I wouldn’t mind being guided for once. Especially if it’s by you, Yoo Soobin-ssi. I’m curious to see how you’ll deal with me.”
Her mind was too busy during the flight to even think about what she wanted to do. And she didn’t really care because she figured that Woohyeok would just do what he wanted, even if he said otherwise.
“I did whatever I wanted with Yoo Soobin-ssi at my house, so now it’s Yoo Soobin-ssi’s turn to do whatever she wants with me here. I’ll take all the responsibility.”
He was serious.
There was a chilling aura emanating from those black pupils that always seemed empty.
Soobin swallowed hard and looked out the window at the unfamiliar scenery.
Singapore.
She really was alone with Woohyeok.