ENM 09

Chapter 9

“No.”

Again.

At that look in his eyes, as if saying Again?, Wooyeon bit the inside of her closed lips.

Let’s not say anything.

He kept leading her into answering “No” every time she opened her mouth.

Seeing a slight smile pass across Jeongheon’s eyes, Wooyeon firmly closed her lips. Beside her, Jiwoo had been watching the situation carefully before cautiously speaking.

“Then, can I ask something?”

Jeongheon nodded slightly, giving her permission with his eyes. Jiwoo gave a shy little smile.

“It may be an improper question, but… do you have a girlfriend, Director?”

Without realizing it, Wooyeon lightly poked Jiwoo with her elbow. It was a question that crossed the line. Clearly, it was rude.

“I don’t.”

Even so, Jeongheon answered without hesitation. At his clear voice, Jiwoo’s eyes widened happily.

Wooyeon lowered her gaze and looked at Jeongheon’s fingers.

His fingers were long for a man, with neat nails and a ring resting on one of them. The ring on the fourth finger of his left hand, which had made her naturally assume that he had a girlfriend, or perhaps was even married, shone with a strong presence.

The wedding ring that Jeongheon’s parents had put on his finger when they promised each other forever now remained as a keepsake, shining on his finger.

“Ah, I don’t have one either. How strange. What are the chances of something like this?”

“What about you, Manager?”

This time, his gaze naturally moved toward Wooyeon, as if it were her turn to answer.

But Jiwoo answered for her.

“Our manager also has a really great boyfriend. He’s a very famous chef, but…”

“Jiwoo.”

“Why? He’s someone you can brag about. He’s really famous. He appears on TV quite often…”

Perhaps because she had eaten such good food, Jiwoo was more excited than usual. Whenever Jiwoo was in a good mood, she became more talkative.

Wooyeon subtly signaled to her and pressed her finger against Jiwoo’s elbow again.

“Was I not supposed to say that? I’m sorry, Manager.”

Realizing it only afterward, Jiwoo rolled her eyes and quickly shut her mouth.

Wooyeon forced herself to smile calmly.

Right. There was no need to tell him even that much.

Feeling strange and embarrassed, as if she had suddenly been stripped naked, Wooyeon looked away.

Even with close friends, she preferred to share as little as possible about her private life. But the water had already been spilled.

Wooyeon had never told Jiwoo anything separately about her relationship with Yugeon, so it was only natural that Jiwoo still believed she was dating someone.

Even so, Wooyeon was a little annoyed at Jiwoo for becoming careless because of the pleasant atmosphere.

“Boyfriend.”

It was then.

As if he had never expected it, Jeongheon opened his mouth.

“So, you had a boyfriend.”

His slowly parting lips were accompanied by a meaningful gaze.

It pricked at her.

His gaze clung to her cheek and this time went even deeper, searching through her eyes.

It felt strange.

Was it because the atmosphere inside the restaurant was too warm?

Or because she felt guilty for no reason?

She did not like any of the attention falling on her. She felt burdened by suddenly becoming the center of the conversation.

“Yes.”

So she admitted it.

The moment she lied and confirmed it, Kwon Jeongheon’s gaze became darker.

His black eyes, with their sharp outlines, seemed to grow even deeper and darker. At the same time, her throat felt strangely prickly.

She was certain that she had no boyfriend now.

She had already ended things with her ex-boyfriend, Kang Yugeon, who had cheated on her with another woman, last month.

But somehow, right now, it felt as though she had to have one.

As though she had to.

His eyes seemed to say that.

“Shall we get up now?”

The atmosphere had changed.

Without saying anything else, Jeongheon stood up first, and the two women followed him.

“What should I do, Manager? I made a mistake, didn’t I? I’m sorry. What do I do…”

Following behind Jeongheon, Jiwoo repeatedly apologized for carelessly talking about Wooyeon’s private life.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

Wooyeon comforted the anxious Jiwoo, but in truth, it was not okay.

And it was not because Jiwoo had carelessly revealed Wooyeon’s private life.

What bothered her was—

Wooyeon’s quiet gaze fixed itself on the back of Jeongheon’s neat neck.

Kwon Jeongheon walked ahead with long, confident steps.

The neat line beneath the back of his neck, which she had seen countless times eleven years ago, passed down over his firmly squared shoulders and fell cleanly along his back.

For an instant, the image of him walking with his white school uniform shirt fluttering in the wind overlapped like a ghostly illusion.

Wooyeon suddenly stopped walking.

“Manager?”

Jiwoo looked at her carefully.

“Why?”

“Uh… nothing. I guess I’m just really tired.”

It felt as though her confused emotions had been turned upside down from head to toe.

Was it because she was tired?

She did not know whether she had become dazed because she was troubled, or troubled because she had become dazed.

Was it because she had lied and said she had a boyfriend when she did not?

Or because she had casually used Kang Yugeon’s name, even though their relationship had already ended?

She did not know.

Her heart simply felt that way.

Uncomfortable.

Something felt wrong.

“Director, we really enjoyed the meal today. If we get the chance, we’d like to treat you to a proper meal sometime too…”

“Thank you for saying that. I’ll accept the thought.”

Standing in front of the restaurant, Jeongheon clearly drew a line between them as he checked his watch.

“We can look at the paintings again later. It’s too late now.”

“Oh, my. It’s already this late. Yes, yes. Please visit whenever it’s convenient. We’ll keep the gallery doors wide open and wait for you.”

“Thank you.”

For that, at least, Jeongheon seemed sincere.

He lowered his head slightly and gave them a polite greeting.

“Well, my house is just up ahead, so I’ll go first. Please get home safely, Director. I’ll see you on Monday too, Manager.”

Sensing the strange atmosphere between the three of them, Jiwoo quickly bent at the waist in a formal bow and disappeared.

The quiet alley was once again left with only Jeongheon and Wooyeon.

On a summer night, on a familiar road, with a stranger.

No.

Was it a familiar person who now felt strange?

In the strange silence, the hot and humid air settled heavily around them.

As though he had something to say but remained silent, Jeongheon stood there.

Wooyeon lowered her head first.

“Then, I’ll be going too.”

“Which way are you going?”

The low voice stopped Wooyeon just as she was about to leave.

She raised her head again.

His eyes were darker than the night. They looked indifferent, yet there was an unreadable emotion shining in them.

“I called a taxi on my way out.”

“I see.”

Perhaps he had intended to give her a ride.

A strange disappointment briefly crossed his dark eyes.

But right now, even a look like that was exhausting.

This place was too tiring, filled with heat like the air that had been baking all day.

The humid heat clung to the back of her neck.

She felt as though her body were melting.

All she wanted was to get home quickly and collapse.

“Thank you for treating us to such a wonderful meal today. Next time, if you could give us a little more notice before visiting, I’ll prepare some works that suit your taste and wait for you.”

So next time, don’t suddenly show up like you did today. Make an appointment first.

The meaning hidden inside her words was carried in her gentle voice.

“I understand. Next time, I’ll try to arrange it according to your schedule, Manager.”

Jeongheon’s lips curved slightly as he understood what she meant.

Instead of giving the usual polite answer and saying that was not what she meant, Wooyeon simply bowed politely.

She felt as though she might collapse at any moment and did not want to stay any longer.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

“Get home safely.”

His deep voice followed her back.

Wooyeon turned around once more, gave him a small bow, and got into the waiting taxi.

“Hyehwa Station, please.”

The taxi carrying Wooyeon slowly started moving.

It passed Jeongheon, who was standing in front of the restaurant, and gradually moved farther away.

Only after Jeongheon disappeared completely from the side mirror did Wooyeon finally sink into the seat.

“…It’s hot.”

Covering her heated eyelids with both hands, she finally let out her first comfortable breath since sunset.

“Would you like me to turn the air conditioner up?”

“Yes, thank you.”

Cold air soon wrapped around her entire body, but for some reason, the heat inside her did not cool down.

Another tropical night had begun.

On Saturday afternoon, the yard, which had been soaked by the rain the night before, was now blazing under the scorching sunlight as if the rain had never happened.

Under the large persimmon tree, white gardenia flowers bloomed beautifully. Swaying in the wind, they filled the air with a soft fragrance.

It was unbearably hot.

Summer had truly begun.

Wooyeon put ice into a bowl and walked across the yard.

At the sound of her footsteps, a Jindo dog that had been lying under the red roof, exhausted from the heat, suddenly jumped to its feet.

“Samsik.”

Even just hearing Wooyeon’s footsteps made Samsik wag his tail and pant happily.

After her parents’ divorce, Wooyeon had suddenly moved to Okcheon, where her mother’s family lived. She had struggled to settle into her new surroundings.

For that lonely Wooyeon, her grandmother had hurriedly brought Samsik from a friend.

He had become her precious family.

It seemed like only yesterday that he had arrived wrapped in a blanket inside a small box.

But somehow, Samsik was already eleven years old.

“Are you really hot? They say it’s going to be really hot this year.”

Samsik licked the ice Wooyeon had placed down and gently wagged his tail.

Watching him quietly, Wooyeon smiled.

The old detached house, built with red bricks, was the place where her mother had been born and raised before getting married.

Naturally, the house had grown older with the passing years.

Even so, it was still a warm and familiar home.

When she was young, she had spent every school vacation there.

She had wandered through the fields of rapeseed flowers, walked along roads filled with blooming peach blossoms, and visited the Geum River as it flowed endlessly nearby, filling the place with memories.

Even after becoming an adult, Wooyeon came here every weekend without fail.

It was her only place of rest.

“You like it that much?”

Just watching Samsik lick the ice was healing for her.

“I thought I was going to die yesterday because I felt so restless, but looking at you makes me feel alive again.”