Even in the moment the car speeding down the road slid underground, she remained calm. When they descended the maze-like road all the way and entered the parking garage, she glanced once at the driver’s seat. And the instant the car stopped, she clenched both fists tightly.
Her expectation that they would go to an open space with a river where people were out for walks and dates, just like before, had gone completely awry.
Click. The driver’s side door opened.
When he got out first, circled around, and approached the passenger side, she shrank back as much as possible, rolling only her eyes upward.
“Get out. It’s not a weird place.”
*If it’s not a weird place, then what is it?* Those words circled in her throat before disappearing. Because he abruptly leaned in and undid her seatbelt. She had no choice but to falteringly move her body and get out of the car.
*You’re safe with me.*
She tried to calm herself by recalling his words over and over, but there was nothing she could do about the anxiety that kept growing.
They took the elevator, passed through a corridor echoing with footsteps, and stopped in front of a door. As he reached out to operate the door lock, an unbearable fear surged in.
“Where… is this?”
She barely let out a voice and grabbed the hem of his clothes with force as he pulled the door handle. Taeheon ignored Ugyeong’s hand and pulled the door open. Then he stepped back to make it easy for her to enter.
“It’s your hideout.”
“Huh?”
“I’m leaving right away, and no one will come here after this time, so use it. I won’t say anything about rent or living expenses, so rest or study. Do whatever you want here.”
“…….”
He took her hand, which had stiffened like ice, wrapped it around the door handle, and then, true to his word, turned his body away immediately.
“Excuse me.”
Her hand reached out urgently. The door that had been left open slammed shut with a bang.
Taeheon narrowed his brow reflexively. After looking at the closed door once, he fixed his gaze on her. The two eyes that had been terrified just seconds ago were now moist. She looked like she would burst into tears at the slightest touch.
Trembling all over and holding back tears, she looked small and frail no matter when he saw her. The instinct to embrace and imprison her in his arms like last night surged, but fearing a mishap where a brush of hands or contact of bodies would make him lose his reason, he restrained his desire by tensing both arms.
“I’ll send you the password by text. If you forget, check your phone.”
He spoke nonchalantly and unlocked the door lock again. Then he forcibly pulled her inside so she couldn’t come back out, standing her in the entryway.
“Why are you going this far for me?”
“I guess I like you.”
He answered as naturally as breathing.
“Because I like you, because I want you to be well. It would help more if I knew what situation you’re in, but if you don’t want to talk about it, you don’t have to. I’ll figure it out on my own and treat you well.”
It seemed even cringeworthy and embarrassing words became easier the more you said them. Judging by how smoothly they spilled out. He finished speaking with a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, then twisted his captured arm free.
“Rest.”
He gazed at her for a few seconds, then slowly turned his body. His mind was in chaos. He wondered what kind of life she had lived. How one could live such that the eyes of a woman not yet twenty would come to resemble those of someone who had weathered every harsh storm the world had to offer.
* * *
The officetel was spacious enough inside for two, no, four people to live comfortably. Each room had a bed as a given, and there were two bathrooms—one for the master bedroom and one for the living room. The walk-in closet was completely empty, devoid of any trace of a person. Everything within her sight and reach was brand new.
They say the wealthy own private villas and purchase buildings for profit as well—she figured Taeheon must also own this officetel for such purposes.
She stood in the entryway for a long time even after he left, then briefly looked around the house before spending time in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. It was less because the night view was mesmerizing, and more because it was a spot overlooking the river she had gone to with Taeheon.
Every time she blinked, his face, his expression flickered hazily. She also felt as if she could hear his voice like an auditory hallucination.
He had said it while sitting on a mat by the river, eating chicken. That it was merely manners reserved exclusively for “his person.”
She had let it slide because she was focused on the story about his father being a devoted husband, but he had already confessed. That she was “his person.” Foolishly failing to understand, she had doubted his goodwill and kindness. Wondering why he treated her well, why he went this far.
How frustrated must he have been to let such a confession slip? That he liked her. That he would treat her well.
“I feel the same way. I like you too, oppa.”
She offered a belated response. Recalling the confession by the river she had gone to with him.
Buzz, buzz. The phone in her pocket vibrated for quite a while.
It was obvious who would call at this hour, so she turned her head to look at the clock first. It hadn’t passed midnight yet, so it wasn’t as though she were staying out overnight. Thinking she had a retort ready even if the other party tried to find fault, she touched the call button.
—Where are you? How could you leave the house without a word!
“I told you I was going out.”
—When did you? All you did was whine about handing over the watch. No, but still, is it worth throwing a fit over your aunt trying on a pretty watch once?
“It broke. Because of Aunt. You saw it break because she handled it roughly.”
—Is that my fault? Where’s the proof I did that? I clearly returned it in perfect condition, and it broke after you took it.
“No, it was already broken when Aunt returned it. Aunt broke it. Because she didn’t want to admit it, she screamed and cut my hair without permission.”
The noisy, loud voice on the other end of the phone suddenly went silent.
It seemed something had struck a nerve. Quite some time had passed, so the alcohol must be wearing off. It was about time she recalled the memory of her drunken rampage, wielding kitchen scissors.
Hong Mijeong, who had chopped off her abundant hair with strange laughter, had truly been like a demon. Ignoring Ugyeong, who cried and begged her to stop, she scattered the cut hair in the living room and cackled. She was a lunatic.
—Anyway, you’re not coming in today? Fine, I get it. I called because I thought you’d be wandering around with nowhere to go, but did you already pick up some guy? No matter what, a girl shouldn’t throw her body around recklessly.
“Are you one to talk?”
—What?
“Do you know about Uncle? That she brought men into the house while Uncle was in prison.”
—Wh-what crazy nonsense! Hey! Are you insane?
“Then you should have hidden it better.”
—What. What did I do!
Ha. Ugyeong sighed deeply and pressed her palm to her forehead. Recalling that moment, her head pounded and nausea surged.
“Condoms. One in the hallway to the master bedroom, one on the living room sofa. Ah, and I saw one in the kitchen a while ago. That’s why I don’t go into the kitchen. Because it’s filthy. If you keep provoking me, I might tell Uncle everything.”
—Hey, you crazy—...
Ugyeong hung up without listening further. She didn’t stop there; she turned off the power and cut off all contact.
She hoped Hong Mijeong would tremble with anxiety all night long. She wanted her to live on edge, consumed with fear of when Seol Gicheol would find out about the affair. Regretting for a long, long time the moment she coveted someone else’s belongings just because they were pretty.
“She’s not someone who would regret it.”
Ugyeong let out a hollow laugh and went to the bedroom. She sat on the bed and ran her hand over the neatly spread bedding before getting up again.
Though there was no trace of a person, she felt sorry for thoughtlessly using things that belonged to him. The bed even more so. So she took only a pillow and blanket and came out to the living room. She dimmed the lights, lay on the sofa, and pulled the blanket over herself. She wondered if she could sleep in an unfamiliar place, but surprisingly, drowsiness swept over her.
As her eyelids drooped shut, moisture trickled through. She made excuses that it was because she had taken in an unprecedentedly enchanting night view, and drifted off to sleep.
* * *
Taeheon, who had chosen his clothes with a discerning eye, moved his steps to the powder room. After running the hair dryer and taming the shape of his still-damp hair, he put product in his hand and fixed the style.
Lastly, he sprayed two perfumes onto each wrist in turn. He used them individually as well, but Taeheon enjoyed layering the two fragrances.
“Ugh, why are you following me around like this.”
Taeheon snapped in irritation around the time he finished getting ready to go out and left the powder room. Taejun’s gaze, which had been following him around and observing since earlier, was inscrutable.
“You’ve been using only that perfume lately?”
The look in his eyes suggested he was wondering if Taeheon really had to go that far, given that anyone could see he looked like he was about to go on a date, wearing nice clothes and expensive perfume.
“She said she likes this scent.”
“……Not because you like it, but because she likes it? Who?”
Taejun grinned slyly, wiggling his eyebrows as if he’d caught onto something.
“Ugh, whatever.” Taeheon showed his annoyance once again and moved away.
It was true that he thought of her every time he sprayed perfume, but he was slightly annoyed that his unnecessary blabbing had let his older brother catch on. He hated it even more if his brother, who didn’t know the first thing about romance, was doing this to offer unwanted advice.
“Hey, next time you go to the department store, buy some clothes for me too.”
“Why would I buy clothes for you, Hyung?”
“Just buy me a few in the style you wear. I’ll pay you an errand fee.”
“No thanks. You’ll only give me a few ten-thousand won. And why do you want to copy someone else’s style? Don’t copy me, it feels gross.”
“I’ll raise your card limit.”
“…….”
Taeheon, who had been moving busily, froze.
It was true that his brother was detestable for trying to freeload off the personal style he’d built through countless attempts and long experience, but the condition of raising his card limit was quite tempting.
Thinking about it again, his brother’s request wasn’t difficult. He just had to buy a few outfits in the style he normally wore.
“Do you mean it?”
“Before that, explain what you mean by saying you’re going to use the officetel.”
“Ah, that.”
“Your voice was strange on the phone yesterday. It definitely sounded like something had happened. What is it? What’s going on.”