****
“I’ll be on a business trip next week...”
“I made it as short as I could... Still, I’ll come back fast as soon as it ends.”
“...Okay.”
Yoo-jin, worried about how to sleep without Jae-hee that night, entered the powder room deep in thought. She slowly put on her skincare. When Yoo-jin had too much on her mind, her actions slowed down. She stared blankly at herself in the mirror.
When Yoo-jin didn’t come out of the powder room, Jae-hee got worried and stood by the entrance.
“I’ll really really come back fast.”
“...It’s not because of you.”
“I know. It’s just... me worrying on my own.”
Not because of you? It is because of you. Now I’m so used to sleeping with you, the bed feels too big. It’s scary to fall asleep alone now.
Maybe Jae-hee knew how Yoo-jin felt. She smiled from ear to ear and replied.
Yoo-jin stared at Jae-hee in the mirror, but there was no venom in her eyes. Her glare looked annoyed, but it held something warm. Jae-hee decided to call that feeling ‘affection’ however she liked.
“...What do you think about Agassi and Miss Soo-jin dating?”
“...The two of them?”
“Mm, the two of them.”
“Mm... I don’t know. They don’t seem interested in each other.”
Jae-hee, who knew everything about her own love life but was clueless about others’, said it like it was nothing. Yoo-jin smiled softly.
“Yeah, yeah~”
“What do you mean yeah? You’re hiding something, right? You are, right? What is it, what is it~?”
“Pfft, s-stop, it tickles!”
Jae-hee tickled Yoo-jin’s waist, and Yoo-jin twisted her body, bursting into laughter.
While they were enjoying their sweet moment, a ringtone broke the peace.
Yoo-jin saw the number on her phone screen, and her face froze in an instant.
Seeing this, Jae-hee called out in surprise.
“Honey...?”
Even with Jae-hee’s confused voice, Yoo-jin didn’t answer. She just stared at the screen with a pale face.
****
A quiet night. Everyone was asleep. Soo-jin slowly opened her eyes.
Thump, thump. Her heart was beating weirdly fast, and she couldn’t sleep.
I played along because she was Jae-hee unnie’s sister, but seriously, that woman’s weird. So selfish, so shameless, and that ridiculous confidence...
Well, maybe not that ridiculous. She is pretty. Ugh, damn it. It’s annoying. But fine, I admit it. Yeah, Soo-jin, just admit what you have to.
There was no way she could fall asleep next to her. Her heart kept feeling all warm and fuzzy, and she just couldn’t sleep.
Whenever she was about to drift off, that fox of a woman rolled over and clung to her again.
She had work tomorrow, so she couldn’t just stay awake all night. Soo-jin started quietly gathering her blanket to sleep in the other room.
“...Don’t go.”
“Aaargh—!”
Soo-jin quickly covered her mouth and looked beside her.
She said something. When Soo-jin turned on the bedroom light, her face showed.
“...You’re awake?”
“...Don’t go, unnie... Unnie, don’t go...”
Jae-yeon wasn’t awake. Soo-jin let out a breath of relief. She was about to turn off the light but stopped and looked at Jae-yeon’s face.
Huh... wait... she’s crying. Tears gathered at the corners of Jae-yeon’s eyes and slowly rolled down her cheeks.
What kind of sleep talk... makes you cry like that?
“Don’t go, unnie...”
She’s talking about Seon Jae-hee, right?
Seeing those tears on her scrunched-up face, the fluttering in Soo-jin’s heart turned into a dull ache.
She pushed aside her own confusing feelings and just looked at Jae-yeon.
They had only met twice, but this woman, who had always looked so calm and relaxed, now looked so fragile. And that made Soo-jin feel sorry for her.
Soo-jin was weak to crying women. She quietly set down the pillow she was holding, turned off the light, and crawled back under the blanket.
She said don’t go—how could she go?
Soo-jin turned to the side and looked at Jae-yeon’s face.
It was dark, so she couldn’t see clearly, but the outline was still there.
Looking at the gentle lines of Seon Jae-yeon’s face, Soo-jin carefully reached out and wiped away her tears.
Then Jae-yeon’s curled-up hand twitched, as if searching for something. Soo-jin quietly reached out and held it.
Like magic, she calmed down.
“…”
Soo-jin silently watched and thought about Jae-yeon’s sleep talk.
So Jae-hee leaving really left a deep wound, enough to show even in her dreams.
Soo-jin had never gone through being without family, so she couldn’t fully feel what the Seon sisters felt.
But she could understand the pain of having someone precious leave without a word, and the long years of just waiting and searching.
That emptiness, that resentment, that longing, that ache, that desperate heart...
Maybe these tears were a sign of sorrow from a place so deep that Soo-jin couldn’t even imagine.
Watching her lips curve into a soft smile as she held her hand like she was finally at ease, Soo-jin felt the ache in her own heart settle.
‘She’s... prettiest when she smiles.’
Jae-hee hid things, and Jae-yeon didn’t talk, so she couldn’t know the full story.
She was just someone standing a step behind, quietly watching. She couldn’t offer any comfort.
But saying one kind goodnight while holding her hand—that much, at least, she could do as a decent person.
“...Good night, Seon Jae-yeon.”
Thinking that it was a good thing she could still show that kind of warmth, Soo-jin closed her eyes.
“...Tsss... what time is it...”
Wiping the drool at the corner of her mouth, Soo-jin lazily waved her hand around.
Where’s my phone...? Why didn’t the alarm go off...? The alarm... didn’t ring...
She picked up the phone from the nightstand.
[09:35 AM]
“...S-shit! I’m late!”
“You just woke up?”
“Uwaaah!”
A strange voice right beside her made Soo-jin jump. She shot up, only to fall right off the bed with a loud thud.
Crashing to the floor, she groaned in pain. Ugh, that hurt like hell.
She slammed her head pretty hard. Her skull was ringing.
S-someone save me...
“Soo-jin, are you okay?”
“W-what the...!”
“Why are you so shocked? We slept together last night, remember?”
“Ah, right! S-sorry, I have to go shower. I’m late!”
As she hurried to leave, Jae-yeon quickly grabbed her wrist.
“Unnie said you can go in late.”
“Huh?”
“She said to drop off the documents on the table at the post office and go in after that. She’ll talk to the other assistants.”
As expected of Ms. Jae-hee...!
Relieved, Soo-jin let out a big sigh and plopped back onto the bed.
Jae-yeon looked at her and smiled softly.
“She said to come in by eleven.”
Eleven’s more than enough. Soo-jin ran her fingers through her messy hair and let out a long yawn.
Hwaaah—
Jae-yeon quietly watched her wide hippo-like yawn and asked,
“Tired?”
“A little...”
“Why don’t you sleep more? I’ll wake you up.”
“I’m already awake... I should eat before I go.”
“Want me to cook?”
“I was gonna eat out.”
“I’m good at cooking.”
“I’m fine, though.”
“...”
Silence fell. Soo-jin noticed Jae-yeon wasn’t answering and looked up.
Jae-yeon’s face looked weird. That kind of “oh really?” expression.
“...W-what is it?”
“Have you... never dated before? No friends either, right?”
“Why are you talking about dating out of nowhere... I-I have lots of friends, okay?”
“Lies. Jae-hee unnie said you only hung out with her.”
“That’s not true! I’m like... a total social butterfly!”
“And you’ve never dated, right? Not even once in your life?”
“I have! I totally have!”
She didn’t, but she answered with fake confidence like it was the truth.
Jae-yeon, who already heard from Jae-hee that Soo-jin was single since birth, snorted loudly at her answer.
“Oh, sure~”
“What kind of soulless reply is that?!”
Jae-yeon shrugged, then quickly snatched Soo-jin’s phone.
Caught off guard, Soo-jin blinked in shock, then lunged at her.
But Jae-yeon dodged smoothly and stepped off the bed.
Tap tap tap—she typed something fast and handed the phone back.
“What are you doing? Give it back!”
“Here you go.”
“What? What did you do?”
“My number. I saved it.”
Soo-jin looked at the screen.
An eleven-digit number.
And the name saved above it.
[Seon Jae-yeon]
“...W-why the number?”
“Because you’re the first friend I made since coming to Korea?”
“Since when are we friends?”
“Since the moment we met.”
“You’re the one who ignored me the first time we met!”
“I didn’t ignore you. I just noticed Jae-hee unnie first. Then, Miss Kang Soo-jin.”
Jae-yeon gave a calm smile and said,
“Go shower.”
“I-I will.”
“And let’s eat breakfast together. I need to eat too.”
Soo-jin almost said, “Says who?” but swallowed it with all her strength.
Still, she was the boss’ sister. Seon Jae-hee’s sister.
She’d just eat and leave. That’s it.
Grumbling, Soo-jin headed to the bathroom.
****
Yoo-jin looked clearly uneasy at Cheon-woo’s sudden call.
Discomfort, annoyance, anxiety, gloom, anger, it was everything Jae-hee could sense from her was negative.
She glanced at her and drove in silence.
It felt like Yoo-jin hit a rock in waters that had been smooth. She was deeply unsettled.
Meeting her father had always been a trigger that made her anxiety worse.
When she fled his arms and left for the U.S., that was the most free and happiest time in her life, what she called her golden years.
Even deciding to marry Jae-hee came from not wanting to go back to that awful place.
Still, sometimes she got summoned under the name of “public image” or “Cheon-woo’s wishes.”
Each time, it made her insides twist. Her anxiety shot through the roof.
Without realizing it, Yoo-jin bit her lip.
“...Jin.”
“...”
“Yoo-jin.”
“...Yeah.”
Jae-hee had stopped the car and was looking at her with worried eyes.
Her lip was cracked and bleeding.
Jae-hee opened the glove box and took out a wet wipe.
She tried to gently wipe Yoo-jin’s lips, but Yoo-jin snatched it and turned her head, wiping her own mouth.
It could’ve felt awkward, but Jae-hee didn’t mind.
“There’s still time, so let’s go slow.”
Their eyes met, Yoo-jin’s were trembling.
Jae-hee tried hard to come up with a topic that had nothing to do with this situation.
The only thing she could do right now was to pull Yoo-jin’s focus away from that pit of anxiety.
It was a bit sad, but there was no time to dwell on it.
Was there something she could bring up?
After thinking for a moment, Jae-hee spoke carefully.
“You know I’m going on a business trip next week, right?”
“...Mm.”
“Is there anything you want?”
It sounded like a dad going on a trip trying to calm down a whining kid, and Yoo-jin’s face relaxed for a second.
But then she pouted and grumbled.
“You think I’m a kid?”
“No, I know you’re not... but I’m going to the States after a long time. If anything comes to mind, I’ll bring it back.”
“What, if I ask for chicken noodle soup, you’ll get it for me?”
“...Umm, I’ll try.”
“Forget it, you. I was just saying.”
Jae-hee smiled with her eyes and looked at Yoo-jin. The stiffness on Yoo-jin’s face slowly began to ease. For Yoo-jin, “Ha Cheon-woo” was someone who stirred up bad memories and triggered her anxiety disorder. Deep down, Jae-hee didn’t want Yoo-jin to meet him, but strangely, Yoo-jin was firmly against that idea.
“...Come back soon.”
“Mm?”
“...The only thing I want is for you to come back fast.”
Why is this grumbler saying such sweet stuff today?
Jae-hee gave a small smile and held Yoo-jin’s hand.
“Okay. I’ll come back as fast as I can.”
"…Don’t forget to keep in touch."
"I’ll call every time I move places. I’ll call whenever you have time."
"…Don’t make me anxious."
"I’ll do well so there’s nothing for you to worry about."
Jae-hee would do well. Yoo-jin knew better than anyone that Jae-hee wasn’t the kind to make her anxious, but still, these words just kept slipping out.
Jae-hee tickled Yoo-jin’s hand and spoke.
"It’s nothing big. So don’t worry."
….
Smack. The photo which was thrown by an angry hand showed Jae-yeon smiling brightly.
Jae-hee raised her eyebrows for a second when she saw it, but quickly fixed her face.
But unlike her, Yoo-jin couldn't control her face at all.
Her torn lip got chewed again.
"Who is that?"
"...Are you still spying on me?”
"You still can't manage your private life at your age. So this old father has to step in, right?"
This is going to explode. Jae-hee quickly stepped in front of Yoo-jin. She blocked her before Yoo-jin could snap.
"She's my younger sister, Father."
"...Sister?"
"Yes."
"……Didn't you say you had no family when you got married?"
"Yes, I did."
Cheon-woo cleared his throat, showing how uncomfortable he was. But Jae-hee stood in front of him, calm and confident like always.
Cheon-woo looked at Jae-hee.
Even if you call it family, daughters-in-law and sons-in-law are still hard to deal with. He knew that well.
So even while saying rude things, he never treated Jae-hee as easily as he did Yoo-jin.
He drew a clear line.
Inside that line, he walked the edge between being rude and being polite to the new family.
Jae-hee’s face looked strong, but her voice stayed calm and even. She touched Yoo-jin’s hand behind her back.
In the tense air caused by Cheon-woo and Yoo-jin’s war of nerves, Jae-hee’s voice rang out like a small hammer tapping gently.
"I'm sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. When I left home nine years ago, I thought I’d never see them again. So I believed it was the same as having no family. That’s why I said it like that.
My younger sister got transferred to Korea and came to find me. Letting her stay at our house might’ve made you worry. I apologize for that."
"Transferred? Where does she work?"
“She works at BBA.”
The moment he heard "journalist," his face froze. It’s not something he’d like, of course.
Jae-hee held onto Yoo-jin’s hand tight, so tight it hurt. Even when Cheon-woo looked at her with clear displeasure, Jae-hee didn’t show anything.
You didn’t need to see her face to know she was staying calm.
Standing behind her felt painful, so Yoo-jin squeezed her hand without realizing.
"…I see."
“Later, I’ll make time so you can meet in person. Please letme know when it’s convenient for you, and I’ll adjust the time.”
“I’ll let my secretary know.”
“Yes, understood.”
“If you’re done talking, I’ll go now.”
“Ha Yoo-jin.”
“What? You have more to say? My sister-in-law is about to leave, are you planning to interrogate me some more?”
Cheon-woo clicked his tongue like he didn’t like the sharp tone. Yoo-jin flared up and tried to step forward again, but Jae-hee moved and stood in front of her. Like she was a wall between them. So they wouldn’t clash, Jae-hee stood in the middle and took all the tension herself.
“…Tsk. You. You're going abroad next week?”
“Me? …Ah, yes. I have a conference.”
“I’m going to the U.S. too. Let’s go together on the same schedule.”
“…What?”
“Our schedules line up pretty well. A lot of reporters will be there too, so dress properly.”
Yoo-jin’s face twisted right away. Jae-hee’s trip was supposed to be just one week. She had shortened it to not leave Yoo-jin alone for long, she said so. But Cheon-woo’s trip was set three days earlier than Jae-hee’s.
“You didn’t even think about her schedule…!”
“Understood. I’ll adjust the flight date with Secretary Yoon, then?”
“Do that.”
“Honey…” Yoo-jin called Jae-hee quietly, but Jae-hee just smiled kindly, like always.
....
Yoo-jin slammed the passenger door shut, and Jae-hee let out a sigh as she walked down the garage steps. She slowly opened the door again. Yoo-jin’s glare was sharp.
“Why, why are you acting on your own like that?!”
“Yoo-jin.”
“You said you'd be back in a week. You said you didn’t wanna leave me alone! Were those all lies?”
She burst into tears like a child. Sobbing hard, she hit Jae-hee’s shoulder and chest as Jae-hee tried to calm her down. Jae-hee didn’t dodge. She just stood there and took it.
“Why am I not your number one? Why is my father more important?!”
“…”
“I need you, so why are you doing this? Why do you decide everything on your own? Why don’t you care about me at all?”
“…”
“You said you'd make me fall in love with you! Then shouldn't you at least not leave me alone?!”
“…”
“Do you even love me? Is this what you call love?”
Jae-hee stood still, taking all of Yoo-jin’s words in silence. She waited until Yoo-jin said everything she wanted to say. The words started losing meaning, turning into just angry shouting. Then Yoo-jin finally said the one thing she shouldn’t have.
“If this is the love you're talking about… then I don’t need this kind of love, or you either.”
Right after saying that, Yoo-jin gasped and covered her mouth. She didn’t mean it at all, but the words had already flown out like a knife, cutting deep into Jae-hee. The warmth they had just shared vanished, and a choking silence filled the space. Realizing what she’d done, Yoo-jin glanced nervously at Jae-hee.
Since Yoo-jin said nothing more, Jae-hee slowly got down on one knee and looked up at her. When Yoo-jin met Jae-hee’s eyes, her breath caught in her throat.
That face, which had always listened to everything so calmly, now showed a deep ‘wound’ for the first time. Like she was barely holding it in, Jae-hee’s tear-filled eyes carried all the sadness of a torn-up heart. Yoo-jin felt her heart sink.
"…So… I…"
"I was wrong."
"…"
"…I thought it would be better… to go along with Father… than to let him scold you… I decided that on my own."
"…I said some really harsh things…"
Jae-hee slowly shook her head. Then she reached out, took Yoo-jin’s hand, and opened her mouth with effort. Harsh words, scary looks, she could take all of that. But just one thing… Being abandoned. Being abandoned by Ha Yoo-jin, that, she couldn’t bear.
"You did nothing wrong… I should’ve done what you wanted. But I thought on my own and acted like this… and I ended up hurting you."
"…"
"…It was wrong. So… so please."
"…"
"Everything was my fault…"
"…"
"Even if my feelings seem petty and worthless… they're real. The love I have for you is real…"
"…"
"…You're all I have."
"..."
"Don't throw me away, please… Yoo-jin."
The only person who made me want to stay alive in this world. The one who made this life I wanted to end feel worth trying to live, maybe even make it beautiful. The one I could give everything to for a lifetime and still feel it’s not enough. The one I wouldn’t dare blame, no matter when she chooses to leave me. The one who smiled first, even after the harshest words. That person… is falling apart.
Like tears falling slowly, Yoo-jin’s chest sank slowly and heavily. Her hand shook, trembling like a scared child. At that moment, she was hit with a terrible thought; maybe she wasn’t so different from Cheon-woo, the man who always pushed others hard and left deep wounds. All those days she got hurt by her father’s words, all those endless times she swore she would never be like him… those promises faded, cold and silent. The face she hated most was now showing in Jae-hee’s clear eyes.
She wants to die.
That one thought filled Yoo-jin’s head. Looking at Jae-hee with empty eyes, Yoo-jin stood frozen. She had done the thing she hated most. She had become the person she hated most.
****