A New Beginning (2)
In a certain officetel, Han Sujung rolled around restlessly on her bed, deep in thought.
Until recently, he'd been incredibly cold, curt, and utterly indifferent to others. But now, he'd returned to that gentle, attentive side from when they'd first met—not completely, but noticeably improved. So, unlike the recent stretch where she couldn't bring herself to reach out, maybe now she could. The problem was, even back then, they hadn't talked all that often.
Thus, Han Sujung agonized over whether to call or not. But after getting a call from Kim Hoyeon and hearing the situation, she resolved to go for it.
Riiing... Riiing...
"Phew... Calm down, Han Sujung. It's just a simple phone call, right?"
Whether he'd changed or not, they'd been on the same team for ages, seeing each other and chatting frequently. Why was she so nervous over one little call? If she just acted casual, like always, it should be fine.
...But what if he was cold to her? Would he hate that she'd called out of the blue? What if he didn't even pick up? They'd met plenty, but they'd never actually talked on the phone before, so all sorts of worries swirled in her head. As the dry dial tone dragged on, her anxiety mounted.
Click.
"Yeah. Han Sujung~! What's up?"
Lee Seojin's bright, welcoming voice melted her worries away like snow in the sun. And the first thing out of Han Sujung's mouth was...
"Wh-what! Why? Can't I call?!"
She tried to snap back like she always did in person, but the awkwardness of their first call laced her tone with embarrassment.
※ Whoa, startled me. He reflexively pulled the phone away from his ear at the sudden loud voice. His popular junior was always so lively, whether in person or on the phone. Come to think of it, he'd talked with hyung a few times, but this was his first call with Han Sujung.
"Haha... Yeah, no rule against it."
[Hmph. Right? I can call too, you know.]
"Yeah, yeah. Got it. Let's talk more often from now on. So, what's up?"
Was it the phone, or had seeing his recent changes softened him? Han Sujung felt like he was especially gentle today. Imagining his face, she unconsciously broke into a goofy grin and lay back on the bed, continuing the call.
[Just... figured I'd check in on you since I got the update from your sunbae.]
"Update? Oh... You got a call from Hoyeon hyung too?"
[Then shouldn't I check on the sunbae who asked the favor?!]
"Ahaha... Yeah, fair enough."
Lee Seojin chuckled sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. He even hunched over like he was flustered before an invisible opponent. That was how precious Han Sujung was to him—one of his closest people.
[So... how are the kids? I heard something about child prostitution and villains involved?]
"They're fine now. No injuries, luckily. What a relief."
[Phew... Good. But seriously, what kind of trash father sells his own daughters? And not just one or two scum buying into it. They're insane.]
"Tell me about it. The world's gone to hell."
Of course, in eight years, the war would make it even worse. But he'd safely brought the sisters home, and he'd protect them from now on—no chance of them splitting up. So, maybe he'd averted the war?
...No, can't say for sure. No guarantees.
There was a saying: Once fate is set, it doesn't change easily. In other words, altering destined fate required absurd amounts of effort. Wars were like massive tsunamis—removing one breeze might not matter.
Sure, saving the sisters, the war's protagonists and faction leaders, made him more than a breeze—a gale. But he couldn't relax. Villains wouldn't vanish without them. They had plenty of standout supporting roles who could step up as leads.
[Still, glad they're unhurt. But...]
Han Sujung trailed off, her voice trembling slightly as if debating whether to speak. Probably about the sisters' past misfortunes—something neither she nor he could discuss lightly.
"I know what you mean. That's why I'll protect and care for them from now on. Plus, I promised."
[A promise?]
"Yeah. A promise. I'll never hate them, resent them, or leave. Whenever they want, I'll be by their side..."
Recalling the moment made his chest ache. Even now, it overwhelmed him with emotion. He'd tried praising himself again while looking at the sisters, but they stared right back. Not weird to look at him, but their gazes felt off. Their eyes... eerie, maybe? Not trauma-twisted or unhappy, but something ominous he couldn't pin down. Empty yet full—a contradictory glint that chilled him to the bone.
"Uh... um... err...?!"
[What? What's wrong, sunbae?]
"Huh...? Oh. Nothing. Anyway, yeah."
[Hmm~ So romantic, sunbae. Didn't know you had it in you.]
A slightly pouty voice came through the receiver. Han Sujung went quiet, maybe pondering what to say next. When she spoke again, it felt like their usual banter, phone or not.
[Always so cold to your sweet junior who checks in and worries every day, but all lovey-dovey with the kids? What's your type, sunbae?]
"N-no! Absolutely not! That's not it!"
[Hmm~? Not what?]
"I mean... Come on, you know it's not like that. Why tease?"
[Why do you think?]
"Hey... Cut it out..."
She could tell he was squirming just from his voice. In reality, Lee Seojin hunched like he was on a call with the boss, flustered. Han Sujung grinned unwittingly.
[Pfft! Kidding, sunbae. Why get so worked up?]
"Jokes have limits. That wasn't funny—it was torture."
[Okay, okay. I like the change, though. Seeing this side of you.]
Grinning ear to ear, Han Sujung felt giddy and rolled around on the bed. Sure, she missed not seeing it in person, but as his close junior, she'd stick around and catch more glimpses ahead.
Of course, oblivious Lee Seojin had no clue.
"Well, swinging that sword nonstop gave me some enlightenment."
[Enlightenment, huh? What is it?]
"It's a thing. Wanna try following my lead?"
[Pass~ Scared I'd end up cold and distant like you.]
"Hmm... More grudges than I thought? You're extra feisty today."
Troubled, Lee Seojin asked. Han Sujung paused, reflecting on their first meeting and how their bond had grown—unimaginably so, in hindsight.
[Hmm... Who knows? If there's a lot built up, what'll you do?]
"Gotta make it up to you. My bad, right?"
[How?]
Her voice brimmed with eager anticipation, a hint of excitement. Tension shot through him.
Screw up here, and I'm done for...!!
An instinctive gut feeling, reason unknown. Trying to understand others had made him attuned to such nuances... or maybe not. Just a subconscious urge to choose words carefully. War had drilled in him: don't gloss over this stuff. He pondered deeply, praying for the perfect reply.
"Uh... um... Whatever... you want?"
[......]
Silence. Tension spiked. Wrong answer? He debated alternatives. But contrary to his thoughts, Han Sujung was speechless for entirely different reasons—face beet red, mind racing with wild fantasies.
His cautious follow-up snapped her out of it.
"Hello? Han Sujung-ssi? Junior? Everything okay?"
[...Yeah?]
"No reply, so... Did I say something wrong? I just blanked and said the first thing."
[......]
Figures. What was she thinking? Han Sujung stifled a hollow laugh. He'd changed, but not that much—wishful thinking. Still, she hoped, and kept chatting with a smile.
[Pfft. Sunbae, you know you're ridiculous, right? Right now?]
"Am I?"
[Super. Why sweat a casual 'whatever'?]
"I dunno... Just."
[Heehee. Got it. Anyway, good work, sunbae. Let's catch up in person later.]
"...Yeah. Sure."
Words left unsaid, but now wasn't the time. Han Sujung hung up—really, too embarrassed and heart-pounding to continue.
"Night."
[You too, sunbae.]
Click—thus ended a call where one side was clueless, the other brimming with feelings.
"Hmm... What to do as payback."
Musing on their next meetup, he pondered the best approach. Then the sisters quietly asked from beside him—having snuck up without a sound.
"Uncle. Who were you talking to?"
"Who was that on the phone?"
Asking in perfect unison, like scripted. But something felt off. That same instinctive chill from the call prickled again. Nah, not twice in a row. He brushed it off casually.
"Uh-huh. Colleague."
"Colleague?"
"A colleague?"
"Strictly, a friend too. Or... junior, maybe?"
"...Junior?"
"A junior..."
"Yeah. Like, hierarchy but close."
"Hmm... I see~"
"Aha~! Got it~"
The sisters pondered his words deeply, inscrutably. When they finished, something shifted in them.
"Seojin ajusshi. One thing I wanna ask."
"Gotta answer?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah..."
"Then... about your junior..."
Grinning, the sisters asked as one.
"Is it a girl?"
"A woman, right?"