Chapter 13
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13
Eun-seong unbuttoned his black shirt. With every deliberate movement of his long fingers, the buttons came undone—one, two, three.
She wanted to look away, but she couldn't. Her body felt paralyzed, her gaze locked on him, refusing to move as she pleased.
Watching Eun-seong draw closer step by step, Yeon-ju could only manage to blink, her eyelids feeling unnaturally heavy.
She took a single step back, her retreat cut short as her back hit the wall.
With nowhere left to run, Yeon-ju looked up at him, her gaze filled with fear. Eun-seong was right in front of her now. He let his shirt drop to the floor, then leaned one hand against the wall beside her head, trapping her. Their eyes met.
“Why… why are you doing this?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized it was a dream.
Yeon-ju tossed and turned, her brow furrowing in her sleep. She knew she had to open her eyes to wake up, but as painful as it was, she didn’t want to.
Back when she had desperately longed to see him, even if only in a dream, he had never once appeared.
“What on earth do you want from me?”
“I want to see just how bold you can be.”
Now that she had finally stopped wishing for it, he showed up.
“I’m curious about what you’re willing to do for your dream. What grand ambition drove you to come to me in the first place?”
No matter how much she pretended otherwise, a deep sense of guilt for seeking him out must have been buried within her. His words struck her most vulnerable spot, and she found herself unable to meet his gaze.
“Look at me. Don’t look away. Isn’t being shameless your specialty?” Eun-seong said, gripping her chin. His voice was so enthralling that her resolve to avoid his eyes crumbled in an instant.
She met his gaze. It had been well over ten years since they had broken up.
His face seemed both changed and unchanged, but his eyes were exactly the same. The look in them was so sweet it felt like it could melt her.
Her hands and feet tingled with anticipation, as if their lips were about to touch. A sharp, trembling ache squeezed her heart, forcing her eyes shut.
“Listen carefully. I will never forgive you.”
Instead of a kiss, he left her with those piercing words and pulled away. She could feel him moving farther and farther from her, but she couldn’t tell where he was going. Soon, he vanished without a trace.
Finally, her eyes fluttered open. Waking up only after seeing the dream through to its bitter end made her feel utterly pathetic.
Yeon-ju sat up, her gaze blank, and buried her face in her knees.
It was the crack of dawn. Rain tapped against the windowpane. She knew she needed more sleep, but her emotions were in turmoil.
A heavy ache throbbed in her chest, forcing a quiet sigh from her lips. They trembled, and she bit down hard, desperately trying to suppress the storm swirling inside her.
“I shouldn’t be like this… I shouldn’t…”
In the quiet dawn, while the world slept, she tried to reason with herself. It was only natural for her emotions to run wild. Surely, she was allowed a single moment to let her guard down.
In this moment, at least, she was neither anyone’s mother nor anyone’s daughter—she was just herself.
“No… get a grip. Calm down. I can’t do this… I can’t…”
She was already swamped just trying to survive, to solve the problems life threw at her like homework assignments. Sometimes, she was punished for getting the answers wrong. It felt unfair, regrettable, but there was nothing to be done. She couldn't complain or demand to know why no one had taught her how to live. Everyone went through this, didn't they? Surely, she wasn't the only one struggling just to get by.
“I’m going crazy, seriously. What is wrong with me… Oh, my heart…”
But one thing brought a particular sorrow—her own foolishness. She knew that even if she could turn back time, she would make the exact same choice. It was a testament to her own dull, ignorant stubbornness.
“I need to sleep. Sigh, let’s sleep. I have to sleep so I can work tomorrow. Get a grip, Go Yeon-ju.”
The dawn rain fell as she gasped in agony, struggling under the weight of the reality she had built for herself. Standing before a beloved she could see but never touch, she wandered and collapsed, caught between an unforgettable past and an inescapable present that cut her to the bone.
* * *
“The rain just won’t stop.”
Yeon-ju held up her umbrella, her arms laden with bundles of sponsored clothing.
She had scrapped her old car about two months ago and was finally getting used to commuting by public transit. She knew she needed to buy a new one, but with her tight monthly budget, she couldn’t bring herself to make the leap.
Usually, she managed just fine, but today was different. She was laden with sponsored clothes she’d picked up from the agency yesterday, and of all days for it to rain, it had to be today.
“And I can’t even catch a taxi.”
After trying and failing to hail a taxi, she had finally given up and started walking. As she constantly readjusted the heavy bundles, she tilted her umbrella to cover the clothes rather than herself, prioritizing the garments over her own body.
By the time she paused in front of the animal hospital, one of her shoulders was already soaking wet.
Looking down at her white-knuckled fingertips, a sigh escaped her lips. She still had to walk at least another ten minutes to reach the bus stop, and the prospect felt utterly daunting. Traffic was heavier than usual, too; if she didn't hurry, she might be late.
As she stood on the steps, staring blankly at the raindrops pelting the awning, the hospital door suddenly opened. Startled, Yeon-ju quickly stepped aside and pretended to look off into the distance.
The person locking the door was none other than the director of the clinic.
“It’s really coming down, isn’t it?”
Feeling self-conscious about sheltering from the rain in front of someone else's building, Yeon-ju offered a polite smile and spoke first.
She knew Dr. Ju well from seeing him around, but he looked as though he didn't recognize her. He glanced at her heavy bundles, then back at her face, clearly taking in her predicament.
“Where are you headed? I’m about to drive out.”
“Oh? Ah, well…”
“If it’s nearby, I can give you a lift. Where are you going?”
Oh, my. What a lifesaver.
Yeon-ju hesitated, biting her lip as she wondered if it was alright to accept such a generous offer. Just then, a loud crack of thunder rumbled through the sky. Flinching, she raised her voice to be heard over the noise.
“I just need to get to the bus stop! Would that be alright, Dr. Ju?”
“Of course! Follow me!”
Dr. Ju pointed to his car parked right out front and jogged ahead.
He opened the passenger door for her, then quickly popped the trunk. When Yeon-ju tried to lift her heavy bundles, he took them from her, tossed them into the back, and ushered her inside the car.
Though it had only been a brief moment, Dr. Ju was dripping wet by the time he climbed into the driver's seat. Yeon-ju looked at him apologetically.
“I’m so sorry. You got completely soaked because of me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll dry off. By the bus stop, you mean the one in front of the optician's, right? Near the bowling alley building.”
“Yes, that’s the one.”
“Perfect, we’re heading the same way.”
Dr. Ju checked something on his phone, then entered an address into the navigation system.
Yeon-ju, who had been awkwardly fidgeting with her fingers, blinked in surprise as she stared at the screen. Having finished entering the address, Dr. Ju was about to put the car in drive when he caught her expression.
“Is something wrong?”
“Are you heading there right now?”
“Ah, yes. I have some business to take care of.”
“I’m heading there too. For work.”
“Pardon?”
Dr. Ju blinked in surprise. Yeon-ju, looking utterly bewildered, pointed at the navigation screen.
“I’m on my way there right now, too. Isn’t that the film set?”
“Ah… yes, it is. You’re going there?”
“Yes, I work on the set. I’m with the costume team.”
Dr. Ju and Yeon-ju stared at each other in stunned silence. Then, his mouth hanging slightly open, he pointed a finger at her.
“Wait, are you… Yam’s mother? The stylist?”
“Oh? You know who I am, Dr. Ju?”
He burst into laughter at the absurd coincidence. Seeing Yeon-ju’s bewildered expression, he lightly tapped the steering wheel.
“I’ve finally met the mother Han-byeol never stops bragging about. I’ve been hearing all about you through your son.”
“Ah… Han-byeol…”
“Well, this worked out perfectly. It’s pouring, and you have all those heavy bags. We can just drive to the film set together.”
“Are you sure it’s alright?”
“Of course! It’s great to have some company.”
Dr. Ju had been on his way to the film set to keep a promise to a senior colleague when he ran into Yeon-ju in the pouring rain. It was a strange twist of fate.
* * *
They stopped by a drive-thru, where Yeon-ju bought two cups of coffee. Despite Dr. Ju’s polite protests, she insisted on paying.
With two warm cups of coffee sitting side by side and soft music playing in the background, her mind felt so relaxed she almost forgot she was on her way to work. Having escaped the chaotic downpour, this felt like an absolute luxury.
“The coffee is great. And the music is nice, too.”
As the gentle melody filled the car, Dr. Ju thanked her and took a sip of his coffee. He wasn't usually one to enjoy Americanos, but today, the coffee tasted exceptionally fragrant and rich.
“The traffic is a bit backed up. Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes, I left with plenty of time to spare. Actually, I’m going to arrive earlier than I expected.”
“That’s a relief, then.”
Dr. Ju smiled warmly. Since Yeon-ju's dog, Yam, had been visiting the clinic for a skin condition, Dr. Ju spent most of the drive talking about him. Eventually, the conversation shifted to Han-byeol.
“Han-byeol is incredibly bright. I often find myself surprised by the things he says.”
“He’s certainly unique, isn’t he? Even though he’s my son, sometimes I can’t keep up with him either.”
“He’s in the second grade, right?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Dr. Ju stopped at a red light. Listening to the rhythmic squeak of the windshield wipers, he reached for his coffee.
However, he accidentally reached for Yeon-ju’s cup, and his fingers brushed against hers. Startled, Dr. Ju let out a small gasp.
“Oh! I’m so sorry! I’ll be more careful!”
“It’s quite alright,” Yeon-ju replied with a gentle smile.
Dr. Ju gripped the steering wheel again, feeling flustered. From then on, he made sure to look directly at his cup before picking it up and carefully watched where he set it back down. Don't make another mistake, don't make a fool of yourself, he thought. Tense and anxious, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Since Han-byeol only ever brags about his mom, his dad must feel a bit left out.”
“Actually… Han-byeol doesn’t have a dad.”
“Oh…”
It felt as if the floor beneath his seat had suddenly vanished, sending him plunging down a cliff. Dizzy with embarrassment, Dr. Ju closed his eyes tight, opened them, and bowed his head in apology.
“I am so sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me today.”
“It’s fine. It happened a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.”
“Really, it’s okay. I mean it. Don’t worry about it.”
Dr. Ju swallowed hard. Fearing he might cause an accident if he lost focus, he shut his mouth and concentrated solely on driving.
Yeon-ju, drowsy from her lack of sleep, turned her head to look out the window. The music was soft, and a comfortable lethargy washed over her exhausted body and mind.
* * *
“Stay calm. Just stay calm today.”
Having arrived at the film set, Eun-seong closed his eyes and took a deep breath before getting out of his van.
Over the past few days, he had been reflecting on his behavior, realizing how incredibly childish and petty he had been for holding a grudge against Yeon-ju and trying to make things difficult for her.
“Of course she could get married. And if she’s married, it’s only natural that she has a kid.”
He muttered to himself endlessly, repeatedly admonishing himself that he had no right to be angry over something so obvious. After all, hadn’t he become a massive star because she had let him go? If he thought about it, he should actually be grateful. In the end, it was a happy ending for everyone, so acting like a petty child was beneath him.
Besides, it had just been a brief, youthful fling—a relationship that would have fizzled out on its own anyway. It wasn't as if he had been unable to move on after they parted. He had only thought of her occasionally—very occasionally—not like she was some lost love he had carried in his heart all these years.
“I’ve lived such a busy life. I’m on a completely different level from someone who has the leisure to date, get married, and raise kids.”
Sigh. Let’s be generous. Be the bigger person. When he really thought about it, it wasn't entirely Go Yeon-ju's fault. Instead of stirring up unnecessary trouble, he decided to show some magnanimity.
Having mentally prepared himself, Eun-seong stepped out of his van. Today, when he saw Go Yeon-ju, he wouldn't act childishly. He would actually treat her quite well. After all, who else would understand how hard it must be for her to work as a low-level assistant at her age if not him?
Poor thing. I should be nice to her.
“What the…”
It happened just as he was walking onto the film set.
A car pulled into the parking lot, and Yeon-ju stepped out. As he watched her get out of the passenger seat, a man emerged from the driver's side, opened the trunk, and began unloading her bags.
Eun-seong froze, staring at the scene.
Seeing them smiling and laughing together so happily, he could tell instantly that theirs was no ordinary relationship.