Chapter 42
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 42
Clutching the umbrella Dr. Ju had lent her, Yeon-ju trudged along. Even if she hadn’t been exhausted from volunteering, it had already been an incredibly grueling day.
I like you, Yeon-ju.
She had never known a person’s voice could tremble so much.
She also never realized a confession could weigh so heavily on her heart. The burden was so great that a wave of lethargy washed over her. She felt a pang of regret for freezing up and turning away when he’d asked for a chance.
In the long run, cutting him off quickly would be the kindest thing to do. But faced with such an earnest plea, she doubted many people could bring themselves to be so cold. Unable to force the words out, Yeon-ju had simply offered a small smile to end the conversation.
‘I’ll wait. Have a nice weekend date with Dr. Ju.’
“Ugh, this is driving me crazy! What does he expect me to do?!”
Yeon-ju stopped in her tracks as Eun-seong’s words echoed in her mind again. She flared up in frustration. How was she supposed to function when she couldn’t get through a single day with a clear head?
She found it hard to believe this was all really happening. A sigh escaped her lips; there was no other way to explain it. If anyone else heard her complaining, they’d say she had it all, but—
“I feel like I’m going to burst. I’m seriously about to burst…”
This situation, this conflict—she didn’t want any part of it.
Meanwhile, the clock was ticking closer to nine. The rain was falling harder, yet there wasn't a single message from him explaining where or how he was waiting.
He was probably just saying that, right? Surely he wouldn’t wait all day without even telling me the location?
“Is he at the film set? No way, it’s the weekend.”
Yeon-ju glanced back down the path she had just walked. Should she take a taxi to the set?
She considered it for a moment, then shook her head. There was no way he would be at an empty film set. And even if he were, what would she do? Take a taxi all the way there just to see him?
“Stop caring. Just stop. Please, Yeon-ju, stop caring…”
She closed her eyes and muttered the words, trying to convince herself. If Eun-seong had really intended to wait, he would have contacted her. With his impatient personality, there was no way he would have waited this long without reaching out or leaving the location so vague.
He had definitely just said that to keep her on edge all day.
“Who am I even worrying about? I’ve got enough of my own problems. Besides, they say worrying about celebrities is the biggest waste of time.”
And he wasn’t just any celebrity. In that sense, worrying about Im Eun-seong was particularly pointless.
Sigh. Yeon-ju started walking again. Exhausted from her own thoughts and weighed down by her worries, the short walk home felt endlessly long.
Under a solitary streetlight in a quiet alley, the streaks of rain were starkly visible. It was a lonely walk, the sound of raindrops pattering against her umbrella echoing mournfully.
She walked aimlessly down the alley toward her house, a path she could navigate with her eyes closed. Staring at her toes, she let out one dry sigh after another, when—
“You’re here earlier than I thought.”
A voice that instantly froze her in place.
Keeping her eyes fixed on her feet, Yeon-ju slowly blinked. Then, tilting her umbrella, she turned to look beside her. There, under the lonely streetlight, stood Eun-seong. Without an umbrella.
“How long have you been here?”
“I don’t know. Since before it started raining.”
“How did you know where I live?”
“I managed to squeeze some basic info out of Director Jin. There are so many alleys I wasn’t sure, but it turns out this is the place.”
“I don’t want you here. Go home.”
“Then go inside. I won’t stop you.”
“Fine. You stay here. I’m leaving.”
With that brief parting shot, Yeon-ju started walking again. She had to get away, quickly, before her wildly pounding heart could leap out of her chest.
How long did she walk? She quickened her pace, walking and walking and walking, before finally coming to a halt.
“This is insane. I’m seriously going crazy…”
She squeezed the handle of her umbrella and shut her eyes tight. After taking several deep breaths, she spun around and hurried back. The sound of the rain drumming against her umbrella was heavy, and the autumn wind bit at her fingertips.
Why on earth, in this rain… Why…?
“Don’t you have an umbrella?” Yeon-ju asked when she returned to where Eun-seong stood.
He looked up. Even without being wet from the rain, his eyes held their characteristic moisture.
“It wasn’t raining when I left.”
“What about your car? Where’s your car?”
When she asked, he simply shrugged. A surge of frustration washed over her, and Yeon-ju pressed a hand to her forehead, her voice rising.
“Are you really in a position to just wander around like this? Aren’t you someone whose face is their livelihood? What if someone recognizes you? Why are you standing out here like this…?”
Yeon-ju’s voice trailed off. He pulled a mask out of his pocket, waved it with an innocent smile, and her heart ached so much she felt like she would go mad.
…While she strictly taught her child that lying was bad, she herself was telling lies day after day.
“I might not look it, but I’m an expert at hiding. I haven’t been caught.”
“How can you… how can you say that so casually…?”
Today, her lies only multiplied.
I’m fine. I’m happy. I’m not hurting.
“I’m glad I waited.”
I’m having fun. I’m comfortable. I want to keep living the way I always have.
“You and I… we really were destined to meet.”
I do not love you.
*
So, what now…
As if giving up on going home, Yeon-ju sighed and stepped closer. Eun-seong raised an eyebrow. When she reached out and tilted the umbrella toward him, he stepped right under it without a moment’s hesitation.
“D-Don’t come so close.”
“Then don’t share. Why offer me your umbrella just to be prickly about it?”
“It’s not that. I might smell like sweat.”
“What’s wrong with that? You don’t smell anyway, and I wouldn’t care even if—” Eun-seong was about to say it was no big deal when his eyes suddenly widened. “Why did you sweat? Why? For what reason?”
“Because I had a reason to.”
“Where did you sweat?”
“In a car. Why? Satisfied?”
He rolled his eyes so far back they nearly disappeared. Watching him, Yeon-ju looked on with sheer exasperation.
“So, what are you going to do? Aren’t you going home?”
“We just met, and you’re already trying to send me away?”
“I came to give you an umbrella. I didn’t want you wandering around looking pathetic. Since you have a certain social standing, I’m just trying to help you save face.”
As they bickered, the wind shifted, blowing rain under the umbrella. Eun-seong spun Yeon-ju around, using her as a shield.
“Stand straight. I’m getting wet.”
“Ah… seriously… What a contrast…”
“What? Contrast? Who are you comparing me to? Stop being cryptic and speak clearly.”
“Ugh, forget it. Come here. Don’t get your precious self wet.”
Yeon-ju blocked the wind and tilted the umbrella further over him. As she did, her own body slipped out from under the cover, and Eun-seong snatched the umbrella from her hand.
“What were you doing while everyone else was growing? You can’t even hold an umbrella properly. Give it here.”
Ha! He doesn’t stop to think about how giant he is, but he’s calling me short?
“That’s Dr. Ju’s umbrella, so use it carefully and return—”
Before Yeon-ju could finish, Eun-seong snapped the umbrella shut. Just like when he had swung the broom, he spun it wildly, mercilessly spraying rainwater everywhere. Yeon-ju shielded her head and glared at him.
“You’re splashing water everywhere! What do you think you’re doing?!”
“How dare you hand me an umbrella from that ‘Dr. Give-and-Take’?”
What… what is he even talking about?
She stared at him in utter disbelief as he pointed the tip of the umbrella at her. Yeon-ju lifted her chin, as if daring him to stab her.
Fine. Kill me, just kill me!
“If you’re going to stab me, do it quickly. I don’t want to get rained on.”
“You said you were already drenched in sweat, so what’s a little rain?”
“What did the umbrella ever do to you?! Ah, give it back!”
“No. You really expect me to stand here looking at an umbrella another man gave you?”
“If you don’t want to use it, then don’t! I’ll use it myself!”
As they argued, Eun-seong took a large step forward and shrugged off his jacket. Then, with a touch that was anything but gentle, he threw it over her head.
“Stop being so noisy and just wear this. It’s the best I can do.”
“…This is a total mess.”
“Do you remember? We used to get caught in the rain a lot back then. Because you were always losing your umbrella.”
Her clothes were already soaked, but strangely, the feeling was refreshing. Since he had brought up the past, Yeon-ju retorted defensively.
“You make it sound like I was the only one. One out of every three times, it was you who lost it, you know.”
“So you do remember. After pretending you’d forgotten everything.”
Caught in her own lie, a sudden heat rushed to her face. With a breathless expression, Yeon-ju spoke calmly.
“Because some memories were too good to forget completely.”
“…”
“There’s no other reason. That’s the only reason I didn’t erase them.”
At her words, Eun-seong smiled. He reached out to wrap the jacket more snugly around her, but Yeon-ju took a step back.
“It’s fine. You should wear it, Mr. Actor. You’re already soaked…”
When Yeon-ju tried to take off the jacket, Eun-seong firmly grabbed her wrist. A strange mix of hot and cold shot through her, and unable to tell which sensation was her own, her fingers tensed.
This rain, these falling drops.
“Should I tell you something important?”
“What is it?”
If this was a day that would never come again—
She wished it would never end.
“I’m hungry.”