Chapter 91
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 91
Ensō: 【演奏】
"Welcome—oh! Yeon-ju, you're here!"
Kang-ho, the owner, looked up from his preparations to open the bar, his expression a mixture of surprise and delight. Holding a bouquet of flowers, Yeon-ju offered them to him with a bright smile.
"I came alone today, Sunbae."
"Ah, welcome. Aren't you busy? You really didn't have to bring anything."
"I felt bad for coming empty-handed last time. It's a bit late, but congratulations on the opening. I hope your business thrives."
Kang-ho chuckled, sniffing the flowers as if he wasn't used to receiving them.
"Thank you. The location is great, so business has been pretty good. Now that I have your blessing, I'll have to work even harder. Let's head inside."
"You are open, right?"
"Yeah, of course. We're open. Come on in."
Even though he hadn't officially opened for the evening, Kang-ho led Yeon-ju inside. He guided her to the private room Eun-seong usually used and turned on the heater to chase away the chill.
"It'll warm up in no time."
"Okay."
Once Yeon-ju was seated, Kang-ho sat across from her.
"It feels like I'm finally seeing you properly. Last time, everything was so chaotic we couldn't even really talk."
"It was hectic. And I had so much to say to Eun-seong Oppa back then that my mind was a mess, too."
Sitting with Kang-ho naturally brought back memories of the old days, and the title "Eun-seong Oppa" slipped out effortlessly. Yeon-ju smiled faintly, a bittersweet tingle on the tip of her tongue.
"Anyway, I saw the news. It looks like Eun-seong's agency is in an uproar. I wonder if he's okay."
"He'll be fine," Yeon-ju said, her expression calm as she spoke of Eun-seong.
Kang-ho stared at her for a long moment. Memories of the past flashed through his mind, and a bitter smile touched his lips at the weight of the years that had passed.
"I never expected you to become a bar owner, Sunbae."
"If I told you the tragic story of how I ended up here, we'd be at it all night. Long story short, Eun-seong is my savior. I was fooling around trying to be an actor when I met a con artist CEO. I ended up in Japan—something I never planned on—and wasted years of my life."
"Ah... I see."
"I was naive enough to believe him when he said he'd make me a star over there. I don't even know how much money I lost to that scammer. I lost everything and came back to Korea, and that's when Eun-seong suggested we open a bar together."
"Ah. So that's why you opened a Japanese-style bar."
"Yeah. I had to make a living somehow, so I worked at a bar in Japan. It was the only real experience I had."
Kang-ho tapped the table, inviting her to share her own story.
"So, Yeon-ju, how have you been?"
"Me? Oh, I've just been busy with one thing or another. I raised a kid, too."
"Ah, you got married. You have a child. Sorry, I had no idea."
"He's already ten. Time really flies, doesn't it?"
Ten years old. Kang-ho looked flustered. Seeing his reaction, Yeon-ju laughed and waved her hand.
"I didn't get married, but I do have a child."
"Ah... Ah? ...Huh?"
Watching Kang-ho's expression freeze, Yeon-ju crinkled her nose playfully.
"Looks like we both have a lot to catch up on, don't we, Sunbae?"
"This is insane. I'm getting us something to drink. Wait right here. I'll be right back."
Kang-ho shot up from his seat but paused at the door to look back at her. He swallowed hard and raised a hand.
"I'll be right back. Seriously, I'll be right back."
"Okay. I'll be waiting."
Yeon-ju burst into laughter as Kang-ho bolted from the room.
...Happiness is an invisible, metaphysical thing.
And yet, she could feel it settling gently upon her shoulders.
* * *
True to his word, Kang-ho returned almost immediately, carrying a bottle of liquor and two glasses. He paused only long enough to order some decent food from his staff.
Over a few drinks, Kang-ho learned that Yeon-ju had been raising Eun-seong's child all this time.
Even though it was a brief, summarized version of the story, a shiver ran down his spine as he listened. Imagining the sorrow and pain she must have endured all alone brought tears to his eyes. Kang-ho listened intently, nodding without a word, before refilling her empty glass.
"You must have gone through so much. How on earth did this happen, Yeon-ju?"
"I lived my life thinking I could never tell a soul, but being able to open up about it lately has been a huge relief. It feels like a knot in my chest has finally come undone."
"And we had no idea..."
Kang-ho trailed off. Back in their college days, Eun-seong's classmates had all told Yeon-ju to keep a low profile. They had insisted that, at a time when Eun-seong was about to take flight, she had to remain completely in his shadow.
"I never imagined you'd just drop out and vanish. I really didn't think you'd disappear like that."
"I had no choice once I found out I was pregnant. From the moment I decided to have the baby, I couldn't face carrying on with my normal life."
"I've always felt guilty about what happened with you and Eun-seong. I kept thinking that we interfered and drove a wedge between you."
"No, it wasn't like that at all. I don't resent anyone. It was all my choice, my decision. This is the life I built for myself."
Kang-ho blinked back tears as he looked at Yeon-ju, who spoke with such calm resolve. As a father raising a five-year-old daughter himself, he knew her life couldn't possibly have been easy.
"Eun-seong... he never forgot you."
Yeon-ju lowered her head.
"He never said it out loud, but I knew. We're friends, after all. When we were drinking together, I'd occasionally bring you up. Every time, Eun-seong would just say he hoped you were living well, and that was all he could ask for."
Kang-ho filled his own glass and drained it.
He stared down into the empty glass, looking conflicted, before suddenly speaking up as if he'd just remembered something.
"Maybe things were just meant to turn out this way. It makes you think nothing in this world happens without a reason."
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"Do you know the name of this bar?"
"Huh? No. I was actually wondering, since it's written in Japanese."
Yeon-ju glanced at the bar's name printed on a napkin and murmured it aloud.
えんそう [Ensō]
"Ensō? Is that how you read it? What does it mean?"
"Yeon-ju."
She looked up. Kang-ho was smiling.
"Eun-seong named the bar himself."
* * *
Leaving work early for once, Hae-young stopped by a convenience store near her home. Convenience stores had everything these days, and she was browsing the wines, looking for something to drink casually.
She had plenty of wine at home, but cheap wine was perfect for a casual night in. Should she go with something familiar? Or try something new?
Hae-young peered at the small description tags and, relying on her intuition, picked up a bottle. As she stood there, lost in thought, someone spoke to her.
"That one's a bit on the acidic side."
Hae-young turned her head, her eyes widening.
"Oh, Dr. Ju!"
Dr. Ju, holding a convenience store basket, smiled at her warm greeting.
"Buying wine, Director?"
"Yes. I was agonizing over the choice, hoping not to pick a bad one. Have you tried this before, Doctor?"
"Not too long ago. I've been studying wine lately."
Huh? Hae-young's face practically screamed, You? She knew perfectly well that Dr. Ju didn't care for alcohol and clearly remembered him saying that wine was definitely not his thing.
Reading the question on her face, Dr. Ju smiled gently and picked up another bottle, as if to recommend it.
"It's actually quite nice to have a glass while watching TV at home."
"I can't really picture you drinking alone at home, Doctor."
Hae-young glanced down at Dr. Ju's basket. Seeing cup ramen, instant rice, and instant curry, she looked back up at his face.
She'd always pictured him living on a strict diet of boiled eggs, bananas, and chicken breast.
"Convenience store food is a whole new world these days," Dr. Ju said with a sheepish smile, lifting his basket.
Hae-young placed the wine he recommended into her own basket.
"You've really strayed from the path, Doctor."
"Have I?"
Hae-young laughed, tossing the exact same cup ramen from Dr. Ju's basket into hers.
"To my jaded eyes, you're finally starting to look human."
* * *
Hae-young and Dr. Ju sat at a small table inside the convenience store. As they waited for their cup ramen to cook, Dr. Ju gazed out the window.
"Looks like it might snow soon. I wonder when it got this cold."
"It's bearable while the sun is up, but it's freezing once it sets."
"Is the movie shoot wrapping up soon?"
"Yes. We only have the final shoot left. It's tomorrow."
Dr. Ju nodded. As Hae-young mentioned the final shoot, thoughts of Yeon-ju and Eun-seong naturally lingered in the air between them. Hae-young split a pair of disposable chopsticks and spoke.
"Living in this neighborhood, I used to pass by your animal hospital all the time. It was fascinating to finally meet you through work. I guess you never know where life will take you."
"I felt the same way. It was surreal to meet people in person that I'd only ever seen on TV. Sharing meals and conversations with everyone has been an incredible experience."
Everything had been fascinating—a series of novelties.
And among those unique experiences, one was truly wondrous.
"Getting to know someone I'm so grateful for, like Yeon-ju."
Meeting you. Getting to know you.
Falling for you.
Hae-young took a quiet breath as Dr. Ju said Yeon-ju's name. After a moment lost in thought, Dr. Ju looked up.
"Oh, by the way, there was a lot of news about Im Eun-seong today."
"Ah, yes. It seems there's trouble with his agency's CEO. It was bound to happen sooner or later."
"It has nothing to do with Im Eun-seong, right?"
"Nothing at all. They're just using Eun-seong's name for clickbait since he's their most famous actor. It's all about driving up page views."
"I see. That's a relief."
"Were you worried?"
Dr. Ju chuckled softly at Hae-young's question. Why on earth would he worry about Eun-seong?
But if his safety meant her safety... If his peace meant her peace...
"I just hope everything goes well for everyone."
"Nothing bad will happen. Not when so many people are wishing them well. There's you, and there's me."
Peeling back the lid of her cup ramen, Hae-young gestured for him to eat. Dr. Ju followed her lead and opened his.
Stirring the steaming noodles, Hae-young looked up at his face.
"I know how much you've looked after our Yeon-ju. Thank you."
As Hae-young expressed her gratitude, Dr. Ju offered a faint smile.
...I will let myself break, grieve, and rage completely before I rise again.
For the sake of those who won't let me stay crumpled in my sorrow.
"I hope the final shoot goes well, Director."
And for you, who would hate to see me broken more than anyone.