Faith (2)
Baek Ga-eun had revealed the truth about the trip to Hyeon Ha-yeon. Why the hell? I hadn't even learned the real purpose of the trip until after arriving in Hawaii, so I racked my brain trying to figure out how Baek Ga-eun had found out.
The most likely suspect was CEO Choi. He seemed to know all about this trip from the start, so maybe he'd told her. Sure, the CEO acted heavy when he was actually lighthearted, but he wasn't the type to run his mouth carelessly. There'd be no reason for him to bring it up first. Unless... Baek Ga-eun had asked him directly? The moment it was confirmed I'd be joining the overseas shoot, he'd tipped her off. Hadn't she even given me supplements, telling me to take care on the trip?
The deeper I thought about it, the more confused I got.
Hyeon Ha-yeon, seeing me lost in thought, bowed her head as if regretting she'd said anything. In a voice thick with tears, like she was holding back sobs, she said,
"...Oppa, I'm sorry..."
I panicked seeing her sniffle and fight back tears. She'd improved so much lately—I couldn't let her regress now. I grabbed her fidgeting hands tight and said,
"...Ha-yeon, it's all a misunderstanding. Why would I get married?"
"Sniff... O-, oppa... with Ji-yeon unnie... dating... hic..."
Her lips turned white from biting them so hard to stifle her cries—it was heartbreaking. Hyeon Ha-yeon must have thought that if I married Lee Ji-yeon, I wouldn't pay proper attention to her anymore. She was practically the breadwinner holding her family together. For someone like her, who supported the household and needed me to help build it up, it must have felt like I was running away... She'd started relying on me subconsciously, thinking of me like a real big brother. If that brother just up and vanished, even I'd be shocked.
"I'm not dating Lee Ji-yeon, and I'm not marrying her. Didn't I tell you last time? Even if I do get married someday, it'll be after I've raised you and Baek Ga-eun properly."
It sounded just like something a worried daughter might hear from a dad planning to remarry.
"Hic... R-really?"
Hyeon Ha-yeon looked at me, her gaze wavering with doubt. This was the moment to drive the point home for good. I leaned in close and whispered,
"Really. You trust oppa, right? I won't get married until you've made it big."
I emphasized marriage on purpose, just in case I ended up dating someone. I did want a normal relationship, after all.
"...Yeah, I'll trust you."
Only then did Hyeon Ha-yeon stop crying and flash a bright smile. I let go of her hand and said,
"...If oppa's gonna get married, you need to debut soon... Can you handle the singing?"
She rolled her eyes around, thinking for a bit, then lit up with determination.
"I can do it!"
I calmed her down—she looked ready to sprint to the recording studio right then—and suggested she rest up fully, then start fresh tomorrow with renewed spirit. That was how I finally managed to leave the house.
I felt a pang of guilt for deceiving such an innocent girl... but when I thought about it, I hadn't really lied. Good is good, right?
*
The recording team lead watched Hyeon Ha-yeon sing and remarked,
"...It's a good thing she took that break instead."
She caught my eye and smiled, continuing her song. Compared to the last time I'd heard her, there was way more emotion, and her tone was clearer. Her vocal cords, whipped raw from the brutal diet and grueling practices, seemed to have grown stronger after the rest.
I glanced at my phone—Baek Ga-eun's lesson was ending soon. I grabbed some snacks for the team, who were skipping meals to keep recording, and left the studio. I settled into an unused conference room. I'd texted Baek Ga-eun ahead, so she'd show up any minute.
As I pondered how to broach the subject, she knocked. I motioned her in, and she opened the door with a greeting.
"Hello."
"...Hey, good work."
Baek Ga-eun sat across from me. Between the recent violence incident and this, I suspected she might be using Baekil Group's influence for something. But I couldn't just blurt out for her to stop.
Before I could choose my words, she spoke first.
"...Oppa, congrats on Ha-yeon-ssi coming back."
I hadn't expected her to bring up Hyeon Ha-yeon. Hiding my surprise, I kept it casual.
"Thanks... Actually, I wanted to talk about Ha-yeon."
"..."
She just looked at me, urging me to go on. I hadn't called her to scold her. I was just curious why she'd done it and how she'd known the truth about the trip. In the end, I figured asking straight up was better than beating around the bush.
"...You told Ha-yeon about the trip, right?"
Baek Ga-eun closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and said,
"...Yes, that's right."
Her frank admission came off as surprisingly confident. Hoping for the best, I laid out my intent.
"...That's why I called you. I'm curious why you told her and how you found out."
I glanced at her face—no sign of unease. Asking felt like scolding her, making it hard to continue.
"...Can you tell me why?"
I tried to be as gentle as possible, but it still felt like an interrogation. Sweet Baek Ga-eun probably hadn't meant any harm, but I needed to confirm.
But what she said next was completely unexpected.
"...Oppa, do you know how big Baekil Group is?"
"...Huh?"
Ignoring my confusion, she pressed on.
"...That island was pretty nice, right? Small, but it had everything..."
"...How could I not be curious when you and I were staying there alone in such a great place?"
She rattled off exact details about the island I'd stayed on—places I hadn't mentioned to her. How did she know? Before I could respond, she cut me off.
"...The company run by Mom got in touch."
"They said someone named Lee Ji-yeon booked it with a Kim Cho-in."
The company managing that island belonged to her mother. It was the kind of story a regular person like me couldn't even imagine. But wasn't leaking customer info like that illegal?
Baek Ga-eun stared into my eyes and said,
"...The moment Grandpa acknowledged you, you became part of Baekil Group."
"You got a hefty discount, right? Why do you think that was?"
"...I asked CEO Choi just in case, and he told me everything."
I wanted to say something, but words failed me. She'd known the trip's secret from the moment I decided to go. With the CEO confirming it, there was nothing left to check.
"...I thought it might be good for Ha-yeon-ssi to know too, so I told her."
Baek Ga-eun had thought it through, given me discounts, even slipped me cash for trip expenses. But all she'd gotten in return was me questioning her motives. I couldn't meet her eyes. Guilt weighed heavy, sealing my lips.
Finally, swallowing my trembling voice, I managed,
"...Ga-eun, I'm sorry..."
"Oppa."
She cut off my apology with a gentle smile.
"...It's because I didn't explain enough, right?"
"G-Ga-eun..."
Her smile vanished in an instant, replaced by a crestfallen look. Seeing her so downhearted tugged at me.
"...I went too far... I could have explained it all..."
She knew about me and Lee Ji-yeon, yet even after confirming the facts, she'd kept looking out for me. If a former couple went on a secretive trip, anyone could guess what might happen. If Baek Ga-eun were burning with jealousy like the Demon King from her past life, she wouldn't have let it slide. But the woman before me was just Baek Ga-eun—not the Demon King. Even if I married Lee Ji-yeon, she believed I'd keep managing her faithfully, so she'd done this out of care in her own way.
I was the one who needed to apologize.
"...No, Ga-eun. I'm sorry."
"...Oppa, don't apologize... It was my mistake..."
Her hands started shaking. I reached out, cupping her neatly folded ones, and said,
"...Mistake? I was the one who messed up... Sorry for making you apologize."
A tear welled in her slightly drooping eyes and slid down her cheek. She pulled her hand away slightly, her voice choked with sobs.
"...I-it's my fault... I won't do it again..."
Baek Ga-eun endlessly blaming herself, fiddling with her nails—it was pitiful. Telling her "sorry" now might just make her feel worse. Gratitude would work better. I gripped her hand firmly and said softly,
"Ga-eun, I should've thanked you first instead of apologizing... I'm sorry for that."
She kept crying, tears dripping as she met my eyes. Squeezing her hand, I continued,
"Thank you so much. Thanks to you, I rested well. The meds kept fatigue away, and I didn't stress over souvenirs."
Looking into her reddened, bloodshot eyes, I said,
"Thanks for all your help so far. If something comes up next time, can I lean on you?"
She glanced around, hesitating, then peeked up at me.
"...Yes, please tell me."
Only then did a faint smile grace her lips, easing my mind. I pulled out the handkerchief I always carried and handed it over. She wiped her tears, stared at it, then folded it neatly.
"...I'll wash it and give it back."
She'd just wiped her face, yet insisted on laundering it—such a good girl. But I could handle that much.
I reached for it. "It's fine, I'll wash it..."
Baek Ga-eun tucked it swiftly into her pants pocket.
"...I'll wash it and bring it back."
She was adamant, so I awkwardly let it go. I'd get the handkerchief back later, as she wished.
After that, we talked debut plans until something came up, and we parted. Hyeon Ha-yeon had made a perfect comeback, better than before in every way, and trust between Baek Ga-eun and me had deepened.
Hyeon Ha-yeon wasn't the Hero, and Baek Ga-eun wasn't the Demon King. That fact brought immense relief. If innocent Hyeon Ha-yeon or impossibly kind Baek Ga-eun regained their past-life memories, it would be a nightmare. I just hoped we could safely break the curse, letting them both live happily, loved by the public.