Worries, Conflicts, and.... (4)
Hwayeong struggled to relax her stiffened expression as she watched the man step through the front door.
"Hahaha, sister-in-law. Long time no see. I hope everything's been well?"
The man burst into hearty laughter the moment he entered, bowing deeply in greeting.
"Young master... what brings you here so suddenly?"
Behind Hwayeong's flustered face and voice, another sound overlapped.
"Huh? Jun-hyung, what are you doing here all of a sudden?"
"Haha, big bro. Does a little brother need a reason to visit his brother's house? I was just thinking of you guys and decided to drop by. I had an appointment nearby anyway."
"Sheesh... come on in."
As her husband ushered him inside, the man grinned and strode in like he'd been waiting for it. Hwayeong could only bite her lip and watch.
Why now, all of a sudden?
"Haha, Minhwan's here too? How've you been?"
"Huh? Uncle, you're here? What's up?"
"You punk, like I can't come here. It's been a while, right? I just wanted to see my nephew and big bro. Hahaha."
For someone who showed up unannounced, the conversation flowed remarkably naturally. But Hwayeong knew the man she called "young master" wasn't the warm type. He certainly hadn't kept in touch enough to drop by just because of some appointment around here, and he didn't look genuinely pleased to see them either.
Hwayeong hurried into the living room and scanned Jun-hyung's face.
"Have you eaten? If not, I can ask your sister-in-law to—"
"What time is it? You think I'd show up on an empty stomach? I'd be a bother. I'm old enough to know better."
Know better? Hah...
Hwayeong couldn't help but scoff inwardly.
The Kim family's notorious playboy. A lecher who clung to his parents' home until he was thirty, chasing women left and right—not even worthy of the nickname "man-child." All he had going for him was his handsome looks and build, the best in the Kim family. Her husband's younger brother, who relied on that one asset to stir up endless scandals. As the much-younger youngest son, he'd been spoiled rotten by his in-laws, and even now, pushing forty, his reputation was still in the gutter.
"How's your wife? I heard she's doing better? I was worried since we couldn't greet her at Seollal—I was even thinking of calling."
Jun-hyung's face hardened for a split second at Hwayeong's words. But he quickly plastered on a chuckling smile and looked at her.
"She's recovered enough to go out drinking, back to her prime. It's been long enough— it'd be weird if she hadn't improved. Haha. No need for you to worry, sister-in-law."
Hwayeong didn't buy a word of it.
Just a physical issue? Even after miscarrying, her husband was off gallivanting without a care—do you think the emotional scars from that would heal easily?
Hwayeong recalled her sister-in-law's face from the past. A woman with a round, kind face full of gentle charm. Sweet and sociable, she kept the conversation going endlessly whenever they prepped meals together in the countryside. Her crescent-moon eye smile put everyone at ease like no one else.
But a good-hearted woman had met the wrong man, and it took less than two years to break her. And now, the man who'd left such deep wounds stood before Hwayeong's eyes.
Hwayeong hid her troubled heart and let out a deep sigh. He was her husband's brother, after all. The boys' uncle.
"I'll cut some fruit—please wait just a moment."
As Hwayeong turned toward the kitchen, Jun-hyung waved his hands frantically to stop her.
"Sister-in-law, it's fine. Hold on. Stay right there."
"Pardon?"
Once Hwayeong paused, Jun-hyung pulled something from his pocket and handed it to her.
"What's this...? Huh? A hotel...?"
"Hahahaha. It's a five-star hotel voucher for Jeju Island. Two nights. Breakfast on the last day, dinner included on the second. Indoor pool access too. Book your flights, pick dates, and contact the hotel—they'll set up the room."
"No, what's this all of a sudden? A five-star place must cost a fortune."
"Hahaha. It's your anniversary with big bro in two weeks, right? I've never celebrated it before, so I figured I'd play little brother this time. Don't feel burdened."
"Still..."
"Sister-in-law."
As Hwayeong kept refusing with a burdened look, Jun-hyung called her seriously.
"Thanks to big bro, I can run this little business without worrying about meals. If I can't even do this much, am I even human? Blood brother or not, he's my lifelong benefactor."
Jun-hyung's future had been a worry for his parents, full of sighs. Once her husband's business stabilized, Hwayeong's in-laws nagged him relentlessly until they handed the youngest son a secondary subcontracting gig supplying parts to the factory.
To be fair, her husband was indeed Jun-hyung's lifelong benefactor. But Hwayeong wondered if these words were sincere.
He never once visited when my husband's business was struggling...
"Never thought I'd live to see the day you give me a gift like this. But two nights? Hmm, that means taking a day off..."
"Bro, you really hold onto those old prejudices about me. And you should enjoy life a bit now too. Clear Friday, fly out Friday, back Sunday—perfect. Who's gonna complain if the boss takes one day? Jeju's not Southeast Asia; two nights three days is a breeze."
"It's just so sudden, you rascal. Who wouldn't be thrown off by a ticket out of nowhere? Anyway, thanks. Kinda dazed getting this from you, but proud too. Haha. Weird feeling."
Her husband's face showed unfamiliar pleasure beneath the awkwardness, so Hwayeong couldn't refuse anymore.
"We'll put it to good use, young master. We'll bring a gift next time we visit."
"Hahat, no need. That'd ruin the gift. Oh, right! Where's Seonghwan? Been a while—wanted to see my nephew, but only Minhwan's here?"
Hwayeong's body froze mid-effort to ride the positive vibe. But her husband, oblivious, answered Jun-hyung.
"Ah... that kid's probably at the library. He's finally buckling down— even studying on weekends."
"Whoa, no kidding. Bro, you're set with those sons. Both at Korea University, and if Seonghwan gets his act together, what more could you want?"
"Nah... still a long way. Can't let Seonghwan slack off a second. He's not even half—heck, a quarter—of his brother yet."
No matter that it was his own brother talking, her husband badmouthed his son openly, and Jun-hyung accepted the blatant favoritism as normal. It grated on Hwayeong, of course. But what truly unnerved her was...
Why Seonghwan, of all people...?
A man who'd ignored his own brother in tough times now asking for his nephew—it felt off. No, "uneasy" didn't cover it; it was a foreboding chill.
Seonghwan was Hwayeong's weakness. But compared to someone else, it was minor. To that someone, Seonghwan was a fatal Achilles' heel, a Pandora's box best left sealed.
Please...
A beautiful woman's face flickered in Hwayeong's mind.
****
Is the world spinning, or have I lost my mind...?
Seonghwan gazed at the night sky through the transparent window. It had been ages since Seoul evenings let you see stars, but the dazzling signs and streetlights between buildings lit the dark streets instead.
A cross-shaped light caught Seonghwan's eye. A church's beacon.
God. Been a while.
He wasn't religious. Never read the Bible, never memorized prayers. He just invoked the name like a figure of speech when life got tough.
First CSAT day, retake, third try. And before the new semester.
Please let me get a pretty girlfriend too.
CSAT prayers were desperate; the girlfriend one half-joking.
God, overkill. Never dreamed you'd deliver so directly. I'm in meltdown now.
Seonghwan glanced at Yesul beside him after staring at the cross. Leaning against the taxi door, gazing out—her eyes seemed empty somehow.
After Yesul's last words, she and Seonghwan hadn't spoken. Couldn't, really. A tough confession for one was a shock for the other.
They leaned silently at the taxi stand, needing time to sort thoughts.
Feels so distant...
Even hearing she'd accepted Yun-su's confession, or gone no-contact during his retake, or hinted at breakup in his third year—never felt this far from Yesul.
Seonghwan had excuses. He could claim he never noticed her feelings. Insist he wouldn't pretend not to know. Argue he never dreamed a girl like her could like him.
He could defend himself plenty.
But pointless. Yun-su'd understand just fine.
"Munjeong first, then Ilwon side, right?"
"Ah... yes!"
Sensing the awkward air between the back-seat couple, the driver chimed in with the destination.
"Aigoo, weekend date over? Boyfriend seeing girlfriend home?"
No, damn it. Why now...?
Already tangled in an unwanted love triangle, the driver fanned the flames.
"Driver, it's not—"
"Driver."
As Seonghwan tried to cut in, Yesul swiftly interrupted and called the driver.
"Yes? Girlfriend calling?"
"......Ilwon first, then Munjeong."
"Pardon? Backtracking? That'll double the time. Jamsil to Munjeong direct saves time and money..."
"Please do it that way."
"Huh? Ah... if that's what the customer wants..."
Seonghwan meant to protest too. Watching Yesul intently, he opened his mouth to stop her route change suggestion.
But.
Her hand gripped his arm tightly. Her eyes met his silently.
Seonghwan swallowed his words. As the grip loosened...
"......how to whisper And I know just how to cry.."
Huh?
A soft voice. Thin but clear.
"I know just how to fake it And I know just how to scheme"
...What?
"And I know when to let you loose and...."
Yesul, you...
An unforgettable song. High school radio discovery, instant obsession, downloaded on impulse. 1980s hit alien to 21st-century teens. But he'd looped it endlessly, singing along.
Earphones blasting, he'd hummed obliviously anywhere—library, classroom, bus.
Seonghwan stared at Yesul with trembling eyes. Hers still on the window.
Yet he saw it: her reflection in the glass, eyes on him.
......Haha.
Seonghwan could only chuckle wryly.
No excuses left now.
Never knew her feelings? No—he'd been oblivious far too long.
Seonghwan closed his eyes from her profile, leaning back comfortably.
And opened his mouth to sing.
"....know just where to touch you..."
"......"
Recalling old memories, he pieced the lyrics.
Felt her gaze, but kept eyes shut. Just murmured the tune softly.
"I don't know how to leave you..."
Four years on, the pair who'd sat front-back on a bus sharing this song now sat side-by-side in a taxi, reminiscing through it.