Flashback: Heena's Hypnotic Awakening
Past flashback: Lee Heena
"You remember everything, right? Snap my fingers in front of your eyes, and you'll wake from the hypnosis."
Hypnosis... So I was under hypnosis.
The snap of his fingers finally got my body moving. I tried to slap him across the face right then and there, but my body ignored me completely and threw itself into his arms instead. And then it spoke. "Oppa Geon-woo."
I'd regained control of my body, but that was it. I was moving and acting on the commands implanted by the hypnosis. The only normal part left was my thoughts.
"Oppa, are you dissatisfied with me?"
This isn't me speaking.
"No, no way! Absolutely not! Of course not! Don't you see I brought you all the way home? It's just that my place is a bit messy right now. And you drank earlier, remember? When you're drunk, even easy things get hard."
Don't play the nice guy. You forced me under your control, and now you're acting all innocent?
"But I don't want to leave Oppa to struggle alone. And I'm not that drunk."
The sensation of my body slipping out of my control and acting on its own was horrifying. Goosebumps. I hate this! Someone, please help me...
I screamed it inwardly, but my body ignored me and followed him around, helping with the cleaning. Stop it. Don't do it. Please, at least slap him. Curse him out. Say something!
But my body was beyond my control, diligently helping with his chores.
Then I made a mistake. I broke a dish and damaged a shelf. I realized it then—I'm truly hopeless. I can't do anything right. I always mess up. Even under hypnosis, how did I ever win that tournament? I was starting to wonder myself.
Suddenly, sadness crashed over me. Everything about this situation. My father who doesn't even see me as his daughter. My real, exposed incompetence. And here I was, helping a total stranger clean under hypnosis—and still screwing it up...
"I... I've always been like this... Always messing up, just like today..."
I cried. Outwardly and inwardly.
"It's true that my sister is better than me at everything. But... sob... I worked so hard. I poured blood and sweat into golf because I thought I had to master it, and finally, I won the world championship! But... hic, he won't even acknowledge it... wahhh..."
Ah, how pathetic. Spilling all this to a stranger? And to this guy who won't understand me at all.
I tried to stop the tears. Thankfully, my body obeyed this time.
"S-sorry... Sorry. I ruined the mood with all this pointless talk..."
The guy lifted my chin, meeting my eyes, and smiled.
"It's okay, Heena. No matter what your father... I mean, the chairman thinks of you, you're an amazing person."
What? You hypnotize someone and force them to obey, and now you're saying this? Just trying to look like a good guy, huh? You filthy hypocrite.
"Think about it, Heena. If you weren't incredible, could you have won the world championship? That victory you claimed—most people couldn't achieve it no matter how hard they tried. You know that, right?"
"No. It was just luck..."
"Luck... Yeah, I guess you can't deny that completely."
Ha. Figures. I knew it from the way he was buttering me up. I'm used to harsh words anyway. Go ahead, say what you want. I'll smack you the moment I get a chance.
"Heena, luck comes to those who put in the effort. If you'd just relied on your family's wealth and slacked off, that luck wouldn't have found you. And you know world championships aren't won on effort alone. You need talent beyond the ordinary too."
...What? What is he saying?
"If you hadn't worked hard, if you didn't have the talent, no amount of money could have gotten you the win. Golf is a rich person's sport, sure. But that means your opponents were rich too, right? Same starting line as you."
I looked up at him wordlessly. His face was serious. Is he for real...?
"You think you can bulldoze a world championship with just luck and money? No way, not possible."
No. That's not true. I'm just a talentless hack who got lucky once. I couldn't even make it past regionals...
"But... I... failed regionals..."
Eh? That was my inner voice slipping out.
"Even when you're at your best, they nitpick. You think condition management is for nothing?"
Lies. No way. This is just another trick. A dirty ploy. It has to be. Right? A trash who uses hypnosis to toy with women couldn't be sincere. I won't believe it. There's definitely some ulterior motive...
I couldn't finish the thought. Because he pulled me into a hug.
"Heena. No matter what people say—even your father—you can't deny what you've achieved. It wasn't just money and luck. You worked your ass off, you had talent, you never gave up, and that's why victory rewarded you."
Shut up. Be quiet. Don't say it. Let go. Let me go! Who are you to hug me? Stop lying when you're the one pulling dirty strings.
But against my thoughts, my body just clung to him and cried. Why? Why does my heart feel warm? Why do I feel safe...?
"Your father doesn't know anything. That's why he can dismiss your efforts so easily. Whether it's him or random strangers, don't let anyone who belittles the win you bled for drag you down. That would disrespect all the effort you put in, the path you walked, the people you beat."
No. Stop talking. I know it's all lies.
"It's okay, it's okay. I'll take it all. Cry it out. Let it all go."
Who are you to accept me? You, who twisted me to your whims—what right do you have?! Just drop the hypocrisy and do whatever you want.
But against my thoughts, my mouth said:
"It was so hard! Training was nothing compared to the pain of never getting Father's approval!!!"
"I'll acknowledge you."
Who are you to say that?
"I never even wanted to hear I was better than my sister or anything like that!"
"Heena, you endured and won anyway. That makes you stronger than your sister."
How would you know? Don't talk like you get it.
"I'm not your father, but... you really went through hell."
All of it was what I'd longed to hear from my father. Words I'd never get no matter how hard I tried my whole life.
No. Who are you to show up out of nowhere and say the things I wanted most? What do you really want...?
Strangely, my tears stopped quickly. I don't know why.
"Sorry. I must've been a bother...?"
"Nah. You gotta vent the buildup to feel better. If you'd bottled it up, I'd be in trouble. I don't wanna be a boyfriend who doesn't even know his girlfriend."
Girlfriend. Nice one, after hypnotizing me into it.
But why? It didn't feel bad. I don't get it. What is this feeling?
He laid me on the bed and finished cleaning up. I stared blankly as he worked. Corner to corner, meticulously. Maybe... he's not as bad as he seems.
'Ah!'
I shook my head at the unbidden thought. This works now? Anyway, I'll pretend to sleep. Those nice words were just sweet talk; the second he thinks I'm out, he'll show his true colors.
I pretended to sleep. Soon, he finished cleaning and approached.
"Yeah. Sleep's the best thing right now."
Huh?
He straightened my blanket. No undressing, no assault. Just tucked me in and sat on the floor, scrolling his phone.
What is this? So those words weren't lies...?
'What... why is he like this?'
Thinking back to his comfort made my heart pound suddenly. Why? It must be another hypnosis effect.
I opened my eyes. It was dawn. Must've dozed off. I jolted awake, but the blanket was still neat, my clothes unchanged. I checked the mirror—no signs of being touched.
"......"
I looked down at his sleeping face. Handsome again... No, no!Slap! I smacked my own cheeks with both hands. Don't think like that so casually.
Come to think of it, this feels natural now? Yesterday I couldn't move at all. Did it wear off?
Thirsty, I naturally opened the fridge and grabbed water, like a girlfriend raiding her boyfriend's fridge...
'Ugh.'
Really... I hate this. What is it?
After drinking, I thought, He'll be hungry in the morning; I should make breakfast.No. But my body ignored me, pulling up YouTube for kimchi stew.
Thought it wore off... nope.
After we ate, the phone rang. From Park Siljang—Father was here. No. No matter how cold he is to me, he's still my dad. I can't let this guy control him with his weird power.
But in the end, I went with the guy. At that point, I gave up. He's like an unstoppable force of nature.
But...
"Still... she's your daughter."
"You think she deserves all those perks just because she's my daughter? I've done plenty. Sent her abroad on my dime for golf, paid for her clothes, food—everything."
"What about love? Not everyone can be like Heena's sister. Even if it's not as much..."
He's fighting. Standing up to the giant no one else dares face—for me.
"I've always lived proving my worth. Love has to be earned too. She hasn't proven her value, so I've supported her this far. That's enough."
"Proven? She has. She won the world golf championship. That boosted Yangho Group's image, didn't it? Whether it was luck or family support, her win is undeniable fact. Because of her blood, sweat, and tears..."
He could've hypnotized and taken over my family right then. But he defended me instead. Told Father over and over how great I am.
Why... why go that far for me...?
'Hic...'
I don't know. Why is my heart racing? Why is my face burning?
He sent me out. Curious, I pressed my ear to the door.
"From now on, Chairman, you won't suspect me. You'll see me, Yun Geon-woo, as Heena's boyfriend and the most trustworthy person in the world."
"Lee Heena is your proud daughter. You acknowledge that ignoring and scorning her until now was all a mistake."
"Mistake... acknowledge..."
"And from now on, you'll support and love Heena unconditionally. Cancel the golf schedule with Taesan Group—Heena's wishes come first. You've resolved to give her all the love you withheld."
What? Why... go that far for someone like me? What value do I have...?
Father came out and hugged me. His broad, sturdy arms were warm. His gentle voice for the first time washed away the knots in my heart.
But why? Compared to what that guy did for me, it felt... less warm. The embrace I'd craved so long, his kind words... Is it the hypnosis? Or is that guy just warmer?
I don't know.
After a brief apology, Father asked what I wanted. That's when our eyes met—that guy's.
'Say what you want.' Thumbs up, eyes saying that. Geon-woo Oppa.
For me. A stranger, yet he went this far. He yelled for me before the giant everyone grovels to. He could've controlled me but didn't. He controlled Father so I could hear the words I longed for.
No more doubts. Doubting was foolish. I decided not to doubt.
Then, deep inside, a thought bubbled up.
'I want... more time with him. With Geon-woo Oppa.'
Geon-woo Oppa. It came naturally. This couldn't be acting. Even if it was, it was worth falling for.
I voiced the thought in my head. Not manipulated by hypnosis—my real will.
"I want to live with Oppa Geon-woo. Here in this house."
Father approved my unmanipulated wish without hesitation.
After Father left, Oppa fidgeted nervously. Probably thought I'd grill him about what happened.
No need. I already know everything.
I linked my arm with his. Not because of hypnosis forcing me—but my own will.