Flashback: Suspicion Thaws Over Whiskey
“Heading to work?”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve got stuff to do too, so I’m heading out. Have a great day!”
“Okay...”
What’s going on with her? Ga-eun wondered, curiosity gnawing at her. No, why the hell am I wondering what that guy does for a living? I should be figuring out how to get out of this mess!
But even as she racked her brain, no clever solutions came to mind. Still, she couldn’t just sit idly by.
“I’m sorry, sunbae… I’m really, truly sorry.”
“Haa...”
With a deep sigh, Ga-eun climbed the stairs. In the hallway, Yoon Ayoung was apologizing profusely, while a male student scratched his head awkwardly, glancing at his phone every few seconds. It looked like he’d gotten all his money back.
“Go.”
“Thank you.”
He mumbled a bit, as if holding back curses, but ultimately let her go. Ayoung bowed once more and scampered off.
No designer bag? The luxury bag she always flaunted was gone, and her shoes and clothes were plain too. But one thing caught Ga-eun’s eye.
Isn’t that the jacket that bastard gave her? She’d come to school wearing the coat he’d lent her when she was shivering from the cold.
“Hey, did you get yours back too?”
“Yeah, she returned it all. The designer bag and two million won. You?”
“I got my Rolex back.”
“Mine was a gold necklace. But what’s up with her? What wind blew in to make her act like this?”
“No idea? That jacket looks like a guy’s. Maybe she got a boyfriend? He probably said something.”
Snippets of conversation drifted by. Everyone seemed baffled by Yoon Ayoung’s sudden change—from the embodiment of greed to... this.
“Saw her at a cafe yesterday. She was working part-time.”
“For real? Didn’t she swear she’d never do anything like work?”
Ga-eun tuned them out and opened the lab door. She hung up her coat, opened the window, and a knock sounded.
“Come in.”
“Yes.”
Her wavy brown hair and mischievous eyes marked her as Yoon Ayoung. She entered clutching the jacket like a precious treasure.
Ga-eun had always known she was pretty, but up close, her beauty struck anew—flawless skin, full breasts straining against the oversized men’s coat, toned thighs hugged by tight pants, slender wrists... And she was even younger than him. Fifteen years her junior, at least. What good was looking young when their birth years were in different decades?
“Professor...”
“Yes.”
Ga-eun deliberately looked away, avoiding eye contact. Those fox-like eyes had irked her from the start. She knew she shouldn’t think that way about a student, but after confirming the rumors from last weekend, her goodwill had evaporated. And that jacket... Seeing the trash he’d given her just fueled her irritation.
God, why wear that to school?
She hated looking at it. It reminded her of that garbage man. Playing with people using his weird powers... Infuriating.
“What do you want?”
“Um... Professor, that handsome oppa you were with over the weekend. I saw you going somewhere together. Is he family or something?”
“Where do you get off eyeing him, you fucking slut?”
Ga-eun nearly spat it out. What the hell was this girl playing at?
“...Why do you ask?”
She bristled, her voice sharp, her gaze like daggers.
Ayoung clapped her delicate hands together, oblivious or ignoring it.
“Oh, if he’s family... I’ve really, truly repented! Could you just let me meet him once to apologize properly? He’s family, right?”
Family... Yeah, better to call him that. She didn’t want to say husband or lover—too complicated to explain.
“Yes.”
“I knew it! Just once, let me...”
“We’ll see. I need to prep for class. Out.”
Prep was already done; she just wanted her gone.
“Professor...?”
“Out. I need to prepare. Oh, and that jacket.”
Ga-eun pointed at Ayoung’s outfit.
“Planning to keep wearing it? I’ll return it myself, so hand it over.”
“I can return it...”
“What did I say?”
“You’d return it yourself...”
“And?”
“Still, I should... apologize in person and...”
Irritation boiled over. Ga-eun shot to her feet and strode toward her.
“Pr-Professor...?”
“Put the jacket down and leave after three counts, or your assignment grade drops below C. One...”
“I-I’ll return it myself!”
“I’ve heard the rumors about you. Quite the colorful history. Think I don’t know? Two.”
“Ugh...”
Ayoung twisted her face, but it didn’t help. Defeated, she shrugged off the jacket, handed it over, and shuffled out.
“Hmph. Who does she think she is?”
Ga-eun crowed triumphantly, clutching the jacket. Victory over the stunning, youthful Korea University goddess felt good.
Huh?
The glee lasted ten seconds. Holding the jacket, she realized there was no reason for it. What did winning get her? Nothing but satisfying her petty urges.
“This is all that bastard’s fault!”
She hurled the jacket with a thud, fuming. She wasn’t even mad—just felt like she should be.
“Haa... What’s wrong with me?”
Oddly, tossing it made her question if it was necessary. She picked it up, tossed it on the sofa, then neatly folded it.
Time for class.
She gathered her materials and headed to the lecture hall. Rounding a corner, she accidentally bumped into a student on a call. Papers scattered with a clatter.
“Ah...!”
“...”
The flustered student ended his call and helped pick them up. Ga-eun silently gathered hers too.
“Sorry...”
“No, my fault. I wasn’t looking.”
It had happened before—nearly spilling coffee on a girl student, whom she’d cursed out. Back then, rage had surged; now, she just thought, Accidents happen.
Did he do this?
Weird. She shelved the feeling and taught as usual—assigned homework and all.
“Ah, Professor Han.”
During lunch, a colleague called out.
“The department head asked if you’d join the faculty for drinks tonight.”
Drinks? A spark lit in her mind.
Yes—booze. I can get the truth out of him.
Get him blackout drunk on strong liquor and probe his motives.
“No, I’ve got plans.”
“Okay...”
Even the university president treaded carefully around her. She’d turned down offers from the US and UK for loyalty; skipping drinks was no issue.
Strike while the iron’s hot. She texted him: Drinks?
Then headed home early, showered, and picked cute clothes. Purposefully revealing? No—to loosen his tongue when drunk.
Yeah, it’s strategic, not to look good.
“Not this... nor that...”
She rarely fussed over outfits. First time at a bar too.
“What is this?”
An hour later: thin clothes, no cleavage, but summery for chilly spring evenings. Coat over, shed inside. Fine.
At the bar, she pre-ordered whiskey and waited.
“Ah, Ga-eun.”
“You’re here.”
“Yeah, haha... Sorry I’m late. Had some work.”
Casual clothes, awkward gait—bar newbie?
With that face, never been to one?
“What work?”
“Helping Euna. Hey, aren’t you cold? Spring, but that outfit’s a bit much.”
“Heater’s on.”
“Still, it was chilly out. You’ll catch a cold.”
Fake concern? The thought flickered and vanished. No reason for pretense.
“Take a glass.”
“Ah, sure.”
She poured and said one-shot. He did.
“Another.”
“You too, Ga-eun.”
He refilled hers. Feeding him only felt awkward, so she matched pace.
“Cheers!”
“Cheers.”
Glasses clinked. Whiskey bit hard—first time.
Ugh, why drink this crap?
But for his secrets...
Glasses flowed, bottles and plates piled.
Why isn’t he... getting drunk?
She was wasted—double vision, swaying. He? A bit tipsy, but fine compared to her.
“Whyyy... are you doing this to meee...?”
“What? You’re the one feeding me.”
“Not thaaat... What do you want from meee...?”
“For you to be a good mom to Euna. That’s it.”
“Good mom...? Hah.”
She scoffed. Now? Seriously?
“Not too late. Euna still loves you.”
“Why...?”
“You’re family.”
“Family...?”
“Yes. Family. I watched Euna up close—her drive in practice, her climb to the top.”
She’d heard it before, but booze made it fresh.
“What daughter’s like Euna? If she were mine, I’d feel like I owned the world.”
“If Euna’s yours, then me...?”
“Exactly.”
Exactly? What answer was that? He’d called himself husband a hundred times but couldn’t say wife once?
“What, won’t call me your wife?”
Wait, what did I just say? Never this drunk—words spilling.
“You’re drunk. Let’s stop.”
“Whaaat! I’m not... druuunk!”
She grabbed a bottle; he lightly slapped her hand, took it gently.
“Won’t call me wife?”
“You are my wife. Let’s go home.”
He stood, donned his coat, gently pulled her up, fetched her coat.
“Ga-eun, put this on.”
“Hoooot.”
She swatted it; he draped it over his arm, supported her wobbly steps.
She stumbled after a few; he caught her.
“Can’t walk straight and say you’re sober?”
“I’m... not...”
“Stop being stubborn... Up you go!”
Princess carry—by a man ten years younger. Booze haze lifted slightly.
“If my wife can’t walk drunk, I carry her.”
“...”
Thump, thump, thump. Heart pounding—booze? Or else? She didn’t know.
Night air chilled, but she didn’t feel it. He supported her home, laid her in bed.
“Too drunk for a shower... Sleep. Don’t strain.”
“Where you going?”
“Blankets. Gotta sleep too.”
Blankets...? Right, she’d said floor.
“N-next to...”
“Pardon?”
“Sleep beside me.”
“What’s this?”
“Just...”
“Won’t refuse then.”
He shed his coat, lay beside—back turned.
She stared blankly at the spinning ceiling, dizzy mind whirling. Never hitting a bar again. Eyes closed, vow made.
Next morning, blaring alarm. Rubbing crusty eyes, she silenced it. He was gone—early out.
“Ah?!”
Memories crashed: talks, her slurred pleas, inviting him to bed. What the fuck!!!
“Fuck...! What did I do yesterdayyy!!!”
Scream muffled by hands over face. Mortified. How ridiculous she must’ve seemed.
“Oh, clothes... intact?”
Her rejected coat hung neatly; outfit unchanged, no signs of tampering.
What kind of guy doesn’t pounce... Unfathomable.
“Hm?”
Kitchen: cooled rice, lukewarm kongnamul soup, banchan. Note by bowl.
Ga-eun,
Sorry. I should’ve made it myself, but Euna called, so I grabbed some from the nearby banchan shop. Rice I cooked, though. Eat up and have a great day!
Handwritten, not text. Thoughtful.
“No need to go this far... Hmph, playing husband...”
Thump, thump...
“Haa... haa... Why...”
Body hot, face burning, chest racing, emotions surging uncontrollably.
She sat, chopsticks in hand. Store-bought banchan tasted fine, but to her, everything felt thick and heavy.
Maybe he wasn’t as bad as she thought.