Chapter 50
"Lawyer-nim, over here."
At noon sharp, I arrived at Verdin, the restaurant Na Eun-seong had mentioned. She'd been waiting a while—a cup of coffee sat in front of her, the saucer beneath it stained with rings, suggesting she'd been there at least half an hour.
"Oh, the weather's really nice today!" she said awkwardly, gazing out the window.
"It is."
"You're not working today, right? You didn't force yourself to come all this way just because of me, did you?"
"Not at all. I planned to grab lunch with you and head back to the office anyway."
"……Oh, I see."
Na Eun-seong fiddled with her straw and nodded. Yesterday, after she left, Kang Minjae had insisted she clearly had feelings for me. He'd pointed out how she'd always seemed more at ease around him than me before, but ever since Yoo Jeongwon burst in that day, her attitude had shifted oddly. When he pressed me about what happened, I told him nothing had. And that was the truth.
"Shall we order?"
"Ah, yes. Um, you're okay with Western food, right, Lawyer-nim? I was thinking…… maybe I picked the menu too selfishly."
I preferred Korean food, but there was no need to make her uncomfortable.
"It's fine. I'll have this."
While waiting for the food, we rehashed yesterday's conversation. Neither of us was particularly sociable, so there wasn't much to say. Na Eun-seong kept repeating how grateful and sorry she was; I just kept saying it was okay.
"This is delicious. Does it suit your taste, Lawyer-nim?"
Once the food arrived, she broke the silence during our quiet meal.
"Yes, it's good."
No other conversation followed. She'd steal glances at me, then quickly drop her eyes as if hiding. I noticed but pretended not to.
"Shall we wrap up?"
I said it as she set down her fork. Half her food remained, and she'd been picking at it listlessly—clearly no appetite.
Na Eun-seong looked flustered, glancing around before meeting my eyes.
"D-dessert, maybe……."
"Sure."
I'd planned to grab coffee at Kim Yeonjun's café on the way back, but she looked so hopeful I nodded. I ordered coffee; she got ice cream. Silence fell again until dessert arrived.
"Um, have you worked with Lawyer Kang Minjae for a long time?"
She'd clearly been fishing for a topic.
I answered curtly. "No."
"……Oh, I see."
"Yes."
"Then…… did you post a job ad for a new lawyer or something, and that's how you ended up working together?"
"No."
"Ah…… okay."
She covered her flushed earlobes and bowed her head.
"I just thought you two clicked so well, like you'd been partners from the start."
"Is that so."
"……Yes."
Even to me, our conversation felt stilted. But what else was there to say? I had no desire to spill office details to a former client, nor any need to.
I wondered what Kang Minjae would say in this situation. Probably something like asking what she'd do with her sudden windfall or her future plans. But where she spent the money was none of my business. And her plans? She'd said she'd keep writing, so that was that.
"……."
In the heavy silence, my coffee and her ice cream vanished. Time to go—I reached for my jacket.
"L-Lawyer-nim!"
"Yes."
The server cleared the empty plates, leaving the table pristine except for the bill. I was thinking I'd cover it when……
"I have something to say."
"Go ahead."
"Um, by any chance……."
Na Eun-seong bit her lip. After a long pause, her voice barely above a whisper:
"By any chance, are you…… seeing someone?"
"No."
"Th-then, would you…… ever consider dating me……?"
A short sigh nearly escaped, but I held it back. I'd sensed from the start where this was heading, but I didn't want to outright reject her. It could just be a simple invitation from a grateful client for a meal. That's why I'd come—and yet here we were.
"Na Eun-seong."
"……Yes, Lawyer-nim."
"My practice is new; the office isn't stable yet. And I'm swamped with no time to spare."
"……."
"Dating someone like me would make you uncomfortable."
"I wouldn't mind that."
"I want you to keep thriving as an artist, your work selling like hotcakes. But I can't really help you with that."
Her persistent gaze faltered; she dropped her head.
"You sound just like some adult ten years older than me."
She sighed. I'd been about to end things politely but paused, staring at her.
What was that supposed to mean? She and I were over twenty years apart—in 2008, even more.
"Na Eun-seong."
"Yes?"
"How old do I look to you?"
"Late twenties……."
This time, I didn't hold back the sigh. She'd mistaken me for a peer and asked me out? I'd assumed her feelings were impossible because of our age gap. But apparently not—she hadn't meant to trick me.
"Na Eun-seong. I'm thirty-four."
"……Pardon?"
"Misunderstanding."
"Liar!"
She shot up, incredulous. "Even if you don't want to date me, you don't have to lie like that! How could you be thirty-four? You look like a handsome guy in his twenties! I came thinking it'd be okay if you turned me down, but I didn't expect lies……."
She looked more hurt than when I'd rejected her. Time for quick proof. I pulled out my wallet and showed her my ID without hesitation.
"I've got prosecutor experience and military service. Can't be late twenties."
"Now that you mention it…… and 750617…… It's real……."
"It is."
"Lawyer-nim, I don't care about age. If that's the issue—"
"Na Eun-seong. I mentioned other reasons too."
"Right……."
Her excitement faded as she sat back down. Now calm, embarrassment hit; she wouldn't even glance my way. I worried she'd cry.
"Na Eun-seong."
"……."
"As the lawyer who handled your case, I just want my client to succeed."
She was silent a long time. Then she looked up brightly.
"I get it. Sorry for the scene."
"It's fine."
"And…… thanks to you, I have a great setup now. I'll work hard. Actually, I've started a new piece recently."
"Good. You could rest more, though."
She shook her head. "I haven't written in so long; time to dive back in. I've got a title and pen name picked."
"New pen name?"
"I'll write again, but no scripts for a while. Thinking novels."
"You're famous now—could use your real name."
"No. I'd rather earn fame through skill."
Healthy mindset. I'd listed her as co-author hoping The Distance Between You and Me would serve as her debut if she kept writing. But after the drama-world storm she caused, staying away from scripts for now was smart. Personally, her identity would leak either way, so better capitalize—but that was her call.
"Smart choice."
"Want to hear the title?"
"Sure."
"Each in Their Own Way."
Each in Their Own Way. The title echoed, stirring a memory from my past life. My ex-wife's favorite drama—nearly 40% ratings, based on a novel she'd bought and devoured. Na Eun-seong's work, apparently.
"It'll do well."
"I hope so."
"It will."
Big time.
* * *
I visited my parents over the weekend. Their recent checkups were clean, so no worries. But Dad, a news junkie, had busted my Taegwang lie. Still, they'd played along until I showed up again—must not hate the truth.
I'd been scouting houses; this weekend, we viewed one near Dad's hometown. Modest apartment, perfect for them—Mom loved it, so we signed the contract on the spot. When I suggested bigger, Dad sternly waved it off. The memory stuck.
Changing the flow means moments like this.
Seeing my late father alive. Chatting with Mom, spared her lonely illness. All from rewriting the future. I reminded myself.
If no new cases soon, maybe pro bono.
Heading up, I checked the mailbox. In the office, Kang Minjae had arrived first, door open.
"Good morning."
"Morning."
"What's that?"
He eyed the white envelope in my hand. Lost in thought, I hadn't checked. I held it up.
"Fine notice?"
I tore it open.
"Aigoo, illegal U-turn! When'd you pull that?"
I sighed. The day Yoo Jeongwon showed up at Na Eun-seong's.
"Guess you're off the FM Robot list now, Lawyer-nim."
"Thanks, I feel so honored."
"Don't mention it."
Kang Minjae bowed comically. I couldn't help a hollow laugh.
"You laughed! Just now, right?"
"Shut up."
"You did!"
"Get to work."
"No work."
"Then find some."
Na Eun-seong's words about us clicking popped into mind. Watching his slumped shoulders as he shuffled back, I thought: maybe we really did mesh.