Chapter 15
Tae joo’s sharp eyes darted around, searching for Seokjin.
“Are you looking for Secretary Oppa?”
“Oppa? What are you talking about?”
“Oh… Teacher, don’t tell me…”
Seol covered her mouth with her hands and widened her eyes.
“Are you jealous?”
Because I called him oppa?
Feeling a bit shy, Seol playfully poked Tae joo’s arm with her slim fingers. Tae joo instinctively grabbed her wrist, scanning her outfit from head to toe. Thankfully, she was fully dressed. If she’d been drunk and undressed, even imagining it was horrifying.
“Teacher! Your hand is hot!”
Tae joo immediately released her grip.
“Are you running a fever?”
“Freeze.”
The hand reaching for Tae joo’s forehead paused mid-air.
“Now take one step back.”
“What? Why?”
“Just do it.”
With a sharp glare, Tae joo made Seol uneasy, but she still followed his instruction. Once he ensured a safe distance, Tae joo let out a deep sigh. The alcohol smell on his breath was intense—he must have had way too much.
His pounding headache made it hard to tell if it was from the hangover or from dealing with Yoon Seol.
As he pressed his temples, Seol ran to the kitchen.
“Teacher, drink this,” she said, offering him a cup of pale yellow liquid.
“It’s honey water. I made it earlier—it’s lukewarm and perfect to drink now.”
Her sparkling eyes made it impossible to refuse. And his throat was dry anyway.
When he accepted it silently, Seol stood by with a small tray, watching him intently.
“Stop staring; you’re burning a hole in my face.”
“Isn’t it nice, though, to have someone make you honey water after drinking too much? This is why people get married—”
“My head hurts.”
Seol quickly zipped her lips. As she’d said, the honey water was warm and sweet—just what he needed. The moisture soothed his dry throat, and he felt a bit more alive.
“Thanks, that helped.”
Tae joo, feeling steadier, glanced at Seol, who was watching him like a meerkat. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly upward.
“You’re welcome,” she replied, shyly lowering her gaze and reaching out for his cup.
Something about the atmosphere felt different.
“Oh, let me take that.”
Seol quickly grabbed the empty cup and stood up. As she reached out, Tae joo noticed something fluttering below her hand.
It was an apron—a white one with frilly lace everywhere, looking like it belonged to a newlywed homemaker.
“Teacher, I even made hangover soup for you,” Seol said, twisting shyly as if embarrassed.
What now?
Feeling dizzy at the sight, Tae joo grabbed his phone and called Seokjin, retreating to the bedroom to avoid Seol’s gaze.
-Yaaawn. What now?
“Are you insane?”
-Did Yoon Seol show up?
Seokjin’s voice was too casual for someone who’d just woken up.
-She was so worried about you. She kept saying, ‘What if our teacher gets sick? Let me check on him!’ I felt like the villain in a drama, keeping you two apart.
“And you thought it was a good idea to send her here?”
Giving her his apartment code was over the top.
-How could a crow understand the heart of a crane? You didn’t come to the hotel and went to your place instead, so I figured you must’ve been wasted. Probably looking a mess, too. I thought if she saw you like that, even Yoon Seol would be disappointed.
“Disappointed? In me?”
-Did she make hangover soup?
“…”
-Oh, Tae joo. If I were you, I’d cheer her on at this point. Persistence pays off, you know.
“I don’t think you’re the one who should be feeling moved right now.”
-Then should I marry her?
“You’re insane. And don’t let her call you oppa again.”
-What else would she call me? Oppa is oppa. What, should she call me Hong Gildong instead? You’re ridiculous—
Seokjin’s protests were abruptly cut off.
What are they even talking about? Work stuff?
Seol resisted the urge to press her ear against the bedroom door and instead sat quietly on the living room sofa. She straightened out the white apron and arranged it nicely.
Would being married to him feel like this?
The thought made her so happy that her toes wriggled with excitement. She accidentally bumped into a nearby bottle, causing it to topple.
“Ah!”
Luckily, it was empty, so nothing spilled.
Relieved, Seol set the bottle upright and glanced around. Empty bottles littered the floor and table. This didn’t look anything like a newlywed’s home.
“How many bottles is this? One, two, three…”
Our teacher must be a heavy drinker. Of course, he’s perfect at everything.
Feeling oddly proud, Seol’s smile faded as she glanced at the mess again. It didn’t sit right with her.
[If you’re so worried, go check his apartment. He probably passed out there. But don’t blame me if you run into another woman.]
Despite her secretary Oppa’s warning, Tae joo had been alone. When Seol arrived, he’d been deeply asleep, sweating and mumbling in his dreams.
The bottles surrounding him seemed to reflect his troubled emotions.
Was it because of his first love? Was his heart hurting that much?
“Ugh.”
Her secretary oppa knew nothing. How dare he treat Tae joo like some kind of playboy?
Grumbling, Seol began gathering the bottles. Then she noticed a book on the floor.
“The River of Memory?”
It had been lying open on Tae joo’s chest. The worn edges and faded pages showed it had been read many times.
She glanced toward the bedroom before opening the cover. Her eyes froze when she saw a short note written inside:
To my dear Tae joo.
The handwriting looked feminine.
“Is this from his first love?”
What kind of woman could hurt him so much? As Seol stared at the note, imagining the woman behind it, the bedroom door opened.
Hurriedly setting the book down, she ran to Tae joo.
“Teacher.”
“Why are you still here? Don’t you have work?”
“Not all celebrities are busy, you know. If there’s no filming, I’m unemployed. And I’ve already wrapped up most of my scenes. I work hard, so don’t worry about me.”
Well, once this drama ended, her agency would probably find her something else.
“Yoon Seol.”
Tae joo spoke with his dry lips, cutting through her rapid-fire excuses.
He didn’t understand why she clung to him so desperately. Growing up adored everywhere, she must not be used to rejection.
“Teacher, let me at least see you eat the hangover soup before I go…”
Her big, teary eyes always made it hard for him to say no.
That’s exactly why meeting her felt so burdensome.
While Tae joo stayed silent, Seol seized the chance to rush into the kitchen. She microwaved instant rice, poured the soup into a bowl from a thermos, and set everything on the table.
Determined to settle things once and for all, Tae joo pulled out a chair and sat down.
“The rice is store-bought because I didn’t have time, but I made the soup. Please try it.”
The soup was clear, with bean sprouts, tofu, and green onions floating in it. Tae joo took a sip.
It was bland. But his dry mouth didn’t care about the flavor.
“Teacher, did you live like this in the U.S.? Drinking every day?”
His spoon paused before moving again.
“Yeah.”
Seol sat up straight, her expression suddenly serious.
“You’re going to ruin your stomach…”
She was still worried.
“Don’t worry. I’ve already found tons of hangover soup recipes. Like… fifty, maybe?”
Clenching her fist in determination, she looked oddly resolute.
“I politely decline. And don’t bother with this anymore.”
“Why? Is it bad?”
Tae joo gestured toward the thermos and bowl with his eyes, making Seol’s face fall.
“No. I just don’t want you wasting your time.”
“But Koreans run on rice power…”
Her oddly old-fashioned comment made Tae joo chuckle despite himself.
“Oh, Teacher, you smiled!”
“I didn’t.”
“You did!”
“You must’ve seen wrong. How is someone so young already losing their eyesight?”
“I just… I just wanted to make something good for you.”
“Then don’t bother. Someone else eats more of your cooking than I do, anyway.”
“Who? Wait… that traitor!”
A certain mischievous face popped into her mind.
He’d promised to deliver her food to Tae joo!
Seol stomped her foot in betrayal, but Tae joo set his spoon down.
“Yoon Seol.”
“…Yes?”
“Stop meeting Seokjin. No more contact with him.”
