Chapter 29
It was a solo trip for Sua, with hardly any luggage in her hands.
Just a few changes of clothes and some basic makeup. It was a simple setup, with no plans to meet anyone or take photos. She didn’t even bring her usual foundation.
It was different from her usual outings in Seoul. Normally, Sua never dressed casually.
Before marriage, she had to remember that she was Han Sua from Han Group, and after marriage, she made sure to look impeccable as the wife of Ji Hyun-oh, the CEO of PY Chemical, even when stepping out briefly in front of the house. But this time was different.
No one would recognize her anyway. She tied her hair tightly like a high school student and boarded the KTX.
“Let’s at least choose a safe and nice place for accommodation.”
“No need to choose a nice place.”
“Think about someone worrying about you after you leave.”
That was the only request Hyun-oh made to Sua before she left for Gangneung. So, while she decided to stay at the luxurious cottage he arranged for her, the rest of the trip felt just like any other student trip with no set destination or plans.
Watching the landscape blur by so fast that she couldn’t see anything outside, Sua let out a bitter smile.
“I should have taken the bus.”
The newly built KTX was convenient, but it seemed too new and shiny, somehow not fitting with the serene trip she had in mind.
Regretting her decision not to take the bus, as the book she held was titled “Gangneung-bound Express Bus.”
Sua had only been to Gangneung once when she was young. It was so long ago that she barely remembered it, but she remembered it took a few hours to get there.
“What’s famous in Gangneung?”
With only one book in hand and suddenly embarking on this trip, she had no information. She could use her phone to find out about restaurants and tourist spots, but she didn’t want to go to crowded places.
Where should she go first?
“The last station our train will arrive at in a moment is Gangneung Station. Thank you to all the customers who used the fast and comfortable KTX today. Have a good day.”
Before she could finish her thoughts, the convenient KTX arrived in Gangneung less than two hours after departing from Seoul.
Sua also got off the train and mingled with the crowd to enter Gangneung Station. Standing in front of a large Gangneung tourism map with various pamphlets, she looked up.
Mission stations, Ojukheon, familiar names spread out in front of her, but there was no place she wanted to go. After staring at the map for a while, her thoughts drifted back to Seoul.
“Has Hyun-oh left work by now? He must have been surprised when I suddenly said I’m going on a trip alone.”
“This house will feel empty for two nights and three days.”
The face of the man who said that suddenly popped into her mind.
Thinking of Hyun-oh again.
Sua shook her head hurriedly. She came on this trip to clear her mind of thoughts about Hyun-oh, but as soon as she arrived, she thought of him.
Then, she felt someone beside her. Standing next to Sua, who was looking at the map, was a man.
Is he around my age? A man in his mid-20s with a backpack, looking at the map.
Did I occupy the map all by myself? Wondering if she was in the way, Sua moved slightly to the side, and the man turned to look at her. He smiled as if it was fortunate and opened his mouth.
“Are you here for a trip?”
“Uh, yes.”
Sua’s lips trembled in surprise at being spoken to unexpectedly. The man’s eyes lit up as if he found it fortunate.
“I am too. Where are you headed? Have you decided where you want to sightsee?”
“Not yet.”
Even though she spent the whole day wandering around Seoul, it wasn’t common for a stranger to strike up a conversation. Maybe it’s because it’s a trip? The man approached Sua without any hesitation. That alone was surprising, but his next suggestion was even more astonishing.
“If you don’t mind, would you like to explore together for the day?”
“Pardon?”
A proposal to sightsee together.
With me? Why? We just met today.
Sua couldn’t help but turn around to check if he was talking to someone else.
“Oh, sorry.”
Startled by Sua’s hesitation, the man raised his hand. He showed his palm as if to show that he was harmless.
“I’m not a weirdo. My friend and I were supposed to come together, but he canceled last minute. I already made reservations and everything. It’s a shame.”
The man in his 20s looked decent. His slightly crushed cap indicated he was a traveler, and his gently drooping eyes formed a soft curve. He didn’t seem like a bad person. But traveling with a stranger was scary, and most of all, today, she wanted to be alone.
She wanted to spend time alone. She was already preoccupied enough to have someone intrude.
“I’m sorry, you kindly offered, but I have a companion.”
“A companion? Where are they? You said you came alone earlier.”
That’s right.
When the man in front asked if she came alone, she quickly said she did. It was Sua’s mistake to tell a clumsy lie like that. Sua’s face flushed with embarrassment in no time.
“Oh, that.”
“You said you came alone, so why lie? If you don’t want to, just say so.”
The face of the man, who looked endlessly kind just a while ago, clouded over. Deep wrinkles formed between his brows.
“Why lie and try to chase me away?”
His firm voice frightened her. She didn’t know what to do in such a situation, as it was her first time.
Feeling helpless against his stubborn words, Sua looked around nervously for a place to escape. There might be station staff or police officers nearby.
If she went there first, she might be able to resolve it somehow.
As her mouth dried up and cold sweat ran down her back.
“What’s going on?”
Someone appeared from behind and wrapped their arms around Sua’s shoulders.
Sua naturally leaned into the embrace of the man who appeared behind her. A hard chest muscle could be felt against her back. A faint, refreshing, familiar scent. Surprised, she raised her eyes.
“To my wife, what business do you have?”
Her husband, Hyun-oh.
—
“Hyun-oh?”
She looked up at the face of the man holding onto her shoulders. Neat lips, a straight nose. The sharp, furrowed eyes were indeed those of her husband, Hyun-oh.
How on earth did the person who shouldn’t be here end up here?
A mix of surprise and relief.
The stranger had been frightening, but she was grateful for his timely appearance. Sua’s legs, which had been trembling with fear until Hyun-oh arrived, calmed down. He firmly gripped Sua’s shoulders and lifted her chin. Facing the stranger in front of him, Hyun-oh spoke.
“What’s going on?”
“No, I thought she came alone, so I thought we could… uh, grab a bite to eat together. I thought she was alone.”
The man in front of him was a bit smaller than Hyun-oh.
As the tall and well-built Hyun-oh spoke in an intimidating manner, the voice of the man standing in front of him seemed to waver. Hyun-oh furrowed his brows.
“She didn’t come alone. Seems like you misunderstood. And even if she did come alone, you shouldn’t push her like that. Would that scare people off?”
“I misunderstood, I’m sorry.”
As if saying, “Are you still here?” or “Leave now,” Hyun-oh tilted his head. The clear muscles of his neck came into sharp focus. His presence was so overwhelming that even Sua, who was standing next to him, felt intimidated. After apologizing several times, the embarrassed man disappeared.
As he left their sight, Hyun-oh let out a sigh.
“Ha.”
Then, he loosened his grip on Sua’s shoulders.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
However, despite Sua’s assurance, Hyun-oh checked her body to see if there were any issues. Even though it would be unlikely for any problems to arise in that short time.
“Did that guy do anything strange?”
“No, he just suggested we travel together today. It’s really okay.”
But even with that assurance, Hyun-oh’s frowned expression didn’t ease.
“You were scared. It’s not okay.”
“…Just a little. I’m a bit sensitive.”
Since trains didn’t come frequently to Gangneung Station, it was quiet as the people who had ridden the KTX together left. Even though they were still inside the station, there were no other people around, which made Sua feel a sudden fear. She tried to smile bravely.
“But it wasn’t that big of a deal.”
“Your hands were shaking.”
Was that so? Sua looked at her hands, which had been lying on the floor. They seemed a bit shaky, probably because the man had persistently approached her earlier.
Did I look scared?
Seeing Sua silently looking at her hands, Hyun-oh spoke softly.
“I didn’t intend to intervene. But… seeing you scared, I had to.”
Hyun-oh raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
