Chapter 44
“I want to be your real husband.”
Hyun-oh’s murmuring voice shook Sua’s ears.
“Now, is that too much to ask for at this point?”
For almost half a year, Hyun-oh had been by her side, but he wasn’t truly a companion. They didn’t touch skin or connect hearts. They never shared their innermost thoughts with each other.
Now he was asking if she could let him in.
Caught off guard by his genuine concern and sincerity, Suawas momentarily speechless. Hyun-oh was waiting for her response.
How long had he waited for that gaze? She wanted to nod. She wanted to say that from now on, she would tell him everything. That’s what she wanted to say at that moment.
“Mr. Hyun-oh, I…”
As Suawas about to open her mouth,
Her phone loudly rang.
―RRRRR
“Oh.”
Checking her phone, she saw “” flashing on the screen. Hyun-oh narrowed his eyes. Despite pressing the reject button, the call came in again.
“It seems like your sister has already arrived.”
“…Looks like it.”
“Let’s talk about this later.”
Suanodded at Hyun-oh’s words.
“Tonight, for sure.”
His whispered words were deep and profound.
—
“Sis, why didn’t you answer your phone! I waited for ages.”
Hyun-oh went to answer a call he said was work-related. Suaurriedly entered the room they had booked at the restaurant, where Jisoo spotted her and puffed up her cheeks, looking sulky.
At twenty-three years old, Jisoo was now a college graduate.
Sua, who had been preparing herself emotionally for divorce and busy getting a job, met her younger sister Jisoo after a long time.
Though not much younger than Sua, Jisoo was more playful and talkative compared to the mature and quiet Sua.
Suasmiled as she looked at her sister.
“Sorry. Did you wait long?”
“A bit.”
Having not seen each other for a few months, Jisoo had lost some weight, and her coat, which she usually wore frequently, now seemed loose on her.
“What’s going on? You’ve lost a lot of weight.”
At Sua’s words, Jisoo squinted her eyes. After pursing her lips for a moment, she let out a sigh.
“It’s because of the breakup.”
Suaad heard from their mother about Jisoo’s boyfriend, Jung-hoon, breaking up with her not long ago.
Jung-hoon meant everything to Jisoo.
They had been best friends since childhood, and they had been an enviable couple since high school. Everyone, including themselves, thought they would get married after graduating from college. But after their father passed away and their family business went under, the breakup came.
It must have been quite painful. Sualooked at her sister quietly.
“I heard from Mom… Sorry for not being there for you. I’ve been really busy lately.”
“I know you’re sorry.”
“Yeah. If you know, then that’s enough. So, today, let me buy you something delicious.”
As Suasaid that, Hyun-oh entered the room. Seeing Jisoo calling him “Oppa,” Suanarrowed her eyes.
Just as Suaad known Hyun-oh as Jiheon’s close friend for a long time, Jisoo had also known him as an older brother for a long time. Even though they hadn’t built as close a relationship as Sua’s, Jisoo felt comfortable calling him “Oppa” since she was young.
But it still wasn’t appropriate. They were in a position where many eyes were watching. Suaad told Jisoo several times, but it still hadn’t been corrected.
No, perhaps…
Suapaused her thoughts.
If they were to divorce, they would have to change their titles anyway, so leaving it as it is might be better. Besides, there wasn’t much time left until the divorce contract ended.
With such trivial thoughts in mind, Sualooked at the two of them. Hyun-oh took off his jacket and hung it on the coat rack, then greeted Jisoo.
“Sister-in-law, how have you been?”
“I’m good. It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Oppa?”
“Sorry. I’ve been busy with some China-related matters.”
“I wanted you to buy me food.”
“You should have contacted me.”
“If I did, Suaunnie would have nagged at me for bothering a busy oppa.”
Perhaps if Suaad known, she would have acted as Jisoo guessed.
Although she knew even before they got married, Hyun-oh, who she had seen right next to her after marriage, was a very busy man. He strived for perfection in his work and was proactive in running the company. Suaknew that despite spending more time with her recently, Hyun-oh still found time to work amidst it all.
If Hyun-oh had contacted Jisoo for something trivial, even though Suawas not someone who got angry easily, she might have been upset.
Hyun-oh frowned at Jisoo’s petulance.
“You contacted me behind Sua’s back. You’re always welcome to contact me anytime.”
“Really? Oppa is the best, as always.”
Jisoo blushed with delight as she said that.
Sua’s household had become difficult, and although their mother covered Jisoo’s tuition as she was still a student, living as they used to was difficult. Suaknew that sometimes Hyun-oh would take care of Jisoo by giving her a large amount of pocket money. It wouldn’t have been Hyun-oh who approached first; Jisoo probably hinted at it first.
Even at Sua’s birthday party, when she appeared with an expensive bag from a brand that was impossible for their current household to afford, Jisoo said she received money from Hyun-oh.
While Suawas fine with Hyun-oh and Jisoo having a meal together, she felt annoyed at the thought of Jisoo’s immature behavior if they saw each other frequently.
“Eat a lot.”
“Yes. What should we eat? I’m so hungry. Should we start with steak?”
“Yeah.”
However, contrary to Sua’s earlier concerns, Jisoo’s eyes were fixed on the menu.
Suachuckled as she saw Jisoo, who seemed to be enjoying herself. Thankfully, she seemed lively rather than crying, as Suaad expected.
The pain of the breakup seemed to heal faster than she thought.
—
Normally, Jisoo had a small appetite, but she ate twice as much as usual, saying she was really hungry. She sat and chatted, eating heartily.
In contrast, Sua, who had no appetite, hardly touched her food. However, Jisoo ate steak, pasta, and quiche, and finally ordered sorbet and cake for dessert, eating them eagerly.
“You ate well.”
“I didn’t eat anything today.”
“Why? Were you busy?”
“Um, I went to Gangnam to look around.”
Suatilted her head at Jisoo’s words.
What could she be looking around for that she couldn’t even eat? If it was Gangnam, it was where Jiheon’s company office was located. She hoped Jisoo hadn’t gone there.
Unable to resist any longer, Suafinally spoke up.
“Why? What did you do? What were you looking for?”
“To be honest, I looked into studying abroad.”
“Studying abroad?”
“Yeah.”
Putting down her fork with satisfaction, Jisoo wiped her lips with a napkin.
“I don’t want to work after graduating. I want to study abroad in the United States.”
“Why suddenly study abroad?”
Suaad never heard Jisoo talk about studying abroad before. No, there was something else she was more curious about.
“How are you going to afford it? Are you getting a scholarship or something?”
At Sua’s questioning mixed with doubt, Jisoo’s eyes widened.
“I’ll think about scholarships when I get there! Maybe I’ll come up with something after getting used to it and entering graduate school? Until then…”
Jisoo casually dropped a bomb on Sua. It didn’t seem like a big deal to her.
“Of course, you and Oppa will help me, right?”
Sua’s mind was in a whirlwind at Jisoo’s sudden words.
“Of course? No, studying abroad?”
Sua’s household was currently so financially strapped that it could be described as ‘penniless.’ After their company went bankrupt, their remaining assets were only the house they lived in, and most of that went into Jiheon’s business funds. Apart from the current house where Suaand their mother lived, there was no money left.
Jiheon was pressing Suafor money because they were short on funds.
“You’re going to help, right? Unnie? Oppa?”
Jisoo’s innocent insistence was heartbreaking.
Jisoo must have known about their household situation.
She might have told Jiheon, but he might have refused. No, he might not have even bothered to mention it because it was so obvious.
As an older sister, Suawanted to do anything Jisoo wanted.
But…
“No, Jisoo. What kind of studying abroad is that?”
Jisoo majored in business administration. Of course, it would be better to go abroad if she were going to take business classes, but what would be the point of going abroad when their business had failed?
“If you want to learn more, go to a domestic business graduate school.”
Currently just a probationary employee, once Suabecame an official employee of the publishing company, she would at least receive a basic salary, and then it seemed possible to cover Jisoo’s tuition. But at Sua’s words, Jisoo shook her head.
“No.”
