Chapter 47
Sua’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected words. Unsure of how to react, she just blinked.
Who? Interested in me? Not just anyone, but the CEO to me.
“The CEO to me.”
“It’s not a big deal. Don’t take it so seriously.”
“…Ah… Yes.”
At YoonDam’s firm words, Sua nodded.
Although she was told not to take it seriously, it was a remark that was hard to forget. Sua, who was quiet and passive, hardly had any male friends, let alone any approaching suitors. Occasionally, there were men at school or cafes asking for her phone number, but since they weren’t people she knew directly, they didn’t leave much of an impression. This was a first, and her heart raced.
YoonDam? Interested in me?
Sua tilted her head in thought, then turned her gaze outside. It’s probably nothing. Just something he said. As she thought this, an awkward silence fell inside the car.
When the car arrived at the office and Sua unbuckled her seatbelt to get out, YoonDam spoke up.
“Let’s just leave when we get back.”
“Yes, CEO.”
Thank goodness. It’s the weekend tomorrow, so I won’t have to see YoonDam for a while.
With that in mind, Sua bowed to say goodbye. But as she was about to step out of the car, YoonDam, who had already gotten out of the driver’s seat, grabbed her arm as she walked away. His strong hand gripped her thin arm.
“Sua.”
“Yes?”
Surprised by the sensation of his touch, Sua turned around. YoonDam was half-bowing and looking at her.
“The thing I said earlier, don’t worry about it.”
“…”
“So-jeong made a mistake, and I was trying to cover it up, so some unnecessary words slipped out. It wasn’t something the CEO should say to an employee.”
Sua silently looked at the arm YoonDam was holding. Then he gently let her go. I wish he had just said no. But the words that came out of YoonDam’s mouth were unexpected again.
“It’s something from the past, before I knew you were married. Of course, it’s not like I still have any ulterior motives.”
As YoonDam’s words continued, the conversation became more tangled.
It was embarrassing. This was a first-time experience, and above all, YoonDam was the CEO of the company, making it even more awkward.
“So. Um, sorry for the weird thing I said.”
“It’s okay. So-jeong thought wrong, and I, right now… have nothing.”
“Yeah, it’s important that there’s nothing now.”
“Yes.”
Seeing no point in saying more, Sua bowed to say goodbye. But suddenly, she felt something and opened her mouth.
“Was my hiring at YoonDam Publishing also because of that?”
“Oh, no. Not at all. Please don’t misunderstand. I already knew you were married back then. But, uh… I did need someone, so…”
Although YoonDam usually seemed relaxed, today he seemed in a hurry.
“Just because I was glad you came, Sua, doesn’t mean I hired you for that reason.”
“Will there be any problem with me working from now on?”
Sua raised her hand to ask a question.
“I swear, there won’t be any problems.”
“Then…”
Sua bowed her head.
YoonDam liked her. No, even if it wasn’t to that extent, he had some interest in her. Instead of feeling happy or excited about it, Sua felt burdened.
Sua liked working at YoonDam Publishing. It had only been a month since she started, but she liked learning and the people there. Even if she were to divorce in the future, she had no intention of liking anyone other than Hyun-oh. She had liked him all her life, and probably… she would continue to do so in the future.
Her feelings for him had only deepened since they got together. There was no room for anyone else. Even if there were other people’s kindness, it was just a burden.
With her eyes slightly lowered, Sua whispered.
“Then can we forget about what happened today?”
YoonDam smiled slightly at her calm words.
“I really hope so. So-jeong said the same thing earlier, but I seem to make a lot of mistakes. Just… please think of it as a mistake.”
“I’ll forget about it.”
Sua bowed her head and turned to go inside. Then YoonDam called out to her again from behind.
“Sua.”
Sua turned back at his words.
“I’m really sorry about today.”
Sua tilted her head slightly in response.
“What for?”
They agreed to forget everything.
When Sua replied in that sense, YoonDam shook his head and said it was nothing.
Sua turned back towards the company building.
I should head back. I wonder where Hyun-oh is.
When they arrived at the company earlier, she saw his black sedan, which he often drove alone. She wondered if he had come to pick her up, but when Sua finished talking to YoonDam and entered the building, she couldn’t find him.
“It seems it wasn’t Hyun-oh after all.”
Well, if he had come, he would have contacted me.
Now there’s only a month left until we talk about divorce. There isn’t much time left to be together, so Sua’s eyes kept looking for Hyun-oh.
—
A busy weekday passed in a blur, and a lazy Saturday morning followed. Although they usually woke up at 6 or 7 to get ready for work, today they lazed around in bed until after 9, basking in the sunlight pouring in.
“Mm…”
As Sua woke up from her sleep, she let out a small groan. Sharp eyes landed on Sua’s skin as she barely opened her eyes. Through her blurry vision, she saw a man looking at her.
His sharp nose gradually became clear, and his lips drew soft lines as he looked at her.
“Hyun-oh.”
“You finally woke up.”
This was a first. Usually, it was Sua’s job to wake up first and look at the sleeping person’s face.
Must have been tired to sleep in until now. Sua raised her head and blinked.
“Oh, it’s already morning.”
A loving voice echoed in her ears.
“It’s okay. Keep sleeping.”
He reached out and wrapped his hand around Sua’s shoulder. His fingertips grazed most of her exposed skin as he did so.
“You don’t have any schedules today. You don’t even have to go to work.”
“We don’t have to go to work, but…”
Today is July 12th.
It was a day she couldn’t forget.
“Today is your birthday, Hyun-oh. It’s not the time to be lazy like this.”
There’s only a month left until the divorce contract expires. Today is both the first day they met and possibly the last birthday they spend together. Sua wanted to be with Hyun-oh at the stroke of midnight, if possible.
But yesterday, Hyun-oh came in late due to an external business trip, and Sua fell asleep while waiting for him, doing company work.
So she wanted to prepare properly for today, even if just for one day. Her mind was in a whirl.
“We also have to stop by Pyeongchang-dong, and then for dinner…”
At Sua’s words, Hyun-oh raised his head.
“We’re not going to Pyeongchang-dong.”
Pyeongchang-dong was where Hyun-oh’s hometown was. It’s where his father, Mr. Ji Haechan, the CEO of PY Electronics, and his mother, Mrs. Cha, lived.
Since a week before his birthday, Mrs. Cha had called several times, asking them to visit during lunchtime.
[When you come, dress properly. I don’t want to see you come in a sloppy outfit when the chairman is here. Before Hyun-oh got married, he always spent his birthday in Pyeongchang-dong, so come for lunch and stay for dinner. Even if you’re just a useless daughter-in-law, you still have to do what’s right and get along.]
Her sharp voice still resonated in Sua’s ears. Mrs. Cha didn’t know about Sua’s job or that she worked outside. She kept it a secret, even from Hyun-oh, because she was afraid of hearing unnecessary words. So every time Mrs. Cha called, Sua had to rush to the company restroom to answer the phone.
“You’re not going to Pyeongchang-dong today?”
I told you that.
“Your mother will be disappointed.”
“Let her be.”
“…”
Would it be okay if they didn’t spend his birthday in Pyeongchang-dong this year? The worry still lingered on Sua’s face as Hyun-oh reached out and tapped her gently on the forehead. The sensation of his touch on her round forehead tickled.
“I already called and settled it. I can’t go because I have things to do today.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. You don’t have to worry about my mother anymore.”
He hesitated for a moment, then twisted his lips slightly. Thin wrinkles appeared on his forehead as if he were thinking about something.
“Don’t worry about what my mother said. It’s a problem between you and me.”
“But is it okay…?”
“Yeah, it’s okay.”
Hyun-oh nodded as he got up. His perfectly sculpted body looked bigger and firmer than usual as Sua looked up at him lying down.
“Since it’s my birthday today, that’s fine.”
Then he slowly lowered his head and whispered.
“So, today, I’ll do as I please.”
The distance between the two, which had been distant until a moment ago, suddenly became closer.
“First of all, this.”
Before Sua could even protest, his soft lips swallowed her slightly parted lips in surprise.
“Smooch.”
