Chapter 49
Hyun-oh, with his legs crossed lazily, leaned down and whispered.
“Just… I want to do something ordinary with Sua.”
“What do you mean by ordinary?”
At Sua’s question, Hyun-oh looked outside.
“Well, I don’t know. What do other couples do on holidays?”
Early summer.
Today, the weather was unusually sunny, with a high sky and white fluffy clouds. The view outside the window was dazzlingly blue.
“It’s such a nice day today. Let’s go out for a bit.”
Following his suggestion, the two went out for a walk together. It was a hot day, but fortunately, the wind blew strongly, and under the shade, the sweat that had formed on their bodies quickly cooled down.
Today, Hyun-oh was wearing a thin shirt with rolled-up pants. Whenever the wind blew strongly, his well-groomed hair would be slightly tousled.
She looked up at him. It was always enjoyable to see him up close in the bright light. But at the same time, it pained her heart.
How many more opportunities like this would there be?
With his gaze meeting hers, Hyun-oh lowered his head and looked at Sua. Sua always had long hair, but today she had it tied up high. Sweat droplets formed on her exposed neck due to the high temperature. His gaze trailed from her slightly disheveled bangs to the moisture trickling down her white skin.
“It’s windy, but it’s still hot. Let’s take a break.”
He casually took hold of Sua’s shoulder. Sua looked up at him, and Hyun-oh’s gaze followed hers. His gaze stopped at an ice cream shop they passed by. It was a colorful shop with various awnings. Children who looked like elementary school students were busily choosing ice cream while looking at the showcase. The lively voices of the children pleasantly grazed their ears.
“Do you want ice cream too, Hyun-oh?”
To Sua’s surprise, he twisted his lips.
“Do I look like someone who eats and lives on ice cream? If you’re surprised that I want ice cream, you’re really something.”
“…Americano? I don’t know, but I didn’t think you’d want ice cream.”
“That’s true now, but when I was young…”
When he was young. Of course, even if he was Ji Hyun-oh, he probably didn’t drink bitter coffee when he was young. But still, he didn’t remember him indulging in sweets like candy or ice cream.
“It seems unbelievable.”
Sua didn’t know his very early years.
“I had to change as I grew older. I didn’t have the luxury to act immature. Everyone was watching me.”
He had to always be a little better than his brother, and he knew his status as a servant, so he didn’t have the luxury to act immaturely.
It was the figure of a man who had fiercely competed and worried since childhood.
Standing in front of the ice cream shop showcase, the middle-aged female owner came out and leaned her head out.
“Oh, wait a moment. I’m filling up the ice cream here. Please wait a bit.”
“Take your time.”
It was a style of shop that couldn’t be easily seen these days. It wasn’t a chain store but a gelato shop. The ice cream they made in the shop looked appetizing.
After the shop owner placed a large ice cream container in the case, she wiped her hands and asked,
“What would you like?”
Hyun-oh looked at Sua, and Sua peered inside. She spotted a strawberry ice cream with a pink hue.
“I’ll have strawberry.”
“I’ll have chocolate then.”
As ordered, the owner scooped up the ice cream onto small cones and handed them over. After receiving them and stepping out onto the street, they both licked their ice creams.
The strawberry flavor had a refreshing scent that quickly enveloped her. When she glanced sideways, Hyun-oh was savoring the chocolate ice cream.
It was quite unfamiliar to see a man with a stern expression eating ice cream.
Indeed, it was intriguing. Mr. Hyun-oh eating ice cream. Hyun-oh glanced at Sua.
“Do you want some?”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“Is it good? The strawberry flavor.”
He nodded. As the shop owner generously scooped out the ice cream, boasting that they made gelato with real fruits, it was understandable why.
“Do you want to try it?”
And when I offered him the ice cream, he lowered his head and leaned towards Sua.
“Hmm.”
His lips, which she thought were heading for the ice cream, went straight for Sua’s lips instead. Before she could react and push him away, his slightly moist tongue tasted her lips and withdrew.
“H-hey, we’re outside.”
She didn’t know if anyone was watching.
Lately, Hyun-oh, as the CEO of the thriving PY Chemicals, frequently appeared in economic articles. Even if people passing by recognized his face, it wouldn’t be strange. When Sua was about to protest, Hyun-oh warned her in a low voice.
“Today, we agreed to do what I want.”
“But…”
“No one cares. They’ll just think we’re a couple in love.”
“I care.” Sua was about to say, but once again, her lips were sealed by him.
The sweet and gentle afternoon was fading away.
***
After a simple walk and a quick trip to the neighborhood market, Sua prepared a simple dinner.
It was truly an ordinary day, not worthy of being called a birthday.
With the simple soup that he wanted to eat, she prepared a modest dinner, just as he had requested.
She couldn’t help but feel that she should have reserved a better restaurant. However, he ate every bite of the food she prepared without any concern. Still feeling uneasy, Sua smiled faintly.
“I should have taken you out to eat. It’s your birthday today.”
But Hyun-oh shook his head.
“No, this is fine.”
As he sat quietly, he murmured.
“This is what I wanted.”
“…?”
“To spend time with you, just sitting here.”
“…?”
“It took me too long to realize what I really wanted.”
It was the simple dinner she had been preparing every evening, waiting for Hyun-oh who never came. Setting the table, waiting, and then cleaning up. She had been doing this for almost six months.
But was this what he really wanted?
In Hyun-oh’s fingertips was a glass filled with clear water. The water inside seemed as if it would spill with every slight movement of the glass. After gazing at it for a while, he finally opened his lips.
“I spent a lot of time worrying about today, my birthday.”
Hyun-oh’s gaze hardened as he looked at Sua’s hunched shoulders.
“But I’m sorry.”
His voice quieted down.
“I don’t need gifts, or a special meal.”
“…”
“I just… want to know your heart now.”
Since the beginning of their divorce agreement, there had been many changes over the past two months.
Hyun-oh, who used to keep his distance, now stood right next to her without it feeling awkward. Walking together, holding hands. Although it still made her heart flutter, it had become familiar.
When Sua initially demanded a divorce from him.
It was because it was right to separate, considering that they were not really a married couple, and the meaning of their strategic marriage had disappeared.
But.
Now, they couldn’t just superficially call themselves a couple anymore. They had become closer and more affectionate than her own parents, whom she had seen and grown up with since childhood.
“Sometimes, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”
“Hyun-oh.”
“Even though we have a month left, is there a chance your answer might change during that time?”
Sua lowered her head.
The conclusion had already been drawn. Despite the emotions that had passed through her during their two months of marriage, the conclusion remained the same.
At Sua’s answer, Hyun-oh twisted his lips.
“Then tell me, your heart.”
“…”
“Your answer to my question.”
He wanted to hear it.
The man’s words were intense yet subdued.
