When The Phone Rings

Chapter 35

‘I had a good nap…’

When Heeju woke up, she found herself leaning on Baek Sa-eon’s shoulder. Throughout the journey, the man had made no effort to move or stop her.

Feeling embarrassed, Heeju didn’t know where to look. Yet all Baek Sa-eon did was gaze down at her silently. Unable to withstand the intensity of his stare, she hurriedly got off the bus, almost fleeing.

Autumn leaves ablaze with vivid colors. Beneath the bright blue sky, fiery hues cloaked the entire mountain like a dazzling blanket.

‘Wow…’

Everywhere she looked, there was a dash of red. Her heart, which had been pounding since earlier, thumped even more violently.

It was a company retreat, attended by the senior public relations officer, spokesperson, secretaries, and aides. Judging by their clothes and bags, they all seemed used to such hiking events.

In contrast, Heeju wore loose athletic clothes that made her look as if she was out for a casual jog.
At that moment, the man in charge of leading the group walked up to Heeju and opened her bag without hesitation. After inspecting her minimal and insufficient belongings, he frowned slightly.

“I knew it.”

Baek Sa-eon opened his own bag and swiftly packed some essentials: water, a towel, chocolate, and a first aid kit. He even took off his windbreaker and tied it around her waist.

“Wear it if you get cold.”

The fitted black top clung to his strong frame, accentuating his frame. Every time he bent over to secure the windbreaker, the muscles in his shoulder blades flexed. It all transpired so quickly.

“Spokesman Baek! You were never this attentive to the rest of us!”
“Yeah, what about checking my bag?”
“Are you playing favorites with the staff?”

Playful teasing came from all around.

The usually stoic Spokesperson’s thoughtful care for the new sign language interpreter drew curious gazes from everyone.

“Yes, I am playing favorites,” Baek Sa-eon replied curtly as he finished tying the windbreaker tightly.

Without sparing another glance, he returned to the front to lead the group, leaving a self-conscious Heeju.

Thus began the hike.

 

***

 

“Huff… huff…”
“Why do I do this to myself every year…?”
“I wonder…”

The employees were now practically crawling up the mountain. Gradually, conversations ceased, leaving only the clinking of hiking gear.

Twisting rocky trails… Exposed tree roots and dense underbrush…Steep slopes lined with rugged stairs; for Heeju, who often found herself on the fringes of conversations, this retreat was oddly suitable.

She followed Baek Sa-eon’s back the entire time, his steady pace setting the rhythm for her steps. Her ability to keep up with the pace made her surpass others easily.

The head of public relations, who was approaching his old age, widened his eyes in surprise.

“Wow! Our newbie is so fit!”

Embarrassed, Heeju could only smile. Before long, even the senior had fallen behind.

“Heeju, don’t put your foot there.”

He warned her to avoid a sharp rock jutting out from the ground. Now, only the two of them were left at the front.

Baek Sa-eon occasionally turned to glance at her. Even he was surprised by her endurance. In actual, Heeju’s legs were on fire, but she felt an inexplicable sense of freedom.

“I didn’t think you could keep up…”

She never imagined it could be this easy to match Baek Sa-eon’s stride. Hiking suddenly became an activity she liked.

“You haven’t complained once,” he said abruptly, pausing to gulp down water.
“Heeju, do I make you uncomfortable?”

Startled by his sudden question, she blinked.

“What do I have to do to get you to speak up?”
“…!”

Irritated, he ran a hand through his sweat-dampened hair.

“Lately, probably as I saw you interpreting, I wondered how you might look while speaking. I feel like an idiot for tiptoeing around you.”

“From the moment you started crying loudly, I should’ve started questioning things.”

The passing of the bottle had turned into a mini tug-of-war between them.

“Just so you know,” he said, his voice low and foreboding. “A person who has learned it the hard way, won’t fall for the same scheme again. So one should know when to give up.”

A gust of mountain wind swept past. Heeju finally wrested the bottle free and opened the cap. She thought Sa-eon’s irritation was caused by the blackmailer.

“Just keep that in mind.”
“…”
“Stop bringing trouble upon yourself.”

As she drank, something different flickered across the man’s face.

 

***

 

Finally, they had reached the summit.

The hike that had begun in the morning culminated in the afternoon as they stood at the peak.

“Wow—! It’s finally over—!”
“Ugh…”
“The view is breathtaking… And so am I— because the lack of breathing will cause me to die…”

At the summit, there was nothing but the endless sky. Listening to the groans of the employees who arrived later, Heeju stole a glance at Baek Sa-eon. That man had been unusually quiet for a while now.

After being the first to reach the summit, he put in his earphones and focused on work.

Is he working? Even up here?

“Alright, everyone, let’s pose for a picture with this fantastic view!”

The head of public relations began gathering the scattered staff. One of the aides promptly pulled out a camera, clearly ready for this moment.

“Let’s take a commemorative photo! Hold up the banner! Watch the cliff! Don’t push those behind you. Front row, crouch down a bit…”

The employees, clearly accustomed to such activities, swiftly assumed their positions. Feeling slightly out of place, Heeju shifted to the back row, hoping not to stand out much. She blended into the group, peeking her head out timidly.

“This is the final retreat for the Blue House PR team. Seeing everyone here together is truly moving! I’ll count to three! Let’s do a cheer with our right hands up—‘Fighting!’”

Against the backdrop of gnarled trees meeting the sky, the staff raised their arms energetically, and the picturesque moment was captured in the camera’s frame.

Just then-

“Ahhhh!”

A bloodcurdling scream tore through the air. All heads turned in unison toward the source of the sound. Baek Sa-eon, who had been holding the banner, moved swiftly toward the disturbance.

“Someone fell!”

A frantic cry tore through the air. The staff dropped to their knees, peering over the edge of the cliff.

Whoosh—

Only the autumn leaves kept swaying. The hauntingly silent cliff had apparently devoured someone whole.

“Hong Heeju!”

Amid the stillness, only one man’s hoarse voice echoed like a desperate plea.

 

***

The PR Office was thrown into a state of emergency. During the workshop, a newly hired sign language interpreter had accidentally fallen.

“How long have we been trying to contact 119?!” The Public Relations Secretary shouted into his phone, “Do you know who I am?!”

He could do nothing but let the anger overflow.

For such an incident to occur at the end of the president’s term was unthinkable.

In a politically charged environment, no mistakes could be made. Safety oversights among government staff were prime ammunition for opposing parties.

“The rescue team said they would arrive soon.”

The response came in a voice made raspy from strain. It was Baek Sa-eon, his bloodshot eyes were a testament to his turmoil.

The old man cautiously asked him, “Have you calmed down yet?”
“…”

Baek Sa-eon ground his teeth in silence, the metallic taste of blood seeping into his mouth. He spat it onto the ground, knowing full well how unseemly his behavior was.

For someone usually composed, this lapse in control was unprecedented.

Staff members hovered at a distance, unsure how to approach him.

He remained at the summit even after the first helicopter rescue attempt failed. He just stood therein an unexplainable daze.

“Sa-eon the staff still doesn’t know about your connection to Heeju.”
“…”
“You look terrible right now. Pull yourself together.”

Watching Heeju vanish had been a nightmare he had never dared to imagine.

“Still no contact?”
“Her phone is switched off.”
“Any other means of communication?”
“……”

The feeling of nausea overcame him. Helplessness was something, he hadn’t experienced since his turbulent younger days. The defeat crushed him, binding his entire body like chains.

A hollow laugh escaped him.

Why had he been so desperate to climb higher?
Who had driven her to this point?
What caused her to disappear this way?

Baek Sa-eon swallowed the bitterness welling up and closed his eyes.

‘…If my suspicion is truly correct…’

The sun dipped below the ridge, painting the mountains in fading light.