When The Phone Rings

Side Story 03

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The sudden, loud noise startled the couple, who were still lazily lounging under the covers.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Someone was pounding on the door with urgency late into the evening. As Heeju instinctively shivered, Baek Sa-eon swallowed a curse and glared into the empty space as if to vent his frustration.

He grabbed a pair of sweatpants draped over an armchair and slipped them on without bothering with underwear before heading out.

『“…H- Help… the situation isn’t looking good—”』
『“…Wait—”』

The moment he left, a chilling emptiness settled over her. Piecing together the events, Heeju scrambled to gather her scattered clothing and hurriedly dress.

Sa-eon came back to the bedroom a few minutes later, but one couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“Your shirt’s inside out,” he said, catching Heeju’s fumbling hands. And helped her put on a dress.

Urgent footsteps echoed from outside, clearly summoning him, yet Sa-eon remained annoyingly composed. Heeju cast a nervous glance toward the door.

“Shouldn’t you go out quickly?”
“It’s fine.”
“Fine, you say…”

Heeju pouted in frustration.

“Don’t rush,” he said firmly. “And stop throwing on your clothes like that.”
“What?!”
“You look like you’re ready to run barefoot onto the balcony. I don’t like it.”
“……!”
“A reason to hide you would never arise. So take your time.”

He cradled her face in his hands, his thumb tenderly tracing the contours of her cheek.

 

***

When Sa-eon finally stepped out, the government officials waiting outside were casually opening windows to ventilate the room, as if the middle-of-the-night intrusion was perfectly normal.

It felt ridiculous.

Who barges into the home of a reunited couple at this hour? Sa-eon crossed his arms, observing the scene with a sharp gaze.

『“You must be busy. What brings you all the way here?”』

Sa-eon was currently residing in a secure location, unable to reintegrate into public life due to the threats posed by rebel forces. Despite providing all the intelligence he gathered over the past six months as a negotiator, their sudden visit was puzzling.

『“How long do you plan to stay hidden?”』

The Speaker’s sign language was translated by an interpreter.

Sa-eon, now seated languidly, replied,『“As promised, please ensure my protection until I leave the country. When the foreign journalists are evacuated, I would like to leave for the UK with my wife,”』
『“Hmm…”』

The Speaker rubbed his chin thoughtfully, prompting Sa-eon to narrow his eyes.

『“Did you disturb my evening just to ask about my plans?”』
『“Well… there’s been an incident.”』

The Speaker sighed heavily, their tone weighed down with frustration.

『“Employees of the Korean trade company in Argan have been kidnapped. The government is reaching out to us.”』
『“And?”』

Sa-eon’s expression remained impassive.

『“It’s odd. The Korean government is sending diplomats and intelligence agents, but…”』

The Speaker was scrutinizing Sa-eon.

『“Why have communications been cut, and why are the routes to the kidnapping site blocked?”』
『“……”』
『“For the record, it wasn’t me. So drop the pretense in front of an old man, would you?”』

As if waiting for his realization, Sa-eon’s lips curled into a sharp smile. Despite the mocking curve of his mouth, his piercing gaze betrayed none of his amusement.

His eyes flicked briefly toward the bedroom door where Heeju was.

『“It seems I now have a reason to return to Korea. I plan to owe the Korean government a small debt.”』
『“You snake.”』
『“I’ve got a wedding to prepare for.”』

The Speaker looked away in irritation.

Sa-eon, ever the opportunist, intended to leverage the kidnapping incident to negotiate with the Korean government. As an adult without legal records of his birth, he required rare, exceptional circumstances for prosecutors to grant him a new identity.

He had no choice but to return to the place he had once abandoned, all for Heeju’s sake. Heeju deserved a stable life—a life free from fear, in familiar surroundings, and among things she could adjust to.

Even if it meant dragging himself through the filth he left behind, Sa-eon was determined to take her back to Korea.

***

[ Breaking News] “Identities of Trade Company Employees Confirmed”
“Armed Rebels Kidnap Koreans, Country on High Alert”
“Trade Sector Calls for Immediate Countermeasures”

Heeju scrolled through the flood of news articles, her face hardening with every update. From the looks of it, she had a clear idea of what Sa-eon was getting himself into.

For the past two days, she had been under the protection of a bodyguard disguised as a BBC journalist. She was helpless waiting for him.

‘Was he serious about going back to Korea? Living in a place where he was already considered dead?’

The weight of his words finally began to sink in.

『“Heeju!”』

The familiar voice shattered her spiraling thoughts. Her face lit up and anxiety was replaced by relief. Heeju decided it was time to act rather than remain idle while he was away.

She visited the orphanage once more, ready to bid a proper farewell to the director and children.

『“Director, have you been well? Are you hurt anywhere?”』
The director, rushing toward her, exclaimed, 『“Heeju, where on earth have you been all this time?! Look at you… Your face has become so gaunt!”』
『“…That..”』

She couldn’t lift her head in response. Her body still ached in places, and all she could do was rub her reddened neck in embarrassment.

『”Did those b*stards bother you?”』
『”What?”』
『”The rebel scum— did they work you to the bone without feeding you?”』
『”N- No. It’s not like that.”』
『”Don’t lie. You even look sleep-deprived…!”』

Heeju waved her hands awkwardly, unable to deny it entirely. Shifting her gaze to the children playing in the yard, she finally spoke.

Even at this moment, the absence of him felt like a gaping void. His gruff kindness, reserved only for her, left an ache she couldn’t shake. She missed it so desperately that she teared up randomly.

『”Director, I think I have to go back.”』
『“Go back where?”』
『“To Korea.”』
『“…!”』

The director gasped audibly.

『“Wait… Don’t tell me. Did you find him?”』

The director knew why Heeju had come all the way to Argan. She had often inquired about the handsome Asian man and each time she didn’t get a lead, she would slump in quiet disappointment. The director, a compassionate ally, had grown to pity her unspoken longing.

『”Did you find your fiancé?”』

At the word, a faint smile spread across Heeju’s face. She felt a wave of gratitude for being able to say this at last.

『“I found him.”』

Her voice, shy but triumphant, carried conviction. The director gave her hand a firm squeeze, nodding in encouragement.

Afterward, Heeju knelt to meet the children’s eyes, bidding them farewell one by one in sign language. Some cried, others clung to her tightly. Yet, as children do, they soon returned to the yard to play, leaving her with bittersweet laughter.

Suddenly, the sound of a rough engine tore through the air, and a jeep pulled up in front of the orphanage.

『“…!”』

The car door opened, and the sight of long legs stepping out made Heeju’s heart race wildly. His cold eyes swept the area, then fixated on her, ignoring everything else.

She knew exactly how that icy gaze could melt and overflow with intensity. She felt it so viscerally that her stomach tightened just thinking about it.

『“…I- Is that him?”』

The director beside her instantly recognized the man.

『“Goodness! Heeju, your standards are no joke!”』

The director continued to mutter, half in shock and half in amazement. Heeju, however, couldn’t focus on anything but him. She wanted to rush to his side, to ask if he was hurt or if the issue he had gone to resolve was truly settled. Her feet shifted instinctively.

Their gazes locked across the distance, and just as Heeju was about to run to him, a worn-out ball rolled into his path, stopping at his feet.

His eyes, solely focused on her moments before, dropped to the ball.

『“…”』
『“…”』

A small girl with disheveled hair and innocent eyes stood frozen, looking up at him. She hunched her shoulders slightly, intimidated by his stern demeanor.

Before Heeju could awkwardly explain the situation, Sa-eon scooped the girl up in one swift motion.

『“…!”』
『“…!”』

Both Heeju and the girl were equally stunned.

The child’s eyes grew wide as her vantage point shifted, and although Sa-eon’s brow furrowed slightly, he held her as if he had done it a thousand times before.

His lips curved faintly into a relaxed, natural smile. Under the setting sun, the image of him holding the little girl and smiling felt oddly surreal.

A strange sense of déjà vu washed over Heeju, as though she had seen him like this before.

『“Ah…”』

Behind her, the bodyguard trailing silently let out a low, cryptic hum.