When The Phone Rings

Side Story 04

Though he was constantly by her side, Heeju had never heard that voice before. The burly man stroked his rough beard as if deep in thought.

『“I remember now, the way he used to talk…”』
『“…Sorry?”』

Heeju looked at him warily with puzzled eyes.

『 “That skinny guy would take pictures like a madman every time he saw the sunset.”』

His casual tone drew Heeju’s frown, and the bodyguard, acknowledging his slip-up, frantically waved a placating hand.

『 “I- I mean back in the day. When the boss was just a rookie war correspondent.”』
『 “…”』
『 “It was peculiar seeing him act like this. So, I asked him about it…”』

Learning about her husband’s hidden past left Heeju parched.

『 “He said the crimson setting sun reminded him of someone whose name had the word ‘red’ in it.”』
『“…!”』
『 “Like a madman, he would recall the memories of that person during the dusk every day.”』
『“Ah…”』

The sound that escaped Heeju’s delicate vocal cords trembled faintly.

『 “Even back then, whenever he came across abandoned kids on the street, he would immediately put out his cigarette. It seems he still has a soft spot for children.”』

Suddenly, a name crystallized in her mind. Seeing Sa-eon, her breathing started to quicken.

Just then, the child in his arms beamed and waved at Heeju with a bright smile. Heeju felt emotional recalling her childhood.

‘That’s right… when I was little…’

I, too, used to be in your arms, blowing candles at the fiery sky.

Catching sight of Heeju’s tearful expression, Sa-eon quickly put the child down and strode toward her.

『“You’re standing too close.”』
『“What?”』
『“I don’t recall giving you permission to approach my wife.”』

He pushed the bodyguard’s shoulder aside and interjected. But Heeju was already lost in another thought while nervously biting her nails.

‘What if he thinks I’m too narcissistic? What if he doesn’t like it?’

“I’m back.”

A tired Sa-eon greeted her softly, burying his face in her hair.

“Sorry, I took so long. Thinking of little Hong Heeju distracted me.”
“What?”
“Back then, I thought you weren’t even human.”
“What are you saying…”
“I wondered if a doll was walking around.”

His chuckle sent a warm breath against her shoulder.

“The work’s all done.”

As he tightened his arm around her waist, the gesture felt oddly like an indulgent embrace. That couldn’t be right. Heeju shook her head at her own ridiculous imagination.

“You’ll have a new identity soon.”
“……!”
“One with the name you gave me.”

Heeju felt a slight tingle. It was just a name, yet she was overcome by the exhilarating feeling of dismantling and reconstructing him anew.

Sensing her stiffened shoulders, he lowered his voice.
“If it’s too hard, 675 works too. There are a lot of people surnamed Yuk¹ in Korean. Living as Yuk Chil wouldn’t be that bad―”
“I’ve decided.”

Heeju turned to meet his eyes directly.

“I’ve decided on your name.”

Straightening her posture, she lifted her lips into a radiant smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners as the smile reached her cheeks, making them puff out adorably.

He won’t be called Sa-eon anymore, I won’t let the shadow of a dead man hover.

She yearned to give him something ablaze with life, something as vibrant and fiery as the sunset they witnessed together.

Ju is for red, and Gyo for the flames it stirs. She wanted to give him a piece of herself². That’s why she decided his new name to be-

“Baek Gyo-eon.”

Breathing in unison, they felt a profound sense of connection, ready to embrace the journey of their shared life.

 

***

On a social network-

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Title: I Guess Doppelgängers Really Do Exist
Posted by Anonymous

I just saw someone who looks exactly like former spokesperson Baek Sa-eon… I’m at Garosu-gil, and it was just some random passerby, so I couldn’t be sure.

At first, I didn’t notice because they were wearing a mask, but then they suddenly lowered it to their chin and kissed the back of a woman’s clasped hands.

The guy was tall and striking, so he caught my eye. His face was exactly like Baek Sa-eon’s… Seriously, the resemblance was uncanny!

But didn’t he die in an accident… How is this even possible?

340 Comments

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User A: Are you talking about the Blue House spokesperson?
┕Author: Yeah, him.

User B: It’s possible to have lookalikes. People often look alike if they have similar jawlines.
┕User C: I agree.
┕User D: Totally.

User E: You’re just imagining things, lol.
┕Author: Is that so? But it’s hard to believe it was just my imagination… I’ve admired Baek Sa-eon’s looks for years and could probably draw it with my eyes closed (I majored in art lmao). I don’t think I saw it wrong… but who knows, maybe I was just seeing things ToT

User F: Did you see them on the evening of the 13th? I also passed by someone at the airport who looked eerily like Baek Sa-eon and wondered if it was the same person.
┕Author: No, I saw them on the 21st! Could it really be the same person? Was there a woman next to them?
┕User F: Yeah, there was!
┕Author: Were they a couple being super affectionate and all? 🙂
┕User F: OMG, they must be the same couple!

User G: Don’t fall for posts like this. It’s just bait. Remember when the Myungji Daily spread conspiracy theories? This feels just as obvious. Just ignore it.
┕User H: Agree. Ignore such rumors.

View more comments

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User I: Wow… Is there hope for a miracle?!
┕User J: This is gonna be epic.
┕User K: He came back to life, lol!!
┕User L: Baek Sa-eon isn’t dead! Apparently, he was hiding to testify in the Baek Jang-ho family trial.
┕User M: I’m going crazy… Here’s the link ([http://www—])
┕User N: They also said he solved some cases in Argan! Exclusive interview here ([http://www—])
┕User O: But now that the winds have changed, what is Baek Sa-eon doing these days?

 

***

 

“I want to snoop around and kill time.”

‘…To do what, exactly?’

In a serene house on the outskirts of Seoul, Heeju stopped mid-task while sorting through the disarray of moving boxes.

The two of them, now safely back in Korea, had chosen not to return to their previous luxurious house. This moved to a new place. Unlike their old house, which was filled with the most expensive appliances, dishes, furniture, and clothes, this home had none of that.

Everything here had been chosen by Heeju and Gyo-eon. They had designed it together, tailoring the interior to their tastes. In the process, they had slept tangled up on the floor, like an ordinary couple for once.

‘But he said he wanted to snoop around… What did he mean by that?’

“By being an intel.”
“What?”
“I thought I would earn some pocket money by becoming an intel source for reporters.”

“Intel” was slang for someone who secretly fed information to journalists. Not knowing how to respond, Heeju simply scratched the back of her neck.

Gyo-eon was someone who used to look stunning in suits, someone who commanded the room effortlessly. A man who shone brightest on stage, in front of people, under the glare of camera flashes was reduced to being an anonymous informant.

Unable to explain the strange sense of injustice bubbling up, Heeju blinked away the haze clouding her vision.

Would it be greedy to want to see that razor-sharp charisma of his once again? She bit her lip.

“Why do you make that face?”

His hand cupped her face, igniting a blush.

“W- What about my face?”
“Your expression.”
“…?”
“You look like you’re about to cry,”

Without blinking, he scrutinized her complexion, his face a mask of stern indifference.

His naturally piercing gaze made it feel like he could read her every thought, so Heeju avoided his eyes. But then his other hand gently cradled her cheek, turning her face back toward him.

“Do you not find this house to your liking?”
“…It’s not like that!”

Heeju jumped in protest.

How could she dislike such a scenic, cozy, and even spacious home?

“Then are you hungry?”

When he placed his hand on her stomach to gauge how hollow it had become, heat spread from her navel like wildfire. His touch was casual but intimate.

“I- I’m just worried.”
“About what?”
“Are you… part of the FIRE movement?”

She had read articles recently about people retiring early as part of the Financial Independence, Retire Early (FIRE) movement. Curious about how he intended to live going forward, she asked.

“Not exactly,” he replied nonchalantly.

Heeju blinked, a sudden understanding illuminating her face.

Maybe…!

After everything they had been through, perhaps he needed a period of rest. Besides, the trials involving Baek Jang-ho weren’t over yet. It was wise to lie low for now rather than expose himself to the public.

She couldn’t just throw him to the wolves, letting people with cameras descend on him like prey.

Feeling an unfamiliar weight of responsibility settle upon her, Heeju straightened her shoulders, a newfound resolve hardening her gaze.

A peculiar sense of satisfaction washed over her, witnessing the man who had always been a fleeting presence in her life, leaving for college, the military, and distant lands, was now an anchor.

“Then… I’ll go earn more money.”
“What?”
“You should rest.”
“…?”
“I’ll take on two or even three jobs if I have to.”

His expression shifted into something strange. The space between his brows tightened, but the corners of his mouth twitched upward.

“Oh my… Will these tiny hands take care of me?”

He gently nibbled on her fingers without hurting her.

“Are you going to support me?”

Though his gaze was sharp as ever, his lips curved into a sweet playful smile.

“When did you learn to say such flattering words?”
“…!”
“Your words barely match your actions.”

He brushed his lips against hers, a playful mischief in his eyes, igniting a fire within her. Her heart, a trapped bird, fluttered wildly against her ribs, then plummeted, leaving her breathless.

“Forget that, Hong Heeju.”

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TL/N:

Whew a lot of notes

[1] “There are a lot of people surnamed Yuk in Korean. Living as Yuk Chil wouldn’t be that bad” : In Korean Six(6)=Yuk, Seven(7)=Chil. Sa-eon was referencing his code name 675 as his new name.

[2] The ‘Ju’ (Hangeul: 주) in Heeju’s name can be written in two ways in Hanja. One meaning “red/ vermillion” (朱), and the other meaning “around” (周). This is the reason why the hued sun has become a symbolic representation of Heeju for Sa-eon. And Heeju chose Gyo (燆) as Sa-eon’s new name cause it’s similar to her name’s meaning.

[3] I replaced some slang in the forum section with words. But I’ll let you know what they mean anyway. If you see a reply like this after a comment-
22  = Agree
333= Agree with the others above.