Special Sidy Story 01
If Story: The Parliamentarian who Can’t Lie
《 The Two-Faced Man & his Lies 》
The atmosphere between the couple seated across from each other was cold, far from what one would expect from a couple reunited after some time. The only sounds in the air were the clinking of utensils as they sat at opposite ends of the table.
Three years of an arranged marriage, two more years after remarrying the same person.
After six years of marriage, the couple’s dinner was so disappointingly bland that it was difficult to discern whether they were eating real food or something synthetic.
Even in such a dreary mood, Baek Sa-eon maintained his impeccable posture, eating with chopsticks in a way that was textbook perfect. Raised under strict discipline, he neither clinked his utensils recklessly nor made chewing noises.
His wife, Heeju, watched him with growing irritation as he sat across from her, not uttering a single word and wearing a blank expression. Their home, like an aquarium, was eerily silent.
“Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
“……”
The chopsticks halted abruptly. Baek Sa-eon remained motionless, his eyes slowly finding hers.
Heeju sent him a desperate, silent plea with her watery eyes. He caught the glimmer of tears in her gaze and his brows furrowed momentarily.
Abruptly, Baek Sa-eon pushed back his chair with a loud screech and stood up. Dumbfounded, Heeju muttered under her breath.
“You don’t even say ‘thanks for the meal’ anymore…”
“……”
Her voice, laced with hurt, cut through him, forcing him to stop. He flinched visibly, despite his back being turned to her.
Fighting back the tears welling up in her eyes, Heeju covered her face with her hands.
‘How did we get to this point…? You’ve really changed…’
Three days had gone by, and Baek Sa-eon hadn’t spoken a word.
Her husband’s silence was deafening. It was as if he had come down with a case of aphasia, refusing to utter a single word.
It all started just a few days ago.
***
A golden autumn day, with the sun painting the world in warmth.
Hong In-ah, whom Heeju hadn’t seen in a while, looked as worn out as ever. Being a journalist was evidently grueling work. She hurriedly gulped down an iced Americano the moment she sat down on the café terrace.
Leaning back, she squinted at Heeju.
The plain two-piece outfit did little to diminish the elegance of her modest face, which was further accentuated by the tiny pearl earrings.
Hong Heeju naturally stood out. But knowing her shy nature, there was no way she had put herself together like this on her own. It was obvious who had gifted her those accessories without even asking. In-ah chuckled mischievously.
“Well.. well.. our little miss is a proper lady now.”
“Sister…”
Heeju’s cheeks flushed a deep red.
“Don’t you two ever hit a rough patch?”
Hong In-ah rubbed her weary face.
After it came to light that Baek Sa-eon, a newly elected congressman backed by fervent support from the younger generation, was exposed by Hong In-ah from ‘Myungji Daily’, she was unceremoniously reassigned to the entertainment desk.
Now back in politics after six months, In-ah was barely holding up, dealing with the never-ending stream of scandals and corruption cases. Still, she managed to take a breather while sitting across from her beloved sister.
“A rough patch?”
Heeju’s wide, innocent eyes blinked back at her. The pure confusion on her face made In-ah click her tongue.
‘This girl… She’s going to spend her entire life under Baek Sa-eon’s thumb at this rate.’
“It’s rare to find a couple who’ve been together this long without even dating first. You practically grew up next door seeing his face every day, and then, bam, you got whisked away into an arranged marriage. If you count from then, it’s been six years now, hasn’t it?”
“That is true…”
Heeju nodded like a trembling elf.
“According to the dictionary, a rough patch is characterized by withering, laziness, and dislike. This can easily creep into a marriage if couples spend too much time simply looking at each other.”
“But…”
Heeju spoke in a voice barely above a whisper.
“He’s the one…”
“One what?”
“He’s the only person in my world. How could I grow tired of him ….”
“……”
“For me, he’s like tteokbokki. One can’t get tired of it ever.”
Heeju’s resolute defense of her point had In-ah completely speechless. In-ah got goosebumps hearing her words.
Finally, she pulled up her sleeves to reveal the bumps on her skin and shoved them toward Heeju.
“You gave me the shivers. Does your husband even know how adorably sly and sweet you can be?”
“Sister…”
“If I were him, I would have knocked you up with three kids by now.”
“W- What are you saying!”
In-ah broke into hearty laughter again. Meanwhile, Heeju hurriedly suppressed the memories of countless nights that suddenly flashed through her mind.
The memory of their passionate nights left her breathless, a stark contrast to the distance that now separated them. Baek Sa-eon was a workaholic, always too busy.
Just then, a stroller passed by outside the terrace, and Heeju’s expression visibly darkened. The hand stirring her drink slowed.
“I don’t even remember the last time…”
“Last time what?”
“Hmm? The last time we went on a date.”
“Oh, I thought you meant…”
In-ah secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Oblivious to her worries, Heeju continued.
“ “I’ve always known he was dedicated to his work, but it’s gotten out of hand. He comes home after 10 PM every night, and I often find myself eating dinner alone. It’s…”
Once the floodgates opened, her growing worries began to flow freely.
“I feel like he’s hiding something from me…”
“What?”
“He can’t sleep well at night. He tosses and turns a lot, and sometimes when I wake up, he’s already in the study by himself. It makes me anxious…”
Initially resting her chin in her hand, In-ah’s face gradually grew serious.
“To be honest… We talk way less than we used to.”
Heeju’s face, once calm, was now shadowed with concern.
Baek Sa-eon had been back in politics for two years. Time seemed to fly by since their small, yet highly publicized, wedding.
He had re-established himself as a prominent figure in politics, returning under the name “Baek Sa-eon.”
She understood the political advantages this would bring him. As expected, Baek Sa-eon had been a prominent figure throughout the election season, dominating the headlines.
Every word he uttered, every interview, every part of his history, family, and even unfounded rumors—they all became fodder for viral YouTube videos and cyber-sleuths.
『Blue House Spokesperson Baek Sa-eon Faces Scandal Over Lewd Audio Recordings』
『Shocking Statement in the Recording: “I Want to XX”』
『The True Face of a Beloved Elite: Verbal Abuse and Death Threats Revealed in Leaked Recordings!』
『Blue House Spokesperson’s Obscene Phone Call File Exposed!』
Until the Baek Jang-ho Memorial Hall controversy exploded, his personal life scandals were the talk of the town.
Still, Baek Sa-eon’s die-hard critics continued to bring up these scandals, attacking his morality at every turn.
The illegitimate child of the late Baek Jang-ho. A man known for his cold and calculating demeanor. Yet, the more he showcased his unyielding and formidable persona in the political and social arenas, the faster his supporters grew in number.
Baek Sa-eon was caught up in a whirlwind of campaign activity, handpicking aides, shaping his policy narrative, and rarely returning home. His absences grew even longer once he hit the campaign trail.
He asked nothing of Heeju. No requests to join him on campaign trucks, no suggestions to appear on broadcasts together— he didn’t demand anything of her. On the contrary, he was more focused on shielding her from public scrutiny.
However, the two were already a couple under the public’s watchful eye. The husband is a young and popular ruling party congressman. The wife is a sign language interpreter for the National Assembly.
Sometimes, journalists—most notably, Hong In-ah—would throw provocative questions about whether the couple ever clashed over political views.
Baek Sa-eon’s refusal to discuss his wife fueled rampant speculation. His unwavering “no comment” stance on personal matters only intensified rumors of separation, divorce, and infidelity.
His overwhelming busyness made her feel increasingly isolated. Living with a workaholic was more than just lonely.
Even though Baek Sa-eon tried to show Heeju some consideration, he often worked late nights and even weekends. Heeju’s shoulders slumped in dejection.
“I want to see him before the sun sets… I want to have a baby, too…”
Heeju’s voice, a low murmur, drifted on the cool, gentle breeze as she stood there, lost in contemplation.
