Special Side Story 05
“I’m concerned about Interpreter Hong Heeju’s reluctance to socialize. She has declined both of my wife’s invitations to the gatherings. This seems quite unusual. Shouldn’t she be more active to help you?” said Kwak.
“…….”
As Sa-eon gritted his teeth, the expression of Yoon, the assistant, turned pale. Baek Sa-eon was currently a ticking bomb ready to explode.
“Don’t even dream about it. I won’t send my wife to meetings like those.”
His lips twisted.
“Why would I send my wife there? To make kimchi, clean up after the sick, wash dishes? It appears that the main activity for these wives is posing for photos to be featured in the press.”
“T- That…!”
“Last time, someone even asked for a luxury coat and handbag.”
“Assemblyman Baek, how could you…!”
“Now tell me, why should I send my wife, Heeju, to such places?”
Assemblyman Kwak’s face reddened with anger, and he launched into a scathing rebuke.
“Interpreter Hong Heeju has no in-laws! So someone older should guide her. You should let her expand connections for you. If you keep acting so haughty, you won’t survive in this game!”
“I will not permit my wife to be exploited for my personal gain.”
“……!”
“I would appreciate it if you could inform the other wives that I’m tired of declining invitations for my wife. I believe she would be more comfortable outside of these social circles. She’s too precious to participate in those charades.”
“Just what did you say…?”
Assemblyman Kwak’s face contorted in confusion, unsure whether he had been insulted or had just witnessed a private revelation. Sensing his win, Baek Sa-eon turned away and walked off. But behind him, Representative Kwak whipped out his phone and shouted.
“Don’t act so arrogant! You don’t even know what state your wife is in!”
Through the screen, Heeju could be seen crying.
***
On a live telecast-
Like a lamb surrounded by wolves, Hong Heeju, in her modest dress, stood alone before the ravenous pack of political reporters with teary eyes.
Each time a photo was taken, Heeju lowered her head or discreetly wiped her tears. Suddenly, an icy rage consumed him.
“I have to leave right now. Those b*stards! Do they even realize who they’re messing with?!”
Sa-eon’s messages went unanswered. Fury surged through him as he glared at the unresponsive screen, his fingers trembling.
In a fit of impulse, he pressed the call button. Assistant Yoon, startled by the sudden movement, slammed on the brakes.
“Wait, sir! Who are you calling?”
“I’m calling Heeju.”
“What?! You said you wouldn’t see her until you recovered!”
“She’s crying.”
Sa-eon rubbed his face with a tense expression. Noticing his Boss’s state, Yoon decided to concede.
Although he had accompanied Baek Sa-eon to countless political events, it was the first time he had seen such an anxious look. Despite his cold behavior, everyone in the office knew how much he treasured his wife.
In meetings, he always had his phone in hand. No matter how late the meetings ended, he always brought home ice cream for her. During business trips, he would call his wife, sometimes even putting her on speakerphone during meetings.
His sudden disappearances often prompted office jokes about him being on the phone with his wife.
“What the hell is wrong with the telecom operator? Why does it say her phone is off?!”
He dialed her number repeatedly, but Hong Heeju remained unreachable. Baek Sa-eon’s patience was thinning out.
“From what I know, she doesn’t have any other engagements on her schedule,” he said while double-checking the tablet.
Knowing the schedule of permanent interpreters in the National Assembly without their consent was illegal unless Hong Heeju had shared it voluntarily. Feeling a headache coming on, assistant Yoon proceeded cautiously.
“If she doesn’t, Madam must’ve gone straight home… W- Wait a moment. Who are you calling again?”
“A journalist.”
“A journalist?!”
Yoon’s face went white as a sheet.
“I understand your frustration, but now is not the time to take risks. We need to avoid anything that could escalate the situation and lead to more rumors…”
“Calm down. It will be fine.”
Baek Sa-eon’s face darkened strangely.
“She’s someone I have never conversed respectfully to begin with.”
Baek Sa-eon called his sister-in-law, whom he always found to be a nuisance.
Beep! Beep!
As the ringing dragged on, the veins in his jaw tightened. He was furious at Hong Heeju, who hadn’t contacted him— her husband— despite everything. At the same time, he felt an uncontrollable rage at himself, the one responsible for it all.
How many days had it been since he had been able to go home?
He missed Hong Heeju so much that he felt like he was losing his mind. The ringing abruptly cut off, leaving an eerie silence. Baek Sa-eon lowered his head, burying his face in his fist.
“Heeju… where are you?”
***
My head was spinning.
Blindsided by the relentless flashes of the cameras, Heeju stared blankly into the void. Just then, like a lifeline, Hong In-ah appeared, pulling her away from the press and into the refuge of a dimly lit bar.
Heeju downed several glasses of alcohol, despite her low tolerance, desperately trying to drown out the shame. She knew her career might be over…
“I can’t face him…” she said in a slurred tone. “Baek Sa-eon must’ve already seen it… I can’t help him in any way except being a burden. What am I going to do?”
“Do newspapers need sign language interpreters, sister? What will I do if I lose my job?”
Heeju rested her cheek on her sister’s shoulder as In-ah let out a dismissive laugh. At that moment, the fierce reporter vanished, replaced by the protective older sister. Heeju felt a bittersweet ache, a mixture of gratitude and profound sadness.
“But why hasn’t Baek Sa-eon called yet? If he saw the news, he should’ve called right away!! That damned brother-in-law of mine.”
“He must be busy…”
Heeju propped her chin on her hand and let out a heavy sigh.
“Baek Sa-eon… is someone who has important things beside me. He’s probably overwhelmed with his own issues…”
“I don’t want to hear you speak positively about Baek Sa-eon. Why do you care about the problems of politicians and celebrities?”
The smell of alcohol on her breath felt strange to her, but the haze clouding her mind was oddly comforting.
‘That’s why I drank. There’s no better escape than alcohol when you can’t come to terms with your own imperfections.’
“Sister, do you know? There are unofficial gatherings for the wives of politicians.”
“Well… that…”
Hong In-ah scratched her eyebrow awkwardly. So her sister knew about it too. It seemed only she was left out.
“These days, the support rate for husbands depends on how influential their wives are in society. They say people see wives as their representatives.”
“…”
“So they all do volunteer activities, share information, and help each other during tough times. I don’t have any of those connections… No matter how much I wait… No one calls me… That’s why everyone must be avoiding helping Baek Sa-eon.”
Suddenly, a wave of sadness washed over Heeju’s face.
TL/N:
Sighh, Darling, nobody is excluding you. Your husband is the one who isn’t letting the invitations reach you.
💚💚