Chapter 31. In the Place Where Love Evaporated

“Well, uh… I made a bet with a classmate on our performance score. The loser buys ice cream. You know how competitive I get, ha ha.”

“Is that so?”

When the word “competitive” came out of Haeyoung’s mouth, Taeseong nodded as if it didn’t sound out of place at all.

“Then I’d better teach you properly.”

“Huh?”

“If the Cha Haeyoung I taught loses, my pride’s on the line too.”

With a solemn look, Taeseong handed her the ball.

“Alright, let’s start with dribbling.”

The jolt from their fingers brushing as she took the ball was brief. Worry quickly replaced it on Haeyoung’s face.

“Just so you know… I’m absolutely terrible at ball sports.”

“…Just try.”

Taeseong’s eyes wavered for a moment, then regained their focus. With eyes that seemed to carry a tiger’s spirit, he stared at her intently.

Taking a deep breath, Haeyoung assumed her stance and bounced the ball.

At least this time it didn’t shoot off in a weird direction. But as she dribbled, her waist started bending lower and lower.

“Wait. Stop.”

Taeseong, watching her with folded arms, finally stepped in.

His brows were furrowed like a crumpled piece of paper, having realized the dire state of her basketball skills.

Sensing the seriousness, Haeyoung pressed the ball to the ground and looked up timidly.

“…What is it?”

“Is the ball someone’s back or something? Why are you smacking it like that?”

“Huh…?”

“When you dribble, you can’t just whack it like you’re spanking someone.”

“Th-then how do you do it?”

Haeyoung stayed in her awkward stance, eyes darting. Taeseong grabbed her wrist and helped her stand up.

Then, placing his hand over hers on the ball, he began to explain.

“A good dribble should stay wrapped around your hand as long as possible.”

“Wrapped around…”

“And don’t spread your palm wide. Curve it slightly.”

“Okay… curve it slightly…”

Every time he adjusted her posture, his gentle hands brushed across the back of hers.

There was no intention behind his touch, but Haeyoung’s heart pounded like a drum.

“Yeah, like that. Feel it sticking to your hand.”

“Sticking to my hand…”

She ended up sounding like a confused parrot.

‘At this rate, I’m going to die of arrhythmia before I ever learn basketball.’

If she didn’t get a grip, her heart might give out before the performance test.

“You should push the ball a little to the sides, not the center. That way you can move forward while dribbling.”

“Okay.”

Haeyoung nodded firmly, finally starting to focus through the butterflies in her chest.

They continued dribbling practice for about an hour.

In the meantime, Haeyoung almost cried from being scolded so much by Taeseong.

But the intense training seemed to be paying off. She could now at least imitate decent dribbling.

As her skills improved, Taeseong, now drained, headed to the bench.

He slumped down, and Haeyoung sat beside him.

Then, in a tired voice, Taeseong said,

“I feel like I aged three years today because of you, Cha Haeyoung.”

“Sorry.”

At her sheepish apology, Taeseong sat up and lightly placed a hand on her head.

“If you’re sorry, then make sure you win the bet.”

“…Okay.”

“Don’t embarrass your husband.”

The word “husband” startled Haeyoung, and she froze, locking eyes with him.

A tense silence filled the air between them.

She knew it was a joke, but she couldn’t laugh. And Taeseong, sensing her reaction, looked awkward too.

The atmosphere was suffocating with layered awkwardness—until Haeyoung gave him a playful nudge on the shoulder.

With her usual bold voice—

“What husband? Gross. Don’t be ridiculous.”

“What? I can’t even joke now?”

Following her lead, Taeseong forced a louder response.

But behind the exaggerated tone, a bigger awkwardness loomed.

Sensing the shift, he quickly changed the subject.

“Anyway, next weekend, we’ll go even harder. Sound good?”

“Yeah, sure… sounds good.”

Haeyoung nodded, her gaze slightly unfocused.

She was annoyed at how easily her heart sped up from just one offhanded “husband.”

* * *

Friday night, one week later.

Haeyoung stood in front of a full-length mirror, holding up the new outfit she received in the mail yesterday.

“Is this too much?”

Excited about her special training, Haeyoung had ordered a new workout outfit online.

Even a tiny grain of hope that she might impress her crush—it was only natural for a girl to want that.

But the excitement soon faded like a fleeting aurora.

“It’s not like it’s a date or anything…”

Looking disappointed, she took the clothes down and hung them on her desk chair.

She trudged over to her bed and flopped onto the soft mattress.

Sigh…

A heavy breath escaped her lips.

She had fallen for Joo Taeseong. And it took her quite a while to realize it.

But she never wished for a happy ending with him.

Because he already had someone he had liked for a long time—and she had promised to support that.

She didn’t want to disrupt the steady path Taeseong was walking.

Still, the more her feelings grew, the harder it became to contain them.

“Confess. When you turn twenty.”

“…”

“If your confession works out…”

“…”

“I’ll divorce you.”

Lying down, Haeyoung mumbled quietly.

“Why did you say something like that…”

If only he hadn’t said that, maybe she would’ve tried confessing her feelings.

Whether he accepted or not.

But with that promise hanging between them, she couldn’t even consider telling him.

She didn’t have the courage to see the look on Taeseong’s face once he found out.

Would it be fear? Disgust?

Or… a face full of pity?

“The third one’s the worst.”

With a hollow voice, Haeyoung muttered and raised her arm to cover her eyes.

Her nose stung. She was on the verge of tears.

She stayed that way for a long while before suddenly sitting up.

As if she had made a decision, she spoke aloud to herself.

“Taeseong’s heart is his. And my heart is mine.”

So then—

Even if it’s not a happy ending, I’m going to give it my all. I’ll love with no regrets.

So that, someday in the distant future, when someone asks me about my first love, I can say it was beautiful.

Even if it didn’t work out, I’ll say I have no regrets.

With that vow, Haeyoung let a bittersweet smile cross her lips.

“Yeah, that’s enough. What more could I want?”

That night, choosing the path of unrequited love, Haeyoung hoped:

That in the place where love evaporates—at least a beautiful memory would remain.

* * *

Early Saturday morning, Minju arrived from New York, dragging a large suitcase behind her.

Soon, a man approached.

“You’re here, Miss?”

“Long time no see, Mr. Kim.”

Minju smiled lightly and casually handed over her suitcase.

Mr. Kim took it and spoke up.

“The chairman invited you to lunch today.”

“Mr. Kim.”

When Minju called his name in a soft voice, Mr. Kim stopped in his tracks like a well-trained dog.

“Yes?”

“Please tell my father that today’s a bit difficult.”

“Do you have plans?”

“I will.”

She lifted her phone with a playful tone, but her expression carried weight. Mr. Kim bowed slightly in understanding.

“I’ll let him know.”

“Tell him we can have lunch tomorrow instead.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Oh, and I’ll need the car.”

She held out her hand. A gesture demanding the car keys.

As if long used to her commanding tone and entitlement, Mr. Kim handed her the keys without hesitation.

He showed no trace of resentment—just the face of a man doing his job.

“Thank you, Mr. Kim.”

“Of course, miss.”

For Minju, born into wealth and privilege, all of this had always been a given.

Whatever she wanted, she simply reached out her hand—and it became hers.

Even what seemed out of reach eventually fell into her grasp.

So to her, it was only natural to believe that Taeseong would come back to her too.

“Then I’ll be off.”

With a casual flick of her fingers like an American wave, Minju turned away.

She immediately pulled out her phone, searched for Taeseong’s number, and sent a message:

Taeseong, I’m back in Korea. Want to meet this afternoon for a bit?

Despite the early hour, his reply came quickly.

Sorry, noona. I already have plans this afternoon—with Haeyoung.

A response she never expected.