BTCG 05

Chapter 5 …

I smiled brightly and handed over the card. Donation is an act that not only saves someone’s life but also gives happiness and positive energy to the donor. Humming to myself as I left the booth, I was about to take a short walk when a familiar language came from behind me.

“Excuse me, are you Korean?”

For a moment, tension seized me — had a reporter followed me here? I hesitated, unable to summon the courage to turn around. Just then, the owner of the voice stepped a few paces closer, stopping right in front of me.

“You’re Korean, right? I saw the Korean writing on your bag.”

My bag had a souvenir keychain from a university volunteer club event attached to it. It was engraved with the small slogan, “Happiness shared together, joy enjoyed together.”
There was also a handmade carnation charm that said “Teacher, I love you” — a gift from a child I once tutored at a local children’s center.

“Am I right?”

The man asked again, his tone full of certainty as he suddenly appeared before me.

“…Yes.”

At my answer, the smile lingering on his lips widened.

“I saw you earlier at the donation booth. You donated two hundred thousand dollars with your card.”

I studied him carefully. He didn’t have a camera, nor did he look like a journalist. But just because he was a fellow Korean in a foreign country didn’t mean I could lower my guard. Maybe he had followed me after seeing me hand over that unlimited-limit card at the donation booth.

“Is there a problem with that?”

My cold response made him take a step back, hands raised in a small, disarming gesture.

“No, no problem at all! It’s just… really amazing, that’s all. I felt so proud seeing that such a huge donor was Korean. I just wanted to say hello.”

I started walking away, but he naturally fell into step beside me.

“I donated too, right after you. Only a hundred dollars though.”

When he said that, the bad habit of mine — feeling sympathy for people who do good — crept up again. I slowed my pace slightly and gave him a softer look.

“Yes, that’s very nice of you.”

Sensing the change in my tone, he moved a little closer — just within arm’s reach.

“Are you Korean-American? Or here for business?”
“I’m traveling.”
“Alone?”
“I could be alone, or not. Depends.”

Before we knew it, we were walking side by side at the same pace.

“Do you live here? Are you a resident?”
“I live here and in Korea — I go back and forth.”

His answer was vague.

“For work?”
“Work? Haha, do I really look like the working type?”

A few lines of conversation were enough to tell he had an easygoing, cheerful personality. He didn’t seem like a reporter or a scammer preying on tourists. He avoided giving specifics about himself, jokingly calling himself a “freeloader,” but he didn’t seem like a bad person. In fact, his lighthearted energy made the conversation surprisingly comfortable.

While he went to buy coffee from a nearby café, I sat on a park bench and looked around. As I waited for a passing group of cyclists to go by, I spotted him walking toward me, holding two takeaway cups. His light brown hair went well with his bright smile.

In simple jeans and a checkered shirt — exactly the type of look I usually liked. But the luxury watch peeking out from under his rolled-up sleeve made me smirk to myself.

“Here, a latte for you.”
“Thanks.”

I smiled as I accepted the coffee. For some reason, this ordinary moment felt strangely special.

“By the way, may I ask your name? I’m Nam Jinwoo.”
“Han Yesol.”
“Even your name is beautiful.”

Hearing that cliché line, I almost laughed. He sounded like someone who’d practiced his pickup lines — that watch might even be one of his “tools.”

“How long will you be in New York?”
“About a week.”
“Then maybe we’ll bump into each other again. Want me to show you around?”

I took a sip of the coffee and looked around. The park was full of tourists, joggers, and people walking their dogs. A sudden thought struck me — What if there’s a reporter here taking pictures?

If a headline like “Newlywed Meets a Stranger During Honeymoon” came out, everything I’d built up so far would collapse. My tone turned cold and firm.

“Sorry, but I’m on my honeymoon right now.”

His eyes widened, surprise written all over his face as he took a step back.

“Your honeymoon?”
“Yes.”
“Then why are you alone?”
“My husband’s busy with work.”

He turned his body fully toward me, and I could see it — the pity in his expression.

He was probably thinking, A honeymoon alone? Poor thing, something must’ve happened.
Or maybe he was imagining that I’d divorced the day after my wedding and turned my honeymoon into a breakup trip.

“Starting tomorrow, I’ll be sightseeing with my husband. He just had some urgent business today.”

The lie rolled off my tongue effortlessly. He turned his gaze away and took a sip of coffee.

“That’s too bad. I was kind of hoping we could get to know each other.”

I sighed inwardly and gave a wry smile. I couldn’t exactly tell him I was single and risk getting recognized. So, I had no choice but to keep pretending to be a married woman.

“Thanks for the coffee.”

I stood up and gave him a polite nod. His expression darkened noticeably.

“Sure. Take care. Maybe we’ll meet again if fate allows?”
“Maybe.”

I turned to leave, and his voice called out behind me.

“Oh, and—congratulations on your marriage.”

I smiled faintly and walked away. If we’d met under different circumstances, maybe this could’ve been a good connection, I thought. His impression had been pleasant, and our conversation flowed easily.

Back at the hotel, I spread my shopping bags out on the bed before heading into the bathroom. I filled the tub with warm water and added a lavender bath bomb. The bubbles foamed up, filling the room with a soothing fragrance.

“Mmm, lavender. Nice. I should order a bottle of wine from room service, too.”

Scooping up a handful of bubbles, I shaped them into bunny ears on my head and blew through them to make holes. Sipping some sparkling wine, I thought how long it had been since I’d enjoyed such a peaceful moment.

Bang!

A heavy thud suddenly shattered the calm. My body stiffened, and I held my breath, straining to listen. Was that the door opening and closing? Or… had someone come in?

Then came the sliding sound of the bedroom door opening.

Someone was definitely inside. And if anyone had access to this room, it could only be one person — him.

He must’ve been furious about the card.

Wait — did I lock the bathroom door?

I turned my gaze toward the door to check, but before I could, it burst open.

“Ahhh!”

Instinctively, I sank deeper into the water and screamed. But he didn’t seem the slightest bit concerned that I was in the bath. Fortunately, the thick layer of bubbles kept everything hidden.

“What the hell did you buy? A car?”

Just as I’d guessed — it was about the card. His face, cold and distant the entire flight, now showed a trace of agitation, which for some reason felt almost satisfying.

A man who staged a fake marriage for corporate profit — of course, his biggest weakness was money.

“Oh! Maybe I should have bought a car. Everything I bought is in the bedroom.”

He turned his head and glanced at the bed, scanning the items laid out — mid-range clothes, shoes, and a few art supplies. Nothing that looked particularly expensive.

“Did you buy diamond jewelry or something? How does someone spend two hundred million won in a day? You can’t use my card for luxury goods. Refund it immediately.”

Seeing him jump to the conclusion that I’d bought diamonds when nothing looked fancy was almost amusing.

“I didn’t buy any luxury goods! Now get out! Can’t you see I’m taking a bath?”

I scooped up more bubbles to cover myself and shouted.