Chapter 23
A Trembling Heart
How much time had passed?
After finally regaining her composure, Seon-i became aware of the awkwardness of her situation.
This was already the third time she’d cried in front of Eun-woo.
She quickly wiped her tears and checked her face.
Even though she’d been hidden under the umbrella, it was still embarrassing—enough to make her wish she could turn into dust and disappear. But with no other choice, she slowly lowered the umbrella.
Sitting a little distance away, Eun-woo removed his earphones and looked at her.
“Feeling a bit better now?”
Seon-i nodded slowly.
“…I’m sorry. Again.”
“You don’t need to apologize. Again,” he replied with a warm smile.
His joking tone eased her tension, and she exhaled a long breath.
“The story you mentioned earlier—it was about that man from last time, wasn’t it?” he asked carefully.
“Huh? Ah… yes.”
Maybe she was getting stronger; it felt easier to talk than before.
“He was handsome, wasn’t he?”
“…You could say that.”
“And seemed wealthy too.”
“That’s right.”
“But his personality was awful, right?”
His playful remark made Seon-i let out a small laugh.
“I knew it. God is fair,” he teased.
“Why do you say that?”
“Well, if someone’s handsome and rich and kind, that’s too much to ask, isn’t it?”
“That’s what you think of our director?” she asked, half-amused.
“What, me? You think I’m handsome, rich, and kind?”
She silently nodded.
“That makes me feel pretty good,” he said, overacting enough to make her smile.
“Whimper, whimper…”
Their pet rabbit Rabong whimpered from the cage.
“Oh, my poor Rabong, feeling cramped?”
Eun-woo gently took the little one out and set it on the floor.
“Is it okay to let it walk around?” Seon-i asked, a little worried.
“Yes. It’s healed a lot. A bit of exercise is good for recovery,” he answered, eyes following the small creature with a gaze as warm as a parent’s.
That gentle look seemed to melt Seon-i’s heart as well.
Rabong hopped happily, then returned to circle her feet.
When she held out a hand, the rabbit licked it.
“Rabong really likes you,” Eun-woo said with a smile.
Seon-i nodded, then spoke softly.
“…It’s amazing sometimes.”
“What is?”
“That there’s a being who likes me this much.”
She watched the rabbit with a faint smile.
“If you pick up a starving dog and make it prosperous, it will never bite you. That is the fundamental difference between a dog and a man,” Eun-woo quoted.
Surprised, Seon-i looked at him.
“Mark Twain said that,” he explained.
“Ah…”
“Rabong knows you care for him. These little ones are the only creatures who love someone more than themselves.”
He gently stroked the rabbit’s back.
Rabong still limped slightly but continued to circle Seon-i cheerfully.
Before she knew it, a peaceful smile spread across her face.
“Phew…” She closed her eyes and let out a deep breath.
“Thank you. I feel much better because of you.”
“You’ve always had a bright energy,” he replied.
“Me?”
“Of course. You brighten the people around you.”
“That’s not what you say to someone who’s already cried in front of you three times.”
“Haha. Maybe it takes great energy to brighten a room even while crying.”
“Or maybe it’s a little odd that you feel brighter when someone’s crying,” she countered.
“That’s true too,” he laughed.
When their laughter faded, a short silence settled.
“…I should go.”
“Huh? Ah, I’ll take you.”
“…No, it’s fine. The tears sobered me up. I can go alone—I’d feel bad troubling you more.”
Instead of answering, Eun-woo simply smiled and nodded, then helped her by placing Rabong back in the cage.
“Thanks for everything today.”
Seon-i said goodbye, lifted the cage, and walked away.
Eun-woo stood there, quietly watching her retreating figure.
“Handsome, huh…” he murmured, touching his chin with a faint smile.
He remained there until she disappeared from sight.
Han-nam-dong Bar
Gyeon-hee stared grimly into his straight glass.
“Another drink?” the bartender asked.
He tapped the table wordlessly, and the bartender refilled his whiskey.
I wish you’d stop interfering in my life…
Her resentful voice echoed in his head all day.
“I don’t want to care either. Damn it.”
He downed the whiskey in one gulp.
“Hey, stop. You drank like this yesterday too,” his secretary Kwon said, worried.
“Leave me alone. This is all your fault.”
“…I didn’t think Ms. Chae-gyeong would actually show up.”
“You call yourself my secretary. Ha…”
Gyeon-hee exhaled in frustration.
Then a sharp pain struck his chest.
“What’s wrong? Chest hurting?”
“Move.”
He pushed Kwon aside with a shout.
The heavy ache lingered.
It didn’t even feel like his own pain.
“I don’t plan to interfere in your life either… if only, if only this didn’t happen…” he muttered, clutching his chest.
But the pain wouldn’t subside, and he finally rose from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
“…To demand an answer. To find out why this is happening to me.”
“What? Calm down. You’ll regret it tomorrow.”
“Out of my way.”
“Gyeon-hee!”
Kwon tried to stop him, but Gyeon-hee was already out the door.
“Ugh. I give up,” Kwon sighed, slumping back onto a stool.
“Give me one too,” he said to the bartender, who quickly poured a glass.
Kwon downed it with a grimace.
“Ugh. What’s so good about this stuff?”
As he left, he turned back to the bartender and whispered,
“Put it on the boss’s tab.”
Near Home
Seon-i walked slowly down a neighborhood alley, phone pressed to her ear.
“You didn’t really call because you thought I’d get lost after a few drinks, did you?”
—Aren’t you worried? Did you find Rabong?
“Yeah, I’m taking him home now,” she said, glancing at the rabbit nestled in her bag.
—But that director guy—doesn’t he like you?
“Director?”
Eun-woo’s bright smile flashed in her mind.
‘Even crying, you brighten those around you. That’s an amazing energy.’
His warm voice and cheerful grin had a way of easing people’s hearts.
“He’s just a good person,” she replied.
—Great. Then you should go out with him.
“What?”
—You said he’s a good person. Then date him. Please, meet someone decent for once.
“Boss, I appreciate the concern, but my love life is my own, okay?”
—I’m just saying—take it seriously and don’t make us worry.
“Yes, ma’am. I’m almost home.”
—Good. I’m tired and busy anyway.
The call ended abruptly, making Seon-i chuckle.
As she put her phone away, a small stone in her pocket caught her eye—the one Eun-woo had given her in Spain.
“…Thanks, as always,” she murmured, stroking it.
“I owe him so much. I should at least buy him a meal, right, Rabong?”
Smiling, she soon reached her building.
As she climbed the stairs, a sudden chill ran through her.
In the darkness stood a darker silhouette.
Gyeon-hee.
She recognized him immediately—the sharp nose, the strong lines of his face.
Even with eyes closed, she could picture him.
“Whew…”
He leaned against the wall, reeking of alcohol, exhaling a heavy sigh.
Seon-i hesitated, instinctively turning to leave, but stopped.
I can’t keep running forever.
She knew from experience that avoidance solved nothing.
Steeling herself, she walked to the door as if nothing was wrong.
“Move,” she said firmly.
“Huh? Oh?”
Drunk, Gyeon-hee slowly lifted his head.
“Ah… Cheon Seon-i.”
The smell of liquor was overwhelming.
“What are you doing? I told you—stay out of my life.”
“…I want that too,” he said sluggishly, each word an effort.
But his words cut her again.
“Good. Then move.”
“…But I can’t. Because you keep hurting.”
“…What?”
She could hardly believe what she heard.
“…Why do you keep getting sick, getting hurt?”
Her eyes wavered at his words.
She remembered how he’d once sent medicine to her through his secretary.
Struggling to stay calm, she spoke coolly.
“…What does that have to do with you? Whether I’m sick or not?”
Suddenly he lost his balance and fell forward.
Startled, she instinctively caught him.
“Gyeon-hee!”
She kept calling his name, but he couldn’t fully wake.
“Hey… stay with me. Gyeon-hee?”
No response.
She couldn’t just leave him in the hallway, but she also couldn’t bring him inside.
She knew she shouldn’t.
Then he suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
“Don’t… please,” she protested, trying to push him away.
“…Cheon Seon,” he whispered, holding her tightly.
The sound of her name froze her in place.
“Don’t be sick,” he murmured.
Her eyes widened in shock.
“When you’re hurt… I’m hurt.”
His voice lingered at her ear.
The warmth of his drunken breath slowly shook her heart.
