Chapter 23
23. Like Gold Dust
2023.05.23.
Trrrring. A short dial tone rang before Hee-wook answered the phone.
[Hey, So-eun.]
Unlike when they had parted ways angrily on Saturday, Hee-wook's voice was quite gentle.
It had to be. He must have heard about what happened on Sunday from his sister. He probably needed to soothe me so I wouldn't get angry.
As expected, Hee-wook brought up the topic before So-eun could even say what she wanted.
[So-eun, good thing you called. I had something to tell you too. You apparently grilled my sister about why she didn't tell you she was type O.]
"You heard."
[But my sister can't have the surgery. She's Madam Kim Mal-hee's daughter; the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Her liver isn't as good as Mom's. So, I hope you can understand that. If you're still suspicious, I'll show you her medical certificate.]
"Okay. Show me."
[……Huh?]
"If you want to show it to me that badly, then show it to me."
So-eun responded coldly, her voice devoid of emotion.
Hee-wook, who seemed hesitant, took a step back.
[So-eun, let's not fight over this. What are we going to do now? It's not like we can take Mom's liver and give it back to you.]
"……."
[So-eun, you love me, right? If you love me, shouldn't you want my family to be peaceful and happy?]
"Hee-wook, let's talk in person. Tonight."
So-eun interrupted Hee-wook and suggested.
[I'm on a business trip to the local court today.]
"Then how about tomorrow night?"
[I'm busy tomorrow too.]
"Please, just meet me. It won't take long. I promise."
[Okay. I'll try to make time. Can you come here?]
"Yeah, I will. Let's meet at seven tomorrow. Is that okay?"
[Alright. I might be late because I'm busy, but I won't be too late. Wait for me.]
The call ended abruptly.
So-eun stared at her blurred reflection in the darkened screen. Her ugly face didn't seem so hateful anymore.
The next day.
So-eun came to work with a completely recovered face.
"Chief Han! Are you feeling better now?"
Park Bo-bae, her colleague next to her, was the first to greet her.
"Yeah. Thanks to you, I'm fine. You were busy yesterday because of me, right?"
So-eun replied, handing her a coffee. It was a vanilla latte she had bought from a coffee shop near the company.
Bo-bae's face lit up as she received her favorite vanilla latte.
"Oh my! You didn't have to get me anything! You should be thanking Chief Jang Eun-pyo; he was the one who had a hard time."
"Yeah. That's right."
While they were talking, Chief Jang Eun-pyo from the same team came to work and sat down at his desk. So-eun got up from her seat and went to Jang Eun-pyo.
"Chief Jang."
"Yes, Chief Han."
Chief Jang Eun-pyo was taciturn as always.
Since they hadn't talked much before, even a simple greeting felt awkward.
"Thank you for taking over my work yesterday."
"You're welcome."
So-eun politely greeted him and carefully handed him the drink she had brought.
"Here, this is for you."
"Ah, it's okay."
"It's a vanilla latte. Do you not like it?"
"No, I like it…… I'll enjoy it."
Eun-pyo, who seemed a little flustered for a moment, hesitated before accepting the drink So-eun had brought with both hands. So-eun saw the corners of Eun-pyo's lips tremble slightly. She couldn't tell if Chief Jang Eun-pyo was holding back a smile because she had never seen him smile, or if he was trying hard to smile.
"Are you feeling better?"
"Yes. I'm all better."
"That's a relief."
Eun-pyo nodded a few times in response to So-eun's answer, and as they stood awkwardly facing each other, So-eun's desk phone rang.
It was a call from Director Kim Tae-joon.
So-eun went up to the director's office on the 7th floor. As Mun-gyeong guided her, she opened the door to the office and entered, and Tae-joon got up from his seat and approached her.
"Director, you called for me?"
"I told you not to do foolish things like overworking on weekends and then groaning in pain during the week."
You know why I was in pain, and you're still saying this, you.
So-eun narrowed her eyes and glanced at Tae-joon with a hazy gaze.
Perhaps because so much had happened in the meantime, or because he had seen all her ugly sides, she didn't feel as intimidated by him as before.
Tae-joon seemed to know this too, as he quietly watched So-eun before asking.
"Are you feeling better now?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"Did you sort things out well?"
"It will take about two weeks. I'll work hard."
"No, I'm asking about what happened on Sunday."
Tae-joon also didn't seem to be bothered by So-eun's personal affairs. Or rather, he had always been straightforward, but now he seemed to regard So-eun's love life as his own business.
"I'll sort it out soon."
At So-eun's answer, his eyes narrowed this time.
I can see it. I can see right through his mind, thinking, 'So, she didn't take sick leave because she broke up and was hurting, but just because she was groaning in pain all alone?'
"That's taking a really long time."
"……."
"I thought you sorted it out yesterday and were resting."
Full of sarcasm. Kim Tae-joon was showing off his specialty.
This man can tease me, but I don't care anymore, I don't care…….
"Are you going to meet to sort things out?"
"That's the plan. So, Director, I don't think I can work overtime today."
She expected him to be mean and ask why she couldn't work overtime, but Tae-joon asked an unexpected question.
"Where are you meeting? In Seoul?"
"Yes."
"Can you get there okay on your own?"
"Yes. I can take a taxi."
"I'm going that way, so I'll give you a ride."
So-eun flared her nostrils.
Have you ever heard of it? About the crazy welfare of a different class at K Electronic Service.
A company that even provides a car service to help you break up with your cheating boyfriend exists in this land.
And the director is taking the lead.
"Director. Excuse me, but can I ask you something?"
Even though she knew it was rude, So-eun spoke firmly.
"Why are you so interested in my affairs?"
Once, twice. Tae-joon blinked twice, silently staring at So-eun with an impassive expression, and then asked.
"Have you ever watched a morning drama?"
"No."
"Try watching one. People just like Chief Han appear in them."
"……."
"Once you watch it, you'll understand my position."
"……."
"Go on. Then."
It felt like a gong was ringing in her head. It throbbed. So-eun wondered why she had asked such a question and gotten herself worked up. She also vowed never to have a personal conversation with Kim Tae-joon again.
"Eat well and work moderately. You need to build up more energy if you're going to fight."
As So-eun bowed and left, Tae-joon encouraged her as if he was determined to tease her until the end.
After Han So-eun left and the door closed, Tae-joon let out a long sigh.
Seeing her face directly made him feel somewhat relieved, but he didn't like the way she seemed to be forcing herself to be strong.
Why was he so interested in her affairs?
Because he didn't like her.
Because he didn't like the guy she liked.
It was a relationship that started with hatred.
He knew very well that the beginning was a deep-rooted hatred from a long time ago.
Even though he thought she was hateful, annoying, and frustrating, Tae-joon was pulling on this bad relationship.
Sunlight streamed in hotly through the wide window. Once, twice. He closed and opened his eyes, and it felt like he could draw a picture in the spot where Han So-eun had been standing. Fine dust floated brilliantly in the space occupied by the sunlight. It was as if gold dust was dancing.
Migeum. Dust like gold dust.
He knew very well that it was nothing.
But just because he knew it didn't mean it wasn't beautiful.
After work, So-eun went to the parking lot where Tae-joon's car was parked.
Tae-joon didn't bring a driver today either.
"Director, thank you again today."
"Get in."
So-eun got into Tae-joon's car, thinking that she was receiving undeserved treatment, but immediately shook her head. She decided to put down the yardstick of her mind that evaluated and judged herself.
This person is just watching my behavior with the feeling of facing a morning drama in front of him.
Director. But you'll never get the hidden track of this drama. The fact that I even offered to give his mother my liver is a secret.
Even if that secret isn't revealed, it's still an interesting morning drama, right?
And I'm the tragic heroine?
It seemed like she was going through a lot of hardships, but if she thought of herself as the main character, it was fun and gave her strength. After all, the main character is happy in the end.
She would overcome all the hardships.
Still, once this morning drama is over, I shouldn't get a ride again.
Han So-eun, the heroine who knew her limits, glanced at Kim Tae-joon, the avid viewer who was focused on driving, and secretly smiled.
She would have been very nervous if she had come alone, but having a companion was a great comfort. So-eun wondered if that was why she had gotten so many rides in Tae-joon's car. Tae-joon was the only person who knew about her past when she was a pushover. It was embarrassing, but once she overcame that shame, a comfortable world would come. His handsome appearance was also healing.
As she calmly organized the things she had to say to Hee-wook, she soon arrived at the hotel where they had agreed to meet.
It was the first time she was meeting Hee-wook at a hotel since Christmas Eve last year.
I thought I would have my first time then.
That day, she didn't have the first experience she had expected, but her trust in her boyfriend grew even stronger. Not knowing what Yang Hee-wook was thinking inside, she was fooled by his words that he would cherish her and fell even more in love.
"Where are you meeting?"
While she was reminiscing about the old days, Tae-joon asked. His voice was very uncomfortable.
"The hotel lounge."
"I'm just saying this out of concern, but if he changes his mind and tells you to come up to the room, just come out."
"Yes."
So-eun answered sullenly with narrowed eyes, as if he was being overly concerned. Even then, Tae-joon still seemed uneasy and made a strange suggestion.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
"No!"
You want to watch someone else's breakup scene from the VIP seats? That's not going to happen.
So-eun unknowingly glared, afraid that he might secretly follow her.
"Then I'll see you tomorrow!"
It was time for them to part ways. So-eun greeted him loudly and opened the car door and got out.
Han So-eun, the fool who only knew how to fix machines.
Finally, at last, she was going to fix herself.
As she entered the lounge, she saw Yang Hee-wook.
Yang Hee-wook, who was always late by 10 or 20 minutes as a matter of course, using the excuse that he was busy whenever they made an appointment, was there early for once. She was puzzled by the bouquet of flowers on the table. She suspected that he was trying to smooth things over with flowers again because he felt sorry. But she wouldn't accept them.
"You're early?"
So-eun approached Hee-wook and smiled. Hee-wook, who had been glued to his phone, looked up at So-eun.
"Oh. So-eun."
It was a strange thing.
Now that she had sorted out her feelings first, Hee-wook's face, which had seemed so handsome, somehow looked lacking.
Was it all just a crush?
Or, without me even knowing, have I become accustomed to Director Kim Tae-joon's face and raised my standards?
