I Think I've Poked a Sleeping Bear
Chapter 26
The Prelude to War
New paintings were being hung throughout the Art Museum.
Yeon-sook, who had stepped outside to give a few instructions to the workers, looked up at her gallery.
“Soon, this cramped place will change too.”
She planned to develop an exhibition theme park on this site.
How stifling it had been all this time, stuck in this cramped venue because construction permits hadn’t been approved.
It had been years since people in the industry began calling her a countryside director.
However, Chairman Baek of Dongyeon Group was close friends with the local mayor, and the permit was finally on the horizon.
Once they became in-laws with Dongyeon Group, they could also promote for free through pay events, killing two birds with one stone.
She had even laid out full plans to expand a premium golf course right beside it.
If only that boy, Lee Heon, married Dongyeon.
Yi-on would become the President of Saja Group, and she would become the major developer of this region.
“Oh, over here. It’d be better to hang this piece on that side.”
But amidst that peaceful moment.
As Yeon-sook chatted with the other staff, her Secretary hurriedly approached her.
“Director, I think you need to take this call.”
***
Dan-a hummed continuously as she plated the food Dongsu had cooked.
A family dinner on such a golden weekend. It was disappointing that it cut into her time to see Lee Heon, but thinking of how he had just dropped her off made her savor the sweet fondness lingering in her chest.
“Sweetheart, what’s going on? Why does your face look so bright?”
Dongsu asked the moment the whole family sat down.
“My face?”
“Yeah.”
“I wonder why~”
Dan-a blinked and tilted her face from side to side in front of her dad.
“Don’t tell me you got a facial by yourself? Leaving your mother out?”
At her mother Jung-hee’s words, Dan-a narrowed her eyes and glared at her.
“Usually when someone’s face blooms like this, don’t people ask if they’re dating? Do you not even consider that your daughter might be in a relationship?”
“You? With whom? Are you fangirling over something? What is it? A dating sim? BL? Or what, a virtual idol?”
Being a schoolteacher really meant she knew a lot about what kids were into these days.
Still, wasn't Mom an elementary school teacher? Where was BL coming from?
“I don’t even know what those are, Mother.”
“When are you ever going to save money if you spend it fangirling? Your salary leaks away every month paying off your apartment's jeonse loan as it is.”
“It’s not like that!”
Dongsu chimed in.
“So, sweetie. Are you dating someone, or not?”
Dating? The moment the word came up, the gentle, warm image of Lee Heon sprang to mind.
His gaze, his touch, and… even his kiss.
“Go on an arranged date.”
Jung-hee’s firm declaration instantly wiped away all the warm feelings blossoming inside her.
“What? Why are you suddenly telling me to go on a seon?”
“You’re hopeless.”
“I haven’t even taken a shot yet, so why am I hopeless?”
“You haven't dated a single time during the prime years when you should be dating. If that’s not hopeless, what is?”
“Mom, were you always this kind of adult? Crushing kids' spirits and nipping them in the bud before they can even grow? Is that how you’ve been teaching children?”
“I certainly don’t teach them to speak casually to adults.”
Dan-a pouted.
“I don’t need an arranged date.”
“Then how on earth are you planning to date? Are there any decent guys around you? Do you even have the social skills for that?”
“Maybe I do…”
“Just go on a seon.”
“Mom, who does seon these days? It's a blind date.”
Dan-mi cut in. Jung-hee quickly nodded.
“Right, then do that.”
Potato, potahto.
“I’m not going.”
“I’m asking why you won't go! It’s not like you like someone else!”
“I do like someone el—!”
Dan-a stopped mid-sentence. Dongsu’s eyes went wide.
“Else?”
“Else…”
“El-else…?”
Everyone’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
“…maybe?”
“She’s always like this.”
A sigh that was half tsk and half groan erupted around the table.
Yet Dan-a was the only one completely disconnected from them.
Me? ‘Someone I like’?
I don’t have anyone I like.
Ever since I got dumped by Han Jihoon without even confessing, I haven't let myself like anyone.
“*Gasp.*”
Clatter. The spoon in her hand slipped and hit the table.
No way.
A face, a name, a scent filled her mind to the brim.
The President, the President, the President!
Do I… like the President?
She leaped up from her seat. Then, she bolted straight into her room.
“What’s her deal?”
Jung-hee clicked her tongue.
“Didn’t she just run off to look at whatever idol she’s fangirling over?”
“Does her stomach hurt?”
“Isn’t she just running away because she doesn’t want to go on a blind date?”
Dan-mi remarked with a deadpan expression at Dongsu’s worry, then yelled toward where her older sister had vanished.
“If you’re not going to eat, I’m taking it!”
“Go ahead. You eat it. A high school senior needs her strength.”
Jung-hee handed Dan-a’s portion of grilled short rib patties over to Dan-mi. Dan-mi rolled her eyes.
“Could you please say that without the words ‘high school senior’?”
“Aw, sweetie. You need your strength. Eat up, hurry and eat.”
Dongsu consoled her instead, then cast a worried glance toward Dan-a’s room.
“Does her stomach… really hurt that bad…?”
“Mom, please tell unnie not to go into my room.”
“If she’s got feet, she can go wherever she wants.”
“Honey, do you want to go get a foot massage? I found a place. It’s a newly opened cafe…”
And so, the Dan-a family dinner carried on.
***
Me, liking the President?
There was no way.
Until recently, I liked Han Jihoon. Thanks to the President, I got over it like a passing breeze, but either way, it hadn’t been that long since my heartbreak.
Then what about those kisses?
Ever since that first kiss, what was all that pecking and tongue-tangling every time we met?
How could anyone kiss someone they didn't even like?
Exactly! How can you kiss without liking them?
No, they were consenting adults, and late-blooming passions were notoriously fierce.
If kissing felt good, couldn’t people just do it without overthinking it?
Of course! In a world where sex partners existed, could kissing partners not exist?
…Actually, that probably didn’t exist.
Then what was it? Did I really like the President?
Just a few days ago, telling him I liked him was nothing more than a fake confession.
Was it real now?
Well, it could be. Was the President just an ordinary, moderately charming guy?
He was practically overflowing with flawless charm from head to toe.
No!
Still, no matter how much she thought about it, she had to admit Ra Iheon was breathtakingly cool.
Fine. Since it’s come to this, I just like him.
So what? Rather than someone whose reasons for liking I couldn't even remember anymore, it was completely natural to like a sweet, sexy, incredibly capable President!
Wait, hold on a second.
Didn't I have a mission to complete?
Ah, right, I was supposed to break up with him, wasn't I?
Aaaah! Trillions of won!
The President had a marriage worth trillions of won right before his eyes.
Nooo. I was supposed to break up with him, so why am I falling for him?!
I need to put everything back where it belongs, so why! Why do I like him?!
Sob. If you love someone, you have to… let them go…
No! It isn't love yet. It’s just, like, a little crush.
It’s not deep enough to sacrifice myself like that, so wouldn’t it be okay to like him just a little bit longer?
But… then what about the President?
Why is the President seeing me?
Come to think of it, this whole relationship started because I confessed that I liked him; it wasn't because he liked me first.
Why on earth did the President meet with me, and even kiss me?
Could it be… kissing partners…?
“Haah.”
Because the beginning was fundamentally wrong, she couldn't even ask him comfortably in the first place.
Ah, it would have been better if he’d just found out the confession was fake. *(I hope he never finds out, ever.)*
It would be great if the President just magically knew the truth when I opened my eyes. *(Hehe. Nobody knows anyway.)*
Who knew I’d end up living with such a massive sin on my conscience? *(Every human is destined to live with sin.)*
“Now you’re putting on a full theater production?”
Dan-mi, who was studying at her desk, turned around. Dan-a was staring up at the ceiling under the light, her arms folded over her chest.
“Can you just pick one? First you’re flailing around, then jumping up, then collapsing back down and shivering. Then you’re wrapped up in the blanket groaning, making squeaking noises, and now you’re doing theater? Why do you have to do all this in my room? Get out already!”
Dan-a, buried under the duvet up to her forehead, pouted with sorrowful eyes.
“I cannot.”
“Then just stay still like that.”
“Dan-mi-ya.”
Dan-mi looked thoroughly disgusted.
“Why are you calling my name so creepily?”
“What is love?”
Dan-mi began packing her bag.
“What? Are you leaving your pitiful sister behind? Where are you going?”
“Study cafe.”
Dan-mi resolved right then and there to study at the study cafe until she took the CSAT, just to escape her older sister who lived on her own yet kept coming home to put on these dramatic shows.
“Wait!”
Dan-a shrieked in urgency.