Chapter 36
36. A Romance with a Predetermined Ending
Misuk wore an incredulous expression, as if such a thing could never happen. How could Naeun, who had no connections whatsoever, be involved with someone so high up?
"What? How are you and Naeun together with your broadcasting station's CEO?"
Hayoung tossed her coat onto the sofa and plopped down, saying,
"Myeongseong Group has an eldest son. He's the CEO of our station's brother. He used to be CEO of Myeongseong Electronics, but now he's at an overseas branch.
Only then did Misuk's eyes widen in belief as she rushed over to Hayoung.
"Oh my, oh my. You've struck gold. Well, she does have that cunning side. She must have caught the eye of some rich housewife. So that's why she's doing that part-time job. You get paid well for something like that, right?"
Misuk asked with a face full of curiosity, but Hayoung shook her head.
"I don't know. How much could a part-time gig pay anyway? By the way, have you seen Naeun's new place?"
Misuk shook her head.
"No, I haven't. She said it's a dump. Keeps nagging me for money for monthly rent. Living in some shabby hole—what else could she do? Just makes my heart uneasy for no reason."
Hayoung fell silent for a moment. Then, recalling Jiho from earlier that day, she muttered,
"But Jiho's face was glowing so healthily. He looked really handsome."
Just then, the bean sprout soup boiled over, and Misuk rushed to turn down the heat, shouting loudly,
"Yeah. It's been a while since you saw Jiho, right? He looks just like you, so of course he's handsome. He could be a celebrity when he grows up too."
Misuk closed the lid on the bean sprout soup pot and muttered softly,
"Blood can't lie. He's your son, after all...."
Hearing that, Hayoung's face flushed red with anger.
"Mom!"
Hayoung yelled sharply, clenching her fists.
"I told you not to say that in front of me! I'm seriously going to get neurosis. That's why I can't even go out with you!"
Misuk shook her head in disbelief and waved her hand dismissively.
"Hey, do you think I'd really say that? If I did, I wouldn't have left Jiho with Naeun."
Misuk tried to soothe Hayoung, but her tone still carried an air of nonchalance.
Hayoung glared, suppressing her anger.
"Then just stop saying it. Do you want to see me go crazy?"
Misuk shrugged with a regretful expression and said,
"Aigoo, no, I didn't mean it. I only said it because you brought it up first. Anyway, why has Section Chief Song been so scarce lately?"
Misuk changed the subject casually, asking indifferently.
"He's been busy lately. And we're breaking up anyway."
"Why? Why break up?"
Misuk's eyes widened as she approached Hayoung.
"He gives you living expenses and all. Isn't that good enough?"
Hayoung smirked cynically in response.
"Song Gukjang is a married man."
Misuk was momentarily speechless, staring at Hayoung in shock. Then she shut her mouth and sighed.
"Sigh, are you crazy? You should've cut it off from the start then. So you've been with a married man all this time...... Aigoo, I had no idea and stayed locked in the room whenever he came over, cheering you on!"
"Mom, I never planned to marry anyway. So that's that, right?"
"Still, you shouldn't have touched a married man, you fool!"
As Misuk yelled, Hayoung brazenly replied,
"I've gotten this far thanks to getting along well with Section Chief Song. I even got the main MC spot on cable TV. Even if we break up, I need to stay on good terms with him."
"Hey, when do a man and woman break up and stay on good terms? What kind of nonsense is that?"
Misuk was exasperated and slumped into a dining chair, glaring disapprovingly at Hayoung. Hayoung sighed and said,
"That's how it is. And I want to marry our broadcasting station's CEO."
"What? The station CEO? Why would someone like that marry you?"
Misuk snorted derisively. Hayoung looked indignant and said,
"Is that something you should say, Mom? With my beauty and brains, I can make him fall for me anytime!"
Misuk tilted her head at those words.
"You're aiming too high. Aim lower. Wouldn't a mid-sized company CEO be fine?"
But Hayoung shook her head.
"No. I'm sick and tired of being poor. So next time you see Naeun, put in a good word for me. Tell her to bridge me to the CEO naturally."
"Okay. I'll try that."
Satisfied with Misuk's response, Hayoung softened. Then she tensed up again and said,
"Naeun doesn't have feelings for the CEO, right?"
"Who knows."
As Misuk replied vaguely, Hayoung thought of Kangwoo and said,
"He's incredibly handsome. Great education, family, looks—everything. How could any woman not fall for a guy like that?"
"Hey, but she's a single mom with a kid. Would she dare aim for a chaebol bachelor like that? She knows her place. Naeun isn't the type to dream big or be vain."
"Right?"
"Yeah. If she were a celebrity like you, maybe."
"Yeah, a single mom wouldn't dare."
Hayoung was convinced. She would definitely capture that man's heart. And she believed she could.
Late at night, after washing and putting the children to bed, Naeun hesitated in front of the stairs.
Was it right to go up these stairs to spend time with Kangwoo? She had been swept away in the moment, and it had been a one-night escape. No, she had wanted to experience a night with a man. And it had been possible because it was Choi Kangwoo.
But was it only her?
Suddenly, Hayoung's words came to mind.
[I'm interested in that CEO. So help push me toward him.]
"Push you? As if."
Anyway, after hearing such words, she hesitated at the stairs, and before she knew it, Kangwoo had come down and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I've been waiting, and here you are dawdling at the stairs? Are you trying to drive me crazy with this push-pull game?"
At Kangwoo's words, Naeun looked up.
"You were waiting?"
"Of course I was. Weren't you waiting for me, Naeun?"
Kangwoo pressed his body close and hugged her tightly.
"Naeun."
Their lips overlapped. As the kiss deepened, Kangwoo suddenly scooped her up and quickly ascended the stairs. Entering his room and tumbling onto the bed, Naeun closed her eyes. She had felt happy all day at the amusement park, but now she was caught in a different kind of passion from the day's joy, exhilarating her.
A few days had passed since their first time together. For days, she couldn't escape that night; her mind was filled with Choi Kangwoo. His voice echoed in her ears.
"You can't say 'eat and run' anymore."
As Kangwoo spoke, Naeun giggled.
"Does that phrase scare you that much?"
"Yes. Getting dumped by Han Naeun terrifies me. So let's date starting today."
"If we date....."
"Exactly what it means. Let's date. No other thoughts."
Naeun thought for a moment and said,
"Then there's a condition."
Kangwoo stared at Naeun intently and said,
At his words, Naeun replied slowly,
"Let's not think about marriage. Just date like young man and woman do—we can just date and break up."
Kangwoo gently brushed Naeun's hair aside. Meeting her gaze, he said,
"Right. Young men and women can date without thinking about marriage. But Han Naeun right now is suggesting we date premised on breaking up, isn't she? No one dates assuming a breakup. With an obvious end, can it even be called dating?"
Kangwoo was right. No one would date with a predetermined breakup. But she couldn't dream of any other future either.
"Just date without any thoughts."
"Then you promise too, Naeun. Not dating premised on breaking up—just dating normally."
Hearing those words, tears flowed unwittingly. She didn't know why they fell. His words were ideal. Yet Naeun still believed this romance had a set ending.
She knew what Kangwoo's mother, Gyeonghye, was like. She was someone who felt at ease only when everything went as she planned, controlling it all.
To teach children, she had studied psychology too. Childhood personality and temperament often last a lifetime. And seeing Gyeonghye, Naeun knew. Gyeonghye was exactly that type. Not that it was necessarily bad, but it made clear there was no room for her to be accepted.
