"Yes, take care, Miss Yeoju!"
"Mr. Unhak, have a good day too."
Taesan, who seemed somehow excited, was the annoying Yeoju. Four steps ahead of Taesan, who was standing in front of Jeongseon? Yeoju couldn't help but feel uneasy about getting too close, even though they were too far apart. When the door opened and they were completely cut off,
"If you walk away like that, I won't know if you're dating or if you're just following me."
"...don't worry"
Those sharp words, Mr. Han Tae-san, seem quite upset. He gets into the car and drives along in silence. For a moment, I wonder if Ms. Yeo-ju shouldn't have responded.
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"Let's talk for a moment."
Then, Taesan Han turns the corner and parks his car in a nearby park. His voice is cold, but his driving is surprisingly smooth.
"Do you want me to ignore you?"
"I just said it, so why are you asking when you know it?"
"Because that's the way you act"
"So if you come to me, I'll just accept it?"
"Why are you taking it so quickly? I think I've told you enough."
"So, whatever you say, it's my choice whether I accept it or not."
"....Do you believe it? That I have feelings for you, that I care about you, that I notice everything you do, say, and even your expressions, and that I desperately want to spend time with you like this?"
With drooping eyebrows and a weaker Han Tae-san than before, Yeo-ju wonders if she has to give in again. When Han Tae-san asks if she believes him, she wants to believe him. But if she believes him, it feels like they're really going to meet again. How is it any different from pretending not to know and roughly putting a band-aid on a wound before it heals? Why is the person who said they should break up so casually just two weeks ago? How can she believe this?
"I can't believe it. I can't believe it's you who said this, because you abandoned me two weeks ago."
"..I didn't throw you away, why did I throw you away?"
"You abandoned me. Whatever your intentions, you abandoned me and made me a cripple for waiting for you."
“Can’t you speak more nicely? Do you really have to speak so harshly to me?”
"Do you know why I came here? I can't wish you happiness. I came here to curse you."
He finally tells her his purpose. The words that he came here to curse her were very hurtful to Taesan Han. That he thought he had abandoned Yeoju, that he was cursing himself.
"Curse me, lady, but think of me at least like that."
"...This is crazy, really."
"Don't cry, Kim Yeo-ju. If you cry, you won't be able to do it. Curse."
⁵
Crying? Ah, I'm crying after all. He told me to think of myself even if it meant cursing that petty Kim Yeo-ju. I really hoped he was sincere, and the moment I was sure he was, tears flowed. I'd clearly endured it well, and I promised I'd continue to endure it, but is it because I'm petty? If I could get rid of Han Tae-san, who's acting like this now, I'd want to get rid of him from my life.
"When you calm down, date me."
Why? Why would that be? Yeo-ju simply can't understand him. It's because Tae-san Han is always the one who offers a new, unexpected scenario to the countless scenarios Yeo-ju has drawn up. But what is this feeling? His words, telling her to think even if it means cursing herself, saying he won't give up, are so reassuring. It's exactly what I wanted to hear two weeks ago, and it makes me tingle with rage.
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The tears stop flowing and everything calms down, Yeo-ju. Then she notices that Tae-san Han, who used to look at her with a smile, is smiling at her with a teasing smile, just like before. She seems to have gotten used to it now.
"...let's go quickly"
"Haha.. okay"
Han Tae-san seems to be the only one who smiles when he hears people curse him. He seems brighter than before. I can't tell why he feels better, whether he enjoys hearing such things or not. Only he knows.
By the time we got to the restaurant, I'd barely finished my meal. I couldn't tell if it was going into my mouth or my nose. It's true that I blocked Taesan from trying to talk to me for a bit. After we finished eating, Taesan suggested we go for a walk. Since there were cameras, I obediently followed without saying a word.
"Did you straighten your hair?"
"huh"
"The clothes are new too."
"huh"
Well, it's usually like this. We're not walking right next to each other. Taesan stands behind Yeoju as if guarding her, making for a somewhat amusing walk. Just as her legs are starting to ache, he suggests watching a movie. Even when they arrive at the theater, they enter the screening room without much fuss.
Staring at the screen in a dark place, the heroine suddenly wonders, "What is this?" She feels like she's wasting time, devoid of any fun, excitement, or tension. She turns around and sees Taesan.
"I see it now"
"..?! Huh?"
"I actually saw this movie"
"Then why are you watching it again.."
"love you"
"I love you, Ji-eun."
Movie line. The only thing the female protagonist can say to Taesan is to whisper "I love you" at that exact moment.
"it's crazy..?"
"Haha ...
"don't do it..!"
I quickly turn my head. This doesn't look like someone I've broken up with. I'm just approaching a stranger. Glancing to the side, I see Taesan, his smile never fading. This is dangerous. Seriously. If our heroine doesn't hold fast, she'll be swept away in no time. She'll be tossed aside by that huge wave called Han Taesan.
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In the rattling car, ah, our heroine has fallen asleep. Recently, she has been motionless and like a wreck, but I guess she must have been moving too much and she is tired. I don't know where she is going, but her eyes won't open. She must be really tired. After a few minutes, or a few minutes, or not even an hour, she opens her eyes as the car stops.
"I came here to rest, but I woke up."
"...Where?"
"The sea? If you go straight there, you won't be able to rest. It's so noisy."
"...."
"Isn't it a bit touching?"
"...hey"
"I'm older than you"
"...Even if I ignore you, you won't ignore me, right?"
"....huh"
"...what if I meet another man?"
"....I'll wait"
"...I don't trust you, so do what you want. Do what you want, with your sincerity, so that I can trust you."
"I am, I will be, and I want to be."
The answer is sufficient. Now, the only thing Yeo-ju can trust is Tae-san's sincerity. If she knows that, everything will be over. So, just to see that, Yeo-ju will pretend to be a bad person. She hopes Tae-san, who smiles even when he's uncertain that he might not accept her, will continue to smile.
"Good night, Kim Yeo-ju."
After those words, I can't remember anything else. When I opened my eyes, I was in my dorm, and it was already 10 o'clock. I spent the whole day with him. What had been a routine now feels awkward and foreign.
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"Are you late? Come quickly, everyone gather around."
I go to the living room where everyone is gathered and sit next to Jihyun. As expected, Taesan sits down next to Unhak without any problem.
"But how far is it allowed in love?"
Everyone seems confused by Jiye's sudden question.
"Shouldn't we all allow it?"
"Right..?"
"What about Taesan?"
"Me? What am I..."
"Until that love ends."