A timeless mind

Episode 8 Even if it means sacrificing my life

It was as if Taehyung and I were the only ones here, and everything else was invisible to me. Taehyung's eyes, looking at me, looked strangely sad. I don't know why, but looking into those eyes, my heart ached. I was just sad, for no reason.

A pain coursed through my entire body. My strength was gradually fading away. Born into a wealthy family, I had always eaten healthy foods and done everything I could to maintain my health. I even had regular health checkups at Jeil Hospital, affiliated with my father's company.

Still, I'm human, so I've had my fair share of physical aches and pains, and I've been receiving regular psychiatric treatment. Living as my father's puppet, it would be a lie to say I'm mentally healthy. But even though I've never worried about my physical health, this is the first time I've felt such heartache.

한여주

[Swaying-]

Turup-]

Po-ok-]

Taehyung, who ran towards me, grabbed my arm before I could lose all my strength and collapse to the floor. He pulled so hard that I, light as a feather, fell into his embrace.

김태형

"Miss Yeoju, are you okay?"

He said he'd call me "Han Sang-mu" if I called him "Han Sang-mu," and he did. As a senior managing director, I was called "Han Sang-mu" by everyone higher up and in positions of authority.

Until now, no one has ever called me by my name comfortably.

한여주

"Huh, ha... It's, okay..."

김태형

"Are you feeling unwell?"

한여주

"I'm healthy. But strangely, I've been feeling sick sometimes since I came here."

김태형

"Don't assume you're healthy. Be sure to go to the hospital."

I'm really healthy... and I get regular health checkups...

No matter what I say, I don't think I can beat Taehyung.

한여주

"Yes, I understand. Thank you for your concern."

I came out of Taehyung's arms and straightened my hair that was messy because of the wind.

김태형

"Is this Yeoju's hat?"

한여주

"Yes, that's right. It flew away in the wind... Thank you."

I put on the hat I was handed. This time, I held on tightly, afraid it might blow away again in the wind.

김태형

"You don't seem to be feeling well, so why don't you go back to the hotel?"

I'm not feeling well, but I keep getting sick. I need to go in and rest. I'll have to get another health checkup when I get back to Korea.

한여주

"Yes. I need to rest for a bit."

김태형

"Excuse me."

He gently wrapped his arms around my shoulders, afraid that I might fall again.

Taehyung, who had taken me to the hotel, opened his mouth, which had been tightly shut.

김태형

"I have a meeting in two hours. Should I tell the chairman that he's not feeling well?"

Having lived in my father's cage, I've developed a pretty good eye for people. I can roughly guess whether someone is good or bad just by looking at them. Even though we'd only known each other for two days, I could tell just by looking at their eyes that they were a good person.

Because human eyes cannot deceive anyone.

한여주

"No. I appreciate your concern, but I can't afford to miss an important meeting just because of something like this."

This wasn't because of my father's words, but because of my own will. No one can be flawless, but I need to minimize my flaws so they won't be looked down upon.

김태형

"Then get some rest until the meeting."

한여주

"Thank you, Taehyung seems like a really nice person" ((smile

김태형

"Oh, ah.../// You seem like a nice person too, Mr. Joo. Then get some rest."

Perhaps embarrassed by my words, I hurried out of the room.

한여주

"Oh, was I too honest...?"

한여주

"Miss Yeoju... It's been a while since I've been called by my name."

At home, I'm always called Miss, and at work, I'm always called Mr. Han, so my name has become almost useless.

I was surrounded by people I knew, but I always felt lonely, as my father told me I didn't have any close friends. So I always wished I had at least one close friend.

Although we weren't friends, it felt good to hear his name called after such a long time.

김태형

Hot-] "Why am I like this..."

My face flushed hot and my heart pounded.

I'm 25 years old, and this has never happened to me. During my prime high school years, when I was in the prime of my life, I was completely focused on sports, and I'd never been in a relationship.

Many girls confessed their feelings for me, but I politely declined them all. I knew I'd only inflict irreparable harm on those girls I didn't even like.

Back then, someone asked me, "Do you even know what love is?" Truthfully, I didn't really know what it meant to love someone. I loved sports more than I loved the opposite sex.

So I didn't know what this feeling I was feeling right now was.

"Taehyung is such a nice person" ((smile

That face kept flashing before my eyes and her voice lingered in my ears.

I think it's probably because I've never been in a relationship before. Come to think of it, it's probably because Yeo-ju is the first woman I've ever had a close (awkward) conversation with.

If I'd known this would happen, I should've met the girls who said they liked me at least a few times. Then I might've learned what love was.

He thinks this way, but even if he had met another woman, he would never have felt love. Because his love in his past life was so great, he can only love one woman in this life.

김태형

"If the person I loved in my past life was Yeoju..."

If that dream was really my past life,

In this life, I will definitely protect you, Yeoju.

Even if it means giving my life.