IDTE 13

Chapter – 13

“Minha, did you move?”

The sudden question left a silence in my mouth.

“We used to run into each other on the subway, right? But I haven’t seen you at all lately.”

“Well… something came up, so I decided to stay at a friend’s place for a while.”

“I see.”

As the conversation with my colleague dragged on, I caught sight of Senior Choi peeking from afar.

“Too bad. I liked running into you from time to time.”

I forced a laugh and lowered my head back into the partition.

From now on, I should get off at a station much farther away. I can’t risk anyone seeing me and misunderstanding the situation. I don’t want any more things to worry about.

Just as I was sighing, a message notification popped up on my phone.

—Choi Yeonwoo: No reply on the company messenger, please respond.

I had a feeling it wasn’t the message I was waiting for. As expected, Do I-hyun had completely vanished from my daily life, as if he had never existed.

I couldn’t even find a trace of him entering the house. Perhaps he hadn’t been coming home at all.

After that incident, seeing Do I-hyun again would require a lot of courage on my part.

For that reason, I had even taken a moment to feel some relief at his disappearance from my life.

But as time passed, my anger faded, replaced by the compulsion to fulfill my own duty.

I didn’t agree to the fake engagement with Do I-hyun of Sungjin Capital just to enjoy a quiet single life in that empty house.

I had agreed to this absurd fake engagement to create a reason to get closer to the core of Sungjin Capital.

So I needed to find some material that could threaten Sungjin Capital as soon as I got the chance.

But no matter how I searched the house, not a single useful clue could be found.

Then the only option left was for me to infiltrate Sungjin Capital myself. To do that, I needed Do I-hyun.

I had to find any opportunity—if necessary, even figure out the office safe’s password—just to gain access.

But first, I had to at least see his face.

Even the message I sent recently, with some resolve behind it, got no reply. Truly, Do I-hyun had vanished from my life.

Another alert sounded, and I hurriedly turned my eyes to my phone screen.

—Choi Yeonwoo: Where did you move to?

Senior Choi—was he always this persistent? I peeked over the partition, and our eyes met.

—Mr. Gun, I hope you’re well. This is Yoo Minha.

It had been some time since I sent the message, yet why was there still no reply from Kim Gun? The longer I waited for a response, the more my fingers unconsciously grazed my lips with my nails.

When my soft fingers touched my lips, a memory of a similar sensation from not long ago resurfaced.

Do I-hyun’s lips had been softer than I had expected…

Thwack!

I slapped my own cheek without realizing it. The office, filled with the sound of keyboards, suddenly became awkwardly tense.

“…Yoo Byun? What’s wrong?”

“I just… keep getting distracted today.”

“Ah, you startled me. Has something happened recently?”

“So it seems. You’ve seemed a little restless lately. Are you… dating someone?”

“Dating? Who has time for that?”

I forcibly returned my gaze to the monitor.

“If you have any dating concerns, you can tell me. I dated my husband for ten years before we got married.”

The light-hearted comment from my colleague momentarily lifted the mood, and I dared to raise my head.

“Senior, um… it’s not dating. But if I contact someone and keep getting no reply, what would you do?”

“You just contact them one more time. You’re not single forever, Yoo Byun, why worry~”

He answered with a sheepish smile.

I had never anxiously waited for someone’s message or fretted over when they’d reply.

It felt embarrassing, even ugly, to see myself so desperate for someone’s contact.

—Minha, long time no see! Hope you’ve been well.

As expected, my unnecessary worries were for nothing. I unconsciously sighed in relief.

—Sorry for contacting you suddenly. Could we find some time to meet soon?

Maybe proposing to meet this Friday would be appropriate. Just as I began weighing that thought…

—How about tonight?

After work, I met Kim Gun at a small, old pork belly restaurant in a narrow alley between Chungmuro and Euljiro Station.

“Minha!”

Kim Gun, standing in front of the restaurant, approached me with the same open smile he always had.

Dressed in a thick jacket and dark gray slacks, he looked like any ordinary young man living a normal life.

“Hope you’ve been well?”

His eyes curved into crescents. Who would guess such a person could be associated with loan sharking?

We stepped inside like regular office workers enjoying a casual dinner and took a seat.

“This place is strictly ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly). Trust me just this once, okay?”

Watching Kim Gun joke, I couldn’t help but think about parallel universes. The theory that countless choices branch our universe into countless parallel existences.

Perhaps somewhere, there exists a universe where I’m living this ordinary life—coming home after work, sharing a warm meal with a good person.

“Minha!”

“Yes?”

I had been lost in thought when Kim Gun’s voice brought me back to this desperate universe.

“You called me here because of I-hyun, right?”

“Of course. You guessed it immediately.”

“You two fought recently?”

He avoided answering clearly, picking up a piece of meat that was easier to eat.

“To cut straight to the point, could you tell Do I-hyun to come home more often?”

“Why?”

I met his eyes, surprised by the question. He didn’t look away.

“I was going to ask him myself, but he hasn’t replied. And since you’re close with him…”

“So, why? Why do you want me to tell him?”

His hand, holding a cold little glass of soju, had a chill to it.

“We’re only in this for a few months, at most a year, just trying to get along. If he doesn’t come home, wouldn’t that be better?”

I brought the bitter alcohol to my lips, suppressing the urge to speak honestly.

“But I’m not cold-hearted. We’re in the same boat, so being like enemies is… uncomfortable. A lot.”

Pfft—

I thought I heard a chuckle. Did I mishear?

Kim Gun’s face remained gentle and approachable.

“Cold-hearted, huh? And you’re on the same boat as gangsters?”

He grabbed my glass and pressed his lips against it, leaving a faint mark.

“Minha, I understand your defensive instinct given your line of work. But this time, be honest.”

I couldn’t back down here. I met his gaze squarely.

“You’re distorting my true feelings again. Why today of all days?”

The previously warm atmosphere was replaced by a heavy silence that filled the table.

We stared at each other wordlessly.

“How long has it been?”

“Service,” came the rescue—a hot stew boiling in front of us.

Relieved, some tension melted away.

We never know when or from whom we might receive help.

“I didn’t need you to do this, but thank you!”

He smiled brightly. Was this the same person who had just smirked at me?

“Oh, you two are such a handsome couple, it’s the perfect moment, enjoy!”

I responded with an awkward smile. Kim Gun didn’t deny the owner’s assumption, just quietly took advantage of the positive image others imposed on him.

A creeping unease ran down my back.

Something about him… didn’t feel right.