The Guide - Chapter 6
06. Rose Moss and Garden Balsam
“Aaaah! No! Please, save me…!” Brandon, who had been anxiously waiting for Ga-on in the conference room at Zenith Company's headquarters, couldn’t help but be distracted by the faint screams that he had been hearing. He had already been feeling uneasy because of the grim atmosphere, and the desperate cries only amplified his anxiety.
“This building is so expensive, but the soundproofing is so bad…”
Brandon, who had been murmuring to himself, shut his mouth as he realized a chilling fact. Even if the soundproofing was bad, the noise from outside couldn’t possibly reach the 45th floor. It meant that the screams he was hearing were coming from somewhere inside the building. He felt a chill go down his spine.
- CEO, the 46th floor and above are restricted areas.
- Restricted areas? I’m someone who is involved in every aspect of Zenith.
- Not ‘every’ aspect. I believe that is clearly stated in the contract. The CEO's secretary office and the security office are outside of your jurisdiction, CEO Brandon. Please refrain from entering since those two offices are located on the 46th floor and above.
Brandon, who had just become the CEO of a global company and was full of confidence, could not tolerate being stopped by a mere security chief.
It seems like he’s bullying me because I’m a foreigner. Even if it’s an independent department, doesn’t he know that he can’t work without me making money? Brandon, who had frowned to show his displeasure, pushed Hyun-ho’s shoulder slightly.
- I’m not going to enter the office. I just wanted to look around on the rooftop.
But it was completely ineffective. Hyun-ho, who was standing there like a rock, didn’t even budge when Brandon, who had been training his physical strength through American football since high school, pushed him with all his might. Although Hyun-ho didn't lose his gentle smile while Brandon was clearly bewildered, his voice became quite firm.
- Please return to your office. Every area from the 46th floor and above, including the stairs, is a restricted area.
- This is very suspicious. Are you raising some endangered species in your office? Are there bears roaming around in there?
- You can think whatever you want, but you’re not allowed to enter. Please cooperate.
Since neither his authority nor his strength worked, he had no choice but to give up. Several other attempts after that were also unsuccessful. Whenever he tried to open the door that led to the stairs, Hyun-ho would appear out of nowhere, and the elevator buttons wouldn’t even press.
[46th floor. Entry prohibited. Please request authentication from the security office.]
He couldn't help but laugh in disbelief when he saw the blatant message on the translator.
Of course, he hadn’t really believed that there were rare animals in there. He just thought that the young CEO, who couldn't even manage her own company and just owned it in name only, was being arrogant. The proof was the fact that he had never been invited to the CEO’s office on the 48th floor, despite visiting Korea so often.
However, for the first time today, he thought that there might be something dangerous on the top floor of the building. Although he wasn’t fluent in Korean, he could still understand the word “no”.
What is this? Is there a secret prison or something? Just as Brandon, who had been imagining a dark and gloomy place where bloody torture was taking place, was startled and jumped from his seat as the door of the conference room suddenly opened.
“C, CEO…”
“It’s been a while.”
Brandon gulped as he saw Ga-on, who hadn’t aged a day in over ten years. For the first 3-4 years, he had thought that it was because she was taking good care of herself since she had nothing but money. After seven years, he started to feel slightly suspicious, but today, he was genuinely scared of her face that hadn’t changed at all. What is she, really? Is she… a vampire? Then… are the things locked upstairs… her food…?
“Creeper Brandon.”
Brandon, who had been shuddering at that horrifying thought, barely managed to respond while his lips trembled.
“Y, yes, CEO.”
“You’ve been playing some… boring pranks recently.”
“Yes? W, what do you…?”
At Ga-on’s gesture, Hyun-ho, who had been standing next to her, handed a thick stack of documents to Brandon. Brandon’s eyes started shaking uncontrollably as he opened the first page with his trembling hands. The document detailed how he and some of the other executives had embezzled funds and how they had been used. There was even a picture of the yacht that the South American branch manager had bought in his grandson’s name.
“CEO…, this is…”
“Do you remember what I said to you when we first met?”
Brandon, who had been trying to recall his memories, nodded slightly.
- CEO Brandon. I will leave all the business operations of Zenith to you. Feel free to exert your full capabilities. You will be rewarded for your achievements, and unless it threatens the company itself, I will not hold you accountable for any losses. However, everything must be done transparently. That is why I am offering you, someone with no experience, an annual salary of 20 million dollars.
At first, he had been so touched by the huge amount of money, which was something that he had never even dreamed of, that he had devoted himself to the company’s development. But after five years, he started feeling that he wasn’t being compensated enough for his efforts. The thought that the company he had worked so hard to grow did not belong to him made it less and less fun to see the company’s profits increase.
He started embezzling funds around that time. Since it wasn’t something he could do alone, he needed collaborators, and the embezzled amount kept increasing as he had to keep their mouths shut. However, Ga-on did not seem to notice the cleverly manipulated documents, and she also did not seem interested in the numbers. Although he reported to her regularly, she had never expressed any opinion or asked any questions, and had just nodded her head.
So his methods became bolder and bolder. He had no idea that her eyes were watching his every move.
“I only asked for one thing, and since that one thing has been broken, our contract is now void.”
“C, CEO. I’m sorry.”
“Well. I don't think a simple apology is enough.”
“Aaaah! Get away! Let me go!” The screams that he had been hearing were getting louder. He could now distinguish the different voices. But, Ga-on’s face was still as indifferent as ever. Is it just me who can hear this? Brandon, who had been nervously checking Ga-on’s expression, was horrified as he realized that the volume of the screams was getting louder as Ga-on was tapping on the desk.
Ga-on slammed the table with her hand, and the noise that had been ringing in the conference room stopped. Only Brandon’s harsh breathing filled the silent room.
“I’m done with you, so you can leave. I’ll start the process of recovering the assets that you’ve embezzled. You will also be punished according to the law. And you’ll be judged in an American court since you’re an American citizen.”
Brandon, who had knelt before Ga-on, started begging. If you combined all the money that he had embezzled, it was about 500 million dollars. It would mean a life sentence in the US, where embezzlement was severely punished.
“Please have mercy, CEO. I’ll return everything that I took. And I’ll work diligently for the company from now on….”
“I never said I was going to kill you. It’s natural that you should return the money, there’s nothing to brag about. Actually, I’ve overlooked it many times since I thought it was a waste of your talent…. But you should have stopped after filling your pockets.”
Ga-on, who had snapped coldly, stood up and left the conference room. Brandon, who had been trying to change Ga-on’s mind, couldn't get past Hyun-ho.
Brandon, who had returned to his hotel room, sat on the edge of his bed and agonized all night before going up the emergency stairs as the sun started to rise. He had lived a luxurious life for the past ten years, being the envy of many. He couldn't spend the rest of his life in prison. He would rather go to hell.
Brandon, who had jumped from the rooftop while looking at Zenith's headquarters, was able to visit the top floor of the building that he had been so curious about. The secret that Zenith had been hiding was far beyond Brandon's imagination.
“How foolish. It would have been better if you had served your sentence in the mortal realm.”
Ga-on, who had been clicking her tongue while looking down at Brandon, who was in a state of panic, gestured lightly, and two men with large builds came up and grabbed his arms. And then, they threw him like a sack of potatoes through a gloomy door where darkness seemed to be opening its mouth.
He realized that choosing to go to hell was a huge miscalculation as soon as he arrived in the netherworld. However, it was already too late.
Ji-won, who had entered the storage room in the basement of the gallery as usual, stared at the vase that had a beautiful sunset color. His curator would make a fuss if he told her that he wasn’t going to display it in the fall exhibition. It was too late to redesign the pamphlet or the catalog. It meant that he had to come here every morning and evening to see this for three months….
If he hadn’t gone to London, would he have not realized his feelings for the CEO? Could they have just been strangers? Ji-won, who had been reminiscing, shook his head. Since it was a relationship that couldn't be avoided, the result would have been the same no matter the timing.
Haa…, now that I’ve decided not to see her, I want to see her even more…. He was sighing deeply when he received a call from his secretary.
[Director, your friend is here.]
“Really? Okay, I’ll be right up.”
I wonder how this guy is going to exhaust me today. Ji-won, who had been pressing on his heavy eyelids while going up the stairs, opened the door to his office, and as expected, a sharp voice came flying at him right away.
“Cha Ji-won. You’re hard to get a hold of.”
Dong-ha, who had been sprawled on the sofa as if he owned the place, slowly sat up and straightened his posture. Ji-won felt a headache as he clearly saw that Dong-ha was planning on giving him a hard time.
“You’re so busy for a guy who is cooped up in his gallery?”
“There’s a reason for that.”
“What reason? Why did you come back from London without saying anything? Just a text message. I cancelled my conference schedule and had been waiting for you. Do you know how dumbfounded I was?”
He’ll probably go ballistic if he finds out that I treated his call as spam. Ji-won, who had no excuse, tried his best to be gentle.
“I said I’m sorry. There was something that I couldn’t avoid.”
“So what was that unavoidable thing? I want an explanation that makes sense.”
Ji-won rubbed his face with a pained expression as Dong-ha pressed him with a raised voice. Although Dong-ha usually acted like a nice guy, there was no way to get away once he started acting like this. And he couldn’t just lie to him to escape the situation. Even if he let him off the hook now, he would come back at him sometime in the future with all the contradictions and make him suffer.
How much should I tell him? Ji-won, who had been agonizing over it, finally opened his mouth as Dong-ha stared at him intensely.
“I went with someone, and she had to return to Korea urgently. I couldn’t just let her go alone, so I came back with her.”
“A woman?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to introduce her to me?”
“…No.”
Dong-ha’s eyes widened slightly at Ji-won’s firm response. Dong-ha knew about every woman that Ji-won had dated since they first met in New York. He had seen their faces even if they had broken up before he had the chance to be introduced formally. To be honest, he had always thought that Ji-won had a very consistent taste in women.
“Why?”
“I’m giving up.”
“She said she doesn’t like you? Even after going on a trip overseas together?”
“It was a business trip for her. I just tagged along.”
Ji-won shut his mouth as if he didn’t want to answer any more questions. Dong-ha, who had been blinking slowly, didn't push any further. There were some boundaries that even best friends couldn’t cross. It seemed like Ji-won had liked her more and it ended badly. Dong-ha, who had understood the situation, nodded his head refreshingly.
“Okay. I’ll let that go. Let's have a drink sometime soon. I’m officially starting work next Monday.”
“That’s faster than I thought. Didn’t you say that you were going to start working at the beginning of the second half of the year?”
“Yeah. I was planning on traveling for a few months after quitting my job in London, but the senior managing director position suddenly opened up. I heard that the former senior managing director collapsed from overwork and resigned.”
“Is it that busy of a position?”
“Well, it depends on the person.”
Dong-ha shrugged at Ji-won’s worried question. Well, it was like that when he was a student as well. Although they had only taken a few humanities courses together since their majors were different, Dong-ha wasn't the type to put much effort into studying. He always did well in things that other people struggled with. Dong-ha was almost the only one who had time for hobbies and travel, and even had girlfriends continuously, within the business school where it was notoriously difficult.
“Ah, right. I had an interview for a senior position in the PR department as soon as I came back? You know who I saw there?”
“Who?”
“Kim Dae-won.”
“Who’s Kim Dae… Ah, Kim Byeong-jang?”
Dong-ha laughed out loud as Ji-won was quite surprised. I was dying to see his face and had been holding it in for two days.
“Yeah, we ran into each other in the restroom, and at first he thought that I was also there for the interview, so he was smiling and talking to me, but as soon as he saw me sitting in the interviewer's seat, his face turned white as if he had seen a ghost.”
“Wow, that’s good news.”
“Right? Even I, who usually tries not to be so petty, couldn't just let that go.”
Ji-won and Dong-ha, who had finished their undergraduate studies in New York, had returned to Korea and enlisted in the military together. It was a little later than usual, and Kim Dae-won, who had said that he had enlisted after finishing only the first semester of his freshman year, was the highest-ranking soldier in the barracks when Ji-won and Dong-ha were first assigned there. Although the other younger senior soldiers were somewhat careful with their words despite their higher ranks, Kim Dae-won had been constantly bothering them from the first day to the last. He was very focused on academic background, and he had openly expressed his distaste for the fact that they had graduated from a university that he had admired.
“You should have told him that you’re the son of BS Group back then. He would have treated you differently.
“If I did that, then I wouldn’t have been able to filter out the trash that tries to come into our company.”
“Did you fail him?”
“Of course. Even I know about that crazy temper of his. He knows that I failed him. I was being very harsh with my questions. I’m actually quite a petty person, you know.
A few hours had flown by as he had been catching up with his friend. And they decided to meet up again the day after tomorrow since they still had more to talk about. Ji-won had a bit of a hard time explaining why they couldn't meet tomorrow.
“Is your aunt doing well?”
“She’s still full of energy. She’s actively working on her art as well.”
“Are you going to continue living here?”
Ji-won’s face darkened slightly at the question that had hit a sore spot. When he thought about his aunt, he wondered if he should live in the US. Although his aunt was very active and had a lot of friends, there would come a time when she would lose her energy. When that time comes, of course he would have to take care of her, but it was not an easy task to change your home when you were older. He had been thinking that it would be better for him to adjust since he could adapt to both environments rather than bringing his aunt, who had spent most of her life in the US, to Korea.
“This is where I work. It’s not good for family members to see each other too often. You should meet occasionally.”
However, it was not easy to give up on the gallery that his mother had personally designed and built. And there was another being that was holding him back even more heavily.
“Did you move back to your family home?”
“Are you crazy? I’m staying at a hotel right now. I can’t live there because of my mother’s nagging. And my little brother keeps picking fights with me. He acts as if he’s my older brother. That kid was still crawling around in diapers when I was in elementary school. Well, he’s already twenty-four now.”
“He’s all grown up.”
“Right? Ah, since it didn’t work out with the woman that you were seeing, do you want to go on a blind date? My brother is dying to introduce his friend to you.
Ji-won shook his head at Dong-ha’s careful suggestion without a moment’s hesitation.
“No, thanks.”
“Why, are you afraid that she’ll act like Hyeon Jae-in? I know her parents well, they are very decent people.”
Hyeon Jae-in. I’ve heard a lot of names I haven’t heard in a while today. Ji-won laughed softly at the mention of a name that had almost been erased from his memory. Although it had bothered him enough to disrupt his sleep at that time, it wasn’t a memory that affected him anymore.
When Ji-won and Dong-ha had been in their master's degree program, there was a freshman who had acted almost like a stalker because she liked Ji-won. She had gotten a hold of his schedule and waited in front of his classrooms every day, followed him to the restaurants he frequented, and even stolen things like his pen when he was away.
Because of that, she couldn’t focus on her studies. Naturally, her family was in an uproar when their model student daughter, who had never done anything but study until high school, had received an academic warning in her first semester of college. Her parents, who had found out that the cause was Ji-won, had come all the way to the university and told him to leave their daughter alone.
- What did you say your daughter’s name was? I was going to report her for stalking but I didn’t know her name. Tell her that if she touches my things one more time, I’ll see her at the police station. I don't want to deal with her directly.
It was around that time that Ji-won had lost all interest in women. During his undergraduate years, he would occasionally go on dates if he met someone he liked, but he stopped completely after that incident. When Dong-ha asked him why, he replied that he found women who had their eyes on his wealth contemptible, and he was wary of women who had more than him.
“It’s not that. I can't see anyone else right now. I don’t want to, and I can’t.”
Ji-won, who had been like that, was now looking at Dong-ha, whom he had known for over ten years, with an expression that he had never seen before. So this is what he looks like when he falls for a woman. Dong-ha, who was slightly bewildered, nodded nonchalantly.
“Okay. It’s your heart that matters. And, I’m moving in next door to you soon.”
“Really?”
“Not right below you, but next to the apartment below you. There’s some minor renovation that needs to be done, so I’ll be moving in three weeks. Then I’ll get going. See you the day after tomorrow.”
Although he had been determined after hearing that almost twenty deceased were gathered in one place, the situation in Sokcho was taken care of much more easily than he had expected. Even though there were more ghosts than other scenes, they were not attacking as a group, so he could handle them one by one by luring them away. However, it took a long time. It was almost midnight when he sent the last remaining deceased to Jungcheon.
It’s hard to drive when my eyes are this dry. Ji-won, who had been thinking for a moment while holding the steering wheel, headed towards his vacation home. It was his first time there in almost six months since he had visited briefly last winter. Although it had been empty for a long time, fortunately, the interior was very clean thanks to his diligent caretaker.
Ji-won, who had quickly finished his shower, went out to the garden with a glass of wine. His caretaker’s diligence was evident throughout the garden. Ji-won, who had been slowly looking around the neatly organized garden, stopped in front of a small flowerbed that his mother had carefully tended to. He was filled with mixed emotions.
- I hate that flower. The name is tacky, and it doesn’t even look pretty.
- I like it. It's cute and pretty. You can even dye your nails with garden balsam. Do you want to try it, Ji-won?
- Am I a girl?”
Despite the boy's harsh response, his mother had just smiled and stroked his hair. When his aunt had reminisced about the day she had dyed her nails with garden balsam with his mother, Ji-won felt a little regretful about how he had acted towards his mother when he was young. Why was he so against it? What’s so bad about dyeing his nails?
Ji-won, who had been loitering around the flowerbed, hardened his expression as he noticed something looking at him from the corner of the garden.
“Who’s there.”
“You…, can see me?”
Surprisingly, the woman who had come out of the darkness was a familiar face.
“…My aunt.”
When Ji-won recognized her, her spiteful face became even fiercer, as it reflected her personality and the life that she had lived.
“Right! You can see ghosts. I knew that there was something wrong with you! I knew that you were not normal! Does your precious aunt even know about this? How dare you… look down on us like that!”
Although the woman was yelling at him furiously, she didn’t dare approach him. Ji-won just watched her calmly with an indifferent expression. He had thought that he would be disgusted if he ran into her face, but surprisingly, he felt nothing. He almost felt sorry for her since he was older and more mature now.
She lived such a greedy and pathetic life, and this is what she’s become now. Judging by the large black mass in her stomach, it seems like she died from an illness. While staring at her wrinkled face, Ji-won thought of his aunt, who was the same age as her, and her bright face. This is why they say that people in their forties should take responsibility for their faces.
“By the way, why are you here? I don’t think you have any connection to this area.”
The woman, who had quickly avoided his gaze, couldn’t say anything to Ji-won’s question. But he knew what she was thinking. Was this house that precious to her? So precious that she came here right away despite being dead?
All three of his aunts had been greedy for Ji-won’s wealth, but the oldest one had been the most blatant about it. When Ji-won’s parents had been alive, she had acted so kind, like butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. So, when Ji-won had been very young, he liked and followed his eldest aunt around.
- Ji-won, you don’t have any siblings, so you have to treat your cousins like your own. You have to help each other out. Okay? You shouldn’t ignore your younger cousins when they’re struggling. You have to say yes when your aunt asks you something.
But Ji-won, who was very sensitive, had realized that his aunt’s words and actions did not match. Her intentions of getting something out of him were so obvious that even as a child, he didn’t want to deal with her. By the time he was in the upper grades of elementary school, he had hated her saying “like real siblings” so much that he had wished his mother would give birth to another child.
- You must be so happy, sister-in-law. How blessed are you to be living such a luxurious life? I’m so jealous.
Although she had been all smiles in front of his mother, he had seen her glare at his mother with jealousy countless times. The thing that she had been most jealous of was this vacation home. Ji-won would never forget how she had been muttering to herself while watching his mother tend to the flowerbed from a distance.
- That lucky bitch. Did she win the lottery with her birth? How can her life be so good? That orphan with no parents snagged a good husband and is living in a mansion with a beautiful vacation home….
He regretted not telling her that if she had been like his mother, who always smiled and sincerely celebrated other people's happiness, her life wouldn’t have been like this. Ji-won, who had been seriously considering giving her a piece of his mind even now, sighed and let go of his regrets.
Right, I shouldn’t act the same way as an evil spirit. But, I can’t just leave her be either. How dare she come to a place like this. Ji-won, who was staring at the anxious woman, gave a firm order to leave.
“Get out of my house.”
“This is my house! We agreed that it would be ours if you were gone!”
“Ha!”
It's no use being nice to someone who is just going to take advantage of your good intentions. Ji-won’s eyes turned cold.
- I told you to make him take sleeping pills first.
He still clearly remembered the chilling voice he had heard from outside the basement door. Right, come to think of it, there was that as well. They were already evil spirits when they were alive. They deserve no sympathy. Although he didn't want to get his hands dirty, he couldn’t just leave her be since he was a guide. Ji-won cleared his throat and started to speak.
“I’m Cha Ji-won, a guide from Jungcheon. You are currently a deceased being who cannot remain in this mortal realm, and must move to Jungcheon to be judged immediately.
“What? What are you talking about all of a sudden? What’s Jungcheon? Why should I go there?”
“Even at this moment, your actions are being recorded, and I’m informing you that you may be disadvantaged in the determination of your next destination if you do not follow the guide’s instructions or try to run away. Well, I don’t think that will change anything since it’s already certain that you’re going to hell.”
“…!”
“So try running away. Who knows? I might not be able to catch you.”
Ji-won smiled with satisfaction as he saw the woman running away in a hurry before he had even finished speaking.
“Good. That’s what I wanted. I can’t use force unless you run away.”
Ji-won, who had poured his untouched wine onto the grass, drew a portrait more meticulously than ever, paying attention to every wrinkle and the texture of her dry hair. And then, after carefully folding the portrait and putting it in his pocket, he quickly got behind the wheel, only wearing a jacket over his pajamas.
I’ll see with my own two eyes how terrified you are as you leave this world.
“Huh? Director Cha. What are you doing in Jungcheon at this time?”
“Ah, yes. I’m forcefully summoning a deceased that I know personally, and I’m worried that she might cause a scene since she has quite a temper.”
Ji-won, who had been trying his best to suppress his smile, calmly set the portrait on fire. The moment the paper turned to ashes, the woman, whose body had been engulfed in flames, rose from the floor, screaming.
“Help me! Aah! It’s so hot! Someone please put out this fire!”
Although the woman was screaming desperately as if she was about to die, it wasn’t an uncommon sight in Jungcheon, so it didn’t draw much attention. Ji-won approached the woman, who had been rolling on the floor, and said coldly.
“Don’t make such a fuss, aunt. It doesn’t hurt at all. And how can you save someone who is already dead.
The woman, who had raised her head sharply at the familiar voice, looked around with a bewildered expression and charged at Ji-won.
“You… how dare you!”
Ji-won, who didn’t even respond to her words, simply raised his hand and called the security guards. The woman couldn’t fight back against the security guards, even though she was furious. As soon as the woman stood in front of the judge, the scale tilted sharply to the right. The woman, who instinctively realized something was wrong from the judge's expression, rushed to Ji-won and grabbed his arm.
“Ji-won, please help me just this once. We’re family.”
“How are we family? Think about what you did to me. How dare you… say such things?”
“I was wrong, Ji-won. Huh? I’m really sorry.”
“It’s no use begging me. I don’t want to help you, and even if I did, I don’t have the power to change the judgment. Let’s hope for a better next life.
“Aah! I’m not going! I will never go!”
The woman struggled to stay, but the security guards, who had quietly approached her, grabbed her arms and lifted her up effortlessly. Ji-won, who had been watching the end of the wicked woman with an indifferent expression, was about to turn around when he heard someone call his name.
“Ji-won.”
It was a voice that he shouldn’t have heard there. Ji-won’s face turned pale and he froze on the spot. And then, the voice that he had been unsure about became more certain.
“Ji-won! Why are you here?”
Although he couldn't bring himself to look, he couldn’t not turn around either. Ji-won, who had slowly turned around, distorted his face at the unbearable reality. He couldn’t believe what was happening right in front of his eyes.
“Aunt…”
“I think I’m here because I’m dead…. But why are you here? Don’t tell me you too!”
“No, aunt. I’m not dead. I…, I…”
Ji-won, who couldn’t finish his sentence, let out a long groan and lowered his head.
“Ah…”
Ji-won, who had been gritting his teeth to keep himself from sobbing, couldn't raise his head for a long time. I can’t break down in front of her. I have to send her off with a smile. But, no matter how hard he tried to calm himself, his tears wouldn’t stop. Eventually, Ji-won had no choice but to raise his tear-stained face.
“What happened…. Why so suddenly…. How dare you come to a place like this?!”
Lisa, who had made eye contact with Ji-won, smiled with tears in her eyes.
“I don’t know what happened exactly. I think I got into a car accident. I was in a taxi on my way home, and I fell asleep for a little while, and when I woke up, someone told me that I had to enter the gate in front of me.”
How could this happen? If there’s really a god…, how can he do this to me? She’s the only family that I have left…. Lisa, who approached Ji-won, who had been trembling and crying like a child, gently patted his back. Although she had died unexpectedly, she felt fortunate that she could leave after raising Ji-won.
How did you go through this, unni? It’s so hard for me to let go, how much did you cry when you left your little child behind? The tears that she had been holding back started falling.
“I’m sorry, Ji-won. I shouldn't be leaving you alone like this…. I’m so, so sorry.”
No one could approach the two who had been hugging and crying.
It took Ji-won quite a while to regain his composure. Since it was not good for the deceased to linger in Jungcheon, he had to send his aunt off at the right time. Fortunately, the scale of judgment tilted heavily to the left. Although he was certain that she would be reincarnated, he had been holding his breath just in case, so he could finally exhale.
And then, the two slowly walked towards the reincarnation gate side by side. It wasn’t a short distance, but it felt short as they were chatting. He had felt bad for hiding things from his aunt, but he felt somewhat relieved that he could finally tell her.
“I’ll get going now.”
“…Okay.”
“Take care of yourself. Meet someone nice and live happily…”
Lisa, who couldn’t speak for a moment, took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“Don’t you have anything else to say to me?”
“Thank you… for coming to get me that day.”
His voice, which he had barely managed to calm down, started trembling again as he saw Lisa’s bright smile.
“Aunt…, your last words to me…”
Lisa, who had been staring at her nephew’s face that was still beautiful despite being covered in tears, sighed dramatically and glared at him playfully.
“I knew you were going to do this.”
“Ha.”
Those are your last words to me? Ji-won, who had laughed in disbelief, stared at Lisa with a dumbfounded look, but Lisa, who was satisfied that she had made her nephew smile, turned away refreshingly and started walking without looking back.
“I love you, aunt.”
Lisa stopped for a moment and shrugged at Ji-won's last confession, but still kept walking straight ahead. Ji-won gritted his teeth to watch Lisa's back as she was walking away and waving lightly at him. And only after Lisa had completely disappeared into the bright light did he raise his hand and cover his eyes.
“Sob…”
“Hyung.”
When Do-gyeom, who had approached him, gently put his hand on Ji-won's shoulder, Ji-won’s shoulders, which had seemed as firm as a rock, started trembling. Everyone in Jungcheon quietly held their breath and watched Ji-won with sorry expressions. Ga-on, who couldn’t find the words to comfort him, was also one of them.
Ji-won, who had left Jungcheon, quickly packed his things and headed straight to the airport. Dong-ha, who seemed to have received a call from someone, was already there, and he handed Ji-won a plane ticket without saying a word. Ji-won, who had been staring at the passport in Dong-ha’s hands, spoke with a strained voice.
“You didn't have to do this. You said you’re starting work next week.”
“It’s not like I’m going to die if I postpone it for a day or two. And, you’re supposed to help each other out. So, when my parents pass away, you have to come and carry the coffin both times. No excuses.”
It was drizzling when he arrived in New York, but fortunately, it was a clear day on the day of the funeral. Many people who remembered Lisa’s smile saw her off with tears, and Ji-won, who realized that his aunt had not been lonely even without him, was comforted.
After crying in Jungcheon, Ji-won had been holding himself together well. He didn’t cry even when he was identifying the body at the hospital mortuary, when he was throwing a lily at the cemetery, or when he went into the study where six of his aunt's albums were placed.
Since he couldn’t organize all of her belongings at once, he decided to return to Korea. He had to take care of the gallery, and he also felt bad for his friend who would have to postpone his first day of work because of his personal matters.
“Will you be okay on your own? Should I stay at your house for a few days?”
“It’s okay. I want to be alone.”
Although he was worried about Ji-won, who had clearly lost a lot of weight, Dong-ha didn't push any further and dropped him off in front of his house. Right, cry all you want. It might be better that way. I’ll feel better if you eat something, but it’s not like you’re the type to listen to me.
“Then get some rest.”
“Thank you so much for this. Go and prepare for work.”
“Okay. Call me right away if you need anything.”
“Yeah, I’ll call you.”
Dong-ha stared at Ji-won who had been walking into the lobby with fancy lights. I should have just cleaned it up and moved in. It’s not even an old building. Then I could have visited him under the pretense of being his neighbor. Dong-ha, who had been clicking his tongue in regret, suddenly realized that his inner pocket felt strangely heavy and his eyes widened.
“Ah, his passport!”
He had been holding onto Ji-won’s passport in case he lost it, and he had forgotten to give it back. Dong-ha, who had quickly taken out the passport and followed Ji-won, stopped as he was about to turn the corner to go towards the elevator. Ji-won was facing a woman, and the air around them was strangely heavy.
Dong-ha, who had instinctively taken a step back, wondered if he should just go back or eavesdrop on their conversation. Eventually, his conscience, which had been wavering between manners and curiosity, gave in to curiosity. Although he was aware that he looked suspicious hiding behind a pillar, he couldn't just leave since he was too curious about the woman, who seemed to perfectly suit Ji-won’s picky taste.
“CEO, what brings you here?”
Dong-ha felt a strange tingling sensation at the unfamiliar honorifics and the polite way Ji-won was speaking. CEO… Ah, is it the one who went on a business trip to London? She looks so young?
“I heard you went through a lot.”
“Yes.”
But, she's talking so casually despite the fact that he is being so polite. She must have an amazing attitude.
“Your face… looks tired.”
“I’m fine.”
No way. His face has become half its size in five days. And Cha Ji-won is really trying to act cool in front of that woman. I thought he was too out of it for that. His voice…, ugh.
“Madam Kwon packed some food for you. She said that you probably haven’t been eating properly.”
Ji-won, whose face was filled with complex emotions, took the bag from her, which seemed quite heavy. And then, he lifted the bag slightly as if estimating its weight and spoke with a displeased voice. Judging from his expression, he seemed annoyed that she had carried such a heavy bag.
“You brought this yourself?”
“Assistant Manager Kwon said that he would bring it…. But, I told him that I would go alone.”
“He didn’t try to stop you?”
“No. Assistant Manager Kwon has been listening to my words these days.”
Although it didn’t seem like a funny story, Ji-won laughed softly. Dong-ha’s eyes widened at the smile he hadn't seen in five days. Wow, she’s amazing. Although he didn’t know anything about her except her appearance and her voice, he liked her instantly.
“How did you know that I would be back at this time?”
“I asked someone to find out. I’m sorry. I know it was rude.”
“Don’t say that. It makes me feel bad.”
“But I still came. It felt like I had to.”
Ji-won, whose face had suddenly become filled with thoughts, pressed the elevator button without saying a word. And then, he took a deep breath and lowered his voice. A strange tension filled the air between the two. The atmosphere made even those who were watching hold their breaths.
“Would you like to come in for a bit? I can’t promise that I’ll be on my best behavior today.”
“I’ve never felt uncomfortable because of Director Cha.”
As the elevator doors opened with a cheerful ding, Ji-won naturally blocked the doors with his hand and let Ga-on in first. It was definitely not a habit that he had formed in a day or two.
“Hmm…”
Dong-ha, who had been deep in thought while tapping Ji-won's passport against his palm, tilted his head slightly with a puzzled expression. Was Cha Ji-won always this courteous to women? He’d been paying this much attention to her every move? Is it because it's been too long since I've seen him properly date someone that I can't remember? Or is there something special about this woman?
He said that he wanted to be alone but his mind changes completely in front of a woman. Anyway, I shouldn’t disturb him since he went home with a woman. I’m glad that at least he’ll eat something. He won’t be using his passport anytime soon. Dong-ha put Ji-won’s passport back in his inner pocket, glanced at the elevator, and left the building.
Ji-won, who had quickly washed his hands and sat at the table, let out a short exclamation as he opened the bag that Madam Kwon had sent. The bag was full of food that was good for digestion, stored in warm insulated containers, and the amount was so large that he could eat it for days.
“I’m so indebted to Madam Kwon.”
“She’ll be happy if you enjoy it. She really likes you.”
“Have you had dinner, CEO?”
“I have.”
“Then I’ll at least make you a cup of tea.”
Ga-on, who had stopped Ji-won, who had jumped from his seat, with a gesture, took out a tumbler from her bag and handed it to him. And then, she spoke slowly and clearly as if she was casting a spell.
“Ethiopia Yirgacheffe, with an extra shot, hot.”
“…!”
“I finally know one of Director Cha’s preferences.
Ji-won, who felt a lump in his throat, took a slow sip of his warm coffee. The rich floral aroma filled his mouth and calmed his nerves. A sense of accomplishment that he couldn't describe filled his heart. It was then that he realized that he had been feeling emotionally and physically exhausted.
“Thank you so much, CEO.”
“Save your thanks for later and just eat. You look terrible right now.”
“Yes.”
As Ji-won, who had neatly picked up his chopsticks, started his meal, Ga-on also took out her coffee and started drinking it slowly. It didn’t taste this good when she had been drinking it alone, but it had a particularly nutty taste today. It was strange.
“CEO, is the security chief waiting outside?”
“Probably.”
“Then, are you going to go back right away?”
“After Director Cha finishes his meal….”
Ji-won put his chopsticks down before Ga-on had even finished her sentence. And then, while looking directly at Ga-on, whose eyes had widened in surprise, he spoke.
“I’m not feeling very hungry, probably because I’m tired. I’ll eat after I get some rest. You can’t leave since I haven't finished eating yet.
“Director Cha…”
“I’ll call the security chief and tell him that I’ll escort you back. I’m worried that I’ll get indigestion from feeling pressured since someone is waiting.”
“But you were on the plane for over ten hours, Director Cha. You must be tired, how are you going to drive…. Just eat slowly. I’ll wait until you’re finished….”
Ji-won, who had been smiling faintly while looking down, slowly raised his gaze. Ga-on felt her heart race as she saw Ji-won's smile disappear.
“CEO.”
“…Yes?”
“I’m trying to seduce you. I’m making these unreasonable demands because I want to spend more time with you, even if it's just on the way back to Muyeongdang.”
“…!”
What am I supposed to do? Ji-won, who had been staring at Ga-on, who was blinking with wide eyes, laughed softly and stood up while holding his phone.
“I’ll call the security chief. I already told him that I couldn’t escort you back, but since you’re already here, you’ll have to do as I say.
Although she could clearly see that his face was haggard from lack of sleep, Ga-on couldn't stop Ji-won. And she didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
Hee-ju, whose face was filled with anxiety, had been pacing back and forth near the parking lot for an hour. It takes twenty minutes by car from Muyeongdang to Ji-won's house, and since the road wasn't congested right now, there was more than enough time to go there and come back.
But why isn’t she back yet? This is the first time she has gone out for a personal matter at night…. No, has the CEO ever had anything… personal? She couldn’t think of anything even after racking her brain. That was why Ga-on’s behavior was so shocking to Hee-ju.
Ga-on, who had rested in the morning and had lunch at home, had a short call with Hyun-ho and then made a surprising request to Hee-ju.
- Madam Kwon. Director Cha is coming back from the US today, can you pack some food for him?
- Of course. I heard that he lost a family member recently. Tsk tsk. Hae-su said it was his only aunt, I wonder if anyone took care of him while he was away. Don’t worry, CEO. I’ll pack a feast for him.
- No. I’m going to bring it myself, so don’t make too much.
- …Yes?
At first, she thought that she might have misheard her. Only after Ga-on had repeated herself with her usual indifferent tone did Hee-ju confirm that there was nothing wrong with her hearing.
- I said I’m taking it to Director Cha’s house myself. So just pack a simple meal that fits in one bag.
- Why?
Although Hee-ju rarely ever questioned Ga-on, this time she had to ask why. Ga-on wasn’t the type to care about other people’s wellbeing, and she didn't even have the time for that. Moreover, she rarely ever carried her own things. She didn’t even carry her phone around. There was always someone next to her to make and receive calls.
Hee-ju couldn't understand why Ga-on would even think of packing food and taking it somewhere herself. It was too strange.
- He didn’t look too good when I last saw him in Jungcheon. I’m going to check up on him.
No, but why would the CEO do that herself? Hee-ju, who had been preparing the food as instructed, was bewildered. Why is she suddenly doing something that she has never done before? According to the security chief, she had been going out alone to buy coffee. As far as Hee-ju could remember, Ga-on had never used a credit card herself.
Did something happen? Is it because she's feeling uneasy as her term is coming to an end? Hee-ju, who had been anxiously waiting, was happy to see the car with Ga-on coming back, but she was shocked when Hyun-ho came out alone.
“You went out with the CEO, why are you coming back alone? Where’s the CEO?”
“She’s at Director Cha Ji-won’s house.”
Hyun-ho’s expression was also grim. Actually, it was Hyun-ho, rather than Hee-ju, who had been directly affected by Ga-on's recent changes. The problem was that he didn’t know what he had done wrong even though it was clear that Ga-on's attitude had changed. So, he had to think twice before doing even his daily routine, and that made him very exhausted mentally.
“Why is she there?”
“I don’t know. Director Cha Ji-won called me and told me that he would escort her back, so I should just go back.”
“Why?”
“I said I don’t know.”
Is something bothering her? Is that why she keeps looking for the high-ranking guides? Is it because she doesn’t rely on us? How is it possible that she can’t rely on us, when we have been with her for so long, yet rely on a high-ranking guide who she has known for only eight months? Just as the two were staring at each other blankly with bewildered expressions, they heard someone click their tongue from behind. They turned around in surprise, and Sorang, who had appeared out of nowhere, was looking at them with a disappointed expression.
His words were also quite harsh.
“Why are you guys so clueless?”
“What are you talking about?”
“They like each other.”
“Who?”
“Seriously, I've never seen such clueless people. CEO Ju and Director Cha, they like each other. Why don’t you know that? It was obvious to me.”
“…What?”
Hee-ju, who had been staring blankly, was shocked and screamed.
“What?!”
That was a relatively normal reaction. Hyun-ho was frozen stiff like a statue and had not been moving for a while.
“Ah, you surprised me. Is that so shocking? It’s already a done deal when a woman packs food and takes it to a man’s house herself. I heard that they’ve been going on business trips together, and that she even sent the other secretary back. That means they were doing all that to be alone together. And it hasn’t only happened once or twice.”
Hee-ju and Hyun-ho, who had been thinking about Ga-on’s recent behavior, widened their eyes at the same time. If you look at it from a certain perspective, it could be interpreted like that, but….
“She’s… the CEO…, how can… that happen?”
“Why not? People do all sorts of things when they like each other.”
“A, a, a, all sorts of things?! How can you think such vulgar things about the CEO?!”
Sorang laughed as Hee-ju, who had been stammering, suddenly glared at him and shouted. Vulgar, she says. Isn’t it natural for a man and woman to play with fire when they have sparks between them?
“Should we make a bet? I’m putting my money on the two of them coming out of Unhyujae together one morning. Any takers?”
The Han River at night was truly beautiful. Ga-on, who had been staring at the colorful lights and the red lights of the cars, quietly turned her head towards the side. Ji-won, who had been closing his eyes, was breathing evenly as if he had fallen asleep.
- You promised to stay until I finished my meal.
Ji-won, who had stopped eating despite Ga-on’s dissuasion, had made Ga-on sit on the sofa where she could look at the river and sat next to her. The two had just been looking at the flowing river without saying anything. It was strange that they didn’t feel bored even after almost an hour.
“Director Cha.”
“…”
Ga-on called out to Ji-won since she felt a chill but there was no response. Ga-on, who had been waiting a little longer, quietly got up, and then, Ji-won, who had seemed to be fast asleep, reached out and grabbed her wrist. It was a reaction speed that was too fast for someone who had been sleeping.
“Where are you going.”
“I thought you were asleep. I was going to get you a blanket.”
“There’s no way. How can I sleep when you’re right here?”
“You must be tired.”
“I’m fine.”
“Why don’t you get some sleep since I’m not leaving? You look very tired.”
Ji-won, who had been smiling faintly at Ga-on’s worried voice, sighed deeply with a bitter expression. It was a sigh that was filled with so many emotions that it made those who were watching feel complicated as well.
“Why?”
“I feel like such a jerk.”
“What do you mean?”
Ji-won, who had not responded to Ga-on’s question, slowly stood up and held his hand out to her.
“Let’s go, CEO. It’s getting late, so I’ll escort you back.
“You said you would stay until I finished eating.”
“I wanted to, but it’s hard for me to be here with you right now.”
“Is that so bad?”
“I did use the fact that I’m grieving as an excuse to keep you here because I was too desperate… but, I shouldn’t be feeling good in a situation like this, right?”
Ga-on, who had been staring at Ji-won’s hand with a thoughtful look, grabbed his hand firmly. And then, she pulled him towards her. Ji-won, who had been slightly surprised, obediently sat next to her.
“CEO.”
“The living must live.”
“Yes, I know.”
“She probably wants you to live happily, especially since you’re grieving right now.
“…”
She probably does. Ji-won tried to control his expression as he thought about his aunt one last time. Ga-on, who had been looking at Ji-won anxiously as he was trying to calm himself with deep breaths, gently stroked his back when she saw that he was trying to smile despite everything.
Ji-won, who had been quietly receiving her touch while looking straight ahead, suddenly looked up at the ceiling with an expression that seemed like he was trying to suppress something, and then spoke with a slightly strained voice.
“Let’s go now. I don’t want to become a beast on top of being a jerk.”
Ga-on, who had been slightly puzzled at first, realized that her encouragement had stimulated Ji-won, so she stood up without saying anything.
The way back to Muyeongdang was very short. Although she hadn’t told Ga-on, Ji-won had been awake for almost forty hours. However, he wasn't tired at all. He felt like he could drive all night if Ga-on wasn't uncomfortable.
“Then, good night, CEO.”
“You should also go home and get some rest.”
“Yes.”
Although they had said goodbye, neither of them turned around and left. They were just standing there in front of the gate.
“Please go inside. It's cold outside.”
“I’m already home. You should go first since you have a long way to go.”
“It’s not that far. I’ll be there in twenty minutes.”
“Still.”
Six sparkling eyes were watching the two bicker in the darkness.
“See? I told you. They like each other, right? Look at them being all lovey-dovey. Wow, those lines are so cliché. They have no creativity at all. CEO Ju, well, she’s been living for a while, but why is that young guy so old-fashioned as well?
“Oh my, I thought our CEO would only work in Jungcheon for her entire life.
“Are you… not happy about that?”
Hee-ju, who had been wiping her tears on her clothes, glared at Sorang, who had been smirking, and raised her voice.
“Not happy?! I’m just saying that because I’m… happy!”
“Why are you yelling? People outside might hear you. Don't you know how creepy we look right now? It would be so embarrassing if we’re caught.”
Sorang quickly stopped Hee-ju while remembering Ji-won’s words about canines having a good sense of smell. He could never let Ji-won see him peeking outside through a small hole while squatting down.
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