Chapter 8

‘What took you so long to call? I missed you so much, I thought I would die.’

Hearing Hyunsoo’s voice, which had suddenly turned gentle as if he had never been angry, Dayun felt something welling up inside her. She had been so exhausted, so lonely, that she had tried to forget everything. But now, hearing his voice, which she had missed so terribly, she felt tears threatening to fall.

‘Didn’t you miss me? Weren’t you even a little curious?’

In the end, as Hyunsoo spoke with a slightly hurt tone, Dayun couldn’t hold back her tears and spoke in a trembling voice.

“Hic… I missed you… So much…”

‘Hey, are you crying?! Ah… Why are you crying…’

Hearing Dayun’s tearful voice, Hyunsoo became flustered. He probably wanted to run to her side immediately.

“Hic… Sniff… I’m sorry. I feel so bad for you~”

‘Ah, it’s okay, really. I’m not mad, and I don’t hate you, so stop crying. Just don’t do this again. Keep in touch regularly from now on.’

Hyunsoo’s warm voice, full of concern, gradually calmed Dayun’s feelings of guilt and sadness.

“Okay. I’ll call you more often now.”

‘Good, good… So stop crying. I have a group project right now, so I can’t even go see you. So please, stop crying, okay?’

“Okay. I won’t cry anymore.”

Hyunsoo chuckled, finding Dayun’s suddenly brave tone adorable, and teased her playfully.

‘Good, good. Ah~ you’re such a good girl. As soon as I finish this annoying project, let’s meet up. I’ll come see you. Until then, let’s keep in touch more often.’

“Okay.”

Then, suddenly, Hyunsoo said,

‘Actually, instead of that, why don’t we all meet at your place? With our friends and the older guys, too.’

“Huh?”

Dayun was taken aback. Meeting up with everyone… at the house she shared with Jaehoon? Noticing her hesitation, Hyunsoo spoke awkwardly over the phone.

‘Ah… Was that too sudden? Sorry, but as your friend, I just want to know where and how you’re living…’

“Ah…”

‘If it’s too much, we can just meet outside. Come to think of it, the older guys still don’t know that you and Jaehoon got married under a contract…’

“No, let’s do it.”

‘Huh? Are you sure?’

Thinking about it, there was no reason to refuse. Their friends already knew, and everyone was familiar with each other through their club activities. More than that, the house, which had felt cold and empty, might finally be filled with laughter.

“Well, I think Jaehoon already told his older friends about us. Junseok said that everyone knows.”

‘Ah…’

“And honestly, I also want my precious friends to see where I live. Jaehoon will probably be happy too. He enjoys being with his friends more than just being with me. And I feel the same way.”

‘Okay, then let me know the date. I’ll bring your favorite fried chicken and a gift.’

“Okay.”

After ending the call with Hyunsoo, Dayun felt much lighter. One of her lingering worries had disappeared.

“Let’s all finish work and go home.”

Jaehoon, coming out of the team leader’s office, announced. Hyeyun looked at him, as if silently asking for his attention. However, perhaps because of what happened the night before, Jaehoon deliberately avoided her gaze. He still couldn’t understand her actions. Just then,

“Oh, team leader! By the way, aren’t you going to have a housewarming party?”

One of the employees, who lacked tact, spoke up, making the office lively.

“That’s right! Since you’re married now, you should invite us. We’re also curious about your beautiful wife.”

They wanted to visit his house as an excuse to enjoy good food and drinks. Meanwhile, as the conversation turned to their newlywed home and his wife, Dayun, Hyeyun’s face darkened. Hearing people talk about Dayun as his wife—young and beautiful—was unbearable. The woman he loved was her, yet they were referring to another woman as his. It irritated her.

And then, she heard the words she least wanted to hear.

“Alright. I’ll ask my wife and set a date.”

Whether he truly meant it or not, Jaehoon had agreed. And hearing him call Dayun “my wife” made her heart sink. He was truly someone else’s man now.

As the employees cheered, they began to leave one by one. Once the office was empty, Jaehoon glanced coldly at Hyeyun before turning to leave. But she quickly grabbed his arm with both hands.

“We need to talk.”

However, Jaehoon coldly removed her hands and responded sharply.

“Let go. I have nothing to say to you.”

He turned to leave, but Hyeyun couldn’t let him go. No, she didn’t want to. In the end, she shouted after him.

“It was a mistake! I was drunk!”

Jaehoon smirked coldly.

“So, you do remember?”

“Only vaguely… No, actually, I remember everything. Every word I said.”

“Of course, you do. You’re not the type to drink until you forget.”

His cold gaze made her feel miserable. It was unbearable, and tears began to well up.

“I was just so upset. My heart hurt too much. You love me, and I love you, but seeing you with her kept bothering me. Even though I agreed to this, every time I think about you with that woman, it hurts so much.”

“…”

“I’m so scared… What if I lose you? What if you choose her instead of me? Even if you say you don’t love her now, men and women can grow feelings for each other over time. What if that happens? What will I do? I can’t live without you…”

Her desperate tears fell. Seeing her like that, Jaehoon felt suffocated. It was frustrating and painful, and he didn’t know what to say.

“Sigh…”

‘But even so, I can’t break this marriage. The story has already started, and I need to see it through to the end. So please, just wait a little longer. Until this story is over.’

Those were his final words to her.

Jaehoon returned home to where Dayun was. But his heart felt heavy. Probably because of the tears of the woman he loved.