Chapter 45

Chapter 45

Hearing him mention Director Park earlier made me think—maybe the plan was to send us abroad temporarily, and then call us back when needed. In that case, could we return to Korea and meet again in a few years?

But a few years from now, Shin Chi-woo’s feelings could be completely different. If he changed his mind, the best-case scenario would be him using today’s favor as leverage to pressure us. Still, that was a concern for later. Right now, I needed to focus on the present.

It just didn’t feel real yet—that we were parting ways so easily.

“…”

I turned my head toward the door he had left through. Listening closely, I could hear the low murmur of voices in the hallway, like the three of them were in some sort of strategy meeting. I couldn’t make out the words, but I recognized that indistinct hum that comes with conversation.

Which meant… Shin Chi-woo was still out there. Was this really how we were going to end things?

I hadn’t even properly thanked him for all his help. Were we really just ending with a quick, “Goodbye”?

My mind was a mess, spinning in every direction, but I had no idea what to do. All I had to do was muster up the courage to open that door—why was that so hard? Telling him I wouldn’t forget what he did for me wasn’t even a difficult thing to say.

Instead, I just kept pacing in circles, chewing on my nails. I knew I should run out into the hallway before I lost my chance, but my feet wouldn’t move.

Click.

The sound of the door opening made me whip around like lightning. But the person I’d been hoping for didn’t appear—only my dad’s bodyguards came back into the room. While I’d been hesitating, everything had ended.

That was it. It was over.

“Chief Shin said to depart at exactly 11 p.m., 23:00 sharp.”

“Hm, then we’ve got about an hour and forty-five minutes. Let’s stay sharp until the end, everyone.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you for your leadership, Director.”

“Let’s rest a little before we head out.”

As Dad spoke with the large man and the woman with the bob cut about what was next, I stood dazed in the corner of the room. If Dad knew what I was thinking right now, he’d probably scold me. He’d say, “You’re at a crucial crossroads in your life, and you’re thinking about a man?”

“Wan-yi.”

“…”

“Wan-yi, Seo Wan-yi?”

“Oh… yeah? Dad…”

“You heard we’re leaving at eleven, right?”

“Yeah… I heard. I did.”

I’d been so lost in thought I hadn’t even noticed him come up to me. He patted my shoulder gently and, with his usual warm expression, told me to lie down and rest—just like he used to when I wouldn’t go to sleep as a child.

“There’s not much to pack, but if there’s anything, get it together. Lie down for a bit. The trip to Gimhae won’t be easy.”

“Okay. That sounds like a good idea.”

“I’m going to wash up and change, too. Can’t get on a plane looking like this, right?”

“Of course not. My dad’s got to look sharp.”

We weren’t leaving immediately, and it would be cramped for four adults to sit around in this tiny motel room for two hours. Like Dad said, conserving energy was important, so even if I couldn’t sleep, it made sense to rest.

Back in the adjacent room with the bob-cut woman, I flopped onto the bed like a deflated balloon. My head was so full it ached. I thought maybe I should just escape it all and fall asleep.

Then I noticed a corner of black fabric peeking out from the blanket. I glanced at it, uneasy. The fact that she might know I’d hugged that scarf while sleeping was one thing—but the chance she’d understand what it meant was even more embarrassing.

Sneaking glances at her, I quietly pulled the blanket over the scarf to hide it. I didn’t want anyone catching on to how I felt.

“…?”

The woman suddenly looked at me and raised her right hand, signaling for me not to move. She pointed at the door, then gestured for silence. Someone was out in the hallway.

I stared at her back, tense. A noise came from the next room—Dad’s room. It was a hair dryer. He must’ve finished washing up. But if he was still in the bathroom, he probably had no idea something might be happening.

The woman’s right hand crept behind her back. Then I saw her reach for something at her waistband. I froze. She had a gun. I hadn’t expected that. But—

Knock-knock. A very soft knock.

There was a pause, then knock… and another pause… then knock-knock. It was the same rhythm I’d heard earlier outside Dad’s room. I was sure of it. That pattern was unmistakable.

Maybe it was a signal they had agreed on. The woman immediately let go of the gun and carefully opened the door. Her actions made it clear she knew exactly who was on the other side.

“…Chief.”

She greeted the unexpected visitor with a quiet voice. When I saw who was standing there, I instinctively jumped up from the bed.

“I forgot something.”

“Oh… right. The scarf…”

“Mind if I come in for a second?”

“Uh… no. Of course. Come in.”

As if crossing a line, he stepped forward and entered my space. But instead of just grabbing what he came for, Shin Chi-woo closed the door behind him.

If he was only here to pick up the scarf, I could’ve handed it to him with the door open. But no—he deliberately shut it. He’d cut off the way out.

Dad was in the next room, but he seemed unaware that I had a visitor. Or maybe Shin Chi-woo had made sure of that from the start. Otherwise, there was no other way to explain this.

“The scarf is right here.”

We stood there, simply looking at each other, and my mouth went dry. I was so tense my throat felt tight, like I’d been swallowed up by the pressure—but I tried my best to act natural.

“It kept me warm. Thank you.”

I pulled the scarf out from where I’d hidden it under the blanket and reached it out toward him. I expected him to just take it from where he stood, but he didn’t move. Instead, he extended his right hand, as if asking me to bring it closer.

What is he trying to do?

With the scarf still in my hand, I stared at him. He looked exactly the same as when he said that quiet goodbye earlier, told me to take care. But the moment our eyes met, my heart gave a sharp jolt.

Because, deep down, I already knew. That scarf wasn’t something valuable enough to come all the way back for. I knew he’d used it as an excuse to see me again without my dad knowing.

So then… I needed to say goodbye properly. It wasn’t hard—I’d been thinking it over and over in my head. Now was the time to actually say it out loud.

I stepped closer to him.

“Here. Please take it. It really kept me warm.”

“…”

“I know I made it out safely thanks to your help. I’m grateful. Truly.”

As I handed the scarf to him, I finally said the words I hadn’t been able to until now. We’d misunderstood each other, argued—but like Dad had said, the fact remained: he saved my life.

“Please let the person on the island know I arrived safely. And… that I’m really thankful for the way they looked out for me—even if they never said it.”

But he said nothing. He didn’t move. He just stared straight at me with that expression—like he had even more to say than I did. The air between us was so heavy it felt unbearable.

“Well… goodbye, then.”

I felt like my whole body was twisting up from the pressure, so I walked past him and opened the door. I even gave a polite bow, lowering my head. He had to know what I meant by all this—so I just wanted him to leave already. Please.

“Take care of yourself.”

But Shin Chi-woo wasn’t the kind of man you could send away just because you wanted him gone. Standing face to face in the doorway, I mimicked his earlier gesture—tapping my left wrist with my right index finger as if to say, “Aren’t you in a hurry?”

Please… go.