Chapter 204

“So what’s going on today? Did something happen?”

“Ah, I just dropped by to say something important. I thought it’d be better to say it in person. I sent you a message, but you didn’t see it.”

“Ah… I must have missed it while I was playing with the others.”

If I had seen the message, I could have just replied and that would have been it. What a relief. Relief? What am I relieved about?

“What is it, then?”

“I’m going to the U.S. in a few days.”

With Hwa-won’s words, it felt like time had stopped for a moment. Then I quickly composed myself and asked calmly. I tried to stay calm.

“…W-What do you mean? You’re not saying your contract with your father is already over, are you? Was it a failure? You’re going to America? Really? For real? You’re lying, right?”

“Hey, calm down. I’m just going for a bit. I’ll be back in about five days.”

Ah.

My face flushed at Hwa-won’s words. It was embarrassing. I wasn’t a complete fool, so why was I acting like this?

Thinking that Hwa-won would be leaving suddenly overwhelmed me with emotions I couldn’t control. It was only after hearing that he wasn’t completely leaving that I managed to calm down a bit. Right, there’s still some time left, so it wouldn’t suddenly happen. I was being too hasty. But my heart still pounded relentlessly.

“It’s for the publishing contract. The translation is mostly done, so I need to meet them and discuss a few things. The contract isn’t being signed right now, but there’s been a lot of progress.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Still, it’s basically a publication relying on connections.”

“No, the debut is what matters. Your writing is definitely going to succeed.”

I believe in you.

I have to believe.

I told myself that in my mind.

“If it fails as is, it’ll be over, but this is the last hope, so I’m going to hold on to it no matter what. I need to do my best.”

“Yeah, it’ll work out. But…”

Ah, I shouldn’t be asking something like this. I absolutely shouldn’t, so why can’t I control my emotions and my words? If I just shut my mouth right now, it would be over, but I couldn’t do that at all. I didn’t want to. I felt like I wouldn’t be able to stand if I didn’t relieve this strange curiosity, which was entirely unrelated to me.

“…Are you going to meet your fiancée when you go to the U.S.?”

“Um, I suppose so? The translator is, after all, Seol-rin’s mother.”

My mood,

Deteriorated.

“Still, it’s not like they’re living together, so I guess it would just be a brief greeting when meeting Seol-rin’s mother.”

…For some reason, I felt a bit better after that.

Why was I so fixated on Hwa-won’s fiancée, whom I had only seen in a photo once? Who was Yoo Seol-rin anyway? What connection did she have with me? What did Hwa-won’s engagement have to do with me?

“Do you have a photo? A photo of your fiancée?”

“Uh? Hmm, I think I have a recent photo… wait a moment. Ah, here it is.”

Hwa-won sent me the photo without a second thought. It was a selfie taken in a flower garden. She wore incredibly feminine and neat clothing, and her blonde hair was unusual for a mixed-race person, a bit dull. But the most striking was that pure smile that didn’t quite match with kids her age.

Just from looking at her, she gave off the impression of a greenhouse-raised lady who grew up loved.

I recalled the stories I had heard from Hwa-won. A girl like this writes poetry that mixes religion and sci-fi. Considering that her mother is related to publishing, maybe she’s influenced by her.

By the way, something about her…

“I feel like I’ve seen her face before.”

“You said that before.”

“Did I?”

“I get it. She doesn’t look too much like you, but there’s a slight resemblance, don’t you think?”

“I don’t see it.”

Is it a resemblance…? It didn’t feel like it at all since the hair colors were completely different. More than that, a smile so pure and joyful didn’t suit me. I couldn’t even create such a smile.

“If you grow a bit taller, you might look like this.”

“How tall is she?”

“She looks like she’s around 160 cm, but I’m not exactly sure.”

“I wish I would grow quickly too.”

“I never thought I’d be worrying about this in my late twenties, haha.”

“Right? I’m still 149 cm.”

“Are you not growing anymore?”

“Don’t say something terrible like that.”

Well, at least this was enough. It was fine talking about something trivial with Hwa-won. Just that was enough to calm me down. Even if my feelings didn’t change, I could still feel better. Even if my heart didn’t change, I could be okay.

“Didn’t you say before that she and I resemble each other or something like that?”

But why do I have to ask such a question? It’s obvious that I’m only going to get hurt by hearing the answer.

“When?”

“When you were drunk and slept in my room.”

“Hey, what are you saying? If someone heard that, they’d misunderstand.”

“But it’s just us here.”

“That’s true, but…”

Hwa-won’s flustered expression was somewhat amusing. I chuckled lightly.

“I don’t even remember saying that. Were you talking about her face?”

“It wasn’t really about the face.”

“Then what is it… Hmm, it’s definitely not about the personality.”

“I feel a bit uncomfortable with this.”

“Was it about literature? That’s definitely not it. Ah, both have small chests, though.”

“You crazy bastard.”

I should really tell Hwa-won’s fiancée about this. Then it would likely lead to a swift breakup.

“Ah, I see. I get it now.”

“What is it?”

“I think I didn’t really know what I was talking about back then, but now that I see it, I have a clearer idea.”

So, that meant what I said back then was just off-the-cuff. I felt like I shouldn’t have asked.

“They have a similar atmosphere.”

“That’s a vague answer considering how much you thought about it.”

“But on some level, it feels like they’re becoming more similar.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“I don’t know, but that’s how it feels.”

Are they becoming more similar because I’m changing? Or is it because she’s changing? I have never met Hwa-won’s fiancée, so I can’t tell, but either way, it felt like it would be a disappointing thing to hear.

Still, contrary to expectations, I wasn’t hurt or anything. Well, it’s strange to get hurt over such a thing in the first place.

“Let’s stop talking nonsense. When are you leaving for the U.S.?”

“In three days. I’ll meet Seol-rin’s mother and immediately talk about the contract.”

As I mulled over that statement, I suddenly realized something. Hwa-won never referred to his fiancée’s mother as “mother-in-law.” Instead, he always referred to her as “my fiancée’s mother.” What did that imply? Naturally, since they weren’t really married yet, it made sense not to call her “mother-in-law.” Hwa-won was speaking completely normally.

But for some reason, I found that normality appealing.

“Right on the first day? Then what are you doing for the remaining four days?”

“The last day is just for preparation and then I’ll head straight to the airport, so it’s not significant. The other days, well, I guess I’ll be sightseeing.”

Hwa-won spoke indirectly and evasively, but I knew all too well what that sightseeing meant.

It must mean dating his fiancée. Whether Hwa-won wanted it or not, that was naturally an expected thing for her.

So I didn’t bother to ask again, “What sightseeing?” It’s obvious it would only make me feel worse.

Even though I didn’t even know why.

“Alright, have a good trip.”

“Now, that’s enough of the introduction. Let’s get to the main point.”

“…The main point?”

Wait, you mean the conversation about going to America wasn’t the main point? What could possibly be more important than you going to America?

“The main point is short. It’s nothing special.”

“Why is that the main point?”

“It’s not about me; it’s about you.”

…Oh, right. My story is more important.

“Maybe Su-Young will come to find you or contact you.”

“That person? Weren’t you the one who said you’d handle that yourself?”

“I handled that part, so don’t worry. Anyway, if that person tries to contact you in any way…”

“Contacts me?”

“Never meet her. If she calls, hang up, and if she comes to your house, call the police.”

What on earth is this? Are you telling me not to meet Han Su-young?

“What are you talking about? Is Su-Young going to come at me with a knife because she broke a promise?”

“If she were that kind of person, it would be easier. Just don’t meet, okay? She seems to be in a bit of a bad state.”

That was a peculiar statement. Was there a person who could say that a woman like her was in a bad state? I’d never seen her sick, and while I’d occasionally seen her lose her cool, she was always a composed and strong person. The only time I’d seen her lose her composure was when Hwa-won was involved, and I’d never seen her lose it otherwise.

Does that mean she’s in a state where I shouldn’t meet her?

“I can’t tell you the details, but just don’t meet her.”

“Why can’t you tell me? It’s my business.”

I spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction. It’s my business, so why is everyone else informed but me?

“That woman seems to have some ridiculous misunderstanding.”

“What kind of misunderstanding?”

For a moment, Hwa-won hesitated.

I waited quietly.

Eventually, Hwa-won spoke.

“She thinks you like me.”

…Ha ha.

Haha.

A ha ha ha ha.

“Ah ha ha ha! That’s a masterpiece! Does she mean that kind of like I think she does?”

“Yeah. I don’t know where she picked that idea up. How could she possibly think that….”

I know, right?

“It’s not possible, so you can rest assured.”

“I’m not worried. The one worrying is Su-Young.”

“Then wouldn’t it just be easier to meet her and say it’s nonsense?”

“Do you think Su-Young would listen to that?”

“…That’s not likely.”

She’s definitely not that kind of person.

“So don’t meet her for no reason. You wouldn’t want to get your hair pulled, would you?”

“That was because you got involved with her before.”

“Because I’ve repented, I’m not doing that now. To be honest, at that time, it wasn’t really a relationship; we were just having casual fun, but she misunderstood more than half of it.”

“Half?”

“Maybe half is accurate.”

“You’re really someone who’s going to hell.”

Yeah,

You’re definitely going to hell, Gang Hwa-won.

“Am I the only one going?”

Isn’t that right?

“Should we go together?”

Because I would fall into hell too.