Chapter 3 – The Pine Tree and the Orchid (Part 2)

The atmosphere, which had briefly lightened, froze again at Hee-tae’s smiling yet sharp words. Soo-yeon was reminded of Min-jun muttering, “I feel so small in front of you.” She finally understood what she hadn’t at the time—it was his way of expressing his desire to silence and control her. In hindsight, she realized that statement was an insult aimed at her, something she only comprehended after Hee-tae showed anger on her behalf.

“…Haha, Executive Director Jang sure knows how to boost a woman’s confidence.”

“I have to be good at it. Do you know how difficult Chae Soo-yeon is with me?”

Hee-tae instantly wiped the smile off his face as he responded. He swiftly twirled the golf club he had taken from Soo-yeon and grasped the head with his hand. As Hee-tae struck his palm with the heavy head of the club with a resounding thud, those gathered around flinched. They instinctively sensed the threat in the change of Hee-tae’s demeanor. Behind his back, they might call him an uneducated gangster, but in an open field without any security, they dared not. The middle-aged man, who had been mocking, turned pale and stammered,

“What’s this about, Executive Director Jang?”

“I prefer a golf club over a baseball bat. It’s perfect for knocking out teeth.”

“You’re making a mistake now. W-where do you get off being so arrogant…”

“Exactly, where do you get off being so arrogant. There are people waiting in line, and you’re pushing a divorced guy who got caught cheating.”

Hee-tae cut off the middle-aged man’s words sharply and growled. They were silenced by the animalistic intimidation. The middle-aged man belatedly looked at Soo-yeon, almost pleading for help. The moment Hee-tae started to speak in a chilling voice, “Where are you looking,” Soo-yeon snatched the golf club from him. She didn’t want to see anyone get hit. In an even tone, she addressed the middle-aged man who had suggested his son,

“I’ll be leaving first.”

“Oh, yes, well, I didn’t realize you two got along so well. You match, you really do.”

The middle-aged man, thinking he had avoided a crisis, added a clumsy compliment. It was more of a sarcastic remark than a genuine compliment, said to save face.

Thinking to himself that it was ridiculous for a rich daughter to be told she matched well with a gangster, Hee-tae’s expression twisted again. But before he could react, Soo-yeon spoke calmly and composedly.

“It’s fortunate that you’re understanding. Let’s consider today’s incident as a mutual mistake and wrap it up.”

“…What?”

“People of your sophistication must have high self-esteem. I trust you won’t hold onto every word we, young and impulsive, said.”

In short, she was saying to let today’s matter go. Hearing such words not from an elder but from young Soo-yeon’s mouth, their faces hardened with humiliation. However, the ferocious man standing right behind her made them grudgingly murmur their reluctant agreement. Soo-yeon, as if waiting for this, bowed her head slightly and started to walk away. Hee-tae leisurely caught up with her in a few steps, walking beside her.

“Don’t go to places where those old geezers gather. I knew they’d be talking nonsense when I heard you were there, so I dropped by, and as expected, they were being assholes.”

He said while matching her pace. Soo-yeon couldn’t bring herself to scold him for coming when they weren’t even close enough to worry about each other. Feeling awkward for acting like they were on the same side, she opened her mouth.

“Don’t think you helped me. I could have done it alone.”

“I didn’t even take credit, and you’re already biting?”

“You will.”

“I won’t. I thought I’d try being a bit more caring and cheesy for a change.”

Hee-tae leisurely caught up with Soo-yeon, who was walking briskly. Soo-yeon found it unfamiliar that his usual jokes lacked vulgarity or crudeness. She couldn’t look directly at his face, as the image of him standing up for her earlier lingered in her mind. Such a face was truly unfamiliar. The fact that he said she was difficult in front of those who looked down on her was unbearably strange. Soo-yeon quickened her pace and spoke.

“Don’t do this because of me from now on. There’s nothing good about getting involved and being insulted.”

“I liked it, though. Better to be involved with me than with a divorced guy with a shitty father-in-law.”

“Enough.”

“What do you think about a young and impulsive guy?”

Hee-tae suddenly appeared in front of Soo-yeon, blocking her path, and used the exact words she had said earlier. Knowing what he meant by “what do you think,” she couldn’t respond immediately. She was afraid that if she asked if he was suggesting they date after just sleeping together, he might actually agree. No, she didn’t even know why she was afraid of his answer. Ignoring him would be enough, but she couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t ignore Hee-tae. Taking a deep breath, Soo-yeon replied.

“Don’t joke around.”

“If it were a joke, Chae Soo-yeon, you’d be really comfortable.”

Hee-tae said in a regretful tone as he tucked her hair behind her ear. Soo-yeon felt it was strangely peculiar that he stopped at this distance without coming any closer. At their first meeting, he had threatened his lover with a golf club, but now he threatened those who insulted her with it. A messy relationship that should have ended with just physical contact was dragging on, invading her daily life. Seeing Soo-yeon’s face, Hee-tae laughed lightly.

“Does this make you tense? It’s really uncomfortable, isn’t it?”

“…Please move aside so I can pass.”

When Soo-yeon tried to pass by him, Hee-tae blocked her again. Soo-yeon almost bumped her head into his chest, then looked up at him while holding her forehead. The moment she, who had been stubbornly avoiding his gaze, looked at him, Hee-tae’s eyes curved.

“Finally, you’re making eye contact.”

“You’re always joking around whenever you get the chance.”

“Yeah, I used to want to mess around whenever I got the chance, but now it’s fun just looking at your face, Chae Soo-yeon.”

Hee-tae grabbed Soo-yeon’s cheek and gently turned her head, as if finding the angle to kiss her. He just looked at her without actually kissing. Soo-yeon’s mouth went dry, and her lips felt parched under his gaze. She tried to push his chest away, but her wrists were held tightly, forcing her to maintain eye contact for a long time. Just as Hee-tae said, she felt uncomfortable and tense, wanting to stop whatever he was about to say or do. She didn’t dislike this uncomfortable tension though; in fact, she liked it even more because of it.

♬♪

Soo-yeon only relaxed her clenched fists when Hee-tae’s phone rang. Relief washed over her, thinking she could finally leave. She felt she had to get out of there quickly. Hee-tae slowly removed his hand from her cheek and checked his phone, clicking his tongue.

“Ah, just when I’m gone for a moment, they’re already looking for me. They have a talent for ruining the mood. Chae Soo-yeon, you should go first.”

“Why did you come?”

When Hee-tae mentioned leaving, Soo-yeon couldn’t hold back the question she had been trying to swallow. She couldn’t understand why he made time to come here for her when he wouldn’t even stay long enough to get to the point. She didn’t know why she wanted to ask such a question, knowing it would only lead to teasing and embarrassment.

“You seem disappointed that I’m leaving without fooling around.”

“I’m not asking because I’m disappointed.”

“Since you weren’t answering my calls promptly, I came to see your face.”

At the end of his sentence, Hee-tae pulled her by the back of her neck and pressed her lips to his cheek. Seeing Soo-yeon’s shocked face, he smiled and gestured to the side with his eyes.

Following his gaze, she saw a caddy who had discreetly driven a cart to follow them. The caddy, sensing the moment, spoke up.

“I’ll take you to the exit.”

‘You could have said something if there was someone around.’

Soo-yeon glared at Hee-tae with resentment. She felt like she was showing off a romantic relationship. She immediately got into the cart and leaned back with a thud. Seeing Hee-tae say “See you later” while taking a call, she turned her head away and swallowed a rising sigh.

The day was hot. Annoyingly so.