Chapter 4 – Cheap Romance (Part 3)

“The stuff about losing my mind over seeing some miserable bastard was bullshit. I lost my mind because I hated seeing you care about another man.”

Hee-tae apologized for the hurtful words he said out of anger back then. He had urged Soo-yeon to be honest, but at that crucial moment, he couldn’t be honest himself. Usually able to brush things off easily, Hee-tae couldn’t do that then. He foolishly said sharp words, knowing they would only lead to a fight, not a conversation. Love made him feel like an idiot.

Soo-yeon, embracing him back as he buried his head in her neck and spoke as if seeking forgiveness, finally opened her mouth to speak.

“Everything you said was right. I just didn’t want to admit it.”

“It was nonsense. Chae Soo-yeon, you didn’t like pitiful people. You just wanted everyone to be happy.”

Even with a slight lift of his head, Hee-tae could see the tearful reunion of the family over Soo-yeon’s shoulder. There was no place for Soo-yeon in that picture. Nevertheless, she had swallowed her pride and contacted him to find the child. That was the kind of person Chae Soo-yeon was. She didn’t live to bask in the feeling of helping someone pitiful but simply couldn’t overlook the misfortune in front of her, even if it was her biological mother’s new family.

To Hee-tae, who made a living exploiting others’ misfortune and reigning over them, Soo-yeon might have been an utterly unsuitable match. Yet, he couldn’t let her go.

“Chae Soo-yeon.”

Hee-tae slowly released Soo-yeon, who was clinging tightly to him. Her cheeks were wet, whether from silent crying in his embrace. Embarrassed to show she had cried, she hastily rubbed the tear stains with the back of her hand. Hee-tae caught her hand, lowered it, and gently wiped her eyes with his thumb.

Soo-yeon instinctively tried to resist his touch but then, like a cat learning to trust a human for the first time, she let him touch her face. Seeing this, Hee-tae struggled to suppress the urge to kiss her, knowing there was something he had to say first. Unlike the past when he recklessly kissed her first, he needed to act more appropriately, trying to mimic a cultured person.

“While you were gone, Chae Soo-yeon, I tried changing the work I do a bit.”

Hee-tae pulled a business card from his jacket pocket and handed it to Soo-yeon. The company name that used to say “ML Capital” was now changed to “ML Construction.”

Internal transfers weren’t easy, but he had wanted to go through the hassle and difficulty. In case Soo-yeon ever found him again, he didn’t want to be called someone who exploited others’ misfortunes. He would never live a life that was entirely honorable, but Hee-tae didn’t want to appear cheap even in front of Soo-yeon.

“It’s still cheap, but I hoped I’d be a guy you’d like, so I changed the name tag.”

Hee-tae spoke self-deprecatingly, knowing that his work hadn’t drastically changed. Having grown up in the wild, he was familiar with places like sewers. However, if Soo-yeon wanted, he could step out into the sunlight anytime.

He had mocked Soo-yeon for sacrificing and dedicating herself to others, calling her a fool, but he was willing to give himself up for her more than anyone else. It was as if he had lived shrewdly and calculatingly, waiting for the moment to be caught by someone like her. He wanted to gather even one thing to give to this foolish woman.

“Aren’t you still curious why I’m doing this?”

Soo-yeon felt her nose tingle at the man who handed the choice back to her. Shaking her head, she stood on tiptoe and pulled his neck down. The moment their lips met, the orange lights installed under the bridge felt like a sunset.

None of her anxieties about how such different beings could have a relationship beyond sex, or how long their feelings, which had flared up like a season, would last, were resolved. Despite that, she was curious about tomorrow with him. At this moment, that was everything.

***

“Is this a movie theater?”

Soo-yeon asked again, looking at the place Hee-tae had taken her to after saying they would watch a movie. He naturally led her to the royal suite room of a hotel where he seemed to be staying long-term. Although taken aback by his boldness, she didn’t refuse to enter. She was curious about how he was living.

The interior was just a well-organized suite room, unlike the dirty gambling den. Following Soo-yeon in, Hee-tae spoke.

“They say this is how kids these days woo someone.”

“You’re not a ‘kid these days’.”

“Why are you hitting me with words all of a sudden? Didn’t we make peace?”

Hee-tae raised his eyebrows as he asked. Still clinging to the title of being younger, he was irked by the mention of age. Soo-yeon stifled a laugh as she headed to the living room.

She pressed the remote button towards the large screen and switched to the movie channel. A classic romance film was playing. When Hee-tae turned off the living room lights, the large space was left with only the soft lighting and the light from the screen. Soo-yeon could already see herself kissing him soon, using the movie as an excuse. Even though it wasn’t her first time with him, she felt strangely nervous.

“Is there anything else you want to eat? If you tell the staff, they’ll bring it right away.”

Hee-tae asked, carrying a silver ice bucket and brandy. He already had cheese and olives in his hands. Soo-yeon shook her head, refusing his offer.

“I ate a lot during dinner.”

“You didn’t eat much. Ah, have you lost your appetite because you missed me? Got lovesick?”

“Something like that.”

Soo-yeon replied, turning her gaze towards the movie screen. The sound of large ice cubes clinking in the glass resonated clearly. It was almost like the sound of something being dropped. She glanced at Hee-tae, who was staring at her intently.

“Did you miss me that much?”

“…Thanks for the drink.”

Soo-yeon answered evasively, taking the brandy glass he handed her. She sipped just enough to wet her tongue, letting the rich flavor spread in her mouth. It was true she hadn’t been eating properly. She had been so focused on quickly holding the exhibition that she often missed meals, shrinking her stomach. Even drinking felt like it had been a while.

“Open your mouth. Say ah.”

Hee-tae offered her some cheese. She reflexively reached out to take it, but when he brought it to her mouth, she opened up. He had once said he gave up his own food to his younger siblings so they wouldn’t starve. It seemed like he had taken care of them attentively. She was curious about his past but didn’t want to ask directly. It was bound to be a heavy topic, and she didn’t want to torment him for an answer. She figured she would naturally learn more as they spent time together.

“What did you talk about with your family earlier?”

Hee-tae lightly asked about the family Soo-yeon had been so concerned about. He was referring to when they returned from the bridge after hugging and talking. Soo-yeon’s mother had looked at Hee-tae and Soo-yeon with somewhat confused eyes. But then, realizing he had saved her son, she gave him a short bow of gratitude.

‘Hello, ma’am. The weather is so nice that your lively little friend ended up here. I safely guided him back.’

Soo-yeon felt strange seeing Hee-tae trying to appear polite even if he couldn’t drop his rough manner of speaking. It seemed like he was being considerate in front of her family. Hee-tae even approached Chan-hoo, engaging him with a few words, and Chan-hoo, who seemed neither thrilled nor anxious despite nearly losing his parents, took an interest in his words. During this, Soo-yeon’s mother approached her and asked, and it seemed Hee-tae had noticed.

“She asked how I knew you, Jang Hee-tae, and I answered.”

Soo-yeon replied, deliberately keeping her eyes fixed on the movie screen. In fact, she had seen the classic romance film playing now about three times. She put it on just for the soothing classical music and a place to fix her gaze because she felt it would be too embarrassing to look at Hee-tae now. Her mouth felt dry, so she took another sip of brandy.

“What did you say?”

Hee-tae asked, not expecting a significant answer, but still hopeful. Changing a business card wouldn’t alter the fact that anyone could see he was a thug, and his nature couldn’t change. Next to Soo-yeon, who had lived her life with noble poise like a beautiful orchid, the contrast was stark. But he had no intention of backing down now.

“I said you were the person I’m seeing.”

Soo-yeon answered briefly and took another sip of brandy. After just three sips, she felt the alcohol kicking in. Her vision seemed a bit dizzy.

Hee-tae’s lips twitched at the thought that Soo-yeon had introduced him as the person she was seeing. Blushing to the tips of his ears, he teased her again, who was still stubbornly watching the movie.

“So bold. You didn’t even ask me to date you, just assumed we were dating?”

“Like the kids these days.”

“Stop with the ‘kids these days’ talk. You’re older than me.”

Hee-tae chuckled at her retort, turning her face towards him by holding her chin. He frowned as soon as he saw her expression.

“Stop drinking this. Damn, I shouldn’t have brought it. Your eyes are all glazed over.”

He had brought the alcohol to set the mood, but he didn’t expect her to look so dazed after just a few sips. He had counted her drinking about three sips. He thought of taking the glass away if she overdrank, but giving her the glass in the first place was the wrong choice. From her face, it looked like she had downed two bottles of soju alone.

Soo-yeon responded, watching Hee-tae take her glass away protectively.

“I’m not drunk.”

“There it is. The classic line of all drunks.”

“I’m really not drunk.”

“You’re already slurring. Let’s get you washed up. Raise your arms so I can take off your clothes.”

Hee-tae put down the glass and gestured with his hand. Despite claiming she wasn’t drunk, Soo-yeon slowly raised her hands in the air. She usually repeated, “Why you?” or “I’ll handle it myself,” but now she complied without further questioning. Hee-tae felt a pang of frustration at her innocent compliance. She blinked slowly with her fists raised, and only then did she speak as she felt his gaze.