Chapter 4 – Cheap Romance (Part 7)

Soo-yeon stood at the Gwanghwamun intersection long after work hours. At around 10 PM on a weekday, Gwanghwamun was relatively quiet. While cars lined up in traffic, the sidewalks were clear enough to see who was standing at the crosswalk.

Soo-yeon saw Hee-tae standing across the street, also waiting for the signal to change. He stood out, taller than anyone around him. He was already looking at her as if he had spotted her first.

“Oh, the light is green.”

Hearing someone next to her, Soo-yeon started walking. As she crossed the long crosswalk, time seemed to stand still. He was already on the other side, walking toward her while watching her. She couldn’t help but think how nice it was to see his face clearly.

A man so large and intimidating that his first impression could only be described as fierce. A man who seemed like a killer whale that hurt everyone except her.

As they got closer, Hee-tae smiled more brightly.

“Do you have some time? You look exactly like my type.”

Soo-yeon laughed at his cheesy pickup line. She didn’t want to show that she found it funny, so she quickly erased her smile.

“We need to cross again,” she said, grabbing his sleeve and turning around. Hee-tae laughed, looking down at her round head as she led him.

“People will think I owe you money walking with you.”

“I’m too rich for that.”

“Wow, that’s cool. Aren’t those the words of a great person? I’m dating a great person.”

The reason he had come to Gwanghwamun at this late hour was simple. She had a media art exhibition on the outer wall of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

Soo-yeon had explained several times, embarrassed, that she hadn’t created the media art herself, but Hee-tae still thought it was amazing. Anyone walking through Gwanghwamun Square at night would think her achievements were impressive.

“As much of a bastard as I am, every time I see something like this, I wonder if I’m dating a national treasure thief.”

“Don’t think like that.”

Soo-yeon stopped and turned to face him. Behind her, the most famous painting she had created was displayed on the building’s exterior. As countless images flowed by, she stood firmly and looked at him.

“I’ve always chosen the path I wanted, and the same goes for people.”

As the wind blew, she tucked her hair behind her ear with a slender wrist. One thing Hee-tae couldn’t get used to was this. There were parts of Soo-yeon that remained unchanged. She was defensive and cautious in relationships, but since she had acknowledged their relationship, she hadn’t tried to run away. She simply accepted him as he was. He could no longer see any contempt or fear in her transparent eyes, only her clear gaze.

“It takes a while for me to make a choice, but I don’t regret it once I do.”

Soo-yeon didn’t say much about his life. She had asked him if he enjoyed living off other people’s misery, but she wasn’t a person with a high moral compass. She wasn’t a saint, and even if she knew what he had done and would do, she wouldn’t leave him. She liked him. She wanted everyone to be happy, but she didn’t have the moral strength to give up her feelings for him. No matter how others saw him, she wouldn’t give him up.

“Don’t you give up either. Even if I’m too much, endure it.”

She spoke as if trying to bind him, fearing he might find her soaring too much to bear. She knew he wasn’t that kind of person, but she was afraid he might want to leave her because of the stark contrast in their relationship.

Showing him this exhibition took great courage for Soo-yeon. She wanted to show him who she was and the world she lived in, hoping he could endure it. Hee-tae approached her with a smooth smile.

“Chae Soo-yeon, you still don’t know me.”

Soo-yeon’s eyes widened as he kissed her. They were outside, in the middle of a square with many people still passing by. But Hee-tae didn’t care, looking at her with sparkling eyes. When their eyes met, she felt like she couldn’t see anything else. Just like when he had spotted her first at the crosswalk and walked toward her, he filled her world completely.

“I’ll never let you go.”

Hee-tae whispered a gentle threat in her ear with a smile.

She would never know how persistent and scary he could be. He might never have to show her, but he felt like issuing a warning. He whispered back to her,

“From now on, you won’t be able to have anyone but me.”

“……”

“You know that once you start eating salty and sweet things from a young age, your taste buds won’t change, right? But I’ve already trained your taste buds to like cheap things.”

Soo-yeon was so used to his crude language that she couldn’t help but laugh. His salty and sweet words had completely taken over her refined mind. Without realizing it, he had become her world.

Matching her steps to his, she slowly walked forward. As they passed through the night streets, she exchanged a helpless smile with him. She wasn’t afraid of the challenges and tears they might face. She knew they wouldn’t let go of each other’s hands.

<Main Story: Finale>