Part 16

“Cut! That’s a wrap.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Great job everyone.”

At the director’s cue, Seowoo and Sung-hyun exchanged greetings.

Despite yesterday’s chaos, the shooting had resumed as if nothing had happened. Both agencies had quickly issued rebuttal articles, but the public’s suspicion had not been completely allayed.

“It’s because you’re young. Both of you perform so convincingly.”

Director Choi Hoonsoo threw out a comment that reminded everyone of yesterday’s incident. He was concerned about the awkwardness that could develop between the two. Seowoo and Sung-hyun both knew that he meant well.

“You’re being flattering.”

“My wife, who watched the broadcast, asked if you two were really dating. That’s how natural it looked. So don’t worry too much.”

The director playfully patted Seowoo on the shoulder and nodded. Seowoo smiled faintly.

As the episodes progressed, the ratings continued to soar. Breaking past 20%, both leads were bombarded with joint advertising offers and variety show invitations.

“Let’s head out, director.”

After greeting all the staff, the two headed to their dressing rooms. Seowoo’s small shoulders were relaxed after being tense all day. Her small shoulders were noticeably slumped.

“Ah, I was going to ask you to have dinner since we’re finishing early today.”

Sung-hyun whined, sounding disappointed. Seowoo only smiled but didn’t say anything in response.

He then walked backward in front of her, facing her.

“You might trip walking like that. Walk beside me.”

“Actually, at times like these, we should act normal. I’m fine, do you want to have dinner together?”

“Your fans would be upset, you know. There’s already been so much commotion.”

The amount of hate comments was overwhelming.

Comments saying, ‘How dare a divorced woman covet my oppa?’ were so harsh they were unspeakable. It hurt, but it was the truth, so Seowoo didn’t have much to say.

“Honestly, I even thought about not issuing a rebuttal article and just letting it be.”

Sung-hyun’s words stopped Seowoo in her tracks.

He looked at the article and thought.

He wondered if he should respond by saying that he has a crush on her instead of writing a rebuttal.

For a moment, he wavered.

Her feelings for her were becoming clearer and clearer.

“I know we’re not dating, but I’m interested in you, Seowoo.”

Seowoo’s mouth stiffened at Sung-hyun’s honest answer.

“Sung-hyun.”

“I’m serious. I thought about confessing after the shooting was over, but… someone set the stage. So, I thought maybe I should just go ahead and confess now, I’ve been thinking a lot about it.”

Sung-hyun gave a rueful smile. 

The day he met Myeong-hye, he had seen her with Kwon Jiwook in the parking lot. Something about their atmosphere had changed, and it made Sung-hyun’s stomach churn. He hadn’t slept at all that night.

With Jiwook’s family opposing her relationship with Jiwook, he wondered if it would be too difficult for them.

Sung-hyun then thought that there might be a chance for him.

“So, I’m going to try putting my personal feelings into my acting for the time we have left.”

“……”

“I plan to earnestly try to sway you.”

His earnest gaze met hers.

Seeing the sincerity in Sung-hyun’s eyes, Seowoo found herself at a loss for words.

“Do you not like younger men?”

“No…… it’s not like that. Why would you want someone like me?”

“Why would you say something like that about yourself?”

Just looking at her was enough to make his heart flutter. Without realizing it, he had started to like Seowoo. After meeting Myeong-hye and guessing how she had lived, it somehow made Seowoo seem even more poignant.

Regardless of everything else, the problem was that he couldn’t help but smile whenever he saw her.

It was proof that his feelings had grown.

“Even if we do start dating, there’s no need to let people know. I’ve already denied the rumor for now.”

“…”

“I would like to have dinner together, but it seems tough today. It’s regrettable, but I’ll just have to wait a bit longer. Until the scandal dies down.”

Sung-hyun smiled wryly, his lips curling upward. Seowoo could only stare at him blankly.

“Take care. See you tomorrow.”

Sung-hyun walked away and went into his dressing room.

Left alone in the hallway, Seowoo sighed softly and rubbed her forehead. She had so many things to worry about.

With incidents popping up day after day, her headache wouldn’t go away.

Maybe things will improve a little once filming is completely over. 

Seowoo organized her cluttered thoughts and headed to her dressing room

***

Two years ago, in the US.

“Jiwook, are you okay? Are you alright?”

Jiwook slowly opened his eyes at the sound of sobs next to him.

His blurry vision gradually became clearer. As he blankly stared at the ceiling, Myeong-hye’s face came into view at the edge of his sight.

She was pouring out tears, her face twisted in distress.

“Thank goodness. I’m so relieved. I thought… I thought something might happen to you…sob.”

Jiwook slowly pieced together his memories.

Having come to the USA, he had hurried through his schedule.

He wanted to meet Seowoo, who had not come with him, as soon as possible. Unbeknownst to him, divorce articles had been published. He wanted to return to Korea immediately, but couldn’t due to orders from Chairman Young-jin.

Moreover, he was extremely anxious because he couldn’t get in touch with Seowoo.

After finishing his urgent business, he headed to the airport to return to Korea after a week.

But then… his memory was cut off. Jiwook furrowed his brow as he pondered over his memories and closed his eyes again.

***

“So… I got divorced.”

Jiwook sat in his wheelchair and stared out the window.

Despite his clear mind, his recovery was much slower than expected. He’d been lying down for so long that he’d lost quite a few muscles.

“Yes.”

Cheol-hoon, who was standing behind him, answered shortly.

While he was lying there, Jiwook had cleanly separated from Seowoo.  The lawyer had handled everything through an uncontested divorce.

It felt as if someone had arranged all this just to process the divorce quickly.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that everything fit together too perfectly.

“We’re still trying to track down the person who caused the accident, but we haven’t found him yet.”

It was a hit-and-run. They had searched everywhere to find the perpetrator but still hadn’t succeeded.

The accident was quite severe. The car was totaled and ended up being scrapped.

Rushed to the emergency room, Jiwook underwent two major surgeries but never regained consciousness. He lay unconscious for what seemed like a year.

“What is Seowoo doing now?”

“She moved to the countryside and seems to be living alone.”

“…”

His gaze sank low.

It felt vivid like it was only yesterday, yet everything had changed.

Thinking of how he had divorced her and was now sitting in this state in faraway America, he almost laughed in disbelief.

“Jiwook.”

Just then, the door to the hospital room opened, and Myeong-hye approached him. Her face was full of worry. Sitting in front of the wheelchair, unsure of what to do, her expression made Jiwook close his eyes and speak.

“You should be satisfied now.”

“What do you mean?”

It was the divorce Myeong-hye wanted so badly.

Jiwook was horrified by Myeong-hye’s actions, having even hired a lawyer to forcefully push through the divorce.

“I don’t want to see you. Please leave.”

“Even if it wasn’t you, she wanted the divorce.”

“Must have been what you wanted, right, Mother? That’s why you deliberately drove her out, isn’t it?”

His eyes, red with anger, met Myeong-hye’s.

“Even if I wanted it, if she didn’t want to, she would have told you. But that’s not what happened. She was the one who got the divorce through the lawyer while you were here. You need to accept it now. It’s already been a year.”

A year.

A hollow laugh escaped Jiwook’s lips.

To him, it was as if that time had been erased. 

Gone hopelessly before he could even try anything.

“Focus on taking care of your health, okay? The treatment options here are much better than back home, so you’ll recover quickly if you rehabilitate here.”

“Please…”

Jiwook’s jaw clenched as he gritted his teeth. He didn’t even want to look at Myeong-hye’s face.

Even if it was his fault for not being trustworthy to Seowoo, he couldn’t shake off the thought that he had driven Seowoo into a corner.

“Secretary Nam.”

“Yes, General Manager.”

“Please take my mother to the airport. I don’t want to see her anymore.”

“Jiwook!”

At his command, Cheol-hoon dragged Myeong-hye out. Jiwook could hear her screaming and protesting, but he didn’t care.

And that’s how he got an unwanted divorce from Seowoo.

Without ever realizing how he felt.