Chapter 44 – A Person Who Doesn’t Know How to Yield

Upon reflection, there was another doctor nearby.

Do-soon, who was anxiously pacing because So-yeon showed no signs of regaining consciousness, decided to seek help and headed to Seo-jun’s room.

Jo In-ha had carried the unconscious Eom So-yeon to the infirmary, and the hotel staff had responded promptly. Thus, there was no real need for Tae Seo-jun to get involved. However, if the attending doctor in the area had a notorious reputation, that was a different story.

Seo-jun descended to the first-floor lobby right after receiving Manager Bong’s report that the incompetent doctor had finished his visit and that Eom So-yeon showed no signs of improvement.

As Tae Seo-jun strode purposefully, he encountered Yeo Do-soon, who was hurrying toward him, in the hotel lobby.

Ironically, it was Jo In-ha who reminded him that walking slowly was a luxury.

The moment Seo-jun heard from Do-soon that Eom So-yeon was alone with Jo In-ha, even the small composure he had left evaporated. He quickly brought So-yeon, who was in the infirmary, to his own room.

From the way he carefully cradled her in his arms to how he gently laid her on the bed, Seo-jun’s actions in handling the ailing Eom So-yeon were incredibly tender. It was a pure emotion that came from the depths of his heart.

“Ha… Eom So-yeon…”

Even the long sigh, mixed with a low, angry tone, was filled with desperate worry from the bottom of his soul.

“Do you think you have two lives to spare?”

Otherwise, how could you act so recklessly!

This wasn’t a sudden fever. At this level, her body must have been unwell for quite some time. Yet, this stubborn and foolish woman had willingly stepped into freezing water. Without hesitation, she threw herself into the sea, acting as if nothing was wrong. Bold and heroic, indeed.

Why else would there be such a thing as death by shock?

Even if she had avoided a catastrophe, plunging her frail body into cold water would have caused excruciating pain, as if her flesh were being ripped apart. How she endured that pain was beyond comprehension. Even Sim Cheong, who sacrificed herself to the sea god, wouldn’t have been able to do that.

However, no matter how much he blamed Eom So-yeon, the most oblivious person was himself.

She must have been visibly ailing throughout the filming. Even when she fell into an unusually deep sleep in the car on the way back to the lodging, he had failed to notice.

Seo-jun was furious with himself for his insensitivity and even more so at the sight of Jo In-ha, who had been by So-yeon’s side.

But self-reproach and dealing with Jo In-ha, who had been hovering around Eom So-yeon, were matters for later.

With his brows furrowed, Seo-jun unbuttoned the top buttons of his dress shirt and rolled up his sleeves above his elbows. He then focused entirely on bringing down her fever.

He changed her sweat-soaked clothes, applied ice packs to various parts of her body, such as behind her knees and under her arms, and thoroughly moisturized her parched lips with oil and hydration.

Not long after, the doorbell rang.

Manager Bong, who didn’t even step into the room, handed over the medical supplies that Seo-jun had instructed him to bring and then left.

She couldn’t even groan, only letting out faint, shallow breaths. Her veins were barely visible, but Seo-jun managed to locate them in one attempt, insert the IV needle, and administer the medication. Only then could he take a moment to breathe.

After some time, her body, which had been overwhelmed by the high fever, seemed to begin recovering. However, it wasn’t time to let his guard down yet. The fever would likely fluctuate throughout the night.

In the deep blue dawn, after the dark night had receded, her small frame, slightly regaining consciousness, stirred. But she soon fell still again, sinking into a deeper state of unconsciousness. It wasn’t unusual, given that a sedative had been administered.

“Yes, sleep more.”

Having stayed up all night, Seo-jun finally seemed to relax a little as he lay down beside her.

The soft, rhythmic sound of her breathing was oddly pleasant to hear. Seo-jun pulled So-yeon closer into his arms, holding her tightly.

Then, he slowly closed his fatigue-laden eyes. With a shoot scheduled in three hours, he needed to get at least a little rest.

Whatever he was thinking, the expression on Seo-jun’s face as he closed his eyes was peaceful.

They say stolen apples taste sweeter, but this wasn’t exactly like that. Being with her like this made it feel as if she truly belonged to him. Cherishing her as though she were a part of him, someone more like him than himself.

There could be nothing more gratifying than that.

***

Early in the morning, Seo-jun called Yeo Do-soon to his room for a discussion.

According to the schedule, Eom So-yeon was supposed to leave Cadiz today. However, her physical condition made that impossible.

After hearing from Do-soon that she was planning to delay her return to Korea and travel for a while, Seo-jun nodded, understanding the unavoidable circumstances, and said:

“Whether it’s the planned trip or returning to Korea, Eom So-yeon’s current condition isn’t fit for long-distance travel.”

He firmly stated that moving immediately was out of the question.

“So-yeon is generally healthy, but when she gets sick, she becomes severely ill, as if she’s on the brink of death. When do you think she’ll be able to fly? I need to reschedule the flight tickets.”

“It would be best if she could take as much rest as possible, but staying in this bustling area isn’t an ideal solution either.”

He had already scouted a suitable location the previous night. A place where Eom So-yeon could rest comfortably, and where he could take care of her while continuing the drama shoot.

“I have a good idea, but let’s discuss it after I return.”

“So, are you saying we just need to trust you, Director?”

“Of course.”

It turned out that being handsome wasn’t all there was to him. He was far more considerate than she had initially thought. Feeling quietly proud to be a fan of Tae Seo-jun, Do-soon saw him off to the door as he left for the shoot.

“Take care and… huh?”

Even after bowing and raising her head late, Seo-jun was still standing there.

“Is there something else you’d like to say…?”

Scratching his forehead lightly with his long fingers, Seo-jun flashed a warm smile.

“No, nothing. Anyway, see you later.”

“Haha, yes.”

Although he would return before sunset, his feet felt unusually heavy. Still, it was reassuring to know that Yeo Do-soon would be there for Eom So-yeon. Seeing Do-soon’s cheerful face eased his worries, allowing him to walk away without too much burden.

A couple of hours later.

Seo-jun appeared on the sandy beach, looking like a valiant warrior.

With dozens of majestic horses and numerous extras, the coastal set for the horse-and-carriage chase scene was nothing short of spectacular, showcasing the full extent of their efforts.

“Alright, the shoot begins in 5 minutes! Security personnel, keep blocking vehicles from entering the coastline. Riders, gather behind the flag!”

At the staff member’s announcement through the megaphone, everyone on the set moved in perfect sync, maintaining a sense of tension.

Seated on the carriage, Tae Seo-jun suddenly thought he could smell Eom So-yeon’s scent lingering faintly at the tip of his nose. It wasn’t surprising since he had spent the entire night by her side. Yet, the fleeting longing he felt didn’t stop at the fragrance—it spread rapidly, growing larger and larger.

Would it make him crazy to say he was happy all night?

Would it make him a fool to admit he felt better being by her side while she groaned in pain than at any other time?

Perhaps, he thought, that was exactly the case.

***

Eom So-yeon was in the room Tae Seo-jun was staying in.

Although this wasn’t information directly from Jo In-ha, who had left Spain immediately yesterday, the story eventually made its way to Yoo Jung-hwa’s ears.

Having spent the day at the hotel used by the drama production team under the pretense of being close to Oh Min-jung, Yoo Jung-hwa had been waiting for an opportunity to meet Tae Seo-jun.

But what kind of turn of events was this?

There were surely hospitals in Cadiz where that girl could have been admitted. So why was she staying with him? If the rumors were true, wouldn’t this mean that Tae Seo-jun was openly declaring his relationship with Eom So-yeon—the woman who had already caused a media frenzy? That would leave her, Yoo Jung-hwa, as nothing more than a dog chasing chickens.

She couldn’t believe Tae Seo-jun would be taken away by some single mother. The idea was so absurd that Jung-hwa, unable to accept it, stormed toward Seo-jun’s room.

By coincidence, Seo-jun had just stepped into his suite. Assuming the person ringing the bell was Manager Bong, he opened the door.

But in that brief moment, Jung-hwa barged in uninvited, striding straight toward the inner bedroom as if to verify who was lying on the bed.

“You two… you’re not really dating, are you?”

Seeing Eom So-yeon asleep on the large bed, Jung-hwa immediately demanded an answer.

“She’s sick, and is in abroad, so you’re just taking care of her out of pity, right?”

“…”

Completely flabbergasted, Seo-jun could only glare at Jung-hwa, silently signaling her to leave.

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Seo-jun, you’re not the type to date just anyone!”

“You’ve got it wrong. I’ll date anyone. As long as it’s not you, Yoo Jung-hwa.”

“Don’t be like that. Can’t you give me another chance? I’ve missed you so much, Seo-jun. To the point of dying.”

“…”

“Come back to me. If you’re still angry, I’ll wait patiently until you’re not.”

“…”

What was this nonsense? 

Seo-jun found himself at a loss for words, letting out a dry chuckle.

An ex-girlfriend from long ago had suddenly appeared, begging him to take her back. 

Could he possibly revisit a breakup from the past? Was he wavering now?

The truth was, So-yeon had been listening to their conversation. Though still in a daze, the low and sharp tones of their voices pierced her ears. Yet, it was an awkward situation where she couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes.

Earlier, when she briefly regained consciousness, she had told Yeo Do-soon something. No matter how sick she was, no matter how much she feared people’s gossip, she wanted to return to Korea as soon as possible. For that reason, Do-soon was currently preparing for their departure in a room downstairs.

But now, the voices were gone.

It was only when she opened her eyes that So-yeon realized the two were no longer there. Left alone, her mind began to race with all sorts of thoughts.

Were they starting over? Had they gone somewhere else together, leaving me behind? Was I really just an obstacle in their way?

Ha, she couldn’t make sense of anything…

Had my resentment turned into pain, or had my pain created resentment? 

She couldn’t distinguish what came first. Her body and mind, both worn out, ached even more. Her temperature spiked. With every tick of the clock, her chest felt increasingly suffocated and distressed.

But what was this feeling of wanting to see him, thinking it might ease her pain? Waiting and waiting for him to return, So-yeon eventually drifted back into unconsciousness.

Much time had passed.

Seo-jun, checking her temperature, sat by the bed.

His long, straight fingers brushed over her round forehead, pushing her disheveled hair behind her ear. Feeling his delicate touch, So-yeon couldn’t hold back the surge of sorrow and tears that welled up despite her efforts.

A tear slipped through her long lashes and rolled down.

“Eom So-yeon… open your eyes.”

Seo-jun seemed to already know. That though she had been sleeping, her consciousness had been intact all along.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were unwell?”

“…”

So-yeon opened her weary eyes and looked at Seo-jun. She wanted to ask where he had been with Yoo Jung-hwa and what they had done. But the words lingered on the tip of her tongue, unspoken.

She held them back, fearing she might cry, fearing she might seem weak, fearing she might reduce herself to petty jealousy without any right to feel that way, fearing her suppressed sadness might spill out again.

“Don’t want to answer?”

“…”

“Then just listen. You’re very sick right now. Sick enough that it wouldn’t be strange if you were hospitalized.”

“…”

“So, at least until you recover, stay with me.”

“…”

You don’t need me. You’ll be fine without me. But I can’t do the same. I can’t manage without you. Yet, rather than struggling by your side, I’d rather miss you from afar. I think that would be better.

These words, too, remained unspoken. But Seo-jun’s tightly pressed lips seemed to understand what she meant.

“So, even in this condition, you’re determined to leave?”

“…I’ll go.”

That was all she could say…

Go?

His gaze lingered in the air, as if contemplating something deeply. With a sigh laced into his calm voice, Seo-jun spoke.

“Let me ask you one thing. You and I… is this the end? Truly the end?”

“…”

“Can you live well without seeing me, Eom So-yeon?”

No. It was the opposite.

She couldn’t live well without seeing him.

But she had reasons why she must. She didn’t want to burden someone who could never truly be hers, someone who would inevitably drift away, someone who didn’t know how to yield but could embrace.

Even if she could hold onto him by using their child, how could her life be happy like that? He, too, was holding onto her now because something was missing in him. Once that void was filled, he wouldn’t look only at her.

So, ending it here, ending it with the beautiful memories of Malaga, was the right choice.

She believed it was the right choice.

At least, she thought so.

So-yeon, too exhausted to discern whether her judgment was correct, finally nodded weakly.

…Yes.

That was her answer.