Chapter 1 (Part 1)

Scritch-scratch.

At a time when everyone is asleep, the large clock on the wall pointed to 3 a.m. A spacious studio in a university’s interior design department. The space was cluttered with various papers, pencils, and rulers on each desk. Only the sound of sanding echoed between the desks.

The two sounds of sanding mingled, advancing and retreating, until suddenly one stopped. As one sound ceased, the owner of the remaining sound also halted. The owner of the hand was Jinwon.

Turning his head, he saw In-ah slowly leaning forward with her eyes closed. Nodding off. She sleeps so soundly.

Watching In-ah quietly, Jinwon’s lips curled into a smile. Then he gazed endlessly at her as if stars were in his eyes, now resting his chin on his hand.

Unable to resist any longer, he slowly reached out to In-ah. He gently tucked her fallen hair behind her ear.

At that moment, In-ah’s head tilted forward. Surprised, Jinwon caught her head with his hand.

In-ah, who opened her eyes languidly on Jinwon’s palm, smiled broadly.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Hehe. Because I like it.”

‘Smooch!’

In-ah kissed Jinwon’s lips lightly and pulled away.

He widened his eyes in surprise, then immediately went straight for In-ah’s lips.

‘Smooch!’

In-ah’s eyes, now fully awake, changed as she wrapped her arms around Jinwon’s neck and pressed her body closer.

Jinwon, not backing down from her vigor, embraced her movements. He wrapped one arm around her waist and the other hand cradled her head, holding her entirely.

As their lips locked intensely, In-ah, overwhelmed by his strength, was pushed back.

‘Thud!’

In-ah, pushed back, hastily grabbed the desk. Her bag on the desk fell to the floor, spilling its contents through the open zipper.

The strength in Jinwon’s hand, which was holding her waist, loosened.

“It’s okay. We can clean it up later.”

Despite In-ah’s words, Jinwon started picking up the bag with a smile. In-ah, who was watching him with regretful eyes, suddenly widened her eyes as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

In Jinwon’s hand was a ‘Maternity Handbook’ prominently displayed. In-ah quickly snatched it away, but it seemed it was already too late judging by Jinwon’s expression.

“Let’s go. It’s too late.”

In-ah gathered her things and left the studio, leaving Jinwon behind.

***

Hearing about the incident between In-ah and Jinwon that dawn, Hae-jeong jumped in surprise.

“So? You just said it was yours? Why?”

“He was really shocked.”

“Of course he was shocked, wouldn’t you be? Hand it over quickly.”

In-ah took out the Maternity Handbook from her bag and handed it to Hae-jeong. The cover of the Maternity Handbook read ‘Mother’s Name: Kang Hae-jeong.’

“You should have said it wasn’t yours right away. What if you get caught in my storm?”

“But thanks to me, you didn’t get caught by your mom yesterday, right?”

“Even if I get caught, I should have avoided it yesterday. It was Mom’s birthday. I appreciate that.”

In-ah nodded with a bitter expression. Seeing her like that, Hae-jeong pressed further.

“Call him now. Tell him you’re not pregnant.”

“In a few days.”

Hae-jeong stared at In-ah with a dumbfounded expression.

“Why on earth?”

“His expression was strange. The expression on his face when he held the maternity notebook.”

“Of course it was strange. Wouldn’t it be strange for you?”

In-ah shook her head as if trying to shake off the thought.

“Anyway, I don’t like it. Let him think a little more.”

“You’re being unnecessarily stubborn.”

Hae-jeong narrowed her eyes as if she couldn’t understand. In-ah pouted her lips at Hae-jeong.

“I’ll tell him soon. I just want to see how he reacts a bit more.”

“What if he tells you to get rid of the baby?”

In-ah’s face turned pale in an instant. It was a reaction she hadn’t even considered. Surely noy. The Jinwon oppa she loves isn’t that kind of person.

Despite In-ah’s frozen expression, Hae-jeong continued her passionate rant.

“Think about it. You’re both still students. If the pregnancy were real, wouldn’t it be a big deal?”

“Still, he wouldn’t do that, surely.”

Even as she answered, In-ah thought she should clear up the misunderstanding quickly.

***

A few days later, in the late afternoon.

In-ah was already feeling uneasy, but then Jinwon contacted her to meet. In-ah clapped her hands. She needed to clear up the unnecessary misunderstanding right away.

As she entered the café, she spotted Jinwon sitting in a corner. In-ah’s heart raced. A shadow of despair seemed to hang over his face.

As soon as In-ah sat down, she spoke.

“I had something to tell you too. How did you know and call me? Hehe.”

“…….”

In-ah felt her mouth go dry. Something was off. A primal feeling enveloped her. Jinwon spoke heavily.

“I have something to tell you.”

“I do too. Can I go first?”

“Sorry, but let me go first.”

In-ah’s mind went blank. 

What is this atmosphere? 

Jinwon oppa’s expression and tone felt unfamiliar, like a stranger. Just as she swallowed nervously with a tense expression.

“……Let’s end it here.”

“…….”

A whirlwind began to stir in her blank mind. The sound of a fierce whirlwind crashed into her ears.

Much time had passed. In-ah’s lips finally parted.

“……Is it because of that notebook you saw last time? Is that why you’re doing this now?”

“…….”

Silence was said to be an affirmation. The whirlwind in In-ah’s mind suddenly stopped. Her face turned pale as if frozen.

“……Is it because I’m pregnant? You’re breaking up with me?”

“…….”

Suddenly, as if someone had covered his mouth, Jinwon said nothing.

Now, instead of surprise and shock, anger filled In-ah’s face.

“Then what about the baby? Are you telling me to handle it on my own?”

“I’m sorry.”

In-ah felt as if all the blood had been drained from her body. Who is this man? Where did the man who cherished and loved her for the past year or more go?

Tears welled up in In-ah’s eyes. She quickly wiped them away with her hand, fearing they would fall. Then she stood up abruptly.

Jinwon’s eyes widened in surprise at In-ah’s sudden reaction. But that was all.

“Fine, let’s do that. Let’s pretend the pregnancy never happened. Is that what you want?”

“…….”

Seeing Jinwon lowering his head, In-ah gave up on clearing the misunderstanding. This man threw away her feelings, and the non-existent child, like a worn-out shoe. So, what does it matter if it’s a misunderstanding or not in this situation?

Jinwon neither stopped nor chased after In-ah as she stormed out.

In-ah stopped abruptly after leaving the café.

“Ha.”

A hollow laugh escaped her lips. At the same time, tears began to pour uncontrollably. The fact that her first love ended so suddenly and emptily was unbearably sad.

***

Seven years later.

On a weekend morning, In-ah was leisurely deciding whether to order lunch while looking at a delivery app.

A loud noise came from outside the front door. At first, it was just a woman’s shrill voice, but then came a dull thud. Immediately after, the woman’s voice increased in decibels.

The sound came from the hallway of the officetel where In-ah lived alone. It was structured so that noise from the hallway could be heard inside.

In-ah put down her phone and perked up her ears. This time, the dull thud sounded louder. It was definitely the sound of someone being hit!

In-ah turned pale and pressed her ear to the front door. Now it was a man’s shouting voice! In-ah bit her nails and started pacing.

“What should I do? What should I do? Oh, the security office!”

In-ah immediately pressed the intercom to call the security office. But there was no response. 

Should I report it to the police?

To do that, she needed to check the scene directly. She hadn’t seen the assault herself.

In-ah quickly looked around the house. She opened the sink cabinet and took out a frying pan, gripping it tightly. After taking a few deep breaths, she cautiously opened the front door.

Peeking out into the hallway, she saw, unsurprisingly, a man threatening a woman crouched in a corner with his fist raised.

In-ah was so startled that she dropped the frying pan she was holding. At that moment, a man’s voice was heard.

“Move. Aren’t you moving? Move while I’m asking nicely.”

The focus of everyone’s gaze, who were peeking out of their front doors and trembling, was on one man.

He blocked the man threatening the woman and stood confronting him.

The thug, who had been snorting because the man wouldn’t budge, suddenly turned around and went back into his house.

“Whew…….”

In-ah unconsciously sighed in relief. But the next moment, the man came back out of the house. Holding a kitchen knife.

“Why interfere in someone else’s business and make a fuss?”

The moment the thug lifted the hand holding the knife, sneering with one side of his mouth raised.

‘Whoosh—’

“Ah! What the hell!!”

In-ah had run out with a fire extinguisher from her house and sprayed it on the man. In the meantime, the man who had fallen due to the fire extinguisher smoke had his knife taken away by the other man.

The only man who stepped up to save the assaulted woman. In-ah, breathing heavily in fear, cast her gaze on the man’s face.

The whole hallway looked like a winter wonderland, covered in extinguisher powder.

The entire hallway looked like a winter wonderland with fire extinguisher powder gently covering it like snow. The man, who looked like he was in a photo shoot even as he shook his head to clear the white powder from his hair, lifted his head in what seemed like slow motion. And then.

In-ah couldn’t believe her eyes. That man was Jinwon. The very man who had dumped her and disappeared seven years ago.