Chapter 2 (Part 7)

Inside the hotel elevator. Standing side by side, In-ah and Jinwon were enveloped in heavy silence.

When they reached In-ah’s room, Jinwon simply said, “Rest.” 

Was he going to run away without any explanation again? 

In-ah decided not to just turn away like she did seven years ago.

“I think we need to talk, Team Leader.”

Jinwon turned his head to look at In-ah intently before responding.

“Shall we move somewhere else? How about going to the bar downstairs?”

Instead of answering, In-ah moved towards the elevator, indicating her agreement. Jinwon followed her.

‘Ding!’

Just then, the elevator at the far end arrived with a chime. As the doors opened wide, Shin-hye was visible inside.

Without a word, both In-ah and Jinwon instinctively hid around the corner of the hallway. Neither Jinwon nor In-ah wanted to deal with Shin-hye.

Caught off guard, In-ah and Jinwon hurriedly pressed themselves against the wall, almost intertwining.

In-ah held her breath, her back tightly against the wall, while Jinwon, almost embracing In-ah, managed to brace himself with his arm against the wall.

In the silent situation, as their eyes met, they awkwardly averted their gazes. Jinwon quietly withdrew the arm that was stretched above In-ah’s face.

Shin-hye walked straight to Jinwon’s room and knocked loudly on the door.

“Open up. I know you’re in there.”

In-ah, still leaning against the wall, gestured to Jinwon. It was a strong signal for him to leave quickly.

But Jinwon, pretending not to notice In-ah’s gesture, moved to the wall next to her.

Shin-hye began questioning the silent door.

“Nothing will be resolved by doing this. Let’s talk for a moment. Do you think avoiding it will solve anything?”

In-ah felt as if her legs were giving out and slumped to the floor. Whether it was because of the medication or fatigue, she found it hard to even stand.

Jinwon knelt in front of In-ah, meeting her gaze. His expression was filled with endless concern.

Seeing In-ah’s pale face, Jinwon seemed to make a decision and stood up. He realized that if he didn’t go out and confront Shin-hye, the situation could drag on indefinitely.

At that moment, In-ah grabbed Jinwon’s pant leg. Jinwon stopped moving entirely. At the same time, he felt his mind go blank.

When he looked down, he saw the weary-looking In-ah slowly shaking her head.

Jinwon gave up on leaving and sat down next to In-ah. He gently rested her head on his shoulder. The exhausted In-ah didn’t resist and let Jinwon do as he wished.

Jinwon’s shoulder was still warm, just like it was seven years ago. In-ah quietly closed her eyes. Although anger and hatred remained in her heart, the sudden wave of nostalgic feelings made her chest ache.

At that moment, Jinwon carefully tucked a stray lock of hair behind In-ah’s ear. In-ah, still with her eyes closed, murmured softly.

“Don’t do things like that.”

“Oh? Oh…”

Feeling awkward, Jinwon stiffened and quickly looked straight ahead. In-ah rationalized to herself that she was just borrowing Jinwon’s shoulder because her head felt too heavy.

As she kept her eyes closed, memories with Jinwon rushed over her like waves, and she struggled to push them away. After all, whenever In-ah, who was known for sleeping a lot, had to pull an all-nighter, Jinwon would always offer his shoulder just like now.

In-ah resented herself for recalling memories with Jinwon even in this situation.

As long as she stayed close to this man, such things would keep happening. She realized she needed a plan. But for now, she wanted to hear an explanation about what she had heard earlier.

Just then, Shin-hye, who had been quiet for a long time, issued a final warning.

“This won’t do. I understand you care about your subordinate, but that’s enough. Otherwise, I’ll get angry.”

That woman didn’t know about In-ah and Jinwon’s relationship. Even so, she acted like that. Just thinking about how she would react if she knew made In-ah’s head throb.

***

Fortunately, In-ah and Jinwon managed to sit at the bar without encountering Shin-hye. She had given up and left sooner than expected.

“Thank you. For saving me.”

In-ah spoke first, her voice barely audible. Jinwon glanced at In-ah, who was sitting next to him.

“I don’t think I properly thanked you…”

“Forget it.”

Before In-ah could finish, Jinwon brought his glass to his lips.

In-ah looked at Jinwon with a puzzled expression. Jinwon took a sip of his cocktail and continued speaking.

“You don’t have to thank me, so forget everything that happened that day. And…”

At that moment, a Korean bartender approached and greeted them, interrupting their conversation.

The bartender went into the kitchen. As In-ah watched him, she noticed the kitchen. 

Was that where Jinwon had made the porridge himself?

She turned her gaze away from the kitchen, thinking. 

Yes, let’s erase the memories of that day.

She had conveyed her gratitude, and that was enough.

Jinwon’s chance to thank In-ah for settling for his sake slipped away. Because In-ah spoke next.

“I think an explanation is necessary.”

Jinwon looked at In-ah with a puzzled expression.

“What you said to that woman at the fair earlier. Was it just something you said because of the situation?”

After a moment of contemplation, Jinwon finally spoke.

“If I give you an answer, would it help lessen the resentment you have towards me?”

In-ah let out a hollow laugh and curled up one corner of her mouth.

“Just don’t answer. Let’s end the conversation here.”

As In-ah stood up, Jinwon grabbed her wrist.

“Let go, please.”

“Don’t do this.”

“Do what? What shouldn’t I do?”

Jinwon, feeling powerless against In-ah’s sharp voice, released her wrist. Without looking back, In-ah left the bar.

As she walked away from Jinwon, she thought to herself. She must have been out of her mind for a moment. 

What was I hoping to learn? 

No matter what was said, it wouldn’t change the fact that Jinwon had abandoned her.

‘What was I expecting?’

In-ah swallowed the tears that threatened to rise.