CHAPTER 15 – Hate (Part 1)

I should have packed extra headache pills.

Seo-yeon bit her lip and looked around. She hadn’t remembered to pack her headache pills when she switched to her clutch for the New Year’s gathering. Just then, she spotted Mr. Jung, who was standing on one side of the venue, directing the staff. Seo-yeon walked toward him.

“Mr. Jung.”

“Ah, Manager Yoon. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you. How have you been? Sang-won, serve over there, please.”

Mr. Jung greeted Seo-yeon with a friendly smile, his eyes scanning the staff. He seemed very busy, so she waited a moment before asking him.

“Could I possibly get some headache medicine?”

“Why? Are you feeling unwell?”

“My head hurts a little.”

Seo-yeon replied, and Mr. Jung nodded in understanding. He looked around for a moment to make sure there was nothing else he needed to check, then turned to Seo-yeon.

“Come upstairs for a moment.”

Seo-yeon followed him up the stairs. As they passed through the living room, Mr. Jung spoke quickly as he turned inward toward the kitchen.

“If you’ll sit on the sofa for a moment, I’ll get it for you.”

“No, it’s fine. If you just give me the medicine, I’ll take care of it myself. I know you’re busy, so please go back down quickly.”

The second floor of Yeonwoo Mansion was a place Seo-yeon frequented when she used to act as the chairman’s shopper. She used to exchange greetings seamlessly with Mrs. Lee, who managed the household affairs, including Mr. Jung. So, Seo-yeon also knew where the water bottles were placed.

“Are you sure?”

Right before the start of the party, Mr. Jung, seeming quite busy, opened the kitchen cupboard door and said with a cheerful voice.

“Oh, the water is over there.”

“On the island. I know.”

“Well then, I’ll go downstairs first. Since there’s no one on the second floor, if you don’t feel well, take a short rest and come down later.”

Seo-yeon nodded. After giving her a brief smile, Mr. Jung hurried downstairs. Seo-yeon let out a long sigh and headed to the kitchen island.

On one side of the large island, water bottles and barley tea were always ready. Room-temperature barley tea was always available for the chairman, who loved it.

Seo-yeon placed her clutch on the island. Just that movement gave her a headache. 

Was this how Sun Wukong felt?  (In Journey to the West, Tang Sanzang’s disciples call the spell “Headache Sutra” when Sun Wukong disobeys him.)

It felt like an iron band was squeezing her head, causing her eyes to involuntarily squint.

Pouring barley tea into a transparent glass, she swallowed two Tylenol pills at once and drank some water. Closing her eyes, she pressed the temples with both hands.

I want to leave.

She thought as she pressed her temples. She didn’t want to see her father’s face. She didn’t want to see Sehyun either. She didn’t want to smile at those faces.

She wanted to get away from this place. The tinnitus was getting worse, sounding like sharp violin strings constantly ringing in her ears.

Just a little longer, then I’m going home. I’ve taken some meds, I’ll be fine soon. When I get home, I’ll take a sleeping pill, take a hot shower, and get under the covers and sleep.

Creak.

The sound of the door opening made Seo-yeon turn her head in surprise, and she saw Hwang Dojun coming out of the study across the room. His eyebrows shot up when he saw her.

Please, not now. 

Unconsciously, Seoyeon tightly closed her eyes.

* * *

It was a call from Kim Jae-guk, the head of the Singapore TF team of the Duty-Free Division, to assist on a business trip for four days starting tomorrow. Obtaining duty-free business rights at Changi Airport had been a laborious task since last year, so they planned to make as much progress as possible before the March deployment.

After finishing the call in the study, Dojun absentmindedly opened the door and saw Seoyeon standing in front of the island. The first thought that struck him was how pale Seoyeon’s face looked.

When he looked down, he saw an empty water cup and the wrapper of an empty pill. Dojun asked her.

“Are you sick?”

She didn’t answer right away, so he furrowed his brows slightly. Seo-yeon took a moment to catch her breath, wondering if she was in worse shape than she looked.

“I had a little headache, but I just took some medicine, so I’ll be fine.”

Even with a pallid face, Seoyeon calmly responded to Dojun as if nothing was wrong. It was the familiar Yoon Seo-yeon, calm and collected in every situation.

And that bothered him a lot, especially now. Dojun looked at Seoyeon and asked slowly, 

“Do you want me to call Mr. Lee Sehyun?”

Seoyeon’s eyes showed a moment of tension at Dojun’s provocation before quickly subsiding. Seo-yeon replied with an emotionless face.

“……No, it’s okay.”

“Why not? He seemed quite affectionate towards you.”

Seoyeon’s hand tightened around the edge of the table as Dojun spoke, her knuckles turning white. His gaze darkened significantly. It was a face that seemed eager to test how much she could endure.

“I can handle a headache on my own. Thank you for your heartfelt concern.”

At that, Dojun chuckled. The expression “heartfelt concern” was quite fitting.

Indeed, there was some concern. Standing side by side with an ex, and on top of that, smiling kindly. It did take some effort to maintain composure amidst the chatter about schedules and wedding invitations, it was really concerning. But was it just a concern? It was also extremely uncomfortable.

“You have quite the stomach. Sharing a man with your sister.”

Seoyeon turned her head, eyes wide as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard. Dojun felt a slight thrill at Seoyeon’s reaction. The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

“You pretend to be so uptight, yet you’re fine with the guy who slept with your sister.”

Despicable words tumbled from the man’s mouth. She knows they’re meant to humiliate and shame her. Despite knowing this, her fists trembled.

“Because he’s better than you.”

Seo-yeon lifted her head and looked straight at Dojun. She meant it. Anyone but Hwang Dojun would be fine. Lee Sehyun would be better than someone who arrogantly stirs up trouble.

“Lee Sehyun is better.”

Dojun laughed. He says something she doesn’t know if it’s a question or an affirmation, and then he laughs. Although he was laughing, his face showed no trace of amusement.

“So, what’s next? Are you getting married?”

“Yes.”

Dojun laughs again at Seo-yeon’s answer. Seo-yeon asked in a calmer voice.

“Do you think I won’t be able to do it?”

There was nothing she couldn’t do. If she could turn the tables on the Hwang Dojun in front of her, it wouldn’t just be marrying Sehyun, but something more.

With a wry smile, Dojun stroked his chin. With cold eyes, he approached, placing a hand on the edge of the table as his face neared Seoyeon’s.

“If you’re going to do that, don’t say you’re going to break up.”

He whispered, then spoke harshly.

“I almost believed you.”