Chapter 12: Epilogue

I end up worrying more about others than myself. Some days I feel affectionate, other days I feel tortured, and then I want to muster courage the next day. And then, I feel despair. But I can’t just set aside these feelings. I think it’s love. I love you. Please, just once. Just accept it.

Looking at Gihyun, Minjoo thought of the flower pots Gihyun had left behind. The flowers were placed on either side of the dark hallway. The flowers that glowed against the light when the streetlights were on. The flowers that bloomed in the old, bleak hallway where sunlight never reached because of the walls. She recalled Gihyun passing by that place, and herself sometimes smiling while looking at the flower pots.

Where does love begin?

Minjoo knew well that love isn’t something that can be achieved through effort alone.

Is it because she has become weak that she is swayed by words like love and sincerity?

Minjoo closed her eyes and opened them. The things that had been stuck deep inside her began to flow away gently.

***

Minjoo woke up early in the morning. She quietly dressed herself. Despite her careful movements, Gihyun seemed to have noticed, as he was standing at the door. Minjoo hobbled over to find her crutches. Even though it wasn’t time to go to school, Gihyun was on edge due to her continued preparations to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“To my home.”

“…Why?”

“I’ve been here for a long time.”

“You’re still not fully recovered. Is this because I said something unnecessary yesterday?”

Shadows fell across Gihyun’s face. Minjoo, without responding, struggled to put on her shoes. Gihyun followed, but remained tight-lipped. It seemed he was contemplating how to keep Minjoo from leaving.

“Gihyun.”

At Minjoo’s unusual tone, Gihyun looked puzzled. Minjoo extended her hand. It was a request to be supported. Gihyun helped her, but his face still showed anxiety. Seeing him like this, Minjoo managed a small smile.

“There are flower pots left outside my house. If I leave them there, they might die.”

Gihyun looked confused. Minjoo clarified.

“If it’s okay, I’d like to grow them here. The sunlight here is good, and they should grow well.”

“……”

“I think I’d be more comfortable living here too.”

Understanding the meaning, Gihyun’s expression gradually changed dramatically. Minjoo calmly made her conclusion.

“The house is far from school, and the hill might be inconvenient. If you’re okay with it…”

“…You know.”

Gihyun quickly searched for his car keys. He put the keys in his pocket and assisted the limping Minjoo. Although he looked like he wanted to pick her up and carry her, he was holding back.

On the elevator, in the parking lot, and even when opening the car door, Gihyun’s face was full of excitement. As Minjoo sat in the seat and Gihyun got into the driver’s seat, he started the engine with a face full of emotion. Suddenly, he rested his arms on the steering wheel, hid his face by leaning on his arms, and his shoulders shook.

The man, who had just gained a small piece of his heart, cried with happiness.

***

Minjoo had missed the time to meet with her study group due to copying documents. She was five minutes late but hurried to the assignment room. Breathing heavily, she opened the door. As soon as she opened it, the study group members, except for Minjoo, abruptly stopped talking. Minjoo, puzzled by the unusual atmosphere, greeted them.

“Sorry I’m late. The line at the copy shop was too long.”

“It’s okay, unnie.”

Minjoo set her phone and handouts on the desk and glanced around. The five younger students in the study group were all staring at her. Minjoo sat close and carefully asked.

“…Is something wrong?”

One of the younger students, Chorong, eventually spoke up and whispered cautiously to Minjoo.

“Actually, we were talking about you.”

“Me?”

“Ara said that a man spoke to her while she was walking before.”

“Asked for her number?”

“No, not like that. He said he was a reporter and asked if she knew you and what your reputation was. It was strange, so she ran away.”

“…A reporter?”

Before Minjoo could grasp the situation, Chorong continued.

“I was wondering what a reporter would be interested in you for. Do you remember yesterday when you went with me?”

“Yeah.”

“After we parted ways, I remembered that I hadn’t given you the handouts, so I ran after you. But I saw you talking to someone who looked like a celebrity, and then getting into a car. I was really surprised. I don’t know any celebrities, so I thought maybe it was an unknown actor? Maybe you’re dating a celebrity and the reporter is following you? So, I let it go.”

“…Oh.”

“I was going to ask during the study session, but Ara bought an economic magazine, which is not her usual style. To build some common sense”

Ara on the side was fuming, but Chorong paid no attention. She held up a magazine from the desk and showed it to Minjoo. It was a famous economic magazine Minjoo had heard of. The problem was the magazine’s cover. A familiar man was featured on the cover. The accompanying caption identified him.

“Leading the Trend in Medical Blockchain, Young Leader Park Gihyun”

Only then did Minjoo understand the situation.

Gihyun was a prominent figure leading a trending and successful business, often discussed due to his background and appearance. He appeared in major economic newspapers and even in minor financial publications.

Rumors swirled, from him being focused on business to frequently visiting the university, to his fiancée suffering from depression and needing daily walks, to his future wife being young and planning to marry after graduation, mixing correct and incorrect rumors.

While Minjoo had had a reporter follow her in the past, she thought there were no serious consequences thanks to Gihyun’s quick actions. She hadn’t expected reporters to follow those around her as well.

As Minjoo mentally apologized, Chorong was passionately pointing at the cover.

“Seeing this, I was completely shocked. The person you talked about looks exactly like the celebrity. I told Ara about it, and she asked if that was why the reporter was asking about you. We were so surprised that we had to ask. What’s your relationship?”

“…We’ve known each other since college.”

“Did you just run into him yesterday by chance?”

Minjoo felt she had misbuttoned something while trying to gloss over the question. She gave a faint smile and started handing out the handouts.

“I made the problems difficult today.”

“Unnie, this isn’t about the quiz right now!”

“The exam is the most important thing. Did you all review everything?”

“We’re curious about you. The photos you see seem like they were taken by him, but you don’t talk about that. You always dress so neatly, and it looks like you wear expensive clothes, making us wonder if you’re a rich family’s daughter. We’re all struggling with our studies and feeling depressed, but you seem like you’ll pass the exam with flying colors. You don’t seem to have any shadows, always looking relaxed.”

Minjoo looked at her younger peers, feeling awkward. She wasn’t from a rich family, and while she had improved enough not to show it outwardly, she definitely didn’t lack shadows. Explaining further was complicated due to her history.

Just then, Minjoo’s phone screen changed. The call screen and the name ‘Gihyun’ appeared. The younger students alternated between looking at Minjoo’s phone and the magazine cover. They seemed convinced that the name ‘Park Gihyun’ on the magazine cover and ‘Gihyun’ on Minjoo’s phone referred to the same person. They gave her looks urging her to answer the call. Embarrassed, Minjoo picked up her phone and answered the call.

“Hello?”

– Where are you?

“I’m studying.”

– Until when?

“I think I’ll be done before 6. I’ll study separately after that.”

– Are you having dinner?

“Yeah.”

– Call me when you’re done.

“Okay.”

– I love you.

Minjoo, suddenly embarrassed, couldn’t respond and hung up the phone. Chorong, who had been listening intently, made an annoyed sound.

“Why did you hang up? He said he loves you!”

“…Did you hear?”

“Didn’t you know I have good hearing? I can even hear whispers in front of me. By the way, it’s not just an acquaintance, right? Is this person your boyfriend? If it’s M Corporation, don’t they have a company daycare now? I heard the facilities and curriculum are good, and the treatment is okay.”

“Studying for the exam is more important than my love life. Should I solve this? I’ll tell you later.”

The study group members had deflated expressions from Minjoo’s attack. Minjoo smiled faintly and guided the study atmosphere. Determined to get the information later, everyone accepted the handouts Minjoo provided.

***

After finishing her studies, Minjoo left the school. Even though it was nighttime, the campus was quite bright with many streetlights. A cool breeze blew, and the sound of leaves rustling spread. The autumn night’s ambiance made her feel good. Minjoo looked up at the trees as she walked. The bright full moon was visible through the leaves.

She had seen the full moon from home yesterday as well. She remembered Gihyun asking if she was making a wish when she stared at the moon. At the time, she couldn’t recall what she had been thinking and had postponed answering. Instead, Gihyun had made a wish.

If Cha Minjoo had a wish, he hoped it would come true.

He had joked that concentrating two people’s wishes on one would make it come true. Minjoo felt like it was taking Gihyun’s share, so she asked him.

“What do you wish for?”

What did he say?

“What I wished for has already come true.”

If there was anything more he wished for, it was to be a family with Cha Minjoo, not just a cohabitant. If Minjoo were to fall ill, he wanted to be able to sign the surgery consent form, and if he were to die, he wanted to leave all his property and insurance money to Cha Minjoo.

Gihyun added that and stood beside Minjoo, looking at the moon together.

Recalling yesterday’s memory, Minjoo continued walking. She pondered what she wanted now, whether it was the same as Gihyun’s wish. She tried to listen to her inner voice.

Near the main gate, she saw a familiar figure in the parking lot. The man who had been the hot topic in today’s study session was standing there. Gihyun recognized Minjoo first. As soon as he saw her, he walked over with a bright smile like a young boy. Minjoo also walked toward Gihyun.

The moon and the streetlights were bright.

The night road was no longer dark or gloomy.

The End