Chapter 2.5

Late in the afternoon, Hae-soo, holding her phone, appeared through the front door. 

“So, you really took the key without your father knowing?” 

－……Yeah. 

“Ha, why would you go that far? I told you to just ask your father about it.” 

Hae-soo let out a sigh. Even though she knew In-ah would feel uneasy after this, she couldn’t hold back. 

This proved that there wasn’t even a small lie in In-wook’s words. It also became almost a given that she would have no choice in the matter going forward. 

Well, it had already been a full day since she started sharing the same space with In-wook. 

－It’s your first sabbatical trip, and I wanted to do something for you. Besides, even before you left, you were so excited about how beautiful Hallstatt would be. I wanted you to spend good times in a nice house, at least…… 

The voice coming through the phone sounded quite dejected. Though it was a reaction Hae-soo had fully expected, hearing it directly made her feel uneasy. 

“Okay, I get it. I’m really grateful for your thoughtfulness. But I feel bad because it seems like I’ve put you in an awkward position. It doesn’t sit right with me.” 

－If that’s the reason, don’t worry about it. It’s not like it’s a second house in Korea. You know dad isn’t the type to be so idle as to care about the key to a second house in Austria. 

Hae-soo bit her lip. Frustration naturally welled up into a sigh. The reply she got was overly cheerful. So cheerful that she wondered if it was okay to be this carefree in such a situation. 

It seemed In-ah had no idea that her brother had come to Hallstatt on a business trip. If she knew, she wouldn’t have responded so casually. 

“That’s true. Now that I hear it, you’re right.” 

－Exactly. So don’t even dream of worrying about this, and just relax and enjoy your time there. 

“Got it. But just in case your father finds out the key is missing before I return, tell him I begged you so earnestly that you had no choice. Okay?” 

Hae-soo inwardly traced the character for patience several times while sparing no effort in her request. Since things had come to this, she wanted to resolve it as much as possible on her end to prevent In-ah from getting into trouble. 

Though the process wasn’t pretty, it was clear that this was done out of consideration for her. 

－That won’t happen, but even if something blows up here, I’ll handle it myself. So, Yoon Hae-soo, please stop worrying about such things and just enjoy your trip to the fullest. Okay? 

Even just from the words that followed, it was evident. In-ah genuinely hoped that Hae-soo’s first sabbatical trip would be filled with only joyful moments. 

On top of that, it seemed she desperately wished for Hae-soo to leave behind all the stress she had accumulated in Korea and return refreshed. 

Even though In-ah was naively cheerful, knowing that her one and only friend’s feelings were so sincere, Hae-soo couldn’t add any more complaints. 

“Yes, yes. How could I refuse? Anyway, I’m really thankful for your thoughtfulness. I’ll make sure to bring a proper gift when I return to Korea.” 

－I didn’t cause this trouble expecting something in return, but since my principled friend insists on doing so, I won’t refuse. 

The playful giggle that came through carried a rather smug tone. Though it struck Hae-soo as absurd, causing her to let out a hollow breath, she soon joined In-ah in laughter. 

－Hanging up now. The sun’s just about to rise here. I need to sleep more. 

“Alright. I’ll contact you again.” 

－Yeah.

The conversation, which had started in a rather serious tone, ended on a warm note, unlike its beginning. 

Hae-soo stared at the phone for a moment after the call ended before getting into the rental car. 

Though it pained her to think about the confirmed cohabitation with In-wook for the time being, since things had come to this, she intended to do her best to enjoy the trip. 

As In-ah had said, she didn’t want to half-heartedly conclude her first sabbatical trip since birth. 

Hae-soo took in the beautiful scenery beyond the car window once more before starting the engine. 

Her destination was the bustling area of Hallstatt. 

* * * 

“Must be because it’s a small town; even the bustling area isn’t that big.” 

Hae-soo, having just stepped out of the car, looked around. Just by turning around once in place, she could see most of the shops. 

Restaurants, cafes, a supermarket for the locals, and souvenir shops seemingly aimed at tourists—there were more varied types of stores lined up than she had expected. 

“Where should I go first?” 

Hae-soo scanned the surroundings with narrowed eyes. The most eye-catching was a souvenir shop. The items displayed beyond the glass window looked quite cute and charming. 

Should she visit the souvenir shop first? 

“Hmm, but I’m also craving coffee……” 

A small grumbling sound escaped Hae-soo’s lips as she hesitated. For some reason, she felt torn. But her decision came quicker than expected. 

“It wouldn’t be polite to enter a souvenir shop with coffee in hand.” 

Despite her hesitation, the voice muttering to herself was remarkably cheerful. 

Hae-soo immediately took a step forward. With each step, a bright smile bloomed on her lips. 

It had already been several days since she left Korea, but only now did she feel fully immersed in the sensation of being on a trip. 

Everything felt satisfying. The village scenery filling her view, and even the air of Hallstatt that filled her lungs with every step forward. 

Even the smallest things made her incredibly happy. 

She wanted to be completely intoxicated by that feeling. No, she was already completely intoxicated. 

That’s why, as she passed by a cafe, she failed to notice a child rushing toward her like a charging bull. 

<“Stella!”> 

Hae-soo’s gaze, which had been fixed on the souvenir shop building, turned toward the source of the sound. At that moment, a heavy impact struck her flat stomach. 

“Ugh.” 

Startled, Hae-soo clutched her lower abdomen. But she had no time to tend to herself. It was because of the crying sound that immediately followed. 

<“It hurts. Waaah.”> 

Hae-soo’s head instinctively dropped downward. There, the image of a little blonde girl filled her vision completely. 

Holding her forehead with both hands, the child was crying pitifully. Soon, two foreigners, presumably her parents, rushed over to her side. 

<“Stella, are you okay? Are you hurt?”> 

<“Mom, it hurts so much here. Waaah.”> 

The child immediately burrowed into the arms of her mother, who had bent down to meet her gaze. Pointing to her reddened forehead, she shed crystal-like tears. 

The spot where they collided must have hurt quite a bit. This made Hae-soo feel even more awkward. 

With a slightly flushed face, Hae-soo took a step toward the child. Then, she tried to comfort her by lowering herself to the child’s eye level. 

<“Little miss, are you okay? I should have watched where I was going. I’m sorry. You’re so small and cute that I didn’t notice you.”> 

It was a comment heavy with flattery. But it didn’t seem to sound too bad to the child’s ears. The wary look in her eyes soon began to turn into curiosity. 

Even so, she didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving her mother’s embrace. 

<“Stella, you should apologize to the lady too. You’re also at fault for running out without looking ahead.”> 

The child’s mother calmly soothed her. Only then did the child, who had been hiding in her mother’s arms, peek out and look directly at Hae-soo. 

<“……I’m sorry.”> 

Unlike her curious, sparkling eyes, her voice was timid. The contrasting combination was unexpectedly endearing. 

Unable to hold back a smile, Hae-soo bent her knees and crouched down. Meeting the child’s eye level, she shook her head. 

<“No, it’s my fault for not being careful. Stella, I’m sorry……. Ah, is it okay if I call you by your name?”> 

Though she had unintentionally learned the child’s name, she was cautious about using it. Fortunately, the child nodded. 

<“I’m sorry for not being careful, Stella. Are you hurt anywhere?”> 

<“I’m okay. Stella is brave.”> 

Hae-soo couldn’t help but smile broadly. She couldn’t suppress her grin. The sight of the child declaring her bravery while still having tears welling up between her thick eyelashes was unbearably adorable. 

<“You’re right. You’re such a brave little lady. So, would it be okay if I gave you a little gift, Stella?”> 

<“A gift?”> 

In an instant, the child’s eyes sparkled with excitement. That sight was so lovable that Hae-soo, without taking her eyes off Stella, reached into the bag she was carrying. 

<“Ta-da.”> 

Hae-soo extended her hand toward Stella. The child’s gaze immediately fell to Hae-soo’s palm. Filling her clear eyes was a cutely wrapped candy. 

<“Wow, it’s candy!”>

Before long, Stella, having completely swallowed her tears, strode confidently toward Hae-soo. Even the faint trace of wariness that had lingered seemed to have vanished entirely. 

Hae-soo curved her eyes into a smile and offered the candy to Stella. As she placed it on the small, neatly aligned hands, the few pieces of candy in Hae-soo’s hand seemed to multiply into a handful. 

<“Thank you!”> 

The child beamed with a smile as if she had gained the whole world. Only then could Hae-soo stand up from her spot with a light heart. 

Though it felt a bit late, she offered an apology with her eyes to the child’s parents. She thought this would wrap up the small, unexpected incident. 

That is, if it weren’t for the voice that pierced through her ears just as she was about to leave. 

“Secretary Yoon, what are you doing over there?” 

“……” 

“Secretary Yoon, can’t you hear me?” 

An incomprehensible title was repeatedly flung at her from behind. ‘Secretary’—a word that had no connection whatsoever to Hae-soo. 

Yet, an ominous premonition surged in an instant, stubbornly gripping her ankles and refusing to let go. 

A familiar native tongue, a familiar voice. And even a familiar scent carried by the wind. All of it seemed to suggest that the absurd title of ‘Secretary’ was directed at Hae-soo. 

And after a few seconds had passed, perhaps. 

“Secretary Yoon.” 

Once again, the unfamiliar title rang out. At the same time, an unwanted hand grasped her shoulder, stopping her in her tracks. 

It was the moment that proved beyond doubt that her ominous premonition was not mere paranoia. 

Hae-soo’s head slowly turned back. And the instant someone’s face filled her dark brown eyes, her brow reflexively furrowed mercilessly. 

It was Baek In-wook.