Chapter 35

Haji couldn’t understand Seojin’s behavior standing in front of her now. He clearly knew how much she struggled when she couldn’t find a place to live.

“To tell you the truth, when I went to see the house you were going to contract for, I found out there were a lot of problems with the building.”

Seojin continued speaking, watching Haji standing at the door, ready to leave at any moment. 

“Upon investigation, it turned out to be as I suspected—a poorly constructed building that could collapse at any moment, and the surrounding buildings were the same.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because it was already too late then. You had to move out by a certain time anyway, and you wouldn’t have been able to find another place within that time.” 

As Haji listened to Seojin’s words, what Seonghee had said flashed through her mind. That he wasn’t someone who would act without a plan.

No way.

“Was it all planned? Me moving into your house?”

“……”

The silence was an affirmation.

“How could you do that? I thought you were being considerate of me……” 

That’s what she thought.

It was an indescribable feeling of betrayal. To think he knew from the beginning and hid it. 

“I told you from the start it wasn’t like that. I said it was for my own benefit.”

“Still, you could have told me the truth, couldn’t you? Do you know how hard it was for me…”

“I know. I felt sorry about that. That’s why I tried to get you to move in faster.”

“That’s not what’s important. I’m angry because you deceived me.”

To think that the person who deceived her and prevented her from signing the house contract was him, she felt so foolish for having felt grateful all this time.

“I must have looked like such a fool, not knowing anything.”

“I never thought that.”

“Did you think I was in the palm of your hand?”

“Haji, I……”

Thud, Haji coldly pushed away Seojin’s outstretched hand. At the same time, her reddened eyes pierced Seojin sharply.

“How can I trust someone like this?”

“I wanted to get closer to you.”

“Why? What are we to each other?” 

Seojin didn’t continue speaking at Haji’s fierce words. Seeing this, Haji’s heart felt even more stifled. 

“Why? Was this not in your plan? Do you have nothing to say?”

“It’s not like that. I didn’t mean to deceive you.”

“But you did deceive me. I’ve been deceived all this time.”

Feelings of disappointment, betrayal, and hurt welled up. Perhaps because so many emotions had accumulated over time.

“I know my method was wrong. I meant to tell you, but I missed the timing and carelessly thought it might be okay not to say anything now.”

“You hoped I would never find out, right?”

“That’s……”

As Seojin took a step forward, Haji’s foot stepped back. As if she had no intention of narrowing the distance between them.

“Because I knew you would avoid me. That’s why… I did that.”

Why does he look like he’s the one who’s more hurt? 

Haji looked at Seojin and then turned away from that sight. She clearly knew that the more you rely on and trust someone, the more you get hurt.

She felt foolish for wanting to trust Seojin all this time. After all, there’s no law saying someone who deceived once won’t deceive again.

“Still, you should have told me, Sunbae.”

“I thought I wouldn’t regret it, but seeing you now, I do regret it.”

“It’s too late.”

It was too late. He should have confessed before she found out. In any way possible. 

“I’m going to move out.”

At Haji’s firm words, Seojin’s lips closed tightly.

“I’ll look into it and prepare right away. Know that. And make sure to send me your account number.”

“Haji.”

“How stupid must I have looked, moving according to your plan without knowing anything?”

“That was never the case. Truly.”

Haji pressed her lips tightly and looked sharply at Seojin. She hated all his words.

She felt like she hated this person who created this situation to death. Even more so because he made her expect and feel excited until just a few hours ago.

“So make sure to send me your account number. So I can think that I wasn’t just playing in the palm of your hand, Sunbae.”

“Do you really have to move out?”

“Are you trying to tie me down,Sunbae?”

Haji looked coldly at Seojin, trying to read his mind. She wondered if he wanted to hold her in his arms and make her unable to do anything.

“I wanted to become a comfortable place for you.”

“Well, that failed. You should have known it wouldn’t work this way.”

If that’s what he wanted, it shouldn’t have started like this from the beginning. Because a relationship that starts with deception is bound to crumble.

Haji turned around and put her hand on the doorknob.

“Now, your house has become an uncomfortable place for me.”

Click, as the doorknob went down, Seojin moved quickly.

Thud, his hand blocked the door, preventing it from opening. Haji’s gaze turned to Seojin, who was now right in front of her face.

“Don’t go.”

“Let go.”

“Don’t go like this. Just a little more……”

“You don’t have the right to say this to me now, Sunbae.”

Seojin exhaled softly and rubbed his face dry. As if trying to find something to say.

It was unlike Seojin. To be at a loss for words when with someone.

“You’re always outside my expectations. That’s why it’s difficult. It’s always been difficult, and it still is.”

“Is that why you deceived me?”

“That’s why I’m saying I couldn’t tell you the truth. If I had told you then, you would have maintained just that distance with me.”

Maybe she would have. It wasn’t easy for her to break down the walls of relationships with someone.

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what Seojin was saying, but this was a different issue. It wasn’t a reason to forgive the deception. 

“There must have been other ways.”

“Maybe there were. But there was no immediate way I could see. No matter how many times I appeared before you, there was a wall that wouldn’t disappear for me.”

Seojin brushed Haji’s fingertips and held her pinky. With very little force. 

“Our relationship has changed a bit now, hasn’t it? It’s changed this much.”

“Sunbae, you really……”

Haji exhaled, feeling the strength with which her finger was being held.

“Are a coward.”

Creating a heart that can’t immediately distance itself and then using that heart.

Cowardly Ki Seojin. 

“I’m sorry.”

“I don’t want to forgive lies. Because the trust has been broken, that’s a fact.” 

Haji shook off Seojin’s hand that had been holding hers weakly.

“Let’s take some time apart.”

***

After Haji coldly turned her back and left, Seojin stood there as if frozen.

He was arrogant and foolish. He thought so himself.

There had never been anything that didn’t go according to plan, and he thought it would be the same this time. Even though it was common for things to go beyond expectations when it came to Haji. 

His own preparations were complete, but he was hasty in not having secured Haji’s heart. 

“Ha……” 

Through the slightly open door after Haji left, the floor was visible. The sandwiches she had brought were scattered. 

Seojin walked out heavily and bent his knees.

“Boss, who was that woman from earlier……”

Matthew, who had approached to speak as usual, narrowed his small eyes at Seojin’s strange appearance.

“Are those for us to share?” 

Matthew casually asked, pretending not to notice as he watched Seojin putting the scattered sandwiches back into the shopping bag one by one. 

Without answering, Seojin stood up, and Matthew bumped him with his large body.

“Did you have a lover’s quarrel?”

“Mind your own business.”

“Come on. I was going to tell you a surefire way to make up.” 

Seojin, who was about to enter his room, paused. Matthew, who had said something intriguing, put his hand on Seojin’s shoulder. 

“I’m telling you this because I feel sorry for your lack of experience. Don’t get discouraged just because you had one fight.”

“Do you want to die?”

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down. I know you’re sensitive from the fight, but don’t take it out on me.”

Seojin frowned and shrugged off his shoulder, but Matthew persistently kept his hand on it.

“Listen. It’s not like you’ll lose anything by listening, right?”

“If what you’re saying now is useless, you’ll be the one going on the Jeju Island business trip.”

“Boss, that’s harsh. To a friend who’s sincerely trying to help?” 

Matthew grumbled as if hurt by Seojin’s suspicion, but closed his mouth at the fierce gaze.

“Just say what you have to say.”

“From my experience, if your girlfriend is angry, just apologize no matter what.”

“What?”

Seojin frowned, and Matthew shook his head.

“See? You didn’t apologize, did you? You should have. Just say it was all your fault. If you’re stubborn in a relationship? That’s when it ends.”

“You call that advice? Do you want to go to Jeju Island?”

“You don’t believe me? I’m serious. I really don’t want to go to Jeju.”

Matthew pounded his chest in frustration and spoke seriously about refusing the business trip. Saying he really disliked the Jeju resort project.

“When there’s a fight in a relationship, it’s the most peaceful way to end it. Trust me once.”

“…… How do you apologize?” 

After some consideration, Seojin showed interest in Matthew’s advice. He couldn’t help but be tempted by the word ‘peaceful’. 

“Just say sorry no matter what, and be shameless. Say you like them, love them.”

“Isn’t that being crazy?”

“Hey? Don’t talk if you haven’t tried it. This is all truth coming from experience.” 

Seojin looked at Matthew as if he couldn’t believe it, then shook his head.

“Forget it. Don’t come in anymore. Prepare for the Jeju Island business trip.”

“What? Hey! I gave you really high-quality information!”

Thud, Seojin’s room door closed. Ignoring the cries from outside saying he doesn’t want to go to Jeju Island.

***

In the dusky evening, just before the cafe closed, Hyeseong came in.

“Hyeseong-ssi, you’re here?”

“Hello. Where’s Sehee?”

“She just went to the bathroom.” 

Seeing Hyeseong looking for Sehee as soon as he arrived was now part of the daily routine. 

“Haji-ssi, are you going straight home today?”

“Yes, I’m a bit tired.”

It was clear that Haji’s words weren’t a lie just by looking at her haggard skin.

It seemed that staying until midnight for several days to create new menu recipes, in an attempt to avoid Seojin even after work was done, had taken a toll on her body.

“Haji-ssi, aren’t you going on vacation?”

“Vacation? Well, it’s been so long since I last went…”

In the past, she used to go on trips a few times with Seonghee, but now she’s been too busy to even think about it.

“It’s already the end of June, and you haven’t taken a break this year, right?”

“That’s true, time has flown by so quickly.”

“Do you like Jeju Island, by any chance?”

“Jeju Island?”