40 – 40.
People each have their own unique scent.
Some describe it as the scent of fabric softener, while others call it ‘body odor’.
In the case of Hanyeo-won, she had emitted the same scent since becoming an adult. It was reminiscent of the perfume I had given her on her coming-of-age day. She still carried the same scent. It meant she was still wearing the perfume I had given her.
“Should I put it here?”
“…Do as you please.”
Feeling inexplicably pleased, I set the table with a mischievous smile.
It consisted of fried snacks, soju, beer, and coffee-flavored peanuts that she liked.
“Why don’t they sell coffee peanuts in this neighborhood?”
Thanks to that, I had gone around several convenience stores, and I considered myself lucky to have found them. I glanced at her sitting on the bed, feeling relieved.
Her gaze was fixed on the well-prepared table.
She seemed to want it too.
“Come and sit.”
“…You can eat it.”
When I gestured, she stubbornly turned her gaze away.
“Hey, how can I eat all of this by myself? Just have a little, just a little.”
With a pop, I opened the beer bottle and poured it into a round ice cup I had bought from the convenience store.
Then, I approached her, forcibly grabbing her hand and leading her to the table.
“Just taste it for real. I won’t force you to eat more. Okay? I purposely bought only the things you like.”
“……”
And so, reluctantly, she took her seat at the table.
I chuckled and filled her glass with soju, making sure it was overflowing.
A 7:3 ratio of beer to soju, her favorite mix.
“There you go. Another hard day’s work!”
As I handed her the same glass, I subtly raised my glass for a toast.
“……”
For a while, she just stared at me with her glass in hand…
And then, in one swift motion, she brought the glass to her lips.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
The once-full glass was emptied in an instant.
“Phew.”
Hanryowon exhaled a cold breath, placing the glass back on the table and giving me a quick glare.
It felt like she was saying, “What are you doing if you’re not drinking?”
“…You’re fast.”
I quickly followed suit, emptying my glass while she looked on.
“Ugh.”
As I swallowed the alcohol that burned my throat, she snatched the glass away and began refilling it herself, pouring in more soju this time, in a 9:1 ratio.
Of course, the soju was the 9.
“Hey… if I drink like that, I’ll die tomorrow.”
“That’s what I’m telling you.”
“….”
I lost the words to say and silently watched her actions.
And soon after, she handed me a completed glass and immediately started gulping it down as if someone was chasing her.
“Hey.”
I had to stop her.
“Have some snacks and drink. You’ll be upset if you don’t.”
I picked up a fried snack with a fork and offered it to her.
“….Hoo….”
With a bitter expression, she emptied the second glass as well. As I tried to hand her the snacks, she discreetly glanced at the spilled coffee peanuts that I had left on the side.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to drink?”
“…Let’s drink slowly and talk.”
“I won’t say anything until you finish that.”
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“….”
Hanryeowon put on a determined expression and laid out her ultimatum.
It was only then that I understood the meaning behind the glass of alcohol she had made.
This was a punishment.
Literally, it was the ‘punishment’ she was giving me.
“…Let’s accept it sweetly.”
Closing my eyes tightly, I grabbed the glass and, holding my breath, quickly emptied it.
“Haah…!”
And in that moment, as I desperately tried to erase the lingering alcohol from my system, I hastily reached for the side dish.
“Here.”
Hanryowon nonchalantly extended a piece of deep-fried food.
Even amidst the overwhelming alcohol, a faint sense of gratitude washed over me.
“Thank you.”
“…….”
From then on, the drinking session continued with a normal pace.
“It’s delicious.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Hanryowon also began to eat, drawing strength from the food and the intoxication. Finally, we were able to engage in a conversation that felt more genuine.
“Maybe things will get better.”
I cautiously brought up a slightly serious topic, keeping an eye on the atmosphere.
“…How have you been while I was gone?”
“…I’ve been going to work just like before. Working like a maniac, coming home to cry and sleep. And then going back to work.”
“……”
“…There was a point where I even thought about dying…”
Hanryowon casually replied, but then suddenly looked at me before quickly averting her gaze.
“…But, I didn’t die.”
Her calm tone pierced through me with a sense of guilt.
“…Maybe I should just turn back. Why did it have to be…”
“……”
“Sorry. Let’s pretend I didn’t hear anything just now.”
Hanryeowon, who had poured out resentful soliloquies, sipped her drink with a troubled expression.
It was a face that seemed to waver between anger and sadness.
“Ryeowon.”
“……”
“I still only have you.”
“Forget it.”
“I’m serious. I can swear to it.”
With a serious expression, I firmly held her hand on the table.
Hanryeowon simply watched our clasped hands in silence.
It’s true that I’m a terrible person. And it’s true that I cheated on you for your sake, even though it’s all just an excuse.”
“……”
“I know it’s hard to understand logically, but the situation I’m in right now is just as illogical.”
“……”
“I was summoned by my ex-girlfriend, who was obsessed with me, and I was even imprisoned, unable to contact you. You know what she said? She said she would let me contact you if I got back together with her.”
“……”
“At first, I just endured it forcibly, but I kept thinking about you.”
“…So, did you sleep with her?”
“Ah, I’ll keep doing it until she’s satisfied.”
I grip her hand tightly, putting all my strength into it.
I hold her hand even tighter and appeal to her sincerely.
“Thanks to that, I’m right here in front of you.”
“….”
“I guess I’ve really crossed the line. Should I just sit here like this?”
“…You’re shameless.”
“Yeah, I’m shameless. Trying to win back my ex-girlfriend by hanging out with two girls. I’m doing my best.”
“….”
The venom in Hanryeowon’s eyes, which used to be full of hostility, was no longer there.
She didn’t try to let go of my hand.
Although my heart had already moved on, it felt like I was denying my emotions.
“If you really don’t have any feelings left, I’ll give up cleanly too.”
“….”
“But… if there’s even a little bit of lingering affection, let’s give it another try.”
“….”
Hanryeowon looked at me with increasingly reddened eyes.
And then, with a voice that suppressed her emotions, she said:
“Why are you like this?”
“….”
“How much more do you want to make me suffer?”
“……”
“Lately, all I hear around me is talk about you. Everyone passing by says that you and that woman are meant to be.”
“……”
“And what about me? How do you think I feel when I hear those stories?”
“…Ryeowon.”
“Every time I hear those stories about the century’s couple or whatever, it feels like my heart is being torn apart. It’s driving me crazy, making me want to just die.”
“……”
“But…if I die, I won’t be able to see you.”
Her eyes were moist, and she struggled to hold back her tears as she bit her lip.
She looked so pitiful.
“…Ryeowon.”
I moved closer to her and hugged her tightly.
Fortunately, there was a two-seater sofa set up next to my room.
“I’ll do better from now on.”
“……”
“I have nothing else to say. I’ll take better care of you.”
“…Hmph…”
“Give me a chance.”
In the end, Hanyeowon couldn’t hold back her tears any longer and buried her face in my embrace.
I consoled her with all my heart, comforting her.
“You can blame me. If you want to kill me, I’ll gladly die. So please stay by my side.”
She sobbed sorrowfully, and I held her tightly.
“…Huk…you…damn jerk…sniff…”
“You know bad guys are popular, right? You got the wrong guy.”
Playfully patting her head, she pinched my back and expressed her dissatisfaction.
I stayed quietly by her side until her tears subsided.
After a while, she spoke softly.
“…I really wanted to see you.”
“Me too.”
“I missed you so much…but now that I see you, I’m angry.”
“You have every right to be.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.”
We embraced each other, finally sharing the warmth we had been missing for so long.
Until our mingled emotions, heightened by the alcohol, completely melted away.
I couldn’t help but think that the phrase “fated love” might not refer to Hanryeo-won and me.
“Do you want another drink?”
“…No. I’m full now. What about you?”
“I’m good too.”
We were having various conversations until the late dawn, and we decided to go to bed for our next schedule…
The sight of the spread-out drinking glasses in her room bothered me.
It was too much of a hassle to clean up right away, and the smell of food wasn’t exactly pleasant.
“Sleep in my room.”
So, I called her into my room.
“…Sleep together?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you telling me to be your ‘national fiancée’ now?”
After being called the “national husband,” being called the “national fiancée” was quite dizzying.
“It’s not a big deal. From now on, just call me your husband.”
“What…?”
“We should have a unified title so that our names won’t get confused.”
I looked at her with a puzzled expression and tried to bring her into the room, smiling.
“Let’s go.”
But at that moment…
“Just a moment.”
She grabbed my hand and spoke with a serious expression.
“I haven’t completely made up my mind yet. …I won’t do it tonight.”
In other words, it meant that it wasn’t a definite reunion decision, so she asked me not to interfere tonight.
“I never said I would do it.”
“…Huh?”
“If you wanted me to do it, you should have said so.”
Playfully wiggling her finger, she reached out her hand and pointed to her chest.
Her sharp gesture made the corners of my mouth rise involuntarily.
“Alright. I’ll go easy on you tonight and just hold your hand. Is that fine?”
“…Really?”
“Really. You should have some time to think too.”
Hanryewon followed me with a meaningful gaze, but she looked elegant.
That day, we really just held hands and peacefully fell asleep.
…Strangely enough, it was the next day when I found a box of 10 “vitamins” in my room.