episode_0050

One.

Monday, the last day of April. The evening air that surrounds my body is very cozy.

However, Hyeji’s heart as she left the store door was not as warm as the weather.

Normally, I would have gone to meet Hyunwoo with brisk steps, but today my steps were particularly heavy.

It was partly because organizing the store, which I had been working on all morning, was exhausting, but it wasn’t just because of that.

‘Did I do something wrong?’

Hyeji was lost in thought as she walked down the stairs of the subway station. At first she thought it was just her mood, but now she vaguely knew it.

Since yesterday, people’s attitudes have become strangely cold. Unless you were an idiot, there was no way you wouldn’t feel that temperature difference.

In particular, the meaningful words the manager said to her as she left work greetings.

They told me to leave work comfortably from tomorrow without having to leave a greeting.

‘We’re not that close anymore, right? ‘Okay?’

He added that the manager did not have a close relationship with Hyeji, who hesitated.

Because he spoke with a smiling face, at first glance, it sounded like he was being considerate of convenience.

The more I think about it, the more incoherent it is.

How hard was the manager towards him today? But now that we’re not in a solid relationship…

If those words sounded like I was telling you not to say hello from now on and to just quietly go away, maybe I was just mistaken.

While listening to the manager’s words, I realized that there was a bone in his words, but I didn’t have the courage to question it. All I could do was feel sad and grieve at the subtle sarcasm.

“Ugh…”

My current complicated feelings are expressed in a deep sigh. No matter how hard you try to shake off your thoughts, the worries keep coming.

If you think about it, it wasn’t just the manager. Jiyoung was like that too.

He came in after lunch and carefully handed me a few pieces of Dream Cacao, but he refused, saying he had already brushed his teeth. It was a hand that I reached out with some courage, but it became meaningless in an instant.

I don’t know if it was because he was really brushing his teeth or for some other reason, but I couldn’t help but notice his attitude as if he was trying to avoid himself all day long.

“Haaaa…”

Her sighing became louder as she waited for the subway.

Somehow I feel like I am becoming more and more alone. At her first job, her ex-boyfriend served as a kind of stepping stone for her as she was awkward in many ways in social life, but now there is no one to do that for her.

In fact, if you think about it, it was only an exception at that time, and running away from the crowd was actually more common.

Hyeji’s timid personality, always downcast due to the poor home environment in which she lives alone with her grandmother, always made Hyeji alone, regardless of her intentions.

Therefore, the current situation is not that unfamiliar. It was only the neglect and indifference of people who had always followed her around like a label that found her again.

but. Even though.

Being rejected with a sad face still hurts my heart even as an adult. Just because you’re used to being ignored doesn’t mean the sadness becomes dull.

Heji almost burst into tears as he got on the subway, but he held back his tears as he remembered Hyunwoo, whom he was scheduled to meet soon.

I couldn’t wait to hear Hyunwoo’s voice. In the past, she would have cried in her grandmother’s arms, but now the only person who would listen to her story was her older brother.

The more my desire to see Hyunwoo grew, the faster I got off the subway and walked.

The place we decided to meet was in front of Exit 3 of Seoul National University Station.

I guess I arrived first, but I looked around and couldn’t see my brother.

Just when I thought I should make a phone call and ask where it was.

A man walking from afar caught Heji’s eyes.

A man with a tall, straight body who looks great wearing a leather jumper. Anyone could see that it was my brother.

Is it because it’s our first date? I could feel from afar that a lot of effort was put into his clothes and hair. My heart pounded at the sight, and as I stood still, Hyunwoo’s face got closer and closer.

Hyun-woo walks forward with great strides and holds Hye-ji in his arms. A heavy woody perfume emanated from the body.

“I missed you, Hyeji. Sorry for being a little late.”

“Me too… I missed you too, brother. My boyfriend looks really cool today!”

Hyeji was hugged by Hyunwoo and gently kissed him on the lips.

Yes, I had an older brother now. There was one person I loved more than anyone else.

During my school days, old and tattered school uniforms and tight living expenses made even ordinary friendships a luxury.

It’s not the love it is now.

Their breaths touch each other at a distance of less than an inch.

Hyeji closed her eyes, savoring the love she held in her hands.

Spring comes to her gloomy heart. A smile appeared on her face.

2.

Hyeonwoo walked hand in hand with Hyeji and smiled.

Just last night, she was a woman who was drinking urine and squeezing, but seeing her from the outside like this felt new again. I wonder if the gap between yesterday and now makes my sexual desire strangely boil over.

Even if you scold him harshly, it’s like watching a child start shaking when you treat him a little better.

Since it was our first date, we dressed up, but other than that, we didn’t prepare anything in particular.

I just plan to eat together and do some shopping.

The grape mall at Sillim Station was better for a date, but the reason I called her to Seoul National University Station was because I was too lazy to move.

Hyunwoo’s house was located in Cheongnyong-dong between Seoul National University Station and Bongcheon General Market, so having a first date at the Laboum outlet in front of the house was much more convenient than going all the way to Sillim Station.

And regardless of where we were and what we were doing, she was a woman I liked just walking down the street with.

Even now, she was clinging to her side like a leech.

“Oppa~ My oppa~ The perfume smells so good.”

“Looks like you had a hard time today, honey. Why are you acting so foolish?”

Hyunwoo wrapped his arms around her whining shoulders and pulled her closer.

I wasn’t going to hesitate at all if it meant acting as an ideal boyfriend.

As yesterday’s play was harsh, today should have been a turn for rest.

Actually, strictly speaking, the word rest might not be appropriate.

I think it would be more appropriate to call it a warm-up or warm-up before breaking your heart even further.

For Hyunwoo, her current acting was just one of the processes that destroyed her.

“I had a really hard time today. Doesn’t it smell like sweat? I don’t know how many boxes I carried.”

Hyeji whined as she spoke, then frowned slightly. It was because the discord at work that I had forgotten for a while came back to mind.

“Besides that, there was something else that was difficult… I’ll tell you all about it over dinner later. Oppa, please listen to it too.”

Hyunwoo nodded as if he understood and got into the elevator with her.

Today’s dinner is Ashley located at Laboum Outlet. Because it was located on a fairly high floor, the view out the window was worth seeing.

Perhaps because it was a Monday evening, there was no wait.

“Weekday dinner for two, right? Meal time is 2 hours from now. Is there anything else you need?”

“No. Thank you.”

I briefly thanked the part-timer who showed me to my seat and headed straight to the salad bar.

Perhaps because it was Ashley W and not Ashley Queens, the variety of food was limited. Hyunwoo didn’t see much food to eat, but Hyeji was smiling brightly as to what was so exciting.

“Wow… oppa, there’s pizza here too!”

Then, perhaps because the wood-fired pizza corner located in the corner was amazing, he smiled brightly, showing his bright white teeth.

Is this my first time at a place like this, or is it just my first time at this location?

Sometimes you see her as a woman who is as innocent as a child. Just like now, I am happy and excited about even small things.

The innocence that was steadfastly preserved despite poverty and domestic violence. Hyunwoo really liked that innocence.

Just as the feeling of walking on pure white snow that no one has stepped on is special, trampling on innocence that has not been tainted by anything is quite special.

“Sure. He also has his favorite pizza. I’ll bring pizza and pasta, so you can bring whatever else you want to eat.”

Hyunwoo roughly put food she might like on a plate and returned to his seat. As I was waiting for a moment, I saw Hyeji slowly walking up holding a plate.

Her plate on the table is full of cakes, pudding, and fruit.

“Baby, will you eat that and become food? Eat dessert first and then eat it later.”

“A. Of course, I will eat this and eat some more. If you come to a place like this, you have to get your money’s worth!”

Hyeji shouts out brightly with a voice full of motivation. Hyunwoo burst into laughter. Her innocent appearance wasn’t all bad.

“You don’t have to pay the main prize. I’ll buy it for you, so don’t think about money and eat it. If you eat a lot, do you actually get sick of it?”

“Really? You bought pizza yesterday too. I was planning to buy dinner tonight…”

“Is it important who lives there? People with money live there. You say you don’t have any money because it’s the end of the month. Just say thank you and eat.”

“Hehehe… Yep! thank you! I will eat well!”

Hyeji ate the pizza from Hyunwoo’s plate and kept muttering that it was delicious. Even after that, her chattering would not stop.

Workplace stories pouring out of a small mouth. The manager mumbles and says things like blah blah blah.

Although it was quite annoying for Hyeon-woo to listen to a story he had no interest in, he agrees with her as if it were the first day he met her.

“Ssaksu is a yellow bitch. Are you trying to overpower me just because the youngest member came in?”

“I don’t know. If I’m wrong, just tell me. I feel really bad when people are secretly picked on.”

“Sure. He is a strange person.”

“Right? Oh, and do you remember Jiyoung, who I met yesterday? He used to leave work with me. No, that sister too…”

Hyeji’s complaints continue. As he listened in silence, Hyunwoo gradually became more interested.

I couldn’t find out the details, but it seemed like she had quite a bit of trouble at work. The more I listen to her story, the more memories I have from my time in the military come to mind.

When a new soldier was transferred, his every move would be talked about by all members of the unit.

In the process, even small mistakes were greatly exaggerated, and rumors spread widely throughout the unit that new recruits with no sense had arrived, and the new recruits who were the protagonists of the rumors were often followed by unreasonable grumbling and blaming.

Hyeji’s current situation seemed similar to that. I don’t know what mistake she committed, but if systematic bullying started overnight, the atmosphere in the store seems to be as closed as the military.

In Hyunwoo’s eyes, the manager seemed to be the main culprit in everything.

I learned from my time in the military that if one person of poor quality leads the way, it only takes a moment for a public enemy to be created. If it was someone with some influence, like a manager, there was no need to say anything.

so that.

I express my gratitude from the bottom of my heart to the manager whose face I don’t know.

I don’t know the details, but isn’t this an excellent assist? If she is isolated even at work, the only person left for her to lean on is herself.

Contrary to his true feelings, Hyunwoo sympathized with her complaints to some extent.

“That person is a bit too much. I’ll just accept some chocolate.”

“Right? He just flatly refused and didn’t talk to me again after that. So I was a little sad.”

Hyeji’s face gradually darkened, as if she was remembering the situation at that time.

Hyunwoo was glad to see her melancholy after a long time.

A relationship that started from the beginning by alleviating loneliness.

I knew full well that the depression she was emitting was an opportunity to strengthen trust and dependence, so I quickly kept quiet.

“Just tell such a mean person to go away. Even without him, I’m still there, right? You know that I’m always on your side, right?”

“That’s right… Because I have an older brother! All I need is my brother. You don’t need it all.”

She immediately shows blind dependence without even saying a few words. Hyunwoo was satisfied and asked her again.

“Really? Do you love me that much? Do you really just need me?”

“Of course. I really, really love you so much. If it weren’t for my brother, I might have been crying alone today. I feel really fortunate to have an older brother. My brother and I are truly destined.”

Has she already forgotten yesterday’s atrocities, or is her subconscious trying to ignore them? It was amazing that Hyeji could still speak of love even after going through so much hardship.

And destiny. The lame words the woman in front of me uttered so loudly that it made my ears tingle.

In Hyun-woo’s view, her fate was extremely unfortunate. In a situation where everything around her isolates her, the only person she can rely on is herself.

Isn’t it literally no different from a lamb thrown before the wolves?

It’s so funny that he’s the only one talking about his fate without knowing the circumstances, it makes me burst out laughing just looking at him.

At this rate, it makes one wonder if her fate is to become his own sex slave.

“I think so too. We are destined. That’s right, honey… it’s my destiny. I love you too.”

Hyunwoo looked at her and smiled so brightly that her eyes were dazzling.

If this is her fate. I was willing to submit to that fate.