Ch.222Side Story – I Became a Heroine After the Pure Love Ending (13)

In the span of two years, Sangmin had risen beyond Seongcheon High School to become a director representing the entire foundation.

Given his position, there weren’t many people who would end a call with him first.

People naturally lower their posture and become more polite

the more they want something from others.

Now, as the representative director of the entire Seongcheon Foundation,

Sangmin was always in the position of having what others wanted,

always the one with the upper hand.

Most people he spoke with always waited for him to end the call first,

in face-to-face conversations they always waited for him to sit down first,

and at meals they always waited for him to pick up his utensils first.

Even Sangmin, who found it awkward at first,

came to accept it as natural at some point.

[Do Hamin Student]

[Call Ended]

[1:36]

“…1 minute and 36 seconds. Even a college entrance interview lasts at least 3 minutes.”

In that sense, Hamin was extremely unusual in his daily life,

firmly rejecting the dinner invitation and even hanging up first.

How rare must it have been for him to stare blankly at the flashing red [Call Ended] message

long after the call had ended?

“…I guess it didn’t work out after all.”

An elegant high-end restaurant decorated with a brilliant golden chandelier.

A seat with an excellent view of the surrounding nightscape.

Sitting in what should have been an exceptionally elegant and relaxed setting,

Sangmin rubbed his troubled face.

“Are you upset? Because he refused to meet even though you reserved seats?”

“It would be a lie to say no. But on the other hand, I’m somewhat relieved.”

“Relieved…?”

“Right after the college entrance exam. The fact that he firmly declined a dinner invitation from the representative director of the foundation of the university he wants to attend means he’s confident he can get in without having to show his face here. In other words, it could be interpreted that he received a very satisfactory score on today’s exam.”

“Wow, you study bugs really do think differently. I can’t believe you interpreted it that way. I naturally thought it was because he didn’t want to eat with a gloomy old man like you on such a good day.”

As mentioned earlier, people become more humble and polite the more they want from others.

From that perspective, Hamin’s sharp rejection of Sangmin’s dinner invitation meant he didn’t want anything from Sangmin, who represented the foundation.

Such a firm rejection, which could only be made by a student with absolute confidence in his score,

paradoxically gave Sangmin a sense of relief despite being rejected.

“B-but… if I contact him one more time… might he accept, thinking it’s an important conversation…?”

However, unable to let go, Sangmin hesitated for a long time with his finger hovering over the redial button.

If he showed his desperation, might Hamin reconsider his rejection?

Might he prioritize meeting with him a little more?

He clung to that thin thread of hope.

A lowered posture. An anxious and impatient demeanor.

Yet still unable to let go of hope for the other person.

Sangmin found himself in exactly the same position as those he usually met with—the subordinate position.

“…He’s not answering. I don’t think he’s rejecting the call though.”

“Hehe, he must be enjoying his time with Doyoung so much that he doesn’t even notice the call. I wonder if they’ve gone to dinner by now?”

“No, no. The weather is a bit chilly today, so he might not have felt the vibration because he’s wearing thick clothes. Knowing Hamin, he probably keeps his phone on silent mode in public places. If I try calling just one more time…”

“How dare you try to interrupt someone else’s precious time. Give me that.”

“Aah…!”

Sangmin had his phone snatched away by a hand reaching across his table.

“…Nng.”

“Hehe. Look at that frustrated expression. You’re upset but don’t know what to say, so you’re just whimpering like a puppy that needs to pee. Just like the old days.”

“…You’re the same as before too.”

The woman laughing playfully and treating Sangmin with such familiarity.

Like Hamin, she showed no hesitation in dealing with Sangmin, who was always in the superior position.

“Do Hami.”

“My goodness, is it appropriate for you to address a prospective parent of your school so casually, Director Cheon Sangmin?”

Do Hami.

Hamin’s mother was somehow

sitting at the same table as Sangmin.

“After 20 years, you’re remarkably unchanged… Hami.”

“Hehe, right? When I tried on my middle school uniform, it still fit perfectly. I was surprised too.”

“No, I’m not talking about your face or figure…”

“Then what? Were you going to ask why my chest is still the same as in high school even though I’ve given birth and breastfed Hamin?”

“Shh…! Please be mindful of where we are…!”

Sangmin hurriedly looked around and cautioned Hami.

There were hardly any other customers around them, but as the representative of the Seongcheon Foundation, there could always be someone who might recognize him.

Of course, while cautioning her, he was genuinely surprised that she looked exactly the same as when he had known her.

“When I was investigating the entrance exam corruption case that broke out at Seongcheon High… I was shocked to see the name of Do Hamin, who was the biggest victim.”

“Did you suspect it was related to me because the name was similar?”

“No, of course until then I just thought it was a similar name… but the moment I saw the photo on the Bulsa High School website, I couldn’t help but be certain.”

“Photo…?”

“…The Miss Bulsa High Contest.”

“Pfft!”

Hami couldn’t hold back her laughter and

ended up spitting water all over Sangmin.

The shocking reason he was certain about their mother-son relationship

was that his son, dressed as a woman during a school trip, looked too much like her.

“Cough, cough… Sorry. I suddenly remembered when I first saw Hamin’s photo on the school website in that outfit, and I couldn’t help it…”

“It’s okay. Considering I abandoned you both without even knowing of his existence, this is a light punishment.”

Sangmin wiped the water from his face with a handkerchief

that had flower embroidery on it.

“And… you’re not the one who should be apologizing, Hami. It should be me. It’s what I should have said before anything else.”

Even after wiping away the water, Sangmin continued to press the handkerchief against his eyes.

Though all the moisture should have been gone by then,

somehow his handkerchief kept getting wetter from somewhere.

“You’re still the same scaredy-cat as before. Why such a dejected face? It’s not like you cruelly kicked me away. We broke up by mutual agreement because of strong opposition from your family of distinguished educators… it was a common story back then.”

“I really didn’t know… that Hamin existed. Because you left without saying anything about him. Why didn’t you tell me? If you had… even the elders might have backed down…”

“And Hamin would have grown up there unloved. As the bloodline that tainted the reputation of the Cheon family, the country’s finest educational foundation.”

“…”

Sangmin couldn’t refute Hami’s words.

The reason his family opposed Hami wasn’t much different from that.

“Two young people fell in love and then broke up… and later I found out that coincidentally, the fruit of our love remained inside me… That’s all there is to it. What do you have to feel sorry about?”

“I made you bear that fruit alone. And you were just a high school student.”

“Why do you think of it as a burden?”

“…Huh?”

“It was happiness for me. There wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t happy with Hamin.”

“…Yes, you’re right.”

Sangmin nodded quietly, acknowledging Hami’s words.

“I shouldn’t express it only as a burden. Not as atonement or a debt to be repaid. You’re right, Hami.”

Sangmin finally put the handkerchief back in his pocket.

It seemed he had finally found the courage to look directly at Hami without hiding his reddened eyes.

“After breaking up with you like that, I realized how powerless I was. So I worked my way up here, looking only forward. So that I would never again have to give up what I cherished most because of the pressure from family elders, the foundation, or public opinion.”

There was only one way to not succumb to the pressure of those in power:

Become the one in power yourself.

If he became the most powerful person in his current position,

he wouldn’t need to be concerned about others’ opinions anymore.

“I know. Even if I didn’t know of his existence, the fact remains that I’m trash who abandoned the person I loved and our child. Since I know that… let me be trash a little longer.”

Saying this, Sangmin quietly lowered himself closer to Hami’s chair.

“Give me half of the happiness of being with Hamin.”

“…”

“I’ve… come quite far. At least to a position within the foundation where no one can question my actions. There are no more elders to oppose us with unreasonable criticism. Even if there were, they’re now in a position where they have to be mindful of me.”

Sangmin approached Hami and took her hand.

While her face and figure were indeed almost identical to how she was 20 years ago,

even Hami’s hands showed traces of time—scars and wounds here and there.

“Now it’s only Hamin and you. The only people I should be subordinate to. I came all this way to be your subordinate.”

“…You’ve certainly been through a lot. In 20 years, that lustrous brown hair of yours has completely turned ashen.”

Hami stroked Sangmin’s thinning hair with a slightly wistful look.

“But unfortunately, no dice!”

“Eh, ehhh…?”

As Hami playfully made an X sign with her fingers,

Sangmin’s thought process seemed to break down, and an “eh” sound escaped his lips before he could think about how cute she looked.

“W-weren’t we just having a pretty good atmosphere?”

“We were. But unfortunately, the happiness of being with Hamin is no longer mine to give.”

“What do you mean…”

“The person in the number one spot next to Hamin has changed from Do Hami to someone else.”

“Don’t tell me…”

.

.

.

-Buzz buzz

At that moment, Hami’s phone in her pocket began to vibrate.

“Oh, perfect timing. The call you’ve been waiting for has come to my phone instead?”

“So you saw my call and just ignored it…?”

“Hehehe, jealous? Are you jealous?”

[♥Super King God Our Son♥]

[Incoming Call]

Like a child showing off a new toy to a friend,

Hami waved her ringing phone screen at Sangmin.

“Hello? Oh, son. What’s up? Dinner…? Yes, I’m about to eat now. I came out because an old friend contacted me. What friend? Just someone I used to know, such a scaredy-cat that he can’t say what he wants and keeps everything bottled up.”

“…”

Sangmin held his breath, listening intently to Hami’s call as if wanting to hear Hamin’s voice,

but Hami stood up with a mischievous expression.

“Oh my, what was I thinking? How rude of me to talk on the phone inside a restaurant where other guests are present. I’m so sorry!”

“Huh…? No, it’s fine. The director has reserved all the surrounding tables, so you can talk comfortably…”

“Aha! So I am being a nuisance! I’m sorry, I’ll go outside to take this call and be right back!”

“W-wait! Do Hami!”

After spending nearly five minutes talking affectionately with Hamin outside the restaurant, out of Sangmin’s sight, Hami returned.

Her face was filled with indescribable satisfaction as she sat down.

“Ahh… Indeed. Talking with my beloved son makes me feel full even without eating.”

“Wh-what was the call about?”

“Just an ordinary everyday call. Why, did you think he might have mentioned you?”

“…Yes.”

Sangmin nodded, though clearly frustrated.

“Sorry to disappoint you, but there was no such talk. He just said he’s eating with Doyoung and will be home late because they’re going to hang out. That’s all.”

“I see… so that’s it.”

Sangmin was visibly deflated at the news that there was no mention of him.

“Wait a minute… he’s coming home late? Because he’s meeting alone with a female student?”

“Yes, that’s what he said.”

Sangmin’s previously dejected face gradually darkened with fear.

“Did you hear what they’re going to do together?”

“Well… they’re going to the arcade.”

“A-a dark place.”

“He said they’re going to take photo booth pictures.”

“A c-cramped space.”

“And I think he mentioned going to a karaoke place too.”

“My goodness… dark and cramped places! Why didn’t you stop him as his mother when he said he was going to such dangerous places! What if they engage in inappropriate behavior as students!”

“Ugh… so annoying, really. What do you take our Hamin and Doyoung for? Are you Hamin’s father or something? The nerve of someone who’s not even his dad to butt in like this!”

“Biologically, I am his father!”

Dangerous statements that would have jeopardized the director’s position flew back and forth—fortunately, he had reserved the entire surrounding area.

“Seriously… and you’re the head of an educational foundation? Is it okay for your mind to be so perverted?”

“Well… when a loving couple is together in such dark, cramped places…”

“Yes…?”

“Th-they’ll really want to do it…!”

Indeed.

A statement befitting someone with practical experience from his youth.