Chapter 17: Breaking point

“…”

I had a dream. Was it because I was sick? I’d been having a lot of old dreams lately.

“…”

I saw Mom’s kitchen, the familiar comforting smells, a father whose face I couldn’t recall greeting me warmly. In the dream, I was still male, yet happy, playing with friends, laughing, crying, getting angry… And then I met someone.

My soulmate.

I couldn’t remember their face, just a vague feeling of longing, bittersweet and warm, like ingredients scattered on a hot, empty pan, about to stick and burn.

“…Haa…”

It didn’t make sense. Of course it didn’t. It was just a dream. Just fragments of memory and yearning, pressing down on my heart, making it hard to breathe.

“… “

While everyone celebrated the New Year, I just prayed to get through it.

The abuse allegations hadn’t faded. Even after the investigation concluded, public opinion remained stubbornly negative: 80% against me, 20% in my favor. No one was on my side.

“……..”

Words of encouragement had kept me going. I’d started this business with a sense of responsibility, but it had become so tiring. Thinking about my employees, working even harder than I was, made my heart ache.

“…Ugh…”

It was my fault. I hadn’t handled things well. Every time public opinion started to shift in my favor, another incident would surface, as if orchestrated.

“… “

Whether it was a conspiracy or not, there were genuine mistakes. And the consequences were amplified. Stores started closing. The negative press intensified.

“…”

It had been 46 days since the first article. I’d collapsed from stress and exhaustion. My health deteriorated rapidly. The doctors said my inflammation levels were dangerously high, that I needed to rest, no matter what.

“…….”

But I couldn’t rest.

“…Semin…”
“…”

My assistant, my employees… they were working so hard. And there were still customers who enjoyed my coffee, my recipes.

“…Yes…?”

Even when things got tough, I couldn’t give up. That’s how I’d become successful. Even if everything could crumble in an instant, as long as I kept moving, kept going—

“…Your posture is terrible.”
“…………”

I hadn’t noticed.

“…”

If Hyea hadn’t pointed it out, I wouldn’t have known how bad I looked.

“…I guess so…”

I looked in the bathroom mirror, something I usually avoided. My slumped shoulders, my hunched back, my gaunt face… If you showed someone a photo of me from when I first transformed and asked if it was the same person, they’d say no.

“… “

I looked sick. Like a patient.

And that’s exactly what I was. Watching my world crumble, unable to do anything about it.

“……..”

Great. Just great. I covered my face with my hands, leaning against the sink. My body felt heavy, the world turning gray.

The tower I’d built, brick by bloody brick, was collapsing, and there was no one to tell me how to stop it.

“…Ah…”

Someone was deliberately spreading rumors, feeding the flames, and the public, blindly believing everything they read, was tearing my business apart.

I wanted to find the culprit, to make them pay. I wanted to kill them.

“…Rest.”
“…”

But the thought vanished as Hyea’s arms wrapped around me, her touch a comforting warmth against my back. I closed my eyes, leaning into her embrace.

“…You haven’t eaten anything in four days, and you’re still going to work? You’re not a ghost, Semin. Take care of yourself…”

Her words, dripping with concern, washed over me.

“…If you collapse again… everything will be for nothing… Do you think your employees can manage without you? You know they can’t…”

I knew. I knew, Hyea. But I couldn’t just stand by and watch everything fall apart. I had to keep moving.

“…How about… taking a break today…?”
“…”

She held me tighter, preventing me from leaving for the office.

“…No, it’s an order. Go to your cafe and relax. For three hours… No, even one hour. Understand?”
“… “

An order. Hyea rarely used that word, only when I was about to do something stupid.

What should I do?

I didn’t know. I needed to clear my head. I’d follow her order, see what happened. Maybe things would change. Maybe I’d see something I hadn’t before.

“…Okay.”

I opened my eyes, even though they felt heavy and dry.

“…Everything will be alright.”
“… “

Hyea watched me as I left, her voice a soothing balm.

“…So don’t worry…”

Her fluffy tail swished gently. Her hands, clasped respectfully in front of her, bid me farewell. Her large, soft ears drooped slightly.

I had the perfect fox by my side. I couldn’t fall apart, not now.

I stepped outside, forcing myself to walk calmly.

“…”

The cold air stung my cheeks, a sharp contrast to the warmth of Hyea’s embrace.

“…Haa…”

I blew on my hands, trying to warm them, even though it was futile.

Like everything else in my life right now.

“… “

Why did I do that, even though I knew it wouldn’t work? Instinct? Why couldn’t I give up, even though I knew it was hopeless? Instinct, again?

“…”

I stood before my cafe. Empty. Just two months ago, it had been bustling.

“… “

The beautiful cakes, the colorful desserts, the unique drinks… They were all there, enticing and inviting, but the cafe was deserted.

“… “

I opened the door and stepped inside.

Jingle

“Welcome… C-CEO…”
“…Hey.”

The two kind employees I’d personally hired greeted me. A boy, barely twenty, and a girl, still in high school. Both so sweet.

“…How’s it going? Manageable?”
“Um… It’s been slow… But we’re okay… Really…”

The boy spoke cautiously, his eyes darting around nervously.

“…That’s good.”

I patted his shoulder reassuringly, then caught the girl’s eye. She looked like she had a million questions.

“Some of it is true… some of it isn’t… You wouldn’t understand even if I told you… I’m sorry… I can’t blame you if you don’t feel proud to work here anymore…”
“N-no! It’s… it’s just… You look… so tired…”

She’d applied here because no reputable cafe would hire a minor, despite her impressive resume and three certifications. She’d wanted to work at a thriving cafe. I felt terrible for her.

Tap

“…I’ll just have a coffee…”
“Y-yes, ma’am!”

I handed her my card and went to sit in a quiet corner booth.

“…”
“………..”

And then I saw her.

“…Oh…”
“…You…”

Sitting at a secluded table, hidden from view from the entrance…

“…Noona.”

…my sister. Her face… brighter than before.

“…Semin…”
“…”

She was sweating, her eyes darting around nervously. She quickly closed her laptop as I approached. What was she looking at?

“…I-I’m sorry about before… I… I didn’t know your… situation…”
“…It’s okay.”

I sat down across from her.

“…I-I should get going… My client… I’m freelancing these days… So I’m busy…”
“……….”

Zip

She gathered her things, fumbling with the zipper of her bag.

“…What were you looking at?”
“Huh…?”

I asked.

“…What did you see?”
“J-just… stuff…?”

At first, I thought she was reading articles about my cafe. She’d always enjoyed reading the news. But the scent… it was something else. Something… wrong.

“…You’re not… working as a… you know… a troll, are you? Spreading rumors, writing fake reviews, making false reports…”
“…What…?”

I watched her from the corner of my eye.

“…N-no! Of course not! What are you talking about?! Why would I do that?!”
“……..”

Her denial was unconvincing.

“…I’m just kidding, Noona. Why so jumpy? Is it that time of the month?”
“…Oh… Um… No… Sorry, I should get going…”

The old Noona would have laughed it off, maybe even made a sarcastic remark. Had she changed that much? Wait, why was I even concerned about her? She was a terrible person.

The dream… It must be the dream. That idyllic life had been so sweet.

“…”

The pieces were falling into place.

“…Why…?”

I saw the culprit.

Press

I pressed my hands against my face…

“…Why are you doing this…?”

…and cried.

In my own cafe.

“…F*ck…”

On my own grave.

*****

I wanted to press charges. I gathered all her social media posts, even the deleted ones, preparing my case.

But there was nothing. Her only posts about my cafe were positive reviews from when she’d visited.

“………..”

It didn’t make sense. It was her. I was sure of it. Why else would she visit my empty cafe, sitting alone in a dark corner?

“…”

I sat at my office computer, staring blankly at the hateful comments and accusations, feeling defeated. Footsteps approached from behind, then…

Thump

“Don’t look at that…!”
“…Hey…”

My assistant slammed the laptop shut, her face a mask of anger.

“We’ll find other evidence! The other employees are working their butts off, and you’re just… spiraling! Snap out of it, Semin! How many more days will it take for you to wake up?!”

My assistant, the college dropout who dreamed of getting rich quick with a successful business, the one who wanted to drop formalities but never quite managed to… She’d never been this angry before.

“…”

What… What was I doing?

I was doing fine, wasn’t I? And then, suddenly…

It happened so fast, I couldn’t process it.

“…Seriously…! I don’t care! We’ll find the evidence! Just get some rest! Go home, lock yourself in your room! It’ll be better for team morale! Okay?!”
“…”

I didn’t know anymore. My assistant was right. Maybe I should hide. Maybe that was the best thing for everyone. Had I been useless all along?

I remembered my younger self, watching interviews with successful entrepreneurs who’d overcome adversity, their stories of perseverance inspiring pity rather than admiration. I kept going, and eventually, things worked out. Had it really been that hard?

“…I’m sorry…”

I stood up, my head bowed.

“Don’t apologize! We didn’t do anything wrong!”
“…Sorry…”

Overwhelmed by guilt, I dragged myself towards the door.

Thump

“Semin?!”

My chest ached, and I stopped before I even reached the door.

“…I-I’m fine… Don’t worry… Thank you… for everything… I’m sorry…”

I waved off my assistant’s concern…

Crash

…and collapsed as a searing pain ripped through my side.

Hyea told me not to collapse again…

I hope they find the evidence…