episode_0018

Cheolsu slowly exited the police station.

No one stopped him as he left.

It was strange considering the tense atmosphere just moments ago.

Or was it?

He couldn’t bring himself to walk away easily.

Even though this place was where he wanted to escape from.

Something felt off.

“Kim Yujin got me out?”

According to the police, there was pressure from above.

That didn’t make sense either.

Yujin must be the one who put him here in the first place.

Why would he take him out?

“Well, at least I confirmed Yeonghee’s safety.”

There were no traces of having touched Yeonghee.

Even in this situation, he didn’t consider doing anything reckless.

That would ruin his plans altogether.

-Bang! Bang!

These thoughts continued as he walked out onto the roadside.

He heard a horn calling out to him.

A black Benz.

An expensive item he couldn’t afford, but familiar to his eyes.

Because it was the car Kim Yujin used to drive.

Normally, he would have just ignored and walked past.

“Wait, get in.”

If Secretary Park hadn’t called out from the open window.

Cheolsu turned his head to look at him.

He had seen Secretary Park a few times before.

But he never expected him to speak like this.

He always seemed reserved and observant.

“Where’s Yujin?”

“He’s not someone you can talk about lightly.”

His words sent a chill down Cheolsu’s spine.

Strong.

Just by hearing his voice, he could tell.

He didn’t know if he could win even with all his might.

And this guy dares to call himself a student secretary?

Are such people abundant in Hukcheon?

After staring at each other for a while, Secretary Park shrugged first.

“The young master isn’t here. I came here personally.”

“I thought you were just running errands.”

“That might have been the case. But, how should I put it… It’s my own way of showing loyalty.”

Until recently, Secretary Park’s role was that of an observer.

Supporting Yujin while also making sure he didn’t make any mistakes or cross any lines.

But recently, Secretary Park had recognized Yujin as the true successor.

So, he needed to show loyalty to serve his master’s interests.

“A capable assistant should pave the way for the master even without being ordered.”

“Ridiculous. Is that great path of yours stealing another man’s woman?”

“Don’t flatter yourself. I have something to say to you.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“Hah! So what? You’ll live like this without knowing what’s going on? Even if you’re a fool, I don’t think you’d do that.”

Cheolsu glanced at Secretary Park for a moment.

As angry as he was, he knew that his words were right now.

Being angry alone wouldn’t change anything.

Only questions remained.

The person who could resolve them was right in front of him.

“It’s best not to waste your time.”

“I won’t easily kill you. I don’t want to interfere with the young master’s affairs.”

Cheolsu got into the car.

The car moved forward immediately.

“Where are we going?”

“Nowhere. Just going around while we talk. Well, I could drop you off at your house while we’re at it.”

“If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be unnecessary to use a car?”

“How about going to a cafe together and talking privately? Sorry, but I’ll pass.”

Secretary Park handed him a phone with a blank expression.

Cheolsu frowned but accepted it.

“What’s this?”

“There’s a video inside. Consider it a gift for you.”

Reluctantly, he couldn’t help but play the video.

His expression froze coldly.

“I’ll do anything. I’ll really do anything. Please save me, Cheolsu…”

-It’s true. I swear. I can really do it all. So please…

-I made a mistake. I won’t complain. So please, just look at Cheolsu.

My hands are shaking.

Blood vessels pop in my eyes.

Shoulders trembling with anger.

In the video, Yeonghee was pleading.

Not to anyone else but to that Yu Jin.

Solely for herself.

“It doesn’t make sense. Why would Yeonghee…why on earth…”

He didn’t want to believe it.

Cheolsu thought Yeonghee would suffer minimal harm.

The ultimate target of Yu Jin was Yeonghee.

He was just a stepping stone in between.

So he thought he would never touch Yeonghee.

Anger, confusion, despair, regret.

Various emotions pierced deep into Cheolsu’s heart.

“That girl has been in such situations before.”

Secretary Bak spoke to Cheolsu as if enjoying it.

“Do you remember when you challenged the master and ended up in the hospital?”

“No way…”

“Even then, that girl pleaded the same way. Kneeling, head touching the ground, begging for forgiveness because she was wrong.”

Cheolsu momentarily looked dumbfounded.

He thought Yeonghee was forced to pretend to be his lover due to Yu Jin’s threat.

But Yeonghee asked first? Why?

No, the reason is obvious.

To protect herself.

“Foolish…”

He thought he had to protect Yeonghee.

But in turn, Yeonghee was striving to protect herself.

Abandoning her dignity and happiness as a woman.

“…Damn it.”

His heart ached.

It felt like driving a nail and relentlessly hammering it.

Why! Why should Yeonghee endure such humiliation?

She did nothing wrong.

Just a normal girl who laughed and cried over trivial matters every day.

Why should she deal with scum like him to save someone like me?

“Hey, let me ask you one thing.”

“…What is it.”

“Are you fighting the master for that girl or for your own selfish desires?”

Cheolsu slowly turned his head.

Because he momentarily didn’t understand the other’s words.

Secretary Bak continued towards Cheolsu.

Like a demon driving a nail deeper into Cheolsu’s heart.

“You said you were fighting to protect her. But this is the result. Because of you, she will be in danger multiple times and go through such things.”

“…”

“Let me be blunt. The master has more than enough reputation and money. Taking care of a woman is no big deal. She might not be happy, but she won’t be unhappy either.”

Secretary Bak’s words were not entirely false.

Kim Yu Jin is trash, but not stupid.

She doesn’t destroy the toy she got in her hands.

“And how long do you think the master will cling to her? Women are everywhere in the world. Once he gets tired of such a girl, he’ll get bored quickly. I guarantee it. It won’t take more than a few years for him to be free.”

“…”

“But right now, things will only get worse. She has already hardened her heart. Just close your eyes for a little while, really just a bit, and endure. She already knew that.”

Cheolsu bowed his head.

He couldn’t help but think it was nonsense.

Even if that were true, there was nothing to say.

Just endure it for now?

People are not objects.

They are beings loved, irreplaceable.

It’s not easy to give up on that so easily.

‘But-‘

He couldn’t say anything.

He had no power to save Yeonghee, no ability to protect her.

“You just have to give up. Then everything can be okay.”

Park Secretary’s words struck harder than anything else.

I wanted to deny those words.

I wanted to shout that I wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

But then, what about Younghee?

How many more times will Younghee compromise herself for Eugene in the future?

Even knowing that, do you still plan to keep fighting?

Isn’t that more selfish?

Can you handle it?

“Ask me again. Is it your pride that you want to protect, or that girl?”

Crunch.

The car came to a stop.

“It’s a special service. I’ll take you right to your doorstep.”

With his head bowed, Cheolsu stared at the screen blankly.

Inside, Younghee continued to cry and plead.

“Why are you saying these things to me?”

To Cheolsu’s question, Park Secretary let out a wry smile.

“I have one reason for moving. Only for Master Eugene. I won’t give you this phone.”

Silently, Cheolsu got out of the car.

The car drove off without hesitation.

Standing there with dead eyes, Cheolsu suddenly threw the phone onto the road.

“Ahhhh!”

Crack! Thud! Thud!

He pounded the phone with his fist.

As if by doing so, all this reality would disappear.

Again and again.

Knowing that no matter how many times he did it, reality wouldn’t change.

****

Around the same time.

Alone in the room, Younghee sat with a vacant expression.

Her gaze stopped on a photo.

In it, she and Cheolsu were smiling brightly.

A picture taken when they were young, in such happy times.

“Oh, Cheolsu…”

She believed she could be happy.

She thought she could protect everything.

But now she realized.

Her fate was predetermined from the start.

Snap.

Avoiding her gaze, Younghee covered the photo.

Then she took scissors out of the drawer.

Snip snip.

Her long hair fell, scattering around.

The colder her expression became, the more her hair fell.

As if cutting off the remaining regrets.