episode_0018

In the pitch-black darkness where not even an inch ahead could be seen, I was left behind, kneeling and sitting down.

Just a moment ago, I was holding onto the man’s sleeve and walking through this darkness, but his figure had disappeared without a trace.

“Sir… where are you…”

Looking around, I tried to find the man, but it was a futile effort.

I was left alone in this empty space.

The moment I realized that, I felt my body trembling in the approaching cold chill.

“I don’t want to be left alone. Please, anyone, stay by my side.”

Captivated by the fear of being alone, I clenched my head and shook it vigorously without any restraint.

“Stop this chilling family play.”

At that moment, a woman’s voice echoed in my ears.

I felt my body stiffening at the sharpness of her voice, as if my throat was being choked, rendering me unable to move at all.

I couldn’t tell who the owner of this voice, which seemed familiar, was.

But because I believed her to be family, I had been trying to earn her approval.

Was it so difficult for her to give me a simple word of praise? Even though I believed we were family… cruel people…

“I’ll be back soon. Promise.”

This time, another woman’s voice echoed.

A warm voice with hidden sadness inside.

The woman who spent the night crying with tears, calling herself a sinner, and whom I couldn’t meet again after the day she didn’t show me her tears for the first time.

She promised to come back soon… but Mom, you’re a liar…

“Hey, Joo Eun-hye. Say something, you fake girl.”

As I wiped away the flowing tears, cold water dripped onto my head, and I found myself surrounded by numerous voices.

As I huddled my body, wrapping my head with my arms against their kicking, the insults turned into daggers piercing my heart.

Why are you doing this to me? What did I do wrong…

“I don’t want to… we just met… don’t die, oppa…”

As the pain faded away, a young girl’s voice reached me.

Lowering my arms from my head and raising my head, I saw a girl kneeling down, looking at a man covered in blood, shedding tears.

Why did you save me? After living so hard… finally meeting again, I don’t want this kind of farewell…

“…Eat this and cheer up. Crying will ruin your pretty face.”

As I wiped away the tears, this time a boy approached me and handed me a fish-shaped pastry.

It was damp and cold, but why did the pastry the boy handed me taste so delicious?

Why did you treat me well when you didn’t even know who I was… only to disappear like that…

As tears filled up and streamed down my cheeks, the boy next to me disappeared, and no more voices could be heard.

All that could be felt was the silence that suited this pitch-black darkness. In that silence, I was left alone again.

“Joo Eun-hye…”

No one to offer cold words,

“Eun-hye…”

No warm comfort, no fake sympathy, just a lonely outcast…

– Ssshh

In a moment captured by a chilling sensation that gripped my heart, something draped over my body, and a warm sensation began to spread throughout my entire being.

Rubbing my eyes, I followed that warmth with my gaze, realizing that a familiar design of a coat was draped over my body.

Clutching the coat tightly, I buried my face in it, and this time, the voice of the man I missed could be heard.

[ How long are you going to keep doing this? ]

” Sir…? ”

[ You should follow me well. I was worried. ]

” …I’m sorry, sir. ”

[ Foolish girl. I told you not to apologize for things like this, didn’t I? ]

” …Yes. I won’t do it again. ”

Wiping away my tears, I put on the coat that the man handed me and followed him as he walked ahead into the darkness once again.

*

” Ah, sir… my leg doesn’t hurt. ”

[ Sometimes, you can be honest with me. You don’t have to pretend to be okay. ]

” No, really, I’m okay… ugh… I got it. ”

After walking alone in the darkness for a long time, the man who was worried that I would be tired ended up holding me in an awkward princess carry position.

Is it okay to show this side of me when you have a lover? But the man’s face showed a bright smile as if to say not to worry.

Relying on this man, my body and mind felt warm, as if I were dreaming. But soon, doubts began to creep into my mind, and with a trembling heart, I opened my mouth.

” Why are you treating me so well, sir? ”

[ Huh? Well… ]

There was a moment of silence. I could feel the man’s gaze on me, so I turned my head, but he didn’t seem to want to take his eyes off me.

Finally, the man let out a sigh mixed with a smile and whispered to me.

[ Because you’re my wife. ]

– Thump

” Wait, a decorative wife! In other words, a fake wife… you even wrote a contract, but you forgot? ”

[ Fake wife? And you’re talking about a contract? ]

Calming my pounding heart, I mentioned the contract, and the man handed me a piece of paper.

” What… is this…? ”

A contract with my fingerprint clearly visible on it. But the contents were not the sloppy contract I knew.

Above all, the word “marriage contract” was written at the top of the paper, but there was another strange word in front of it.

” International marriage… contract…? ”

[ Haha, you’re so silly. You made the oath first and forgot? ]

” Sir, this seems a bit strange! ”

[ What’s strange about it? Anyway, since we’ve arrived, can I let it go now? ]

An oath… I clearly remember that the contract I had signed was a poorly made one, so why…

But what does it mean that we’ve arrived? The surroundings are still dark…

” Wait… a bed? ”

As the man who was carrying me lightly set me down, a soft sensation was transmitted from my back.

How could there be a bed in a place like this…

[ A favor… ]

” Uh, yes… why, sir? ”

Sitting on the bed, the man sent me a tender gaze.

Today, this man seems particularly strange. He had always been kind to me, but had he ever been this kind before?

[ Can I kiss you? ]

” Yes… wait, wait… don’t get too close, sir! Stop, stop!! ”

With these strange words, the man’s face came too close to mine. Startled, I pushed him away and distanced myself.

” Sir, are you crazy!? Why are you suddenly acting like this? ”

[ We’re married, so a kiss should be okay, right? ]

” It’s not okay! And marriage? What’s with this ridiculous marriage contract! Oh, is it April Fools’ Day today? Are you trying to trick me… If this continues, I’ll tell everyone too! Sir. ”

My head was in complete disarray, making it impossible for me to think straight. But if I were to confess this fact to him, he would surely stop playing such pranks on me and sending me those affectionate glances.

“Listen carefully, sir. I’m not Jueunhye, but Han…”

…?

What was I trying to say to him?

Han…?

Was there someone with that last name around me?

Or was my name… could it be?

My name has always been Jueunhye from the beginning.

***

Lately, I’ve been having strange dreams more often. While I used to frequently have nightmares about witnessing a man being hit by a truck, this mix of nightmares and dreams was something entirely new to me.

But what was I trying to say to him in that dream?

It felt like I had forgotten something important, but no matter how hard I tried to remember, I couldn’t recall it.

“…I should get some sleep.”

I’m not sure when I returned to my room, but the heat felt strangely intense. I changed into a white camisole and black dolphin shorts before getting into bed.

Although the marriage contract and the words I wanted to say in the dream bothered me, since it was just a dream, I shouldn’t worry too much about it.

[…Don’t die.]

However, as soon as I closed my eyes, the many voices that I heard in that nightmare started echoing again. It was as if they were saying that they couldn’t let me sleep peacefully…

When I opened my eyes again, darkness enveloped the room, and my anxiety only grew. The fear of being abandoned by someone, or the longing for those who may have already disappeared, shook my mind.

Caught in such confusion, my body suddenly began to move on its own.

I got up and, clutching a pillow to my chest, felt as if I were being drawn towards something as I left the room.

The place my body was heading towards was the expected location.

The figure of the man in the darkness, familiar to my eyes. I found comfort in gazing at him in his sleeping form, as if looking at the ceiling.

Above all, what comforted me the most was the fact that he hadn’t disappeared.

“Sir…”

Even though it was still dark, just facing him made the feelings of loneliness and fear melt away like a lie.

Just holding onto his finger and looking at him, I could feel warmth spreading deep within me.

But that wasn’t enough.

I wanted to get closer to him.

I wanted to stay by his side a little longer.

Holding him like this, I wanted to feel everything about him.

Because I am his one and only wife.