Chapter 97
It was an exceptionally cold day with heavy snowfall, as if late winter was jealous of the approaching spring. The roads were packed with cars until late at night, but by the time the shutters were coming down, it had become much quieter. Some abandoned cars that couldn’t handle the conditions were huddled pitifully beside the sidewalks.
Would taxis be running? Or might they have to spend the night at the bar? Such incidents happened occasionally, so a small bedroom had been set up behind the changing room. That too was Hyun-se’s idea. He said not to struggle getting home in bad weather, but to rest comfortably at the shop. It was hard to tell if this was the act of an evil employer or a kind consideration.
The other bar staff had been hurriedly sent home before the snow could pile up to knee height. Ji-won was alone, keeping watch over the bar in case any customers might come.
As she was stretching and getting up with a groan, the bell at the door chimed. She hadn’t flipped the ‘Closed’ sign yet. This must be quite the drinker to brave such heavy snow. Ji-won put on her business smile, hoping to sell at least one more drink.
“Welco— Oh my.”
She cut off her greeting and covered her mouth with her hand. A man with a build similar to a door and matching height entered, looking around the empty bar. She recognized him just from his silhouette. Such a physique wasn’t common. Even among the people Ji-won knew, those with his height and build could be counted on one hand.
But his clothes were unlike Hyun-se’s usual style. The man who always maintained a perfect appearance with a suit jacket and vest was now disheveled.
He wore a shirt without a tie, and the cuff links connecting the sleeves were nowhere to be seen. His collar was wide open, nearly revealing his collarbone, and his hair looked unkempt, falling messily over his forehead.
Not that this made Hyun-se any less Hyun-se. Surprised by his unexpected appearance, Ji-won’s voice rose at the end.
“CEO?”
“Is business over?”
“Well… I was about to close. Would you like a drink?”
He just nodded without speaking. Ji-won offered a seat to Hyun-se, who was standing like a rock, and went behind the bar. Though not a bartender, she could make most cocktails. Besides, Hyun-se kindly preferred straight drinks rather than complicated ones.
“We only have basic snacks. The kitchen’s closed.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“The usual?”
“Yes.”
His voice was languid. Was he in rut? She glanced at his complexion, but there was no particular flush. Ji-won pretended not to notice and took out a bottle of liquor, while eyeing Hyun-se.
After sending Si-yul away, he had been hanging around the area every other day like someone who had left something behind, but at some point, his visits had become less frequent. She thought they might be meeting elsewhere, but his sudden appearance was unexpected. Something significant must have happened.
“By the way, what brings you here? Did you really just come for a drink?”
She asked slyly. Hyun-se moistened his lips with the alcohol and set it down. Under the light, she could see his face had deteriorated significantly compared to before. He looked like he hadn’t slept for days. His once smooth skin was rough, and fatigue was thick under his eyes.
His sorrowful eyes evoked pity. Anyone would postpone their work, no matter how urgent, to sit beside Hyun-se and offer clumsy words of comfort if he were to approach them seeking solace.
“Is there any other reason to come to a bar?”
She too had been a victim deceived by his polished exterior. ‘Victim’ might not be the right word since she hadn’t lost anything. Excellent manners, affectionate attitude – Hyun-se had been a model boyfriend. There had never been any material lack either.
Materially, that is.
“It just doesn’t seem like you came for no reason. We haven’t seen you in a while. You used to come often before.”
He was even brazen enough to contact her after they broke up, proposing that she manage the bar. At the time, that had angered Ji-won. If Hyun-se had even a speck of feeling left for her, he wouldn’t have contacted her so casually like an old school friend.
But Ji-won was someone who valued reality and reason over emotions. Her anger was brief, and she had been considering leaving her company to start her own business anyway, so she readily accepted.
“Did I?”
“When Si-yul was here.”
Slowly rotating the glass in his hand, Hyun-se looked up. A light returned to his previously dull eyes.
“Was that so?”
“I thought our shop’s threshold would wear out from how often you crossed it. Were you planning to remodel for us?”
A faint smile appeared on Hyun-se’s lips at Ji-won’s joke. But it quickly faded. Hyun-se was someone who always walked around smiling. For this man, whose neutral expression was a smile, to not even lift the corners of his mouth today was unusual.
“I didn’t really come into the shop much.”
“But you met nearby, didn’t you? At that convenience store over there. You two were always huddled close, chatting about something so interesting.”
A convenience store quite far from here was the meeting place for Hyun-se and Si-yul. Others might not have known since it was in the opposite direction of their way home, but Ji-won often walked there to buy cigarettes as part of her stroll.
She saw them there. It wasn’t unusual for acquaintances to meet and chat warmly after work. Besides, wasn’t Si-yul someone Hyun-se had brought in?
It could have been that, but the density of the air between them was subtly different. Hyun-se’s upper body was consistently tilted towards Si-yul. Even his toes. His gaze towards Si-yul was relaxed and never wavered. A man who wouldn’t touch anything others had put their lips on would unhesitatingly bring Si-yul’s drink to his own mouth.
She had never seen Hyun-se like that before. Even though they had once dated. Did she know he could make such eyes, that he was capable of resting his chin and focusing entirely on one person? Wasn’t he the type whose eyes remained dry, looking at people as if they were objects even when face to face?
It wasn’t a situation where she could approach them, so she quietly turned back. She had witnessed this a few more times, so she had guessed what kind of relationship they had even before Si-yul left the shop.
“You saw that?”
“How could I not?”
Hyun-se had been affectionate but simultaneously indifferent. He was someone who would give everything else but kept his affection tightly bound, not spilling even a crumb. Any emotion beyond fondness was a non-existent word for Hyun-se. At first, she thought it was just towards her, but after observing his passing relationships, she realized it was his innate nature. He was like freshly spun cotton candy on the outside, but utterly cold inside.
“Did you fight with Si-yul?”
“…”
There was no answer. He just kept drinking. He wouldn’t be drowning his sorrows like this over a mere fight.
“Did you break up?”
As soon as Ji-won hit the nail on the head, Hyun-se roughly put down his glass. The loud thud echoed through the empty shop. The veins and blood vessels on the hand gripping the glass bulged angrily.
Despite his threatening attitude, Ji-won scoffed. Hyun-se’s state was laughable. Hadn’t he gone through countless breakups before, sleeping soundly and carrying on with his work just fine?
“Don’t tell me you were dumped?”
“Stop it.”
“You were dumped.”
Ji-won smiled, wrinkling her nose as if finding it amusing. In contrast, Hyun-se’s brows furrowed deeply. Fearing he might break the precious glass with his tight grip, Ji-won quickly took it away. She poured more alcohol into it and handed it back.
“What grave mistake did you make?”
“I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Think hard. Si-yul is kind. He’s not the type to leave without reason.”
“…”
He remained silent despite her prodding, exercising his right to remain silent. Then he tilted his head back and let out a long sigh. He fumbled in his pocket and took out a cigarette. While smoking was usually prohibited in the bar, given that business hours were over and considering how troubled he must be, she let it slide. The way he hollowed his cheeks as he inhaled seemed anxious and restless rather than relaxed as before.
“…Is marriage such a big problem?”
“Marriage? Are you getting married?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re crazy.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them. She covered her lips, calling it a mistake, but her thoughts remained unchanged. Of course Si-yul had reason to leave.
“How many people would stay by the side of someone they like when that person says they’re getting married? Even if offered a fortune.”
“Why not? He has a lover too, and even bought an officetel for that lover. He said he’d just live as a showpiece. Where are there people who marry for pure love these days?”
“You shouldn’t think everyone is like you. And neither is Si-yul.”
Hyun-se laughed dryly. There was certainty in his belief that it couldn’t be so.
“Manager Kang, you don’t know how much Kwon Si-yul loves money. The job Si-yul used to do…”
Hyun-se paused for a moment and moistened his lips with alcohol.
