When I Reach You

#10. let’s do it with me

2022.08.03.

dawn without dawn.

The woman applying lipstick in front of the mirror laughed bitterly when she saw the man in the mirror.

The man, lying flat on the bed and motionless for hours, was buried under a soft white blanket, barely showing his hair.

“brother.”

He was a man whom he had been with for three months and had greeted countless mornings.

“Haven’t you gone yet?”

That man has changed. The man, who never called first unless on a day he had not promised, suddenly called himself to the hotel last night.

“Come on?”

“Dear.”

The name was called out boldly, but the woman’s fingers holding the lipstick trembled and turned white. The woman slammed her lipstick on the dressing table and shot at the man trapped under the blanket.

“It’s Dajin, not Dajeong!”

“Yes, Dazin. I really liked your arrogant side. Either outside or inside.”

A man’s giggling sound came from under the blanket.

“what’s the problem.”

“What’s wrong… … .”

The man’s voice, buried under the covers, was barely audible.

“Perhaps from the moment you answered my call and came to this hotel?”

Dajin couldn’t hear the man’s back story.

The man did not raise his face once and did not move in that position.

“Go.”

The woman, who looked down at the back of the man’s head for a long time at the clear voice, bit her lips and took her bag lying on the sofa and left the door.

bang!

The sound of the door closing echoed loudly throughout the hotel. It was the sound of the door that conveyed the woman’s heart.

Only then did the man get up under the blanket.

The blanket fell off his body, exposing his strong upper body.

“This is normal.”

One phone call reminded me of Dajin, who arrived at the hotel within 30 minutes.

He easily drew attention to his small courtesy, and when he handed over his business card during the day, the phone rang at the latest that evening.

There was no way to skip a day. no one

however,

Only Ji Eun-jae always, only damn Ji Eun-jae does this every time.

Looking at his cell phone on the table, Tae-gyu spat out a low-pitched curse and tossed his already tousled hair.

Laughter leaked out.

Tae-gyu, who exhaled heavily in the air, turned to the dressing table. I see the lipstick that Dajin left behind. I trudged over and picked up my lipstick. It was a luxury lipstick from C company that he had given as a gift not too long ago.

A few days ago, when I thought of Eun-jae looking for something in front of the elevator, Tae-gyu picked up the lipstick and the corners of his mouth rose sharply.

I was waiting for Eun-jae’s call that didn’t come back after three calls.

It was only two days.

Eunjae lay blankly and stared at the ceiling.

It was the beginning of a boring daily life.

If you think about it, except for the recent few days, it was always the same day.

What happened over the past few days feels like a dream.

Seeing myself helpless, unable to do anything, made me laugh.

Now I’m thinking about it, but I think it would have been better to accept the man’s offer than to live like this.

“Because I am so desperate for this marriage.”

I remember the words the man said and the look in his eyes.

Black eyes that shone brightly like black pearls. Deep, dark eyes that make you fall in love the more you look at them.

How can you be so sincere about a fake marriage?

The lack of a man who seemed to have everything was suitable to shake Eun-jae.

“Even if it’s not 200 million, but more, I’m willing to pay. Because Ji Eun-jae is worth it to me.”

A low-level employee who was lucky enough to be noticed by the chairman and was scouted with an annual salary of 100 million won.

I will arrange everything, so I acted like someone who asked me to come to our company.

I’d rather be comfortable

I could have done everything else. why are you getting married

“I will do my best so that you will not regret making this choice.”

He was careful when he spoke, and he seemed careful the whole time not to upset me in the slightest.

A contractual marriage for a period of one year. Until the next thing you don’t have to worry about.

In fact, leaving all of that behind, just being able to spend comfortably at the hospital as a mother who repeats hospitalization and discharge from time to time was valuable enough to me.

Eunjae let out a deep sigh and fumbled on the bed to pick up the phone.

His face hung on the ceiling.

Will you think of me every time I see you?

It was not a face that would be easily forgotten. Are you a bit handsome?

That’s why I rationalized it myself. Eunjae rolled the phone in his hand and repeated meaningless actions over and over again.

It was then. The phone rang at just the right time.

Eun-jae’s body, which had been lethargic on the bed a while ago, stood upright. Eun-jae, who immediately checked the screen, could not hide his disappointment.

Did you wish that it was him in your heart? Well, there’s no reason for him to call me.

no If you say you need me that much, you can try contacting me at least once.

Eun-jae looked at Tae-gyu’s phone number, which had been floating for a long time, and thought of the man.

I don’t know anymore Why does that man keep wandering around in my head?

“You’re so persistent, you too, Yoon Tae-gyu.”

The day before yesterday, the phone rang three times, but I deliberately did not answer. There was no reason to take it.

The long vibration stopped, and after a while a text message arrived with a short vibration.

―I picked up something in front of the elevator.

It was definitely something I had been trying to forget until a few days ago. When Tae-gyu said that he had the item, Eun-jae called Tae-gyu right away without hesitation.

It wasn’t long before the signal sounded, and Tae-gyu’s voice came over.

[Hey, Ji Eun-jae. You really look inside.]

“Yoon Tae-gyu, do you have that key ring? A key chain with a bear on it, right?”

[…] … uh? uh.]

When Tae-gyu didn’t answer, Eun-jae got up from the bed and hurriedly brushed her bangs while looking in the mirror. Then he pushed down the hat that was placed in front of him.

“Where are you? I will go there now.”

Why are you here again?

The place Eun-jae arrived was in front of the man’s officetel. I stood in a little corner and waited for Taegyu. It was because I was afraid that I would not be noticed by the loan sharks.

Shortly after arriving, a black sedan gently stopped in front of Eun-jae. The passenger side window slid down, and Tae-gyu’s face was visible through the window.

“get on.”

“No, starting with the key chain—”

“Ride first.”

Eunjae let out a long sigh and opened the passenger car door. As soon as Eunjae got into the passenger seat, Taegyu’s hand reached out in front of Eunjae’s eyes.

It looked like he was trying to wear a belt.

Eun-jae lightly stopped Tae-gyu’s hand and asked while pulling the belt himself.

“Where are you going?”

Tae-gyu leaned back and smiled dejectedly.

“I’m hungry, eat first. I haven’t eaten a single meal all day.”

“Yoon Tae-gyu.”

“That’s okay, you found things.”

Waiting for his answer, he didn’t avoid Tae-gyu’s gaze, and pulled the belt he was holding.

When the belt locked with a click, Tae-gyu smiled brightly and stepped on the accelerator.

***

The destination was the W Hotel Lounge.

Eunjae smiled from the moment he entered the familiar parking lot.

I came to a place that was difficult to come to normally, twice this week alone.

Eunjae sat in the lounge and looked at a completely different landscape from that day. Just before the sun went down, it was the sunset.

Was it because it was night?

The night view was so pretty that day.

Eunjae frowned when he suddenly remembered the man.

“Mr. Ji Eun-jae. Watch it later and eat it first, because it won’t taste good when it cools down.

How funny I must have been looking outside even with the delicious food in front of me.

“Why are you laughing?”

“No, nothing. Give me quickly, my key chain.”

When Eun-jae narrowed his forehead and held out his hand, Tae-gyu frowned, asking what was so urgent.

“I’ll give it to you if you eat it all.”

“hey.”

“why.”

“Give it now.”

As if Eun-jae was disapproving of it, Tae-gyu stuck his tongue and stuck his hand in his pants pocket. The key ring on Tae-gyu’s index finger jingled and swayed in front of Eun-jae’s eyes.

It wasn’t Eunjae’s.

It’s my fault for not checking.

Eunjae sighed deeply and looked at Taegyu.

“why. no?”

I don’t know. I was thinking of throwing it away without regret until I lost it, but why did I rush out without thinking back as soon as I heard that I had found it?

“Did you really pick it up in front of the elevator?”

It looks like new to anyone, so it seems like something I bought in a hurry when I said I lost it. I think if it were you, you would stay like that.

“huh. why?”

“no.”

Tae-gyu placed the key chain in Eun-jae’s hand, who was lowering his head.

“Don’t dwell on what you lost. If it’s yours, it’ll come back to you even if you don’t bother looking for it.”

Tae-gyu, who was staring at Eun-jae’s face, which hadn’t straightened up, changed his words.

“How did it come about? Shall we look for it again?”

“it’s okay.”

“Didn’t you drop it around there? Then it must be somewhere around there. I go-”

Eunjae’s eyes widened as he listened to Taegyu’s words.

“that’s right! Maybe.”

“what?”

Eun-jae, who suddenly hit the table, grabbed her bag and stood up. Tae-gyu looked at Eun-jae as if he was absurd.

“hey! Where are you going?”

“Thank you, Yoon Tae-gyu.”

With a smile, Eunjae quickly turned around and started walking.

okay. Maybe he’s at his house.

Two thoughts quickly crossed in Eunjae’s head.

Thought I’d find the key chain again.

An excuse that maybe I’ll see him one more time.

That strange gap made Eunjae’s heart pound.

**

Seonwoo’s steps toward the professor’s office were heavy. His steps, as if lost in his own thoughts, did not speed up.

Shall I contact you? I have the key chain, so go get it. What are you going to say next? If you get married soon, would you like to have a date?

It was better when I didn’t know.

It’s already been a month since that white little woman broke her calm routine.

Whenever there was a gap in my thoughts, the woman’s face came to mind.

The way he shivered in the bathroom, his embarrassed expression when I was told to come home, his slightly reddened cheeks as he pulled out his hand, his lips as he ate food in the hotel lounge.

The inadvertent appearances came to mind vividly and bothered Seonwoo.

It’s ridiculous, how many times have you seen it?

“Hey, Professor Yoon!”

Seonwoo stopped walking at the sound of me calling and looked back. I saw Hyeji, who looked a little out of breath.

Seonwoo stopped until Hyeji got closer, then started walking again when Hyeji got closer.

“Why don’t you just call me by name.”

“No, what are you thinking? I called several times.”

How many times have you called?

Seonwoo, who stopped again, tilted his head and asked Hyeji with a meaningful face.

“How many times have you called?”

“I called ten times.”

“I’m just hearing about it for the first time.”

“What are you doing these days?”

When Seonwoo stared at Hyeji, Hyeji cleared her throat and avoided her gaze.

“You can see, I’m weird these days.”

“Yeah, that’s strange.”

It seems like a screw is missing somewhere, and he keeps spending his time on a strange woman for no reason.

“Why am I doing this?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Give me some time in the evening.”

“What time.”

Sunwoo put his hands in his pockets as if he was annoyed and resumed his pace.

“Thank you for changing my schedule to meet you last week, saying you’ll pay me back, and buy me a meal today.”

“today-“

Perhaps reading Seonwoo’s expression as he was about to say no, Hyeji stood in front of Sunwoo and spoke even more resolutely.

“This is until today.”

Hyeji handed the silver envelope to Seonwoo.

“What is this?”

The envelope handed over had the W Hotel logo on it. It seemed like a lounge meal ticket.

“I have something to tell you. See you later.”

When Seonwoo handed over the envelope, Hyeji immediately turned around. Hyeji put her hands in her pockets and smiled lightly. Her steps were light.

Seonwoo watched the W Hotel lounge at night with his chin resting on his chin.

Hyeji, who was cutting the steak, laughed out loud. The fact that Yoon Seon-woo, who is serious about food, is interested in other things before food comes to Hye-ji.

Hyeji, who was slowly appreciating Seonwoo, slowly took her eyes off him.

“What is it, Yoon Seon-woo? Watching something like that, like someone coming for the first time.”

So, I come here three or four times a week.

A few days ago, after going out with a woman, even the flowing air felt different.

Was the night view here so pretty?

The twinkling lights of the night view twinkled in Seonwoo’s eyes.

“It’s worth seeing the night view.”

“So, when did you decide to meet the 28th date?”

“Why are you twenty-eight?”

“Didn’t you pay half the morning the other day or meet face-to-face?”

He seemed to be referring to the day he called the woman home a few days ago.

It wasn’t a match, but something similar.

“It’s black, already.”

very nice looking

Seonwoo drank the non-alcoholic champagne in front of him at once. Perhaps because it was passed in haste, the carbonic acid tingled down the esophagus and went down.

“How about me as the twenty-eighth opponent?”

“It’s black.”

“Yoon Seon-woo, marry me.”

Seonwoo looked at Hyeji’s eyes, who quietly met him, without answering.

“You know, I am also in a position where I have to constantly bother confronting you, and I know your situation better than anyone else. I’ll fix everything.”

I wonder if she felt like this, too.

I must have been embarrassed. It must have been nothing. it must have been crazy

Even in this situation, what did she think? There was a moment when I thought I was really funny.

Sunwoo’s cell phone on the table rang.

– Ji Eun-jae

After checking the woman’s name on the screen, Seonwoo’s lips lifted softly.

The timing is exquisite.

While I was distracted by my phone for a while, Hyeji spoke again as if driving a wedge.

“Come with me.”

Seonwoo looked at the names of Hyeji sitting across from him and the woman who was ringing on the phone, and laughed out loud.

what kind of luck is this