Vol. 2 Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Vol. 2 Chapter 10:

Translated by naralara

Edited by naralara

“Aa.”

He tried to sigh for the ground to disappear, but the stuffiness in his chest did not ease at all. He felt like he couldn’t breathe well. Inseop rubbed his chest area with his hand. He managed to shake off Lee Wooyeon, who told him to go to sleep today. When Lee Wooyeon was told that there was no suit to change into, he did not hesitate to say that he would buy 10 new clothes right away if he wanted. Since he was a person who would do what he said, Inseop desperately had to refuse.

‘What have you hidden in the house?’

Inseop shook his head several times because he was afraid of Lee Wooyeon’s eyes as he smiled and asked. In the end, Lee Wooyeon left Inseop, saying he’ll see him tomorrow.

“Haa…”

Inseop sighed once more.

.

In the end, he couldn’t ask Lee Wooyeon for anything. He was feeling complicated. Inseop did not go into the house and turned to a nearby park. He sat down on the bench and looked up at the sky.

As CEO Kim said, comparing the scandal with Chae Yeonseo and the appearance in company N’s drama, the latter was much more profitable. This was because Chae Yeonseo was an actress that the public loved and liked, and if they put the two side by side, they look like a couple. Even if it was a public relationship, there will be no image consumption. Of course, it is better to choose that one.

However, Lee Wooyeon strongly refused. It was an attitude which said that there was not even room for reconsideration. He didn’t care, it’s because he didn’t like Inseop caring.

Lee Wooyeon simply explained the reason. In other words, if he didn’t mind, then he didn’t have a problem either. However, Inseop left the house without saying anything.

A normal manager would have definitely asked him to accept the offer.

Choi Inseop covered his face with the palm of his hand.

He honestly hated it. The fact that Lee Wooyeon will admit to being in an official relationship with someone. He didn’t just hate it, he hated it so much that he wanted to cry. Strictly speaking, the reason he was banned from broadcasting was also because of him… To think he was such a selfish human being. He was apologetic to the CEO, and Manager Cha for being such a bad person. How could he help Lee Wooyeon when he was like this?

“…Should I quit?”

After muttering his true feelings, Inseop hurriedly shook his head so that no one would hear. He went to CEO Kim and said all those things, so he couldn’t quit within a few days. More than anything, if he thinks of Lee Wooyeon, that shouldn’t be the case.

He wanted to talk to someone openly, but there was no one to talk to. He laughed because his personality, which was neither social nor friendly, was pitiful. He missed his family in America. It was an indescribable loneliness being with Lee Wooyeon. It was his responsibility to choose him. Tears welled up. Inseop quickly wiped his eyes, then suddenly felt a gaze and raised his head.

“Ahh!”

Startled, he screamed and threw himself back. A large white dog barked loudly and wagged its tail.

“Kong!”

He heard someone calling urgently from the distance. The white dog barked as if he was telling her he was here.

“Kong! Hey, where are you running away while I’mr is cleaning up shit! I’m sorry. You were surprised. Normally, I always hold on to the leash… Huh?”

As Inseop blinked his eyes, the woman in a tracksuit happily acted like she knew him.

“Aren’t you Mr. Choi Inseop?”

“What?Ah… Yes.”

She took off the hat she was wearing and smiled.

“Yoon Areum… Reporter.”

“Oh, you remember my name correctly.”

If it was related to Lee Wooyeon, he would write down everything, even the smallest things, and memorize them. He cannot forget the name of the reporter who did the interview.

“Yes. Of course I remember. It’s been a while.”

Inseop got up from the bench and held out his hand. Yoon Ahreum held his hand and shook it lightly.

“By the way, what are you doing here?”

“Because my house is around here.”

“My house is right here, too. See that blue roof over there? That’s my house.”

“Oh, I see.”

Inseop smiled awkwardly and nodded. He didn’t know what to say anymore, so when he looked away, he met the eyes of the large dog. Bark! Seeing him barking and wagging his tail, Inseop thought of Will.

About a month ago, he got a call from his father. He said Will had passed away. He was lying in front of his room comfortably as if he had fallen asleep. After hanging up the phone, Inseop cried all night. Will was like a family and a brother. Will treated his weak body like a younger brother. It was Will who guarded him until the end.

It was Lee Wooyeon who soothed Inseop, who had been crying for days. But it was not a complete understanding. ‘Do you want to raise a dog? I’ll buy you a better one. So don’t cry.’ Even though he knew that he had done his best to comfort him, he couldn’t help but feel empty in a corner of his heart. Inseop swallowed a lonely smile and looked down at the dog in front of him.

“Hey, Kong, do you wag your tail saying you like everything when you see someone? Huh?”

Yoon Ahreum rubbed the dog’s nape with her hand and playfully frowned.

“Is his name Kong?”

“Yes. You may find it hard to believe, but he was the size of a pea when he first came. Now he is like this. Haha, but isn’t he cute?”

The puppy with white fur was the size of an adult’s waist, but the mischievous smile on his face was very lovable.

“He’s very cute.”

“Do you want to touch it?”

Choi Inseop’s eyes suddenly widened at her suggestion.

“Can I?”

“Yes. But be careful… ”

The moment Inseop sat down and reached out to touch the dog’s chin

“,…!”

Unable to overcome the dog’s weight, Inseop fell backwards.

“This dog is killing me, really. I’m sorry. It’s a real mess.”

Yoon Ahreum apologized and tried to pull the leash line, but the dog was already jumping up and down, covering Inseop’s face.

Choi Inseop hugged the dog and stroked its back without frowning once

Seeing this, Yoon Ahreum smiled and asked.

“You must have had a dog before.”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“People usually get scared when a big kid like this attacks, but you naturally handled the dog.”

He smiled and said , “Is that so?” and touched Kong’s head.

“You’re very cute and nice.”

“What do you mean nice? My table is tilted because of him. Because he bit off one leg.”

Inseop burst into laughter. It reminded him of Will’s childhood.

“My dog Will…”

“Is your dog’s name Will? Hey, are you crying?”

Yoon Ahreum calmed down the dog that ran amok with excitement and asked in surprise.

“No. It’s okay.”

Inseop quickly shook his head. But the tears didn’t stop once they broke out. Yoon Areum searched her pockets and held out a handkerchief.

“… Sorry.”

“No. Never mind.”

Inseop covered his eyes with a handkerchief. Yoon Areum held the dog’s leash short and stood by him.

“I remember Will…”

Inseop murmured in a small voice.

“Looks like he crossed the rainbow bridge.”

“A rainbow bridge?”

Inseop blinked his eyes at the expression he heard for the first time. Tears welled up in his long eyelashes and ran down his cheeks.

“When their pets die, owners say that. They want them to cross the rainbow bridge and go to a good place.”

When he imagined Will crossing the rainbow bridge with those white, fluffy paws, the tears that had barely stopped welled up again. Inseop said, “I’m sorry,” and started crying again. Yoon Ahreum sighed and sat down next to him. Only the whispering sound continued through the awkward silence. Kong, who was in the public street, licked Inseop’s hand, probably thinking that it was because of him.

“Thank you. I’m sorry. You were surprised too.”

Inseop stroked Kong’s head.

“Don’t mind him. He’ll forget everything when he turns around anyway.”

Yoon Ahreum said in a bright tone.

“I’m sorry for this ugly look. A grown adult… “

Yoon Areaum said no and she held out her hand and continued.

“A year ago, a child named Tan crossed the rainbow bridge. I had been raising him for over ten years, so I cried every day for about a month. But one day, when I returned home from work, my father was crying alone. I was so surprised as if I saw a ghost. My father is blunt and doesn’t express emotions. But now that I think about it, my father always ordered Tan to go for a walk. Whether it’s a child or an adult, heartache and hurt are all the same. Feelings are the same. What’s wrong with being honest?”

“Thank you…”

“And Mr. Inseop’s crying isn’t ugly at all. On the contrary, he’s pretty. Haven’t you heard something like this somewhere?”

At her joking consolation, Inseop was embarrassed and lowered his head. It was a word he had heard many times from Lee Wooyeon.

“It may not make sense to you now, but it’s good to try raising another child later when we get to know each other. Our house laughs non-stop because of him these days. Of course, shouting too. You ripped off all the wallpaper. What are you laughing at because you’re good at it?”

Yoon Ahreum playfully poked Kong’s nose with her fingertips.

“I don’t think it will work because I spend a lot of time away from home.”

“Other family members too?”

“I live alone now because of circumstances.”

“Ah, are you continuing that job?”

“What? That’s…”

He didn’t know how to explain the current situation, and while Inseop was messing around, Yoon Areum quickly waved her hand.

“I’m sorry. You don’t have to be daring if you’re having trouble. I quit being a reporter. I still keep asking things as if I was digging too much. I get pointed out by my mother every time, but it’s not easy to change my tone.”

“No. I have a situation, so I’m temporarily serving as Lee Wooyeon’s manager. It’s just that I don’t know how to explain it. I’m sorry for offending you.”

When Inseop politely apologized, Yoon Areum burst into laughter.

“Mr. Inseop, why is your tone so stiff that it doesn’t suit you? Don’t your friends tease you?”

“That’s right.”

Yun Ahreum couldn’t stop laughing. Choi Inseop thought of Jennie. Jennie’s cheerful laughter always sounded like music. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Mr. Inseop. You’re a fun person.”

“… Thank you.”

Inseop awkwardly said thank you and handed over the handkerchief.

“You have tears and runny nose on your face. Are you just going to give it to me?”

“Oh, no, it’s not. I’m sorry. I’ll washed it right away, no, I mean, with a new… I’m sorry for being rude…?”

“It’s a joke, a joke. I can’t even joke with Inseop. You’re stinging my conscience.”

Inseop fidgeted while holding the handkerchief.

“Just throw it away. I got it as a free gift from a cosmetics store.”

Yoon Ahreum stood up from her seat. Inseop also got up from his seat following her.

“No.’ll be sure to return it later.”

“When later?”

“What?”

“I texted you before, but you didn’t reply. It hurt.”

Inseop broke into a cold sweat as he remembered what had happened before. He was trying hard not to have a relationship with anyone, so he didn’t even send a text message out of courtesy.

“I’m sorry for being rude. I, at that time, was in a hurry…”

“No. I can’t really tell a joke.”

Yoon Ahreum smiled mischievously and waved her hand.

Inseop’s head turned white. Except for Jennie, he had hardly ever had a proper conversation with a girl his age. Should he give her his phone number? What if she thinks it’s a strange trick? But when should they meet and how should he reciprocate his gratitude? If he just does something that didn’t exist like this, he’s going to seem like a really rude person.

Not knowing what to say, Yoon Ahreum spoke to him.

“Do you know my contact information? I think you deleted it for some reason.”

“I changed my cell phone, so all the numbers I had before were gone.”

“Please give me your cell phone.”

Inseop took out his cell phone from his pocket and handed it to her. She saved her number.

“Except for rainy days, Kong takes a walk in this park at this time of day. Please text me if you need to come out. Come see Kong.”

“Is that okay?

Inseop widened his eyes at the simple solution. He was even a little happy to think that he would be able to meet Kong.

“Yes. I’m free these days as an unemployed person pretending to be a student. If you want to cry, my Kong will lend you a hairy shoulder.”

“… Yes.”

Inseop touched the dog’s hairy shoulder with a flushed face

“It looks like expensive clothes.”

“Is it expensive?”

Inseop was shocked and shook off the dirt from his clothes. He didn’t know it because he wore the one Lee Wooyeon bought for him

“Inseop, you’re really funny. I’ll see you later. It’s time for Kong to eat snacks.”

“Oh, yes. Goodbye.”

Choi Inseop politely put his hands together and bowed his head. Yoon Ahreum waved her hand and disappeared with Kong. After confirming that the two had disappeared, Inseop brushed off the dirt from his clothes again.

It was the first time he cried in front of anyone other than Lee Wooyeon after coming to Korea. Is that why? He felt lighter than before.

‘What’s wrong with being honest about your feelings?’

Strangely, Yoon Ahreum’s comfort was not forgotten. Inseop made a promise as he came down the park. Go home, take a shower, and call Lee Wooyeon. And speak honestly.

He hates it when he looks like a lover with someone else, whether fake or acting. He was jealous, he thought of saying that too. It’s good to show your emotions.

Inseop practiced what to say to Lee Wooyeon and walked in a hurry..