Once Love Begins - Chapter 20. Part 3

Chapter 20. Part 3

* * *

The biting winter wind that once stung my cheeks was gone, giving way to a warm spring breeze that made me want to sing and sway to its rhythm. Just as the season had changed, so had I. I had moved closer to the university and had recently re-enrolled. He had taken care of everything in the apartment, preparing all the paperwork for my return to school with nothing to worry about.

As the light spring breeze lifted my hair like a swaying fox’s tail, I felt lighter. Today, I managed to find time to celebrate my new apartment with Jae-ho and Hana, who were both busy with their new jobs. After shopping for groceries, we arrived at my apartment, and as we stood outside, Hana nudged my arm, her voice low, as if she was performing a ventriloquist act.

“Hey, hey, look ahead,” she whispered.

Startled, I looked up, curious about what she had spotted.

Standing in front of me was Cha Kang-Jae, dressed in a navy suit, his posture as poised as ever.

“We’ll head inside first. You go talk,”

Hana whispered with a smile before she and Jae-ho slipped past us.

Ever since I moved closer to the university, he had started showing up at random times. Whether I was coming home late from drinks with friends or running a quick errand, he would be there, waiting in silence. I had asked him several times to let me know before he came, but he would just smile and nod, making no change. That smile – so melancholy – felt like a thorn in my heart every time I saw it.

“You’re here?” I said quietly.

“Yeah,” he replied, his voice soft.

“I’m having a housewarming party with my friends,”

I added, suddenly feeling awkward. I found myself kicking the ground lightly with the tip of my shoe, unsure of what else to say.

It seemed that today would be no different. He would come, look at me, and then leave without saying much. At first, I tried to discourage him from visiting like this, but eventually, I realized that no matter what I said, he would continue. Now I didn’t even try to stop him. There was something about his quiet persistence that I couldn’t quite shake.

His intense gaze met mine, and for once I didn’t flinch. He looked at me as if he wanted to imprint my face on his memory, his eyes never blinking.

“You should go up. Your friends are waiting,” he said softly.

“…Yeah,” I replied, hesitating.

“Have fun,” he added with a faint smile.

“…Are you heading back to the office?” I asked, suddenly curious about his plans.

He paused for a moment, clearly surprised by the question.

“Oh, yeah. I have a bit of work left to finish.”

“Are you sleeping well?” I asked, my voice softening.

“Yeah, I’m doing fine. Sleeping and eating well, just like you told me to,” he answered, his smile faint but genuine.

I fidgeted slightly, curling my toes inside my shoes, feeling unsure.

“…And your arm, is it okay?”

“Arm?”

His eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

“I noticed it before… your hand was shaking a little bit,” I explained, my concern obvious.

He blinked, seemingly caught off guard by my observation.

When I looked at his left hand, he quickly put it in his pocket, trying to hide that he was shaking.

“It’s fine. How’s school?” he asked, changing the subject.

“It’s fun,” I replied, offering a small smile.

“Don’t go anywhere alone. Always move with your bodyguards,” he reminded me for what felt like the hundredth time.

I nodded, already used to this routine precaution. He had visited me before I returned to school, insisting that I have two plainclothes female bodyguards. With the attention that came with being associated with a chaebol family, there was always a risk, and he wanted to make sure I was safe.

“I’ve heard it so many times, it’s like a broken record. Don’t worry,” I reassured him with a small laugh.

“…Go on inside,” he said gently, concern still lingering in his eyes.

As I turned to leave, the spring breeze blowing softly past, I couldn’t help but look back before I entered the building. He was standing exactly where I had left him, his hand raised in a gentle wave. For a moment, I froze. My hand almost lifted to return the gesture – almost – but instead I turned quickly back, my ears suddenly burning.

Without another word, I rushed inside, feeling nervous for reasons I couldn’t quite understand.

***

As soon as I stepped inside, Hana and Jae-ho practically pounced on me, bombarding me with questions.

“What’s going on? Why does he keep visiting even though you two don’t live together?” Hana asked, her curiosity aroused.

“Yeah, seriously, what’s up with that?” Jae-ho asked.

“It’s nothing,”

I tried to brush it off, but they weren’t having it.

“Nothing? Come on, this looks like some sort of *fling*,” Hana teased, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

“It’s not like that,” I insisted.

“Then what is it? If it’s not a fling, then what’s going on?” she pressed.

“…It’s just… not that, okay?”

I mumbled, unable to find the words to explain the complicated situation. I knew I should say I had no intention of getting back together with him, but the words stuck in my throat.

Ignoring Hana’s nudging, I busied myself unpacking the groceries, trying to act nonchalant as she playfully poked me in the side, obviously still full of questions.

“So, how’s school going? Settling in alright?” Jae-ho asked, changing the topic.

“It’s okay, I guess,”

I said with a shrug. Since my face had been on the news, no one came up to me. There were polite greetings, but nothing deeper.

“Must be pretty lonely without us around, huh?” Hana said with a smile.

“Yeah, a lot,” I replied, playing along with their teasing.

“Then treat us well,” Hana said, grinning.

Hana and Jae-ho were the only ones who saw me for who I was – friends who never felt jealous or treated me differently because of my circumstances. They were special, the kind of friends who saw me as a person, not just the label attached to my name.

“I already do! I even cook for you guys,”

I pointed out, placing the food on the table.

“Keep it coming!” Hana laughed.

“We’ll be counting on you forever.”

“That sounds like blackmail,” I teased back.

As I set the dishes down, I felt Hana suddenly wrap her arms around my waist from behind, hugging me tightly. I glanced around, looking at Jae-ho had slipped into the living room.

“What do you want to do?” Hana asked quietly.

“…About what?” I asked, even though I knew exactly what she meant.

“About your husband. What do you want?”

“I don’t know,”

I admitted softly, turning to face her. Hana’s gaze was filled with genuine concern.

“Follow your heart. Don’t worry about what others think or expect from you. Just do what feels right for you,” she said gently, her words full of support.

“Yeah…” I responded softly, though my thoughts were anything but certain.

“I swear, if I just focused on how much he hurt you, I’d tell you to divorce him and move on. But looking at your face, I can’t say that,” Hana said with a sigh.

I blinked, confused.

*What was she seeing in my face?*

As if she could read my confusion, she let out a small laugh.

“You kept looking around earlier, outside your house. Like you were waiting for someone.”

“Me?” I blinked again in disbelief.

“Yeah, at first, I thought you were looking for something, but when your husband showed up, your face relaxed, like you were relieved.”

I tried to deny it, but Hana was right. Had I been looking for him? It didn’t seem possible, but deep down, maybe it was true.

“So, are you planning to divorce him after you graduate?” she asked, her eyes full of sincerity.

I couldn’t answer. I had been sure that I wanted a divorce, but now… Now I wasn’t so sure. The truth was, I’d found myself looking around more often, wondering when he’d show up. And on the days he didn’t, I’d even make excuses to go outside, as if I might run into him.

The feelings I thought had faded began to stir again, and I was no longer sure what I wanted.

“Take your time and look into your heart. No need to rush,” Hana said gently.

“…But what if I make the wrong choice?” I asked, uncertainty creeping into my voice.

“It’s okay. Everyone makes mistakes. If you do, you can just make a different choice later,” she reassured me, patting my back. Her support was like a warm blanket, wrapping me in comfort.

“Thanks,” I said softly.

“If you’re thankful, hurry up and make the food! I’m starving!” Hana exclaimed, breaking the serious moment.

Laughter burst out of me and soon I was holding my stomach and laughing uncontrollably. Jae-ho came in and shook his head with a smile.

Laughter burst out of me and soon I was holding my stomach and laughing uncontrollably. Jae-ho came in and shook his head with a smile.

“You two are unbelievable.”

* * *

During class, I received a text from him. He suggested having dinner together, and I agreed, texting back that I’d call him once my class ended. But when I called after class, he didn’t pick up.

*Is he busy?*

I wondered, feeling a bit uneasy as I stared at my phone.

I froze, my hand hovering over the phone as I heard the growing murmur of voices around me. Curious, I looked up and there he was – standing at the front gate in his suit, attracting everyone’s attention. The crowd around him whispered and stared, their eyes glued to the striking figure he made against the backdrop of the campus.

I blinked, trying to take in the scene. Slowly, the man who had been leaning against his car stood up, his eyes fixed on me.

“He’s coming this way!” someone whispered excitedly.

“He’s so handsome. Wow!”

The closer he came, the louder the whispers became. He walked straight toward me, his eyes locked with mine. When he stopped right in front of me, the murmurs faded as people watched us with curiosity.

“You’re here?” he asked calmly.

“Wh-what’s going on?” I stammered, still confused by his sudden appearance.

“We were supposed to have dinner, remember? I came to pick you up,” he said with a small, casual smile as if the crowd and attention meant nothing to him.

We were quickly surrounded by a growing crowd, curious eyes watching as we stood together. His plainclothes bodyguards moved efficiently, clearing a path through the crowd. Before I knew it, his arm was around my shoulders, leading me to the car.

“Let’s get in,” he said softly.

“Okay,” I replied, still a bit overwhelmed by the attention.

As I was getting into the car, I noticed a bouquet on the passenger seat that made me stop. I looked up at him, and for a moment everything seemed to slow down. Behind him, the sky was painted with fluffy clouds, and a gentle spring breeze blew past us, ruffling his hair in a way that made me feel strangely comfortable. The scene felt surreal as if it belonged in a movie.

“Go ahead, get in,” he urged with a small smile.

I picked up the flowers and settled into the car, placing them gently on my lap before fastening my seatbelt. I couldn’t help but steal a glance at him as he buckled his seatbelt.

“What’s this for?” I asked, nodding toward the bouquet.

“…I bought them because they reminded me of you,” he admitted quietly.

My eyes fell on the bright yellow flowers in my lap, and I gently touched the delicate petals with my fingertips. I brought the bouquet closer to my face and inhaled its subtle scent.

“They’re marigolds,” he added.

“The flower’s meaning is ‘happiness that is sure to come.’”

*Happiness that is sure to come?*