The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

 

Sang-moon made his way to Club Freya for the first time in a while. Tae-chun, uncomfortable with the news he had received at the entrance, escorted Sang-moon down to the first floor with a limp. Upon arriving at Tae-chun’s office, Sang-moon glanced at the terrace and put his luggage down. The manager left Sang-moon’s favorite scotch and a straight glass on the table before departing.

 

Tae-chun stood a little apart from Sang-moon, facing the same direction. 

 

“How’s it going with Mr. Jae-soo?”

 

Tae-chun’s rugged face turned red in an instant. He scratched the back of his head, unable to respond properly. 

 

“…Uh, well. Yeah.”

 

“Do well. You’ve invested a lot, so you should do well.” 

 

Sang-moon’s voice contained a hint of loneliness and regret. Tae-chun didn’t pretend to understand and quickly changed the subject.

 

“Why did you suddenly come here?”

 

Sang-moon sat down on the sofa, emitting a dry smile reminiscent of silence. 

 

“Just dropped by to have a drink after the executive dinner.”

 

“I shouldn’t say this as a liquor seller, but please don’t drink too much, brother. It’s bad for your health.”

 

Sang-moon chuckled at Tae-chun’s words. He lightly waved off Tae-chun’s attempt to pour scotch into the straight glass and instead put ice in the rocks glass and poured scotch there. Tae-chun still couldn’t drink anything other than soju. He poured himself some and lightly clinked glasses.

 

“You’re still stubborn with your preferences.”

 

Sang-moon looked at Tae-chun and nodded. 

 

“I occasionally drink, but the taste is nothing special. Soju is the best.”

 

“How’s Go-yeo these days?”

 

“Haven’t been to the club in a while. Go-yeo hasn’t been taking reservations because of the room’s interior construction.”

 

Sang-moon narrowed his eyes for a moment, then nodded. Tae-chun suddenly remembered something, gulped down his soju, and blurted out.

 

“Brother! Are we leaving the trash journalists alone?”

 

Sang-moon’s gaze was as sharp as a well-honed blade. He shook the glass quietly.

 

“It’ll pass anyway. Being proactive in times like this only makes things worse.”

 

Sang-moon sipped his drink a little. It was a pensive day.

 

“Is it Yun Seung-ok? Or that bastard Moon Ji-hyuk? Crazy lunatics.”

 

Even with Tae-chun’s swearing, Sang-moon remained expressionless, just looking ahead.

 

“We just have to avoid dealing with them now.”

 

“Yes. But I’ll keep digging into Yun Seung-ok.”

 

Tae-chun suppressed his excitement and emptied his glass. Sang-moon nodded in agreement.

 

“It won’t be easy. That woman.”

 

“I understand. People like that.”

 

Erasing traces meticulously, it was difficult to catch them with suspicion layered upon suspicion. But the more complicated it got, the more flaws they had.

 

“…Is Go-yeo starting to resemble Ji-ho?”

 

As Sang-moon finished his drink, Tae-chun refilled it. The ice, still intact, made a clinking sound.

 

“Yeah, it’s getting more and more out of place. Shouldn’t there be some sort of equalizer? I’m worried.”

 

“If Go-yeo doesn’t want it, let it be. She’ll tell you if she needs to.”

 

“Oh! Recently, she brought a child claiming to be a driver. Not a press, but a quiet kid.”

 

Upon hearing this story for the first time, Sang-moon listened intently to Tae-chun’s explanation. His grown-up daughter never talked about herself, and she wasn’t the type to chit-chat. But there was a time when Go-yeo was like that too. Maybe her personality changed after her mother died; she didn’t seem like herself.

 

Sang-moon couldn’t take care of Go-yeo amidst the loss of their promised future together. Looking back, he realized he hadn’t understood Go-yeo’s feelings about losing her mother. Perhaps she had forcibly suppressed a part of her emotions, making her appear indifferent in everything.

 

When Go-yeo got a partner and wanted to get married, Sang-moon had no choice but to agree. It was because he saw a smile on her face after a long time.

 

He complied with everything according to Go-yeo’s wishes, ignoring his personal feelings about the person she brought home. He only wished for her happiness and to avoid getting hurt. Even if it ended in divorce, it wasn’t a failure on his part. He thought it was fortunate that she got out of it quickly.

 

Go-yeo hadn’t said anything, but he already knew. They were trying to suffocate her in the end.

 

There must be a reason why Yun Seung-ok treated Go-yeo like that. Did she know about the facts? How?

 

“Look more into Yun Seung-ok’s past.”

 

“Past? There’s nothing special about it.”

 

Sang-moon shook his head. Tae-chun scratched his head in understanding. The manager knocked and entered, whispering to Tae-chun.

 

The club was bustling with people. Go-yeo entered directly into the VVIP room through another passage. She inspected the room’s interior. The walls and sofas were unified in deep green and gold, with point lights resembling a Mobius strip on the ceiling.

 

Hmm, this was fine. It looked luxurious enough without being too flashy. Drinking here would make you feel good.

 

Go-yeo crossed her arms and looked down at the stage. The club was making good money today too. She smiled satisfactorily and looked at Ga-eul. He was wearing what she had bought at the trunk show today: a ribbed sweater, a burgundy wool coat, and a metal wristwatch. He even wore black loafers. He looked like he had stepped out of a fashion magazine, exuding a subtly provocative yet dandy vibe. She liked it. She enjoyed the sight for a moment as if admiring a masterpiece.

 

His eyes roamed around as if this place were fascinating, innocent orbs glancing around in confusion. There was an odd shiver down her spine amidst the discordant sight. It made her wonder why he lived such a dull life with this face. Moreover, when he had changed into tennis attire and come out, she had thought he had a good physique. Well-built muscles all over, straight and broad shoulders, and a broad chest. Even without looking closely, his speed must be decent.

 

“Tell me about it.” 

 

Go-yeo suddenly asked.

 

Ga-eul was taken aback by Go-yeo’s sudden question.

 

“Um…,” 

 

He hesitated, appearing cute in his seriousness despite his confusion.

 

“I didn’t know there was such a place in the club. I came here last time, but it feels like a different world. I’ve learned a lot of new things working with the boss. The world I knew was narrow. And…”

 

Just as he was about to continue, a knock interrupted them. Go-yeo frowned. The manager entered and respectfully informed them.

 

“Mr. Han is here.”

 

“Dad?” 

 

Go-yeo nodded.

 

“He’s waiting.”

 

Go-yeo asked Ga-eul to take care of the office and left. Heading towards Tae-chun’s office, Go-yeo pondered Ga-eul’s words. A different world, a person with completely different values. The distance between Ga-eul and Go-yeo. Yet somehow, there was a feeling of connection. She wondered what was inside his firmness – whether it would just be gentleness or if he harbored nastiness like many others. And though it was just a moment, she still wondered if he harbored the desire he had shown.

 

She wanted to know.

 

Tae-chun’s space remained unchanged as always, but just Sang-moon sitting there, the atmosphere felt different. The appearance of a thorough master. Someone who knows how to handle people, who sits in that position with the eyes of a person who can read others. A stern yet pragmatic gaze. But with Go-yeo’s arrival, he became an ordinary father who endlessly cared for his child.

 

“What’s up?” 

 

Go-yeo sat opposite Tae-chun, eyes wide open.

 

“Wanna have a drink?”

 

Sang-moon asked with a relaxed smile. Go-yeo shook her head lightly.

 

“I’m feeling good. I’m going home like this.”

 

“What did you do?”

 

“I started exercising. Tennis. It was fun after a long time.”

 

“…Next time, let’s go out to the field together.”

 

Go-yeo smirked and nodded. She didn’t enjoy golf, but she felt sorry to abruptly reject her father’s proposal. Tae-chun left his seat, and the two didn’t exchange many words. Go-yeo, who had been drinking lukewarm water, rested her chin on her hand and carefully observed Sang-moon. A refined middle-aged man. In the photo Go-yeo has, her mother is younger than she is now, but time continues to pass for her father.

 

“…How does it feel for you, Dad, to feel like time is passing alone?”

 

“Nonsense.”

 

“Is it?”

 

Go-yeo let out a faint laugh as if releasing pent-up wind.

 

Lost in thought, Sang-moon thought of his ex-wife, Eun Ji-ho. A woman he hadn’t gotten over, a pain he hadn’t gotten over. Perhaps agreeing to marry her despite their opposing views was a way of foreseeing the future. Go-yeo was a daughter whom Sang-moon never stopped loving.

 

The woman who had been prepared to give up everything was nowhere to be found now. It was Sang-moon’s duty to nurture the traces of her existence and the fruits of their relationship. He wanted to give her everything he had, to share all he knew, but the child was asking questions about the issues that had not yet been resolved.

 

Even though he had remarried, a part of his heart always remained with Eun Ji-ho. The remarriage had been agreed upon between Yeong-ran and himself. If he hadn’t accepted this fact, he wouldn’t have remarried. It wasn’t easy to accept, nor was it without regrets, but it was inevitable. As naturally as breathing, he reminisced, and whenever he looked at Go-yeo, he thought about it again.

 

“If you can’t erase it, just take it as a part of your body.”

 

And believing in that. That with time, things would get better. Just like how a huge rock eventually weathers away into the sand.

 

“Wouldn’t that be disrespectful to the next person?”

 

Sang-moon nodded as if it were obvious.

 

“Yes, it would be. But it’s better than trying to forcefully erase it and ending up destroying yourself.”

 

And then he looked at Go-yeo as if to say, ‘You’re the same, aren’t you?’ Did he know everything too? Her pride was hurt.

 

“You’re still young, so meet other people.”

 

Although she had said there were no other men besides Moon Ji-hyuk, they had gone on quite a few dates fueled by resentment after their breakup. They had engaged in light physical affection, but unfortunately, she wasn’t inclined to go further.

 

She kept comparing herself to Moon Ji-hyuk, dwelling on things she didn’t like. This strange stubbornness seemed to resemble her Dad’s. It would have been so much better if it were as light as a feather. Meeting various people, even doing exercises she hadn’t done before, would not have tortured her body as much.

 

Sang-moon suddenly remembered something and set his glass down on the table.

 

“You‘ve hired a driver. Where is he? Tell him to come here.”

 

She remembered Ga-eul out of the blue.