The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 73

CHAPTER 73

Anna tried to maintain a stoic expression like the woman in front of her, but it wasn’t easy. She felt her mood sour as she sensed subtle disdain in the woman’s attitude, and her face gradually stiffened. To appear relaxed, she took a sip of coffee and moistened her dry lips.

“I asked to meet you because I have some questions. What’s your relationship with Ga-eul?”

“Why are you asking me that? You should ask Ga-eul.”

“Well, as a woman, I wanted to ask another woman.”

Go-yeo let out a bitter laugh as if she had been hit. The thought that she and this girl were on the same level was not only absurd but also insulting.

While she was comfortable with people around her, Go-yeo was a heiress child to the core. No matter how much others talked about equality, she didn’t think that way.

There were different standards for people, and it wasn’t necessarily determined materially. She remembered the contemptuous gaze she received from Ga-eul’s house last time. So, this girl was someone she couldn’t respect from the beginning. She hadn’t been educated to allow someone insignificant to cross the line.

“Please don’t assume that we’re the same just because I’m facing you, Ms. Anna, because it’s offensive.”

Anna’s face flushed at Go-yeo’s straightforwardness. What was even more embarrassing was that Go-yeo’s expression and gaze remained unchanged. Although she said it was uncomfortable, her expression hadn’t changed from a moment ago. Even at this moment, she felt a greater sense of defeat from the polished appearance.

To refrain from shouting, Anna had to clench her fists. She bit her lips tightly and then calmed her trembling body to glare at Go-yeo.

“You two don’t suit each other. Really. Act your age.”

Go-yeo thought that this girl’s attack was the best she could do. It wasn’t untrue that she was older than this girl. But what right did she have to discuss whether they suited each other or not? That was simply not understanding the topic.

Go-yeo knew very well how to nobly suppress people. If she showed what she had learned by heart, that would be the end. It was just a matter of naturally evoking shame, of pulling out their past.

“You have no manners, and it seems you’ve never learned etiquette.”

Go-yeo lazily muttered with her eyes lowered, not even bothering to look properly at the woman in front of her.

“Excuse me!”

Anna couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted. Even the server standing at a distance seemed surprised and glanced over. But Go-yeo just smirked as if to say, ‘See?’ Anna bit her lip to control her anger.

“Stop trying to manipulate Ga-eul by providing material assistance and using it to win him over. It’s awkward to watch.”

These people think so selfishly.

“Confidence looks good on you. Tell that directly to Ga-eul. Got it?”

“Well, what makes you so confident? I’ve liked him for a long time. So I know well. Ga-eul isn’t someone who would fit with someone like you. I held back my confession out of consideration for Ga-eul. I’m different from you. So, …”

Now her mental state was worrying. Arrogance and self-centeredness were tightly intertwined. It felt like facing a different kind of wall. She even missed the times when they would exchange pointless stories, pretending in the club.

“Oops, I’m sorry to hear that before I even ask.”

She cut her off without needing to hear more of her apology. Rising from her seat, Go-yeo turned away, wondering what her expression looked like now. It was just before the mask she had worn so effortlessly was about to crack. She got into the car with Jin-young, her face twisted as she recalled their conversation.

It was childish and annoying, but she couldn’t talk to anyone about it. If she talked to Ji-yeon, she’d probably curse together, but it wouldn’t be satisfying. Mulling over the rising discomfort, she thought of Ga-eul. She got angry at Ga-eul, but ultimately there was nothing he did wrong. She hesitated to tell him everything but felt immature. Yet, pretending nothing happened and pretending not to know about it would be difficult.

She didn’t expect to use the recording function like this, but since being treated unfairly by Yun Seung-ok, she decided to use it if she felt aggrieved. Turning off the recording app, she decided to send it to Ga-eul as it was.

Because Ga-eul needed to know. What kind of words she was listening to because of him. No matter how casually it was conveyed, it could only end up in the principal’s office. It would be fortunate if that girl didn’t curse how weird she was.

She decided to just tell him as it was. There seemed to be no other way to rid herself of this bitter feeling.

* * *

Since seeing Go-yeo at Ga-eul’s house, Eun-jae had been lost in thought. From Eun-jae’s perspective, Ms. Han Go-yeo was practically a benefactor. Of course, Anna was also a really good sister, but she couldn’t compare to Ms. Han. She knows that Anna’s parents helped pay for her mom’s first surgery, but from Eun-jae’s point of view, Go-yeo, who had directly helped her at the police station, seemed to have been more helpful.

Even though she hadn’t experienced dating, she knew everything. She was taken aback that day and couldn’t continue her thoughts, but it didn’t seem like the boss’ attire was just for that day. Was there a reason for a man and a woman to be together at that time?

‘Besides, my brother quit his job.’

Hee-sook called Eun-jae multiple times, seeing Eun-jae sinking into thought instead of eating.

“What?”

“What are you doing other than eating? Quickly eat; the soup will get cold.”

Eun-jae smiled at Hee-sook and resumed eating. Hee-sook, who had been discharged from the hospital, still had a hint of pallor on her face, but she had gained vitality from being able to lead a normal life.

“It’s nice that Mom is at home.”

“Yeah.”

Although the treatment wasn’t finished, after receiving outpatient treatment a few times and receiving a clean bill of health, Hee-sook was satisfied with her current health status. She decided to think only of further improvement.

“It’s all thanks to Ms. Han’s help that I was discharged quickly. I’m grateful.”

Eun-jae nodded. After all, she had received quality treatment in a good hospital room. But was that consideration simply because her brother was just an ordinary employee? She suddenly had that doubt.

It might be better if he unilaterally liked her. The boss was more than enough for that. Beautiful, elegant, charming, and from a wealthy family. Of course, her brother was handsome too, but he was much younger and still a student…

While Hee-sook washed the dishes after the meal, Eun-jae went into her room. In the meantime, Anna had contacted her. Eun-jae immediately called Anna. Anna’s voice, asking to meet right away, didn’t sound as calm as usual. It seemed like she was angry, or perhaps she was just upset.

Hastily leaving the house, when Eun-jae arrived near her house, Anna was standing in front of a flower bed. She had noticed her from afar and approached her, surprised to see Anna’s expression under the streetlight illuminating the dark evening.

Her expression wasn’t just angry; it seemed distorted, carrying resentment. Anna was a good and kind sister, but she knew that sometimes Anna was the type who had to do things her way to feel satisfied.

Last time, she had insisted on going to Ga-eul’s house and dragged her along until the end. Her current expression looked as if she had missed her prey, like a snake that had lost its prey right in front of it.

“Sister.”

Anna was startled by Eun-jae’s call, not realizing how close she had come. Then, she quickly erased her expression from a moment ago and greeted her with a bright smile.

“Oh, Eun-jae. Are you surprised because I suddenly called you out?”

“No.”

“I have something serious to tell you. I went to the department store today. I saw that boss you mentioned, the one who worked with Ga-eul.”

Suddenly hearing this news, Eun-jae’s eyes widened.

“The boss?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I pretended to know her, and she seemed upset. I was happy to see her, but I must have pretended to know her for nothing.”

Unable to decide what to say to Anna’s sad expression, Eun-jae hesitated. If the boss Anna knew was that kind of person, then it was unlikely. However, since Eun-jae also didn’t know much about the boss, she couldn’t confidently assert anything. Then, Anna approached Eun-jae and whispered as if it were a secret.

“And this is a secret, but… I feel like that boss might have different feelings for Ga-eul. What do you think, Eun-jae? Isn’t it strange? After all, she got divorced and an older woman like her, who doesn’t know anything, is with Ga-eul…”.

Eun-jae was surprised by Anna’s remarks, but she also pondered her thoughts. Perhaps it could be interpreted that way. However, Eun-jae considered Ga-eul’s personality and the fact that he didn’t easily give up the worn-out bracelet he wore on his arm. It seemed strange to Eun-jae that her usually reserved brother would laugh and chat in front of the boss. Was this just a gesture of respect toward the boss? It didn’t seem like it.

“Eun-jae, are you on my side? You know how long I’ve liked Ga-eul. I’ve been waiting because I was worried that Ga-eul’s studies might be affected. He’s busy with a lot of things. He’s trying to get scholarships while going to school, and he’s tutoring non-stop to cover family expenses. You know, how hard Ga-eul is trying to live?”

As Eun-jae listened to Anna’s words, she felt a coldness in her heart. Indeed, her brother was trying so hard. Although it sounded precious, Anna’s words gave her the feeling that they were depending on Ga-eul without doing anything themselves.

Of course, Eun-jae knew that wasn’t Anna’s intention. It was her sense of guilt and incompetence that led to her feelings of entitlement. Nevertheless, her heart couldn’t help but feel sharpened.

“I know. But I think that’s something for my brother to handle, not something you and I should worry about.”

“What?”

Anna looked at Eun-jae with wide eyes, as if she had heard something absurd.

“Eun-jae. How can you say that? You think there might be something between Ga-eul and that woman boss, right? If so, then you’re not family…”

Eun-jae was shocked by Anna’s words.

“Sister!”

She yelled back, but Anna continued to express her thoughts.

“Regardless of my feelings for Ga-eul, if you were really family, you wouldn’t be like this. Worrying and meddling, it’s not just about Ga-eul. If you have a golden opportunity right in front of you, of course, you might be blinded by it, but how long do you think that will last? Even if you’re lacking, you have to maintain your dignity, don’t you think?”

Eun-jae bit her lower lip in response to Anna’s authoritarian words. She couldn’t come up with anything to say because Anna’s words made her think that maybe if it was a real family, they wouldn’t act like this. With Anna’s advice to think carefully, she left the place, but Eun-jae stood still as if she had been nailed to the ground.

“…”

Even if there wasn’t any blood connection, they thought they were a pretty good family, but what if others didn’t see it that way? Eun-jae was confused. 

‘Is it because my mom and I are a burden to him?’

Many thoughts came and went, but there was no answer. Moreover, no matter how much she thought about it, it seemed that Ga-eul’s relationship with the boss was solely Ga-eul’s choice, not something others should intervene in.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know.”

Eun-jae sighed deeply and went into the house. Regardless of anything else, she decided it should be kept a secret from their Mom. Even though her health had improved a lot, she didn’t want to worry her.