The Season I Loved You Without You - Chapter 9

CHAPTER 9

Quietly, Go-yeo naturally leaned back in the rear seat, resting her chin on her hand as she gazed at the back of Ga-eul’s head. His short but neatly arranged hair, and the brazier she had seen earlier. Suddenly, instead of stopping, she found herself staring at his hair. It was a deep brown color that seemed to be somewhat soft rather than stiff.

Putting aside excessive contemplation, she broached the topic of what to do next.

“Let’s say you don’t work at the club for the time being, is there anything else you can do?”

“I’m working at a convenience store and tutoring.”

“I see. It might be tricky with the timing. What should we do?”

Although Ga-eul seemed to find it inconvenient, there didn’t seem to be any emotional change. Rather, he seemed indifferent or slightly annoyed. Ga-eul hesitated for a moment. Their eyes met through the rearview mirror.

“If you let me know your schedule, I’ll try to adjust mine.”

“Well, that’s not possible. I’m not regular. So you have to wait before I find what I’m looking for.”

Go-yeo’s languid yet firm tone indicated there would be no turning back. It seemed to imply that there was no need to make efforts to adjust the schedule. She didn’t seem to need anything of her own anyway. She might even be hoping for him to leave today.

Although he insisted on not taking money, she would still accept it, but it wasn’t something she was willing to do. If he had just accepted it obediently, it would have been fine. It was his fault for making things difficult. By taking the money, he wanted to prove his worth to the woman, contrary to the reason that he should stop.

* * *

The club’s opening hours had passed, but it was still early evening inside, so it was quiet. Go-yeo leaned on Ga-eul’s arm and headed to the club’s VVIP room. Then, sitting on the sofa, she asked the manager who had followed her to bring some water.

“Tell the boss I want to see him.”

Nodding slightly, the manager stepped back. In the meantime, Ga-eul stood awkwardly at one side of the entrance, not knowing what to do. Utterly useless. Go-yeo gestured with her eyes to the sofa for Ga-eul. He hesitated, then sat down at the end of the sofa. With his hands together, sitting neatly, he looked like a clergyman. It was so ridiculous that she couldn’t help but laugh.

He seemed like someone who didn’t usually go to clubs, and since the pay for driving here was higher than elsewhere, he must have been introduced and ended up doing it.

“Korea University?”

“Yes? Oh, yes.”

Even though Go-yeo hadn’t attended that school, he seemed like someone from that area. Just as Ga-eul was about to say something, there was a brief knock, and the door opened.

“You’re here.”

Tae-chun entered the room and looked back and forth between Go-yeo and the guy sitting far away. When the manager said Go-yeo had come with a man, he said it was a driver she had hired a few days ago because she injured her leg.

“We’re going to change all the interior and furniture here, so don’t make any reservations for a while.”

Tae-chun raised his eyebrows at the sudden announcement. It hadn’t been long since he had renovated this place, so he was surprised to hear about changing it again.

“It’s not too bad overall. I’d like to see some changes.”

Go-yeo murmured as she scanned the space, decorated in white and black. Everything from the artichoke-shaped lights hanging from the ceiling was scheduled to be changed. To something more sophisticated. Tae-chun scratched the back of his head and agreed. It was natural for Go-yeo to do as she pleased since she was the owner, but it looked decent as it was, so he didn’t understand why. He couldn’t grasp it because he lacked aesthetics.

“How did you hurt your leg?”

“I slipped in the bathroom after drinking.”

She answered obediently, then smiled slyly and warned Tae-chun.

“Don’t tell Dad. It’ll heal soon.”

Tae-chun coughed and fidgeted with his cane. If something was pricking her, he shouldn’t say anything, but he was completely her father’s person, so Go-yeo couldn’t trust him.

Tae-chun wasn’t someone who could be swayed by money, and he probably wouldn’t have done this club if it weren’t for her father’s insistence. Perhaps not wanting to lie, Tae-chun remained silent. Go-yeo narrowed her eyes and looked at him.

How could his father have made such people his own? Tae-chun was a member of her grandfather Beom-tae’s organization. So, thugs or gangsters, that sort of thing. Wouldn’t he have moved so lightly? Who was the person who made money? As if there was some great deity. It was ridiculous.

“Do you have some debt to Dad? What is it exactly?”

“I told you there’s nothing like that. How many times do I have to say it?”

“Is there some secret about your birth that I don’t know about?”

“Goodness! No, there isn’t.”

Since it was the same reaction that came out like a fit every time, Go-yeo wasn’t bothered anymore.

“I’m paying off that debt and being his person. Good uncles are hard to come by.”

Tae-chun just laughed foolishly, as if saying nonsense. He looked at Go-yeo carefully. Dense and delicate lines were exactly like her mother’s. As she aged, she seemed to resemble the atmosphere or elegance that wafted from roses. It was hard to say anything.

“The older you get, the more you look like your mom.”

Tae-chun often said those words to Go-yeo while looking at her. His low, murmuring voice could be heard by anyone in this hidden room.

Whenever Go-yeo met Tae-chun’s worn-out gaze, it felt familiar yet unfamiliar. Although she didn’t know what secret she couldn’t tell him, she knew she would never tell him.

Meanwhile, the manager brought water. Go-yeo opened the lid and took a sip. Then she glanced briefly at Ga-eul, who was still sitting quietly as if he were a still life. It was a story that didn’t matter much.

“Looks like Uncle is getting old. You keep saying things that have no nutritional value.”

Tae-chun chuckled foolishly and scratched his head.

* * *

In the car, on the way back from the club to home, Go-yeo glanced away from the quietly driving Ga-eul. The stories Tae-chun brought up triggered some scarce memories.

She remembered her mother as beautiful, even to her own eyes. There was a memory of her bragging to her friends at the time, saying her mother was the prettiest in the world. Memories of the scent and embrace like sunlight, and the cooler touch she had than anywhere else, came to mind.

The year she entered elementary school, when cherry blossoms were in bloom and the white magnolias her mother loved were blooming, her mother died. Until then, the three of them had lived quite orderly, but the sudden death seemed to have been a big shock to her. The air of that day when her mother died, and the surrounding noise of that day, all felt vivid. She suffered from depression, longing for a world she could never return to. It felt like walking through an endless tunnel.

So, spring wasn’t that great.

The dormant emotions flew away upon seeing an unfamiliar number not stored in the phone’s contacts. Should she be grateful for this or not? While pondering whether to accept or decline the call, her hand moved first.

“Just keep it brief.”

– Come to the hotel.

The authoritative tone of Moon Ji-hyuk, as if he had made an appointment, stirred up her already uneasy mind.

“No, I don’t want to.”

– Go-yeo.

Her firm demeanor was disrupted by the sound of her name, which came out like a sigh.

“What’s your grand plan? I’ve heard some things, so spill.”

He might even be planning to degrade his ex-wife into a mistress, considering he was about to engage and marry. This man named Moon Ji-hyuk.

– I’ll talk about it when you come.

But what’s the point of listening to such talk? It’s all meaningless anyway.

“No. Forget it. I don’t even want to hear about your grand plans. Don’t contact me.”

Though she told Moon Ji-hyuk to stop, her tangled emotions, waiting for his contact, drove her crazy. The relief and discomfort she felt upon seeing the familiar number.

She truly wanted to stop, and yet, she genuinely wanted to see Moon Ji-hyuk. Only dreadful thoughts circulated in her mind. She didn’t know how to get rid of the man she had spent such a long time with. What they had done before didn’t seem like parting at all.

Arriving at the underground parking lot, Ga-eul reached out his hand towards the back seat. Go-yeo naturally took his hand and stood up. It was a large and firm hand. Feeling like a child, it was only her own thoughts. He was a grown man who had served in the military.

She asked him to take out the shopping bags from the trunk. Ga-eul lifted several large paper bags from the trunk.

“Take those and dress up nicely.”

As Ga-eul was about to say something, Go-yeo informed him of the way out of the parking lot and turned away. Whether she could drive for a few days or not, given her personality so far, it seemed like she’d handle it well.

In truth, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t. Despite enjoying going here and there as Ji-yeon had said, she also enjoyed being at home. A few days of rest would suffice. There was nothing Go-yeo had to do.

The clothes he wore today were excessively student-like and plain, actually quite noticeable. If he was going to be with Han Go-yeo, he should wear clothes appropriate for him.

On the way to the elevator, a security guard recognized Go-yeo and greeted her quietly. Go-yeo also returned the greeting, but the guard conveyed awkwardly.

“Boss, there’s a problem. The elevator suddenly broke down, so you’ll have to take the stairs. I’m sorry. We’ll make sure to fix it by tonight.”

“Ah… What should we do?”

Normally, if it were the 3rd floor, it would be fine to go up via the emergency stairs. However, as evening approached, her ankle felt even more stiff, and she didn’t think she could make it up the stairs without spraining her ankle further.

She shouldn’t have refused Ga-eul’s offer to take her to the door. With the thought of calling him again, she took out her phone and dialed the contact she exchanged earlier.

The call was answered, but before she could speak, there was a loud noise, as if the phone had fallen to the ground before she heard a voice.

“Yes? Hello?”

“Mr. Yoon Ga-eul. Can you come back this way…”

Before she could finish speaking, there was a sharp knocking sound. Turning around, she saw Ga-eul there. Their eyes met through the glass door. The guard glanced at Go-yeo, then opened the door, and Ga-eul approached.

“I just wanted to see you go up.”

A faint smile crept onto Go-yeo’s face.

“That’s lucky. The elevator broke down, so I have to take the stairs.”

Ga-eul reached out his hand. Go-yeo looked at him and took it.

“Sit. I’ll give you a lift.”