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chapter 27
The two of them headed toward the department store parking lot.
Perhaps because tomorrow was the weekend, the streets were crowded.
As she walked, fighting off a wave of dizziness, a puddle suddenly appeared in front of her. Instinctively, she moved to the side—but hadn’t noticed someone coming toward her.
Just as she thought she would inevitably collide with the person, he pulled her into his arms. Her body tilted, and her face hit his solid chest. The pounding of their hearts was so loud she couldn’t tell if it was hers or his.
“Are you okay?”
“…Yes. I’m fine.”
She quickly straightened up, though her earlobes burned with embarrassment.
She felt ashamed at the thought that he might think she was pathetic for nearly colliding with someone while pretending to act fine.
“I can’t watch you walk like this anymore—it’s too risky.”
Before she could fully understand what he meant, something was suddenly draped over her head.
Startled, she looked up to see him in his shirt. Only then did she realize that it was his jacket covering her head.
“What are you doing?”
“This way, no one will know it’s you.”
At the same time, he took the handbag from her hand and, with his other arm, wrapped it around her shoulder.
“Do-hyun!”
Fearing someone might see, she tried to pull away, but he drew her even closer.
“Team leader, I’m holding back the urge to just carry you… so let’s go like this.”
His gaze flickered darkly, muttering lowly.
It wasn’t just empty words; the hand around her shoulder tightened.
Knowing that struggling further would only draw attention, Yeon-ha reluctantly followed his lead.
He walked carefully, matching her pace and avoiding puddles.
Though she tried not to be conscious of him holding her, her clueless heart still pounded rapidly.
When they arrived at the parking lot, the substitute driver was already waiting.
Handing over the keys and getting into the back seat, Do-hyun naturally took the seat next to her rather than the passenger seat. Then, casually, he placed his hand over hers.
Startled, she stared at him wide-eyed, and he smiled.
“Now, there’s no one to see us.”
As if he had been holding back for a long time just to do this.
At his brazen words, Yeon-ha couldn’t help but laugh.
From morning, department head Jeong Seong-tae, badly scolded by Vice President Jo Seok-jin, called a team meeting.
“Lately, we need to check stores under our team that are underperforming. Even the flagship store opened last year isn’t performing as expected. Especially the ○○ branch—it seems there was a discussion about closing it today.”
“I’ll go directly and talk to the manager.”
“Good. Manager Yoon, check the atmosphere there, and if possible, adjust the store operation direction.”
“Yes, leave it to me.”
“And Do-hyun, please draft the first proposal for next year’s main product concept along with the order quantity based on sales projections.”
“Yes, understood.”
After the meeting, Do-hyun returned to his seat and noticed a Post-it note with an unknown number and the note “Called earlier.”
“Who took this call?”
“I did, why?”
The youngest, Yeon-ju, said from across the partition.
“There was no name, just a number.”
“Oh, a woman called asking for Do-hyun. Since you were in a meeting, she left only her number and hung up.”
Do-hyun quietly looked at the Post-it.
Who could it be?
If it were someone he knew or a client, they would have said their name. Leaving only a number felt odd.
Feeling a strange sense of déjà vu, he dialed the number. As the ringtone sounded, his heart raced.
But the call didn’t connect immediately.
Just as he was about to give up, a voice came through.
[Hello?]
It was a calm voice that suggested age, yet subtly tense.
Though unfamiliar, it brought a strange lump to his throat.
[Hello?]
When there was no reply, the woman spoke again.
Do-hyun swallowed dryly and managed to speak.
“…You left your number, so I’m calling.”
[Is this Nam Do-hyun?]
“…Yes. This is Nam Do-hyun.”
[Huh… sob… sob…]
As soon as he identified himself, her cries poured out through the phone—emotions she had been holding back collapsing in an instant.
Do-hyun’s vision blurred.
“…Are you Kim Sun-ja?”
[Sob… sob… sob…]
There was no longer any doubt.
It was the person he had been searching for all this time.
His fingers trembled, and his vision blurred.
The next day, Do-hyun took a day off and headed to where Kim Sun-ja was.
Though he had stayed awake all night, he felt no fatigue.
Gazing at the dawn sky, he drove straight there, arriving around 10 a.m.
Parking in a familiar empty lot, he headed into the store without delay.
Upon opening the worn sliding door, he encountered Mr. Park, who seemed to expect him, showing no surprise.
“You’ve come.”
“Hello.”
“Go inside, I’ll be waiting.”
Mr. Park gestured toward a small side door.
Do-hyun bowed briefly and stepped inside. A small gray iron door caught his eye.
Creak.
He bent and went through, revealing a small house with a faded blue slate roof and a tiny side porch.
Standing in the yard, Do-hyun looked around. The house was silent, enveloped in a sense of emptiness.
He cleared his throat and called carefully.
“Is anyone there?”
“….”
No response.
His mouth went dry. As he was about to call again, he sensed movement inside.
Soon, a shadow appeared behind frosted glass, and the sliding door opened.
A middle-aged woman in her mid-fifties appeared.
Seeing Do-hyun standing in the yard, she looked stunned, as if seeing a ghost.
Then suddenly, her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the porch.
Startled, Do-hyun rushed forward and supported her.
“Are you okay?”
“….”
She seemed unable to speak, moving only her dry lips.
With trembling fingers, she brushed his cheek.
Feeling her warm touch, tears welled up in her eyes.
“Is it really… you, Do-hyun?”
“…Yes. I’m Nam Do-hyun.”
Her voice was hoarse, barely holding back sobs, tears streaming down her wrinkled face.
“Sob… I’m sorry. Really… I’m so sorry…”
“….”
Do-hyun couldn’t speak. He wanted to say she needn’t apologize and that he was thankful just to meet her, but his throat tightened.
Finally swallowing his own tears, he looked up as Kim Sun-ja grabbed his hand.
Her hand bore the marks of time, rough and calloused.
“How have you been? Didn’t have a hard time? How’s life? Did you… get married?”
“I have time. Ask slowly.”
“I’m sorry… I was so anxious, I didn’t even realize…”
Amid a flood of questions, Do-hyun smiled gently, calming her.
Kim Sun-ja, finally composed, wiped her tears shyly.
“Shall we talk inside if it’s okay?”
“Oh my, look at me. Leaving someone standing outside… This isn’t my home, but come in.”
She shakily rose and led him inside.
In the narrow, low-ceiling room, Do-hyun followed, bending slightly.
“Wait, I’ll get something to drink.”
“That’s okay. No need to worry.”
Do-hyun stopped her from leaving. Right now, there were more questions than drinks.
Yesterday was at the office, and since Sun-ja had said, “Let’s talk in person,” he couldn’t get all the details.
Sun-ja, perhaps out of courtesy, quietly sat back down.
Their eyes barely left each other, as if searching for the lost pieces of memory.
