MFYBS 17

Chapter: 17

“No? Then should we go today?”

“Aww, Oppa, honestly~”

Jaryeon fluttered one hand as she spoke in a deliberately cute voice. The two looked at each other as if they had arrived in heaven, laughing brightly with blissful smiles.

At that moment, Haeru suddenly remembered the way Kim Taejun used to smile at her. Her stomach churned, and a wave of disgust rose inside her.

She had barely managed to hold it in while sitting there, but it felt like she was about to throw up. Clamping both hands over her mouth, she shot to her feet and ran toward the restroom.

The moment she entered, she rushed into the second empty stall. Feeling as though everything she had eaten that day was about to come back up, she bent over the toilet and emptied her stomach with violent retching.

Eventually there was nothing left to vomit, yet she kept dry-heaving. After spitting out nothing but clear saliva several times, she finally stepped out of the stall and walked to the mirror.

She turned on the faucet and washed her hands before rinsing her mouth. Once she finished, she examined her reflection to make sure nothing remained around her lips. Letting out a long sigh, she pulled out a tissue and wiped away the moisture.

“What the hell happened…?”

Had the two of them gotten together after fate had changed?

Or had they been having an affair from the very beginning—even back when Kim Taejun was hiding the fact that he was married while dating her?

And if that was true, why had Jaryeon, who herself had been involved with a married man, condemned Haeru so viciously?

There were far too many questions.

She shook her head.

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t find an answer.

Leaving the restroom, Haeru dragged herself back to her seat. But the couple who had just been happily feeding each other pork cutlets and giggling moments ago were already gone.

An employee was clearing away their table, even though they had barely touched their food.

Startled, Haeru asked,

“Where did the people sitting here go?”

“They just left. Said they had something urgent. Why?”

“N-No reason.”

Feeling completely drained, she collapsed into her seat.

Then she spotted them outside the window.

Apparently they hadn’t gone far yet.

Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the glass worked one way. She could see outside, but people outside couldn’t see in.

Through the large window, she watched the two walking arm in arm.

The moment she saw them, her brow furrowed deeply. Just looking at them made her feel sick, so she turned her head away.

But then something flashed on Jaryeon’s hand.

Haeru blinked in disbelief.

It was a ring.

It wasn’t anything special—just a simple silver band.

The exact same silver ring Taejun had worn before she erased their connection.

Back then, before she discovered he was married, he’d casually told her it was just a lucky ring, and she’d believed him.

After learning the truth, she’d assumed it was his wedding ring—or perhaps a matching ring with his wife.

Apparently, she’d been wrong.

The exact same ring was on both of their ring fingers.

“So… that ring was actually a couple’s ring with Miss Jaryeon?”

The revelation was so absurd that she couldn’t even swallow a single serving out of the four portions of pork cutlet she’d ordered.

Just how foolish had he thought she was?

Being married wasn’t enough—he’d even had another woman on the side.

“…Ha.”

“Kim Taejun… you’ve really sunk as low as you can go.”

She let out a long sigh and remained seated until the two of them disappeared from sight.

She sat there for a long time.

The more she thought about how she’d been deceived—and how stupid she’d been—the more she realized there was no way she could go home and simply sleep.

So she walked.

And walked.

Eventually she stopped in front of a restaurant.

The irresistible aroma of grilled pork drifting out had caught her feet.

Ironically, she was still carrying all four packed servings of pork cutlet in her hand.

She had only taken one bite before packing everything up because she wasn’t particularly fond of pork cutlets. Now she was starving.

After walking so much in an attempt to calm herself down, her stomach growled loudly.

Unable to resist the smell of sizzling pork any longer, she swallowed hard and stepped inside.

The restaurant was bustling with people.

She found a seat in the corner and sat down on a plastic chair in front of a round metal table.

When the middle-aged waitress approached, she ordered,

“Two servings of pork belly, please.”

“Certainly.”

The woman set down the side dishes, water, and utensils before heading back into the kitchen.

Soon a glowing charcoal grill was brought over, and the pork began sizzling on top of it.

The longer Haeru watched the meat cook, the more she wanted a drink.

She was already in a terrible mood.

By the time the pork was nearly done, the thought that maybe it was okay to have a drink tonight had slowly settled into her mind.

Still, she was afraid she’d make another mistake if she drank.

So she forced herself to endure it.

After finishing about half the meat, the richness became too much.

Unable to resist anymore, she raised her hand.

“Excuse me, owner. Another serving of pork belly… and a bottle of soju, please.”

“What brand would you like?”

“Anything is fine.”

“All right.”

She wasn’t the type to care about brands.

She couldn’t really appreciate the taste of alcohol anyway.

To her, all liquor tasted bitter.

She drank bitter soju to erase her bitter life.

Soon the additional meat and the bottle of soju arrived.

She laid the meat on the grill and slowly poured the clear liquor into the small glass.

Then she picked it up, intending to take a drink.

She brought the glass close to her lips.

At that moment, someone wrapped a hand around hers.

Her arm was gently pulled forward against her will.

The rim of the glass touched another man’s warm lower lip.

Her eyes flew wide open.

Standing bent over the table, Cha Muhyeok held her wrist as he took a sip from her glass before narrowing one eye slightly.

“…Ahh. That’s bitter.”

“What are you doing here?”

Pulling out a chair, Muhyeok sat close beside her and answered,

“I was worried Secretary Yoon might get drunk and make another mistake with some guy who isn’t me.”

“Cha Muhyeok!”

The drunken mistake eight years ago.

And the mistake she’d made after drinking at Muyeon’s birthday party not long ago.

Alcohol had been involved in every one of them.

She immediately understood what he was implying.

Even someone as good at controlling her emotions as Haeru couldn’t suppress her anger this time.

Her cheeks puffed out with indignation as she shouted his name.

Muhyeok simply smiled before lowering his gaze to the table.

He took away the empty glass and the bottle, refilled his own glass, and emptied it in one swallow.

Turning toward her, he frowned slightly as though troubled.

Just then, the waitress tactfully brought over a fresh glass.

Haeru gave the woman a small nod of thanks before turning back and reaching for the soju bottle in Muhyeok’s hand.

But he calmly moved it well out of her reach.

“Hey! Cha Muhyeok!”

Her angry voice rang out again.

Even someone who usually controlled her emotions well couldn’t help flaring up when the soju sitting right in front of her was being kept away.

She glared at him with eyes as fierce as a wildcat.

But Muhyeok’s gaze that met hers was gentle…

And painfully affectionate.

“It’s been a long time… since you called me that.”

Just hearing her say his name made his heart pound.

If hearing his name alone could shake him this much, how could he possibly stay away from her?

To him, that was an impossible request.

Realizing she’d instinctively called him by name, Haeru remembered repeatedly telling herself to treat him strictly as her boss.

She realized she’d slipped up and bit her lower lip.

Quickly correcting herself, she changed the way she addressed him.

“President Cha… stop fooling around and give me the soju.”

Despite her firm demand, Muhyeok simply turned away, poured himself another drink, and emptied it in one gulp.

As the bitter clear liquor slid across his tongue, its lingering taste filled his mouth.

Frowning slightly, he looked deeply into her eyes.

Unlike his intense gaze, his cheeks gradually turned red.

With a bittersweet smile, he quietly said,

“My heart’s racing… because Yoon Haeru called my name.”

At those words, she discreetly bit the inside of her lower lip.

His unwavering gaze made her own heart pound so violently it felt as though it might shatter.

She clenched both hands tightly against her thighs.

The two of them stared at each other.

Unable to bear the frantic beating of her heart any longer, she finally looked away.

The silence became unbearable.

She couldn’t stay sober like this.

Her eyes landed on another green bottle of soju sitting diagonally across the restaurant.

Clearing her throat, she raised her hand.

“Another bottle of soju over here, please.”

Taking back the bottle Muhyeok held seemed impossible.

At her words, he frowned and let out a deep sigh.

Treating her like a child throwing a tantrum over wanting alcohol, he quickly snatched away the glass sitting in front of her and placed it far out of reach.

Another bottle of soju arrived.

But without a glass, it was useless.

She shot him a sharp glare.

“Boss, what exactly are you trying to do?!”

“What if you get drunk?”

“That’s none of your business. This isn’t the office. So… why don’t you move over to another table and drink over there?”

She pointed toward another table with her chin.

He merely shrugged and gestured around the restaurant.

“There aren’t any seats.”

Looking around, she realized he was right.

The restaurant was small, and every table was already occupied.

With nothing to say, she cleared her throat.

“Then at least give me my drink. We’ll each drink our own and go home.”

She stood up, retrieved the distant shot glass, and placed it back in front of herself.

Then she twisted open the cap of the new bottle.

Finally, she poured the clear soju into the glass.

She hadn’t even taken a sip yet, but she already felt as though her chest was becoming lighter.

She wanted to pour it down her throat as quickly as possible.

But before she could even pick up the glass, Muhyeok placed his palm firmly over the rim.

Resting his chin on the table, he looked at her and asked,

“Are you… doing this because you want to sleep with me again?”