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Chapter 10
The snack bar was about fifteen minutes away from the arboretum.
After passing the main road and entering a narrow alley, she spotted a shabby-looking snack shop with only its signboard looking newly cleaned.
Since it was still early, there were no customers yet, but judging from the waiting list made from a sketchbook outside the store, it probably became crowded in the afternoons.
As she carefully opened the door and stepped inside, the rich smell of tteokbokki hit her immediately.
“Sunbae!”
At the same moment, a man sitting in the farthest corner by the window waved at her from across the room.
His tall frame, deep brown hair, and delicately handsome features looked exactly the same as when she had first met him.
Even after completing military service and turning thirty, he still looked so youthful that anyone would believe he was a college student.
“Junhwi, it’s been a while. Have you been well?”
Junhwi worked at the arboretum, but he spent more time tending plants directly.
Because of that, he rarely crossed paths with Juhye, who had to move around constantly as the director.
“Yeah. What about you, sunbae?”
“I’ve been doing well too.”
Kang Junhwi was Juhye’s junior from university, two years younger than her.
Though they hadn’t been in the same business administration department, they met through an elective class, became close, and stayed connected even after graduation.
He was also one of the few people whose attitude toward her never changed, even after learning she came from a chaebol family.
“The tteokbokki here is good.”
“Better than the place we used to eat at?”
“No way. How can you compare anyone to Grandma’s tteokbokki? She was a master. A true tteokbokki master.”
Juhye laughed softly at Junhwi’s serious insistence.
A lot of time had passed, but talking with him always made her feel like she had returned to her college days.
Even back then, they had gotten along well in many ways, which was why their friendship survived despite rarely keeping in touch.
“What’s the occasion? You saying you wanted to talk to me.”
“Well, the ceremony is coming up… I just wanted to check if there were any problems I didn’t know about. Think of it as an employee inspection.”
Junhwi had briefly prepared for the civil service exam before joining Jinju Arboretum at Juhye’s recommendation.
Since he had graduated from the landscaping department, he learned quickly and always completed assigned tasks accurately and efficiently.
“So it’s for such a stiff reason? Here I thought you missed seeing my face.”
Junhwi joked with his warm crescent-eyed smile.
Juhye awkwardly scratched her cheek and laughed along.
After getting married, she had naturally begun avoiding contact with men. She didn’t want to upset Daehyun in any way.
Looking back now, it felt like pointless and ridiculous self-defense.
“I woke up early and got hungry. Then I saw your message and decided to contact you. I figured you’d already be awake since work starts soon.”
The message had felt almost like an opportunity sent by heaven.
Junhwi grinned and placed the menu in front of her.
“Looks like living diligently for my miracle morning routine finally brought me some luck.”
“Luck?”
“I kept getting rejected because you were always busy, so I was a little hurt. It’s nice finally seeing you.”
His straightforward honesty made her feel guilty.
It was true that unless it was about the arboretum, she had avoided talking to him as much as possible. Naturally, she had avoided personal meetings too.
If she were in his position, she would probably have felt hurt, yet he showed no signs of resentment, which made her feel even more sorry.
“I’m sorry….”
“If you’re sorry, buy me food today. I’m starving.”
As if telling her not to apologize anymore, Junhwi firmly pointed at the menu.
Only then did Juhye smile again as they chose what to order together.
“But sunbae, you don’t look so good.”
After ordering tteokbokki, sundae, and fish cake soup—
Junhwi, who had just handed her a fork and spoon, suddenly hit the mark.
Juhye tried not to reveal her startled reaction.
“…You can tell?”
“I spend all day staring at trees, so my observation skills got better. Did something happen?”
The food arrived quickly.
Juhye hesitated with her fork in hand while Junhwi scooped up some fish cake soup.
As she wondered how to begin, she carefully opened her mouth.
“Well, actually… my father collapsed yesterday.”
“Cough!”
At that moment, Junhwi burst into a coughing fit, nearly choking on the soup.
Juhye hurriedly handed him a cup, and with his face bright red, he gulped down cold water.
“How can you say something like that as casually as announcing lunch? You scared me to death!”
Junhwi scolded her loudly in disbelief.
Judging from his reddened face and hoarse voice from coughing, he had been genuinely shocked.
Instead of apologizing again, Juhye silently handed him another napkin.
“I thought you wouldn’t be surprised.”
“Why wouldn’t I be? What am I, a robot?”
Despite his grumbling, his reaction made her feel both guilty and strangely relieved.
Ever since college, Junhwi had always had a talent for lightening the mood no matter how serious the topic became.
Maybe that was why she somehow found the courage to confide in him this time.
“I’m thinking of divorcing my husband.”
Unlike Juyoung, he wasn’t family, and Junhwi had always been objective, which made him feel trustworthy.
She believed he would offer rational advice instead of becoming emotionally swept up in her situation.
“My father collapsed so suddenly that I couldn’t tell him right away, but once he recovers, I’m considering telling him.”
A long silence followed.
Whether fortunate or not, Junhwi simply stared at her without speaking.
Fish cake soup dripped from the spoon in his hand, but he didn’t seem to notice.
“Um, so if my husband agrees… I’m thinking of starting with a separation first….”
“Wait, sunbae! No, wait a second.”
Bang.
The table shook loudly as Junhwi slammed his palm against it.
She had expected his usual calm reaction, so his response surprised her.
As Juhye watched in shock, he dragged a hand over his face.
“Hold on. Divorce… you’re getting divorced?”
The cold sweat on his forehead revealed just how shaken he was.
Feeling sorry, Juhye handed him another napkin.
“Were you surprised?”
“You’re seriously asking that… No, that’s not what I should ask right now.”
Though briefly flustered, Junhwi quickly regained his composure.
“What’s the reason for the divorce?”
Now it was Juhye’s turn to fall silent.
After organizing his thoughts, Junhwi shot sharp questions at her like arrows.
“If you’re the one asking for the divorce, does that mean your husband’s at fault?”
She pressed her lips tightly shut and fiddled pointlessly with her cup.
She could have explained that Daehyun had cheated on her, but the words simply wouldn’t come out.
Watching her remain silent, Junhwi quickly changed his approach.
“If it’s complicated, you don’t have to explain it to me. Is this a recent decision?”
“Yeah. That’s why I haven’t even told my family.”
At her answer, Junhwi let out a quiet sigh.
Since she couldn’t explain the reason, it frustrated him that he couldn’t fully understand her situation.
Still, he didn’t want to interrogate her just to satisfy his curiosity.
“Does your husband know? That you’re thinking about divorce.”
“He knows.”
“He knows?”
“I told him I wanted a divorce. But he refused.”
Junhwi silently furrowed his brows.
The more he listened, the harder it became to understand what kind of situation this was.
“So what are you planning to do?”
“First, I’m going to find a lawyer. The arboretum ceremony will continue as planned, and once Father recovers, I’ll tell him and move out.”
For the first time, the plans that had drifted vaguely in her head now felt organized and concrete.
After listening quietly, Junhwi answered with a firm expression.
“If you ever need someone to help, call me.”
“What?”
“If you separate, do you have somewhere to stay? If you need to secretly find a place without anyone knowing, leave that to me too. I can look for houses this weekend.”
Junhwi’s determination to help was unexpectedly proactive.
Juhye felt grateful for his kindness, but also awkward, so she shook her head.
“I never intended to burden you that much. I just….”
She hadn’t meant to make him worry unnecessarily.
She had only needed understanding and sympathy.
“I just… felt suffocated.”
“Sunbae.”
“There’s no one I can talk to about this. That’s what’s been hardest.”
It was true. Precisely because her family loved her so much, she couldn’t bring herself to tell them.
She kept imagining what it would have been like if her mother were still here, and those thoughts only made her lonelier.
“From now on, talk to me. If things get hard, call me anytime. If you call, I’ll come running immediately.”
“How can I call you anytime? Once the ceremony ends, you’ll practically be living at the arboretum.”
“Wow, way to ruin the emotional moment.”
Junhwi snickered as he looked at her. Despite his grumbling tone, his expression was incredibly warm.
Maybe it was because of his soft eyes and silky hair, but whenever he smiled, he reminded her of a giant puppy.
“Thank you, Junhwi.”
“I didn’t even do anything. Why are you thanking me?”
“You met me and listened to me like this. We’re even eating together. I haven’t had much appetite lately, but eating with you makes it better.”
“Yeah, you need to stay strong too. Next time, feel free to contact me any—”
The pleasant conversation was abruptly interrupted by an unwelcome voice.
“Jin Juhye.”
The moment she heard it, her entire body froze stiff.
Juhye didn’t turn around, but from the shadow reflected in the window, she immediately understood the situation.
Seo Daehyun was standing right behind her.
