Sokcho, 5:00 pm.

Since that day; the day when frustration and doubtful formed into an emotion that hurt both of us, I felt like my heart didn't feel any happiness that I wished, and even became numb. No smile and only gloom, it was the worst of the worst to date.

Am I going to end up like this?

Hearing that question coming from a different side, I forced a smile at all the heavy things that had happened.

I had expected it from the moment I made this decision.

While laying helplessly on the bed, I closed my eyes. In my head, that question had a definite answer. I just dodged a truth that I didn't want to admit for a long time. Deceiving myself with an ending I wanted, making me endure and allowing myself to sink into this pain stupidly even though I knew it hurt.

I wanted to laugh — laughing at everything that had happened and at myself — maybe it would teach me a little lesson about how bad and stupid the choice I made was.

However, I could no longer do that. I was too weak to waste my energy to laugh at everything again. With a little strength left, I better kept it to the end.

Coming back from this thought, I slowly opened my eyes, turned weakly at A Yeong, watching her pick up the phone multiple times with a serious expression. Each time she talked, she paced back and forth on the other side of the bed with a clear worry on her face.

A Yeong was a beautiful woman. He was only twenty-five years old this year. However, now that she looked anxious that the beauty on her face faded slightly. Daehyun was very cruel to give her a big responsibility at this age and I knew that now he scolded her on the phone.

I was stunned. Four days had passed after Daehyun left the town to sign a land contract. Before leaving, he asked A Yeong to accompany me until he came back the day after he left and that was already very embarrassing.

I wasn't someone who could get close to a woman easily. Being in the same place always made me feel awkward and weird at the same time. I was just trying to hide that stiffness when talking to any woman.

This wasn't the first time. Daehyun had even told A Yeong several times to come to this town lately, taking a long time trip, just for something that wasn't necessary.

On behalf of a company president, he was too arrogant for a matter of his own volition.

However, suddenly A Yeong walked towards me in a hurry while holding out his cell phone, "Mr. Park, Mr. Kim wants to talk to you."

I stared at the phone for a moment before reluctantly picking it up. I lowered my gaze slightly while gripped the blanket tightly, and spoke, "Daehyun, I told you I'm fine. My fever has gone down and I'm feeling better now. Stop worrying about me. Do your job properly and come back soon."

Silence took a few seconds between our conversation, Daehyun then spoke with a cold tone in his voice that sounded tired, "How can that be? I couldn't help but worry about you. Maybe you're tired of hearing that but I'll still ask, have you eaten?"

"..."

"Chunghee, please answer. It's very important to me to hear your answer."

At first, I was reluctant to give an answer, but silence would only make Daehyun stress the question over and over again. So, I answered, "Yeah, just now. A Yeong is a good girl. He always cooks for me when you're not here. You should give her a bigger bonus."

Smiling weakly, I glanced at A Yeong who looked excited when she heard those words. She was indeed a woman who was full of enthusiasm and cheerful besides being diligent in her work.

Meanwhile, Daehyun was heard chuckling softly on the phone. "Really? Then I'll do that though." Daehyun spoke in a tone that was quite familiar. It confirmed that his assistant and he had established a fairly close working relationship.

"Um, I'm in Sokcho now. You know, there seems to be a festival being held near the beach. If only you ... um ... no ... no ... bad idea. bad idea ...." Daehyun lowered his voice at the last sentence. Not wanting to continue, he immediately changed the subject, "Do you want me to buy you something?"

"No."

"What if I—"

"Daehyun, there's no need." Taking a deep breath, I confirmed, "That's enough. If you want to talk about many things, wait until you get here, okay?"

After saying that, Daehyun was silent before finally the phone line was completely cut off. Then, with worry hiding behind a weak smile on my face, I returned the phone to A Yeong before closing my eyes again, imagining the black clouds that I often imagined.

Daehyun didn't give any response until the end. He simply hung up without saying "go rest" as usual.

Is he angry? Or ... did those words hurt his feelings?

It's really bothering me right now.

Suddenly A Yeong broke the silence with a tone of excitement, "Mr. Park, you are indeed a good person. If you tell Mr. Kim about the bonus addition next time, he will definitely never give a refusal. Next time, I will ask you to do that, haha."

Hearing that, I opened my eyes again, turned to her weakly, and smiled with a furrowed brow, confused. "What do you mean? Doesn't he often give you bonuses? You said that before."

"Ah, I know. But, Mr. Kim is a very considerate person. He also often gives hurtful advice. But if you say so, Mr. Kim definitely doesn't need to think about it any longer and immediately approve it." A Yeong spoke while trying not to laugh any louder.

"But, considering it a good thing, I think."

A Yeong pretended to pout after I finished my sentence. I smiled and tried to comfort her a little, "Hah, if he only gave you a little bonus, you could have told me."

Her round eyes immediately lit up, and a wide smile slowly tugged at the corners of her lips, so that her face began to blush like an apple.

I chuckled softly. "Daehyun is a nice person, I think. He also makes jokes sometimes. Don't be fooled by his cold face. You already know that too, don't you? Only, you can see how his father is, he's just like him."

Hearing those words, A Yeong couldn't help but laugh at my words. She said, "Yeah, yeah ... but, if you say that in front of the employees, I'm sure that they'll think you're making a joke."

"Especially in the marketing department. If they hear that, they'll think it's the impossible thing they hoped for. I sometimes feel sorry for them. They're always the butt of Mr. Kim's ramblings when ...."

A Yeong suddenly stopped and didn't continue her words, then blurted out at once.

"But wait!" A Yeong's expression turned serious. He sat on the side of the bed, shifted her body closer, then said carefully, "Sir, I'm sorry but I can't help it any longer from asking this ...."

Unknowingly, my brows furrowed. I stared at A Yeong with curiosity growing in my eyes.

"Sir, actually, what is your relationship with Mr. Kim?"

Hearing that question, instantly my curiosity turned into a shock that stung my heart. My eyes widened and the panic made me feel like I lost my mind for a moment and became tense. Fortunately, I immediately realized and found an answer as a way out of the surprising question.

"Ah, that's ... we've known each other for a long time. I could say ... our relationship, is like brothers ... yeah brothers ...."

"Ah ...." A Yeong nodded in understanding, "I see. So that's why Mr. Kim really cares about you. That's good though. Mr. Kim seems to love you like his little brother."

I averted my eyes; pretending to look out the window to hide the embarrassing expression on my face, which could reveal an obvious lie.

A Yeong's words might be the truth. However, there was something more precise, and it was more than what he thought. It was a cover-up and no one should know about it. Since the stupid Daehyun couldn't hide his feelings from anyone else, I was the one who had to do it. It would keep his career in the future.

A Yeong took a deep breath. Then, as soon as he spoke again, he complimented him jokingly, "Mr. Kim is rich and has everything. He can buy everything whatever he wants. Moreover, he seems to really love his family either. One day, I want to get a boyfriend like him in the future and live happily. That must be fun ... or also annoying. But, I'm sure, my life will be guaranteed to seven generations! Haha."

I was a little solaced by A Yeong's words but chose not to respond. Talking a lot only made my energy decrease little by little.