Chapter 66
Yuna’s hand slowly loosened its grip on my collar. For a moment, she just stood there—silent, frozen, her eyes wide with disbelief. It was as if the word hadn’t quite reached her, like her mind was refusing to accept it.
Then, without warning, her hand tightened again. She yanked me up, slamming me back against the wall once more. The impact made me gasp. Her expression shifted, caught somewhere between shock and fury.
A small, disbelieving chuckle escaped her lips. “What did you just say just now?”
I swallowed hard. “I said, let’s divor—”
“Take it back.”
“What?”
“Those words”.
“Take them back. Say you don’t mean it.”
I met her eyes, trembling but firm. “I meant every word—”
“I said take it back!”
[Bang]
Her fist slammed into the wall just inches away from my face, the sound echoed through the room. The wall itself trembled from the impact, and bits of dust fell from the spot where she’d hit. If that punch had landed on me instead…
Fear clawed its way up my throat. My heart was pounding fast.
Her fist stayed pressed against the wall. Then, slowly, she leaned closer until her forehead touched mine. Her breath brushed my lips, trembling but still controlled.
“Take it back,”
I shook my head weakly. “No… I— I really want to divorce, Yuna.”
Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, as if she needed time to absorb the words. When she opened them again, something in her gaze had changed.
“Do you even realize what just came out of your mouth right now?”
“I know.”
“What makes you think I’ll let you leave me? You know that’s never going to happen, right? You know how much I love you… don’t you?” she asked coldly.
I looked up at her, the tears blurring my vision. I could see the pain in her eyes, her anger starting to falter, and for the first time, she looked lost.
“Yuna…” I said softly, a faint smile trembling on my lips.
“Just… look at what you’ve done to me.”
For a moment, her eyes flickered. Then she let out a shaky breath, her eyes darting away from mine. Slowly, her grip on my collar loosened, her hand sliding to the wall as she lowered her head, resting it against her forearm. Her body remained pressed against mine, keeping me pinned in place. Her taller frame loomed over me, shoulders slumped as if the weight of my words had finally broken her. She looked upset, exhausted, and furious—all at once.
My blood had stained her suit, a dark patch spreading where our bodies met.
For a long moment, neither of us moved. Her body stayed tense, her breathing heavy and uneven. I couldn’t tell if she was thinking, processing, or just too overwhelmed to move.
Finally, I whispered, my voice shaking, “I’m sorry, Yuna.”
But her body didn’t move.
Gently, I pressed a hand against her shoulder, trying to ease her away, just enough for me to slip past.
She didn’t resist at first. Her body swayed slightly, and I thought that maybe she was letting me go. My legs trembled, my body aching from her earlier blows, but before I could take another step, her hand shot out—grabbing mine again.
“Yuna?”
She didn’t look at me, her head still resting on her forearm against the wall.
“You said you wouldn’t leave me,”
she murmured, her voice hollow, broken.
“You said you loved me.”
“Yuna, let go—”
I tried to pull my hand free, but her grip only tightened, refusing to let me go.
“You know I can’t live without you.”
Her voice trembled. Then, after a pause, she added quietly, “You betrayed me, Haemin.”
Before I could answer, she turned and suddenly closed the distance between us. Her eyes were empty—dark, lifeless, as though something inside her had died.
My heart pounded, confusion twisting inside me. But before I could speak, her hands shot to my neck. Her fingers wrapped around my throat, cutting off my words before they could form.
“Yu—Yuna—” I choked out, but the rest of my voice died as she shoved me hard. My back hit the floor again, pain shooting through me. In an instant, she was on top of me, pinning me down, her hands tightening around my neck until I could barely breathe. I tried to push her off, but she was too strong.
Her face hovered just above mine, her expression caught somewhere between rage and despair. Her eyes were wild, unfocused, broken. Her grip tightened, nails digging into my skin. I gasped for air, my lungs burning as my vision began to blur.
Her body trembled, every breath ragged, her movements frantic—like she was losing control of herself completely.
“Haemin,” she whispered, her voice cracked and uneven, “you don’t know how much I love you.”
Her grip tightened again. I clawed weakly at her wrists, desperate for air. She leaned closer, her face just inches from mine, her breath hot and shaking.
“Is it so terrible that I’m doing this because I don’t want you to leave me?”
Her words sounded desperate, but her eyes were blank—lost. She was unraveling right in front of me.
“Why don’t you understand why I’m doing this?” she said, her voice rising, trembling with frustration. My chest heaved as I fought to breathe, but she didn’t stop. “I’m doing this because I want us to be happy, Haemin. You understand that, right?”
I couldn’t answer. My throat was closing, my vision fading at the edges.
Tears filled her eyes as she stared down at me. “Then why?” she cried out.
“Why do you want to leave me, Haemin? I’m your wife. You know I can’t live without you. What’s the point of living if you’re not beside me anymore?”
Her hands shook, but her grip only grew tighter. My lungs burned, and everything around me started to fade.
Then, suddenly, her voice softened—low, calm, almost tender, but it sent chills through me.
“Let’s die together, okay, Haemin?” she whispered, her gaze fixed on mine, unblinking. “After this, I’ll take my own life too. That way… we can be together. Forever.”
“Yun—”
The word barely escaped my throat. Her hands were like iron around my neck, cutting off every breath. Panic flooded through me, my body jerking weakly under her weight, but she was too strong. Her grip only tightened.
I tried to claw at her wrists, to push her away, but my strength was fading fast.
Maybe this was it.
There was no point struggling anymore — I couldn’t win against her. Somewhere deep down, I guess I should’ve seen this coming. Maybe I always knew this was how it would end when I asked her for a divorce.
At least… maybe this was the only way to escape this misery.
A thousand thoughts flashed through my head in those fleeting seconds.
When did everything start to fall apart like this?
Would things have been different if I hadn’t helped her that night?
If I had just walked away instead—
My thoughts broke off when the door suddenly burst open.
“Chairwoman!”
That voice—Harin?
Before I could even process it, I heard the sound of hurried footsteps rushing toward us. In an instant, Yuna’s weight was pulled off me. I gasped, choking as air finally rushed back into my lungs.
The room spun around me. My throat burned, my chest heaving as I coughed and tried to catch my breath. I turned my head weakly, vision still blurred, and saw Harin gripping tightly onto Yuna’s arm. Yuna didn’t resist. Her body went still, her expression lifeless, like all the fight inside her had drained away.
“Chairwoman, please,” Harin said, her tone soft but firm. “Please stop. Don’t you feel sorry for him?”
“Let me go, Harin,” she said quietly, her voice flat and emotionless.
“No,” Harin replied firmly, refusing to release her. “Please, Chairwoman… just look at him. You’ve already hurt him enough.”
Yuna’s eyes finally lifted to meet mine. For a moment, I thought she was going to say something—her lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Then, without warning, a single tear slid down her cheek. She didn’t even try to wipe it away.
Yuna didn’t cry. Her face stayed expressionless, her body completely still, but I could see her hands trembling faintly at her sides. Without a word, she slowly stepped back and walked toward her desk, moving like someone who no longer felt the ground beneath her feet.
When she reached her chair, she sat down carefully, her back straight but her eyes lifeless. Another tear traced down her face, catching on her jaw before it fell. She didn’t wipe that one either.
I stayed where I was, my body heavy and my head pounding. Every breath stung. My throat burned where her hands had been, and the rest of my body ached from the struggle.
Harin hurried to my side, kneeling down beside me. “Haemin-ssi… are you okay?” she asked softly, her hands hovering just above my shoulder, unsure if she should touch me.
I shook my head weakly, trying to steady my breathing. “I’m fine,” I muttered, though my voice cracked halfway through the words.
“You’re not fine,” Harin said quickly, her tone gentle but worried. “You’re bleeding, and your neck—” she hesitated, glancing back toward Yuna, who sat motionless. Then she turned back to me, lowering her voice. “Come with me to my office. I’ll treat your wounds there. I already told all staff on this floor to leave early. No one’s here now, so… you don’t have to worry about anyone seeing you like this.”
I shook my head again. “Thank you, Harin-ssi… but I’ll be okay. I just… want to get out of here.”
“Haemin…” she said softly, her voice full of concern.
I just smiled at her. “Really, I’ll be fine.”
She hesitated, her lips pressed together as if she wanted to say more, but in the end, she stayed silent.
Slowly, I pushed myself up, my legs unsteady. I took a deep breath and turned toward Yuna. She still hadn’t looked up—just sat there, staring blankly ahead, a few strands of her hair falling over her eyes.
I walked up to her desk, reached into my pocket, and placed everything she had given me—the house key, the car key, and the bank card.
“I’m returning these to you,” I said quietly. “Tomorrow, we’ll meet again… to sign the documents.”
For a moment, she didn’t react. Her eyes stayed fixed on the items in front of her, her expression unreadable. I turned to leave.
But before I could take another step, I felt her hand wrap around my wrist. The touch was gentle this time, not forceful, but her grip was firm enough to stop me. Her hair fell slightly over her eyes, hiding her expression.
“Don’t go,” she said, her voice low and trembling.
I stood still for a moment, my heart heavy. Slowly, I pulled my hand free from her grasp.
“I’m sorry,” I said quietly.
As I turned away and started walking toward the door, I heard her voice again—so soft that it almost didn’t reach me.
“I won’t accept this.”
I didn’t turn around. I just kept walking, step by step, until I reached the door. Letting out a heavy sigh, I opened it and quietly walked out of the room.
______
I unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The faint smell of dust and old detergent greeted me — the same small apartment I had been renting long before my marriage to Yuna. Back then, this place was everything to me. A quiet corner where I could study, eat ramen, and fall asleep on the couch. Even after moving into her house, I kept paying the rent every month. Maybe I just couldn’t let go of the memories here. Maybe a part of me always knew I’d come back.
I closed the door behind me and dropped my bag on the floor. The silence wrapped around me, heavy and still. My body ached everywhere.
I changed into a T-shirt and sweatpants, then sat on the sofa. Letting out a long sigh, I reached for the small medical kit I kept in the drawer. My fingers trembled a little as I opened it.
I took out a small bottle of ointment, squeezing some onto my fingertips. Gently, I rubbed it over the bruised areas, wincing a little at the soreness. Then, using the small mirror on the wall, I gently dabbed at the cut on my temple. A thin trickle of dried blood came off on the cotton pad. I tore open a small plaster and pressed it carefully over the spot.
When I finished, I leaned back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
What am I supposed to do now?
Resigning seemed like the only option. I couldn’t face her anymore. But… would she even let me? I wasn’t sure. Maybe I should just give it a try.
Let’s say I really left her company, then what? Go back to university? I’d have to start everything all over again. The thought made my chest feel heavy. I pressed my palm over my face and sighed deeply, the weight of everything sinking in.
Thinking too much wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I lay down on the sofa and closed my eyes for a moment, trying to clear my head.
Just then, my phone buzzed softly on the desk.
I turned my head and saw Auntie’s name flashing on the screen. Without hesitation, I reached over and answered.
“Haemin-ah,” her familiar voice came through, warm and gentle. “Sorry I had to end the call earlier this morning. How have you been today?”
“It’s fine, Auntie. I understand,” I said softly. “I’m doing good.”
“Have you eaten dinner yet?” she asked, that usual touch of nagging in her tone.
“Yeah,” I replied with a small smile. “Already had.”
“You’re not eating ramen again, are you?”
I chuckled quietly. “Of course not.”
“Good. You need proper food, not those instant things,” she said, sounding satisfied. Then her tone lightened. “Ah, right—about what we talked about this morning…”
“Yeah, the situation in the district. Is everything okay now?”
“Yes, I almost forgot to update you,” she said, sounding a little flustered. “Everyone here is still trying to figure out what just happened. It’s strange, Haemin. Right after our call this morning, the local council suddenly pulled back all their inspection teams. Every single one of them! They just left.”
I smiled softly. “That’s great news, isn’t it?”
“It is,” she agreed quickly. Then her voice lowered, almost in disbelief. “But that’s not the crazy part. Out of nowhere, a man came to our restaurant this morning. He said the whole building is now under our name.”
I leaned back, rubbing the back of my neck. “Really?”
“Yes! I couldn’t believe it,” Auntie said, her voice trembling with emotion. “The man said the new owner had already transferred the property to us as a gesture of gratitude. He mentioned that the owner appreciated how long we’ve been here and how much effort we’ve put into keeping the place running.”
She let out a faint, nervous laugh. “Honestly, I thought he was joking at first—or maybe trying to scam us. But then he showed us the documents, and everything checked out. Even the transfer fees and taxes were already paid. He said all we had to do was sign to confirm ownership.”
Her voice softened, though a trace of uncertainty lingered. “I kept asking who this new owner was, but he wouldn’t say. Only that the person wanted to do something meaningful for the people who had kept the street alive all these years.”
She went quiet for a second, as if still trying to convince herself it was real. “It all happened so suddenly that I still don’t know what to make of it. But… oh, Haemin, when your uncle realized it wasn’t a prank, he actually cried. He said it felt like all our years of hard work finally meant something.”
I laughed quietly, rubbing my tired eyes. “That’s… really good news, Auntie.”
“It is,” she murmured. Then there was a pause—soft, thoughtful. “But… Haemin.”
“Yeah?”
“You don’t have anything to do with this, do you?”
My breath caught for a second. “W-What? Of course not, Auntie. I’m just a normal university student. What could I possibly do?”
There was a silence on the other end. I could almost picture her squinting, her expression skeptical as she tried to read my tone through the line.
“Hmm… okay then.”
Her voice softened again, changing direction. “Anyway, how are you, really? You sound tired.”
“I’m okay,” I replied quickly. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Really?” she asked gently.
“Yes,” I said again, forcing a small laugh. “I’m fine.”
But Auntie didn’t sound convinced. Her voice grew warmer, filled with quiet concern.
“Haemin, I know it’s not easy living by yourself,” she said softly. “But you’ve always been a strong boy. You and Jiwon are our pride, you know that?”
My throat tightened. Hearing her say that made something inside me ache. I tried to steady the sudden sting behind my eyes.
“If you ever have a problem,” she continued, “you can always tell us. That’s what family is for, Haemin. You don’t have to carry everything alone.”
“A-Auntie…” My voice cracked before I could stop it. A small sob slipped out, and I quickly tried to swallow it back.
“Haemin!” she said, alarmed. “Are you crying? Why are you crying, dear?”
“I-It’s nothing, Auntie…” I managed to say, wiping at my eyes. “I just… missed you guys.”
Her voice softened instantly. “Oh, Haemin-ah… we missed you so much too, you know?”
I stayed silent, only listening to her gentle voice.
Then she continued, her tone turning even warmer. “Listen, Haemin. We’re proud of you, because you worked hard, got into university, and made a life for yourself. We know you want to make us proud too. But if it ever becomes too much, you don’t have to force yourself. You can always come back to us, alright? Leave everything behind if you have to. You’ll always have a home here.”
I sniffled quietly, pressing the phone closer to my ear, trying to keep my tears from falling.
“Do you hear me, Haemin?” she asked softly, her voice gentle.
“Mm-hmm,” I managed, my voice barely audible through the sniff.
“Promise me, Haemin,” she said softly.
“…Okay,” I whispered again, barely able to hold my voice steady.